第40章

They reached the Austrian embassy.The Comte de Rastignac saw the minister of the interior in one of the salons and went to talk with him in a corner.Comte Maxime de Trailles, meantime, was apparently engrossed by the old Comtesse de Listomere, but he was, in reality, following the course of the conversation between the two peers of France; he watched their gestures, interpreted their looks, and ended by catching a favorable glance cast upon him by the minister.

Maxime and Rastignac left the embassy together about one in the morning, and before getting into their respective carriages, Rastignac said to Maxime on the steps of the portico: "Come and see me just before the elections.Between now and then I shall know in what locality the chances of the ministry are worst, and what resources two heads like yours and mine can find there.""But my twenty-five thousand francs are needed," replied de Trailles.

"Well, you must hide yourself, that's all."Fifty days later, one morning before dawn, the Comte de Trailles went to the rue de Varennes, mysteriously in a hired cab.At the gate of the ministry of Public Works, he sent the cab away, looked about him to see that he was not watched, and then waited in a little salon on the first floor until Rastignac should awake.A few moments later the valet who had taken in his card ushered Maxime into the minister's bed-chamber, where that statesman was making his morning toilet.

"My dear Maxime," said the latter, "I can tell you a secret which will be in the newspapers two days hence, and which, meantime, you can turn to your own profit.That poor Charles Keller, who danced the mazurka so well, as been killed in Africa.His death leaves a vacancy; he was our candidate in the arrondissement of Arcis.Here is a copy of two reports, one from the sub-prefect, the other from the commissary of police, informing the ministry that the election of the poor fellow would meet with opposition.In that of the commissary of police you will find some information about the state of the town which ought to be useful to a man of your shrewdness; it seems that the ambition of the rival candidate comes chiefly from his desire to marry a certain heiress.To one of your calibre that word is enough.The Cinq-Cygnes, the Princesse de Cadignan, and Georges de Maufrigneuse are living at Cinq-Cygne, close to Arcis; you can certainly obtain through them all the Legitimist votes, therefore--""Don't waste your breath," said Maxime."Is the commissary still there?""Yes."

"Give me a letter to him."

"My dear fellow," replied Rastignac, giving Maxime quite a bundle of papers, "you will find there two letters written to Gondreville for you.You have been a page and he has been a senator; you can't fail therefore to understand each other.Madame Francois Keller is pious;here is a letter introducing you to her from the Marechale de Carigliano.The marechale has become dynastic; she recommends you warmly, and may go down herself.I will only add one word: Distrust the sub-prefect, whom I think capable of working this candidate, this Simon Giguet, into a support for himself with the president of the council.If you want letters, powers, credentials, write to me.""And those twenty-five thousand francs?" said Maxime.

"Sign this note to the order of du Tillet, and here's the money.""I shall succeed," said the count, "and you may tell the king that the deputy of Arcis shall belong to him body and soul.If I fail, I give you leave to abandon me."An hour later Maxime de Trailles was in his tilbury on the road to Arcis.