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
deposed ruler of dandies, our unfortunate kinsman, Victor de Mauleon,
shed some of his own radiance on the money-lender's son. But when
Victor's star was eclipsed, Louvier ceased to gleam. The dandies cut
him. In his heart he exults that the dandies now throng to his
_soirees_.

"Bref, the millionaire is especially civil to me,--the more so as I know
intimately two or three eminent journalists; and Louvier takes pains to
plant garrisons in the press. I trust I have explained the grounds on
which I may be a better diplomatist to employ than your _avoue_; and with
your leave I will go to Louvier at once."