“Are you acting for Cerizet?” asked the barrister. “Cerizet has put all the papers into the hands of Louchard, and you know what you have to expect if arrested. Is Cerizet wrong in thinking you have twenty-five thousand francs in your desk? He says you offered them to him and he thinks it only natural not to leave them in your hands.” “Thank you for taking the step, my good friend,” replied Theodose. “I have been expecting this attack.” “Between ourselves,” replied Desroches, “you have made an utter fool of him, and he is furious. The scamp will stop at nothing to get his revenge upon you--for he’ll lose everything if he forces you to fling your barrister’s gown, as they say, to the nettles and go to prison.” “I?” said Theodose. “I’m going to pay him. But even so, there will still be five notes of mine in his hands, for five thousand francs each; what does he mean to do with them?” “Oh! after the affair of this morning, I can’t tell you; my client is a crafty, mangy cur, and he is sure to have his little plans.” “Look here, Desroches,” said Theodose, taking the hard, unyielding attorney round the waist, “those papers are in your hands, are not they?” “Will you pay them?” “Yes, in three hours.” “Very good, then. Be at my office at nine o’clock; I’ll receive the money and give you your notes; _but_, at half-past nine o’clock, they will be in the sheriff’s hands.” “To-night, then, at nine o’clock,” said Theodose. “Nine o’clock,” repeated Desroches, whose glance had taken in the whole family, then assembled in the garden. Celeste, with red eyes, was talking to her godmother; Colleville and Brigitte, Flavie and Thuillier were on the steps of the broad portico leading to the entrance-hall. Desroches remarked to Theodose, who followed him to the door:-- “You can pay off those notes.” At a single glance the shrewd attorney had comprehended the whole scheme of the barrister. CHAPTER XIV. ONE OF CERIZET’S FEMALE CLIENTS The next morning, at daybreak, Theodose went to the office of the banker of the poor, to see the effect produced upon his enemy by the punctual payment of the night before, and to make another effort to get rid of his hornet. He found Cerizet standing up, in conference with a woman, and he received an imperative sign to keep at a distance and not to interrupt the interview. The barrister was therefore reduced to conjectures as to the importance of this woman, an importance revealed by the eager look on the face of the lender “by the little week.” Theodose had a presentiment, though a very vague one, that the upshot of this conference would have some influence on Cerizet’s own arrangements, for he suddenly beheld on that crafty countenance the change produced by a dawning hope. “But, my dear mamma Cardinal--” “Yes, my good monsieur--” “What is it you want--?” “It must be decided--”