said.

"There is more in it than that," exclaimed du Croisier, rising to begin
his restless walk again.

"More? What more?" asked Chesnel in amazement.

"France is involved, M. Chesnel! It is a question of the country, of the
people, of giving my lords your nobles a lesson, and teaching them that
there is such a thing as justice, and law, and a bourgeoisie--a lesser
nobility as good as they, and a match for them! There shall be no
more trampling down half a score of wheat fields for a single hare; no
bringing shame on families by seducing unprotected girls; they shall not
look down on others as good as they are, and mock at them for ten
whole years, without finding out at last that these things swell into
avalanches, and those avalanches will fall and crush and bury my lords
the nobles. You want to go back to the old order of things. You want
to tear up the social compact, the Charter in which our rights are set
forth---"

"And so?"

"Is it not a sacred mission to open the people's eyes?" cried du
Croisier. "Their eyes will be opened to the morality of your party when
they see nobles going to be tried at the Assize Court like Pierre
and Jacques. They will say, then, that small folk who keep their
self-respect are as good as great folk that bring shame on themselves.
The Assize Court is a light for all the world. Here, I am the champion
of the people, the friend of law. You yourselves twice flung me on the
side of the people--once when you refused an alliance, twice when you
put me under the ban of your society. You are reaping as you have sown."

If Chesnel was startled by this outburst, so no less was Mme. du
Croisier. To her this was a terrible revelation of her husband's
character, a new light not merely on the past but on the future as well.
Any capitulation on the part of the colossus was apparently out of the
question; but Chesnel in no wise retreated before the impossible.

"What, monsieur?" said Mme. du Croisier. "Would you not forgive? Then
you are not a Christian."

"I forgive as God forgives, madame, on certain conditions."

"And what are they?" asked Chesnel, thinking that he saw a ray of hope.

"The elections are coming on; I want the votes at your disposal."

"You shall have them."

"I wish that we, my wife and I, should be received familiarly every
evening, with an appearance of friendliness at any rate, by M. le
Marquis d'Esgrignon and his circle," continued du Croisier.

"I do not know