"Ma foi! my worthy Coigni, 'tis all the same to me if you are a maréchal or a simple lieutenant. As for me, young man," he added, with dignified severity, "remember in future that I serve no one. I assist M. le Contrôleur-Général des Finances to—to——"—he paused a second, waving his hand and turning the phrase over in his mouth, whilst seeking for its most appropriate conclusion—"to, in fact, make a worthy selection amidst the hundreds and thousands of petitions which are presented to him."
And with a vague gesture he indicated the papers which lay in a disordered heap on his secretaire.
"For the rest, my good Coigni," he added, with the same impressive dignity, "let me assure you once again that M. le Marquis's bedchamber is overcrowded, that he is busily engaged at the present moment, and is likely to be so for some considerable time to come. What is it your maréchal wants?"
"His pension," replied Hypolite curtly, "and the vacant post in the Ministry of War."
"Impossible! We have fourteen likely applicants already."
"M. le Maréchal is sure that if he could speak with M. le Contrôleur——"
"M. le Contrôleur is busy."
"To-morrow, then——"
"To-morrow he will be even more busy than to-day."
"M. Durand!" pleaded Hypolite.