mannerisms. His superiority in this respect over all his

At twenty years of age, Oscar became third clerk in the office. Though

he earned no salary, he was lodged and fed, for he did the work of the

second clerk. Desroches employed two chief clerks, and the work of the

second was unremitting toil. By the end of his second year in the law-

school Oscar knew more than most licensed graduates; he did the work

at the Palais intelligently, and argued some cases in chambers.

Godeschal and Desroches were satisfied with him. And yet, though he

now seemed a sensible man, he showed, from time to time, a hankering