"My dear fellow, you have changed your opinion of him very suddenly,"
replied the Prefet with justifiable surprise.

"As suddenly as men change who belong to the centre and vote with the
right," replied Rastignac to the Prefet-Depute, whose vote had for a
few days failed to support the Ministry.

"Are there such things as opinions nowadays? There are only
interests," observed des Lupeaulx, who had heard them. "What is the
case in point?"

"The case of the Sieur de Rubempre, whom Rastignac is setting up as a
person of consequence," said du Chatelet to the Secretary-General.

"My dear Count," replied des Lupeaulx very seriously, "Monsieur de
Rubempre is a young man of the highest merit, and has such good
interest at his back that I should be delighted to renew my
acquaintance with him."

"There he is, rushing into the wasps' nest of the rakes of the day,"
said Rastignac.



The three speakers looked towards a corner where a group of recognized
wits had gathered, men of more or less celebrity, and several men of
fashion. These gentlemen made common stock of their jests, their
remarks, and their scandal, trying to amuse themselves till something
should amuse them. Among this strangely mingled party were some men