I shall be much obliged if you will come to see me at once....

Quite so, quite so, I will wait for you." Then again he walked to and fro and meditated.

That fellow Duvillard was as clever a man as himself, and might be able to give him an idea.

And he was still laboriously trying to devise some scheme, when the usher entered saying that Monsieur Gascogne, the Chief of the Detective Police, particularly wished to speak to him.

Monferrand's first thought was that the Prefecture of Police desired to know his views respecting the steps which ought to be taken to ensure public order that day; for two mid-Lent processions--one of the Washerwomen and the other of the Students--were to march through Paris, whose streets would certainly be crowded.
"Show Monsieur Gascogne in," he said.
A tall, slim, dark man, looking like an artisan in his Sunday best, then stepped into the ministerial sanctum.