Volume VI Part 39 (1/2)
”Where are we?” she asked
”Get out and come into this house,” he replied ”We shall be more at ease there”
”But where are we?”
”At my rooms,” and here ill leave them to their _tete-a-tete_
XIII
Autumn had come The Du Roys had passed the whole of the sun in the _Vie Francaise_ during the short vacation of the deputies
Although it was only the beginning of October, the Chaarded Morocco were beco No one at the bottoh on the day of the prorogation of the Chaht, Count de Lambert-Serrazin, in a witty speech, applauded even by the Center had offered to stake his moustache, after the exaainst the whiskers of the President of the Council, that the new Cabinet could not help iiers, as a pendant to that of Tunis, out of love of symmetry, as one puts two vases on a fireplace
He had added: ”Africa is indeed, a fireplace for France, gentleman--a fireplace which consuht, which is lit with bank notes You have had the artistic fancy of orna the left-hand corner with a Tunisian knick-knack which had cost you dear You will see that Monsieur Marrot ant to iht-hand corner with one from Morocco”
This speech, which beca for Du Roy for a half a score of articles upon the Algerian colony--indeed, for the entire series broken short off after his _debut_ on the paper He had energetically supported the notion of a h convinced that it would not take place He had struck the chord of patriotism, and bouainst nations whose interests are contrary to our own The _Vie Francaise_ had gained considerable ih its own connection with the party in office It published political intelligence in advance of the most important papers, and hinted discreetly the intentions of its friends the Ministry, so that all the papers of Paris and the provinces took their news froan to respect it
It was no longer the suspicious organ of a knot of political jugglers, but the acknowledged one of the Cabinet Laroche-Mathieu was the soul of the paper, and Du Roy his er, knohen to keep in the background, was busying himself on the quiet, it is said, with an extensive transaction with so-room had been an influential center, in which several members of the Cabinet met every week The President of the Council had even dined twice at her house, and the wives of the statesmen who had for her friends, and paid her n Affairs reigned almost as adispatches, news, items of information, which he dictated either to the husband or the wife, as if they had been his secretaries
When Du Roy, after the minister's departure, found hi tone with bitter insinuations against the goings-on of this co her shoulders conte: ”Do as much as he has done yourself Become a minister, and you can have your oay Till then, hold your tongue”
He twirled hisat her askance: ”People do not knohat I am capable,” he said, ”They will learn it, perhaps, so enough will see it”
Thewife, still in bed, was giving a thousand reco himself in order to lunch with M Laroche-Mathieu, and receive his instructions prior to the sitting for the next day's political leader in the _Vie Francaise_, this leader being meant to be a kind of semi-official declaration of the real objects of the Cabinet
Madeleine was saying: ”Above all, do not forget to ask him whether General Belloncle is to be sent to Oran, as has been reported That would e replied irritably: ”But I know just as well as you what I have to do Spare ”
She answered quietly: ”My dear, you always forget half the corowled: ”He worries me to death, that minister of yours He is a nincompoop”
She remarked quietly: ”He is no more my minister than he is yours He is more useful to you than to ly: ”I beg your pardon, but he does not pay court to me”
She observed slowly: ”Nor toour fortune”
He was silent for a fewyour admirers, I should still prefer that old fossil De Vaudrec What has become of him, I have not seen him for a week?”
”He is unwell,” replied she, uned to keep his bed froht to call and ask how he is You know he likes you very well, and it would please hio some time to-day”
He had finished his toilet, and, hat on head, glanced at hi Finding nothing, he ca: ”Good-bye, dear, I shall not be in before seven o'clock at the earliest”