“Gentlemen,” he said, standing behind a chair, “the Press is neither a tool nor an article of barter:  it is, viewed under its political aspects, an institution.  We are bound, in virtue of our position as legislators, to consider all things politically, and therefore” (here he stopped to get breath)—­“and therefore we must examine the Press and ask ourselves if it is useful or noxious, if it should be encouraged or put down, taxed or free.  These are serious questions.  I feel that I do not waste the time, always precious, of this Chamber by examining this article—­the Press—­and explaining to you its qualities.  We are on the verge of an abyss.  Undoubtedly the laws have not the nap which they ought to have—­Hein?” he said, looking at Jenny.  “All orators put France on the verge of an abyss.  They either say that or they talk about the chariot of state, or convulsions, or political horizons.  Don’t I know their dodges?  I’m up to all the tricks of all the trades.  Do you know why?  Because I was born with a caul; my mother has got it, but I’ll give it to you.  You’ll see!  I shall soon be in the government.”

“You!”

“Why shouldn’t I be the Baron Gaudissart, peer of France?  Haven’t they twice elected Monsieur Popinot as deputy from the fourth arrondissement?  He dines with Louis Phillippe.  There’s Finot; he is going to be, they say, a member of the Council.  Suppose they send me as ambassador to London?  I tell you I’d nonplus those English!  No man ever got the better of Gaudissart, the illustrious Gaudissart, and nobody ever will.  Yes, I say it! no one ever outwitted me, and no one can—­in any walk of life, politics or impolitics, here or elsewhere.  But, for the time being, I must give myself wholly to the capitalists; to the ‘Globe,’ the ‘Movement,’ the ‘Children,’ and my article Paris.”

“You will be brought up with a round turn, you and your newspapers.  I’ll bet you won’t get further than Poitiers before the police will nab you.”

“What will you bet?”

“A shawl.”

“Done!  If I lose that shawl I’ll go back to the article Paris and the hat business.  But as for getting the better of Gaudissart—­never! never!”

And the illustrious traveller threw himself into position before Jenny, looked at her proudly, one hand in his waistcoat, his head at three-quarter profile,—­an attitude truly Napoleonic.

“Oh, how funny you are! what have you been eating to-night?”

Gaudissart was thirty-eight years of age, of medium height, stout and fat like men who roll about continually in stage-coaches, with a face as round as a pumpkin, ruddy cheeks, and regular features of the type which sculptors of all lands adopt as a model for statues of Abundance, Law, Force, Commerce, and the like.  His protuberant stomach swelled forth in the shape of a pear; his legs were small, but active and vigorous.  He caught Jenny up in his arms like a baby and kissed her.