e. Have I asked you to
dance attendance?"

"No, not yet--I called simply to see if I should be received. Yes, it is
merely in the nature of an experiment--it is made. It is to your honor,
I admit, but I will not repeat it--I shall disappear. It is more simple.
Yes, I have told you and I was determined to tell you that you will
never see me, so long as you are a minister."

"Ah! Jeliotte! Jeliotte!"

"Never--not until you have fallen--For one always falls--"

"Fortunately," said Sulpice, with a laugh.

"Fortunately or unfortunately, that depends. I say: when you have
fallen--then, oh! then, don't fear, I will not be the one to turn my
back on you--"

"You are very kind."

"Whatever you may have said or done, you understand, while you are in
power--and power intoxicates men!--I will always offer you my hand. Yes,
this hand shall always be extended to you. You will find plenty of
people who will turn their backs on you at that moment. Not I! I am a
friend in dark days--"

"That is understood."

"I will leave you to your glory, Vaudrey. I crave pardon for not styling
you: Monsieur le Ministre; I could not. It is not familiar to me. I
cannot help it. I am not the friend for the hour of success, but for
that of misfortune."

"And you will return?"

"When you are overthrown!--"

"Thank you!"

"That is like me! I love my friends."

"When they are down!" said Sulpice.

"That is so!" exclaimed Jeliotte.

"And is that all you had to say to me?" the minister asked.

"Is not that enough?"

"Yes! yes! _Au revoir_, Jeliotte."

"_Au revoir!_ Till--you know when."

"Yes. When I feel my position threatened, I will call upon you. Don't be
afraid. That time will come."

"The idiot!" said Sulpice, angrily shrugging his shoulders, when the
advocate was gone.

He snatched his hat and went out hurriedly to his carriage, the
messengers rising to bow to him as he passed through the antechamber.

It was hardly necessary for him to order his coachman to drive to the
Elysee. The duties of each day were so well ordered in advance, and
besides, the attendants at the department knew quite as well as the
minister if a Council was to be held at the Elysee.

Sulpice was somewhat upset. Jeliotte's visit, following that of Granet,
presented the human species in an evil aspect. He had never felt envious
of any one, and it seemed to him that the whole world should be
gratified at his modest bearing under success.

"For, af