"/And we hope that my lords on the Bench/," the extemporizing clerk
went on. "Stop! I must read my sentence through again. I do not
understand it myself."

"Forty-six (that must often happen) and three forty-nines," said
Boucard.

"/We hope/," Godeschal began again, after reading all through the
document, "/that my lords on the Bench will not be less magnanimous
than the august author of the decree, and that they will do justice
against the miserable claims of the acting committee of the chief
Board of the Legion of Honor by interpreting the law in the wide sense
we have here set forth/----"

"Monsieur Godeschal, wouldn't you like a glass of water?" said the
little messenger.

"That imp of a boy!" said Boucard. "Here, get on your double-soled
shanks-mare, take this packet, and spin off to the Invalides."

"/Here set forth/," Godeschal went on. "Add /in the interest of Madame
la Vicomtesse/ (at full length) /de Grandlieu/."

"What!" cried the chief, "are you thinking of drawing up an appeal in
the case of Vicomtesse de Grandlieu against the Legion of Honor--a
case for the office to stand or fall by? You are something like an
ass! Have the goodness to put aside your copies and your notes; you
may keep all that for the case of Navarreins against the Hospitals. It
is late. I will draw up a little petition myself, with a due allowance