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Roman Empire； the work was abandoned； but the lords of the soil and the clergy renewed it in the middle ages； after that； during the struggle of feudality against the royal power and the long civil wars which devastated France； the work was again suspended； and has never since been taken up。〃
〃Are you sure of what you say？〃
〃Ancient authors； Strabo and others； all mention these mines； and the tradition of their existence still lingers in the regions where they are situated； decrees of emperors and the ordinances of certain of our kings bear testimony to the value of their products； in certain places more material proof may be found in excavations of considerable depth and length； in galleries and halls cut in the solid rock；in short； in the many traces still existing of those vast works which have immortalized Roman industry。 To this must be added that the modern study of geological science has confirmed and developed these irrefutable indications。〃
The imagination of Monsieur Octave de Camps； hitherto limited to the development of a single iron…mine； took fire； and he was about to ask his instructor to give him his ideas on the manner of awakening a practical interest in the matter； when Lucas； throwing wide open the double doors of the salon； announced in his loudest and most pompous voice；
〃Monsieur the minister of Public Works。〃
The effect produced on the elders of the assembly was electric。
〃I want to see what sort of figure that little Rastignac cuts as a statesman；〃 said Monsieur de Camps； rising from his seat； but in his heart he was thinking of the government subsidy he wanted for his iron…mine。 The new deputy； on his side； foresaw an inevitable meeting with the minister； and wondered what his friends in the Opposition would say when they read in the 〃National〃 that a representative of the Left was seen to have an interview with a minister celebrated for his art in converting political opponents。 Anxious also to return to Marie…Gaston； he resolved to profit by the general stir created by the minister's arrival to slip away； and by a masterly manoeuvre he made his way slyly to the door of the salon； expecting to escape without being seen。 But he reckoned without Nais； to whom he was engaged for a quadrille。 That small girl sounded the alarm at the moment when he laid his hand on the handle of the door； and Monsieur de l'Estorade； mindful of his promise to Rastignac； hastened to put a stop to the desertion。 Finding his quiet retreat impossible； Sallenauve was afraid that an open departure after the arrival of the minister might be construed as an act of puritanical opposition in the worst taste； he therefore accepted the situation promptly； and decided to remain。
Monsieur de l'Estorade knew that Sallenauve was far too wise to be the dupe of any artifices he might have used to bring about his introduction to the minister。 He therefore went straight to the point； and soon after Rastignac's arrival he slipped his arm through that of the statesman； and； approaching the deputy； said to him；
〃Monsieur the minister of Public Works； who； on the eve of the battle； wishes me to introduce him to a general of the enemy's army。〃
〃Monsieur le ministre does me too much honor；〃 replied Sallenauve； ceremoniously。 〃Far from being a general； I am a private soldier； and a very unknown one。〃
〃Hum！〃 said the minister； 〃it seems to me that the battle at Arcis… sur…Aube was not an insignificant victory； you routed our ranks； monsieur； in a singular manner。〃
〃There was nothing wonderful in that； you must have heard that a saint fought for us。〃
〃Well； at any rate；〃 said Rastignac； 〃I prefer this result to the one arranged for us by a man I thought cleverer than he proved to be； whom I sent down there。 It seems that Beauvisage is a perfect nonentity； he'd have rubbed off upon us； and after all； he was really as much Left centre as the other man； Giguet。 Now the Left centre is our real enemy； because it is aiming to get our portfolios。〃
〃Oh！〃 said Monsieur de l'Estorade； 〃after what we heard of the man； I think he would have done exactly what was wanted of him。〃
〃My dear friend； don't believe that；〃 said the minister。 〃Fools are often more tenacious of the flag under which they enlisted than we think for。 Besides； to go over to the enemy is to make a choice； and that supposes an operation of the mind； it is much easier to be obstinate。〃
〃I agree with the minister；〃 said Sallenauve； 〃extreme innocence and extreme rascality are equally able to defend themselves against seduction。〃
Here Monsieur de l'Estorade； seeing； or pretending to see； a signal made to him； looked over his shoulder and said；
〃I'm coming。〃
And the two adversaries being thus buckled together； he hastened away as if summoned to some duty as master of the house。
Sallenauve was anxious not to seem disturbed at finding himself alone with the minister。 The meeting having come about； he decided to endure it with a good grace； and； taking the first word； he asked if the ministry had prepared； in view of the coming sessions； a large number of bills。
〃No； very few；〃 replied Rastignac。 〃To tell the truth； we do not expect to be in power very long； we brought about an election because in the general confusion into which the press has thrown public opinion； our constitutional duty was to force that opinion to reconstitute itself； but the fact is； we did not expect the result to be favorable to us； and we are therefore taken somewhat unawares。〃
〃You are like the peasant；〃 said Sallenauve； laughing； 〃who； expecting the end of the world； did not sow his wheat。〃
〃Well； we don't look upon our retirement as the end of the world；〃 said Rastignac； modestly； 〃there are men to come after us； and many of them well able to govern； only； as we expected to give but few more representations in that transitory abode called 'power；' we have not unpacked either our costumes or our scenery。 Besides； the coming session； in any case； can only be a business session。 The question now is； of course； between the palace； that is； personal influence； and the doctrine of parliamentary supremacy。 This question will naturally come up when the vote is taken on the secret…service fund。 Whenever； in one way or the other； that is settled； and the budget is voted； together with a few bills of secondary interest； Parliament has really completed its task； it will have put an end to a distressing struggle； and the country will know to which of the two parties it can look for the development of its prosperity。〃
〃And you think；〃 said Sallenauve； 〃that in a well…balanced system of government that question is a useful one to raise？〃
〃Well；〃 replied Rastignac； 〃we have not raised it。 It is born perhaps of circumstances； a great deal； as I think； from the restlessness of certain ambitions； and also from the tactics of parties。〃
〃So that； in your opinion； one of the combatants is not guilty and has absolutely nothing to reproach himself with？〃
〃You are a republican；〃 said Rastignac； 〃and therefore； /a priori/； an enemy to the dynasty。 I think I should lose my time in trying to change your ideas on the policy you complain of。〃
〃You are mistaken；〃 said the theore