ly round these millions. There would be
Marshal Simon, acting in the name of his daughters--that is, the man of
the people become a duke, without being the vainer for it, which secures
his influence with the mob, because military spirit and Bonapartism
still represent, in the eyes of the French populace, the traditions of
national honor and glory. There would be Francis Hardy, the liberal,
independent, enlightened citizen, the type of the great manufacturer,
the friend of progress, the benefactor of his workmen. There would be
Gabriel--the good priest, as they say!--the apostle of the primitive
gospel, the representative of the democracy of the church, of the poor
country curate as opposed to the rich bishop, the tiller of the vine as
opposed to him who sits in the shade of it; the propagator of all
the ideas of fraternity, emancipation, progress--to use their own
jargon--and that, not in the name of revolutionary and incendiary
politics, but in the name of a religion of charity, love, and peace--to
speak as they speak. There, too, would be Adrienne de Cardoville, the
type of elegance, grace, and beauty, the priestess of the senses, which
she deifies by refining and cultivating them. I need not tell you of
her wit and audacity; you know them but too well. No one could be more
dangerous to us than this creature, a patrician in blood, a plebeian in
heart, a poet in imagination. Then, too, there would be Prince Djalma,
chivalrous, bold, ready for adventure, knowing nothing of civilized
life, implacable in his hate as in his affection, a terrible instrument
for whoever can make use of him. In this detestable family, even such
a wretch as Sleepinbuff, who in himself is of no value, raised and
purified by the contact of these generous and far from narrow natures
(as they call them), might represent the working class, and take a large
share in the influence of that association. Now do you not think that if
all these people, already exasperated against us, because (as they say)
we have wished to rob them, should follow the detestable counsels of
this Rennepont--should unite their forces around this immense fortune,
which would strengthen them a hundred-fold--do you not think that, if
they declare a deadly war against us, they will be the most dangerous
enemies that we have ever had? I tell you that the Company has never
been in such serious peril; yes, it is now a question of life and
death. We must no longer defend ourselves, bu