Theusurersallapplaudedthesedoctrineswithashakeoftheirmetallicheads。Anonlookerwouldhavefanciedheheardthecreakingofill-oiledmachinery。”Come，Gigonnet，showalittlefeeling，”saidChaboisseau，”they’veknityourstockingsforthirtyyears。””Thatcountsforsomething，”remarkedGobseck。”Areyouallalone？Isitsafetospeak？”saidMitral，lookingcarefullyabouthim。”Icomeaboutagoodpieceofbusiness。””Ifitisgood，whydoyoucometous？”saidGigonnet，sharply，interruptingMitral。”AfellowwhowasagentlemanoftheBedchamber，”wentonMitral，”aformer’chouan，’——what’shisname？——LaBillardiereisdead。””True，”saidGobseck。”Andournephewisgivingmonstrancestothechurch，”snarledGigonnet。”Heisnotsuchafoolastogivethem，hesellsthem，oldman，”saidMitral，proudly。”HewantsLaBillardiere’splace，andinordertogetit，wemustseize——””Seize！You’llneverbeanythingbutasheriff’sofficer，”putinMetivier，strikingMitralamicablyontheshoulder；”Ilikethat，I
do！””SeizeMonsieurClementdesLupeaulxinourclutches，”continuedMitral；”Elisabethhasdiscoveredhowtodoit，andheis——””Elisabeth”；criedGigonnet，interruptingagain；”dearlittlecreature！shetakesafterhergrandfather，mypoorbrother！heneverhadhisequal！Ah，youshouldhaveseenhimbuyingupoldfurniture；
whattact！whatshrewdness！WhatdoesElisabethwant？””Hey！hey！”criedMitral，”you’vegotbackyourbowelsofcompassion，papaGigonnet！Thatphenomenonhasacause。””Alwaysachild，”saidGobsecktoGigonnet，”youaretooquickonthetrigger。””Come，GobseckandGigonnet，listentome；youwanttokeepwellwithdesLupeaulx，don’tyou？You’venotforgottenhowyoupluckedhiminthataffairabouttheking’sdebts，andyouareafraidhe’llaskyoutoreturnsomeofhisfeathers，”saidMitral。”Shallwetellhimthewholething？”askedGobseck，whisperingtoGigonnet。”Mitralisoneofus；hewouldn’tplayashabbytrickonhisformercustomers，”repliedGigonnet。”Yousee，Mitral，”hewenton，speakingtotheex-sheriffinalowvoice，”wethreehavejustboughtupallthosedebts，thepaymentofwhichdependsonthedecisionoftheliquidationcommittee。””Howmuchwillyoulose？”askedMitral。”Nothing，”saidGobseck。”Nobodyknowsweareinit，”addedGigonnet；”Samanonscreensus。””Come，listentome，Gigonnet；itiscold，andyournieceiswaitingoutside。You’llunderstandwhatIwantintwowords。Youmustatonce，betweenyou，sendtwohundredandfiftythousandfrancswithoutinterestintothecountryafterFalleix，whohasgonepost-haste，withacourierinadvanceofhim。””Isitpossible！”saidGobseck。”Whatfor？”criedGigonnet，”andwhereto？””TodesLupeaulx’smagnificentcountry-seat，”repliedMitral。”Falleixknowsthecountry，forhewasbornthere；andheisgoingtobuyuplandallroundthesecretary’smiserablehovel，withthetwohundredandfiftythousandfrancsIspeakof，——goodland，wellworththeprice。Thereareonlyninedaysbeforeusfordrawingupandrecordingthenotarialdeedsbearthatinmind。Withtheadditionofthisland，desLupeaulx’spresentmiserablepropertywouldpaytaxestotheamountofonethousandfrancs，thesumnecessarytomakeamaneligibletotheChamber。Ergo，withitdesLupeaulxgoesintotheelectoralcollege，becomeseligible，count，andwhateverhepleases。
Youknowthedeputywhohasslippedoutandleftavacancy，don’tyou？”
Thetwomisersnodded。”DesLupeaulxwouldcutoffalegtogetelectedinhisplace，”