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Billardiere's division； consequently one of Rabourdin's colleagues。
Baudoyer was married to Elisabeth Saillard； the cashier's only
daughter； and had hired； very naturally； the apartments above those of
his father…in…law。 No one at the ministry had the slightest doubt that
Saillard was a blockhead； but neither had any one ever found out how
far his stupidity could go； it was too compact to be examined； it did
not ring hollow； it absorbed everything and gave nothing out。 Bixiou
（a clerk of whom more anon） caricatured the cashier by drawing a head
in a wig at the top of an egg； and two little legs at the other end；
with this inscription： 〃Born to pay out and take in without
blundering。 A little less luck； and he might have been lackey to the
bank of France； a little more ambition； and he could have been
honorably discharged。〃
At the moment of which we are now writing； the minister was looking at
his cashier very much as we gaze at a window or a cornice； without
supposing that either can hear us； or fathom our secret thoughts。
〃I am all the more anxious that we should settle everything with the
prefect in the quietest way； because des Lupeaulx has designs upon the
place for himself；〃 said the minister； continuing his talk with the
deputy； 〃his paltry little estate is in your arrondissement； we won't
want him as deputy。〃
〃He has neither years nor rentals enough to be eligible；〃 said the
deputy。
〃That may be； but you know how it was decided for Casimir Perier as to
age； and as to worldly possessions； des Lupeaulx does possess
something；not much； it is true； but the law does not take into
account increase； which he may very well obtain； commissions have wide
margins for the deputies of the Centre； you know； and we cannot openly
oppose the good…will that is shown to this dear friend。〃
〃But where would he get the money？〃
〃How did Manuel manage to become the owner of a house in Paris？〃 cried
the minister。
The cashier listened and heard； but reluctantly and against his will。
These rapid remarks； murmured as they were； struck his ear by one of
those acoustic rebounds which are very little studied。 As he heard
these political confidences； however； a keen alarm took possession of
his soul。 He was one of those simple…minded beings； who are shocked at
listening to anything they are not intended to hear； or entering where
they are not invited； and seeming bold when they are really timid；
inquisitive where they are truly discreet。 The cashier accordingly
began to glide along the carpet and edge himself away； so that the
minister saw him at a distance when he first took notice of him。
Saillard was a ministerial henchman absolutely incapable of
indiscretion； even if the minister had known that he had overheard a
secret he had only to whisper 〃motus〃 in his ear to be sure it was
perfectly safe。 The cashier； however； took advantage of an influx of
office…seekers； to slip out and get into his hackney…coach （hired by
the hour for these costly entertainments）； and to return to his home
in the place Royale。
CHAPTER III
THE TEREDOS NAVALIS； OTHERWISE CALLED SHIP…WORM
While old Saillard was driving across Paris his son…in…law； Isidore
Baudoyer； and his daughter； Elisabeth； Baudoyer's wife； were playing a
virtuous game of boston with their confessor； the Abbe Gaudron； in
company with a few neighbors and a certain Martin Falleix； a brass…
founder in the fauborg Saint…Antoine； to whom Saillard had loaned the
necessary money to establish a business。 This Falleix； a respectable
Auvergnat who had come to seek his fortune in Paris with his smelting…
pot on his back； had found immediate employment with the firm of
Brezac； collectors of metals and other relics from all chateaux in the
provinces。 About twenty…seven years of age； and spoiled； like others；
by success； Martin Falleix had had the luck to become the active agent
of Monsieur Saillard； the sleeping…partner in the working out of a
discovery made by Falleix in smelting （patent of invention and gold
medal granted at the exposition of 1825）。 Madame Baudoyer； whose only
daughter was treadingto use an expression of old Saillard'son the
tail of her twelve years； laid claim to Falleix； a thickset； swarthy；
active young fellow； of shrewd principles； whose education she was
superintending。 The said education； according to her ideas； consisted
in teaching him to play boston； to hold his cards properly； and not to
let others see his game； to shave himself regularly before he came to
the house； and to wash his hands with good cleansing soap； not to
swear； to speak her kind of French； to wear boots instead of shoes；
cotton shirts instead of sacking； and to brush up his hair instead of
plastering it flat。 During the preceding week Elisabeth had finally
succeeded in persuading Falleix to give up wearing a pair of enormous
flat earrings resembling hoops。
〃You go too far； Madame Baudoyer；〃 he said； seeing her satisfaction at
the final sacrifice； 〃you order me about too much。 You make me clean
my teeth； which loosens them； presently you will want me to brush my
nails and curl my hair； which won't do at all in our business； we
don't like dandies。〃
Elisabeth Baudoyer； nee Saillard； is one of those persons who escape
portraiture through their utter commonness； yet who ought to be
sketched； because they are specimens of that second…rate Parisian
bourgeoisie which occupies a place above the well…to…do artisan and
below the upper middle classes；a tribe whose virtues are well…nigh
vices； whose defects are never kindly； but whose habits and manners；
dull and insipid though they be； are not without a certain
originality。 Something pinched and puny about Elisabeth Saillard was
painful to the eye。 Her figure； scarcely over four feet in height； was
so thin that the waist measured less than twenty inches。 Her small
features； which clustered close about the nose； gave her face a vague
resemblance to a weasel's snout。 Though she was past thirty years old
she looked scarcely more than sixteen。 Her eyes； of porcelain blue；
overweighted by heavy eyelids which fell nearly straight from the arch
of the eyebrows； had little light in them。 Everything about her
appearance was commonplace： witness her flaxen hair； tending to
whiteness； her flat forehead； from which the light did not reflect；
and her dull complexion； with gray； almost leaden； tones。 The lower
part of the face； more triangular than oval； ended irregularly the
otherwise irregular outline of her face。 Her voice had a rather pretty
range of intonation； from sharp to sweet。 Elisabeth was a perfect
specimen of the second…rate little bourgeoisie who lectures her
husband behind the curtains； obtains no credit for her virtues； is
ambitious without intelligent object； and solely through the
development of her domestic selfishness。 Had she lived in the country
she would have bought up adjacent land； being； as she was； conne