this occasion he did open it to
look at the article on La Billardiere, recollecting with amusement the
dilemma in which du Bruel had put him by bringing him the night before
Bixiou's amendments to the obituary. He was laughing to himself as he
reread the biography of the late Comte da Fontaine, dead a few months
earlier, which he had hastily substituted for that of La Billardiere,
when his eyes were dazzled by the name of Baudoyer. He read with fury
the article which pledged the minister, and then he rang violently for
Dutocq, to send him at once to the editor. But what was his astonishment
on reading the reply of the opposition paper! The situation was
evidently serious. He knew the game, and he saw that the man who was
shuffling his cards for him was a Greek of the first order. To dictate
in this way through two opposing newspapers in one evening, and to begin
the fight by forestalling the intentions of the minister was a daring
game! He recognized the pen of a liberal editor, and resolved to
question him that night at the opera. Dutocq appeared.

"Read that," said des Lupeaulx, handing him over the two journals, and
continuing to run his eye over others to see if Baudoyer had pulled
any further wires. "Go to the office and ask who has dared to thus
compromise the minister."

"It was not Monsieur Baudoyer himself," answered Dutocq, "for he never
left the ministry yesterday. I need not go and inquire; for when I took
your article to the newspaper office I met a young abbe who brought in a
letter from the Grand Almoner, before which you yourself would have had
to bow."

"Dutocq, you have a grudge against Monsieur Rabourdin, and it isn't
right; for he has twice saved you from being turned out. However, we
are not masters of our own feelings; we sometimes hate our benefactors.
Only, remember this; if you show the slightest treachery to Rabourdin,
without my permission, it will be your ruin. As to that newspaper,
let the Grand Almoner subscribe as largely as we do, if he wants
its services. Here we are at the end of the year; the matter of
subscriptions will come up for discussion, and I shall have something to
say on that head. As to La Billardiere's place, there is only one way to
settle the matter; and that is to appoint Rabourdin this very day."

"Gentlemen," said Dutocq, returning to the clerks' office and addressing
his colleagues. "I don't know if Bixiou has the art of looking into
futurity, but if you have not