"Well, four days ago I was in the head clerk's office; there came a client, then two or three clients with whom the governor had appointments. They got tired of waiting; and, at their request, I went and knocked at his study door. No answer; so in I went." "Well?" "M. Jacques Ferrand had his arms crossed on his desk, and his bald and not overdelicate forehead leaning on his hands. He never stirred." "Was he asleep?" "I thought so, and went towards him: 'Sir, there are clients waiting with whom you have made appointments.' He didn't stir. 'Sir!' No answer. Then I touched his shoulder, and he bounced up as if the devil had bitten him. In his start his large green spectacles fell from his eyes on to his nose, and I saw--you'll never believe it--" "Well, what?" "Tears." "Oh, what nonsense!" "Quite true." "What! the governor snivel? No, I won't have that." "When that's the case why cockchafers will play the cornet-a-piston." "And cocks and hens wear top-boots." "Ta, ta, ta, ta; all your folly will not prevent my having seen what I did see as plain as I see you." "Weeping?" "Yes, weeping. And he was in such a precious rage at being surprised in this lachrymose mood that he adjusted his spectacles in great haste, and said to me, 'Get out--get out!' 'But, sir--' 'Get out!' 'Three clients are waiting to whom you have given appointments, and--' 'I have not time; let them go to the devil along with you!' Then he got up in a desperate rage to turn me out, but I didn't wait, but went and dismissed the clients, who were not by any means satisfied; but, for the honour of the office, I told them that the governor had the whooping-cough." This interesting conversation was interrupted by the head clerk, who entered apparently quite overcome. His arrival was hailed by general acclamation, and all eyes were sympathetically turned towards the turkey with impatient anxiety. "Without saying a word, seigneur, you have kept us waiting an infernally long while," said Chalamel. "Take care! Another time our appetite will not remain so subordinate." "Well, gents, it was no fault of mine. I have had much to annoy me,--more than you have. On my word and honour, the governor must be going mad." "Didn't I say so?" "But that need not prevent one eating." "On the contrary." "We can talk just as well with something in our mouths." "We can talk better," cried Hop-the-Gutter; whilst Chalamel, dissecting the turkey, said to the head clerk: "What makes you think that the governor is mad?" "We have a right to suppose he is perfectly beside himself when he allows us forty sous a head for our daily breakfast." "I confess that has surprised me as much as yourselves, gents. But that is nothing--absolutely nothing--to what has just now occurred." "Really?" "What! has the unhappy old gent become so decidedly lunatic that he insists on our dining at the Cadran Bleu every day at his expense?" "Theatre in the evening?" "Then coffee, with punch to follow?"