"My love for her will be a pledge to you of my devotion.

What would I not do for a _father-in-law_! This is pure selfishness; I shall be working for myself." "Hush!" cried Thuillier.
"Eh, my friend!" said la Peyrade, catching Thuillier round the body; "if I hadn't Flavie on my side, and if I didn't know _all_ should I venture to be talking to you thus?
But please say nothing to Flavie about this; wait till she speaks to you.

Listen to me; I'm of the metal that makes ministers; I do not seek to obtain Celeste until I deserve her.

You shall not be asked to give her to me until the day when your election as a deputy of Paris is assured.

In order to be deputy of Paris, we must get the better of Minard; and in order to crush Minard you must keep in your own hands all your means of influence; for that reason use Celeste as a hope; we'll play them off, these people, against each other and fool them all--Madame Colleville and you and I will be persons of importance one of these days.