"No; a riddle." Phellion.

"I am sorry I interrupted you" [he dives into his office desk].

"But" [to himself] "at any rate, I have stopped their talking about Monsieur Rabourdin." At this moment a scene was taking place between the minister and des Lupeaulx which decided Rabourdin's fate.

The general-secretary had gone to see the minister in his private study before the breakfast-hour, to make sure that La Briere was not within hearing.
"Your Excellency is not treating me frankly--" "He means a quarrel," thought the minister; "and all because his mistress coquetted with me last night.

I did not think you so juvenile, my dear friend," he said aloud.
"Friend ?" said the general-secretary, "that is what I want to find out." The minister looked haughtily at des Lupeaulx.
"We are alone," continued the secretary, "and we can come to an understanding.