verything being ready, that Morange turned into the passage to
betake himself to the little drawing room of the mansion.

Constance was there waiting for him with Alexandre. She had given
instructions for the latter to call half-an-hour earlier, for she wished
to confess him while as yet telling him nothing of the real position
which she meant him to take in the house. She was not disposed to place
herself all at once at his mercy, and had therefore simply expressed her
willingness to give him employment in accordance with the recommendation
of her relative, the Baroness de Lowicz. Nevertheless, she studied him
with restrained ardor, and was well pleased to find that he was strong,
sturdy, and resolute, with a hard face lighted by terrible eyes, which
promised her an avenger. She would finish polishing him up, and then he
would suit her perfectly. For his part, without plainly understanding
the truth, he scented something, divined that his fortune was at hand,
and was quite ready to wait awhile for the certain feast, like a young
wolf who consents to be domesticated in order that he may, later on,
devour the whole flock at his ease.

When Morange went in only one thing struck him, Alexandre's resemblance
to Beauchene, that extraordinary resemblance which had already upset
Constance, and which now sent an icy chill through the old accountant as
if in purposing to carry out his idea he had condemned his old master.

"I was waiting for you, my friend; you are late, you who are so punctual
as a rule," said Constance.

"Yes, there was a little work which I wished to finish."

But she had merely been jesting, she felt so happy. And she immediately
settled everything: "Well, here is the gentleman whom I spoke about,"
she said. "You will begin by taking him with you and making him
acquainted with the business, even if in the first instance you can
merely send him about on commissions for you. It is understood, is it
not?"

"Quite so, dear madame, I will take him with me; you may rely on me."

Then, as she gave Alexandre his dismissal, saying that he might come on
the morrow, Morange offered to show him out by way of his office and the
workshops, which were still open.

"In that way he will form an acquaintance with the works, and can come
straight to me to-morrow."

Constance laughed again, so fully did the accountant's obligingness
reassure her.

"That is a good idea, my friend," she said. "Thank you. And au revoir,