What was going on to-day, then? Lissac had not noticed, in fact, that a marquee with red stripes was being erected at the entrance to the hotel, and that upholsterers were bringing in wagons benches covered with red velvet with which they were blocking the peristyle. There was a reception at the ministry. "That will not prevent Monsieur Vaudrey from seeing me," he said. One of the messengers opened the doors in front of him and conducted him to the floor above, where Monsieur le Ministre was then resting near the fire and glancing over the papers after breakfast. He appeared pleased but a little astonished at seeing Lissac. "Eh! my dear Guy, what a good idea!--Have you arrived already for the soiree? You received your invitation?" "No," answered Lissac, "I have received nothing, or if the invitation arrived, the agents of Monsieur Jouvenet have taken it away with many other things." "The agents! what agents?" asked the minister. He had risen to receive Guy and remained standing in front of the fireplace looking at his friend, who questioned him with his glance to discover if Vaudrey could really be in ignorance as to such a matter. "Ah, so! but," said Lissac with trembling voice and in a tone of angry bitterness, "do you not know then, what takes place in Paris?" "What is happening?" asked Sulpice, who had turned slightly pale. "They arrest men for nothing, and keep them in close confinement for two days in order to have time to search their correspondence for a document that compromises certain persons. It is very proper, no doubt; but that smacks too much of romanticism and the Bridge of Sighs. It is very old-fashioned and worn-out. I would not answer for your long employing such methods of government." "Come, are you mad? What does it all signify?" asked the minister, in astonishment. He appeared as if he really did not understand. It was clear that he did not know what Guy meant. "Don't you read the papers, then?" Lissac asked him. "I read the reports of the Director of the Press." "Well, if those reports have not informed you of my arrest in the heart of the Exposition des Mirlitons, on Wednesday, they have told you nothing!--" "Arrested! you?" "By the agents of Monsieur Jouvenet, your Prefect of Police, to gratify your mistress, Mademoiselle Kayser!" "Ah! my dear Guy!" said the minister, whose cheek became flushed in spots. "I should be glad if you--"