des Lupeaulx goes into the electoral college,
becomes eligible, count, and whatever he pleases. You know the deputy
who has slipped out and left a vacancy, don't you?"

The two misers nodded.

"Des Lupeaulx would cut off a leg to get elected in his place,"
continued Mitral; "but he must have the title-deeds of the property in
his own name, and then mortgage them back to us for the amount of the
purchase-money. Ah! now you begin to see what I am after! First of all,
we must make sure of Baudoyer's appointment, and des Lupeaulx will get
it for us on these terms; after that is settled we will hand him back
to you. Falleix is now canvassing the electoral vote. Don't you
perceive that you have Lupeaulx completely in your power until after the
election?--for Falleix's friends are a large majority. Now do you see
what I mean, papa Gigonnet?"

"It's a clever game," said Metivier.

"We'll do it," said Gigonnet; "you agree, don't you, Gobseck? Falleix
can give us security and put mortgages on the property in my name; we'll
go and see des Lupeaulx when all is ready."

"We're robbed," said Gobseck.

"Ha, ha!" laughed Mitral, "I'd like to know the robber!"

"Nobody can rob us but ourselves," answered Gigonnet. "I told you we
were doing a good thing in buying up all des Lupeaulx's paper from his
creditors at sixty per cent discount."

"Take this mortgage on his estate and you'll hold him tighter still
through the interest," answered Mitral.

"Possibly," said Gobseck.

After exchanging a shrewd look with Gobseck, Gigonnet went to the door
of the cafe.

"Elisabeth! follow it up, my dear," he said to his niece. "We hold your
man securely; but don't neglect accessories. You have begun well, clever
woman! go on as you began and you'll have your uncle's esteem," and he
grasped her hand, gayly.

"But," said Mitral, "Metivier and Chaboisseau heard it all, and they
may play us a trick and tell the matter to some opposition journal
which would catch the ball on its way and counteract the effect of the
ministerial article. You must go alone, my dear; I dare not let those
two cormorants out of my sight." So saying he re-entered the cafe.

The next day the numerous subscribers to a certain liberal journal read,
among the Paris items, the following article, inserted authoritatively
by Chaboisseau and Metivier, share-holders in the said journal, brokers
for publishers, printers, and paper-makers, whose behests no editor
dared refus