When the two conspirators were alone in the antechamber, Maxime turned to his companion.
“Do you understand such squeamishness?” he asked.
“Perfectly,” replied Vinet, “and I wonder to see a clever man like you so duped.”
“Yes, duped to make you lose your time and I mine by coming here to listen to a lecture on virtue!”
“That’s not it; but I do think you guileless to be taken in by that refusal to co-operate.”
“What! do you think—”
“I think that this affair is risky; if it succeeds, the government, arms folded, will reap the benefit. But if on the contrary we fail, it will not take a share in the defeat. But you may be sure of this, for I know Rastignac well: without seeming to know anything, and without compromising himself in any way, he will help us, and perhaps more usefully than by open connivance. Think! did he say a single word on the morality of the affair? Didn’t he say, again and again, ‘I don’t oppose—I have no right to prevent’? And as to the venom of the case, the only fault he found was that it wasn’t sure to kill. But in truth, my dear monsieur, this is going to be a hard pull, and we shall want all the cleverness of that fellow Desroches to get us through.”
“Then you think I had better see him?”
“Better see him! why, my good friend, you ought to go to him at once.”
“Wouldn’t it be better if he talked with you?”