"May I die if I know what you are speaking about," replied Fouché, looking closely at him to ascertain if he was in his right senses.
"Have you not issued your orders to your citizen Desmarest?"
"Undoubtedly; he has even told me," added Fouché, laughing, "that you earned your money very badly."
"Ah! my deepest regret is having received that sum of money, for unfortunately I am unable to return it: I have sent the half to my poor sister Madeleine. I have remaining at most only"——
"Eh! who says a word about your returning money, you fool? As long as I choose to employ you, what has Desmarest to say about it?"
"To employ me! to employ me as a spy!" cried Michel, reddening with indignation.
"Methinks your scruples arise rather late, when you have been attached to the police for fifteen days," replied Fouché.
"It was only on this day that I discovered it," cried the poor pastor.
"What! did you not know it? Was it only to-day you ascertained your function?" said the minister, as, struck by the comic tendency of the matter, he indulged in great laughter.
"I should never have supposed it," answered Michel Perrin, proudly; "your man told me of it."