great his beneficence. Besides, is not such indifference to dress as
stamped Popinot an absent-minded man, a distinguishing mark of
scientific attainment, of art passionately pursued, of a perpetually
active mind? To complete this portrait, it will be enough to add that
Popinot was one of the few judges of the Court of the Seine on whom
the ribbon of the Legion of Honor had not been conferred.

Such was the man who had been instructed by the President of the
Second Chamber of the Court--to which Popinot had belonged since his
reinstatement among the judges in civil law--to examine the Marquis
d'Espard at the request of his wife, who sued for a Commission in
Lunacy.

The Rue du Fouarre, where so many unhappy wretches swarmed in the
early morning, would be deserted by nine o'clock, and as gloomy and
squalid as ever. Bianchon put his horse to a trot in order to find his
uncle in the midst of his business. It was not without a smile that he
thought of the curious contrast the judge's appearance would make in
Madame d'Espard's room; but he promised himself that he would persuade
him to dress in a way that should not be too ridiculous.

"If only my uncle happens to have a new coat!" said Bianchon to
himself, as he turned into the Rue du Fouarre, where a pale light
shone from the parlor windows. "I shall do well, I believe, to talk
that over with Lavienne."

At the sound of wheels half a score of startled paupers came out from
under the gateway, and took off their hats on recognizing Bianchon;
for the doctor, who treated gratuitously the sick recommended to him
by the lawyer, was not less well known than he to the poor creatures