登陆注册
4610400000057

第57章 THE WORMS AT WORK(8)

The next day the numerous subscribers to a certain liberal journal read, among the Paris items, the following article, inserted authoritatively by Chaboisseau and Metivier, share-holders in the said journal, brokers for publishers, printers, and paper-makers, whose behests no editor dared refuse:--"Yesterday a ministerial journal plainly indicated as the probable successor of Monsieur le Baron de la Billardiere, Monsieur Baudoyer, one of the worthiest citizens of a populous quarter, where his benevolence is scarcely less known than the piety on which the ministerial organ laid so much stress. Why was that sheet silent as to his talents? Did it reflect that in boasting of the bourgeoise nobility of Monsieur Baudoyer--which, certainly, is a nobility as good as any other--it was pointing out a reason for the exclusion of the candidate? A gratuitous piece of perfidy! an attempt to kill with a caress! To appoint Monsieur Baudoyer is to do honor to the virtues, the talents of the middle classes, of whom we shall ever be the supporters, though their cause seems at times a lost one. This appointment, we repeat, will be an act of justice and good policy; consequently we may be sure it will not be made."On the morrow, Friday, the usual day for the dinner given by Madame Rabourdin, whom des Lupeaulx had left at midnight, radiant in beauty, on the staircase of the Bouffons, arm in arm with Madame de Camps (Madame Firmiani had lately married), the old roue awoke with his thoughts of vengeance calmed, or rather refreshed, and his mind full of a last glance exchanged with Celestine.

"I'll make sure of Rabourdin's support by forgiving him now,--I'll get even with him later. If he hasn't this place for the time being Ishould have to give up a woman who is capable of becoming a most precious instrument in the pursuit of high political fortune. She understands everything; shrinks from nothing, from no idea whatever!--and besides, I can't know before his Excellency what new scheme of administration Rabourdin has invented. No, my dear des Lupeaulx, the thing in hand is to win all now for your Celestine. You may make as many faces as you please, Madame la comtesse, but you will invite Madame Rabourdin to your next select party."Des Lupeaulx was one of those men who to satisfy a passion are quite able to put away revenge in some dark corner of their minds. His course was taken; he was resolved to get Rabourdin appointed.

"I will prove to you, my dear fellow, that I deserve a good place in your galley," thought he as he seated himself in his study and began to unfold a newspaper.

He knew so well what the ministerial organ would contain that he rarely took the trouble to read it, but on this occasion he did open it to look at the article on La Billardiere, recollecting with amusement the dilemma in which du Bruel had put him by bringing him the night before Bixiou's amendments to the obituary. He was laughing to himself as he reread the biography of the late Comte da Fontaine, dead a few months earlier, which he had hastily substituted for that of La Billardiere, when his eyes were dazzled by the name of Baudoyer.

He read with fury the article which pledged the minister, and then he rang violently for Dutocq, to send him at once to the editor. But what was his astonishment on reading the reply of the opposition paper! The situation was evidently serious. He knew the game, and he saw that the man who was shuffling his cards for him was a Greek of the first order. To dictate in this way through two opposing newspapers in one evening, and to begin the fight by forestalling the intentions of the minister was a daring game! He recognized the pen of a liberal editor, and resolved to question him that night at the opera. Dutocq appeared.

"Read that," said des Lupeaulx, handing him over the two journals, and continuing to run his eye over others to see if Baudoyer had pulled any further wires. "Go to the office and ask who has dared to thus compromise the minister.""It was not Monsieur Baudoyer himself," answered Dutocq, "for he never left the ministry yesterday. I need not go and inquire; for when Itook your article to the newspaper office I met a young abbe who brought in a letter from the Grand Almoner, before which you yourself would have had to bow.""Dutocq, you have a grudge against Monsieur Rabourdin, and it isn't right; for he has twice saved you from being turned out. However, we are not masters of our own feelings; we sometimes hate our benefactors. Only, remember this; if you show the slightest treachery to Rabourdin, without my permission, it will be your ruin. As to that newspaper, let the Grand Almoner subscribe as largely as we do, if he wants its services. Here we are at the end of the year; the matter of subscriptions will come up for discussion, and I shall have something to say on that head. As to La Billardiere's place, there is only one way to settle the matter; and that is to appoint Rabourdin this very day.""Gentlemen," said Dutocq, returning to the clerks' office and addressing his colleagues. "I don't know if Bixiou has the art of looking into futurity, but if you have not read the ministerial journal I advise you to study the article about Baudoyer; then, as Monsieur Fleury takes the opposition sheet, you can see the reply.

同类推荐
  • 奇特最胜金轮佛顶念诵仪轨法要

    奇特最胜金轮佛顶念诵仪轨法要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 诸星母陀罗尼经

    诸星母陀罗尼经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 戊戌定乱平粜记略

    戊戌定乱平粜记略

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 青楼集

    青楼集

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 宗统编年

    宗统编年

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 苏浅活命记

    苏浅活命记

    一朝穿越成有医术的古代女子,为昏庸皇帝治病才能活命。遇各种稀奇古怪的事,被拉扯到一场夺权中,加入一个组织后被迫到青楼暂居,实则暗地里收集情报。在过程中找到又失去了唯一的亲人,九死一生与他一同患难。上战场、跨雪原只为帮他抢回皇位。她的师兄惨死在她封后的前一晚,同时她也知道了许多,亲人的惨死,数次九死一生,一身的伤疤,都是那个枕边人做的!她还能原谅他吗?她会杀掉他吗?只是可惜了从始至终都维护她的师兄……只不过由于女主光环,一切也许还不晚。(此文不虐,看起来不费脑子,女主角不是被虐狂,不是圣母心)
  • 学会来事儿的艺术全集

    学会来事儿的艺术全集

    常人们说某某人“会来事儿”。大都是一种肯定性的评价。可以说,学会来事儿不是一件简单的事,而是一门深谙人情世故的学问,是一门以精通实用社会学和心理学为前提的大学问。只有做到“会来事儿”,才会使自己少吃亏。少碰壁。少栽跟头。只有做到“会来事儿”,才能使自己真正成为在社会上常立不倒和百战不败的人才。
  • 火影之雾隐木叶

    火影之雾隐木叶

    雾隐名门,藏身木叶,历见人生悲喜。一个残酷的忍者世界,一个热血的忍者生活。
  • 班主任与班级管理

    班主任与班级管理

    本书是针对我国师范院校在师资培养中缺乏班级管理教育及其教材的现状,为建设“全面推进高素质教育的高质量的教师队伍”的需要而编写的,密切结合教师教育专业实际,突出学术性、实用性,为广大师范生提供班级管理的理论与实践方面的知识。主要内容包括班级管理中的学生和班主任、班级管理目标与内容、班级管理的原则与方法等。本书的特点贴近班主任工作的实际,以介绍先进的班级管理理念,指导和提高新时期班级管理工作实效性为重点,具有可读性和操作性,是当今提高班主任工作能力的创新之作。
  • 嘘,别侵犯孩子的领地

    嘘,别侵犯孩子的领地

    其实,每个人都需要自己的一块空间,在这个空间里,我们可以自由地呼吸、成长、学习,甚至刚学步还不会说话的,小孩子也不例外,他(她)经常会推开生怕自己摔倒、亦步亦趋保护自己的家长,颤颤巍巍地蹒跚前行,非常遗憾的是很多家长并没有意识到孩子的这个需求,他们习惯于帮助、呵护或者管教自己的孩子。给孩子自由的空间,实际上就是给孩子独立思考的时间:给孩子自由的空间,实际上就是给孩子弥补质疑精神的时间;给孩子自由的空间,实际上就是给孩子激发创造力的时间。
  • 龙凤焚金鼎

    龙凤焚金鼎

    这是一个充满铁气的世界,在这里弱肉强食的道理体现的淋漓尽致。一个超高级功法的出现引发出的一系列故事,使一个本来默默无闻甘于平庸的他,变成了一个旷世强者。为功法,为地位,为复仇,还是为了早年间的一句承诺,就看他如何选择…
  • 宣公

    宣公

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 剑动映天

    剑动映天

    这是一个弱肉强食的世界。在这片大陆里,金钱,美女,似乎都需要实力来支持。而一个十二岁的孩子是如何闯荡天下的呢?
  • 明会要

    明会要

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 嫡女无双,腹黑世子妃

    嫡女无双,腹黑世子妃

    穆祁然,上一世全心全意为所爱之人宁愿沾染鲜血。却遭遇惨死。即便她曾甘愿与所有人为敌。好在上天待她不薄,12岁重生,被襄王府世子爷御君倾所救,这一次,她要一个个解决上辈子背叛对付穆府的人!