"My legal brother," said Achille Pigoult, "is not very strong on the
history of the middle ages."

"Come, Malvina!" said the stout notary to his wife, making no reply to
his young associate.

"Tell me, Monsieur Antonin," said Cecile to the sub-prefect, "you
spoke of Anicette, the maid of the Princesse de Cadignan; do you know
her?"

"No, but Julien does; she is the goddaughter of his father, and they
are good friends together."

"Then try, through Julien, to get her to live with us. Mamma wouldn't
consider wages."

"Mademoiselle, to hear is to obey, as they say to despots in Asia,"
replied the sub-prefect. "Just see to what lengths I will go in order
to serve you."

And he left the room to give Julien orders to go with Anicette in the
chariot and coax her away from the princess at any price.



XI

IN WHICH THE CANDIDATE BEGINS TO LOSE VOTES