Frederick’s courage was not denied exactly, but it was pointed out that an intermediary—the protector himself—had come on the scene just in the nick of time. The entire article concluded with this phrase, pregnant perhaps with sinister meaning:
“What is the cause of their affection? A problem! and, as Bazile says, who the deuce is it that is deceived here?”
This was, beyond all doubt, Hussonnet’s revenge against Frederick for having refused him five thousand francs.
What was he to do? If he demanded an explanation from him, the Bohemian would protest that he was innocent, and nothing would be gained by doing this. The best course was to swallow the affront in silence. Nobody, after all, read the Flambard.
As he left the reading-room, he saw some people standing in front of a picture-de
