bureaucracy-第44节
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which； as yet； we know nothing。 I shall continue to be his friend for
the sake of watching him； by that means I may render the government
such signal service that they will have to make me count； for the
peerage is the only thing I really care for。 I want you fully to
understand that I am not seeking office or anything else that would
cause me to stand in your way； I am simply aiming for the peerage；
which will enable me to marry a banker's daughter with an income of a
couple of hundred thousand francs。 And so； allow me to render you a
few signal services which will make the King feel that I have saved
the throne。 I have long said that Liberalism would never offer us a
pitched battle。 It has given up conspiracies； Carbonaroism； and
revolts with weapons； it is now sapping and mining； and the day is
coming when it will be able to say； 'Out of that and let me in！' Do
you think I have been courting Rabourdin's wife for my own pleasure？
No； but I got much information from her。 So now； let us agree on two
things； first； the postponement of the appointment； second； your
SINCERE support of my election。 You shall find at the end of the
session that I have amply repaid you。〃
For all answer； the minister took the appointment papers and placed
them in des Lupeaulx's hand。
〃I will go and tell Rabourdin；〃 added des Lupeaulx； 〃that you cannot
transact business with him till Saturday。〃
The minister replied with an assenting gesture。 The secretary
despatched his man with a message to Rabourdin that the minister could
not work with him until Saturday； on which day the Chamber was
occupied with private bills； and his Excellency had more time at his
disposal。
Just at this moment Saillard； having brought the monthly stipend； was
slipping his little speech into the ear of the minister's wife； who
drew herself up and answered with dignity that she did not meddle in
political matters； and besides； she had heard that Monsieur Rabourdin
was already appointed。 Saillard； terrified； rushed up to Baudoyer's
office； where he found Dutocq； Godard； and Bixiou in a state of
exasperation difficult to describe； for they were reading the terrible
paper on the administration in which they were all discussed。
Bixiou ＇with his finger on a paragraph＇。 〃Here YOU are； pere Saillard。
Listen〃 ＇reads＇：
〃Saillard。The office of cashier to be suppressed in all the
ministries； their accounts to be kept in future at the Treasury。
Saillard is rich and does not need a pension。
〃Do you want to hear about your son…in…law？〃 ＇Turns over the leaves。＇
〃Here he is〃 ＇reads＇：
〃Baudoyer。Utterly incapable。 To be thanked and dismissed。 Rich； does
not need a pension。
〃And here's for Godard〃 ＇reads＇：
〃Godard。Should be dismissed； pension one…third of his present
salary。
〃In short； here we all are。 Listen to what I am〃 ＇reads＇： 〃An artist
who might be employed by the civil list； at the Opera； or the Menus…
Plaisirs； or the Museum。 Great deal of capacity； little self…respect；
no application；a restless spirit。 Ha！ I'll give you a touch of the
artist； Monsieur Rabourdin！〃
Saillard。 〃Suppress cashiers！ Why； the man's a monster？〃
Bixiou。 〃Let us see what he says of our mysterious Desroys。〃 ＇Turns
over the pages； reads。＇
〃Desroys。Dangerous； because he cannot be shaken in principles that
are subversive of monarchial power。 He is the son of the Conventionel；
and he admires the Convention。 He may become a very mischievous
journalist。〃
Baudoyer。 〃The police are not worse spies！〃
Godard。 〃I shall go the general…secretary and lay a complaint in form；
we must all resign in a body if such a man as that is put over us。〃
Dutocq。 〃Gentlemen； listen to me； let us be prudent。 If you rise at
once in a body； we may all be accused of rancor and revenge。 No； let
the thing work； let the rumor spread quietly。 When the whole ministry
is aroused your remonstrances will meet with general approval。〃
Bixiou。 〃Dutocq believes in the principles of the grand air composed
by the sublime Rossini for Basilio；which goes to show； by the bye；
that the great composer was also a great politician。 I shall leave my
card on Monsieur Rabourdin to…morrow morning； inscribed thus： 'Bixiou；
no self…respect； no application； restless mind。'〃
Godard。 〃A good idea； gentlemen。 Let us all leave our cards to…morrow
on Rabourdin inscribed in the same way。〃
Dutocq ＇leading Bixiou apart＇。 〃Come； you'll agree to make that
caricature now； won't you？〃
Bixiou。 〃I see plainly； my dear fellow； that you knew all about this
affair ten days ago〃 ＇looks him in the eye＇。 〃Am I to be under…head…
clerk？〃
Dutocq。 〃On my word of honor； yes； and a thousand…franc fee beside；
just as I told you。 You don't know what a service you'll be rendering
to powerful personages。〃
Bixiou。 〃You know them？〃
Dutocq。 〃Yes。〃
Bixiou。 〃Well； then I want to speak with them。〃
Dutocq ＇dryly＇。 〃You can make the caricature or not； and you can be
under…head…clerk or not；as you please。〃
Bixiou。 〃At any rate； let me see that thousand francs。〃
Dutocq。 〃You shall have them when you bring the drawing。〃
Bixiou。 〃Forward； march！ that lampoon shall go from end to end of the
bureaus to…morrow morning。 Let us go and torment the Rabourdins。〃
＇Then speaking to Saillard； Godard； and Baudoyer； who were talking
together in a low voice。＇ 〃We are going to stir up the neighbors。〃
＇Goes with Dutocq into the Rabourdin bureau。 Fleury； Thuillier； and
Vimeux are there； talking excitedly。＇ 〃What's the matter； gentlemen？
All that I told you turns out to be true； you can go and see for
yourselves the work of this infamous informer； for it is in the hands
of the virtuous； honest； estimable； upright； and pious Baudoyer； who
is indeed utterly incapable of doing any such thing。 Your chief has
got every one of you under the guillotine。 Go and see； follow the
crowd； money returned if you are not satisfied； execution GRATIS！ The
appointments are postponed。 All the bureaus are in arms； Rabourdin has
been informed that the minister will not work with him。 Come； be off；
go and see for yourselves。〃
They all depart except Phellion and Poiret； who are left alone。 The
former loved Rabourdin too well to look for proof that might injure a
man he was determined not to judge； the other had only five days more
to remain in the office； and cared nothing either way。 Just then
Sebastien came down to collect the papers for signature。 He was a good
deal surprised； though he did not show it； to find the office
deserted。
Phellion。 〃My young friend〃 ＇he rose； a rare thing＇； 〃do you know what
is going on？ what scandals are rife about Monsieur Rabourdin whom you
love； and〃 ＇bending to whisper in Sebastien's ear＇ 〃whom I love as
much as I respect him。 They say he has committed the imprudence to
leave a paper containing comments on the officials lying about in the
office〃 ＇Phellion stopped short； caught the young man in his strong
arms； seeing that he turned pale and was near fainting； and placed him
on a chair。＇ 〃A key； Monsieur Poiret； to put down his back； have you a
key？〃
Poiret。 〃I have the key of my domicile。〃
＇Old Poiret junior promptly inserted the said key between Sebastien's
shoulders； while Phellion gave him some water to drink。 The poor lad
no sooner opened his eyes than he began to weep。 He laid his head on
Phellion's desk； and all his limbs were limp as if struck by
lightning； while his sobs were so heartrending； so genuine； that for
the first time in his life Poiret's feelings were stirred by the
sufferings of another。＇
Phellion ＇speaking firmly＇。 〃Come； come； my young friend； courage！ In
times of trial we must show courage。 You are a man。 What is the
matter？ What has happened to distress you so terribly？〃
Sebastien ＇sobbing＇。 〃It is I who have ruined Monsieur Rabourdin。 I
left that paper lying about when I copied it。 I have killed my
benefactor； I shall die myself。 Such a noble man！a man who ought to
be minister！〃
Poiret ＇blowing his nose＇。 〃Then it is true he wrote the report。〃
Sebastien ＇still sobbing＇。 〃But it was tothere； I was going to tell
his secrets！ Ah！ that wretch of a Dutocq； it was he who stole the
paper。〃
His tears and sobs recommenced and made so much noise that Rabourdin
came up to see what was the matter。 He found the young fellow almost
fainting in the arms of Poiret and Phellion。
Rabourdin。 〃What is the matter； gentlemen？〃
Sebastien ＇struggling to his feet； and then falling on his knees
before Rabourdin＇。 〃I have ruined you； monsieur。 That memorandum；
Dutocq； the monster； he must have taken it。〃
Rabourdin ＇calmly＇。 〃I knew that already〃 ＇he lifts Sebastien＇。 〃You
are a child； my young friend。〃 ＇Speaks to Phellion。＇ 〃Where are the
other gentlemen？〃
Phellion。 〃They have gone into Monsieur Baudoyer's office to see a
paper whic
