bureaucracy-第19节
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service。 And what do they give you; these pets of Monsieur le marechal
and Monsieur le duc? 'Thank you; my dear Antoine; thank you;' with a
gracious nod! Pack of sluggards! go to work; or you'll bring another
revolution about your ears。 Didn't see such goings…on under Monsieur
Robert Lindet。 I know; for I served my apprenticeship under Robert
Lindet。 The clerks had to work in his day! You ought to have seen how
they scratched paper here till midnight; why; the stoves went out and
nobody noticed it。 It was all because the guillotine was there! now…a…
days they only mark 'em when they come in late!〃
〃Uncle Antoine;〃 said Gabriel; 〃as you are so talkative this morning;
just tell us what you think a clerk really ought to be。〃
〃A government clerk;〃 replied Antoine; gravely; 〃is a man who sits in
a government office and writes。 But there; there; what am I talking
about? Without the clerks; where should we be; I'd like to know? Go
along and look after your stoves and mind you never say harm of a
government clerk; you fellows。 Gabriel; the stove in the large office
draws like the devil; you must turn the damper。〃
Antoine stationed himself at a corner of the landing whence he could
see all the officials as they entered the porte…cochere; he knew every
one at the ministry; and watched their behavior; observing narrowly
the contrasts in their dress and appearance。
The first to arrive after Sebastien was a clerk of deeds in
Rabourdin's office named Phellion; a respectable family…man。 To the
influence of his chief he owed a half…scholarship for each of his two
sons in the College Henri IV。; while his daughter was being educated
gratis at a boarding school where his wife gave music lessons and he
himself a course of history and one of geography in the evenings。 He
was about forty…five years of age; sergeant…major of his company in
the National Guard; very compassionate in feeling and words; but
wholly unable to give away a penny。 Proud of his post; however; and
satisfied with his lot; he applied himself faithfully to serve the
government; believed he was useful to his country; and boasted of his
indifference to politics; knowing none but those of the men in power。
Monsieur Rabourdin pleased him highly whenever he asked him to stay
half an hour longer to finish a piece of work。 On such occasions he
would say; when he reached home; 〃Public affairs detained me; when a
man belongs to the government he is no longer master of himself。〃 He
compiled books of questions and answers on various studies for the use
of young ladies in boarding…schools。 These little 〃solid treatises;〃
as he called them; were sold at the University library under the name
of 〃Historical and Geographic Catechisms。〃 Feeling himself in duty
bound to offer a copy of each volume; bound in red morocco; to
Monsieur Rabourdin; he always came in full dress to present them;
breeches and silk stockings; and shoes with gold buckles。 Monsieur
Phellion received his friends on Thursday evenings; on which occasions
the company played bouillote; at five sous a game; and were regaled
with cakes and beer。 He had never yet dared to invite Monsieur
Rabourdin to honor him with his presence; though he would have
regarded such an event as the most distinguished of his life。 He said
if he could leave one of his sons following in the steps of Monsieur
Rabourdin he should die the happiest father in the world。
One of his greatest pleasures was to explore the environs of Paris;
which he did with a map。 He knew every inch of Arcueil; Bievre;
Fontenay…aux…Roses; and Aulnay; so famous as the resort of great
writers; and hoped in time to know the whole western side of the
country around Paris。 He intended to put his eldest son into a
government office and his second into the Ecole Polytechnique。 He
often said to the elder; 〃When you have the honor to be a government
clerk〃; though he suspected him of a preference for the exact sciences
and did his best to repress it; mentally resolved to abandon the lad
to his own devices if he persisted。 When Rabourdin sent for him to
come down and receive instructions about some particular piece of
work; Phellion gave all his mind to it;listening to every word the
chief said; as a dilettante listens to an air at the Opera。 Silent in
the office; with his feet in the air resting on a wooden desk; and
never moving them; he studied his task conscientiously。 His official
letters were written with the utmost gravity; and transmitted the
commands of the minister in solemn phrases。 Monsieur Phellion's face
was that of a pensive ram; with little color and pitted by the small…
pox; the lips were thick and the lower one pendent; the eyes light…
blue; and his figure above the common height。 Neat and clean as a
master of history and geography in a young ladies' school ought to be;
he wore fine linen; a pleated shirt…frill; a black cashmere waistcoat;
left open and showing a pair of braces embroidered by his daughter; a
diamond in the bosom of his shirt; a black coat; and blue trousers。 In
winter he added a nut…colored box…coat with three capes; and carried a
loaded stick; necessitated; he said; by the profound solitude of the
quarter in which he lived。 He had given up taking snuff; and referred
to this reform as a striking example of the empire a man could
exercise over himself。 Monsieur Phellion came slowly up the stairs;
for he was afraid of asthma; having what he called an 〃adipose chest。〃
He saluted Antoine with dignity。
The next to follow was a copying…clerk; who presented a strange
contrast to the virtuous Phellion。 Vimeux was a young man of twenty…
five; with a salary of fifteen hundred francs; well…made and graceful;
with a romantic face; and eyes; hair; beard; and eyebrows as black as
jet; fine teeth; charming hands; and wearing a moustache so carefully
trimmed that he seemed to have made it the business and occupation of
his life。 Vimeux had such aptitude for work that he despatched it much
quicker than any of the other clerks。 〃He has a gift; that young man!〃
Phellion said of him when he saw him cross his legs and have nothing
to do for the rest of the day; having got through his appointed task;
〃and see what a little dandy he is!〃 Vimeux breakfasted on a roll and
a glass of water; dined for twenty sous at Katcomb's; and lodged in a
furnished room; for which he paid twelve francs a month。 His
happiness; his sole pleasure in life; was dress。 He ruined himself in
miraculous waistcoats; in trousers that were tight; half…tight;
pleated; or embroidered; in superfine boots; well…made coats which
outlined his elegant figure; in bewitching collars; spotless gloves;
and immaculate hats。 A ring with a coat of arms adorned his hand;
outside his glove; from which dangled a handsome cane; with these
accessories he endeavoured to assume the air and manner of a wealthy
young man。 After the office closed he appeared in the great walk of
the Tuileries; with a tooth…pick in his mouth; as though he were a
millionaire who had just dined。 Always on the lookout for a woman;an
Englishwoman; a foreigner of some kind; or a widow;who might fall in
love with him; he practised the art of twirling his cane and of
flinging the sort of glance which Bixiou told him was American。 He
smiled to show his fine teeth; he wore no socks under his boots; but
he had his hair curled every day。 Vimeux was prepared; in accordance
with fixed principles; to marry a hunch…back with six thousand a year;
or a woman of forty…five at eight thousand; or an Englishwoman for
half that sum。 Phellion; who delighted in his neat hand…writing; and
was full of compassion for the fellow; read him lectures on the duty
of giving lessons in penmanship;an honorable career; he said; which
would ameliorate existence and even render it agreeable; he promised
him a situation in a young ladies' boarding…school。 But Vimeux's head
was so full of his own idea that no human being could prevent him from
having faith in his star。 He continued to lay himself out; like a
salmon at a fishmonger's; in spite of his empty stomach and the fact
that he had fruitlessly exhibited his enormous moustache and his fine
clothes for over three years。 As he owed Antoine more than thirty
francs for his breakfasts; he lowered his eyes every time he passed
him; and yet he never failed at midday to ask the man to buy him a
roll。
After trying to get a few reasonable ideas into this foolish head;
Rabourdin had finally given up the attempt as hopeless。 Adolphe (his
family name was Adolphe) had lately economized on dinners and lived
entirely on bread and water; to buy a pair of spurs and a riding…whip。
Jokes at the expense of this starving Amadis were made only in the
spirit of mischievous fun which creates vaudevilles; for he was really
a kind…hearted fellow and a good comrade; who harmed no one but
himself。 A standing joke in the two bureaus was the question whethe