"Bah! if it had only been that article I should, indeed, have made myself a laughing-stock, although good ink went to the writing of it."
"You call that good ink, do you? I defy you to suck M. Jay's [Étienne's] pen, without having an attack of the colic."
"Well, call it bad ink, if you like ... But it was the Chamber!"
"How do you make that out?"
"Oh! I had the whole Chamber against me! If Antony had been allowed to be played to-night, the Budget would not have passed."
"The Budget would not have passed?"
"No ... Remember that such people as Jay, Étienne, Viennet and so forth ... can command a hundred votes in the Chamber, a hundred people who vote like one man. I was pinned into a corner—'Antony and no budget!' or, 'A budget and no Antony!' ... Ah! my boy, remain a dramatic author and take good care never to become a Minister!"
"Oh! come! do you really think matters can rest thus?"
"No, I am well aware I owe you an indemnity; fix it yourself and I will pass for payment any sum you may exact!"