_Des._ Good! You remember I told you I had an appointment? _Man._ Yes. _Des._ Don't talk--eat! [_MANUEL eats._] That appointment concerned you. [_MANUEL nods._] I think I've found employment for you. _Man._ Eh? [_Pauses with a bit on his fork._ _Des._ In with it. [_MANUEL puts it in his mouth._] Good! You are aware, of course, that my practice and my residence is in the country. I merely came to Paris on your account. [_MANUEL lets go his fork to shake hands with the DOCTOR, who puts the fork into his hand again._] Well, among the families with whom I am most intimate, there is one, in particular, of great wealth and importance. The name is Laroque. The family have had for some years past, a managing man, a steward, who never was worth much. Indeed, the only real service he has ever rendered them, he has just performed. _Man._ Ran away? _Des._ No, died. The moment I heard of this, I wrote to Madame Laroque, asking his situation for a friend of mine. On leaving you, I went to the post office, and found a letter awaiting me, with the full consent of the family to my request. To be sure the position for a man of your rank-- _Man._ My rank, under present circumstances, is a mockery. I shall, in future, take simply my Christian name of Manuel. _Des._ I have only mentioned you in my letters as Monsieur Manuel, anticipating that such would be your wish. You will have your own apartments in a pavilion near the Chateau. Your salary will be so regulated that you will be enabled to lay by a portion for your sister. Now, the only question remaining is, will this suit you? _Man._ Admirably! My dear, kind friend, how shall I sufficiently thank you? _Des._ Eat your dinner. _Man._ But am I fitted for the position? _Des._ Pretty well. You've learned one great requisite. _Man._ What's that? _Des._ Economy. As to the rest, the duties are simple enough. And now I'll give you some notion of the people you are going to meet. There are, in the Chateau, without counting visitors, five persons. First, Monsieur Laroque, celebrated at the beginning of the present century as a famous privateer Captain. Hence his large fortune. He is now a feeble old man, mind and memory a good deal the worse for wear. Then there is Madame Laroque, his daughter-in-law, a Creole-- _Man._ A Creole? _Des._ Yes, young gentleman, an _elderly_ Creole, with some eccentricities to be sure, but a good heart. Thirdly, there is Mademoiselle Marguerite, her daughter, much younger-- _Man._ That's singular. _Des._ Eat your dinner. She is proud, somewhat romantic, a little thoughtless,-- _Man._ And her disposition? _Des._ Sweet. Fourthly, Madame Aubrey, a widow, a sort of second cousin, old maidish, talky-- _Man._ Disposition? _Des._ Sour. Fifthly, Mademoiselle Helouin--Governess. Young, good looking. _Man._ Disposition? _Des._ Doubtful. And that completes the catalogue.