s to his visitor.

"Very good, Monsieur le comte," said Antonin, returning them.

"Make a list of all the votes on which the ministry may count. Above
all, let no one suspect that you and I understand each other. I am a
speculator in land, and I don't care a fig for elections."

"I will send the commissary of police to force you to inscribe your name
on Poupart's register."

"So do. Adieu, monsieur. Heavens! what a region this is," said the
count, in a loud voice; "one can't take a step without having the
community, sub-prefect and all, on one's back."

"You will have to answer to the commissary of police, monsieur," said
Antonin, in an equally loud tone.

And for the next twenty minutes Madame Mollot talked of the altercation
that took place between the sub-prefect and the stranger.

"Well, what wood is the beam that has plumped into our bog made of?"
said Olivier Vinet when Antonin Goulard rejoined them on leaving the
Mulet.

"He is a Comte Maxime who is here to study the geological system
of Champagne, with a view to finding mineral waters," replied the
sub-prefect, with an easy manner.

"Say a speculator," said Oliver.

"Does he expect to get the natives to lay out capital?" asked Monsieur
Martener.

"I doubt if our royalists will go into that kind of mining," remarked
Vinet, laughing.

"What should you think from the air and gestures of Madame Marion?" said
the sub-prefect turning off the subject by pointing to Madame Marion and
Simon, who were deep in conversation.

Simon had gone toward the bridge to meet his aunt, and was now walking
with her up the square.

"If he was accepted one word would suffice," said the shrewd Olivier.

"Well?" said all the officials when Simon came to them under the
lindens.

"My aunt thinks the matter very hopeful," replied Simon. "Madame
Beauvisage and old Grevin, who has just gone to Gondreville, were not at
all surprised at my proposals; they talked of our respective fortunes,
and said they wished to leave Cecile perfectly free to make her choice.
Besides which, Madame Beauvisage said that, as for herself, she saw
no objection to an alliance by which she should feel herself honored;
although she postponed all answer until after my election, and possibly
my first appearance in the Chamber. Old Grevin said he should consult
the Comte de Gondreville, without whose advice he never took any
important step."

"All of which means," said Goulard, point-blank, "that yo