He did not stir."
"He was asleep, probably."
"I thought so. I approached him, and said: 'There are some clients outside,
who wish to see you.' He did not move. 'M. Ferrand!' No reply. At length I
touched his shoulder, and he started up as if the devil had bitten him. His
motion was so sudden, that his big glasses fell off from his nose, and I
saw--you never can believe it--"
"Out with it. What did you see?"
"Tears!"
"Nonsense!"
"Isn't he a queer bird?"
"The governor weep! Get out of the way!"
"When you see him cry, ladybirds will play on the French horn!"
"And monkeys chew tobacco!"
"Pshaw! your nonsense won't prevent me from knowing what I saw with my own
eyes. I tell you I saw him as I have described."
"What! weeping?"
"Yes, weeping. And after that, he was wroth at being caught in such a
lachrymose condition, and sung out to me: 'Go away--go away!' 'But, sir.--'
'Go away, I tell you!' 'There are some clients in the office, with whom you
have made an appointment, sir, and--' 'I haven't the time to see them. Let
them go to the devil, and you with them.' Thereupon he arose, as furious as
he could be, and looked so much as if he would kick me out at the door,
that I didn't wait for the compliment, but hooked it, and told the clients
to leave also. They didn't look greatly pleased, I assure you; but for the
reputation of the office, I told them that the governor had caught the
whooping-cough.
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