Madame la comtesse knows nothing of Charlet." Du Bruel retired.
"Why do you come in without being summoned ?" said des Lupeaulx, harshly, when he and Dutocq were left alone.

"Is the State in danger that you must come here at ten o'clock in the morning, just as I am going to breakfast with his Excellency ?" "Perhaps it is, monsieur," said Dutocq, dryly.

"If I had had the honor to see you earlier, you would probably have not been so willing to support Monsieur Rabourdin, after reading his opinion of you." Dutocq opened his coat, took a paper from the left-hand breast-pocket and laid it on des Lupeaulx's desk, pointing to a marked passage.

Then he went to the door and slipped the bolt, fearing interruption.

While he was thus employed, the secretary-general read the opening sentence of the article, which was as follows: "Monsieur des Lupeaulx.