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Saillard, terrified, rushed up to Baudoyer's office, where he found Dutocq, Godard, and Bixiou in a state of exasperation difficult to describe; for they were reading the terrible paper on the administration in which they were all discussed. "Saillard. The office of cashier to be suppressed in all the ministries; their accounts to be kept in future at the Treasury.
"As for me, my suffrages for I really ought not to say protection are his." "He pays more for oil than for bread," said Dutocq. "I know that." "His mother, if he has the happiness to still possess her, must be proud of him," remarked Madame Thuillier, sententiously. "He is a real treasure for us," said Thuillier. "If you only knew how modest he is! He doesn't do himself justice."
Dutocq," cried Cerizet, as la Peyrade disappeared, "this means a rupture." "Prepared with the utmost care," added Dutocq. "Did you notice the air with which he pulled out that pocket-book?" "But where the devil," said the usurer, "could he have got the money?" "Probably," replied Dutocq, sarcastically, "where he got that with which he paid you in full for those notes you sold at a sacrifice."
The sight of this man, who, after vainly ringing at la Peyrade's door, was now trying that of Dutocq, made the Provencal barrister tremble but secretly, within himself, not betraying externally his inward emotion. This man was Cerizet, whom Dutocq had mentioned to Thuillier as his copying-clerk.
And he related in all its details the affair of Madame Lambert, adding, however, that on questioning the woman closely at the office of the justice-of-peace, after the meeting with la Peyrade, he had been unable to extract from her any confession, although by her whole bearing she had amply confirmed the suspicions of Dutocq and himself.
On a Thursday evening, the day after the ministerial reception and Madame Rabourdin's evening party, just as Antoine was trimming his beard and his nephews were assisting him in the antechamber of the division on the upper floor, they were surprised by the unexpected arrival of one of the clerks. "That's Monsieur Dutocq," said Antoine. "I know him by that pickpocket step of his.
He had expected Dutocq to denounce him, and found he had not been mistaken; des Lupeaulx had certainly seen the document which judged him so severely, and yet des Lupeaulx was fawning on his judge! It was all incomprehensible.
"Gentlemen," said Dutocq, returning to the clerks' office and addressing his colleagues. "I don't know if Bixiou has the art of looking into futurity, but if you have not read the ministerial journal I advise you to study the article about Baudoyer; then, as Monsieur Fleury takes the opposition sheet, you can see the reply.
"His Excellency and I know what the subject is that occupies your mind; you have nothing to fear"; then, raising his voice, he added, "neither from Dutocq nor from any one else." "Don't feel uneasy, Rabourdin," said his Excellency, kindly, but making a movement to get away. Rabourdin came forward respectfully, and the minister could not evade him.
As to morals, he was the lover and the beloved of Tullia and felt himself preferred in heart to the brilliant Duc de Rhetore, the lover in chief. Dutocq had seen with great uneasiness what he called the liaison of des Lupeaulx with Madame Rabourdin, and his silent wrath on the subject was accumulating.
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