Governments have fallen or set themselves erect again through smaller matters than that.

And should you fall to-morrow I trust that you will never have occasion to regret it." Wounded to the heart by the other's jesting air, exasperated by the idea that there was something he could not achieve, Duvillard watched Barroux as he withdrew.

Most certainly the Baron did not desire a reconciliation with Silviane, but he vowed that he would overturn everything if necessary in order to send her a signed engagement for the Comedie, and this simply by way of vengeance, as a slap, so to say,--yes, a slap which would make her tingle! That moment spent with Barroux had been a decisive one.
However, whilst still following Barroux with his eyes, Duvillard was surprised to see Fonsegue arrive and manoeuvre in such a way as to escape the Prime Minister's notice.

He succeeded in doing so, and then entered the ante-room with an appearance of dismay about the whole of his little figure, which was, as a rule, so sprightly.

It was the gust of terror, still blowing, that had brought him thither.
"Didn't you see your friend Barroux ?" the Baron asked him, somewhat puzzled.
"Barroux?
No!" This quiet lie was equivalent to a confession of everything.