Colleville。”MonsieurCochinsignsE。A。L。CochinheisnamedEmile-
　　Adolphe-Lucian，which，whenanagrammed，givesCochineal。Nowobserve，he’sapartnerinadruggist’sbusinessintheruedesLombards，theMaisonMatifat，whichmadeitsfortunebythatidenticalcolonialproduct。”
　　Baudoyer[entering]。”MonsieurChazelle，Isee，isnothere；youwillbegoodenoughtosayIaskedforhim，gentlemen。”
　　Bixiou[whohadhastilystuckahatonChazelle’schairwhenheheardBaudoyer’sstep]。”Excuseme，Monsieur，butChazellehasgonetotheRabourdins’tomakeaninquiry。”
　　Chazelle[enteringwithhishatonhishead，andnotseeingBaudoyer]。”LaBillardiereisdonefor，gentlemen！RabourdinisheadofthedivisionandMasterofpetitions；hehasn’tstolenHISpromotion，that’sverycertain。”
　　Baudoyer[toChazelle]。”Youfoundthatappointmentinyoursecondhat，Ipresume”[pointstothehatonthechair]。”Thisisthethirdtimewithinamonththatyouhavecomeafternineo’clock。Ifyoucontinuethepracticeyouwillgeton——elsewhere。”[ToBixiou，whoisreadingthenewspaper。]”MydearMonsieurBixiou，doprayleavethenewspaperstothesegentlemenwhoaregoingtobreakfast，andcomeintomyofficeforyourordersfortheday。Idon’tknowwhatMonsieurRabourdinwantswithGabriel；hekeepshimtodohisprivateerrands，Ibelieve。I’verungthreetimesandcan’tgethim。”[BaudoyerandBixiouretireintotheprivateoffice。]
　　Chazelle。”Damnedunlucky！”
　　Paulmier[delightedtoannoyChazelle]。”Whydidn’tyoulookaboutwhenyoucameintotheroom？Youmighthaveseentheelephant，andthehattoo；theyarebigenoughtobevisible。”
　　Chazelle[dismally]。”Disgustingbusiness！Idon’tseewhyweshouldbetreatedlikeslavesbecausethegovernmentgivesusfourfrancsandsixty-fivecentimesaday。”
　　Fleury[entering]。”DownwithBaudoyer！hurrahforRabourdin！——that’sthecryinthedivision。”
　　Chazelle[gettingmoreandmoreangry]。”Baudoyercanturnoffmeifhelikes，Isha’n’tcare。InParisthereareathousandwaysofearningfivefrancsaday；why，IcouldearnthatatthePalaisdeJustice，copyingbriefsforthelawyers。”
　　Paulmier[stillproddinghim]。”Itisveryeasytosaythat；butagovernmentplaceisagovernmentplace，andthatpluckyColleville，whoworkslikeagalley-slaveoutsideofthisoffice，andwhocouldearn，ifhelosthisappointment，morethanhissalary，preferstokeephisplace。Whothedevilisfoolenoughtogiveuphisexpectations？”
　　Chazelle[continuinghisphilippic]。”Youmaynotbe，butIam！Wehavenochancesatall。Timewaswhennothingwasmoreencouragingthanacivil-servicecareer。Somanymenwereinthearmythattherewerenotenoughforthegovernmentwork；themaimedandthehaltandthesickones，likePaulmier，andthenear-sightedones，allhadtheirchanceofarapidpromotion。Butnow，eversincetheChamberinventedwhattheycalledspecialtraining，andtherulesandregulationsforcivil-serviceexaminers，weareworseoffthancommonsoldiers。Thepoorestplacesareatthemercyofathousandmischancesbecausewearenowruledbyathousandsovereigns。”
　　Bixiou[returning]。”Areyoucrazy，Chazelle？Wheredoyoufindathousandsovereigns？——notinyourpocket，arethey？”
　　Chazelle。”Countthemup。TherearefourhundredoverthereattheendofthepontdelaConcordesocalledbecauseitleadstothesceneofperpetualdiscordbetweentheRightandLeftoftheChamber；threehundredmoreattheendoftheruedeTournon。Thecourt，whichoughttocountfortheotherthreehundred，hassevenhundredpartslesspowertogetamanappointedtoaplaceundergovernmentthantheEmperorNapoleonhad。”
　　Fleury。”Allofwhichsignifiesthatinacountrywheretherearethreepowersyoumaybetathousandtoonethatagovernmentclerkwhohasnoinfluencebuthisownmeritstoadvancehimwillremaininobscurity。”
　　Bixiou[lookingalternatelyatChazelleandFleury]。”Mysons，youhaveyettolearnthatinthesedaystheworststateoflifeisthestateofbelongingtotheState。”
　　Fleury。”Becauseithasaconstitutionalgovernment。”
　　Colleville。”Gentlemen，gentlemen！nopolitics！”
　　Bixiou。”Fleuryisright。ServingtheStateinthesedaysisnolongerservingaprincewhoknewhowtopunishandreward。TheStatenowisEVERYBODY。Everybodyofcoursecaresfornobody。Serveeverybody，andyouservenobody。Nobodyisinterestedinnobody；thegovernmentclerklivesbetweentwonegations。Theworldhasneitherpitynorrespect，neitherheartnorhead；everybodyforgetsto-morrowtheserviceofyesterday。Noweachoneofyoumaybe，likeMonsieurBaudoyer，anadministrativegenius，aChateaubriandofreports，aBossouetofcirculars，theCanalisofmemorials，thegiftedsonofdiplomaticdespatches；butItellyouthereisafatallawwhichinterfereswithalladministrativegenius，——Imeanthelawofpromotionbyaverage。
　　Thisaverageisbasedonthestatisticsofpromotionandthestatisticsofmortalitycombined。ItisverycertainthatonenteringwhicheversectionoftheCivilServiceyoupleaseattheageofeighteen，youcan’tgeteighteenhundredfrancsayeartillyoureachtheageofthirty。Nowthere’snofreeandindependentcareerinwhich，inthecourseoftwelveyears，ayoungmanwhohasgonethroughthegrammar-school，beenvaccinated，isexemptfrommilitaryservice，andpossessesallhisfacultiesIdon’tmeantranscendentonescan’tamassacapitalofforty-fivethousandfrancsincentimes，whichrepresentsapermanentincomeequaltooursalaries，whichare，afterall，precarious。Intwelveyearsagrocercanearnenoughtogivehimtenthousandfrancsayear；apaintercandaubamileofcanvasandbedecoratedwiththeLegionofhonor，orposeasaneglectedgenius。A
　　literarymanbecomesprofessorofsomethingorother，orajournalistatahundredfrancsforathousandlines；hewrites”feuilletons，”orhegetsintoSaint-PelagieforabrilliantarticlethatoffendstheJesuits，——whichofcourseisanimmensebenefittohimandmakeshimapoliticianatonce。Evenalazyman，whodoesnothingbutmakedebts，hastimetomarryawidowwhopaysthem；apriestfindstimetobecomeabishop”inpartibus。”Asober，intelligentyoungfellow，whobeginswithasmallcapitalasamoney-changer，soonbuysashareinabroker’sbusiness；and，togoevenlower，apettyclerkbecomesanotary，arag-pickerlaysbytwoorthreethousandfrancsayear，andthepoorestworkmenoftenbecomemanufacturers；whereas，intherotatorymovementofthispresentcivilization，whichmistakesperpetualdivisionandredivisionforprogress，anunhappycivilserviceclerk，likeChazelleforinstance，isforcedtodinefortwenty-twosousameal，struggleswithhistailorandbootmaker，getsintodebt，andisanabsolutenothing；worsethanthat，hebecomesanidiot！Come，gentlemen，now’sthetimetomakeastand！Letusallgiveinourresignations！Fleury，Chazelle，flingyourselvesintootheremploymentsandbecomethegreatmenyoureallyare。”
　　Chazelle[calmeddownbyBixiou’sallocution]。”No，Ithankyou”
　　[generallaughter]。
　　Bixiou。”Youarewrong；inyoursituationIshouldtrytogetaheadofthegeneral-secretary。”
　　Chazelle[uneasily]。”Whathashetodowithme？”
　　Bixiou。”You’llfindout；doyousupposeBaudoyerwilloverlookwhathappenedjustnow？”
　　Fleury。”AnotherpieceofBixiou’sspite！You’veaqueerfellowtodealwithinthere。Now，MonsieurRabourdin，——there’samanforyou！
　　Heputworkonmytableto-daythatyoucouldn’tgetthroughwithinthisofficeinthreedays；well，heexpectsmetohaveitdonebyfouro’clockto-day。Butheisnotalwaysatmyheelstohindermefromtalkingtomyfriends。”
　　Baudoyer[appearingatthedoor]。”Gentlemen，youwilladmitthatifyouhavethelegalrighttofindfaultwiththechamberandtheadministrationyoumustatleastdosoelsewherethaninthisoffice。”
　　[ToFleury。]”Whatareyoudoinghere，monsieur？”
　　Fleury[insolently]。”Icametotellthesegentlementhattherewastobeageneralturn-out。DuBruelissentfortotheministry，andDutocqalso。Everybodyisaskingwhowillbeappointed。”
　　Baudoyer[retiring]。”Itisnotyouraffair，sir；gobacktoyourownoffice，anddonotdisturbmine。”
　　Fleury[inthedoorway]。”ItwouldbeashamefulinjusticeifRabourdinlosttheplace；IswearI’dleavetheservice。Didyoufindthatanagram，papaColleville？”
　　Colleville。”Yes，hereitis。”
　　Fleury[leaningoverColleville’sdesk]。”Capital！famous！Thisisjustwhatwillhappeniftheadministrationcontinuestoplaythehypocrite。”[HemakesasigntotheclerksthatBaudoyerislistening。]”Ifthegovernmentwouldfranklystateitsintentionswithoutconcealmentsofanykind，theliberalswouldknowwhattheyhadtodealwith。Anadministrationwhichsetsitsbestfriendsagainstitself，suchmenasthoseofthe’Debats，’Chateaubriand，andRoyer-Collard，isonlytobepitied！”
　　Colleville[afterconsultinghiscolleagues]。”Come，Fleury，you’reagoodfellow，butdon’ttalkpoliticshere；youdon’tknowwhatharmyoumaydous。”
　　Fleury[dryly]。”Well，adieu，gentlemen；Ihavemyworktodobyfouro’clock。”
　　Whilethisidletalkhadbeengoingon，desLupeaulxwasclosetedinhisofficewithduBruel，where，alittlelater，Dutocqjoinedthem。
　　DesLupeaulxhadheardfromhisvaletofLaBillardiere’sdeath，andwishingtopleasethetwoministers，hewantedanobituaryarticletoappearintheeveningpapers。”Goodmorning，mydearduBruel，”saidthesemi-ministertothehead-
　　clerkasheentered，andnotinvitinghimtositdown。”Youhaveheardthenews？LaBillardiereisdead。Theministerswerebothpresentwhenhereceivedthelastsacraments。TheworthymanstronglyrecommendedRabourdin，sayingheshoulddiewithlessregretifhecouldknowthathissuccessorwerethemanwhohadsoconstantlydonehiswork。Deathisatorturewhichmakesamanconfesseverything。TheministeragreedthemorereadilybecausehisintentionandthatoftheCouncilwastorewardMonsieurRabourdin’snumerousservices。Infact，theCouncilofStateneedshisexperience。TheysaythatyoungLaBillardiereistoleavethedivisionofhisfatherandgototheCommissionofSeals；
　　that’sjustthesameasiftheKinghadmadehimapresentofahundredthousandfrancs，——theplacecanalwaysbesold。ButIknowthenewswilldelightyourdivision，whichwillthusgetridofhim。DuBruel，wemustgettenoradozenlinesabouttheworthylatedirectorintothepapers；hisExcellencywillglancethemover，——hereadsthepapers。DoyouknowtheparticularsofoldLaBillardiere’slife？”
　　DuBruelmadeasigninthenegative。”No？”continueddesLupeaulx。”Wellthen；hewasmixedupintheaffairsofLaVendee，andhewasoneoftheconfidantsofthelateKing。LikeMonsieurleComtedeFontainehealwaysrefusedtoholdcommunicationwiththeFirstConsul。Hewasabitofa’chouan’；borninBrittanyofaparliamentaryfamily，andennobledbyLouisXVIII。
　　Howoldwashe？nevermindaboutthat；justsayhisloyaltywasuntarnished，hisreligionenlightened，——thepooroldfellowhatedchurchesandneversetfootinone，butyouhadbettermakehimouta’piousvassal。’Bringin，gracefully，thathesangthesongofSimeonattheaccessionofCharlesX。TheComted’ArtoisthoughtveryhighlyofLaBillardiere，forheco-operatedintheunfortunateaffairofQuiberonandtookthewholeresponsibilityonhimself。Youknowaboutthat，don’tyou？LaBillardieredefendedtheKinginaprintedpamphletinreplytoanimpudenthistoryoftheRevolutionwrittenbyajournalist；youcanalludetohisloyaltyanddevotion。Butbeverycarefulwhatyousay；weighyourwords，sothattheothernewspaperscan’tlaughatus；andbringmethearticlewhenyou’vewrittenit。
　　WereyouatRabourdin’syesterday？””Yes，monseigneur，”saidduBruel，”Ah！begpardon。””Noharmdone，”answereddesLupeaulx，laughing。”MadameRabourdinlookeddelightfullyhandsome，”addedduBruel。”TherearenottwowomenlikeherinParis。Someareascleverasshe，butthere’snotonesogracefullywitty。Manywomenmayevenbehandsomer，butitwouldbehardtofindonewithsuchvarietyofbeauty。MadameRabourdinisfarsuperiortoMadameColleville，”saidthevaudevillist，rememberingdesLupeaulx’sformeraffair。”Flavieoweswhatsheistothemenabouther，whereasMadameRabourdinisallthingsinherself。Itiswonderfultoowhatsheknows；youcan’ttellsecretsinLatinbeforeHER。IfIhadsuchawife，IknowIshouldsucceedineverything。””Youhavemoremindthananauthoroughttohave，”returneddesLupeaulx，withaconceitedair。ThenheturnedroundandperceivedDutocq。”Ah，good-morning，Dutocq，”hesaid。”IsentforyoutolendmeyourCharlet——ifyouhavethewholecomplete。MadamelacomtesseknowsnothingofCharlet。”
　　DuBruelretired。”Whydoyoucomeinwithoutbeingsummoned？”saiddesLupeaulx，harshly，whenheandDutocqwereleftalone。”IstheStateindangerthatyoumustcomehereatteno’clockinthemorning，justasIamgoingtobreakfastwithhisExcellency？””Perhapsitis，monsieur，”saidDutocq，dryly。”IfIhadhadthehonortoseeyouearlier，youwouldprobablyhavenotbeensowillingtosupportMonsieurRabourdin，afterreadinghisopinionofyou。”
　　Dutocqopenedhiscoat，tookapaperfromtheleft-handbreast-pocketandlaiditondesLupeaulx’sdesk，pointingtoamarkedpassage。Thenhewenttothedoorandslippedthebolt，fearinginterruption。Whilehewasthusemployed，thesecretary-generalreadtheopeningsentenceofthearticle，whichwasasfollows:”MonsieurdesLupeaulx。Agovernmentdegradesitselfbyopenlyemployingsuchaman，whoserealvocationisforpolicediplomacy。
　　Heisfittedtodealwiththepoliticalfilibustersofothercabinets，anditwouldbeapitythereforetoemployhimonourinternaldetectivepolice。Heisaboveacommonspy，forheisabletounderstandaplan；hecouldskilfullycarrythroughadarkpieceofworkandcoverhisretreatsafely。”
　　DesLupeaulxwassuccinctlyanalyzedinfiveorsixsuchparagraphs，——
　　theessence，infact，ofthebiographicalportraitwhichwegaveatthebeginningofthishistory。Ashereadthewordsthesecretaryfeltthatamanstrongerthanhimselfsatinjudgmentonhim；andheatonceresolvedtoexaminethememorandum，whichevidentlyreachedfarandhigh，withoutallowingDutocqtoknowhissecretthoughts。Hethereforeshowedacalm，gravefacewhenthespyreturnedtohim。DesLupeaulx，likelawyers，magistrates，diplomatists，andallwhoseworkobligesthemtopryintothehumanheart，waspastbeingsurprisedatanything。Hardenedintreacheryandinallthetricksandwilesofhatred，hecouldtakeastabinthebackandnotlethisfacetellofit。”Howdidyougetholdofthispaper？”
　　Dutocqrelatedhisgoodluck；desLupeaulx’sfaceashelistenedexpressednoapprobation；andthespyendedinterroranaccountwhichbegantriumphantly。”Dutocq，youhaveputyourfingerbetweenthebarkandthetree，”saidthesecretary，coldly。”Ifyoudon’twanttomakepowerfulenemiesI
　　adviseyoutokeepthispaperaprofoundsecret；itisaworkoftheutmostimportanceandalreadywellknowntome。”
　　Sosaying，desLupeaulxdismissedDutocqbyoneofthoseglancesthataremoreexpressivethanwords。”Ha！thatscoundrelofaRabourdinhasputhisfingerinthis！”
　　thoughtDutocq，alarmedonfindinghimselfanticipated；”hehasreachedtheearoftheadministration，whileIamleftoutinthecold。Ishouldn’thavethoughtit！”
　　ToallhisothermotivesofaversiontoRabourdinhenowaddedthejealousyofonemantoanothermanofthesamecalling，——amostpowerfulingredientinhatred。
　　WhendesLupeaulxwasleftalone，hedroppedintoastrangemeditation。WhatpowerwasitofwhichRabourdinwastheinstrument？
　　Shouldhe，desLupeaulx，usethissingulardocumenttodestroyhim，orshouldhekeepitasaweapontosucceedwiththewife？ThemysterythatlaybehindthispaperwasalldarknesstodesLupeaulx，whoreadwithsomethingakintoterrorpageafterpage，inwhichthemenofhisacquaintancewerejudgedwithunerringwisdom。HeadmiredRabourdin，thoughstabbedtohisvitalsbywhathesaidofhim。Thebreakfast-
　　hoursuddenlycutshorthismeditation。”HisExcellencyiswaitingforyoutocomedown，”announcedtheminister’sfootman。
　　TheministeralwaysbreakfastedwithhiswifeandchildrenanddesLupeaulx，withoutthepresenceofservants。Themorningmealaffordstheonlymomentofprivacywhichpublicmencansnatchfromthecurrentofoverwhelmingbusiness。Yetinspiteoftheprecautionstheytaketokeepthishourforprivateintimaciesandaffections，agoodmanygreatandlittlepeoplemanagetoinfringeuponit。Businessitselfwill，asatthismoment，thrustitselfinthewayoftheirscantycomfort。”IthoughtRabourdinwasamanaboveallordinarypettymanoeuvres，”
　　begantheminister；”andyethere，nottenminutesafterLaBillardiere’sdeath，hesendsmethisnotebyLaBriere，——itislikeastagemissive。Look，”saidhisExcellency，givingdesLupeaulxapaperwhichhewastwirlinginhisfingers。
　　ToonobleinmindtothinkforamomentoftheshamefulmeaningLaBillardiere’sdeathmightlendtohisletter，RabourdinhadnotwithdrawnitfromLaBriere’shandsafterthenewsreachedhim。DesLupeaulxreadasfollows:——”Monseigneur，——Iftwenty-threeyearsofirreproachableservicesmayclaimafavor，IentreatyourExcellencytograntmeanaudiencethisveryday。MyhonorisinvolvedinthematterofwhichIdesiretospeak。””Poorman！”saiddesLupeaulx，inatoneofcompassionwhichconfirmedtheministerinhiserror。”Wearealone；Iadviseyoutoseehimnow。
　　YouhaveameetingoftheCouncilwhentheChamberrises；moreover，yourExcellencyhastoreplyto-daytotheopposition；thisisreallytheonlyhourwhenyoucanreceivehim。”
　　DesLupeaulxrose，calledtheservant，saidafewwords，andreturnedtohisseat。”Ihavetoldthemtobringhiminatdessert，”hesaid。
　　LikeallotherministersundertheRestoration，thisparticularministerwasamanwithoutyouth。ThechartergrantedbyLouisXVIII。
　　hadthedefectoftyingthehandsofthekingsbycompellingthemtodeliverthedestiniesofthenationintothecontrolofthemiddle-
　　agedmenoftheChamberandtheseptuagenariansofthepeerage；itrobbedthemoftherighttolayhandsonamanofstatesmanliketalentwherevertheycouldfindhim，nomatterhowyounghewasorhowpoverty-strickenhisconditionmightbe。Napoleonalonewasabletoemployyoungmenashechose，withoutbeingrestrainedbyanyconsideration。Aftertheoverthrowofthatmightywill，vigordesertedpower。NowtheperiodwheneffeminacysucceedstovigorpresentsacontrastthatisfarmoredangerousinFrancethaninothercountries。
　　Asageneralthing，ministerswhowereoldbeforetheyenteredofficehaveprovedsecondorthirdrate，whilethosewhoweretakenyounghavebeenanhonortoEuropeanmonarchiesandtotherepublicswhoseaffairstheyhavedirected。TheworldstillringswiththestrugglebetweenPittandNapoleon，twomenwhoconductedthepoliticsoftheirrespectivecountriesatanagewhenHenrideNavarre，Richelieu，Mazarin，Colbert，Louvois，thePrinceofOrange，theGuises，Machiavelli，inshort，allthebestknownofourgreatmen，comingfromtheranksorborntoathrone，begantoruletheState。TheConvention——thatmodelofenergy——wasmadeupinagreatmeasureofyoungheads；nosovereigncaneverforgetthatitwasabletoputfourteenarmiesintothefieldagainstEurope。Itspolicy，fatalintheeyesofthosewhoclingtowhatiscalledabsolutepower，wasneverthelessdictatedbystrictlymonarchicalprinciples，anditbehaveditselflikeanyofthegreatkings。
　　Aftertenoradozenyearsofparliamentarystruggle，havingstudiedthescienceofpoliticsuntilhewasworndownbyit，thisparticularministerhadcometobeenthronedbyhisparty，whoconsideredhiminthelightoftheirbusinessman。Happilyforhimhewasnownearersixtythanfiftyyearsofage；hadheretainedevenavestigeofjuvenilevigorhewouldquicklyhavequenchedit。But，accustomedtobackandfill，retreatandreturntothecharge，hewasabletoendurebeingstruckat，turnandturnabout，byhisownparty，bytheopposition，bythecourt，bytheclergy，becausetoallsuchattacksheopposedtheinertforceofasubstancewhichwasequallysoftandconsistent；thushereapedthebenefitsofwhatwasreallyhismisfortune。Harassedbyathousandquestionsofgovernment，hismind，likethatofanoldlawyerwhohastriedeveryspeciesofcase，nolongerpossessedthespringwhichsolitarymindsareabletoretain，northatpowerofpromptdecisionwhichdistinguishesmenwhoareearlyaccustomedtoaction，andyoungsoldiers。Howcoulditbeotherwise？Hehadpractisedsophistriesandquibbledinsteadofjudging；hehadcriticisedeffectsanddonenothingforcauses；hisheadwasfullofplanssuchasapoliticalpartylaysupontheshouldersofaleader，——mattersofprivateinterestbroughttoanoratorsupposedtohaveafuture，ajumbleofschemesandimpracticalrequests。Farfromcomingfreshtohiswork，hewasweariedoutwithmarchingandcounter-marching，andwhenhefinallyreachedthemuchdesiredheightofhispresentposition，hefoundhimselfinathicketofthornybusheswithathousandconflictingwillstoconciliate。IfthestatesmenoftheRestorationhadbeenallowedtofollowouttheirownideas，theircapacitywoulddoubtlesshavebeencriticised；butthoughtheirwillswereoftenforced，theiragesavedthemfromattemptingtheresistancewhichyouthopposestointrigues，bothhighandlow，——intrigueswhichvanquishedRichelieu，andtowhich，inalowersphere，Rabourdinwastosuccumb。
　　Aftertheroughandtumbleoftheirfirststrugglesinpoliticallifethesemen，lessoldthanaged，havetoenduretheadditionalwearandtearofaministry。Thusitisthattheireyesbegintoweakenjustastheyneedtohavetheclear-sightednessofeagles；theirmindiswearywhenitsyouthandfireneedtoberedoubled。TheministerinwhomRabourdinsoughttoconfidewasinthehabitoflisteningtomenofundoubtedsuperiorityastheyexplainedingenioustheoriesofgovernment，applicableorinapplicabletotheaffairsofFrance。Suchmen，bywhomthedifficultiesofnationalpolicywereneverapprehended，wereinthehabitofattackingthisministerpersonallywheneveraparliamentarybattleoracontestwiththesecretfolliesofthecourttookplace，——ontheeveofastrugglewiththepopularmind，oronthemorrowofadiplomaticdiscussionwhichdividedtheCouncilintothreeseparateparties。Caughtinsuchapredicament，astatesmannaturallykeepsayawnreadyforthefirstsentencedesignedtoshowhimhowthepublicservicecouldbebettermanaged。AtsuchperiodsnotadinnertookplaceamongboldschemersorfinancialandpoliticallobbyistswheretheopinionsoftheBourseandtheBank，thesecretsofdiplomacy，andthepolicynecessitatedbythestateofaffairsinEuropewerenotcanvassedanddiscussed。TheministerhashisownprivatecouncillorsindesLupeaulxandhissecretary，whocollectedandponderedallopinionsanddiscussionsforthepurposeofanalyzingandcontrollingthevariousinterestsproclaimedandsupportedbysomanyclevermen。Infact，hismisfortunewasthatofmostotherministerswhohavepassedtheprimeoflife；hetrimmedandshuffledunderallhisdifficulties，——withjournalism，whichatthisperioditwasthoughtadvisabletorepressinanunderhandwayratherthanfightopenly；withfinancialaswellaslaborquestions；withtheclergyaswellaswiththatotherquestionofthepubliclands；withliberalismaswiththeChamber。Aftermanoeuveringhiswaytopowerinthecourseofsevenyears，theministerbelievedthathecouldmanageallquestionsofadministrationinthesameway。Itissonaturaltothinkwecanmaintainapositionbythesamemethodswhichservedustoreachitthatnooneventuredtoblameasysteminventedbymediocritytopleasemindsofitsowncalibre。TheRestoration，likethePolishrevolution，provedtonationsastoprincesthetruevalueofaMan，andwhatwillhappenifthatnecessarymaniswanting。ThelastandthegreatestweaknessofthepublicmenoftheRestorationwastheirhonesty，inastruggleinwhichtheiradversariesemployedtheresourcesofpoliticaldishonesty，lies，andcalumnies，andletlooseuponthem，byallsubversivemeans，theclamoroftheunintelligentmasses，ableonlytounderstandrevolt。
　　Rabourdintoldhimselfallthesethings。Buthehadmadeuphismindtowinorlose，likeamanwearyofgamblingwhoallowshimselfalaststake；ill-luckhadgivenhimasadversaryinthegameasharperlikedesLupeaulx。Withallhissagacity，Rabourdinwasbetterversedinmattersofadministrationthaninparliamentaryoptics，andhewasfarindeedfromimagininghowhisconfidencewouldbereceived；helittlethoughtthatthegreatworkthatfilledhismindwouldseemtotheministernothingmorethanatheory，andthatamanwhoheldthepositionofastatesmanwouldconfoundhisreformwiththeschemesofpoliticalandself-interestedtalkers。
　　Astheministerrosefromtable，thinkingofFrancoisKeller，hiswifedetainedhimwiththeofferofabunchofgrapes，andatthatmomentRabourdinwasannounced。DesLupeaulxhadcountedontheminister’spreoccupationandhisdesiretogetaway；seeinghimforthemomentoccupiedwithhiswife，thegeneral-secretarywentforwardtomeetRabourdin；whomhepetrifiedwithhisfirstwords，saidinalowtoneofvoice:——”HisExcellencyandIknowwhatthesubjectisthatoccupiesyourmind；youhavenothingtofear”；then，raisinghisvoice，headded，”neitherfromDutocqnorfromanyoneelse。””Don’tfeeluneasy，Rabourdin，”saidhisExcellency，kindly，butmakingamovementtogetaway。
　　Rabourdincameforwardrespectfully，andtheministercouldnotevadehim。”WillyourExcellencypermitmetoseeyouforamomentinprivate？”
　　hesaid，withamysteriousglance。
　　Theministerlookedattheclockandwenttowardsthewindow，whitherthepoormanfollowedhim。”WhenmayIhavethehonorofsubmittingthematterofwhichIspoketoyourExcellency？Idesiretofullyexplaintheplanofadministrationtowhichthepaperthatwastakenbelongs——””Planofadministration！”exclaimedtheminister，frowning，andhurriedlyinterruptinghim。”Ifyouhaveanythingofthatkindtocommunicateyoumustwaitfortheregulardaywhenwedobusinesstogether。IoughttobeattheCouncilnow；andIhaveananswertomaketotheChamberonthatpointwhichtheoppositionraisedbeforethesessionendedyesterday。YourdayisWednesdaynext；Icouldnotworkyesterday，forIhadotherthingstoattendto；politicalmattersareapttointerferewithpurelyadministrativeones。””IplacemyhonorwithallconfidenceinyourExcellency’shands，”
　　saidRabourdingravely，”andIentreatyoutorememberthatyouhavenotallowedmetimetogiveyouanimmediateexplanationofthestolenpaper——””Don’tbeuneasy，”saiddesLupeaulx，interposingbetweentheministerandRabourdin，whomhethusinterrupted；”inanotherweekyouwillprobablybeappointed——”
　　TheministersmiledashethoughtofdesLupeaulx’senthusiasmforMadameRabourdin，andheglancedknowinglyathiswife。Rabourdinsawthelook，andtriedtoimagineitsmeaning；hisattentionwasdivertedforamoment，andhisExcellencytookadvantageofthefacttomakehisescape。”Wewilltalkofallthis，youandI，”saiddesLupeaulx，withwhomRabourdin，muchtohissurprise，nowfoundhimselfalone。”Don’tbeangrywithDutocq；I’llanswerforhisdiscretion。””MadameRabourdinischarming，”saidtheminister’swife，wishingtosaythecivilthingtotheheadofabureau。
　　ThechildrenallgazedatRabourdinwithcuriosity。Thepoormanhadcomethereexpectingsomeserious，evensolemn，result，andhewaslikeagreatfishcaughtinthethreadsofaflimsynet；hestruggledwithhimself。”Madamelacomtesseisverygood，”hesaid。”ShallInothavethepleasureofseeingMadameheresomeWednesday？”
　　saidthecountess。”Praybringher；itwillgivemepleasure。””MadameRabourdinherselfreceivesonWednesdays，”interrupteddesLupeaulx，whoknewtheemptycivilityofaninvitationtotheofficialWednesdays；”butsinceyouaresokindastowishforher，youwillsoongiveoneofyourprivateparties，and——”
　　Thecountessrosewithsomeirritation。”Youarethemasterofmyceremonies，”shesaidtodesLupeaulx，——
　　ambiguouswords，bywhichsheexpressedtheannoyanceshefeltwiththesecretaryforpresumingtointerferewithherprivateparties，towhichsheadmittedonlyaselectfew。ShelefttheroomwithoutbowingtoRabourdin，whoremainedalonewithdesLupeaulx；thelatterwastwistinginhisfingerstheconfidentiallettertotheministerwhichRabourdinhadintrustedtoLaBriere。Rabourdinrecognizedit。”Youhaveneverreallyknownme，”saiddesLupeaulx。”Fridayeveningwewillcometoafullunderstanding。JustnowImustgoandreceivecallers；hisExcellencysaddlesmewiththatburdenwhenhehasothermatterstoattendto。ButIrepeat，Rabourdin，don’tworryyourself；
　　youhavenothingtofear。”
　　Rabourdinwalkedslowlythroughthecorridors，amazedandconfoundedbythissingularturnofevents。HehadexpectedDutocqtodenouncehim，andfoundhehadnotbeenmistaken；desLupeaulxhadcertainlyseenthedocumentwhichjudgedhimsoseverely，andyetdesLupeaulxwasfawningonhisjudge！Itwasallincomprehensible。Menofuprightmindsareoftenatalosstounderstandcomplicatedintrigues，andRabourdinwaslostinamazeofconjecturewithoutbeingabletodiscovertheobjectofthegamewhichthesecretarywasplaying。”Eitherhehasnotreadthepartabouthimself，orhelovesmywife。”
　　Suchwerethetwothoughtstowhichhismindarrivedashecrossedthecourtyard；fortheglancehehadinterceptedthenightbeforebetweendesLupeaulxandCelestinecamebacktohismemorylikeaflashoflightning。
　　CHAPTERVI
　　THEWORMSATWORK
　　Rabourdin’sbureauwasduringhisabsenceapreytothekeenestexcitement；fortherelationbetweentheheadofficialsandtheclerksinagovernmentofficeissoregulatedthat，whenaminister’smessengersummonstheheadofabureautohisExcellency’spresenceaboveallatthelatter’sbreakfasthour，thereisnoendtothecommentsthataremade。ThefactthatthepresentunusualsummonsfollowedsocloselyonthedeathofMonsieurdelaBillardiereseemedtogivespecialimportancetothecircumstance，whichwasmadeknowntoMonsieurSaillard，whocameatoncetoconferwithBaudoyer。
　　Bixiou，whohappenedatthemomenttobeatworkwiththelatter，lefthimtoconversewithhisfather-in-lawandbetookhimselftothebureauRabourdin，wheretheusualroutinewasofcourseinterrupted。
　　Bixiou[entering]。”IthoughtIshouldfindyouatawhiteheat！Don’tyouknowwhat’sgoingondownbelow？Thevirtuouswomanisdonefor！
　　yes，donefor，crushed！Terriblesceneattheministry！”
　　Dutocq[lookingfixedlyathim]。”Areyoutellingthetruth？”
　　Bixiou。”Pray，whowouldregretit？Notyou，certainly，foryouwillbemadeunder-head-clerkandduBruelheadofthebureau。MonsieurBaudoyergetsthedivision。”
　　Fleury。”I’llbetahundredfrancsthatBaudoyerwillneverbeheadofthedivision。”
　　Vimeux。”I’lljoininthebet；willyou，MonsieurPoiret？”
　　Poiret。”IretireinJanuary。”
　　Bixiou。”Isitpossible？arewetolosethesightofthoseshoe-ties？
　　Whatwilltheministrybewithoutyou？Willnobodytakeupthebetonmyside？”
　　Dutocq。”Ican’t，forIknowthefacts。MonsieurRabourdinisappointed。MonsieurdelaBillardiererequesteditofthetwoministersonhisdeath-bed，blaminghimselfforhavingtakentheemolumentsofanofficeofwhichRabourdindidallthework；hefeltremorseofconscience，andtheministers，toquiethim，promisedtoappointRabourdinunlesshigherpowersintervened。”
　　Bixiou。”Gentlemen，areyouallagainstme？seventoone，——forIknowwhichsideyou’lltake，MonsieurPhellion。Well，I’llbetadinnercostingfivehundredfrancsattheRocherdeCancalethatRabourdindoesnotgetLaBillardiere’splace。Thatwillcostyouonlyahundredfrancseach，andI’mriskingfivehundred，——fivetooneagainstme！Doyoutakeitup？”[Shoutingintothenextroom。]”DuBruel，whatsayyou？”
　　Phellion[layingdownhispen]。”Monsieur，mayIaskonwhatyoubasethatcontingentproposal？——forcontingentitis。Butstay，Iamwrongtocallitaproposal；Ishouldsaycontract。Awagerconstitutesacontract。”
　　Fleury。”No，no；youcanonlyapplytheword’contract’toagreementsthatarerecognizedintheCode。NowtheCodeallowsofnoactionfortherecoveryofabet。”
　　Dutocq。”Proscribeathingandyourecognizeit。”
　　Bixiou。”Good！mylittleman。”
　　Poiret。”Dearme！”
　　Fleury。”True！whenonerefusestopayone’sdebts，that’srecognizingthem。”
　　Thuillier。”Youwouldmakefamouslawyers。”
　　Poiret。”IamascuriousasMonsieurPhelliontoknowwhatgroundsMonsieurBixiouhasfor——”
　　Bixiou[shoutingacrosstheoffice]。”DuBruel！Willyoubet？”
　　DuBruel[appearingatthedoor]。”Heavensandearth，gentlemen，I’mverybusy；Ihavesomethingverydifficulttodo；I’vegottowriteanobituarynoticeofMonsieurdelaBillardiere。Idobegyoutobequiet；youcanlaughandbetafterwards。”
　　Bixiou。”That’strue，duBruel；thepraiseofanhonestmanisaverydifficultthingtowrite。I’dratheranydaydrawacaricatureofhim。”
　　DuBruel。”Docomeandhelpme，Bixiou。”
　　Bixiou[followinghim]。”I’mwilling；thoughIcandosuchthingsmuchbetterwheneating。”
　　DuBruel。”Well，wewillgoanddinetogetherafterwards。Butlisten，thisiswhatIhavewritten”[reads]”’TheChurchandtheMonarchyaredailylosingmanyofthosewhofoughtfortheminRevolutionarytimes。’”
　　Bixiou。”Bad，verybad；whydon’tyousay，’DeathcarriesonitsravagesamongstthefewsurvivingdefendersofthemonarchyandtheoldandfaithfulservantsoftheKing，whoseheartbleedsunderthesereiteratedblows？’”[DuBruelwritesrapidly。]”’MonsieurleBaronFlametdelaBillardierediedthismorningofdropsy，causedbyheartdisease。’Yousee，itisjustaswelltoshowthereareheartsingovernmentoffices；andyououghttoslipinalittleflummeryabouttheemotionsoftheRoyalistsduringtheTerror，——mightbeuseful，hey！Butstay，——no！thepettypaperswouldbesuretosaytheemotionscamemorefromthestomachthantheheart。Betterleavethatout。Whatareyouwritingnow？”
　　DuBruel[reading]。”’Issuingfromanoldparliamentarystockinwhichdevotiontothethronewashereditary，aswasalsoattachmenttothefaithofourfathers，MonsieurdelaBillardiere——’”
　　Bixiou。”BettersayMonsieurleBarondelaBillardiere。”
　　DuBruel。”Buthewasn’tbaronin1793。”
　　Bixiou。”Nomatter。Don’tyourememberthatundertheEmpireFouchewastellingananecdoteabouttheConvention，inwhichhehadtoquoteRobespierre，andhesaid，’Robespierrecalledouttome，”Ducd’Otrante，gototheHoteldeVille。”’There’saprecedentforyou！”
　　DuBruel。”Letmejustwritethatdown；Icanuseitinavaudeville——
　　Buttogobacktowhatweweresaying。Idon’twanttoput’Monsieurlebaron，’becauseIamreservinghishonorstillthelast，whentheyraineduponhim。”
　　Bixiou。”Oh！verygood；that’stheatrical，——thefinaleofthearticle。”
　　DuBruel[continuing]。”’InappointingMonsieurdelaBillardieregentleman-in-ordinary——’”
　　Bixiou。”Veryordinary！”
　　DuBruel。”’——oftheBedchamber，theKingrewardednotonlytheservicesrenderedbytheProvost，whoknewhowtoharmonizetheseverityofhisfunctionswiththecustomaryurbanityoftheBourbons，butthebraveryoftheVendeanhero，whoneverbentthekneetotheimperialidol。Heleavesason，whoinheritshisloyaltyandhistalents。’”
　　Bixiou。”Don’tyouthinkallthatisalittletooflorid？Ishouldtonedownthepoetry。’Imperialidol！’’benttheknee！’damnit，mydearfellow，writingvaudevilleshasruinedyourstyle；youcan’tcomedowntopedestrialprose。Ishouldsay，’Hebelongedtothesmallnumberofthosewho。’Simplify，simplify！themanhimselfwasasimpleton。”
　　DuBruel。”That’svaudeville，ifyoulike！Youwouldmakeyourfortuneatthetheatre，Bixiou。”
　　Bixiou。”WhathaveyousaidaboutQuiberon？”[ReadsoverduBruel’sshoulder。]”Oh，thatwon’tdo！Here，thisiswhatyoumustsay:’Hetookuponhimself，inabookrecentlypublished，theresponsibilityforalltheblundersoftheexpeditiontoQuiberon，——thusprovingthenatureofhisloyalty，whichdidnotshrinkfromanysacrifice。’
　　That’scleverandwitty，andexaltsLaBillardiere。”
　　DuBruel。”Atwhoseexpense？”
　　Bixiou[solemnasapriestinapulpit]。”Why，HocheandTallien，ofcourse；don’tyoureadhistory？”
　　DuBruel。”No。IsubscribedtotheBaudouinseries，butI’veneverhadtimetoopenavolume；onecan’tfindmatterforvaudevillesthere。”
　　Phellion[atthedoor]。”Weallwanttoknow，MonsieurBixiou，whatmadeyouthinkthattheworthyandhonorableMonsieurRabourdin，whohassolongdonetheworkofthisdivisionforMonsieurdelaBillardiere，——he，whoistheseniorheadofallthebureaus，andwhom，moreover，theministersummonedassoonasheheardofthedepartureofthelateMonsieurdelaBillardiere，——willnotbeappointedheadofthedivision。”
　　Bixiou。”PapaPhellion，youknowgeography？”
　　Phellion[bridlingup]。”Ishouldsayso！”
　　Bixiou。”Andhistory？”
　　Phellion[affectingmodesty]。”Possibly。”
　　Bixiou[lookingfixedlyathim]。”Yourdiamondpinisloose，itiscomingout。Well，youmayknowallthat，butyoudon’tknowthehumanheart；youhavegonenofurtherinthegeographyandhistoryofthatorganthanyouhaveintheenvironsofthecityofParis。”
　　Poiret[toVimeux]。”EnvironsofParis？IthoughttheyweretalkingofMonsieurRabourdin。”
　　Bixiou。”Aboutthatbet？DoestheentirebureauRabourdinbetagainstme？”
　　All。”Yes。”
　　Bixiou。”DuBruel，doyoucountin？”
　　DuBruel。”OfcourseIdo。WewantRabourdintogoupastepandmakeroomforothers。”
　　Bixiou。”Well，Iacceptthebet，——forthisreason；youcanhardlyunderstandit，butI’lltellittoyouallthesame。ItwouldberightandjusttoappointMonsieurRabourdin”[lookingfullatDutocq]，”because，inthatcase，longandfaithfulservice，honor，andtalentwouldberecognized，appreciated，andproperlyrewarded。Suchanappointmentisinthebestinterestsoftheadministration。”
　　[Phellion，Poiret，andThuillierlistenstupidly，withthelookofthosewhotrytopeerbeforetheminthedarkness。]”Well，itisjustbecausethepromotionwouldbesofitting，andbecausethemanhassuchmerit，andbecausethemeasureissoeminentlywiseandequitablethatIbetRabourdinwillnotbeappointed。Yes，you’llsee，thatappointmentwillslipup，justliketheinvasionfromBoulogne，andthemarchtoRussia，forthesuccessofwhichagreatgeniushasgatheredtogetherallthechances。Itwillfailasallgoodandjustthingsdofailinthislowworld。Iamonlybackingthedevil’sgame。”
　　DuBruel。”Whodoyouthinkwillbeappointed？”
　　Bixiou。”ThemoreIthinkaboutBaudoyer，themoresureIfeelthatheunitesalltheoppositequalities；thereforeIthinkhewillbethenextheadofthisdivision。”
　　Dutocq。”ButMonsieurdesLupeaulx，whosentformetoborrowmyCharlet，toldmepositivelythatMonsieurRabourdinwasappointed，andthatthelittleLaBillardierewouldbemadeClerkoftheSeals。”
　　Bixiou。”Appointed，indeed！Theappointmentcan’tbemadeandsignedundertendays。ItwillcertainlynotbeknownbeforeNew-Year’sday。
　　Therehegoesnowacrossthecourtyard；lookathim，andsayifthevirtuousRabourdinlookslikeamaninthesunshineoffavor。Ishouldsayheknowshe’sdismissed。”[Fleuryrushestothewindow。]”Gentlemen，adieu；I’llgoandtellMonsieurBaudoyerthatIhearfromyouthatRabourdinisappointed；itwillmakehimfurious，thepiouscreature！ThenI’lltellhimofourwager，tocoolhimdown，——aprocesswecallatthetheatreturningtheWheelofFortune，don’twe，duBruel？WhydoIcarewhogetstheplace？simplybecauseifBaudoyerdoeshewillmakemeunder-head-clerk”[goesout]。
　　Poiret。”Everybodysaysthatmanisclever，butasforme，Icanneverunderstandawordhesays”[goesoncopying]。”Ilistenandlisten；I
　　hearwords，butInevergetatanymeaning；hetalksabouttheenvironsofPariswhenhediscussesthehumanheartand”[laysdownhispenandgoestothestove]”declareshebacksthedevil’sgamewhenitisaquestionofRussiaandBoulogne；nowwhatistheresocleverinthat，I’dliketoknow？Wemustfirstadmitthatthedevilplaysanygameatall，andthenfindoutwhatgame；possiblydominoes”
　　[blowshisnose]。
　　Fleury[interrupting]。”PerePoiretisblowinghisnose；itmustbeeleveno’clock。”
　　DuBruel。”Soitis！Goodness！I’mofftothesecretary；hewantstoreadtheobituary。”
　　Poiret。”WhatwasIsaying？”
　　Thuillier。”Dominoes，——perhapsthedevilplaysdominoes。”[Sebastienenterstogatherupthedifferentpapersandcircularsforsignature。]
　　Vimeux。”Ah！thereyouare，myfineyoungman。Yourdaysofhardshiparenearlyover；you’llgetapost。MonsieurRabourdinwillbeappointed。Weren’tyouatMadameRabourdin’slastnight？Luckyfellow！
　　theysaythatreallysuperbwomengothere。”
　　Sebastien。”Dothey？Ididn’tknow。”
　　Fleury。”Areyoublind？”
　　Sebastien。”Idon’tliketolookatwhatIoughtnottosee。”
　　Phellion[delighted]。”Wellsaid，youngman！”
　　Vimeux。”Thedevil！well，youlookedatMadameRabourdinenough，anyhow；acharmingwoman。”
　　Fleury。”Pooh！thinasarail。IsawherintheTuileries，andImuchpreferPercilliee，theballet-mistress，Castaing’svictim。”
　　Phellion。”Whathasanactresstodowiththewifeofagovernmentofficial？”
　　Dutocq。”Theybothplaycomedy。”
　　Fleury[lookingaskanceatDutocq]。”Thephysicalhasnothingtodowiththemoral，andifyoumean——”
　　Dutocq。”Imeannothing。”
　　Fleury。”Doyouallwanttoknowwhichofuswillreallybemadeheadofthisbureau？”
　　All。”Yes，tellus。”
　　Fleury。”Colleville。”
　　Thuillier。”Why？”
　　Fleury。”BecauseMadameCollevillehastakentheshortestwaytoit——
　　throughthesacristy。”
　　Thuillier。”IamtoomuchColleville’sfriendnottobegyou，MonsieurFleury，tospeakrespectfullyofhiswife。”
　　Phellion。”Adefencelesswomanshouldneverbemadethesubjectofconversationhere——”
　　Vimeux。”AllthemorebecausethecharmingMadameCollevillewon’tinviteFleurytoherhouse。Hebackbitesherinrevenge。”
　　Fleury。”ShemaynotreceivemeonthesamefootingthatshedoesThuillier，butIgothere——”
　　Thuillier。”When？how？——underherwindows？”
　　ThoughFleurywasdreadedasabullyinalltheoffices，hereceivedThuillier’sspeechinsilence。Thismeekness，whichsurprisedtheotherclerks，wasowingtoacertainnotefortwohundredfrancs，ofdoubtfulvalue，whichThuillieragreedtopassovertohissister。
　　Afterthisskirmishdeadsilenceprevailed。Theyallwrotesteadilyfromonetothreeo’clock。DuBrueldidnotreturn。
　　Abouthalf-pastthreetheusualpreparationsfordeparture，thebrushingofhats，thechangingofcoats，wentoninalltheministerialoffices。Thatpreciousthirtyminutesthusemployedservedtoshortenbyjustsomuchtheday’slabor。Atthishourtheover-
　　heatedroomscooloff；thepeculiarodorthathangsaboutthebureausevaporates；silenceisrestored。Byfouro’clocknonebutafewclerkswhodotheirdutyconscientiouslyremain。Aministermayknowwhoaretherealworkersunderhimifhewilltakethetroubletowalkthroughthedivisionsafterfouro’clock，——aspeciesofprying，however，thatnooneofhisdignitywouldcondescendto。
　　Thevariousheadsofdivisionsandbureaususuallyencounteredeachotherinthecourtyardsatthishourandexchangedopinionsontheeventsoftheday。Onthisoccasiontheydepartedbytwosandthrees，mostofthemagreeinginfavorofRabourdin；whiletheoldstagers，likeMonsieurClergeot，shooktheirheadsandsaid，”Habentsuasideralites。”SaillardandBaudoyerwerepolitelyavoided，fornobodyknewwhattosaytothemaboutLaBillardiere’sdeath，itbeingfullyunderstoodthatBaudoyerwantedtheplace，thoughitwascertainlynotduetohim。
　　WhenSaillardandhisson-in-lawhadgoneacertaindistancefromtheministrytheformerbrokesilenceandsaid:”Thingslookbadlyforyou，mypoorBaudoyer。””Ican’tunderstand，”repliedtheother，”whatElisabethwasdreamingofwhenshesentGodardinsuchahurrytogetapassportforFalleix；
　　Godardtellsmeshehiredapost-chaisebytheadviceofmyuncleMitral，andthatFalleixhasalreadystartedforhisownpartofthecountry。””Somematterconnectedwithourbusiness，”suggestedSaillard。”OurmostpressingbusinessjustnowistolookafterMonsieurLaBillardiere’splace，”returnedBaudoyer，crossly。
　　TheywerejustthenneartheentranceofthePalais-RoyalontherueSaint-Honore。Dutocqcameup，bowing，andjoinedthem。”Monsieur，”hesaidtoBaudoyer，”ifIcanbeusefultoyouinanywayunderthecircumstancesinwhichyoufindyourself，praycommandme，forIamnotlessdevotedtoyourintereststhanMonsieurGodard。””Suchanassuranceisatleastconsoling，”repliedBaudoyer；”itmakesmeawarethatIhavetheconfidenceofhonestmen。””Ifyouwouldkindlyemployyourinfluencetogetmeplacedinyourdivision，takingBixiouasheadofthebureauandmeasunder-head-
　　clerk，youwillsecurethefutureoftwomenwhoarereadytodoanythingforyouradvancement。””Areyoumakingfunofus，monsieur？”askedSaillard，staringathimstupidly。”Farbeitfrommetodothat，”saidDutocq。”Ihavejustcomefromtheprinting-officeoftheministerialjournalwhereIcarriedfromthegeneral-secretaryanobituarynoticeofMonsieurdelaBillardiere，andItherereadanarticlewhichwillappearto-nightaboutyou，whichhasgivenmethehighestopinionofyourcharacterandtalents。IfitisnecessarytocrushRabourdin，I’minapositiontogivehimthefinalblow；pleasetorememberthat。”
　　Dutocqdisappeared。”MayIbeshotifIunderstandasinglewordofit，”saidSaillard，lookingatBaudoyer，whoselittleeyeswereexpressiveofstupidbewilderment。”Imustbuythenewspaperto-night。”
　　Whenthetworeachedhomeandenteredthesalonontheground-floor，theyfoundalargefirelighted，andMadameSaillard，Elisabeth，MonsieurGaudronandthecurateofSaint-Paul’ssittingbyit。ThecurateturnedatoncetoMonsieurBaudoyer，towhomElisabethmadeasignwhichhefailedtounderstand。”Monsieur，”saidthecurate，”Ihavelostnotimeincominginpersontothankyouforthemagnificentgiftwithwhichyouhaveadornedmypoorchurch。Idarednotrunindebttobuythatbeautifulmonstrance，worthyofacathedral。You，whoareoneofourmostpiousandfaithfulparishioners，musthavekeenlyfeltthebarenessofthehighaltar。I
　　amonmywaytoseeMonseigneurthecoadjutor，andhewill，Iamsure，sendyouhisownthankslater。””Ihavedonenothingasyet——”beganBaudoyer。”Monsieurlecure，”interposedhiswife，cuttinghimshort。”IseeI
　　amforcedtobetraythewholesecret。MonsieurBaudoyerhopestocompletethegiftbysendingyouadaisforthecomingFete-Dieu。Butthepurchasemustdependonthestateofourfinances，andourfinancesdependonmyhusband’spromotion。””Godwillrewardthosewhohonorhim，”saidMonsieurGaudron，preparing，withthecurate，totakeleave。”Butwillyounot，”saidSaillardtothetwoecclesiastics，”dousthehonortotakepotluckwithus？””Youcanstay，mydearvicar，”saidthecuratetoGaudron；”youknowI
　　amengagedtodinewiththecurateofSaint-Roch，who，bythebye，istoburyMonsieurdelaBillardiereto-morrow。””MonsieurlecuredeSaint-Rochmightsayawordforus，”beganBaudoyer。Hiswifepulledtheskirtofhiscoatviolently。”Doholdyourtongue，Baudoyer，”shesaid，leadinghimasideandwhisperinginhisear。”Youhavegivenamonstrancetothechurch，thatcostfivethousandfrancs。I’llexplainitalllater。”
　　ThemiserlyBaudoyermakeasulkygrimace，andcontinuedgloomyandcrossfortherestoftheday。”WhatdidyoubusyyourselfaboutFalleix’spassportfor？Whydoyoumeddleinotherpeople’saffairs？”hepresentlyaskedher。”Imustsay，IthinkFalleix’saffairsareasmuchoursashis，”
　　returnedElisabeth，dryly，glancingatherhusbandtomakehimnoticeMonsieurGaudron，beforewhomheoughttobesilent。”Certainly，certainly，”saidoldSaillard，thinkingofhisco-
　　partnership。”Ihopeyoureachedthenewspaperofficeintime？”remarkedElisabethtoMonsieurGaudron，asshehelpedhimtosoup。”Yes，mydearlady，”answeredthevicar；”whentheeditorreadthelittlearticleIgavehim，writtenbythesecretaryoftheGrandAlmoner，hemadenodifficulty。Hetookpainstoinsertitinaconspicuousplace。Ishouldneverhavethoughtofthat；butthisyoungjournalisthasawide-awakemind。Thedefendersofreligioncanenterthelistsagainstimpietywithoutdisadvantageatthepresentmoment，forthereisagreatdealoftalentintheroyalistpress。Ihaveeveryreasontobelievethatsuccesswillcrownyourhopes。Butyoumustremember，mydearBaudoyer，topromoteMonsieurColleville；heisanobjectofgreatinteresttohisEminence；infact，Iamdesiredtomentionhimtoyou。””IfIamheadofthedivision，Iwillmakehimheadofoneofmybureaus，ifyouwantmeto，”saidBaudoyer。
　　Thematterthusreferredtowasexplainedafterdinner，whentheministerialorganboughtandsentupbytheporterprovedtocontainamongitsParisnewsthefollowingarticles，calleditems:——”MonsieurleBarondelaBillardierediedthismorning，afteralongandpainfulillness。Thekinglosesadevotedservant，theChurchamostpiousson。MonsieurdelaBillardiere’sendhasfitlycrownedanoblelife，consecratedindarkandtroublesometimestoperilousmissions，andoflateyearstoarduouscivicduties。MonsieurdelaBillardierewasprovostofadepartment，wherehisforceofcharactertriumphedoveralltheobstaclesthatrebellionarrayedagainsthim。HesubsequentlyacceptedthedifficultpostofdirectorofadivisioninwhichhisgreatacquirementswerenotlessusefulthanthetrulyFrenchaffabilityofhismannersfortheexpresspurposeofconciliatingtheseriousintereststhatariseunderitsadministration。NorewardshaveeverbeenmoretrulydeservedthanthosebywhichtheKing，LouisXVIII。，andhispresentMajestytookpleasureincrowningaloyaltywhichneverfalteredundertheusurper。Thisoldfamilystillsurvivesinthepersonofasingleheirtotheexcellentmanwhosedeathnowafflictssomanywarmfriends。HisMajestyhasalreadygraciouslymadeknownthatMonsieurBenjamindelaBillardierewillbeincludedamongthegentlemen-in-ordinaryoftheBedchamber。”Thenumerousfriendswhohavenotalreadyreceivedtheirnotificationofthissadeventareherebyinformedthatthefuneralwilltakeplaceto-morrowatfouro’clock，inthechurchofSaint-Roch。ThememorialaddresswillbedeliveredbyMonsieurl’AbbeFontanon。”——”MonsieurIsidore-Charles-ThomasBaudoyer，representingoneoftheoldestbourgeoisfamiliesofParis，andheadofabureauinthelateMonsieurdelaBillardiere’sdivision，haslatelyrecalledtheoldtraditionsofpietyanddevotionwhichformerlydistinguishedthesegreatfamilies，sojealousforthehonorandgloryofreligion，andsofaithfulinpreservingitsmonuments。
　　ThechurchofSaint-Paulhaslongneededamonstranceinkeepingwiththemagnificenceofthatbasilica，itselfduetotheCompanyofJesus。Neitherthevestrynorthecuratewererichenoughtodecoratethealtar。MonsieurBaudoyerhasbestowedupontheparishamonstrancethatmanypersonshaveseenandadmiredatMonsieurGohier’s，theking’sjeweller。Thankstothepietyofthisgentleman，whodidnotshrinkfromtheimmensityoftheprice，thechurchofSaint-Paulpossessesto-dayamasterpieceofthejeweller’sartdesignedbyMonsieurdeSommervieux。Itgivesuspleasuretomakeknownthisfact，whichproveshowpowerlessthedeclamationsofliberalshavebeenonthemindoftheParisianbourgeoisie。Theupperranksofthatbodyhaveatalltimesbeenroyalistandtheyproveitwhenoccasionoffers。””Thepricewasfivethousandfrancs，”saidtheAbbeGaudron；”butasthepaymentwasincash，thecourtjewellerreducedtheamount。””RepresentingoneoftheoldestbourgeoisfamiliesinParis！”Saillardwassayingtohimself；”thereitisprinted，——intheofficialpaper，too！””DearMonsieurGaudron，”saidMadameBaudoyer，”pleasehelpmyfathertocomposealittlespeechthathecouldslipintothecountess’searwhenhetakesherthemonthlystipend，——asinglesentencethatwouldcoverall！Imustleaveyou。IamobligedtogooutwithmyuncleMitral。Wouldyoubelieveit？IwasunabletofindmyuncleBidaultathomethisafternoon。Oh，whatadog-kennelhelivesin！ButMonsieurMitral，whoknowshisways，sayshedoesallhisbusinessbetweeneighto’clockinthemorningandmidday，andthatafterthathourhecanbefoundonlyatacertaincafecalledtheCafeThemis，——asingularname。””Isjusticedonethere？”saidtheabbe，laughing。”DoyouaskwhyhegoestoacafeatthecorneroftherueDauphineandthequaidesAugustins？TheysayheplaysdominoesthereeverynightwithhisfriendMonsieurGobseck。Idon’twishtogotosuchaplacealone；myuncleMitralwilltakemethereandbringmeback。”
　　AtthisinstantMitralshowedhisyellowface，surmountedbyawigwhichlookedasthoughitmightbemadeofhay，andmadeasigntohisniecetocomeatonce，andnotkeepacarriagewaitingattwofrancsanhour。MadameBaudoyerroseandwentawaywithoutgivinganyexplanationtoherhusbandorfather。”Heavenhasgivenyouinthatwoman，”saidMonsieurGaudrontoBaudoyerwhenElisabethhaddisappeared，”aperfecttreasureofprudenceandvirtue，amodelofwisdom，aChristianwhogivessuresignsofpossessingtheDivinespirit。Religionaloneisabletoformsuchperfectcharacters。To-morrowIshallsayamassforthesuccessofyourgoodcause。Itisall-important，forthesakeofthemonarchyandofreligionitselfthatyoushouldreceivethisappointment。
　　MonsieurRabourdinisaliberal；hesubscribestothe’JournaldesDebats，’adangerousnewspaper，whichmadewaronMonsieurleComtedeVilleletopleasethewoundedvanityofMonsieurdeChateaubriand。HisEminencewillreadthenewspaperto-night，ifonlytoseewhatissaidofhispoorfriendMonsieurdelaBillardiere；andMonseigneurthecoadjutorwillspeakofyoutotheKing。WhenIthinkofwhatyouhavenowdoneforhisdearchurch，Ifeelsurehewillnotforgetyouinhisprayers；morethanthat，heisdiningatthismomentwiththecoadjutoratthehouseofthecurateofSaint-Roch。”
　　ThesewordsmadeSaillardandBaudoyerbegintoperceivethatElisabethhadnotbeenidleeversinceGodardhadinformedherofMonsieurdelaBillardiere’sdecease。”Isn’tsheclever，thatElisabethofmine？”criedSaillard，comprehendingmoreclearlythanMonsieurl’abbetherapidundermining，likethepathofamole，whichhisdaughterhadundertaken。”ShesentGodardtoRabourdin’sdoortofindoutwhatnewspaperhetakes，”saidGaudron；”andImentionedthenametothesecretaryofhisEminence，——forweliveatacrisiswhentheChurchandThronemustkeepthemselvesinformedastowhoaretheirfriendsandwhotheirenemies。””ForthelastfivedaysIhavebeentryingtofindtherightthingtosaytohisExcellency’swife，”saidSaillard。”AllPariswillreadthat，”criedBaudoyer，whoseeyeswerestillrivetedonthepaper。”Youreulogycostsusfourthousandeighthundredfrancs，son-in-law！”
　　exclaimedMadameSaillard。”YouhaveadornedthehouseofGod，”saidtheAbbeGaudron。”Wemighthavegotsalvationwithoutdoingthat，”shereturned。”ButifBaudoyergetstheplace，whichiswortheightthousandmore，thesacrificeisnotsogreat。Ifhedoesn’tgetit！hey，papa，”sheadded，lookingatherhusband，”howweshallhavebled！——””Well，nevermind，”saidSaillard，enthusiastically，”wecanalwaysmakeitupthroughFalleix，whoisgoingtoextendhisbusinessandusehisbrother，whomhehasmadeastockbrokeronpurpose。Elisabethmighthavetoldus，Ithink，whyFalleixwentoffinsuchahurry。Butlet’sinventmylittlespeech。ThisiswhatIthoughtof:’Madame，ifyouwouldsayawordtohisExcellency——’””’Ifyouwoulddeign，’”saidGaudron；”addtheword’deign，’itismorerespectful。Butyououghttoknow，firstofall，whetherMadamelaDauphinewillgrantyouherprotection，andthenyoucouldsuggesttoMadamelacomtessetheideaofco-operatingwiththewishesofherRoyalHighness。””Yououghttodesignatethevacantpost，”saidBaudoyer。”’Madamelacomtesse，’”beganSaillard，rising，andbowingtohiswife，withanagreeablesmile。”Goodness！Saillard；howridiculousyoulook。Takecare，myman，you’llmakethewomanlaugh。””’Madamelacomtesse，’”resumedSaillard。”Isthatbetter，wife？””Yes，myduck。””’TheplaceoftheworthyMonsieurdelaBillardiereisvacant；myson-in-law，MonsieurBaudoyer——’””’Manoftalentandextremepiety，’”promptedGaudron。”Writeitdown，Baudoyer，”criedoldSaillard，”writethatsentencedown。”
　　Baudoyerproceededtotakeapenandwrote，withoutablush，hisownpraises，preciselyasNathanorCanalismighthavereviewedoneoftheirownbooks。”’Madamelacomtesse’——Don’tyousee，mother？”saidSaillardtohiswife；”Iamsupposingyoutobetheminister’swife。””Doyoutakemeforafool？”sheansweredsharply。”Iknowthat。””’TheplaceofthelateworthydelaBillardiereisvacant；myson-in-
　　law，MonsieurBaudoyer，amanofconsummatetalentandextremepiety——’”AfterlookingatMonsieurGaudron，whowasreflecting，headded，”’willbeverygladifhegetsit。’That’snotbad；it’sbriefanditsaysthewholething。””Butdowait，Saillard；don’tyouseethatMonsieurl’abbeisturningitoverinhismind？”saidMadameSaillard；”don’tdisturbhim。””’Willbeverythankfulifyouwoulddeigntointerestyourselfinhisbehalf，’”resumedGaudron。”’AndinsayingawordtohisExcellencyyouwillparticularlypleaseMadamelaDauphine，bywhomhehasthehonorandthehappinesstobeprotected。’””Ah！MonsieurGaudron，thatsentenceisworthmorethanthemonstrance；Idon’tregretthefourthousandeighthundred——Besides，Baudoyer，mylad，you’llpaythem，won’tyou？Haveyouwrittenitalldown？””Ishallmakeyourepeatit，father，morningandevening，”saidMadameSaillard。”Yes，that’sagoodspeech。Howluckyyouare，MonsieurGaudron，toknowsomuch。That’swhatitistobebroughtupinaseminary；theylearntherehowtospeaktoGodandhissaints。””Heisasgoodasheislearned，”saidBaudoyer，pressingthepriest’shand。”Didyouwritethatarticle？”headded，pointingtothenewspaper。”No，itwaswrittenbythesecretaryofhisEminence，ayoungabbewhoisunderobligationstome，andwhotakesaninterestinMonsieurColleville；hewaseducatedatmyexpense。””Agooddeedisalwaysrewarded，”saidBaudoyer。
　　Whilethesefourpersonagesweresittingdowntotheirgameofboston，ElisabethandheruncleMitralreachedthecafeThemis，withmuchdiscourseastheydrovealongaboutamatterwhichElisabeth’skeenperceptionstoldherwasthemostpowerfulleverthatcouldbeusedtoforcetheminister’shandintheaffairofherhusband’sappointment。
　　UncleMitral，aformersheriff’sofficer，crafty，cleveratsharppractice，andfullofexpedientsandjudicialprecautions，believedthehonorofhisfamilytobeinvolvedintheappointmentofhisnephew。HisavaricehadlongledhimtoestimatethecontentsofoldGigonnet’sstrong-box，forheknewverywelltheywouldgointheendtobenefithisnephewBaudoyer；anditwasthereforeimportantthatthelattershouldobtainapositionwhichwouldbeinkeepingwiththecombinedfortunesoftheSaillardsandtheoldGigonnet，whichwouldfinallydevolveontheBaudoyer’slittledaughter；andwhatanheiressshewouldbewithanincomeofahundredthousandfrancs！towhatsocialpositionmightshenotaspirewiththatfortune？HeadoptedalltheideasofhisnieceElisabethandthoroughlyunderstoodthem。HehadhelpedinsendingoffFalleixexpeditiously，explainingtohimtheadvantageoftakingposthorses。Afterwhich，whileeatinghisdinner，hereflectedthatitbeaswelltogiveatwistofhisowntothecleverplaninventedbyElisabeth。
　　WhentheyreachedtheCafeThemishetoldhisniecethathealonecouldmanageGigonnetinthemattertheybothhadinview，andhemadeherwaitinthehackney-coachandbidehertimetocomeforwardattherightmoment。Elisabethsawthroughthewindow-panesthetwofacesofGobseckandGigonnetheruncleBidault，whichstoodoutinreliefagainsttheyellowwood-workoftheoldcafe，liketwocameoheads，coldandimpassible，intherigidattitudethattheirgravitygavethem。ThetwoParisianmisersweresurroundedbyanumberofotheroldfaces，onwhich”thirtypercentdiscount”waswrittenincircularwrinklesthatstartedfromthenoseandturnedroundtheglacialcheek-bones。TheseremarkablephysiognomiesbrighteneduponseeingMitral，andtheireyesgleamedwithtigerishcuriosity。”Hey，hey！itispapaMitral！”criedoneofthem，namedChaboisseau，alittleoldmanwhodiscountedforapublisher。”Blessme，soitis！”saidanother，abrokernamedMetivier，”ha，that’sanoldmonkeywellupinhistricks。””Andyou，”retortedMitral，”youareanoldcrowwhoknowsallaboutcarcasses。””True，”saidthesternGobseck。”Whatareyouherefor？HaveyoucometoseizefriendMetivier？”askedGigonnet，pointingtothebroker，whohadtheblufffaceofaporter。”Yourgreat-nieceElisabethisoutthere，papaGigonnet，”whisperedMitral。”What！somemisfortune？”saidBidault。Theoldmandrewhiseyebrowstogetherandassumedatenderlooklikethatofanexecutionerwhenabouttogotoworkofficially。InspiteofhisRomanvirtuehemusthavebeentouched，forhisrednoselostsomewhatofitscolor。”Well，supposeitismisfortune，won’tyouhelpSaillard’sdaughter？——
　　agirlwhohasknittedyourstockingsforthelastthirtyyears！”
　　criedMitral。”Ifthere’sgoodsecurityIdon’tsayIwon’t，”repliedGigonnet。”Falleixisinwiththem。Falleixhasjustsetuphisbrotherasabroker，andheisdoingasmuchbusinessastheBrezacs；andwhatwith？hismind，perhaps！Saillardisnosimpleton。””Heknowsthevalueofmoney，”putinChaboisseau。
　　Thatremark，utteredamongthoseoldmen，wouldhavemadeanartistandthinkershudderastheyallnoddedtheirheads。”Butitisnoneofmybusiness，”resumedBidault-Gigonnet。”I’mnotboundtocareformyneighbors’misfortunes。Myprincipleisnevertobeoffmyguardwithfriendsorrelatives；youcan’tperishexceptthroughweakness。ApplytoGobseck；heissofter。”