"And why the devil did you not try to get out of your difficulties? You should bestir yourself." "Bestir, bestir! That is easy said. At first I was obliged to hide myself in the farms, in the cottages, because I was suspected, or they pretended so; and I would ask you of what should I be suspected? But in short, matters proceeded thus in the department of the Cote-d'Or." "And in many other departments," said Fouché; "but when you no longer feared for your head, you should have thought of your purse." "If thinking of it would have filled it, it would never have become empty," replied Michel with a sorrowful smile. "I believe more ideas pass through the mind of a poor fellow who is trying to gain a crown than passed through the mind of Homer when writing the Iliad or Odyssey." "And that did not lead you to any decided course?" "To nothing but to come to Paris." Michel paused, but not without directing on his college friend a look more expressive than any words. Fouché smiled. "Did you know that I was minister?" said he. "Certainly." "And you have counted on me," replied Fouché, with a kindness inspired by the thorough frankness of this man. "Counted on you so much," replied the poor pastor, "that after God you are my only hope. Employ me where you wish, at whatever you choose, my destitution has absorbed all other difficulties. I shall not recoil from any description of employment. I am resolved to do anything by which I can earn my subsistence." "To do anything!" repeated Fouché, with some surprise, "then you would not refuse to be employed in my department." "Oh! that is all that I ask!" cried Michel Perrin, his eyes sparkling with joy. "Undoubtedly you would acquire more money than your parish ever produced." "Is it possible?" "Certainly; men who resemble you are rather scarce." And Fouché fixed his eyes on the becoming figure of the pastor. "I know that you are very intelligent, and you can express yourself clearly and explicitly." "It is certainly advantageous to have received a classical education," said Michel, with a modest air, although he was in fact highly gratified by the compliment. "Besides, I can put complete confidence in you, whilst with the generality"---- The door of the cabinet opened, and an usher informed the minister that the first consul required his presence at the Tuileries immediately. Fouché bundled a number of papers into a portfolio with all the haste of a man who fears to lose a minute. "As to me, as to me?" said the poor pastor, who with terror beheld him preparing to leave without any definite promise. "Hold," said the minister, writing hastily two lines on a scrap of paper, "take this to Desmarest, chief of division." He then hurried to his carriage and drove away.