"
"He was right; short reckonings make long friends."
"For heaven's sake, don't cut me with your saws. I tell you, gentlemen,
that it is very singular. It was upside down."
"Which was upside down?--the deed or the governor? It is singular, as you
say. What the devil was he doing in that position? I should think it would
have given him the apoplexy, unless his habits, as you say, have changed
very suddenly."
"How wearisome you are, Chalamel! I mean that it was the deed which I
presented wrong end foremost."
"How wild he must have been!"
"Not at all; he didn't even perceive it. He looked at it for ten minutes,
with his bloodshot eyes fixed upon it, and then he gave it back to me,
saying: 'Quite correct.'"
"Still upside down?"
"Still."
"How could he have read the deed?"
"He couldn't, unless he can read upside down."
"No man can do that."
"He looked so gloomy and savage, that I dared not open my lips, and I went
away as if nothing had happened."
"I have got something to tell you. Four days ago I was in the office of the
head clerk, and in come one client, two clients, three clients, with whom
the governor had made an appointment. They waited impatiently, and
requested me to go and rap at the door of the study. I rapped, and,
receiving no answer, I walked in."
"Well, what did you see?"
"M. Ferrand lying upon his arms, which were placed upon the table, and his
bald head uncovered.
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