A MINISTER'S MORNING
The next day, when Rastignac entered his office, the adjoining waiting-room was already occupied by eleven persons waiting with letters of introduction to solicit favors, also two peers of France and several deputies.
Presently a bell rang.The usher, with an eagerness which communicated itself to all present, entered the sanctum; an instant later he came out, bearing this stereotyped message:--"The minister is obliged to attend a Council.He will, however, have the honor to receive the gentlemen of the two Chambers.As for the others, they can call again at another time.""What other time?" asked one of the postponed; "this is the third time in three days that I have come here uselessly."The usher made a gesture which meant, "It is not my affair; I follow my orders." But hearing certain murmurs as to the privilege granted to honorable members, he said, with a certain solemnity,--"The honorable gentlemen came to discuss affairs of public interest with his Excellency."The office-seekers, being compelled to accept this fib, departed.
After which the bell rang again.The usher then assumed his most gracious expression of face.By natural affinity, the lucky ones had gathered in a group at one end of the room.Though they had never seen one another before, most of them being the offspring of the late national lying-in, they seemed to recognize a certain representative air which is very difficult to define, though it can never be mistaken.The usher, not venturing to choose among so many eminent personages, turned a mute, caressing glance on all, as if to say,--"Whom shall I have the honor of first announcing?""Gentlemen," said Colonel Franchessini, "I believe I have seen you all arrive."And he walked to the closed door, which the usher threw open, announcing in a loud, clear voice,--"Monsieur le Colonel Franchessini!"
"Ha! so you are the first this morning," said the minister, making a few steps towards the colonel, and giving him his hand."What have you come for, my dear fellow?--a railroad, a canal, a suspension bridge?""I have come, my good-natured minister, on private business in which you are more interested than I.""That is not a judicious way of urging it, for I warn you I pay little or no attention to my own business.""I had a visit from Maxime this morning, on his return from Arcis-sur-Aube," said the colonel, coming to the point."He gave me all the particulars of that election.He thinks a spoke might be put in the wheel of it.Now, if you have time to let me make a few explanations--"The minister, who was sitting before his desk with his back to the fireplace, turned round to look at the clock.
"Look here, my dear fellow," he said, "I'm afraid you will be long, and I have a hungry pack outside there waiting for me.I shouldn't listen to you comfortably.Do me the favor to go and take a walk and come back at twelve o'clock to breakfast.I'll present you to Madame de Rastignac, whom you don't know, I think, and after breakfast we will take a few turns in the garden; then I can listen to you in peace.""Very good, I accept that arrangement," said the colonel, rising.
As he crossed the waiting-room, he said,--"Messieurs, I have not delayed you long, I hope."Then, after distributing a few grasps of the hand, he departed.
Three hours later, when the colonel entered the salon where he was presented to Madame de Rastignac, he found there the Baron de Nucingen, who came nearly every day to breakfast with his son-in-law before the Bourse hour, Emile Blondet of the "Debats," Messieurs Moreau (de l'Oise), Dionis, and Camusot, three deputies madly loquacious, and two newly elected deputies whose names it is doubtful if Rastignac knew himself.Franchessini also recognized Martial de la Roche-Hugon, the minister's brother-in-law, and the inevitable des Lupeaulx, peer of France.As for another figure, who stood talking with the minister for some time in the recess of a window, the colonel learned, after inquiring of Emile Blondet, that it was that of a former functionary of the upper police, who continued, as an amateur, to do part of his former business, going daily to each minister under all administrations with as much zeal and regularity as if he were still charged with his official duties.
Madame de Rastignac seen at close quarters seemed to the colonel a handsome blonde, not at all languishing.She was strikingly like her mother, but with that shade of greater distinction which in the descendants of parvenus increases from generation to generation as they advance from their source.The last drop of the primitive Goriot blood had evaporated in this charming young woman, who was particularly remarkable for the high-bred delicacy of all her extremities, the absence of which in Madame de Nucingen had shown the daughter of Pere Goriot.
As the colonel wished to retain a footing in the house he now entered for the first time, he talked about his wife.