Saniel returned to his work.

His pen flew over the paper, when a noise made him raise his head.  Either he had not closed the door tightly, or his servant was entering with his key.  What did he want?  He did not employ him all day, but only during his office hours, to put his rooms in order and to open the door for his clients.

As Saniel rose to go and see who it was, there was a knock at the door.  It was his servant, with a blank and embarrassed air.

“What is the matter, Joseph?”

“I thought I should find you, sir, so I came.”

“Why?”

Joseph hesitated; then, taking courage, he said volubly, while lowering his eyes: 

“I came to ask, sir, if you will pay me my month, which expired on the fifteenth, because there is need of money at my house; if there was not need of money I would not have come.  If you wish, sir, I will release you—­”

“How?”

“I will take the coat that you made me order a month ago; I am quite sure it is not worth what is due me, but it is always so.”

“Take the coat.”

Joseph took the coat from the wardrobe in the hall, and rolled it in a newspaper.

“Of course you will not expect me in the morning,” he said, as he put his key on the table.  “I must look out for another place.”

“Very well, I shall not expect you.”

“Good-evening, sir.”

And Joseph hurried away as quickly as possible.

Left alone, Saniel did not return to his work immediately, but throwing himself in an armchair he cast a melancholy glance around his office and through the open door into the parlor.  In the faint light of the candle he saw the large armchairs methodically placed each side of the chimney, the curtains at the windows lost in shadow, and all the furniture which for four years had cost him so many efforts.  He had long been the prisoner of this Louis XIV camlet, and he was now going to be executed.  A beautiful affair, truly, brilliant and able!  All this had been used only by the poor Auvergnats, without Saniel enjoying it at all, for he had neither the bourgeois taste for ornaments nor the desire for elegance.  A movement of anger and revolt against himself made him strike his desk with his fist.  What a fool he had been!

The bell rang again.  This time, not expecting a rich patient, he would not open it.  After a moment a slight tap was heard on the panel.  He rose quickly and ran to open the door.

A woman threw herself into his arms.

“O my dearest!  I am so glad to find you at home!”

CHAPTER VI

A SWEET CONSOLER

She passed her arm about him and pressed him to her, and with arms entwined they entered the study.

“How glad I am!” she said.  “What a good idea I had!”

With a quick movement she took off her long gray cloak that enveloped her from head to foot.