CHAPTER XIII. THE MAN WHO THINKS THE STAR TOO BRIGHT
The next morning Minard paid a visit to Phellion in his study. The great citizen and his son Felix were at that moment engaged in a conversation which seemed to have some unusual interest for them.
“My dear Felix,” cried the mayor of the eleventh arrondissement, offering his hand warmly to the young professor, “it is you who bring me here this morning; I have come to offer you my congratulations.”
“What has occurred?” asked Phellion. “Have the Thuilliers—”
“It has nothing to do with the Thuilliers,” interrupted the mayor. “But,” he added, looking hard at Felix, “can that sly fellow have concealed the thing even from you?”
“I do not think,” said Phellion, “that ever, in his life, has my son concealed a thing from me.”
“Then you know about the sublime astronomical discovery which he communicated to the Academy of Sciences yesterday?”
“Your kindness for me, Monsieur le maire,” said Felix, hastily, “has led you astray; I was only the reader of the communication.”
“Oh! let me alone!” said Minard; “reader, indeed! I know all about it.”