The offices of 'L'Espérance,' the Catholic journal in distress¹, which, at Jantrou's suggestion, Saccard had purchased to assist him in launching the Universal Bank, were situated² in the Rue³ Saint Joseph, in an old, dark, damp building, of which they occupied the first floor, at the rear of the courtyard. A passage led from the ante-room, where the gas was always kept burning; and on the left came, first, the office of Jantrou, the director, and then a room which Saccard had reserved for himself; whilst on the right were the contributors' room, the sub-editor's room, and others. Across the landing were the manager's and cashier's offices, which an inner passage, behind the staircase, connected with the editorial rooms.

That day, Jordan, who was finishing an article in the contributors' room, which he had entered at an early hour in order not to be disturbed, went out just as the clock struck four to find Dejoie, the office porter, who, by a broad gas flame, although it was radiant daylight out of doors, was greedily reading the Bourse bulletin, which had just arrived, and at which he invariably got the first look.

'I say, Dejoie, was it Monsieur Jantrou who just came in?'

'Yes, Monsieur Jordan.'

The young man hesitated, experienced a feeling of uneasiness, which for a few seconds kept him there. In the difficult beginnings of his happy household, some old debts had fallen upon him; and, in spite of his luck in finding this paper to take his articles, he was passing through a period of cruel embarrassment⁴, the greater as his salary had been attached,[Pg 183] and as that very day he had to pay a fresh note of hand, or otherwise an execution would be promptly⁵ levied⁶ on his few sticks of furniture. Twice already he had vainly applied⁷ to the director for an advance, for Jantrou had fallen back upon the attachment

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