His son's return, however, had brought a ray of light into the Vermoncey household; but Albert, absorbed by his new passion, spent as much time as he possibly could with the girl he had brought from Clermont; so that Monsieur Vermoncey saw very little of his son, and he made excuses for him, concluding that after such a prolonged absence he was hungry for the pleasures which he found in the capital. Sans-Cravate walked with a determined step to Monsieur Vermoncey's house, but when he arrived there he felt that his courage failed him; however, to revive it, he thought of his sister, to whom he had promised good news; he thought of his old father, and of their honor, which was in his hands; then he no longer faltered, but passed the concierge and went up to the door of Monsieur Vermoncey's apartment, where he rang. "What do you want?" inquired the servant, when he saw the messenger, whose disordered dress, excited manner, and flashing eyes seemed to point to some extraordinary occurrence. "I want to see Monsieur Albert's father--Monsieur Vermoncey." "What do you want of him?" "What I want of him concerns nobody but him and me, and I am not disposed to tell it to you." "Did monsieur send you on some errand, and have you brought back an answer?" "He didn't send me anywhere; but I have something to say to him." "Monsieur is in his study; he doesn't receive anyone." "But he must receive me!" "When monsieur refuses every day to receive visits from his friends, I don't imagine he is likely to give preference to a messenger!" Sans-Cravate spat on his hands and rubbed them together, then shook his fist in the servant's face. "Do you see that?" he said; "if you don't do my errand right away, I'll smash your nose so that I'll defy you to blow it!" Sans-Cravate's eyes were so eloquent of his determination, that the servant, having involuntarily stepped back, deemed it prudent not to resist him, and decided to go to his master, to whom he said: "There's a very savage and rough-mannered messenger outside, who insists on speaking to monsieur. Shall I turn him out of doors?" Monsieur Vermoncey thought that the man had probably come to bring him news of Paul, for whom he had found a place, and whom he had sought in vain at his usual stand. "Show him in," he said. This command was most unwelcome to the servant, who returned to Sans-Cravate and said sullenly: "Come in; monsieur consents to receive you;--these masters are most astonishing with their whims." Sans-Cravate trembled slightly, but did not hesitate; he entered the study and found himself in Monsieur Vermoncey's presence. Albert's father was seated in front of the fire; he turned his head and scrutinized Sans-Cravate, who, after opening the door, stood on the threshold, afraid to go forward. "Well, what do you want with me? speak!"