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262 some favour to ask. One of my uncle's grand vicars is very good at telling the life of M. Descoulis since the restoration. I will bring him to you."

"Bah! I don't believe all that, it's professional jealousy among the lower classes." said the comte de Caylus.

"M. Descoulis will live in history," replied the marquis. "He brought about the restoration together with the abbé de Pradt and messieurs de Talleyrand and Pozzo di Borgo."

"That man has handled millions," said Norbert, "and I can't conceive why he should come here to swallow my father's epigrams which are frequently atrocious. 'How many times have you betrayed your friends, my dear Descoulis?' he shouted at him one day from one end of the table to the other."

"But is it true that he has played the traitor?" asked mademoiselle de la Mole. "Who has not played the traitor?"

"Why!" said the comte de Caylus to Norbert, "do you have that celebrated Liberal, M. Sainclair, in your house. What the devil's he come here for? I must go up to him and speak to him and make him speak. He is said to be so clever."

"But how will your mother receive him?" said M. de Croisenois. "He has such extravagant, generous and independent ideas."

"Look," said mademoiselle de la Mole, "look at the independent man who bows down to the ground to M. Descoulis while he grabs hold of his hand. I almost thought he was going to put it to his lips."

"Descoulis must stand better with the powers that be than we thought," answered M. de Croisenois.

"Sainclair comes here in order to get into the academy," said Norbert. "See how he bows to the baron L, Croisenois."

"It would be less base to kneel down," replied M. de Luz.

"My dear Sorel," said Norbert, "you are extremely smart, but you come from the mountains. Mind you never bow like that great poet is doing, even to God the Father."

"Ah there's a really witty man, M. the Baron Bàton," said mademoiselle de la Mole, imitating a little the voice of the flunkey who had just announced him.