"Listen to me, innocent! Rochaigue shall be notified, and day after to-morrow the young lady will hear everybody around her saying: 'On Thursday the eloquent M. Mornand, the future minister, is to speak in the House of Peers. All Paris will be there. They are issuing tickets of admission, for when M. de Mornand speaks it is an event!'" "I understand. You are certainly nothing more or less than a genius, Ravil!" exclaimed M. de Mornand. "M. de la Rochaigue will naturally inquire if Mlle. de Beaumesnil would not like to attend the session, and we will arrange it so that Rochaigue will amuse the girl with things outside until the time comes for you to ascend the tribune and unloose the fountains of your eloquence. I will then run out and warn the guardian, who will come in with his ward to witness your triumph." "Admirably planned!" "And if you can organise a claque from among your colleagues to interlard your speech with exclamations of 'Good! Bravo! Admirable!' our success is assured." "The plan is admirable, as I said before. There is but one thing that worries me." "And what is that?" "Why, as soon as my speech is ended that fool Montdidier will begin to contradict all I said. He isn't much of a politician, and he is not at all practical, but he's as witty and sarcastic as the devil, and doesn't hesitate to say aloud what other people scarcely dare to think in their most secret hearts. If he should begin that before Mlle. de Beaumesnil--" "Oh, you need have no fears on that score. As soon as you have finished your speech, and while you are receiving the congratulations of your colleagues, we will exclaim: 'A magnificent effort, truly! He is a Mirabeau, a Fox, a Sheridan, a Canning! It is not worth while to remain any longer. There will be nothing worth listening to after that!' So we will hurry out with the girl, after which Montdidier can ascend the tribune and tear you to pieces and ridicule you as much as he likes. But there is another means which I have not mentioned before,--an effectual means which I have reserved until the last, but which will not only win you the prize, but make it possible for you to retire from political life if you like, and also to tell Rochaigue in so many words that you cannot make him a peer of France, for, thanks to a brilliant idea that has occurred to me, the baron will not only do everything in his power to further your marriage, but you will also have Madame de la Rochaigue and her sister-in-law on your side, though the most we can hope for now is that they will remain neutral." "Then why do you not employ this means, and at once?" "I have hazarded a few words, thrown out a few hints, but I have ventured nothing decisive." "And why not?" "You see I am not positive that--that you will like it. You might have scruples--and yet the most honest and highly respected men, even kings themselves--" "Kings themselves? May I be hanged if I have the slightest idea what you are driving at."