With Suzanne's consent all obstacles could be smoothed away, and clever is he who succeeds in barring the way to two lovers who are determined to see one another again.
The old counsellor Lamblin, who in his capacity of magistrate was aware of that, said long ago:
"To safely guard a certain fleece,
In vain is all the watchman's care;
'Tis labour lost, if Beauty chance
To feel a strange sensation there."
It was on this indeed that Marcel calculated; and, smiling, he slept the sleep of the just and dreamed the most rosy dreams.
LXXIV.
BEFORE MASS.
"You think that we ought not to break in two this puppet which is called Public Opinion, and sit upon it."
EUG. VERMEESCH (L'Infamie humaine).
A loud and well-known voice roused him unpleasantly from his dreams.
—Well, well, lazy-bones, still in bed when the sun is risen! You are not thinking then of going away? You go to bed the first, and you get up the last. I, a poor old invalid, am giving you an example of activity. Ah, young people! young people! you are not equal to us. Come, come you can rub your eyes to-morrow. Get up! Get up!