"That's right; don't trouble yourself about the breakfast--we are all
ears."

"And all jaws! I see through you, my pretties! while I am speaking, your
teeth will be in motion, and the turkey would be finished before my story.
Be patient; I will reserve it for the dessert."

We do not know whether it was the goad of hunger or curiosity that
stimulated the mastication of the young limbs of the law, but the breakfast
was so rapidly completed, that the moment for the story arrived
immediately.

Not to be surprised by the governor, they sent the office-boy, on whom the
carcass and claws of the turkey had been most liberally bestowed, as a
sentry into the neighboring room.

The head clerk said to his colleagues, "In the first place, you must know
that, for some days past the porter has been alarmed about master's health.
As the good man sits up very late, he has seen M. Ferrand go down to the
garden in the night in spite of the cold and rain, and walk up and down
rapidly. He ventured to leave his nest, and ask his master if he had need
of anything. The governor sent him to bed in such a tone that, since then,
the porter has kept himself quiet, and he will keep himself so always, as
soon as he hears the governor descend to the garden, which happens every
night, no matter what weather."

"The old boy is, perhaps, a somnambulist?"

"Not probable; but such nocturnal promenades announce great agitation. I
arrive at my story: just now, I went in to get some signatures. At the