Monsieur La
Billardiere's place," returned Baudoyer, crossly.

They were just then near the entrance of the Palais-Royal on the rue
Saint-Honore. Dutocq came up, bowing, and joined them.

"Monsieur," he said to Baudoyer, "if I can be useful to you in any way
under the circumstances in which you find yourself, pray command me, for
I am not less devoted to your interests than Monsieur Godard."

"Such an assurance is at least consoling," replied Baudoyer; "it makes
me aware that I have the confidence of honest men."

"If you would kindly employ your influence to get me placed in
your division, taking Bixiou as head of the bureau and me as
under-head-clerk, you will secure the future of two men who are ready to
do anything for your advancement."

"Are you making fun of us, monsieur?" asked Saillard, staring at him
stupidly.

"Far be it from me to do that," said Dutocq. "I have just come from the
printing-office of the ministerial journal (where I carried from the
general-secretary an obituary notice of Monsieur de la Billardiere), and
I there read an article which will appear to-night about you, which has
given me the highest opinion of your character and talents. If it is
necessary to crush Rabourdin, I'm in a position to give him the final
blow; please to remember that."

Dutocq disappeared.

"May I be shot if I understand a single word of it," said Saillard,
looking at Baudoyer, whose little eyes were expressive of stupid
bewilderment. "I must buy the newspaper to-night."

When the two reached home and entered the salon on the ground-floor,
they found a large fire lighted, and Madame Saillard, Elisabeth,
Monsieur Gaudron and the curate of Saint-Paul's sitting by it. The
curate turned at once to Monsieur Baudoyer, to whom Elisabeth made a
sign which he failed to understand.

"Monsieur," said the curate, "I have lost no time in coming in person to
thank you for the magnificent gift with which you have adorned my poor
church. I dared not run in debt to buy that beautiful monstrance,
worthy of a cathedral. You, who are one of our most pious and faithful
parishioners, must have keenly felt the bareness of the high altar. I am
on my way to see Monseigneur the coadjutor, and he will, I am sure, send
you his own thanks later."

"I have done nothing as yet--" began Baudoyer.

"Monsieur le cure," interposed his wife, cutting him short. "I see I am
forced to betray the whole secret. Monsieur Baudoyer hopes to complet