His Excellency the Minister

cation. The next morning he awoke with his head heavy, after a night of feverish sleep, interrupted by su

nts, feeling a sort of physical delight, opening his window and looking out on the commonplace garden through which so many ministers had passed and which he called, as so many b

akened early so that the despatches from the provinces might be laid before him. The information in them was quite insignificant. But t

commenced. He felt a kind of infantile joy in being thus perturbed and haunted. It seemed to him that this emoti

e a huge log-fire flamed behind an antique screen. He sat down in front of his large mahogany bureau, covered with papers, and on which was lying a huge black portfolio stuffed with documents bearing this title in stamped letters: Monsieur le Ministre de l'Intérieur. In the centre of the bureau h

s harmony that pleased him. It was like the salon of a well-to-do notary, with its tall windows overlooking the courtyard, already full of the shadows of importunate callers and favor seekers whom the secretary-general received in a room adjoining

Opéra, the previous evening, the early speech of the Minister of the Interior upon general policy, and that of the Finance Minister, who was to reply to the rumor, falsely or prematu

stry. The Times declared that the coalition perfectly met the requirements of the existing situation. The Berlin papers did not take umbrage at it, although Monsieur Vaudrey had more than once declared his militant patriotism from the tr

Sulpice, almost audibly, as he threw

ing Pichereau's sudden dismissal from office, the editor of this daily press bulletin, like an automat

onfidence in the Pichereau administration, for the ministry to be troubled about the appr

ccessor of Pichereau, that the report

"After all, probably, it is the office that is responsible for this, as, doubtl

and friends, more intimate suitors, waited on the right, elbowing the ushers, in order to have their cards handed to the secretary-gene

but grieved in principle to see humbug depicted on the human face. From time to time, in the midst of his ministerial preoccupations and conversations, the disturbing smile of Marianne suddenly appeared like a flash of li

mble tone, always veiled a threat, Vaudrey did not often have to do with his friends. It was a wearisome succession of lukewarm friends or recognized enemies, who rallied around a successful man. This man, although a minister for so short a time, had already a vague, disquieting imp

unmoved by any changes in ministerial combinations. Such entered Vaudrey's cabinet in a deliberate, familiar manner,

e of respect in his tone: "It is one of our visitors, Monsieur le Ministre, Monsieu

refecture, or a sub-prefecture, or-it mattered little

ne: he was an

ocession of petitioners and intermediaries, when an us

o well, and Sulpice vaguely scented in him a candidate for his of

want?" the min

inevitable minister of to-morrow, the positive reformer, the man appointed to cleanse the Augean

Granet is

médie Fran?aise, and dreamed of playing in Molière, had her hopes centered in Granet. Granet promised to every actress an engagement at the Rue de Richelieu. I am waiting for the Granet ministry! was the co

ing for his success, working to bring about his ministry, intrigu

anet were

not exist under a

ged when Granet b

that good Granet!

able. He was within an ace of becoming a member of the last Ministerial Coalition. He might have been Vaudrey's colleague instead of his rival. Sulpice was as glad to

smiling, and with a very polite greeting, "you co

agreeable, "God prevent me from thinking

gallant, my

the contrary, to give you some advice as to s

r colleague, should be e

r Secretary of State for the Interior. Well! I have come

, with his hat on his knee, was watching Vaudrey through his eyeglass;

acquier-of l'Oise,"

e influence with the Chamber, frequented society rarely, was morose and exclusive, while Warcolier was a most amiable man, an

f you did not support Warcolier this morning at the Ministerial Council, at which t

, in an ho

not fail to remark, that the nomination of Warcolier would be favorably viewed by th

ke bears," said Granet, tapping hi

y much disgusted at finding that Warc

allowed it to swell his sail and his self-love. He did not like ill-tempered people, people who frowned or were discontented or gloomy. Having a good digestion, he could not understand the possibility of disordered stomachs. A free-liver, he could not realize that hungry people should ever think of better food. Everything was good; everything was right; everything was beautiful. Of an admirably tranquil disposition, he fel

ly dedicated to His Majesty Napoléon III. in these flattering terms: "To you, sire, who have substituted for

him long to get over the difficulty. He dedicated his work to another sovereign: "To the People, who have substitute

Honest People. The Revolution overwhelms us! is now found at the foot of proclamations whe

nto the position of Undersecretary of State of the Interior. Vaudrey reserv

coupé and prancing in the courtyard, although it was but a short distance from Place Beauvau to the élysée. He slipped the reports of

, I cannot see

f the minister saw his name, h

rd that was extende

e is right.

formed a sort of horsetail fringe to his face. Jéliotte was a former comrade in the law courts, an advocate in the Court of Appeal, and h

tain affectation of respe

m to see you,"

liar way," Jéliotte answered, showing

ur good opinion, that I should aba

said Jéliotte. "You ask me how I am? Oh! always the same!-I wo

on the edge of a chair, staring at his hat, and wagging h

our getting into the cabine

ur own account, my good Jéliotte. Wha

ter short and said in

believe one thing,-t

hy

thing. And I re

ng if I could be frie

to nothing. You will meet quite en

dent

ioners

assu

ner nor an office-seeker nor

, for I have great

etter, yes, so much the better! But, at least, don't let your friends pester you, like vermin crawling before you, because you are all-powerful. I will never crawl before you, I warn

we shall se

I do not wish to be confounded with the c

not dance attendance. Have I

-it is made. It is to your honor, I admit, but I will not repeat it-I shall disappear. It is more simple. Yes

iotte! J

ou have fallen-For

said Sulpice,

y: when you have fallen-then, oh! then, don't fea

re ver

en!-I will always offer you my hand. Yes, this hand shall always be extended to you. You will find

s under

: Monsieur le Ministre; I could not. It is not familiar to me. I cannot help

u will

are over

nk y

e me! I love

are down!"

!" exclaime

u had to say to me?

that e

Au revoir

! Till-you

atened, I will call upon you. Don'

grily shrugging his shoulders

o his carriage, the messengers rising to bow

ies of each day were so well ordered in advance, and besides, the attendants at the d

human species in an evil aspect. He had never felt envious of any one, and it seemed

imal of a Jéliotte is not such a simpleton!-There ar

awarded himself a

ward his overcoat. Certainly, he only knew the men by their heads, bald or crowned with locks, as the case might be. His colleagues were gathered together, awaiting him, and chatting in the salon, decorated in white and gold, the invariable salon of official apartments with the inevitable Sèvres vases with deep-blue, light-green or buff color grounds, placed upon consoles or pedestals. The portfolios appeared stuffe

ess of his department, sometimes debated in private council. Each having

It is your turn, m

efecture, finding that this Ministerial Council recalled the mean impression invoked by his provincial recollections, at other times, a vein of poesy would flit across his mind, or an eloquent word would reach his ear, suggesting to him the thought that,

d suddenly felt himself recalled to the urgent reality when his colleague, the Minister of War, a spare man with a grizzled moustache, dropped an infrequent remark in which, in the laconic speech of a soldier, could be comprehended some cause of anxiety or of hope. Sulpice listened t

s, proposed to the President, who listened attentively but without replying, some reform to which Vaudrey was perfectly indifferent. He did not even hear his colleague's dull speech

little birds that chased one another among the branches. His thoughts were far, very far away from the table where the sober sile

that Marianne wore yesterday at Sabine's. He seemed to catch that fleeting smile, the exact expression of which he sought to recall, that pec

could such a woman be! Terrible,

as it were, carried away by such a dominating influence. Waking, he fou

o cha

l'Intérieur is the next

ey, therefore, needed a moment's reflection, a hasty self-examination to recognize his own personality: Monsieur le Ministre de l'Intérieur! This title only called up his ego after a momentary

that had been made to him. Within a week he would finish his plan of prefectorial changes. He s

defeated in advance by Warcolier. Granet must have laid siege to the ministers one by one. The President was entirely in Warcolier's favor. Warcolier's amiability, tact, the extraordinary facilit

I am neither in favor of jacobinism nor suspicion, but there

politic," said Monsie

m offered to th

t is not so

ust put up with Warcolier. It was his task to manage matters so

resident signed his appointment

thought Vaudrey, who again recalled

and in a tone of irritated surprise, instead of the lofty, patriotic considerations that Vaudrey expected of him, Vaudrey heard him muttering behind his moustache about soldiers' cap-str

all the seriousness of a judge of the Court of Appeal: "Above all, messieurs, no innovations, don't try to do t

ness?" said Vau

he wave of daily events. He was determined to put his ideas into force, to give life and durability to his ministry. There was no use in being a minister if h

rusque way: "Well! my dear colleague, Warcolier's election does not seem to have pleased you?

heartily behind his clos

riage and returned to th

me of joyous freedom for Sulpice. He felt soothe

und the table like so many inspectors, rather than servants, he dared not manifest himself. He scarcely spoke. He felt that he was watched and listened to. The valet who passed him the dishes watched over Monsieur le Ministre. He imagined that his attendants in their silent reflections compared th

apartment that she had furnished with such refined taste were left her. She felt half lost in those vast, cold salons of that ancient H?tel Beauvau,-cold in spite of their stoves, and which partook at one and the same time of the provisional domicile and the furnished apartment,-with its defaced gilded panels, and here and there a crack in the ceilin

r my accustomed furnit

rning receptions, as he alighted from his carriage

e and was suddenly overcome with sadness on seeing him absorbed in thought. She dared not question

ook, my good Sulpice

explained the Wa

said, "you will have man

miling gr

At least, confine your likes to that, Su

ly, but she drew back abruptly. A valet entered with a dignif

kind and gentle. How nervous he was and quickly disturbed! Truly, Warcoli

. Vaudrey imposed silence by a sign. T

decorated with various designs and marked with the initials of Louis Philippe, L.P., intertwined, or with the monogram of the Empire, N.; the gilt was worn off, the fillets of gold half obliterat

ed her appetite. Sulpice, sad himself, scarcely spoke and in mute preoccupation, in turn confused the shrewd, sly Granet, the intriguing Warcolier, and M

her endeavors were but wasted; if he abandoned the train of his reflections, it was merely to express a thought in rapid tones, and he seemed momenta

f occupying this strange mansion, she would have rushed to him, and seated on his knees, taken his burning head between her little h

carefully and anxiously watched Sulpice's mortified countenance. Since his entry on his mi

he matter with you, i

hing-Be

ul lackeys? Before these impassive attendants, who, though apparently obsequious, might in reality be hostile, and who looked at them with cold glances? What a dista

d not thought of it:

the coffee at

and. He, however, as if he shunned this tête-à-tête, eager as he was for solitude, quickly attrib

uncil perhaps?" remark

le fresh air-I will take a round in the

ake me?" sh

d. Then, in an almost em

to think-to work-There is no sitting at the Chamber

o delightful and beneficial to have gone to the Bois together on such a bright day! But you and your affairs before everything,

was so complete an expression of her love. Then her affection was so deep, and her calm like the face of

radually showing itself, like two lovers bound for a country party. At the same time he felt a desperate longing to be alo

o session of the Chamber for a whole week, he would go out with Adrienne the next day. The coachman could drive them

" said

ity of avoiding so many d

ce la

d Adrienne, whose face was pink with delight

lpice, ingenuously. "Wha

me? No

d at him

arisian tint. Only remain a minister for some time,

ffered her

happy to feel

ersations, from all that excitement that he delighted in, but which at times left him crushed and feverish at the close of the day. He became once more master of his thoughts, of his meditation. He belonge

egetate in some corner of the earth and to resume in very truth an altogether different life from the exasperating, irritating life that he led in Paris, always, so to spea

ned him the adoration of this woman, yes, he was happy, very happy: to bless life, to excite envy, to arouse jealousy, to appear simply ridiculous if he complained of destiny; and nevertheless, at the bottom of his soul, discontented without knowing why, consumed by intangible, fev

ries into cities, accompanied by the fluttering of flags and the flourish of trumpets. He pictured conquests, victories, exaltations! Theatrical m

him. He loved

ished dreams, and the desires of a particular love that the passion for Adrienne, although absolute, could not satisfy. This man ha

raised, disclosing dazzling fairy scenery, and since then that scenery had been always before him. It banished, during his drive, all peace, and while the coupé threaded its way along the Faubourg Saint-Honoré toward the Arc-de-Triomphe, the minister who, but two hours before, had been plunged in state affairs, settled himself down in a corner of the carriage, his

hat troubled him at twenty. Love in the heart means fewer white hairs on the brow. And then, indeed, he would never, perhaps, see Mademoiselle Kayser again! He would, however, do everything to see her again at the coming soirée at the ministry, an invitation-Suddenly

call on Ramel. He was determined to show him that he w

to the coachman, lowering one of the w

rd the right, reaching the outer

e background, on being nothing and loving his friends only when they were in defeat, as Jéliotte had said. Well, Vaudr

d the door to him, he found himself in a workman's dwelling that had been transformed by artistic taste into the small museum of a virtuoso. After having passed through a na

with markers covered with notes. The apartment was small and humble: a narrow bedroom with an iron bedstead, a dressing room, a tiny dining-room furnished with cane-seated chairs, and the well-l

walk from which he soon returned exhausted. He had formerly worked so assiduously and had given, in and out of season, all his energy, his nerves and his body, improvising and scattering to the winds his appeals, his protests, h

colored flag that waved from the frontal of a Primary Normal School that he took delight in watching; then at the right, in the distance, throbbing like an incessant fever

ould be just as well for one to struggle-a lost unity-against folly, as for a si

murdered by announcing him as Monsieur Vaugrey. He placed a chair for him,

of the pre

Vaudrey

ion, the advice he used to obtain, and also to try to drag the headstrong

uch better to have an opposition press than one that you ha

journalist, "that you are the first among my friends who hav

othing more contemptible than ingrates. In my opinion, to remember what one o

are not so well skilled as that in orthography. There are not a few good little creatures to be sent back to school. All the

ed with humor, like pure water into which a drop of gin has been poured, more

d the veteran. "For their stupidity? I pity them, I h

that have ceased to be current and have acquired a higher value as commemorative medals. He could unbosom himself to h

ready said-if I h

I am t

our a

dress, since you find yourself here now, or to tell

, but with a learned man. He would find at hand whenever he needed it, the old, ever faithful devotedness of this

mel?" said Sulpice, a li

ectly

bition for anyt

ilosophically the ho

at his own familiar rema

ere, here in my armchair, or in my bed, suddenly, or perhaps after a long illness-this would weary me, as a lingering illness is repugnant to me-and you will read in one or two journals a short paragraph announcing that the obsequies of Monsieur Denis Ramel,

hese last words into which he infused a dash of irony. He nullified it, h

of mediocrities, or to speak plainly-I know no more picturesque term-of dodgers,-you move about with all the illusions and tastes of an artist. You are like the brave fellows of our army, poets of war, as it were, who hurled themselves to their destruction against regiments of engineers.

does me to hear the sincere thoughts of a man one can re

easy transition to the confessions o

f State in a Republican administration, a man who had played chara

er, burst in

ays do favors to their enemies when their opponents pretend to lo

vex you, then,

trite expression, is not touched by such absurdities, and I am persuaded that progress does not lag and that the cause of liberty gains ground, in spite of so much injustice and folly. I confess, however, that I som

f up to the revelation of the secret of his heart without the least bitterness, and like an elder brother, advised this man, who

bune more uncouth and assertive than you really are. In times when the word sympathet

d in that," said Sulp

e me, my dear friend, it is dangerous to have too refined a taste, even in office, even in the rank in which you are placed. One hesitates to proclaim the excessively stupid things that stir the crowd, and the blockhead who is bold enough to declare

n paradox-"

not at cost, for it has cost me dearly, but in block,-my stock of experi

minister, with in

dangerous. Women who complain that they are denied political rights, have in reality all, since they are able to rule administrations and knock ministers off, as the Du Barry did her

quickly. For some years, moreover, the strange phenomenon has presented itself of the provincial towns being the prey of Parisian manufacturers, who reconstruct them and demolish their picturesque antiquity, in order to garnish their boulevards and fine mansions, while Paris, on the contrary, is directed and governed by provincials, who provincialize it just as the Parisian companies parisianize the provinces. Our provincials, astonished to find themselves at the head of Parisian movement, lose their heads somewhat and rush with immoderate appetites at the delicate feast. They have the gluttony of famished children, and on the most perilous question they are simply gourmands. It is woman again to whom I refer. T

as with a knife, expressed by the old journalist without passion, without exasperatio

y saddening observations he had himself made more than once. It was precisely to put an end to such abuses, folly, and provin

ld not be his last, he would often return to this Rue Bo

of carriages nor the sound of street-cries is heard. I have passed a few days in a palace-in '48,-at the Tuileries, as a national guard: at the end of two hours, I heard nothing. The carpets, the curtains, stifled

g," replied Sulpice, "and I will strive to unde

el shook

ve against you the bureaux, those sacrosanct bureaux that have governed this country since bur

w it," said Vau

ou have already allowe

said to the minister, leaning on his arm, with

t there is always some ra

id Vaudrey, "you

enhauer is not unplea

seat at the window corner, while the minister carried away from this interview, as if he had not alrea

f going back, on this beautiful February day, to his official apartm

!" he said to the coachman, a

reely. This exterior boulevard that he rolled along was full of merry pedestrians. One would hav

him a pessimist, but inwardly he acknowledged that the old stager, who had rema

attracted as he was by the joyous movement, the del

red his self-possession and became himself once more. He drew his breath more freely in that long avenue where,

life! Just now, at the foot of the Arc de Triomphe, he had seen people dressed in blouses, sleeping like Andalu

d, now growing green, only a few isolated pedestrians, some English governesses in charge of scamp

early sun, lowered the shade and breathed the keen air while he repeate

od so deserted? It

uld have been so happy for this advanced spring day. She required so

cting that he would not hav

e joy of the present moment was this solitary silence, the bath of wa

, encircled with pines, like an artificial Swis

carriage to the left in orde

t played, and on which two or three skiffs glided noisel

iver was peacefully sleeping in the sunshine, with his head leaning on his right

in dark relief against the violet-blue of the lake, a woman stood surrounded by a group of

the water and looked at her with

lpice felt a strange emotion. His leg

er. Either there was an extraordinary resemblance b

a reality that brings in our path the being about whom one has just been thinking. He had frequently observed this fact. He had already descended from his carriage to go to her, taking a little pathway under the furze in order to reach the wate

urprised Marianne would be. As h

athers were entwined with a fringe of old gold bullion. Vaudrey noted every detail of this living statuette of a Parisian woman: between a little veil knotted behind her head and the lace ruching of her cloak, light, golden curls fell on her neck, and in that frame

her small black veil, drawn tightly over her face, and whose dots looked like so many patches on her face, Vaudrey at first obs

said-"you, Monsi

. There was more abandon in the first, which seemed more like a cry, b

t was a fine day; he was tired; he wished to

am here. Ask the-my coachman. H

ed tone, under which either

s, marbled like Cordovan leather, with iridescent green or blue necks, whose tone suggested Venetian glassware, all of them hurrying, stretching their necks, opening their

nk I should have the honor o

Vaudrey. "I, I s

aight into his

" she said. "I come from the Contin

is t

thi

ng, you would not

to continue my riddle, behold me feeding these ducks. God knows why! I detest the creatures. The state feeds them badly, Monsieur le Ministre, I tell you: they are fam

to laugh nervo

e isn't

el that he swallowed

are some that have got nothing of all the bread that I have thrown them, and there are others who ha

u are wandering into the re

hat hurried on all sides, left the water, waddled about, uttering their nois

ulpice, in a voice that ce

was left, brushed her gloved fingers, and, turning toward the

u have? The black butterflie

houlders hidden under her cloak, her face half-veiled and quite pale, he thought her still more disquietingly charming. Moreover, the st

ed to him that some magnetic thought led to this deserted spot these two beings, who but yesterday had only exchanged commonplace remarks and who, in this

s I cast the brown bread to those ducks? An idyll, is it not? Well! I was thinking that if one dar

ed at her stupidly, his glance

im! and besides, I can swim better

experienced a singular delight in feeling the

feverish,

be, at a

ll harsh, as if s

at friend-has, then, ca

cards in your life-Come! how stupid I am!" she said bitterl

from the border of the lake, going toward the end of the path w

g on leaving the Bo

don't

made a

fraid," she said. "I want to live. Fe

om

my un

urself the affairs of Monsieur Jouvenet, your Prefect of Police. I kno

th a smile, "is because he has le

!" said

achman for a moment. "Don't you think it would be very wrong to waken hi

divining under this ques

eyes were never

ans floated with their pure white wings extended and striking the water with their feet, raising all around them a white foam, like snow falling in flakes. The blue

rocks, the smooth ivy, and on the horizon some hinds browsing, in the far distance, as in a desert, the bare grass as yellow as ripe

end of the world," said Sulpice, wi

ly reply, as she pointed with the tip o

aid. "That end of the wor

see how isolate

ny heels of her boots made imprints like kisses upon a cheek, she walked in front of him, the shadows of the small branches dappling her black dress, while

right trunks of birch-trees, and far above it, the pale blue sky; the abyss of heaven, strewn with milky clouds and throughout the

ed her gently, walking by her side, at first not speaking, then little by little returning to that th

ring, in this wood where everything is awakening to life? I

d as if he had known her for years. He forgot everything, as if the worl

weary of life, but I see that most frequen

pped su

as he waited for

g. No,

the path, to a broader alley which brought them back to th

You reproach me for not liking blue, Monsieur le Ministre, see

Why should she give him that title which here an

le droll expression, her pretty mouth y

turned to my carriage,

pleases me,"

de is nothing, but it suffices

t?" exclaim

still projected between them

he Bois often?" a

. W

ntly return here," he s

be love-making?" said Marianne, who pi

on, or to press his lips upon her bare neck upon which the

every word, "it is very likely that I shall return frequently to

astened its thorns to the folds of her sa

said S

ead on the russe

said Marianne. "The bra

er bosom turned toward him and half-stooping, looked at th

bramble aw

e," h

ank

ale and looked at her with so penetrating an expression that she blushed slightly-from pleasure, perhaps,-and until they rea

Sulpice, suddenly, with an effort at boldne

you again,

she said, keeping h

?" he asked, without r

know-at

our h

d abruptly, "I w

promi

At the ministry, Per

at he was saying, while Marianne's coachman whipped his ho

gloved fingers appeared behind the window and that he cau

disappeared i

d the minister, as he

ning appeared with pale nuns, and old men with red decorations stretched out under lap-robes. Pretty girls with pale countenances pierced with bright eyes, like fragments of coal in flour, showed t

ough an open gateway between two high posts surmounted by two lamps, in a passage leading to a huge white mansion whose slate roof was ablaze with sunlight. An infantry soldier in red trousers, with a s

ures bearing two huge capital letters: R.F., read

door, rushed up to the halted

he placed his foot in the antechamber

rst Cha

s of bread around her, which were eagerly