"In the first
place," said Raoul, "I must beg you to accept my mother's regrets that
she cannot receive you to-day. She and the Contessa belong to a society
of ladies formed for visiting the poor, and this is their day; but
to-morrow you must dine with us en famille. Now to business. Allow me
to light my cigar while you confide the whole state of affairs to
Enguerrand. Whatever he counsels, I am sure to approve."

Alain, as briefly as he could, stated his circumstances, his mortgages,
and the hopes which his avow had encouraged him to place in the friendly
disposition of M. Louvier. When he had concluded, Enguerrand mused for a
few moments before replying. At last he said, "Will you trust me to call
on Louvier on your behalf? I shall but inquire if he is inclined to
take on himself the other mortgages; and if so, on what terms. Our
relationship gives me the excuse for my interference; and to say
truth, I have had much familiar intercourse with the man. I too am a
speculator, and have often profited by Louvier's advice. You may ask
what can be his object in serving me; he can gain nothing by it. To this
I answer, the key to his good offices is in his character. Audacious
though he be as a speculator, he is wonderfully prudent as a politician.
This belle France of ours is like a stage tumbler; one can never be
sure whether it will stand on its head or its feet. Louvier very wisely
wishes to feel himself safe whatever party comes uppermost. He has no
faith in the duration of the Empire; and as, at all events, the Empire
will not confiscate his millions, he takes no trouble in conciliating
Imperialists. But on the principle which induces certain savages
to worship the devil and neglect the bon Dieu, because the devil is
spiteful and the bon Dieu is too beneficent to injure them, Louvier,
at heart detesting as well as dreading a republic, lays himself out
to secure friends with the Republicans of all classes, and pretends
to espouse their cause; next to them, he is very conciliatory to the
Orleanists; lastly, though he thinks the Legitimists have no chance,
he desires to keep well with the nobles of that party, because they
exercise a considerable influence over that sphere of opinion which
belongs to fashion,--for fashion is never powerless in Paris. Raoul and
myself are no mean authorities in salons and clubs, and a good word from
us is worth having.

"Besides, Louvier himself in his youth set up for a dandy; and that
de