"I am beginning to think so too," muttered Desmarest; then to terminate the interview, he bowed and added, "let me see you on Monday."
"Certainly," said the pastor to himself, as he took the direction of the Palais-Royal with the intention of dining at the café de Foi; "certainly if this continues I can congratulate myself on having obtained a most agreeable position. As long as my business consists in waiting on my chief twice in the week, I run no risk of losing my employment through incapacity."
When he entered on the following Monday, he had waited a very long time until a number of persons passed, who stated that they were ordered to attend.
"The usher says that you have been waiting for six or seven hours," said the citizen Desmarest. "I had some important business to transact, or you should have been admitted sooner; for I suppose that you have something pressing to tell me."
"Nothing whatever, citizen," quietly replied the pastor, "I always come very early, that you may have me at hand, if you wish to have me called."
"It is certain that you are admirably punctual, citizen Perrin; I said so yesterday to the minister."
"I hope that in this respect you shall never have to reproach me," replied the pastor, bowing.
"You pass your days in your chamber," said Desmarest.
"Me! I run like a mountaineer; yesterday I did more than two leagues on the flagways of Paris."
"And you have seen nothing, heard nothing worthy of your attention and mine?"