Du Bruel did not return.
About half-past three the usual preparations for departure, the brushing of hats, the changing of coats, went on in all the ministerial offices.
That precious thirty minutes thus employed served to shorten by just so much the day's labor.

At this hour the over-heated rooms cool off; the peculiar odor that hangs about the bureaus evaporates; silence is restored.

By four o'clock none but a few clerks who do their duty conscientiously remain.

A minister may know who are the real workers under him if he will take the trouble to walk through the divisions after four o'clock,--a species of prying, however, that no one of his dignity would condescend to.
The various heads of divisions and bureaus usually encountered each other in the courtyards at this hour and exchanged opinions on the events of the day.

On this occasion they departed by twos and threes, most of them agreeing in favor of Rabourdin; while the old stagers, like Monsieur Clergeot, shook their heads and said, "Habent sua sidera lites." Saillard and Baudoyer were politely avoided, for nobody knew what to say to them about La Billardiere's death, it being fully understood that Baudoyer wanted the place, though it was certainly not due to him.
When Saillard and his son-in-law had gone a certain distance from the ministry the former broke silence and said: "Things look badly for you, my poor Baudoyer." "I can't understand," replied the other, "what Elisabeth was dreaming of when she sent Godard in such a hurry to get a passport for Falleix; Godard tells me she hired a post-chaise by the advice of my uncle Mitral, and that Falleix has already started for his own part of the country." "Some matter connected with our business," suggested Saillard.
"Our most pressing business just now is to look after Monsieur La Billardiere's place," returned Baudoyer, crossly.
They were just then near the entrance of the Palais-Royal on the rue Saint-Honore.