“Then there is no trick to play on him this time?” asked Desroches.
“His wife has taken that in hand, the Comtesse Ferraud,” said Boucard.
“What next?” said Godeschal. “Is Comtesse Ferraud required to belong to two men?”
“Here she is,” answered Simonnin.
“So you are not deaf, you young rogue!” said Chabert, taking the gutter-jumper by the ear and twisting it, to the delight of the other clerks, who began to laugh, looking at the Colonel with the curious attention due to so singular a personage.
Comte Chabert was in Derville’s private room at the moment when his wife came in by the door of the office.
“I say, Boucard, there is going to be a queer scene in the chief’s room! There is a woman who can spend her days alternately, the odd with Comte Ferraud, and the even with Comte Chabert.”
“And in leap year,” said Godeschal, “they must settle the count between them.”
“Silence, gentlemen, you can be heard!” said Boucard severely. “I never was in an office where there was so much jesting as there is here over the clients.”
Derville had made the Colonel retire to the bedroom when the Countess was admitted.