"Nothing!" said Sulpice. "I think Verdi's music is superb!"
"Oh! a little Wagnerian," Warcolier replied, repeating what he had heard. "But what of politics?"
"Ah! politics concerns you now!"
"Well! why," Warcolier replied, "that goes on well. There is a little relaxation! a ministry more—more—"
"More homogeneous!" said Vaudrey, in a slightly mocking tone.
"Exactly. And, after all, the duty of every good citizen is to defend the government under which we live."
Ah! assuredly, Vaudrey considered that his former Secretary of State, now become the vassal of Granet, displayed a rather ridiculous assurance. He smiled as if he would have laughed in his face and turned his back upon him.
Warcolier was not annoyed, for he felt certain that he had angered the former minister, and he was delighted. It was a kick from an ass. The witticism of a fool.
Vaudrey regained his place, much dissatisfied at having come and furious at this pretentious imbecile, when, on leaving the wings, he ran against Lissac who was entering a sort of hall where Louis sat writing the names of the entrances on the sheet.
Guy flushed slightly on seeing him.