His Excellency the Minister

ffspring of the aggregation of millions. Instead of the cobbler's stall, the red-bedaubed shop of the dealer in wines, the nakedness of an outer boulevard, here in this spot of earth al

gant, overdone: the colossal in proximity to the attractive, the vastness of a grand American hotel casting its shadow over an Italian loggia. It partook at once

s in Rue Prony. Since the flight of the pretty courtesan, it bears the sad notice: Residence to let. Its fast closed shutters give it the gloomy appearance of a deserted boudoir. Complete silence succeeds feverish bustle! Vanda was a boisterous, madcap spendthrift. Through the old windows with their old-fashioned panes there often used to esca

ssisted her in taking up her abode, building her hopes on Mademoiselle Kayser's beauty as on some temporary profitable investment. As the old woman looked at her, she shook her head. Mar

s the favorable moment for success. One does

ed her tattered skirts through the streets, or overwhelmed with debts, ruined forever, strangled by liabilities. This commercial term made her smile ironically when she thought of it. Against her she had her past, her adventurous life, almost the life of a courtesan, carried away by the current of her amor

rateful acknowledgments are good; w

considered h

her outlay. And what mattered it if she plunged deeper while she was taking a dive, as she expresse

know how

eassured, moreover, and spurred on as she was by the Du

a man like Vaudrey,-a minis

etites of a man of forty. This provincial, hungry for Parisianism,-very young in feelings and soul,-felt, as soon as he found himself in Marianne's company, mad

n was making on Sulpice. She studied its rapid progress with all the sang-froid of a physician. She regulated the doses of her toxicant, the poison of her glance instilled into the veins of this man. Determined to become his mistress, she desired to fall in the guise of a woman madly in love, and not as an ordinary courtesan. With any other man than Vaudrey, she woul

ly, of loving truly, as in the case of Rosas. But, this time, she would not let Vaudrey escape her by flight,

id to herself self-confidentl

reoccupation, she shrugged he

itten, as he said. If I hav

ony. He was happier when he thought he had made a forward step in Marianne's affections than when he had acquired new votes from the minority in the Chamber. Ambitious projects yielded to the consuming desire that he felt toward this woman. At the m

hudder with remorse, would beseech him to work less, to take som

I assure you. You look wo

ve changes. There are so m

n't Monsieur Warcolier there?

the minister sharply,

tion, it is true, was near. In less than a month, Vaudrey would have more time at his disposal. But for more than three weeks yet, th

chambre received him with all the deference that "domestics" show when they suspect that the visitor brings any kind of subsidy to the house. To Vaudrey, there was a sort of mystery in Mademoi

estion by remarking that his niece was a sly puss who understood l

er had added. "I considered her a light-headed creature, nothing more. Fool that I was! she

asked

morality! I would have in it figures that have style, character. I don't ask for saintly pictures, but moral allegories, austere art. I understand only

is dinner, the paté de foie gras washed down with k

be made only to excuse a fall-nay, even urged to sudden temptations, to chance love, to violent caprices; and on leaving the house, where he had spoken to Marianne only in compliments a hundred times repeated, and where she had but re-echoed sarcasms full of tender, double meanings, as a woman who would undo

oman enticed him all the more. It seemed to him that not only had he entered upon a romantic course, but that he was himself the hero of the romance. Never, in the days when he rolled about, an unknown student, on the Parisian wave, and had lifted his thoughts toward some pale patrician girl, toward some pretty creature he had caught a glim

rst for Parisine? But what matter? Let Mademoiselle Kayser be what she will and I

e wife, not the "woman." She was the darling, not the love. Vaudrey would have severed one of his arms to spare her any heavy sorrow, but he was not anxious about Adrienne. She knew nothing, she would know nothing. And what fault, moreover, had he c

ong have

e tips of her slippers, that furtively peeped from beneath the lace of her skirt as a little bird might protrude its bea

rware, was provided by the Dujarrier, came to announce with the discreet, banterin

pholst

frowned

did he

he would retu

ing?" said Marianne

gold coins rattling on the wood caused her to smile; then, with the tips of her white fingers, she spread out the louis at the bottom of the drawer, which she abr

l not go much further," sh

y duty, who disposed of her life as seemed best to her, without being under the necessity of accounting to either husband or lover. Free, she made of her liberty pleasure or passion according to her fancy. The frightful, practical questions, the daily necessities, were lost sight of by this man who

s of velvet thrown widely apart and allowing the whiteness of her neck and chest to be seen under folds of old lace. Her fair hair fell upon her velvet

was awaiting him and arranging bundles of papers in a basket with gilded feet and lined with pink satin. She extended her hand to him. It was

ng," said t

t gallant of men," said

en of looking at me? Usually,

at I have for you

, then? I a

rianne, an absolute,

heard you in the tribune. A declaration of love costs you no more than a ministerial de

dified the expression of weariness or sulkiness which Marianne suggested

uptly; "I am very s

cause?" ask

ged her s

ntrol them. When I am out of sorts, there is invari

it, Marianne, for I swear to you that I would

so commonplace that one could only ackno

n I am," replied Vaudrey, in a tone

. She could read that

the more solicitous to keep them and to a

close to Marianne. "What trouble

him; they were quite cold. As he bent toward her to plead with her to speak, he felt her gentle breath, inhaled the perfume of her delicate, fair skin, and saw the exquisite curves of her body outline

ve any sorrow whatever, that I can

ulpice's warm grasp. "But it is worse: it is a financial worry, yes, financial

hrown into the work-basket, and said in a tone

se: the accounts of clamorous creditors, upholsterers

your

s a rented one and nothing in it is paid

gan to

all these things for which I am now indebted and which must be paid for at once, and now I am about to be sued. There! you were determined to urge me to confess all that-Such are my worrie

, who looked at the young woman with a sort of frank co

th her feet crossed, beat the little fev

t unreflectingly, refused at present to accord him the full measure of her confidence. She repeated that nothing that could be a source of annoyance or sordid, ought to sadden her f

to whom the least detail of your life is interesting. To me who see you preoc

y, gold-speckled eyes flashing, she seemed to yield to a viole

she, after a moment's silence,-Sulpice shuddered under her glance,-"it is better to be frank, and if you love me as you say

e her nostrils dilated under the impulse of bitter anger-standing thus, she began to narrate her life to Vaudrey who was seated in front of her, looking up to her-as if at her knees. Her story was a sad one of a wicked childhood, ignorant youth, wasted early years, melancholy, sins, outbursts of faith, falls, returns of love, pride, virtue, restitution through repentance, scourged hopes, dead confid

rrying you?" she

" sai

her with a te

s gleamed with

to sink in the deep mud or to do like so many others,-to take a lover and save myself through luxury, since I could not recover myself through passion. Bah! the wo

before whose mind the d

him the oth

r spoken to him. Well! w

have been Rosas's mistress? Deal for deal, that was a good bargain, at least! I accept Rosas! It was to receive him that I was foolish enough to

sas?" asked Vaudrey

H

nne l

ely. I regretted him momentarily-but, bah! I should have sent him away-yes, ver

minister, looking keen

ing her voice. "And do you kno

red Sulpice

longer loved him, and

in such passionate, vibrating tones that

her, "is that the reason? Truly

on, transported, insane from this avowal; his hands sought hers and drew her to him. He clasped her to his bosom, intoxicated by the pressu

eat nobleman has not done, do you think I cannot do? You are in your own home, you understa

you have it s

to her cheek and then to her lips, there they rested long in a ravishing kiss that filled him with the languishing sensation of swooning, he holdi

seale

ssion of him on leaving this place melted before this dream: the possession of that woman. He forgot the assembly, the foyer, that human crowd that he ruled from the height of the tribune, and Adrienne, who was seated yonder at the window, awaiting him. He forgot everything. Like thos

from Grenoble, had snatched this woman from a duke and, like a great nobleman, had paid the debts that she had contracted. He raised hi

aid to Marianne,-whose hands he held and whose fac

that I am saved. Our house, you said so, we are in our own house here.

"Come, we will find the means-On my s

ly advance a hundred thousand francs that he had at this moment lying idle. Gochard only needed a bill of exchange in his favor for one hundred thousand francs at three months' date, plus interest at five per cent. This Gochard was a very straightforward c

onsieur Gochard live?"

anne. "On receipt of a bill of exchange from me, Madame Dujarrier woul

" said Vaudrey to himself, "in a vast placer

phiny. If need be, without Adrienne's even knowing it,

ated. But in his case there would have

ve delayed before snatching this woman from the claws of her creditors. A hundred thousand francs, a mere trifle for the count! Well, Vaudrey would give it

a pen, M

t was lying on the blotting pad of Russia leather, among

u going to d

he inkstand, but drew it imperceptibly nearer to Sulpice, who with a

is sufficient, I suppose

enced t

you say?

ice's shoulder and saw him rapidly write s

chard-Go-go

id, as he handed her

t is thereon, or I

r fingers as if to tear it to

ep it; it is the best reply you can

ne, with a toss of her head, s

wish to feel myself not a littl

is lips and kissed them, as well as her face, neck, ear and mouth, which he covered with kisses; and Marianne, s

Oh! the big boy!-You will le

e was permeated with strong odors. He flung to

e la Mad

eyes to pict

he lines that he had so hastily written: I guarantee to Monsieur Adolphe Gochard a bill of exchange at three mont

" she said; "a woman's scheming

the few pieces that remained scattered about the drawer, like so many waifs of luxury. Then, slowly returning to her armchair, she sank into it, clasping her two hands behind her head and gazing at the ceiling, her thoughts wandered in dreams-a crowd of little ambitious thoughts passed through her brain like dri

s of his dreams. Glorious as it was to be all-powerful, it was better to be loved. Everything whirled about within his brain, he thought he still heard Denis Ramel talking to him, and in a twinkling, Marianne's s

raised his head instinctively, expanded his lungs with the air, and threw out his chest. He thought that people looked at him attentively. Some passers-by tur

c matters now fastened their collar on him, there were signatures to be subscribed, reports to be read, telegrams, routine work; in a word, vulgar profes

nd if "cela se voyait" as they say. There was also a feeling of remorse involved in this eagerness. He wished to satisfy himself tha

e heard the sound of voices beyon

itor?" he inquire

le Ministre-Mon

ance brings him her

d entered, extending

is very kind

oped toward Adrienne to kiss her brow unc

to greet Your Excellency. It is your

oor Adrienne does not receive many visits

from time to time. Madame," said Lissac jocosely, "it is a fact that this devilish minister deserves that you should receive dec

ual expression of tender devotion as profound as her soul.

alone, I shall allow myself to come here sometimes to keep her comp

Adrienne and added, with the c

rocco,-is his portfolio a morocco one?-is worth the happiness of having such a wife as you. And

complain of the sadness and dreariness of her life. He was hurt by it. After all, he did all that he could to gratify his wife. But a man like

oughts, she quickly added, interrupting the

o Monsieur de Lissac. I am

tly nervous grasp. The trustful, good-natured, pure smile that Adrienne

r wi

on, a sort of caress, proceeding from one heart

you will allow me, madame, I will occasionally co

sieur de Lissac," Adrienne said,

audrey in a most prof

him through the salo

A form of imprisonment! Do not neglect to wheedle the majority, my dear minister, but don't forget your wife. Come! I will not act traitorously toward you, but I warn you that if I often find you

, giving him a little frien

all fall in love with her, and I forewarn you that it i

!" Sulpice

re he found heaped-up reports awaiting his attention and he tur

cond Ch

ice's shoulder and saw him rapidly write s

chard-Go-go