"Why did you not tell me your agent's name ?" The former clerk of Arcis, former Conventional, former Thermidorien, tribune, Councillor of State, count of the Empire and senator, peer of the Restoration, and now peer of the monarchy of July, made a servile bow to the princess.
"Fear nothing, madame," he said; "we have ceased to make war on princes.
I bring you an assurance of the permit," he added, seating himself beside her.
Malin was long in the confidence of Louis XVIII., to whom his varied experience was useful.

He had greatly aided in overthrowing Decazes, and had given much good advice to the ministry of Villele.

Coldly received by Charles X., he had adopted all the rancors of Talleyrand.

He was now in high favor under the twelfth government he had served since 1789, and which in turn he would doubtless betray.

For the last fifteen months he had broken the long friendship which had bound him for thirty-six years to our greatest diplomat, the Prince de Talleyrand.