hed to push the matter, to go and see a certain
Monsieur du Portail--"

"Rue Honore-Chevalier?" exclaimed Cerizet, quickly.

"Precisely."

"Then it is the same marriage which is offered to you through
two different mediums. It is strange I was not informed of this
collaboration!"

"In short," said la Peyrade, "you not only didn't have wind of the
countess's intervention, but you don't know her, and you can't give me
any information about her--is that so?"

"At present I can't," replied Cerizet, "but I'll find out about her; for
the whole proceeding is rather cavalier towards me; but this employment
of two agents only shows you how desirable you are to the family."

At this moment the door of the room was opened cautiously, a woman's
head appeared, and a voice, which was instantly recognized by la
Peyrade, said, addressing the copying-clerk:--

"Ah! excuse me! I see monsieur is busy. Could I say a word to monsieur
when he is alone?"

Cerizet, who had an eye as nimble as a hand, instantly noticed a
certain fact. La Peyrade, who was so placed as to be plainly seen by the
new-comer, no sooner heard that drawling, honeyed voice, than he turned
his head in a manner to conceal his features. Instead therefore of being
roughly sent away, as usually happened to petitioners who addressed the
most surly of official clerks, the modest visitor heard herself greeted
in a very surprising manner.

"Come in, come in, Madame Lambert," said Cerizet; "you won't be kept
waiting long; come in."

The visitor advanced, and then came face to face with la Peyrade.

"Ah! monsieur!" cried his creditor, whom the reader has no doubt
recognized, "how fortunate I am to meet monsieur! I have been several
times to his office to ask if he had had time to attend to my little
affair."

"I have had many engagements which have kept me away from my office
lately; but I attended to that matter; everything has been done right,
and is now in the hands of the secretary."

"Oh! how good monsieur is! I pray God to bless him," said the pious
woman, clasping her hands.

"Bless me! do you have business with Madame Lambert?" said Cerizet; "you
never told me that. Are you Pere Picot's counsel?"

"No, unfortunately," said Madame Lambert, "my master won't take any
counsel; he is so self-willed, so obstinate! But, my good monsieur, what
I came to ask is whether the family council is to meet."

"Of course," said Cerizet, "and not later than to-morrow."