"Mme. Derize withdraws her petition."
Vitrolle, Lestaque and Dauras wore appropriate expressions of despair to fit the occasion. But the junior clerk dared to show unbounded joy and cried:
"I've won!"
The Chief, not understanding, stared at him and repeated mechanically:
"Won?"
"Certainly," explained the clerk insolently. "We had a bet on that case."
"A bet?"
"It is done in all offices. With nothing at stake what interest would we have in a case? Mme. Derize wanted a separation. Her husband demanded nothing—I bet on him. Nothing has happened—therefore I have won."
Leaving M. Tabourin perplexed, he turned towards his comrades.
"You each owe me a dinner at a restaurant of my own choice. Three dinners, what luck!"