"Thanks, General; I have never got beyond the first stages; so you see my apprenticeship would be too long, and neither my mother nor I could wait----' "Ah! what can I say, my lad? You know the proverb: 'The prettiest girl in the world....' Ah I pardon, pardon; I find I am mistaken. I have still half my purse; I had forgotten that: it is true it is hardly worth troubling about." He opened the drawer of a small chest in which, I remember, there were two gold coins and forty francs in silver. "There," he said, "this is the remainder of my quarter's pay." "Thank you, General; but I am nearly as wealthy as you." It was my turn to have tears in my eyes. "Thank you, but perhaps you can advise me what further steps I can take." "You have already taken some steps, then?" "Yes, I set about them this morning." "Ah! ah! And who have you seen?" "I saw Marshal Jourdan and General Sébastiani." "Pooh!... Well?" "Well, General, pooh!..." "And after that...." "And after that, I wrote yesterday to the Minister of War." "To Bellune?" "Yes." "And has he answered you?" "Not yet, but I hope he will reply to me." The general, while he filled in the face of a Cossack, made a grimace which might be summed up in the words: "If you are counting only on that...." "I have still," I added, in response to his thought, "a letter of introduction to General Foy, deputy of my own department." "Very well, my dear boy, as I believe that even if you have time to lose, you have no money to spare, I advise you not to wait for the minister's answer. To-morrow is Tuesday; there is a sitting of the Chamber: but present yourself early at General Foy's,--you will find him at work, for he is a hard worker, like myself; only, he does better work. Don't worry; he will receive you kindly." "You think so?" "I am sure of it." "I hope so, for I have a letter." "Yes, he will give you a kindly reception, I have no doubt, because of your letter; but above all he will receive you well for your father's sake, although he did not know him personally. Now, will you dine with me? We will talk of Egypt. It was hot there!" "Willingly, General. At what hour do you dine?" "At six o'clock.... Now go and take a turn on the boulevards, whilst I finish my Cossack, and return at six." I took leave of General Verdier, and descended from the fourth floor, I must confess, with a lighter heart than I had ascended to it. CHAPTER VI _Régulus_--Talma and the play--General Foy--The letter of recommendation and the interview--The Duc de Bellune's reply--I obtain a place as temporary clerk with M. le Duc d'Orléans--Journey to Villers-Cotterets to tell my mother the good news--No. 9--I gain a prize in a lottery