was so far from founding this journal of
dynastic opposition to support and promote his election that, at
the very moment when the prospects of that election seem most
favorable to himself and most disastrous to his rivals, he here
declares publicly, and in the most formal, absolute, and
irrevocable manner that he _renounces his candidacy_.

"What?" cried Thuillier, thinking he had read wrong, or had
misunderstood what he read.

"Go on! go on!" said the mayor of the eleventh.

Then, as Thuillier, with a bewildered air, seemed not disposed to
continue his reading, Minard took the paper from his hands and read the
rest of the article himself, beginning where the other had left off:--

Renounces his candidacy; and he strongly urges the electors to
transfer to Monsieur Minard, mayor of the eleventh arrondissement
and his friend and colleague in his municipal functions, all the
votes with which they seemed about to honor him.

"But this is infamous!" cried Thuillier, recovering his speech; "you
have bought that Jesuit la Peyrade."

"So," said Minard, stupefied by Thuillier's attitude, "the article was
not agreed upon between you?"

"The wretch has profited by my absence to slip it into the paper; I
understand now why he prevented a copy from reaching me to-day."

"My dear friend," said Minard, "what you tell me will seem incredible to
the public."

"I tell you it is treachery; it is an abominable trap. Renounce my
candidacy!--why should I?"

"You understand, my dear friend," said Minard, "that I am truly sorry
if your confidence has been abused, but I have just issued my circular
manifesto; the die is cast, and luck to the lucky now."

"Leave me," said Thuillier; "it is a comedy for which you have paid."

"Monsieur Thuillier," said Minard, in a threatening voice, "I advise you
not to repeat those words, unless you are ready to give me satisfaction
for them."

Happily for Thuillier, who, we may remember, had made his profession
of faith as to civic courage some time before, he was relieved from
answering by Coffinet, who now opened the door of the editorial sanctum,
and announced:--

"Messieurs the electors of the twelfth arrondissement."

The arrondissement was represented on this occasion by five persons. An
apothecary, chairman of the deputation, proceeded to address Thuillier
in the following terms:--

"We have come, monsieur, after taking cognizance of an article inserted
this morni