t important fact in the political
history of recent years is the possibility, I should say the necessity,
to introduce unity of views in the government of the republic. These are
ideas which you, my dear Garin, have expressed with rare eloquence."

M. Berthier-d'Eyzelles kept silence.

Senator Loyer rolled crumbs with his fingers. He had been formerly a
frequenter of beer-halls, and while moulding crumbs or cutting corks
he found ideas. He raised his red face. And, looking at Garain with
wrinkled eyes wherein red fire sparkled, he said:

"I said it, and nobody would believe it. The annihilation of the
monarchical Right was for the chiefs of the Republican party an
irreparable misfortune. We governed formerly against it. The real
support of a government is the Opposition. The Empire governed
against the Orleanists and against us; MacMahon governed against
the Republicans. More fortunate, we governed against the Right. The
Right--what a magnificent Opposition it was! It threatened, was candid,
powerless, great, honest, unpopular! We should have nursed it. We did
not know how to do that. And then, of course, everything wears out. Yet
it is always necessary to govern against something. There are to-day
only Socialists to give us the support which the Right lent us fifteen
years ago with so constant a generosity. But they are too weak. We
should reenforce them, make of them a political party. To do this at the
present hour is the first duty of a State minister."

Garain, who was not cynical, made no answer.

"Garain, do you not yet know," asked Count Martin, "whether with the
Premiership you are to take the Seals or the Interior?"

Garain replied that his decision would depend on the choice which some
one else would make. The presence of that personage in the Cabinet was
necessary, and he hesitated between two portfolios. Garain sacrificed
his personal convenience to superior interests.

Senator Loyer made a wry face. He wanted the Seals. It was a
long-cherished desire. A teacher of law under the Empire, he gave, in
cafes, lessons that were appreciated. He had the sense of chicanery.
Having begun his political fortune with articles skilfully written in
order to attract to himself prosecution, suits, and several weeks of
imprisonment, he had considered the press as a weapon of opposition
which every good government should break. Since September 4, 1870, he
had had the ambition to become Keeper of the Seals, so that eve