e
the gift by sending you a dais for the coming Fete-Dieu. But the
purchase must depend on the state of our finances, and our finances
depend on my husband's promotion."

"God will reward those who honor him," said Monsieur Gaudron, preparing,
with the curate, to take leave.

"But will you not," said Saillard to the two ecclesiastics, "do us the
honor to take pot luck with us?"

"You can stay, my dear vicar," said the curate to Gaudron; "you know I
am engaged to dine with the curate of Saint-Roch, who, by the bye, is to
bury Monsieur de la Billardiere to-morrow."

"Monsieur le cure de Saint-Roch might say a word for us," began
Baudoyer. His wife pulled the skirt of his coat violently.

"Do hold your tongue, Baudoyer," she said, leading him aside and
whispering in his ear. "You have given a monstrance to the church, that
cost five thousand francs. I'll explain it all later."

The miserly Baudoyer make a sulky grimace, and continued gloomy and
cross for the rest of the day.

"What did you busy yourself about Falleix's passport for? Why do you
meddle in other people's affairs?" he presently asked her.

"I must say, I think Falleix's affairs are as much ours as his,"
returned Elisabeth, dryly, glancing at her husband to make him notice
Monsieur Gaudron, before whom he ought to be silent.

"Certainly, certainly," said old Saillard, thinking of his
co-partnership.

"I hope you reached the newspaper office in time?" remarked Elisabeth to
Monsieur Gaudron, as she helped him to soup.

"Yes, my dear lady," answered the vicar; "when the editor read the
little article I gave him, written by the secretary of the Grand
Almoner, he made no difficulty. He took pains to insert it in a
conspicuous place. I should never have thought of that; but this young
journalist has a wide-awake mind. The defenders of religion can enter
the lists against impiety without disadvantage at the present moment,
for there is a great deal of talent in the royalist press. I have every
reason to believe that success will crown your hopes. But you must
remember, my dear Baudoyer, to promote Monsieur Colleville; he is an
object of great interest to his Eminence; in fact, I am desired to
mention him to you."

"If I am head of the division, I will make him head of one of my
bureaus, if you want me to," said Baudoyer.

The matter thus referred to was explained after dinner, when the
ministerial organ (bought and sent up by the porter) proved to con