cs in the town, as the secret proconsul of Touraine.
Archbishop, general, prefect, all men, great and small, were under his
occult dominion. The Baron de Listomere decided at once on his course.

"I shall take care," he said to his uncle, "not to get another round
shot below my water-line."

Three days after this diplomatic conference between the uncle and
nephew, the latter, returning hurriedly in a post-chaise, informed his
aunt, the very night of his arrival, of the dangers the family were
running if they persisted in supporting that "fool of a Birotteau." The
baron had detained Monsieur de Bourbonne as the old gentleman was taking
his hat and cane after the usual rubber of whist. The clear-sightedness
of that sly old fox seemed indispensable for an understanding of the
reefs among which the Listomere family suddenly found themselves; and
perhaps the action of taking his hat and cane was only a ruse to have it
whispered in his ear: "Stay after the others; we want to talk to you."

The baron's sudden return, his apparent satisfaction, which was quite
out of keeping with a harassed look that occasionally crossed his face,
informed Monsieur de Bourbonne vaguely that the lieutenant had met with
some check in his crusade against Gamard and Troubert. He showed
no surprise when the baron revealed the secret power of the Jesuit
vicar-general.

"I knew that," he said.

"Then why," cried the baroness, "did you not warn us?"

"Madame," he said, sharply, "forget that I was aware of the invisible
influence of that priest, and I will forget that you knew it equally
well. If we do not keep this secret now we shall be thought his
accomplices, and shall be more feared and hated than we are. Do as I do;
pretend to be duped; but look carefully where you set your feet. I did
warn you sufficiently, but you would not understand me, and I did not
choose to compromise myself."

"What must we do now?" said the baron.

The abandonment of Birotteau was not even made a question; it was a
first condition tacitly accepted by the three deliberators.

"To beat a retreat with the honors of war has always been the triumph of
the ablest generals," replied Monsieur de Bourbonne. "Bow to Troubert,
and if his hatred is less strong than his vanity you will make him your
ally; but if you bow too low he will walk over you rough-shod; make
believe that you intend to leave the service, and you'll escape him,
Monsieur le baron. Send away Birotteau, m