midnight
decentralise ! will be my incessant cry , if ever the time comes when my cry will be heard . France can never be a genuine France until Paris has no more influence over the destinies of France than London has over those of England . But on this theme I could go on till midnight . Now to the immediate point : what do you advise me to do in this crisis , and what do you propose to do yourself ? '' De Mauleon put his hand to his brow , and remained a few moments silent and thoughtful . At last he looked up with that decided expression of face which was not the least among his many attributes for influence over those with whom he came into contact .