"Scamps! what are you doing in the sanctuary of the laws?"

"Parbleu! we've come to learn how to blague," said Bixiou. "We might get
rusty if we didn't."

"Let us go into the garden," said the young man, not observing that
Gazonal belonged to the party.

Seeing that this new-comer was well-dressed, in black, the provincial
did not know in which political category to place him; but he followed
the others into the garden contiguous to the hall which follows the line
of the quai Napoleon. Once in the garden the ci-devant young man gave
way to a peal of laughter which he seemed to have been repressing since
he entered the lobby.

"What is it?" asked Leon de Lora.

"My dear friend, to prove the sincerity of the constitutional
government we are forced to tell the most frightful lies with incredible
self-possession. But as for me, I'm freakish; some days I can lie like
a prospectus; other days I can't be serious. This is one of my hilarious
days. Now, at this moment, the prime minister, being summoned by the
Opposition to make known a certain diplomatic secret, is going through
his paces in the tribune. Being an honest man who never lies on his own
account, he whispered to me as he mounted the breach: 'Heaven knows
what I shall say to them.' A mad desire to laugh overcame me, and as one
mustn't laugh on the ministerial bench I rushed out, for my youth does
come back to me most unseasonably at times."

"At last," cried Gazonal, "I've found an honest man in Paris! You must
be a very superior man," he added, looking at the stranger.

"Ah ca! who is this gentleman?" said the ci-devant young man, examining
Gazonal.

"My cousin," said Leon, hastily. "I'll answer for his silence and his
honor as for my own. It is on his account we have come here now; he has
a case before the administration which depends on your ministry. His
prefect evidently wants to ruin him, and we have come to see you in
order to prevent the Council of State from ratifying a great injustice."

"Who brings up the case?"

"Massol."

"Good."

"And our friends Giraud and Claude Vignon are on the committee," said
Bixiou.

"Say just a word to them," urged Leon; "tell them to come to-night to
Carabine's, where du Tillet gives a fete apropos of railways,--they are
plundering more than ever on the roads."

"Ah ca! but isn't your cousin from the Pyrenees?" asked the young man,
now become serious.

"Yes," replied Gazonal.

"And you did not vote for us