“I should like to have seen you in my place. He was foaming at the mouth. He thought of nothing but his safety-pin. I believe, if they hadn’t brought him one on the spot, he would have fallen down in a fit!⁠ ⁠… Oh, all this isn’t natural; and our managers are going mad!⁠ ⁠… Besides, it can’t go on like this! I’m not used to being treated in that fashion!”

Suddenly Gabriel whispered:

“It’s another trick of O. G. ’s.”

Rémy gave a grin, Mercier a sigh and seemed about to speak⁠ ⁠… but, meeting Gabriel’s eye, said nothing.

However, Mercier felt his responsibility increased as the minutes passed without the managers’ appearing; and, at last, he could stand it no longer.

“Look here, I’ll go and hunt them out myself!”

Gabriel, turning very gloomy and serious, stopped him.