The Deputy of Arcis [38]
how he has made his way. People blamed Mademoiselle de Chargeboeuf for marrying him; yet she will soon be wife of the Keeper of the Seals; Monsieur Vinet can be peer of France whenever he pleases."
"Madame, I have not the power to marry my daughter according to my own tastes. In the first place, her father and I leave her absolutely free to choose for herself. If she wanted to marry the 'great Unknown' and we found that the match was suitable, we should give our consent. Besides this, Cecile is wholly dependent on her grandfather, who intends to give her on her marriage the Hotel de Beauseant in Paris, which he purchased for us six years ago; the value of which is now rated at eight hundred thousand francs. It is one of the finest houses in the faubourg Saint-Germain. Moreover, he intends to add two hundred thousand francs for the cost of fitting it up. A grandfather who behaves in this way, and who can influence my mother-in-law to make a few sacrifices for her granddaughter in expectation of a suitable marriage, has a right to advise--"
"Certainly," said Madame Marion, stupefied by this confidence, which made the marriage of her nephew and Cecile extremely difficult.
"Even if Cecile had nothing to expect from her grandfather Grevin," continued Madame Beauvisage, "she would not marry without first consulting him. If you have any proposals to make, go and see my father."
"Very good; I will go," said Madame Marion.
Madame Beauvisage made a sign to Cecile, and together they left the salon.
The next day Antonin and Frederic Marest found themselves, according to their usual custom, with Monsieur Martener and Olivier, beneath the lindens of the Avenue of Sighs, smoking their cigars and walking up and down. This daily promenade is one of the petty pleasures of government officials in the provinces when they happen to be on good terms with one another.
After they had made a few turns, Simon Giguet came up and joined them saying to the sub-prefect with a mysterious air:--
"You ought to be faithful to an old comrade who wishes to get you the rosette of an officer and a prefecture."
"You are beginning your political career betimes," said Antonin, laughing. "You are trying to corrupt me, rapid puritan!"
"Will you support me?"
"My dear fellow, you know very well that Bar-sur-Aube votes here. Who can guarantee a majority under such circumstances? My colleague of Bar-sur-Aube would complain of me if I did not unite my efforts with his in support of the government. Your promise is conditional; whereas my dismissal would be certain."
"But I have no competitors."
"You think so," said Antonin, "but some one is sure to turn up; you may rely on that."
"Why doesn't my aunt come, when she knows I am on a gridiron!" exclaimed Giguet, suddenly. "These three hours are like three years!"
His secret had escaped him and he now admitted to his friend that Madame Marion had gone on his behalf to old Grevin with a formal proposal for Cecile's hand.
The pair had now reached the Brienne road opposite to the Mulet hostelry. While the lawyer looked down the street towards the bridge his aunt would have to cross, the sub-prefect examined the gullies made by the rain in the open square. Arcis is not paved. The plains of Champagne furnish no material fit for building, nor even pebbles large enough for cobble-stone pavements. One or two streets and a few detached places are imperfectly macadamized and that is saying enough to describe their condition after a rain. The sub-prefect gave himself an appearance of occupation by apparently exercising his thoughts on this important object; but he lost not a single expression of suffering on the anxious face of his companion.
At this moment, the stranger was returning from the Chateau de Cinq- Cygne, where he had apparently passed the night. Goulard resolved to clear up, himself, the mystery wrapped about the Unknown, who was physically enveloped in an overcoat of thick cloth called a /paletot/, then the fashion. A mantle, thrown across his knees for a covering, hid
"Madame, I have not the power to marry my daughter according to my own tastes. In the first place, her father and I leave her absolutely free to choose for herself. If she wanted to marry the 'great Unknown' and we found that the match was suitable, we should give our consent. Besides this, Cecile is wholly dependent on her grandfather, who intends to give her on her marriage the Hotel de Beauseant in Paris, which he purchased for us six years ago; the value of which is now rated at eight hundred thousand francs. It is one of the finest houses in the faubourg Saint-Germain. Moreover, he intends to add two hundred thousand francs for the cost of fitting it up. A grandfather who behaves in this way, and who can influence my mother-in-law to make a few sacrifices for her granddaughter in expectation of a suitable marriage, has a right to advise--"
"Certainly," said Madame Marion, stupefied by this confidence, which made the marriage of her nephew and Cecile extremely difficult.
"Even if Cecile had nothing to expect from her grandfather Grevin," continued Madame Beauvisage, "she would not marry without first consulting him. If you have any proposals to make, go and see my father."
"Very good; I will go," said Madame Marion.
Madame Beauvisage made a sign to Cecile, and together they left the salon.
The next day Antonin and Frederic Marest found themselves, according to their usual custom, with Monsieur Martener and Olivier, beneath the lindens of the Avenue of Sighs, smoking their cigars and walking up and down. This daily promenade is one of the petty pleasures of government officials in the provinces when they happen to be on good terms with one another.
After they had made a few turns, Simon Giguet came up and joined them saying to the sub-prefect with a mysterious air:--
"You ought to be faithful to an old comrade who wishes to get you the rosette of an officer and a prefecture."
"You are beginning your political career betimes," said Antonin, laughing. "You are trying to corrupt me, rapid puritan!"
"Will you support me?"
"My dear fellow, you know very well that Bar-sur-Aube votes here. Who can guarantee a majority under such circumstances? My colleague of Bar-sur-Aube would complain of me if I did not unite my efforts with his in support of the government. Your promise is conditional; whereas my dismissal would be certain."
"But I have no competitors."
"You think so," said Antonin, "but some one is sure to turn up; you may rely on that."
"Why doesn't my aunt come, when she knows I am on a gridiron!" exclaimed Giguet, suddenly. "These three hours are like three years!"
His secret had escaped him and he now admitted to his friend that Madame Marion had gone on his behalf to old Grevin with a formal proposal for Cecile's hand.
The pair had now reached the Brienne road opposite to the Mulet hostelry. While the lawyer looked down the street towards the bridge his aunt would have to cross, the sub-prefect examined the gullies made by the rain in the open square. Arcis is not paved. The plains of Champagne furnish no material fit for building, nor even pebbles large enough for cobble-stone pavements. One or two streets and a few detached places are imperfectly macadamized and that is saying enough to describe their condition after a rain. The sub-prefect gave himself an appearance of occupation by apparently exercising his thoughts on this important object; but he lost not a single expression of suffering on the anxious face of his companion.
At this moment, the stranger was returning from the Chateau de Cinq- Cygne, where he had apparently passed the night. Goulard resolved to clear up, himself, the mystery wrapped about the Unknown, who was physically enveloped in an overcoat of thick cloth called a /paletot/, then the fashion. A mantle, thrown across his knees for a covering, hid