There was no one among the middle classes of Plassans who cared to play it except the Rougons, whose ungratified longings urged them on to extreme measures.
In the month of April, 1849, Eugene suddenly left Paris, and came to stay with his father for a fortnight.

Nobody ever knew the purpose of this journey.

It is probable that Eugene wanted to sound his native town, to ascertain whether he might successfully stand as a candidate for the legislature which was about to replace the Constituent Assembly.
He was too shrewd to risk a failure.

No doubt public opinion appeared to him little in his favour, for he abstained from any attempt.

It was not known at Plassans what had become of him in Paris, what he was doing there.