Dutocq came up, bowing, and joined them.
"Monsieur," he said to Baudoyer, "if I can be useful to you in any way under the circumstances in which you find yourself, pray command me, for I am not less devoted to your interests than Monsieur Godard." "Such an assurance is at least consoling," replied Baudoyer; "it makes me aware that I have the confidence of honest men." "If you would kindly employ your influence to get me placed in your division, taking Bixiou as head of the bureau and me as under-head-clerk, you will secure the future of two men who are ready to do anything for your advancement." "Are you making fun of us, monsieur ?" asked Saillard, staring at him stupidly.
"Far be it from me to do that," said Dutocq.

"I have just come from the printing-office of the ministerial journal (where I carried from the general-secretary an obituary notice of Monsieur de la Billardiere), and I there read an article which will appear to-night about you, which has given me the highest opinion of your character and talents.

If it is necessary to crush Rabourdin, I'm in a position to give him the final blow; please to remember that." Dutocq disappeared.
"May I be shot if I understand a single word of it," said Saillard, looking at Baudoyer, whose little eyes were expressive of stupid bewilderment.

"I must buy the newspaper to-night." When the two reached home and entered the salon on the ground-floor, they found a large fire lighted, and Madame Saillard, Elisabeth, Monsieur Gaudron and the curate of Saint-Paul's sitting by it.

The curate turned at once to Monsieur Baudoyer, to whom Elisabeth made a sign which he failed to understand.
"Monsieur," said the curate, "I have lost no time in coming in person to thank you for the magnificent gift with which you have adorned my poor church.