"Then come into my office, Monsieur—what is your name now?"
"Gratillet, Monsieur Beauchamp," said the young man, following him into the office. After he had taken a chair proffered him he laughed to himself and in a tone of importance said:
"If I am not mistaken, you interest yourself for Benedetto?"
"A little, Monsieur Gratillet."
"When you have heard my report, you will do so more. I took good notice of Benedetto and have come to the conclusion that he has been picked out to do great things!"
"Really? Is he going to become a minister, or perhaps a king?"
"Laugh away; he will not die in the galleys."
"Then, perhaps, on the gallows; that is sometimes the end of a career like his."
"No, Benedetto is more ambitious than that. I will only give you the facts and tell you what I heard yesterday. Last night Benedetto received a visit in prison."