At first he did not recognize me, I was so haggard, so wretched-looking! But when I spoke, he cried, 'Marechal!' and, without blushing at my tatters, put his arms round my neck.

We were opposite the Belle Jardiniere, the clothiers; he wanted to rig me out.

I remember as if it were but yesterday I said, 'No, nothing, only find me work!'-- 'Work, my poor fellow,' he answered, 'but just look at yourself; who would have confidence to give you any?
You look like a tramp, and when you accosted me a little while ago, I asked myself if you were not about to steal my watch!' And he laughed gayly, happy at having found me again, and thinking that he might be of use to me.
Seeing that I would not go into the shop, he took off his overcoat, and put it on my back to cover my tattered clothes, and there and then he took me to Madame Desvarennes.

Two days later I entered the office.

You see the position I hold, and I owe it to Pierre.