e Commissariat; you have reserves!--But have nothing to do with this
little job, my dear boy; it is too strong of the petticoat to be good
business."

"No, Marshal; it is bad business, for the police courts have a finger in
it. Would you like to see me go there?"

"The devil!" said the Prince uneasily. "Go on!"

"Well, I am in the predicament of a trapped fox. You have always been so
kind to me, that you will, I am sure, condescend to help me out of the
shameful position in which I am placed."

Hulot related his misadventures, as wittily and as lightly as he could.

"And you, Prince, will you allow my brother to die of grief, a man you
love so well; or leave one of your staff in the War Office, a Councillor
of State, to live in disgrace. This Marneffe is a wretched creature; he
can be shelved in two or three years."

"How you talk of two or three years, my dear fellow!" said the Marshal.

"But, Prince, the Imperial Guard is immortal."

"I am the last of the first batch of Marshals," said the Prince.
"Listen, Hector. You do not know the extent of my attachment to you; you
shall see. On the day when I retire from office, we will go together.
But you are not a Deputy, my friend. Many men want your place; but
for me, you would be out of it by this time. Yes, I have fought many a
pitched battle to keep you in it.--Well, I grant you your two requests;
it would be too bad to see you riding the bar at your age and in the
position you hold. But you stretch your credit a little too far. If this
appointment gives rise to discussion, we shall not be held blameless. I
can laugh at such things; but you will find it a thorn under your feet.
And the next session will see your dismissal. Your place is held out as
a bait to five or six influential men, and you have been enabled to keep
it solely by the force of my arguments. I tell you, on the day when you
retire, there will be five malcontents to one happy man; whereas, by
keeping you hanging on by a thread for two or three years, we shall
secure all six votes. There was a great laugh at the Council meeting;
the Veteran of the Old Guard, as they say, was becoming desperately
wide awake in parliamentary tactics! I am frank with you.--And you
are growing gray; you are a happy man to be able to get into such
difficulties as these! How long is it since I--Lieutenant Cottin--had a
mistress?"

He rang the bell.

"That police report must be destroyed," he added.

"Monseigneur, you