The deputy of the arrondissement in which my estate is situated--" "So it is really an estate!" said the minister, laughing, to hide his surprise.
"Increased by a recent purchase of two hundred thousand francs' worth of adjacent property," replied des Lupeaulx, carelessly.

"You knew of the deputy's approaching resignation at least ten days ago, and you did not tell me of it.

You were perhaps not bound to do so, but you knew very well that I am most anxious to take my seat in the centre.

Has it occurred to you that I might fling myself back on the 'Doctrine' ?--which, let me tell you, will destroy the administration and the monarchy both if you continue to allow the party of representative government to be recruited from men of talent whom you ignore.

Don't you know that in every nation there are fifty to sixty, not more, dangerous heads, whose schemes are in proportion to their ambition?
The secret of knowing how to govern is to know those heads well, and either to chop them off or buy them.