s flushed by the exertion of
their strength; their complexion was rose and white, their eyes flashed
sparks, their limbs writhed like cords in the fire; they fell, sprang up
again, and caught each other like athletes in a circus, affording their
father one of those moments of happiness which would make amends for the
keenest anxieties of a busy life. Two other persons, one on the second
and one on the first floor, were also looking into the garden, and
saying that the old madman was amusing himself by making his children
fight. Immediately a number of heads appeared at the windows; the
Marquis, noticing them, called a word to his sons, who at once climbed
up to the window and jumped into his room, and Clement obtained the
permission asked by Camille.

All through the house every one was talking of the Marquis' new form of
insanity. When Popinot arrived at about twelve o'clock, accompanied by
his clerk, the portress, when asked for M. d'Espard, conducted him to
the third floor, telling him "as how M. d'Espard, no longer ago than
that very morning, had set on his two children to fight, and laughed
like the monster he was on seeing the younger biting the elder till he
bled, and as how no doubt he longed to see them kill each other.--Don't
ask me the reason why," she added; "he doesn't show himself!"

Just as the woman spoke these decisive words, she had brought the judge
to the landing on the third floor, face to face with a door covered with
notices announcing the successive numbers of the Picturesque History of
China. The muddy floor, the dirty banisters, the door where the printers
had left their marks, the dilapidated window, and the ceiling on which
the apprentices had amused themselves with drawing monstrosities with
the smoky flare of their tallow dips, the piles of paper and litter
heaped up in the corners, intentionally or from sheer neglect--in short,
every detail of the picture lying before his eyes, agreed so well
with the facts alleged by the Marquise that the judge, in spite of his
impartiality, could not help believing them.

"There you are, gentlemen," said the porter's wife; "there is the
manifactor, where the Chinese swallow up enough to feed the whole
neighborhood."

The clerk looked at the judge with a smile, and Popinot found it hard to
keep his countenance. They went together into the outer room, where
sat an old man, who, no doubt, performed the functions of office clerk,
shopman, and cashier. Th