that opinion without respect to my feelings one way or other. Let it
emanate solely from your practised judgment."

"Be it so," said Hennequin, wondering what was to come. De Mauleon
resumed, "As you may remember, during my former career I had no political
ambition. I did not meddle with politics. In the troubled times that
immediately succeeded the fall of Louis Philippe I was but an epicurean
looker-on. Grant that, so far as admission to the salons is concerned,
I shall encounter no difficulty in regaining position; but as regards the
Chamber, public life, a political career, can I have my fair opening
under the Empire? You pause. Answer as you have promised, frankly."

"The difficulties in the way of a political career would be very great."

"Insuperable?"

"I fear so. Of course, in my capacity of _Prefet_, I have no small
influence in my department in support of a Government candidate. But I
do not think that the Imperial Government could, at this time especially,
in which it must be very cautious in selecting its candidates, be induced
to recommend you. The affair of the jewels would be raked up; your
vindication disputed, denied; the fact that for so many years you have
acquiesced in that charge without taking steps to refute it; your
antecedents, even apart from that charge; your present want of property
(M. Enguerrand tells me your income is but moderate); the absence of all
previous repute in public life. No; relinquish the idea of political
contest,--it would expose you to inevitable mortifications, to a failure
that would even jeopardize the admission to the salons which you are now
gaining. You could not be a Government candidate."