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out our batteries。 You are to be /procureur…du…roi/ at Mantes； and I am to be prefect； but we must /seem/ to have nothing to do with the election； for don't you see； we are between the hammer and the anvil。 Simon is the candidate of a party which wants to overturn the present ministry and may succeed； but for men as intelligent as you and I there is but one course to take。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃To serve those who make and unmake ministers。 A letter was shown to me from one of those personages who represent the stable and immovable thought of the State。〃
Before going farther； it is necessary to explain who this Unknown person was； and what his purpose was in coming to Champagne。
XII
THE SALON OF MADAME D'ESPARD
About two months before the nomination of Simon Giguet； at eleven o'clock one evening； in a mansion of the faubourg Saint…Honore belonging to the Marquise d'Espard； while tea was being served the Chevalier d'Espard； brother…in…law to the marquise； put down his tea… cup； and； looking round the circle； remarked：
〃Maxime was very melancholy to…night；didn't you think so？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied Rastignac； 〃but his sadness is easily accounted for。 He is forty…eight years old； at that age a man makes no new friends； and now that we have buried de Marsay； Maxime has lost the only man capable of understanding him； of being useful to him； and of using him。〃
〃He probably has pressing debts。 Couldn't you put him in the way of paying them？〃 said the marquise to Rastignac。
At this period Rastignac was； for the second time； in the ministry； he had just been made count almost against his will。 His father…in…law； the Baron de Nucingen； was peer of France； his younger brother a bishop； the Comte de Roche…Hugon； his brother…in…law； was an ambassador； and he himself was thought to be indispensable in all future combinations of the ministry。
〃You always forget； my dear marquise；〃 replied Rastignac； 〃that our government exchanges its silver for gold only； it pays no heed to men。〃
〃Is Maxime a man who would blow out his brains？〃 inquired the banker du Tillet。
〃Ha！ you wish I were； we should be quits then；〃 said Comte Maxime de Trailles； whom everybody supposed to have left the house。
The count rose suddenly； like an apparition； from the depths of an arm…chair placed exactly behind that of the Chevalier d'Espard。
Every one present laughed。
〃Will you have a cup of tea？〃 said the young Comtesse de Rastignac； whom the marquise had asked to do the honors in her place。
〃Gladly；〃 replied the count； standing before the fireplace。
This man； the prince of fashionable scoundrels； had managed to maintain himself until now in the high and mighty position of a dandy in Paris； then called /Gants Jaunes/ （lemon…kid…glovers）； and since； 〃lions。〃 It is useless to relate the history of his youth； full of questionable adventures； with now and then some horrible drama； in which he had always known how to save appearances。 To this man women were never anything else than a means； he believed no more in their griefs than he did in their joys； he regarded them； like the late de Marsay； as naughty children。 After squandering his own fortune； he had spent that of a famous courtesan； La Belle Hollandaise； the mother of Esther Gobseck。 He had caused the misery of Madame Restaud； sister of Madame Delphine de Nucingen； the mother of the young Comtesse de Rastignac。
The world of Paris offers many unimaginable situations。 The Baronne de Nucingen was at this moment in Madame d'Espard's salon in presence of the author of all her sister's misery； in presence of a murderer who killed only the happiness of women。 That； perhaps； was the reason why he was there。 Madame de Nucingen had dined at Madame d'Espard's with her daughter； married a few months earlier to the Comte de Rastignac； who had begun his political career by occupying the post of under… secretary of state in the famous ministry of the late de Marsay； the only real statesman produced by the Revolution of July。
Comte Maxime de Trailles alone knew how many disasters he had caused； but he had always taken care to shelter himself from blame by scrupulously obeying the laws of the Man…Code。 Though he had squandered in the course of his life more money than the four galleys of France could have stolen in the same time； he had kept clear of justice。 Never had he lacked in honor； his gambling debts were paid scrupulously。 An admirable player； his partners were chiefly the great seigneurs； ministers； and ambassadors。 He dined habitually with all the members of the diplomatic body。 He fought duels； and had killed two or three men in his life； in fact； he had half murdered them； for his coolness and self…possession were unparalleled。 No young man could compare with him in dress； in the distinction of his manners； the elegance of his witty speech； the grace of his easy carriage；in short； what was called in those days 〃the grand air。〃 In his capacity of page to the Emperor； trained from the age of twelve in the art of riding； he was held to be the skilfulest of horsemen。 Having always fine horses in his stable； he raised some； and ruled the fashion in equestrianism。 No man could stand a supper of young bloods better than he； he drank more than the best…trained toper； but he came out fresh and cool； and ready to begin again as if orgy were his element。 Maxime； one of those despised men who know how to repress the contempt they inspire by the insolence of their attitude and the fear they cause； never deceived himself as to his actual position。 Hence his real strength。 Strong men are always their own critics。
Under the Restoration he had made the most of his former condition of page to the Emperor。 He attributed to his pretended Bonapartist opinions the rebuffs he met with from the different ministers when he asked for an office under the Bourbons； for； in spite of his connections； his birth； and his dangerous aptitudes； he never obtained anything。 After the failure of these attempts he entered the secret cabal which led in time to the fall of the Elder branch。
When the Younger branch； preceded by the Parisian populace； had trodden down the Elder branch and was seated on the throne； Maxime reproduced his attachment to Napoleon； for whom he cared as much as for his first love。 He then did great services to the newcomers； who soon found the payment for them onerous； for Maxime too often demanded payment of men who knew how to reckon those services。 At the first refusal； Maxime assumed at once an attitude of hostility； threatening to reveal unpleasant details； for budding dynasties； like infants； have much soiled linen。 De Marsay； during his ministry； repaired the mistake of his predecessors； who had ignored the utility of this man。 He gave him those secret missions which require a conscience made malleable by the hammer of necessity； an adroitness which recoils before no methods； impudence； and； above all； the self…possession； the coolness； the embracing glance which constitute the hired /bravi/ of thought and statesmanship。 Such instruments are both rare and necessary。
As a matter of calculation； de Marsay maintained Comte Maxime de Trailles in the highest society； he described him as a man ripened by passions； taught by experience； who knew men and things； to whom travel and a certain faculty for observation had imparted an understanding of European interests； of foreign cabinets； and of all the ramifications of the great continental families。 De Marsay convinced Maxime of the necessity of doing himself credit； he taught him discretion； less as a virtue than a speculation； he proved to him that the governing powers would never abandon a solid； safe； elegant； and polished instrument。
〃In politics；〃 he said； blaming Maxime for having uttered a threat； 〃we should never /blackmail/ but once。〃
Maxime was a man who could sound the depths of that saying。
De Marsay dead； Comte Maxime de Trailles had fallen back into his former state of existence。 He went to the baths every year and gambled； he returned to Paris for the winter； but； though he received some large sums from the depths of certain niggardly coffers； that sort of half…pay to a daring man kept for use at any moment and p