“How wretched and depressed he looked when he came, and how happy he will go away!” At this moment du Tillet, coming up to Raoul with every mark of friendliness, pressed his hand, and said: “Well, old fellow, how are you?” “As well as a man is likely to be who has just got the best possible news of the election. I shall be successful,” replied Raoul, radiant. “Delighted,” said du Tillet. “We shall want money for the paper.” “The money will be found,” said Raoul. “The devil is with these women!” exclaimed du Tillet, still unconvinced by the words of Raoul, whom he had nicknamed Charnathan. “What are you talking about?” said Raoul. “My sister-in-law is there with my wife, and they are hatching something together. You seem in high favor with the Countess; she is bowing to you right across the house.” “Look,” said Mme. du Tillet to her sister, “they told us wrong. See how my husband fawns on M. Nathan, and it is he who they declared was trying to get him put in prison!” “And men call us slanderers!” cried the Countess. “I will give him a warning.” She rose, took the arm of Vandenesse, who was waiting in the passage, and returned jubilant to her box; by and by she left the Opera and ordered her carriage for the next morning before eight o’clock. The next morning, by half-past eight, Marie had driven to the quai Conti, stopping at the hotel du Mail on her way. The carriage could not enter the narrow rue de Nevers; but as Schmucke lived in a house at the corner of the quai she was not obliged to walk up its muddy pavement, but could jump from the step of her carriage to the broken step of the dismal old house, mended like porter’s crockery, with iron rivets, and bulging out over the street in a way that was quite alarming to pedestrians. The old chapel-master lived on the fourth floor, and enjoyed a fine view of the Seine from the pont Neuf to the heights of Chaillot.