\"Haveyouobtainedthecrossforme？\"hecried，onreceivingaglancefromTheodose，andwishingtoprovethathewasnotwithoutcraft。
\"Youwilldoubtlessreceiveiterelong，\"repliedthemayor。\"Butthematternowrelatestosomethingbetterthanthat。Thecrossisafavorduetothegoodopinionofaminister，whereasthepresentquestionconcernsanelectionduetotheconsentofyourfellowcitizens。Inaword，asufficientlylargenumberofelectorsinyourarrondissementhavecasttheireyesuponyou，andwishtohonoryouwiththeirconfidencebymakingyoutherepresentativeofthisarrondissementinthemunicipalcouncilofParis；which，aseverybodyknows，istheCouncil—generaloftheSeine。\"
\"Bravo！\"criedDutocq。
Phellionrose。
\"Monsieurlemairehasforestalledme，\"hesaidinanagitatedvoice，\"butitissoflatteringforourfriendtobetheobjectofeagernessonthepartofallgoodcitizens，andtoobtainthepublicvoteofhighandlow，thatIcannotcomplainofbeingobligedtocomesecondonly；therefore，allhonortotheinitiatoryauthority！\"（HerehebowedrespectfullytoMinard。）\"Yes，MonsieurThuillier，manyelectorsthinkofgivingyoutheirvotesinthatportionofthearrondissementwhereIkeepmyhumblepenates；andyouhavethespecialadvantageofbeingsuggestedtotheirmindsbyadistinguishedman。\"（Sensation。）