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〃No？〃 continued des Lupeaulx。 〃Well then； he was mixed up in the
affairs of La Vendee； and he was one of the confidants of the late
King。 Like Monsieur le Comte de Fontaine he always refused to hold
communication with the First Consul。 He was a bit of a 'chouan'； born
in Brittany of a parliamentary family； and ennobled by Louis XVIII。
How old was he？ never mind about that； just say his loyalty was
untarnished； his religion enlightened；the poor old fellow hated
churches and never set foot in one； but you had better make him out a
'pious vassal。' Bring in； gracefully； that he sang the song of Simeon
at the accession of Charles X。 The Comte d'Artois thought very highly
of La Billardiere； for he co…operated in the unfortunate affair of
Quiberon and took the whole responsibility on himself。 You know about
that； don't you？ La Billardiere defended the King in a printed
pamphlet in reply to an impudent history of the Revolution written by
a journalist； you can allude to his loyalty and devotion。 But be very
careful what you say； weigh your words； so that the other newspapers
can't laugh at us； and bring me the article when you've written it。
Were you at Rabourdin's yesterday？〃
〃Yes； monseigneur；〃 said du Bruel； 〃Ah！ beg pardon。〃
〃No harm done；〃 answered des Lupeaulx； laughing。
〃Madame Rabourdin looked delightfully handsome；〃 added du Bruel。
〃There are not two women like her in Paris。 Some are as clever as she；
but there's not one so gracefully witty。 Many women may even be
handsomer； but it would be hard to find one with such variety of
beauty。 Madame Rabourdin is far superior to Madame Colleville；〃 said
the vaudevillist； remembering des Lupeaulx's former affair。 〃Flavie
owes what she is to the men about her； whereas Madame Rabourdin is all
things in herself。 It is wonderful too what she knows； you can't tell
secrets in Latin before HER。 If I had such a wife； I know I should
succeed in everything。〃
〃You have more mind than an author ought to have；〃 returned des
Lupeaulx； with a conceited air。 Then he turned round and perceived
Dutocq。 〃Ah； good…morning； Dutocq；〃 he said。 〃I sent for you to lend
me your Charletif you have the whole complete。 Madame la comtesse
knows nothing of Charlet。〃
Du Bruel retired。
〃Why do you come in without being summoned？〃 said des Lupeaulx；
harshly； when he and Dutocq were left alone。 〃Is the State in danger
that you must come here at ten o'clock in the morning； just as I am
going to breakfast with his Excellency？〃
〃Perhaps it is； monsieur；〃 said Dutocq； dryly。 〃If I had had the honor
to see you earlier； you would probably have not been so willing to
support Monsieur Rabourdin； after reading his opinion of you。〃
Dutocq opened his coat； took a paper from the left…hand breast…pocket
and laid it on des Lupeaulx's desk； pointing to a marked passage。 Then
he went to the door and slipped the bolt； fearing interruption。 While
he was thus employed； the secretary…general read the opening sentence
of the article； which was as follows：
〃Monsieur des Lupeaulx。 A government degrades itself by openly
employing such a man； whose real vocation is for police diplomacy。
He is fitted to deal with the political filibusters of other
cabinets； and it would be a pity therefore to employ him on our
internal detective police。 He is above a common spy； for he is
able to understand a plan； he could skilfully carry through a dark
piece of work and cover his retreat safely。〃
Des Lupeaulx was succinctly analyzed in five or six such paragraphs；
the essence； in fact； of the biographical portrait which we gave at
the beginning of this history。 As he read the words the secretary felt
that a man stronger than himself sat in judgment on him； and he at
once resolved to examine the memorandum； which evidently reached far
and high； without allowing Dutocq to know his secret thoughts。 He
therefore showed a calm； grave face when the spy returned to him。 Des
Lupeaulx； like lawyers； magistrates； diplomatists； and all whose work
obliges them to pry into the human heart； was past being surprised at
anything。 Hardened in treachery and in all the tricks and wiles of
hatred； he could take a stab in the back and not let his face tell of
it。
〃How did you get hold of this paper？〃
Dutocq related his good luck； des Lupeaulx's face as he listened
expressed no approbation； and the spy ended in terror an account which
began triumphantly。
〃Dutocq； you have put your finger between the bark and the tree；〃 said
the secretary； coldly。 〃If you don't want to make powerful enemies I
advise you to keep this paper a profound secret； it is a work of the
utmost importance and already well known to me。〃
So saying； des Lupeaulx dismissed Dutocq by one of those glances that
are more expressive than words。
〃Ha！ that scoundrel of a Rabourdin has put his finger in this！〃
thought Dutocq； alarmed on finding himself anticipated； 〃he has
reached the ear of the administration； while I am left out in the
cold。 I shouldn't have thought it！〃
To all his other motives of aversion to Rabourdin he now added the
jealousy of one man to another man of the same calling；a most
powerful ingredient in hatred。
When des Lupeaulx was left alone； he dropped into a strange
meditation。 What power was it of which Rabourdin was the instrument？
Should he； des Lupeaulx； use this singular document to destroy him； or
should he keep it as a weapon to succeed with the wife？ The mystery
that lay behind this paper was all darkness to des Lupeaulx； who read
with something akin to terror page after page； in which the men of his
acquaintance were judged with unerring wisdom。 He admired Rabourdin；
though stabbed to his vitals by what he said of him。 The breakfast…
hour suddenly cut short his meditation。
〃His Excellency is waiting for you to come down；〃 announced the
minister's footman。
The minister always breakfasted with his wife and children and des
Lupeaulx； without the presence of servants。 The morning meal affords
the only moment of privacy which public men can snatch from the
current of overwhelming business。 Yet in spite of the precautions they
take to keep this hour for private intimacies and affections； a good
many great and little people manage to infringe upon it。 Business
itself will； as at this moment； thrust itself in the way of their
scanty comfort。
〃I thought Rabourdin was a man above all ordinary petty manoeuvres；〃
began the minister； 〃and yet here； not ten minutes after La
Billardiere's death； he sends me this note by La Briere；it is like a
stage missive。 Look；〃 said his Excellency； giving des Lupeaulx a paper
which he was twirling in his fingers。
Too noble in mind to think for a moment of the shameful meaning La
Billardiere's death might lend to his letter； Rabourdin had not
withdrawn it from La Briere's hands after the news reached him。 Des
Lupeaulx read as follows：