"Stand aside, you scoundrel!" cried the General, blazing up; "or
upon my soul I shall give you such a lesson you will be sorry you
were ever born."

At this moment the manager himself appeared in reinforcement, and
the clerk turned to him for protection and support.

"I was merely giving madame your message, M. Auguste, when this
gentleman interposed, threatened me, maltreated me--"

"Oh, surely not; it is some mistake;" the manager spoke most
suavely. "But certainly I did wish to speak to madame. I wished to
ask her whether she was satisfied with her apartment. I find that
the rooms she has generally occupied have fallen vacant, in the
nick of time. Perhaps madame would like to look at them, and
move?"

"Thank you, M. Auguste, you are very good; but at another time. I
am very much pressed just now. When I return in an hour or two,
not now."

The manager was profuse in his apologies, and made no further
difficulty.

"Oh, as you please, madame. Perfectly. By and by, later, when you
choose."

The fact was, the desired result had been obtained. For now, on
the far side from where he had been watching, Galipaud appeared,