Tomorrow we will go to see the chief of my department, I have spoken of you to him, at all events." He was a good sort of fellow, this M.Courtet, who was head clerk, though too conceited and starched up, certainly.

His red rosette, as large as a fifty-cent piece, made one's eyes blink, and he certainly was very imprudent to stand so long backed up to the fireplace with limbs spread apart, for it seemed that he must surely burn the seat of his trousers.

But no matter, he has stomach enough.

He has noticed M.
Violette's pitiful decline--"a poor devil who never will live to be promoted." Having it in his power to distribute positions, M.Courtet had reserved a position for Amedee.

In eight days the young man would be nominated an auxiliary employe at fifteen hundred francs a year.