Josephsatinhisarmchairalltheevening，engagedinslylystudyingthesixtyfaceswhich，fromfiveo’clockuntilhalfpastnine，posedforhimgratis，asheafterwardstoldhismother。SuchbehaviorbeforethearistocracyofIssoudundidnottendtochangetheopinionofthelittletownconcerninghim:everyonewenthomeruffledbyhissarcasticglances，uneasyunderhissmiles，andevenfrightenedathisface，whichseemedsinistertoaclassofpeopleunabletorecognizethesingularitiesofgenius。
Afterteno’clock，whenthehouseholdwasinbed，MadameHochonkepthergoddaughterinherchamberuntilmidnight。Securefrominterruption，thetwowomentoldeachotherthesorrowsoftheirlives，andexchangedtheirsufferings。AsAgathelistenedtothelastechoesofasoulthathadmisseditsdestiny，andfeltthesufferingsofaheart，essentiallygenerousandcharitable，whosecharityandgenerositycouldneverbeexercised，sherealizedtheimmensityofthedesertinwhichthepowersofthisnoble，unrecognizedsoulhadbeenwasted，andknewthatsheherself，withthelittlejoysandinterestsofhercityliferelievingthebittertrialssentfromGod，wasnotthemostunhappyofthetwo。
“Youwhoaresopious，“shesaid，“explaintomemyshortcomings；tellmewhatitisthatGodispunishinginme。“
“Heispreparingus，mychild，“answeredtheoldwoman，“forthestrikingofthelasthour。“
AtmidnighttheKnightsofIdlenesswerecollecting，onebyonelikeshadows，underthetreesoftheboulevardBaron，andspeakingtogetherinwhispers。