Very anxious, Jordan hurried out. For a few months past, since La Méchain had at last discovered that he was writing over his own name in 'L'Espérance,' he had been pursued by Busch for payment of the six notes of fifty francs each which he had formerly given to a tailor. He could have managed to pay the three hundred francs which the notes represented, but what exasperated him was the enormity of the costs, that total of seven hundred and thirty francs and fifteen centimes to which the debt had risen. He had entered into a compromise, however, and pledged himself to pay a hundred francs a month; and, as he could not manage it, his young household having more pressing needs, the costs rose higher yet every month, and the intolerable annoyances were ever beginning afresh. Just then he was again passing through a serious crisis. 'What's the matter?' he asked his wife, whom he found in the ante-room. But, before she could answer, the door of the director's office was thrown open, and Saccard appeared, shouting: 'I say, Dejoie--and Monsieur Huret?' 'Why, monsieur, he isn't here,' stammered the bewildered attendant; 'I cannot make him hurry.' The door was closed again with an oath, and Jordan, having taken his wife into one of the adjoining offices, was there able to question her at his ease. 'What's the matter, darling?' he again asked. Marcelle, usually so gay and brave, whose little, plump, dark person and clear countenance, with laughing eyes and healthy mouth, expressed happiness even in trying times, now seemed utterly upset. 'Oh, Paul, if you only knew!' she replied. 'A man came--oh! a frightful, ugly man--who smelt bad, and had been drinking, I think. Well, he told me that the matter was ended, that the sale of our furniture was fixed for to-morrow. And he had a placard, which he wanted to stick up at the street door.' 'But it is impossible!' cried Jordan. 'I have received nothing; there are other formalities to be observed.' 'Oh! you know still less about these matters than I do. When papers come, you do not even read them. Well, to keep him from putting up the placard I gave him forty sous, and hurried off to tell you.'