"You almost broke the dragon's tail." Then, noticing Amedee and M.Violette who had just entered: "Ah! It is you, Violate! Good-day! Good-day, Amedee! You come at an unlucky time.

It is shipping-day with us.

I am in a great hurry--Eh! Monsieur Combier, by your leave, Monsieur Combier! Do not forget the three dozen of the Apparition de la Salette in stucco for Grenoble, with twenty-five per cent.

reduction upon the bill.

Are you working hard, Amedee?
What do you say?
He was first and assisted at the feast of St.Charlemagne! So much the better!--Jules, did you send the six chandeliers and the plated pyx and the Stations of the Cross, Number Two, to the Dames du Sacre-Coeur d'Alencons?
What, not yet?
But the order came three days ago! You must hurry, I tell you!--You can see, Violette, I am overflowing with work--but come in here a moment." And once more ordering his bookkeeper, a captive in his glass case, to send the officers the notes that the cure of Sourdeval had allowed to go to protest, Uncle Isidore ushered M.Violette and his son into his office.
It was an ancient room, and M.Gaufre, who aimed at the austere, had made it gloomier still by a safe, and black haircloth furniture, which looked as if taken from a vestryroom.