"No, no, Monsieur l'Abbe Froment was here before me.

Pray receive him first." Monferrand had to give way; he admitted the priest, and speedily dealt with him.

He who usually employed the most diplomatic reserve when he was in presence of a member of the clergy plumply unfolded the Barthes business.

Pierre had experienced the keenest anguish during the two hours that he had been waiting there, for he could only explain the letter he had received by a surmise that the police had discovered his brother's presence in his house.

And so when he heard the Minister simply speak of Barthes, and declare that the government would rather see him go into exile than be obliged to imprison him once more, he remained for a moment quite disconcerted.