bureaucracy-第41节
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it？ Now when a woman decides to love a man for what she can get out of
him it is better to take a sexagenarian Excellency than a
quadragenarian secretary； there's more profit and less annoyance。 I'm
a man with spectacles； grizzled hair； worn out with dissipation；a
fine lover； truly！ I tell myself all this again and again。 It must be
admitted； of course； that I can sometimes be useful； but never
agreeable。 Isn't that so？ A man must be a fool if he cannot reason
about himself。 You can safely admit the truth and let me see to the
depths of your heart； we are partners； not lovers。 If I show some
tenderness at times； you are too superior a woman to pay any attention
to such follies； you will forgive me；you are not a school…girl； or a
bourgeoise of the rue Saint…Denis。 Bah！ you and I are too well brought
up for that。 There's the Marquise d'Espard who has just left the room；
this is precisely what she thinks and does。 She and I came to an
understanding two years ago ＇the coxcomb！＇； and now she has only to
write me a line and say； 'My dear des Lupeaulx； you will oblige me by
doing such and such a thing；' and it is done at once。 We are engaged
at this very moment in getting a commission of lunacy on her husband。
Ah！ you women； you can get what you want by the bestowal of a few
favors。 Well； then； my dear child； bewitch the minister。 I'll help
you； it is my interest to do so。 Yes； I wish he had a woman who could
influence him； he wouldn't escape me；for he does escape me quite
often； and the reason is that I hold him only through his intellect。
Now if I were one with a pretty woman who was also intimate with him；
I should hold him by his weaknesses； and that is much the firmest
grip。 Therefore； let us be friends； you and I； and share the
advantages of the conquest you are making。〃
Madame Rabourdin listened in amazement to this singular profession of
rascality。 The apparent artlessness of this political swindler
prevented her from suspecting a trick。
〃Do you believe he really thinks of me？〃 she asked； falling into the
trap。
〃I know it； I am certain of it。〃
〃Is it true that Rabourdin's appointment is signed？〃
〃I gave him the papers this morning。 But it is not enough that your
husband should be made director； he must be Master of petitions。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。
〃Well； then； go back to the salon and coquette a little more with his
Excellency。〃
〃It is true；〃 she said； 〃that I never fully understood you till
to…night。 There is nothing commonplace about YOU。〃
〃We will be two old friends；〃 said des Lupeaulx； 〃and suppress all
tender nonsense and tormenting love； we will take things as they did
under the Regency。 Ah！ they had plenty of wit and wisdom in those
days！〃
〃You are really strong； you deserve my admiration；〃 she said； smiling；
and holding out her hand to him； 〃one does more for one's friend； you
know； than for one's〃
She left him without finishing her sentence。
〃Dear creature！〃 thought des Lupeaulx； as he saw her approach the
minister； 〃des Lupeaulx has no longer the slightest remorse in turning
against you。 To…morrow evening when you offer me a cup of tea； you
will be offering me a thing I no longer care for。 All is over。 Ah！
when a man is forty years of age women may take pains to catch him；
but they won't love him。〃
He looked himself over in a mirror； admitting honestly that though he
did very well as a politician he was a wreck on the shores of Cythera。
At the same moment Madame Rabourdin was gathering herself together for
a becoming exit。 She wished to make a last graceful impression on the
minds of all； and she succeeded。 Contrary to the usual custom in
society； every one cried out as soon as she was gone； 〃What a charming
woman！〃 and the minister himself took her to the outer door。
〃I am quite sure you will think of me to…morrow；〃 he said； alluding to
the appointment。
〃There are so few high functionaries who have agreeable wives；〃
remarked his Excellency on re…entering the room； 〃that I am very well
satisfied with our new acquisition。〃
〃Don't you think her a little overpowering？〃 said des Lupeaulx with a
piqued air。
The women present all exchanged expressive glances； the rivalry
between the minister and his secretary amused them and instigated one
of those pretty little comedies which Parisian women play so well。
They excited and led on his Excellency and des Lupeaulx by a series of
comments on Madame Rabourdin： one thought her too studied in manner；
too eager to appear clever； another compared the graces of the middle
classes with the manners of high life； while des Lupeaulx defended his
pretended mistress as we all defend an enemy in society。
〃Do her justice； ladies；〃 he said； 〃is it not extraordinary that the
daughter of an auctioneer should appear as well as she does？ See where
she came from； and what she is。 She will end in the Tuileries； that is
what she intends；she told me so。〃
〃Suppose she is the daughter of an auctioneer；〃 said the Comtesse
Feraud； smiling； 〃that will not hinder her husband's rise to power。〃
〃Not in these days； you mean；〃 said the minister's wife； tightening
her lips。
〃Madame；〃 said his Excellency to the countess； sternly； 〃such
sentiments and such speeches lead to revolutions； unhappily； the court
and the great world do not restrain them。 You would hardly believe；
however； how the injudicious conduct of the aristocracy in this
respect displeases certain clear…sighted personages at the palace。 If
I were a great lord； instead of being； as I am； a mere country
gentleman who seems to be placed where he is to transact your business
for you； the monarchy would not be as insecure as I now think it is。
What becomes of a throne which does not bestow dignity on those who
administer its government？ We are far indeed from the days when a king
could make men great at will；such men as Louvois； Colbert；
Richelieu； Jeannin； Villeroy； Sully；Sully； in his origin； was no
greater than I。 I speak to you thus because we are here in private
among ourselves。 I should be very paltry indeed if I were personally
offended by such speeches。 After all； it is for us and not for others
to make us great。〃
〃You are appointed； dear；〃 cried Celestine； pressing her husband's
hand as they drove away。 〃If it had not been for des Lupeaulx I should
have explained your scheme to his Excellency。 But I will do it next
Tuesday； and it will help the further matter of making you Master of
petitions。〃
In the life of every woman there comes a day when she shines in all
her glory； a day which gives her an unfading recollection to which she
recurs with happiness all her life。 As Madame Rabourdin took off one
by one the ornaments of her apparel； she thought over the events of
this evening； and marked the day among the triumphs and glories of her
life；all her beauties had been seen and envied； she had been praised
and flattered by the minister's wife； delighted thus to make the other
women jealous of her； but； above all； her grace and vanities had shone
to the profit of conjugal love。 Her husband was appointed。
〃Did you think I looked well to…night？〃 she said to him； joyously。
At the same instant Mitral； waiting at the Cafe Themis； saw the two
usurers returning； but was unable to perceive the slightest
indications of the result on their impassible faces。
〃What of it？〃 he said； when they were all seated at table。
〃Same as ever；〃 replied Gigonnet； rubbing his hands； 〃victory with
gold。〃
〃True；〃 said Gobseck。
Mitral took a cabriolet and went straight to the Saillards and
Baudoyers； who were still playing boston at a late hour。 No one was
present but the Abbe Gaudron。 Falleix； half…dead with the fatigue of
his journey； had gone to bed。
〃You will be appointed； nephew；〃 said Mitral； 〃and there's a surprise
in store for you。〃
〃What is it？〃 asked Saillard。
〃The cross of the Legion of honor？〃 cried Mitral。
〃God protects those who guard his altars；〃 said Gaudron。
Thus the Te Deum was sung with equal joy and confidence in both camps。
CHAPTER VIII
FORWARD； MOLLUSKS！
The next day； Wednesday； Monsieur Rabourdin was to transact business
with the minister； for he had filled the late La Billardiere's place
since the beginning of the latter's illness。 On such days the clerks
came punctually； the servants were specially attentive； there was
always a certain excitement in the offices on these signing…days；and
why； nobody ever knew。 On this occasion the three servants were at
their post； flattering themselves they should get a few fees； for a
rumor of Rabourdin's nomination had spread through the ministry the
night before； thanks to Dutocq。 Uncle Antoine and Laurent had donned
their full uniform； when； at a quarter to eight； des Lupeaulx's
servant came in with a letter； which he begged Antoine to give
secre
