"How is it," Oudard asked me, "that you have been back in Paris eight or ten days and we have not seen you sooner?"
"But, my dear Oudard," I said, "you know very well I no longer regard myself as a member of these offices."
"Allow me to reply to this, that, so long as you do not send in your resignation, we look upon you as belonging to us."
"Is that all?" I said, picking up a pen and paper. "Then it won't take long to alter it!"
"There!" said Oudard, stopping my hand, "you always find time to commit some foolish act or other.... At all events, I should be much obliged if you would do it somewhere else than in my office."
I laid down the pen and resumed the seat I had been occupying in front of the fireplace. There was a moment's silence.
"Do you not wish to see the king?"
"What for?"
"Why, if only to thank him for the pardon he granted you for your false money-coiner."