ly
promise a place, but he returned with the two gentlemen to the Duc
de Lenoncourt, and asked him to procure for him an audience that very
evening; and also to obtain for Billardiere an audience with MONSIEUR,
who was greatly attached to the old Vendeen diplomatist.

The same evening, the Comte de Fontaine came from the Tuileries to "The
Queen of Roses," and announced to Madame Birotteau that as soon as the
proceedings in bankruptcy were over, her husband would be officially
appointed to a situation in the Sinking-fund Office, with a salary of
two thousand five hundred francs,--all the functions in the household of
the king being overcrowded with noble supernumeraries to whom promises
had already been made.

This success was but one part of the task before Madame Birotteau.
The poor woman now went to the "Maison du Chat-qui-pelote," in the Rue
Saint-Denis, to find Joseph Lebas. As she walked along she met Madame
Roguin in a brilliant equipage, apparently making purchases. Their eyes
met; and the shame which the rich woman could not hide as she looked at
the ruined woman, gave Constance fresh courage.

"Never will I roll in a carriage bought with the money of others," she
said to herself.

Joseph Lebas received her kindly, and she begged him to obtain a place
for Cesarine in some respectable commercial establishment. Lebas made no
promises; but eight days later Cesarine had board, lodging, and a salary
of three thousand francs from one of the largest linen-drapers in
Paris, who was about to open a branch establishment in the quartier
des Italiens. Cesarine was put in charge of the desk, and the
superintendence of the new shop was entrusted to her; she filled, in
fact, a position above that of forewoman, and supplied the place of both
master and mistress.

Madame Cesar went from the "Chat-qui-pelote" to the Rue des
Cinq-Diamants, and asked Popinot to let her take charge of his accounts
and do his writing, and also manage his household. Popinot felt that his
was the only house where Cesar's wife could meet with the respect that
was due to her, and find employment without humiliation. The noble lad
gave her three thousand francs a year, her board, and his own room;
going himself into an attic occupied by one of his clerks. Thus it
happened that the beautiful woman, after one month's enjoyment of her
sumptuous home, came to live in the wretched chamber looking into a
damp, dark court, where Gaudissart, Anselme, and Fi