His Excellency the Minister

of Rosas was worth having. Though a minister was only a passing celebrity, he was a personage. From the

nging about some adventure that would give her fortune. What could be asked or exacted from Sulpice? She recalled the traditions of fantastic ba

Vaudrey permitted himself to confide his thoughts with unreserved freedom, opening his heart and disclosing

first and speedily ra

inno

ome but was installed as in a conquered territory, Sulpice was dazzled. Like a

tapestries and the artistic trifles that adorned the house. In his opinion, it was rubbish and the lux

stantly repeated criticism to Marianne, as he sat smoking his

ring over the ceiling as if he were follow

o a great deal, if all thi

with matters that did not concern him. Above all, he must hold his t

he domestic hearth-yes, you have deserted the hearth.-It is pretty here, a little like a courtesan's, perhaps, but pretty, all the same.-But you must acknowledge that

ked Marianne, glancing at her u

o propose it to him-The Modern Marriage, an allegorical treatment!-Law Imposing Duty on Love. Something noble, full of expression, morali

You want a

spiration, he follows his ideal-A commission! a commission! Ugh!-On my word, you would break the wi

tunities of her uncle. She wished to keep

t intended only for naked feet, as the reclining chair with its extra covering of Oriental silk was adapted to moments of languishing repose, Sulpice saw and contemplated the vast wardrobe with its three mirrors reflecting the huge marble washstand with its silver spigots, its silver bowl, wherein the scented water gleamed opal-like with its perfumes, the gas illuminating the brushes decorated with monograms, standing out against the white marble, the manicure sets of fine steel, the dark-veined tortoise-shell combs, the coquettish superfluity of scissors and files scattered about amongst knickk

even when he was with Adrienne.-The young woman, seeing his absorption, hesitated to disturb his thoughts, political as they were, no doubt, while he mused upon his hours of voluptuous enjoyment, forever recalling the youthful roundness of her shoulders, an

rly at the Ministerial Council. He increased his power, finding, perhaps, a new excitement, a new spur in the love that renewed his youth. He had never been seen more active and more stirring in the Chamber, though he was some

r minister. A politici

with age!" Sulpice

tle shopkeepers and laundresses of Rue Boursault hardly suspected when they saw

the need of talking with his old friend. Besides, Rue Boursault was on the way to Rue Prony. As Mari

are you sati

faithful and devoted to your ideas. I am not afraid o

coli

n insignificant air of superiority and almost of pity, the idiots: 'Well! you are no longer doing anyth

sort of respect at this vanguard warrior, this laborer of the ear

journal in order to announce all t

proclaim the truth to everybody would not

to go, there was a

sit. I beg you will excu

t to open

t hat in his hand. He was thin, pale and tired-looking, with a dark, dull complexion and a voice weak rather than hoarse. He bowed timidly, repeating twice: "I earnestly ask your pardon;"

sturb you-I

Garnier,"

rcely sitting down and constantly twirling his round-shaped hat between his lean fingers. From time to time, he raised his left hand

oment, a single moment," Ramel wh

rnier, who grew bolder and talked and gossiped, his cheek-

rk?-Oh! you may speak before

faith, had grown old, and was anxious to sell his business of an art metal worker. He had not found a purchaser, then he had simply closed his shop, being too ill to continue hard work, and the four or five workmen whom he employed found themselves thrown into the street. There it is! Happily for Garnier, he had neither wife nor child, not

that this man was possessed of strong and quick intelligence, although he l

before replying, then

e like everybody else, but I let the

e without any bitterness and as i

overthrow or to strengthen administrations, would it not be better if they thought a little of those who are dying of hunger? for there are some, it is necessary to admit that such are not wanting! What is

he hand of his old friend and pressed it as if to entreat him not to interrupt the conversation. The voi

lists into power-I beg your pardon, Monsieur Ramel, you know very well that it is not of you that I speak thus-I shall be no fatter for it, I presume. I only want just to keep life and soul together, if it can be done. I suppose you could not find me a place, Monsieur Ramel? I would do anything, h

ommittees and sub-committees, in the tribune and in the lobbies, discussions, disputes, personal questions cloaked under the guise of the general welfare, suddenly appeared to him as petty and vain, narrow and egotistical beside the f

offer it or to mention his name. The man would have refused charity and the minister, in all the personnel of bustling employés, ofte

el, as he arose, indicating Garnier by a nod. "Do not tell

our hundred thousand, and b

with timid eagerness, and the minister went rapidly down the stairs of

in all sincerity, for he still heard ringing i

suffering, whether Vaudrey

him like a thunderbolt. Monsieur Collard-of Nantes-had just been struck down by apoplexy in the corridors of the ministry. The President of the Counc

pice, moreover, had never profoundly cared for this austere advocate, although he had been much associated with him. His liking for this man who brought to the Council old-time opinions and preconceived ideas was a merely political affection. The President's offer proved to hi

st triumphantly to the H?tel Beauvau. Only one thought, a sombre image, clouded his joy: it was not the memory of Collard, but the sad image of the

and wha

n, without being astonished at the faint, almost indifferent smile that escaped the young wife, he suddenly thoug

to be driven quickl

ence on the register, passing the pen from one to another just as the aspergillus is passed along in church. Everybody stood aside on noticing Vaudrey. It seemed to him that they instinctive

er. "One will never be able to say: the Collard Administration. But it

ere were more office-seekers than were usually in attendance. One of them, on s

e-Monsieur Collard-If there were no eminen

wed withou

as he entered his cabinet, to the usher who followed

nistre? Why, that i

is right! The etern

the dreadful, unexpected, sudden, unlooked-for, crushing death-he did not select his epithets, but allowed them to flow as from an overrunning cask-the dramatic decease of Collard-of Nantes-. From t

bout it-" said the f

imbe

ourtesy the other morning-I who, nevertheless,

ecure!-Well, the im

stre, listen! Was ever such stupidity seen? 'Monsieur le Secrétaire d'Etat, you have under your orders a very badly trained Undersecretary of State, who will make you many enemies, I warn y

hat there are only Under-Secretaries of State in the administr

ng!-Malcontents!-I should like to know why they are malcontents!-What are they dreaming about, then? What do they want? I am asking myself ever since I came into office: What is it they want? Doesn't the present government

ence of two thousand hearers, Sulpice Vaudrey again recalled, still sad and sick, the dark and sunken cheeks and t

, with Marianne. What would his mistress say to him whe

ly received the news

y!"-was all she

nt when, on the formation of the "Collard Cabinet,"

e was i

her husband. Instinctively comparing this gentle, slender blonde, resigned and pensive, with Marianne, with her tawny locks and passionate nature, whom he adored more intensely each day, Vaudrey thought that a man in hi

and Marianne chanced to meet one evening at the theatre, which made him feel that his mistress was watching

dear, Madame Vaud

t-blank, then his cheeks grew cold. Never, till that mo

said Marianne. "I am almo

interrupted Sulpice. "Never let us sp

as if she had not heard him, "she is certainly charming! A tri

n rendered by the Parisienne with a smile now haunted Sulpice, who was annoyed at himself and he sought to discover in his wife

e wife. The husband's faithlessness is called a caprice, an adventur

e sacrificed his life for her. He overwhelmed her with presents, created surpri

you are,

not Adrienne had children? A woman should be a mother. It is maternity that in th

d was Marian

nity. Adrienne, on the contrary, was the wife, and the childless wife soon took another name: the friend. No, he robbed her of nothing, Adrienne lost none of his affection, none of his fortune. The money squ

nne would endure. He flung himself upon this love as upon some prey; nor was desire the only influence that now attached him to this woman, he was drawn to her also by the admiration

and ally such a

r the Council, to show his power-this was his eternal watchword-Marianne immediately comprehended t

ething like a joyful beam gleamed

esirable to take advantage of the occasi

official?"

But it i

and since Vaudrey's power was enlarged, well, she was to profit by it. Claire Dujarrier, who had alr

ending Collard's funeral

hed as s

ou think that w

ties, the magistrates, the Institute,

past? I am not at all curious! You will describe it

car was immense and was crowded with wreaths. As with bowed head he accompanied the funeral procession of his colleague, almost his friend,-but, bah! friendship of committees and sub-committees!-Sulpice was sufficiently an artist to be somewhat impressed with the contrast afforded by the display of official pomp crowning

while the blue flames of the burning incense danced, and while the butts of the soldiers' muskets sounded from time t

d Sulpice while gently stroking his waxed

ggested that a statue be r

all

considered to have s

ha

rs dying in office. Imitate him, my dear

ing fellow decidedly displeased him; but there was nothing to tak

er all, Sulpice thought this was a very simple matter; but he was determined to see Marianne, so he ordered his carriage to be driven to the artist's studio. Uncle Kayser opened the door, bew

e Kayser here?"

lls that just now one of our fri

and holding his hat in his hand, a young man with pale complexion and reddish beard, whom Madem

r José d

ad infused so triumphant an expression, such manifest ostentation

that Marianne had sai

She unduly emphasized the title by which she addressed him, repeating a little too frequently: "Monsieur le Ministre."-Whenever Vaudrey sought to catch her glance she looked away in a strange fashion

but the conviction that one lives only in Paris surrounded by persons whom one vainl

ianne's eyes. He vaguely realized an indirect confession expressed in that t

miled as s

monsieur?" asked Sulpice, unc

orary absence! A

u return

this m

's house, where perhaps, he expect

ot to the painter's studio, but in reality to the woman who-Sulpice still heard Marianne declare that-who would not become

e was responsible for bringing them together he

word, the prize of possession, the conquest of this woman

oken and, with a sort of false respect, displayed before Rosas the friendshi

er, as to your appointment

knit h

ng a state secret. Monsieur de Rosas will no

audrey was gro

delighted at this appointment, Monsi

cted a quasi-idyllic sketch of the affection of Monsieur le Ministre for Madame Vaudrey. A model household. There was nothing surpris

ored to discover the meaning of this riddle. He asked himself what

on his chair, very cool, looking

tudio, and since Vaudrey had arrived he had only

conversation for the unexpected interview of these two men. Was there a great crowd at Collard's funeral? W

ur de Rosas arose and bowed to Ma

oing, my d

ain. You are getting alo

y rate? My uncle has some n

gs that will make famous frescoes!-For

ternately at the

ayser and Marianne who, on reaching the threshold of the salon, seized h

ou! Ah! it is too bad to have

his brilliant glance, that she would see him again. And since he had returned to Paris alone, weary of being absent from her, perhaps,

by a pressure of the fi

ianne, who motioned to Uncle Kayser to disappear,

an on which he had been sittin

stood that you had dismi

you that I did so

him, neverthe

es

ged you to be

I reject

sidelong glance, curling her lovely pi

u love t

g to me to have him return like that

ot unde

o promptly accept the dismissal one gives them. What! Don't they suffer? Don't they say anything? Don't they co

oy that I o

Monsieur de Ros

n't love him?" asked Vaudrey, c

ghed an

ove him in

ou lov

ou, I l

ked and wrong to lie! It is not necessary to

r lend money unless one is oblig

cal remark. She looked at him with an odd expression

e its revenge. Now, whether he comes back or not, it matters little to me. He has made the amende honorable. That is the principal thing, and you, my dear, must n

n, that I am married? A moment ag

household? Say then

on my wife before

esence in Marianne's house, of a minister who is considered to lead a puritan life. Nothing could be more simple!-Woul

" said Vaudrey

little hand which he kept upon his lips. "Then you would like me to p

soft palm of her hand, "that all the world should know tha

ated her and l

hrugged he

and let us return to my house, our house," sh

not lo

N

ou lov

told y

me? You

theless, if I told you aloud some day in one of the lobbies

losing you and to knowing

however, the great fool!

incere, prof

s paradoxes, and encircling her waist with both arms he felt her yielding form beneath h

ith an odd smile, tender and ironical at once, at this big simpleto

spoke, she bent over him engagingly, a