|
The excerpt represents the core issue or deciding factor on which you must meditate, and is drawn from An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: were devoted. Talleyrand and Fouche were bent on casting light into
this dark corner of the conspiracy of 1803. All these considerations
Fouche saw at a glance, rapidly and with great clearness. But between
Malin, Talleyrand, and himself there were strong ties which forced him
to the utmost circumspection, and made him anxious to know the exact
state of things within the walls of Gondreville. Corentin was
unreservedly attached to Fouche, just as Monsieur de la Besnardiere
was to Talleyrand, Gentz to Monsieur de Metternich, Dundas to Pitt,
Duroc to Napoleon, Chavigny to Cardinal Richelieu. Corentin was not
the counsellor of his master, but his instrument, the Tristan to this
Louis XI. of low estate. Fouche had kept him in the ministry of the
|
