“My cactus is all right!” exclaimed Blondet, peering at his precious plant.—­“Go on, I am listening.”

“Take counsel with Camusot and Michu to hush up the affair as soon as possible, and your son will get the appointment.  It will come in time enough to baffle du Ronceret’s underhand dealings with the Blandureaus.  Your son will be something better than assistant judge; he will have M. Camusot’s post within the year.  The public prosecutor will be here to-day.  M. Sauvager will be obliged to resign, I expect, after his conduct in this affair.  At the court my husband will show you documents which completely exonerate the Count and prove that the forgery was a trap of du Croisier’s own setting.”

Old Blondet went into the Olympic circus where his six thousand pelargoniums stood, and made his bow to the Duchess.

“Monsieur,” said he, “if your wishes do not exceed the law, this thing may be done.”

“Monsieur,” returned the Duchess, “send in your resignation to M. Chesnel to-morrow, and I will promise you that your son shall be appointed within the week; but you must not resign until you have had confirmation of my promise from the public prosecutor.  You men of law will come to a better understanding among yourselves.  Only let him know that the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse had pledged her word to you.  And not a word as to my journey hither,” she added.

The old judge kissed her hand and began recklessly to gather his best flowers for her.

“Can you think of it?  Give them to madame,” said the Duchess.  “A young man should not have flowers about him when he has a pretty woman on his arm.”

“Before you go down to the court,” added Mme. Camusot, “ask Chesnel’s successor about those proposals that he made in the name of M. and Mme. du Ronceret.”

Old Blondet, quite overcome by this revelation of the President’s duplicity, stood planted on his feet by the wicket gate, looking after the two women as they hurried away through by-streets home again.  The edifice raised so painfully during ten years for his beloved son was crumbling visibly before his eyes.  Was it possible?  He suspected some trick, and hurried away to Chesnel’s successor.

At half-past nine, before the court was sitting, Vice-President Blondet, Camusot, and Michu met with remarkable punctuality in the council chamber.  Blondet locked the door with some precautions when Camusot and Michu came in together.

“Well, Mr. Vice-President,” began Michu, “M.  Sauvager, without consulting the public prosecutor, has issued a warrant for the apprehension of one Comte d’Esgrignon, in order to serve a grudge borne against him by one du Croisier, an enemy of the King’s government.  It is a regular topsy-turvy affair.  The President, for his part, goes away, and thereby puts a stop to the preliminary examination!  And we know nothing of the matter.  Do they, by any chance, mean to force our hand?”