"You? My dear Mademoiselle Melanie,—you? I can well believe it. Madame de Fleury adores you; she owes all her success to you. Oh, I know it, well enough, though you may pretend to be ignorant of what you have done for her. And you seriously think you can get me this invitation? You will positively make the effort?"
"I will use my best endeavors, and I am pretty sure I shall succeed; but it is to be the return for a favor which I desire you to grant me."
"A favor? You can ask none that I will not grant in return for this invitation," replied Mrs. Gilmer, eagerly.
Madeleine could scarcely repress a smile, tinged with a slightly scornful expression.
"You American ladies are said to be all-powerful with your husbands; you, no doubt, have great influence with Mr. Gilmer?"
"I fancy I have," said Mrs. Gilmer, tossing her graceful head. "I arrange matters so as to have him in my power. I know his weak points, and I make it a rule to play upon them until I obtain everything I desire. Just at this moment, he is in a particularly favorable state: he is frantically jealous; though, between ourselves, I never give him real cause. I only excite his jealousy to use it as a valuable weapon against himself. Tell me quickly what favor you desire."
"Mr. Gilmer is a member of a committee which is to decide upon the course a certain railroad is to take. I wish to secure his vote for the left road."
"How odd! What difference can it make to you?"
"It would occupy too much time to explain that, and might not interest you. The important question is, can he be induced to vote for this left road?"