Phellion.  “I hope it will.  It requires great application of mind to carry on a system of questions and answers; that is why I ask you to be quiet and let me think, for the answers—­”

Thuillier [interrupting].  “The answers might be sold separately.”

Poiret.  “Is that a pun?”

Thuillier.  “No; a riddle.”

Phellion.  “I am sorry I interrupted you” [he dives into his office desk].  “But” [to himself] “at any rate, I have stopped their talking about Monsieur Rabourdin.”

At this moment a scene was taking place between the minister and des Lupeaulx which decided Rabourdin’s fate.  The general-secretary had gone to see the minister in his private study before the breakfast-hour, to make sure that La Briere was not within hearing.

“Your Excellency is not treating me frankly—­”

“He means a quarrel,” thought the minister; “and all because his mistress coquetted with me last night.  I did not think you so juvenile, my dear friend,” he said aloud.

“Friend?” said the general-secretary, “that is what I want to find out.”

The minister looked haughtily at des Lupeaulx.

“We are alone,” continued the secretary, “and we can come to an understanding.  The deputy of the arrondissement in which my estate is situated—­”

“So it is really an estate!” said the minister, laughing, to hide his surprise.

“Increased by a recent purchase of two hundred thousand francs’ worth of adjacent property,” replied des Lupeaulx, carelessly.  “You knew of the deputy’s approaching resignation at least ten days ago, and you did not tell me of it.  You were perhaps not bound to do so, but you knew very well that I am most anxious to take my seat in the centre.  Has it occurred to you that I might fling myself back on the ’Doctrine’?—­which, let me tell you, will destroy the administration and the monarchy both if you continue to allow the party of representative government to be recruited from men of talent whom you ignore.  Don’t you know that in every nation there are fifty to sixty, not more, dangerous heads, whose schemes are in proportion to their ambition?  The secret of knowing how to govern is to know those heads well, and either to chop them off or buy them.  I don’t know how much talent I have, but I know that I have ambition; and you are committing a serious blunder when you set aside a man who wishes you well.  The anointed head dazzles for the time being, but what next?—­Why, a war of words; discussions will spring up once more and grow embittered, envenomed.  Then, for your own sake, I advise you not to find me at the Left Centre.  In spite of your prefect’s manoeuvres (instructions for which no doubt went from here confidentially) I am secure of a majority.  The time has come for you and me to understand each other.  After a breeze like this people sometimes become closer friends than ever.  I must be made count and receive the grand cordon of the Legion of honor as a reward for my public services.  However, I care less for those things just now than I do for something else in which you are more personally concerned.  You have not yet appointed Rabourdin, and I have news this morning which tends to show that most persons will be better satisfied if you appoint Baudoyer.”