iety and people in a position to render
her useful services. She knew how to choose among them and gave her
confidence to none but those who deserved it. She had gained experience
since her motor excursions with Viscount Clena, and above all she had
now acquired the value of a married woman.

The deputy was at first uneasy about these pious practices, which were
ridiculed by the demagogic newspapers, but he was soon reassured, for
he saw all around him democratic leaders joyfully becoming reconciled to
the aristocracy and the Church.

They found that they had reached one of those periods (which often
recur) when advance had been carried a little too far. Hippolyte Ceres
gave a moderate support to this view. His policy was not a policy of
persecution but a policy of tolerance. He had laid its foundations in
his splendid speech on the preparations for reform. The Prime Minister
was looked upon as too advanced. He proposed schemes which were admitted
to be dangerous to capital, and the great financial companies were
opposed to him. Of course it followed that the papers of all views
supported the companies. Seeing the danger increasing, the Cabinet
abandoned its schemes, its programme, and its opinions, but it was too
late. A new administration was already ready. An insidious question by
Paul Visire which was immediately made the subject of a resolution, and
a fine speech by Hippolyte Ceres, overthrew the Cabinet.

The President of the Republic entrusted the formation of a new Cabinet
to this same Paul Visire, who, though still very young, had been a
Minister twice. He was a charming man, spending much of his time in the
green-rooms of theatres, very artistic, a great society man, of amazing
ability and industry. Paul Visire formed a temporary ministry intended
to reassure public feeling which had taken alarm, and Hippolyte Ceres
was invited to hold office in it.

The new ministry, belonging to all the groups in the majority,
represented the most diverse and contrary opinions, but they were all
moderate and convinced conservatives.* The Minister of Foreign Affairs
was retained from the former cabinet. He was a little dark man called
Crombile, who worked fourteen hours a day with the conviction that
he dealt with tremendous questions. He refused to see even his own
diplomatic agents, and was terribly uneasy, though he did not disturb
anybody else, for the want of foresight of peoples is infinite and that
of governments i