“Ah! no doubt,” said Phellion, naively; “some very important business.”
“Most important,” replied Minard; “a little bankruptcy of five hundred thousand francs which the gentleman leaves behind him.”
“But who is this public officer,” demanded Phellion, “so recreant, in this scandalous manner, to the sacred duties of his calling?”
“Parbleu! your neighbor in the rue Saint-Jacques, the notary Dupuis.”
“What!” said Madame Phellion, “that pious man? Why, he is churchwarden of the parish!”
“Eh! madame, those are the very ones,” said Minard, “to run off—there are many precedents for that.”
“But,” said Phellion, “such news cast suddenly among the company must have fallen like a thunderbolt.”
“Especially,” said Minard, “as it was brought in the most unexpected and singular manner.”
“Tell us all about it,” said Madame Phellion, with animation.
“Well, it seems,” continued Minard, “that this canting swindler had charge of the savings of a number of servants, and that Monsieur de la Peyrade—because, you see, they are all of a clique, these pious people—was in the habit of recruiting clients for him in that walk of life—”