cessor. Perceiving at once
that so much zeal was but intended to hide a fear of change, and a
sincere desire to do nothing, he determined to adopt a policy that would
satisfy these aspirations. At the beginning of the session he made a
great speech, cleverly thought out and well arranged, dealing with the
idea that all reform ought to be put off for a long time. He showed
himself heated, even fervid; holding the principle that an orator should
recommend moderation with extreme vehemence. He was applauded by the
entire assembly. The Clarences listened to him from the President's
box and Eveline trembled in spite of herself at the solemn sound of
the applause. On the same bench the fair Madame Pensee shivered at the
intonations of his virile voice.

As soon as he descended from the tribune, Ceres, even while the audience
were still clapping, went without a moment's delay to salute the
Clarences in their box. Eveline saw in him the beauty of success, and as
he leaned towards the ladies, wiping his neck with his handkerchief
and receiving their congratulations with an air of modesty though not
without a tinge of self-conceit, the young girl glanced towards Madame
Pensee and saw her, palpitating and breathless, drinking in the hero's
applause with her head thrown backwards. It seemed as if she were on the
point of fainting. Eveline immediately smiled tenderly on M. Ceres.

The Alcan deputy's speech had a great vogue. In political "spheres"
it was regarded as extremely able. "We have at last heard an honest
pronouncement," said the chief Moderate journal. "It is a regular
programme!" they said in the House. It was agreed that he was a man of
immense talent.

Hippolyte Ceres had now established himself as leader of the radicals,
socialists, and anti-clericals, and they appointed him President of
their group, which was then the most considerable in the House. He thus
found himself marked out for office in the next ministerial combination.

After a long hesitation Eveline Clarence accepted the idea of marrying
M. Hippolyte Ceres. The great man was a little common for her taste.
Nothing had yet proved that he would one day reach the point where
politics bring in large sums of money. But she was entering her
twenty-seventh year and knew enough of life to see that she must not be
too fastidious or show herself too difficult to please.

Hippolyte Ceres was celebrated; Hippolyte Ceres was happy. He was no
longer recognisable; th