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Thuillier ordered a cab and drove at once to the office of the 〃Echo。〃
There a fresh disappointment met him。 The paper 〃was made；〃 as they
say； and all the employees had departed； even la Peyrade。 As for
Coffinet； who was not to be found at his post of office…boy； nor yet
at his other post of porter； he had gone 〃of an errand；〃 his wife
said； taking the key of the closet in which the remaining copies of
the paper were locked up。 Impossible； therefore； to procure the number
which the unfortunate proprietor had come so far to fetch。
To describe Thuillier's indignation would be impossible。 He marched up
and down the room； talking aloud to himself； as people do in moments
of excitement。
〃I'll turn them all out！〃 he cried。 And we are forced to omit the rest
of the furious objurgation。
As he ended his anathema a rap was heard on the door。
〃Come in！〃 said Thuillier； in a tone that depicted his wrath and his
frantic impatience。
The door opened； and Minard rushed precipitately into his arms。
〃My good； my excellent friend！〃 cried the mayor of the eleventh
arrondissement； concluding his embrace with a hearty shake of the
hand。
〃Why！ what is it？〃 said Thuillier； unable to comprehend the warmth of
this demonstration。
〃Ah！ my dear friend；〃 continued Minard； 〃such an admirable proceeding！
really chivalrous！ most disinterested！ The effect； I assure you； is
quite stupendous in the arrondissement。〃
〃But what； I say？〃 cried Thuillier； impatiently。
〃The article； the whole action；〃 continued Minard； 〃so noble； so
elevated！〃
〃But what article？ what action？〃 said the proprietor of the 〃Echo；〃
getting quite beside himself。
〃The article of this morning；〃 said Minard。
〃The article of this morning？〃
〃Ah ca！ did you write it when you were asleep； or； like Monsieur
Jourdain doing prose； do you do heroism without knowing it？〃
〃I！ I haven't written any article！〃 cried Thuillier。 〃I have been away
from Paris for a day； and I don't even know what is in this morning's
paper； and the office…boy is not here to give me a copy。〃
〃I have one；〃 said Minard； pulling the much desired paper from his
pocket。 〃If the article is not years you have certainly inspired it；
in any case； the deed is done。〃
Thuillier hurriedly unfolded the sheet Minard had given him； and
devoured rather than read the following article：
Long enough has the proprietor of this regenerated journal
submitted without complaint and without reply to the cowardly
insinuations with which a venal press insults all citizens who；
strong in their convictions； refuse to pass beneath the Caudine
Forks of power。 Long enough has a man； who has already given
proofs of devotion and abnegation in the important functions of
the aedility of Paris； allowed these sheets to call him ambitious
and self…seeking。 Monsieur Jerome Thuillier； strong in his
dignity； has suffered such coarse attacks to pass him with
contempt。 Encouraged by this disdainful silence； the stipendiaries
of the press have dared to write that this journal； a work of
conviction and of the most disinterested patriotism； was but the
stepping…stone of a man； the speculation of a seeker for election。
Monsieur Jerome Thuillier has held himself impassible before these
shameful imputations because justice and truth are patient； and he
bided his time to scotch the reptile。 That time has come。
〃That deuce of a Peyrade！〃 said Thuillier； stopping short； 〃how he
does touch it off！〃
〃It is magnificent！〃 cried Minard。
Reading aloud； Thuillier continued：
Every one； friends and enemies alike； can bear witness that
Monsieur Jerome Thuillier has done nothing to seek a candidacy
which was offered to him spontaneously。
〃That's evident；〃 said Thuillier； interrupting himself。 Then he
resumed：
But； since his sentiments are so odiously misrepresented； and his
intentions so falsely travestied； Monsieur Jerome Thuillier owes
it to himself； and above all to the great national party of which
he is the humblest soldier； to give an example which shall
confound the vile sycophants of power。
〃It is fine； the way la Peyrade poses me！〃 said Thuillier； pausing
once more in his reading。 〃I see now why he didn't send me the paper；
he wanted to enjoy my surprise'confound the vile sycophants of
power！' how fine that is！〃
After which reflection； he continued：
Monsieur Thuillier was so far from founding this journal of
dynastic opposition to support and promote his election that； at
the very moment when the prospects of that election seem most
favorable to himself and most disastrous to his rivals； he here
declares publicly； and in the most formal； absolute； and
irrevocable manner that he RENOUNCES HIS CANDIDACY。
〃What？〃 cried Thuillier； thinking he had read wrong； or had
misunderstood what he read。
〃Go on！ go on！〃 said the mayor of the eleventh。
Then； as Thuillier； with a bewildered air； seemed not disposed to
continue his reading； Minard took the paper from his hands and read
the rest of the article himself； beginning where the other had left
off：
Renounces his candidacy； and he strongly urges the electors to
transfer to Monsieur Minard； mayor of the eleventh arrondissement
and his friend and colleague in his municipal functions； all the
votes with which they seemed about to honor him。
〃But this is infamous！〃 cried Thuillier； recovering his speech； 〃you
have bought that Jesuit la Peyrade。〃
〃So；〃 said Minard； stupefied by Thuillier's attitude； 〃the article was
not agreed upon between you？〃
〃The wretch has profited by my absence to slip it into the paper； I
understand now why he prevented a copy from reaching me to…day。〃
〃My dear friend；〃 said Minard； 〃what you tell me will seem incredible
to the public。〃
〃I tell you it is treachery； it is an abominable trap。 Renounce my
candidacy！why should I？〃
〃You understand； my dear friend；〃 said Minard； 〃that I am truly sorry
if your confidence has been abused； but I have just issued my circular
manifesto； the die is cast； and luck to the lucky now。〃
〃Leave me；〃 said Thuillier； 〃it is a comedy for which you have paid。〃
〃Monsieur Thuillier；〃 said Minard； in a threatening voice； 〃I advise
you not to repeat those words； unless you are ready to give me
satisfaction for them。〃
Happily for Thuillier； who； we may remember； had made his profession
of faith as to civic courage some time before； he was relieved from
answering by Coffinet； who now opened the door of the editorial
sanctum； and announced：
〃Messieurs the electors of the twelfth arrondissement。〃
The arrondissement was represented on this occasion by five persons。
An apothecary； chairman of the deputation； proceeded to address
Thuillier in the following terms：
〃We have come； monsieur； after taking cognizance of an article
inserted this morning in the 'Echo de la Bievre；' to inquire of you
what may be precisely the origin and bearing of that article； thinking
it incredible that； having solicited our suffrages； you should； on the
eve of this election； and from a most mistaken puritanism； have cast
disorder and disunion into our ranks；