Thuillier, called "the handsome Thuillier," an ex-Lothario, led as idle a life as Colleville led a busy one.

Colleville, government official in the mornings and first clarionet at the Opera-Comique at night, worked hard to maintain his family, though he was not without influential friends.

He was looked upon as a very shrewd man,--all the more, perhaps, because he hid his ambitions under a show of indifference.

Apparently content with his lot and liking work, he found every one, even the chiefs, ready to protect his brave career.

During the last few weeks Madame Colleville had made an evident change in the household, and seemed to be taking to piety.
This gave rise to a vague report in the bureaus that she thought of securing some more powerful influence than that of Francois Keller, the famous orator, who had been one of her chief adorers, but who, so far, had failed to obtain a better place for her husband.