That sheet of paper did marvels; it completely foiled the efforts of Monsieur de Trailles, who, throwing off the mask, had spent his day in perorating, in white gloves, on the market-place and from the steps of the electoral college.
This evening the result is known; namely, two hundred and one votes cast: two for Beauvisage; twenty-nine for Simon Giguet; one hundred and seventy for Sallenauve.
Consequently, Monsieur Charles de Sallenauve is proclaimed Deputy.
PART III. MONSIEUR DE SALLENAUVE
I. THE SORROWS OF MONSIEUR DE TRAILLES
During the evening which followed the election in which he had played a part so humiliating to his vanity, Maxime de Trailles returned to Paris. It might be supposed that in making, on his arrival, a rapid toilet and ordering his carriage to be instantly brought round, he was hastening to pay a visit to the Comte de Rastignac, minister of Public Works, to whom he must have desired to render an account of his mission, and explain as best he could the reasons of its ill-success.
But another and more pressing interest seemed to claim him.
“To Colonel Franchessini’s,” he said to his coachman.