Part 21 (1/2)

This ”Monsieur Eugene” had already pet.i.tioned for a prefecture, or a sub-prefecture, or--it mattered little--whatever place the minister might choose to give him.

His claims? None: he was an office-seeker.

The minister was already overwhelmed by this vulgar procession of pet.i.tioners and intermediaries, when an usher brought him a card bearing this name: _Lucien Granet_.

In the Chamber it was thought that Granet did not like Vaudrey too well, and Sulpice vaguely scented in him a candidate for his office. The more reason, then, that he should make himself agreeable.

”What does he want?” the minister thought.

This Granet was, moreover, a typical politician; by the side of the minister of to-day, he was the inevitable minister of to-morrow, the positive reformer, the man appointed to cleanse the Augean stables, whose coming, it was said, would immediately mark the end of all abuses, great and small.

”Ah! when Granet is minister!”

The artist without a commission consoled himself with the prospect of the Granet ministry. He would decorate the monuments when Granet became minister. The actress who looked with longing eyes toward the Comedie Francaise, and dreamed of playing in Moliere, had her hopes centered in Granet. Granet promised to every actress an engagement at the Rue de Richelieu. _I am waiting for the Granet ministry!_ was the consolatory reflection, interrupted by sighs, of the licentiates in law. Meanwhile those office-seekers danced attendance on Granet, and their smile was worth to the future Excellency all the sweets of office.

Granet had thus everywhere a host of clients, women and men, sighing for his success, working to bring about his ministry, intriguing in advance for his advent, and working together for his glory.

”Ah! if Granet were in power!”

”Such abuses would not exist under a Granet ministry!”

”All will be changed when Granet becomes minister!”

”That dear Granet! that good Granet! Long live Granet!”

Vaudrey was not ignorant of the fact that for some time past, Lucien Granet had been manoeuvring for his appointment to any office whatever, the most important obtainable. He was within an ace of becoming a member of the last Ministerial Coalition. He might have been Vaudrey's colleague instead of his rival. Sulpice was as glad to have him as an opponent in the Chamber as a colleague in the ministerial council. He was, however, not an adversary to be trifled with. Granet was a power in himself.

”Well!” said the minister to Granet, who entered smiling, and with a very polite greeting, ”you come then to inspect your future office?

Already!--”

”I?” said Granet, who did his best to be agreeable, ”G.o.d prevent me from thinking of this department. It is too well filled.”

”That is very gallant, my dear Granet.”

”Far from disputing your portfolio, I come, on the contrary, to give you some advice as to strengthening your already excellent position.”

”Advice from you, my dear colleague, should be excellent. Let us hear it.”

”My dear minister, it is about the appointment of an Under Secretary of State for the Interior. Well! I have come to urge the claims of my friend, our colleague Warcolier.”

While speaking, Granet, who was seated near the bureau of the minister, with his hat on his knee, was watching Vaudrey through his eyegla.s.s; he saw that his lips twitched slightly as he hesitated before replying.

”But I am bound to Jacquier--of l'Oise,” Vaudrey said abruptly.

Granet smiled. Certainly Jacquier would be a most excellent choice. He was a cool, solid and remarkable man. But he had little influence with the Chamber, frequented society rarely, was morose and exclusive, while Warcolier was a most amiable man, an excellent speaker and one who was well-known in the Chamber. He was a fine orator. He was highly esteemed by the Granet group.

”My personal friend, too, my dear minister. You would, I a.s.sure you, displease me if you did not support Warcolier this morning at the Ministerial Council, at which the nomination of under secretaries should take place. It is this morning, isn't it?”

”Certainly, in an hour's time.”

Granet left the minister, repeating with considerable emphasis, which Vaudrey could not fail to remark, that the nomination of Warcolier would be favorably viewed by the majority of the deputies. A hundred times more so than that of Jacquier--of l'Oise.