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           Marta,inasoftandimplacablevoice,andwithsuchmaliciousglancesthatMr.Gould’sbestfriendsadvisedhimearnestlytoattemptnobriberytogetthematterdropped.Itwouldhavebeenuseless.Indeed,itwouldnothavebeenaverysafeproceeding.Suchwasalsotheopinionofastout,loud-voicedladyofFrenchextraction,thedaughter,shesaid,ofanofficerofhighrank(officiersuperieurdel’armee),whowasaccommodatedwithlodgingswithinthewallsofasecularizedconventnextdoortotheMinistryofFinance.Thatfloridperson,whenapproachedonbehalfofMr.Gouldinapropermanner,andwithasuitablepresent,shookherheaddespondently.Shewasgood-natured,andherdespondencywasgenuine.Sheimaginedshecouldnottakemoneyinconsiderationofsomethingshecouldnotaccomplish.ThefriendofMr.Gould,chargedwiththedelicatemission,usedtosayafterwardsthatshewastheonlyhonestpersoncloselyorremotelyconnectedwiththeGovernmenthehadevermet.“Nogo,”shehadsaidwithacavalier,huskyintonationwhichwasnaturaltoher,andusingturnsofexpressionmoresuitabletoachildofparentsunknownthantotheorphaneddaughterofageneralofficer.“No;it’snogo.Pasmoyen,mongarcon.C’estdommage,toutdememe.Ah!zut!Jenevolepasmonmonde.Jenesuispasministre—moi!Vouspouvezemportervotrepetitsac.”

           Foramoment,bitinghercarminelip,shedeploredinwardlythetyrannyoftherigidprinciplesgoverningthesaleofherinfluenceinhighplaces.