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Updated: June 11, 2025
Garain, who had founded his political fortune on hatred of the Empire, judged sincerely that this return of national taste was only an absurd infatuation. He saw no danger in it and felt no fear about it. In him fear was sudden and ferocious. For the moment he was very quiet; he talked neither of prohibiting performances nor of seizing books, of imprisoning authors, or of suppressing anything.
Garain, who did not like Paul Vence's ingenious turn of wit and language, tried to hasten the conclusion: "In a word," he said, "there was something of the monster in the man." "There are no monsters," replied Paul Vence; "and men who pass for monsters inspire horror. Napoleon was loved by an entire people. He had the power to win the love of men. The joy of his soldiers was to die for him."
He had to see several persons before submitting his list to the President of the Republic. Count Martin offered his carriage, but Garain had one. "Do you not think," asked Count Martin, "that the President might object to some names?" "The President," replied Garain, "will be inspired by the necessities of the situation."
He had already gone out of the door when he struck his forehead with his hand. "We have forgotten the Ministry of War." "We shall easily find somebody for it among the generals," said Count Martin. "Ah," exclaimed Garain, "you believe the choice of a minister of war is easy. It is clear you have not, like me, been a member of three cabinets and President of the Council.
"Then," said Garain, "according to you, he was not an intellectual genius. I am of your opinion." "Surely," continued Paul Vence, "he had enough genius to be brilliant in the civil and military arena of the world. But he had not speculative genius. That genius is another pair of sleeves, as Buffon says. We have a collection of his writings and speeches. His style has movement and imagination.
He thought he had discovered that device. Montessuy said: "Well, Monsieur Garain, be sincere. Confess that there are no reforms to be made, and that it is as much as one can do to change the color of postage-stamps. Good or bad, things are as they should be. Yes, things are as they should be; but they change incessantly.
Within the large circle of armchairs were Madame de Wesson, about whom people told frightful stories, and who kept, after twenty years of half-smothered scandal, the eyes of a child and cheeks of virginal smoothness; old Madame de Morlaine, who shouted her witty phrases in piercing cries; Madame Raymond, the wife of the Academician; Madame Garain, the wife of the exminister; three other ladies; and, standing easily against the mantelpiece, M. Berthier d'Eyzelles, editor of the 'Journal des Debats', a deputy who caressed his white beard while Madame de Morlaine shouted at him: "Your article on bimetallism is a pearl, a jewel!
Thinkers are not men of business. And then let us talk frankly if you want a Ministry of the Left Centre variety, say so: I will retire. But I warn you that neither the Chamber nor the country will sustain you." "It is evident," said Count Martin, "that we must be sure of a majority." "With my list, we have a majority," said Garain. "It is the minority which sustained the Ministry against us.
He had been formerly a frequenter of beer-halls, and while moulding crumbs or cutting corks he found ideas. He raised his red face. And, looking at Garain with wrinkled eyes wherein red fire sparkled, he said: "I said it, and nobody would believe it. The annihilation of the monarchical Right was for the chiefs of the Republican party an irreparable misfortune. We governed formerly against it.
"My dear colleague, you exaggerate," said Count Martin; "but Garain, perhaps, is lacking a little in frankness. And the General's support is urgent." "The Fatherland before everything," replied Lariviere with emotion. "You know, General," continued Loyer, "the existing laws are to be applied with moderation."
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