Part 69 (1/2)
”Well, you know, I have still some good news for you. If you have had enough of politics, you can retire at the approaching election!”
”How?” asked Sulpice.
”Why, Thibaudier is stirring up Gren.o.ble. He has got the whole city with him. He is very much liked and is a model mayor. He is a very _mere_--mother--that mayor!--Jeliotte laughed heartily, believing that he was funny.--If there is a list balloted for, and there certainly will be, Thibaudier will head the list. If they had maintained the _scrutin d'arrondiss.e.m.e.nt_, he would have been capable of pa.s.sing muster, all the same!”
”Against me?”
”Against you. Thibaudier is very popular!--And as firm as a rock!--He thinks you moderate, too moderate, as everybody else does!”
”He?--He was a member of the Plebiscite Committee under the Empire!”
”Exactly! He is an extreme Republican, just as he was an extreme Bonapartist. Oh! Thibaudier is a man, there is no concession with him.
Never! He is always the same. He will beat you. Moreover, in Isere, they want a h.o.m.ogeneous representation--”
”Again!” said Vaudrey, who felt that he was pursued by this word.
After all, what did Thibaudier matter to him, or the deputation, the election or politics? Denis Ramel had sounded its depths in his grave in the cemetery of Saint-Ouen.
”Let us drop Thibaudier. By the way,” said Jeliotte, ”I saw your wife at Gren.o.ble.”
Vaudrey grew pale.
He again repeated: ”Ah!”
”She is greatly changed. She doesn't leave the house of her uncle, the doctor, nor does she receive any one.”
”Is she sick, then?”
”Yes, slightly.”
”And you are separated, then?”
”No,” replied Sulpice.
Jeliotte smiled.
”Ah! joker, I understand!--Your wife was too strict!--Bless me, a provincial! Bah! that will come right! And if it doesn't, why, you will be free, that's all! But, say, then, if you are not re-elected, you will rejoin her at Gren.o.ble. Oh! your clients will return to you. You are highly esteemed as an advocate, but as a minister, I ought to say--”
”I shall be re-elected,” said Vaudrey, in a decisive tone, so as to cut short Jeliotte's interminable phrases.
He was exceedingly unnerved. This man's stupidity would exasperate him.
He would never come across any but subjects of irritation or disheartenment. He felt inclined to seek a quarrel with some one. He would have liked to wrench Marianne's wrist with his fingers.
As he entered the hall leading to the a.s.sembly, he unwittingly stumbled against a gentleman who was walking rapidly and without saluting him, although he thought that he recognized him.
”Yet I know him!”