or, whose face did not seem utterly
unknown to him.

"Monsieur," said this new-comer, "I had the honor of breakfasting with
you not long ago at Vefour's; I was invited to that meeting, afterwards
rather disturbed, by Monsieur Thuillier."

"Ah, very good!" said the barrister, offering a chair; "you are attached
to the staff of a newspaper?"

"Editor-in-chief of the 'Echo de la Bievre,' and it is on the subject
of that paper that I have now called to see you. You know what has
happened?"

"No," said la Peyrade.

"Is it possible you are not aware that the ministry met with terrible
defeat last night? But instead of resigning, as every one expected, they
have dissolved the Chamber and appeal to the people."

"I knew nothing of all that," said la Peyrade. "I have not read the
morning papers."

"So," continued Lousteau, "all parliamentary ambitions will take the
field, and, if I am well informed, Monsieur Thuillier, already member
of the Council-general, intends to present himself as candidate for
election in the 12th arrondissement."

"Yes," said la Peyrade, "that is likely to be his intention."

"Well, monsieur, I desire to place at his disposition an instrument the
value of which I am confident you will not underestimate. The 'Echo de
la Bievre,' a specialist paper, can have a decisive influence on the
election in that quarter."

"And you would be disposed," asked la Peyrade, "to make that paper
support Monsieur Thuillier's candidacy?"

"Better than that," replied Lousteau. "I have come to propose to
Monsieur Thuillier that he purchase the paper itself. Once the
proprietor of it he can use it as he pleases."

"But in the first place," said la Peyrade, "what is the present
condition of the enterprise? In its character as a specialist
journal--as you called it just now--it is a sheet I have seldom met
with; in fact, it would be entirely unknown to me were it not for the
remarkable article you were so good as to devote to Thuillier's defence
at the time his pamphlet was seized."

Etienne Lousteau bowed his thanks, and then said:

"The position of the paper is excellent; we can give it to you on easy
terms, for we were intending shortly to stop the publication."

"That is strange for a prosperous journal."

"On the contrary, it happens to be quite natural. The founders, who were
all representatives of the great leather interest, started this paper
for a special object. That object has been attained. The 'E