lmer is a member of a committee which is to decide upon the
course a certain railroad is to take. I wish to secure his vote for the
left road."

"How odd! What difference can it make to you?"

"It would occupy too much time to explain that, and might not interest
you. The important question is, can he be induced to vote for this left
road?"

"I dare say; I do not doubt it,--that is, if you are really in earnest,
and can promise me my invitation to the ball in exchange for his vote."

"The one depends upon the other," replied Madeleine. "I had the good
fortune to secure the vote of Mr. Gobert, the banker of Monsieur de
Fleury, and"--

"Mr. Gobert votes for the left road? Ah, that increases the difficulty.
My husband makes a point of never voting as he does,--never! It is
enough that Mr. Gobert votes one way for him to vote the other."

"That is singular; they are both bankers, and I thought they were
friends."

"It is because they are both bankers that they are the bitterest
enemies. Talk of the jealousies of women, of artists, of men of genius,
of nations! Those are nothing to the jealousy of these rival
capitalists, who are engaged in a perpetual strife to excel each other.
If Mr. Gobert gives a ball that costs two thousand dollars, Mr. Gilmer
gives one that costs four thousand. If Mr. Gobert builds a superb house,
Mr. Gilmer builds a palace. It is a steeple-chase of vanity, in which
the conqueror has for the only price of his victory the delight of
seeing his rival conquered."

"Then you find the difficulty of reconciling Mr. Gilmer to vote for the
left road beyond your skill?"

"No,--no,--I do not say _that_. I do not admit _that_, by any means. But
Mr. Gobert is a great obstacle."

"But one which the pleasure of attending this ball will enable you to
surmount?"

"Yes, I trust so. There is a way,--there is a sacrifice I can make; and
I will not hesitate for such an object. My husband detests, without the
slightest cause, a gentleman who visits me frequently: now, if I
promised not to receive this obnoxious, but very delightful individual
(whom I care nothing about), I think Mr. Gilmer, in return, would be
willing, for once, to cast, his vote on the same side as his enemy. It
would need some such grave inducement, some such unquestionable
sacrifice on my part."

"That sacrifice may also be a prudent action," observed Madeleine.

"Oh, I do not know about that," replied the thoughtless woman of
fashion