The pastor had barely read these words, "_Desmarest is to employ Michel Perrin, and to pay him liberally_," when in the utmost delight, he proceeded to the office of the functionary mentioned, and the order which he brought procured his immediate admission. The citizen Desmarest, who appeared to him to assume more importance than the minister himself, inasmuch as he had not been his class-fellow, took the paper, read it, and without offering him a seat, asked him if he was the person named Michel Perrin. "The same, citizen." "You have just left the minister?" "Only this moment; for we had chatted together a full half-hour, as two good friends would do who had not met for a considerable time." "Be seated, Citizen Perrin. Is it the minister's intention that you are to correspond directly with him or with me?" "It would seem that in referring me to you, citizen." "As he has said nothing positive in this respect, it is with me you will have to do." "And when shall I commence?" "Without delay; for the minister, in directing me to pay you liberally, undoubtedly believed that there was need of your ability and zeal." "For my zeal I can fully answer," replied Michel. "I hope that, with some little experience in the discharge of actual duty, my ability shall equal it." "I have no doubt of it, no doubt whatever. You have been sent to me by a man who is never mistaken in his estimate of individual capability. I shall enter your name on the list of those employed here. You shall have twenty francs per day, and your payment shall commence from this morning." At these words, the poor pastor had great difficulty in restraining an enthusiastic expression of gratitude for such treatment. He said that he longed to render himself sufficiently useful to justify the good opinion entertained of him, and he asked the chief of the division to designate at once the duty he was eager to commence. "For to-day, I have no particular directions to give you; but you will come to me in two or three days. Meanwhile, go through the city, traverse the promenades and other public places, dine in the restaurateurs, especially in the good restaurateurs." "Ah! as for the prime restaurateurs," said Michel smiling, "they shall not see me at all. I believe them to be far too costly for my purse." "I understand," replied Desmarest; "perhaps you are short of cash; but I am going to pay you a fortnight in advance. Will that suffice?" "For a long time, I assure you," answered the good pastor, full of gratitude, "although I have really a scruple not having done any duty yet." "Bah! it is almost always the usage here; the intentions of the minister were certainly not to have you sent to the mean eating-houses."