CHAPTER XVI.
A TURN OF THE SCREW.
Dr.Hortebise was the first to arrive.

It was a terrible thing for him to get up so early; but for Mascarin's sake he consented even to this inconvenience.

When he passed through the office, the room was full of clients; but this did not prevent the doctor from noticing the negligence of Beaumarchef's costume.
"Aha!" remarked the doctor, "on the drunk again, I am afraid." "M.

Mascarin is within," answered the badgered clerk, endeavoring to put on an air of dignity; "and M.Tantaine is with him." A brilliant idea flashed across the doctor's mind, but it was with an air of gravity that he said,-- "I shall be charmed to meet that most worthy old gentleman." When, however, he entered the inner sanctum, he found Mascarin alone, occupied in sorting the eternal pieces of pasteboard.
"Well, what news ?" asked he.
"There is none that I know of." "What, have you not seen Paul ?" "No." "Will he be here ?" "Certainly." Mascarin was often laconic, but he seldom gave such short answers as this.
"What is the matter ?" asked the doctor.

"Your greeting is quite funereal.