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Billardiere's place themselves； whereas； now that I have invited them
here； they will be ashamed to do so and will become our supporters
instead of rivals。 I have rather played the coquette； butit is
delightful that the first nonsense with which one fools a man
sufficed。〃
The day on which a serious and unlooked…for struggle about this
appointment began； after a ministerial dinner which preceded one of
those receptions which ministers regard as public； des Lupeaulx was
standing beside the fireplace near the minister's wife。 While taking
his coffee he once more included Madame Rabourdin among the seven or
eight really superior women in Paris。 Several times already he had
staked Madame Rabourdin very much as Corporal Trim staked his cap。
〃Don't say that too often； my dear friend； or you will injure her；〃
said the minister's wife； half…laughing。
Women never like to hear the praise of other women； they keep silence
themselves to lessen its effect。
〃Poor La Billardiere is dying；〃 remarked his Excellency the minister；
〃that place falls to Rabourdin； one of our most able men； and to whom
our predecessors did not behave well； though one of them actually owed
his position in the prefecture of police under the Empire to a certain
great personage who was interested in Rabourdin。 But； my dear friend；
you are still young enough to be loved by a pretty woman for
yourself〃
〃If La Billardiere's place is given to Rabourdin I may be believed
when I praise the superiority of his wife；〃 replied des Lupeaulx；
piqued by the minister's sarcasm； 〃but if Madame la Comtesse would be
willing to judge for herself〃
〃You want me to invite her to my next ball； don't you？ Your clever
woman will meet a knot of other women who only come here to laugh at
us； and when they hear 'Madame Rabourdin' announced〃
〃But Madame Firmiani is announced at the Foreign Office parties？〃
〃Ah； but she was born a Cadignan！〃 said the newly created count； with
a savage look at his general…secretary； for neither he nor his wife
were noble。
The persons present thought important matters were being talked over；
and the solicitors for favors and appointments kept at a little
distance。 When des Lupeaulx left the room the countess said to her
husband； 〃I think des Lupeaulx is in love。〃
〃For the first time in his life； then；〃 he replied； shrugging his
shoulders； as much as to inform his wife that des Lupeaulx did not
concern himself with such nonsense。
Just then the minister saw a deputy of the Right Centre enter the
room； and he left his wife abruptly to cajole an undecided vote。 But
the deputy； under the blow of a sudden and unexpected disaster； wanted
to make sure of a protector and he had come to announce privately that
in a few days he should be compelled to resign。 Thus forewarned； the
minister would be able to open his batteries for the new election
before those of the opposition。
The minister； or to speak correctly； des Lupeaulx had invited to
dinner on this occasion one of those irremovable officials who； as we
have said； are to be found in every ministry； an individual much
embarrassed by his own person； who； in his desire to maintain a
dignified appearance； was standing erect and rigid on his two legs；
held well together like the Greek hermae。 This functionary waited near
the fireplace to thank the secretary； whose abrupt and unexpected
departure from the room disconcerted him at the moment when he was
about to turn a compliment。 This official was the cashier of the
ministry； the only clerk who did not tremble when the government
changed hands。
At the time of which we write； the Chamber did not meddle shabbily
with the budget； as it does in the deplorable days in which we now
live； it did not contemptibly reduce ministerial emoluments； nor save；
as they say in the kitchen； the candle…ends； on the contrary； it
granted to each minister taking charge of a public department an
indemnity； called an 〃outfit。〃 It costs； alas； as much to enter on the
duties of a minister as to retire from them； indeed； the entrance
involves expenses of all kinds which it is quite impossible to
inventory。 This indemnity amounted to the pretty little sum of twenty…
five thousand francs。 When the appointment of a new minister was
gazetted in the 〃Moniteur；〃 and the greater or lesser officials；
clustering round the stoves or before the fireplaces and shaking in
their shoes； asked themselves： 〃What will he do？ will he increase the
number of clerks？ will he dismiss two to make room for three？〃 the
cashier tranquilly took out twenty…five clean bank…bills and pinned
them together with a satisfied expression on his beadle face。 The next
day he mounted the private staircase and had himself ushered into the
minister's presence by the lackeys； who considered the money and the
keeper of money； the contents and the container； the idea and the
form； as one and the same power。 The cashier caught the ministerial
pair at the dawn of official delight； when the newly appointed
statesman is benign and affable。 To the minister's inquiry as to what
brings him there； he replies with the bank…notes；informing his
Excellency that he hastens to pay him the customary indemnity。
Moreover； he explains the matter to the minister's wife； who never
fails to draw freely upon the fund； and sometimes takes all； for the
〃outfit〃 is looked upon as a household affair。 The cashier then
proceeds to turn a compliment； and to slip in a few politic phrases：
〃If his Excellency would deign to retain him； if； satisfied with his
purely mechanical services； he would；〃 etc。 As a man who brings
twenty…five thousand francs is always a worthy official； the cashier
is sure not to leave without his confirmation to the post from which
he has seen a succession of ministers come and go during a period of；
perhaps； twenty…five years。 His next step is to place himself at the
orders of Madame； he brings the monthly thirteen thousand francs
whenever wanted； he advances or delays the payment as requested； and
thus manages to obtain； as they said in the monasteries； a voice in
the chapter。
Formerly book…keeper at the Treasury； when that establishment kept its
books by double entry； the Sieur Saillard was compensated for the loss
of that position by his appointment as cashier of a ministry。 He was a
bulky； fat man； very strong in the matter of book…keeping； and very
weak in everything else； round as a round O； simple as how…do…you…do；
a man who came to his office with measured steps； like those of an
elephant； and returned with the same measured tread to the place
Royale； where he lived on the ground…floor of an old mansion belonging
to him。 He usually had a companion on the way in the person of
Monsieur Isidore Baudoyer； head of a bureau in Monsieur de la
Billardiere's division； consequently one of Rabourdin's colleagues。
Baudoyer was married to Elisabeth Saillard； the cashier's only
daughter；