It has long been said that there was some nasty jobbery in that suspicious affair of the African railways.

And the worst is that two members of the present Cabinet are in question, for three years ago, when the Chambers dealt with Duvillard's emission, Barroux was at the Home Department, and Monferrand at that of Public Works.

Now that they have come back again, Monferrand at the Home Department, and Barroux at that of Finance, with the Presidency of the Council, it isn't possible, is it, for us to do otherwise than compel them to enlighten us, in their own interest even, about their former goings-on?
No, no, they can no longer keep silence, and I've announced that I intend to interpellate them this very day." It was the announcement of Mege's interpellation, following the terrible article of the "Voix du Peuple," which thus set the lobbies in an uproar.
And Pierre remained rather scared at this big political affair falling into the midst of his scheme to save a wretched pauper from hunger and death.

Thus he listened without fully understanding the explanations which the Socialist deputy was passionately giving him, while all around them the uproar increased, and bursts of laughter rang out, testifying to the astonishment which the others felt at seeing Mege in conversation with a priest.
"How stupid they are!" said Mege disdainfully.

"Do they think then that I eat a cassock for _dejeuner_ every morning?
But I beg your pardon, my dear Monsieur Froment.