new life too well to take upon himself to answer this query.
The attorney-general, on the contrary, having a most exalted sense
of his own political importance, did not miss the opportunity to put
himself forward.

"When Monsieur de Trailles communicated to me this morning a letter from
Madame Beauvisage," he hastened to say, "I had just received one from my
son, conveying to me very much the same information. I am of Monsieur
de Trailles' opinion, that the affair may become very serious for our
adversary, provided, however, that it is well managed."

"I know, as yet, very little about the affair," remarked the minister.
"As I wished for your opinion in the first place, my dear Vinet, I
requested Monsieur de Trailles to postpone his explanation of its
details until you could be present at the discussion."

This time Maxime was plainly authorized and even required to speak, but
again Vinet stole the opportunity.

"Here is what my son Olivier writes me, and it is confirmed by the
letter of Madame Beauvisage, in whom, be it said in passing, my dear
minister, you have lost a most excellent deputy. It appears that on the
last market-day Maitre Achille Pigoult, who is left in charge of the
affairs of the new deputy, received a visit from a peasant-woman of
Romilly, a large village in the neighborhood of Arcis. The mysterious
father of the deputy, the so-called Marquis de Sallenauve, declared
himself to be the last remaining scion of the family; but it seems
that this woman produced papers in due form, which show her to be
a Sallenauve in the direct line, and within the degree of parentage
required to constitute her an heir."

"Was she as ignorant of the existence of the Marquis de Sallenauve as
the marquis seems to have been of hers?" asked Rastignac.

"That does not clearly appear from what she says," replied the
attorney-general; "but it might so happen among relations so curiously
placed."

"Go on, if you please," said Rastignac; "before we draw conclusions we
must know the facts, which, as you are aware, is not always done in the
Chamber of deputies."

"Fortunately, sometimes, for the ministers," remarked Maxime, laughing.

"Monsieur is right," said Vinet; "hail to the man who can muddle
questions. But to return to our peasant-woman. Not being satisfied,
naturally, with Maitre Pigoult's reception of her news, she went into
the market-square, and there by the help of a legal practitioner from
her village, who se