“Does he expect to get the natives to lay out capital?” asked Monsieur Martener.
“I doubt if our royalists will go into that kind of mining,” remarked Vinet, laughing.
“What should you think from the air and gestures of Madame Marion?” said the sub-prefect turning off the subject by pointing to Madame Marion and Simon, who were deep in conversation.
Simon had gone toward the bridge to meet his aunt, and was now walking with her up the square.
“If he was accepted one word would suffice,” said the shrewd Olivier.
“Well?” said all the officials when Simon came to them under the lindens.
“My aunt thinks the matter very hopeful,” replied Simon. “Madame Beauvisage and old Grevin, who has just gone to Gondreville, were not at all surprised at my proposals; they talked of our respective fortunes, and said they wished to leave Cecile perfectly free to make her choice. Besides which, Madame Beauvisage said that, as for herself, she saw no objection to an alliance by which she should feel herself honored; although she postponed all answer until after my election, and possibly my first appearance in the Chamber. Old Grevin said he should consult the Comte de Gondreville, without whose advice he never took any important step.”
“All of which means,” said Goulard, point-blank, “that you will never marry Cecile, my old fellow.”
“Why not?” said Giguet, ironically.
“My dear friend, Madame Beauvisage and her daughter spend four evenings every week in the salon of your aunt; your aunt is the most distinguished woman in Arcis; and she is, though twenty years the elder, an object of envy to Madame Beauvisage; don’t you see, therefore, that they wished to wrap up their refusal in certain civilities?”