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enough for an office； he cabals in the Chamber。 The wife of another
has a statesman at her feet。 A third is the hidden informant of a
powerful journalist。 Often the disgusted and hopeless supernumerary
sends in his resignation。 About three fourths of his class leave the
government employ without ever obtaining an appointment； and their
number is winnowed down to either those young men who are foolish or
obstinate enough to say to themselves； 〃I have been here three years；
and I must end sooner or later by getting a place；〃 or to those who
are conscious of a vocation for the work。 Undoubtedly the position of
supernumerary in a government office is precisely what the novitiate
is in a religious order；a trial。 It is a rough trial。 The State
discovers how many of them can bear hunger； thirst； and penury without
breaking down； how many can toil without revolting against it； it
learns which temperaments can bear up under the horrible experience
or if you like； the diseaseof government official life。 From this
point of view the apprenticeship of the supernumerary； instead of
being an infamous device of the government to obtain labor gratis；
becomes a useful institution。
The young man with whom Rabourdin was talking was a poor supernumerary
named Sebastien de la Roche； who had picked his way on the points of
his toes； without incurring the least splash upon his boots； from the
rue du Roi…Dore in the Marais。 He talked of his mamma； and dared not
raise his eyes to Madame Rabourdin； whose house appeared to him as
gorgeous as the Louvre。 He was careful to show his gloves； well
cleaned with india…rubber； as little as he could。 His poor mother had
put five francs in his pocket in case it became absolutely necessary
that he should play cards； but she enjoined him to take nothing； to
remain standing； and to be very careful not to knock over a lamp or
the bric…a…brac from an etagere。 His dress was all of the strictest
black。 His fair face； his eyes； of a fine shade of green with golden
reflections； were in keeping with a handsome head of auburn hair。 The
poor lad looked furtively at Madame Rabourdin； whispering to himself；
〃How beautiful！〃 and was likely to dream of that fairy when he went to
bed。
Rabourdin had noted a vocation for his work in the lad； and as he
himself took the whole service seriously； he felt a lively interest in
him。 He guessed the poverty of his mother's home； kept together on a
widow's pension of seven hundred francs a yearfor the education of
the son； who was just out of college； had absorbed all her savings。 He
therefore treated the youth almost paternally； often endeavoured to
get him some fee from the Council； or paid it from his own pocket。 He
overwhelmed Sebastien with work； trained him； and allowed him to do
the work of du Bruel's place； for which that vaudevillist； otherwise
known as Cursy； paid him three hundred francs out of his salary。 In
the minds of Madame de la Roche and her son； Rabourdin was at once a
great man； a tyrant； and an angel。 On him all the poor fellow's hopes
of getting an appointment depended； and the lad's devotion to his
chief was boundless。 He dined once a fortnight in the rue Duphot； but
always at a family dinner； invited by Rabourdin himself； Madame asked
him to evening parties only when she wanted partners。
At that moment Rabourdin was scolding poor Sebastien； the only human
being who was in the secret of his immense labors。 The youth copied
and recopied the famous 〃statement；〃 written on a hundred and fifty
folio sheets； besides the corroborative documents； and the summing up
（contained in one page）； with the estimates bracketed； the captions in
a running hand； and the sub…titles in a round one。 Full of enthusiasm；
in spite of his merely mechanical participation in the great idea； the
lad of twenty would rewrite whole pages for a single blot； and made it
his glory to touch up the writing； regarding it as the element of a
noble undertaking。 Sebastien had that afternoon committed the great
imprudence of carrying into the general office； for the purpose of
copying； a paper which contained the most dangerous facts to make
known prematurely； namely； a memorandum relating to the officials in
the central offices of all ministries； with facts concerning their
fortunes； actual and prospective； together with the individual
enterprises of each outside of his government employment。
All government clerks in Paris who are not endowed； like Rabourdin；
with patriotic ambition or other marked capacity； usually add the
profits of some industry to the salary of their office； in order to
eke out a living。 A number do as Monsieur Saillard did；put their
money into a business carried on by others； and spend their evenings
in keeping the books of their associates。 Many clerks are married to
milliners； licensed tobacco dealers； women who have charge of the
public lotteries or reading…rooms。 Some； like the husband of Madame
Colleville； Celestine's rival； play in the orchestra of a theatre；
others like du Bruel； write vaudeville； comic operas； melodramas； or
act as prompters behind the scenes。 We may mention among them Messrs。
Planard； Sewrin； etc。 Pigault…Lebrun； Piis； Duvicquet； in their day；
were in government employ。 Monsieur Scribe's head…librarian was a
clerk in the Treasury。
Besides such information as this； Rabourdin's memorandum contained an
inquiry into the moral and physical capacities and faculties necessary
in those who were to examine the intelligence； aptitude for labor； and
sound health of the applicants for government service；three
indispensable qualities in men who are to bear the burden of public
affairs and should do their business well and quickly。 But this
careful study； the result of ten years' observation and experience；
and of a long acquaintance with men and things obtained by intercourse
with the various functionaries in the different ministries； would
assuredly have； to those who did not see its purport and connection；
an air of treachery and police espial。 If a single page of these
papers were to fall under the eye of those concerned； Monsieur
Rabourdin was lost。 Sebastien； who admired his chief without
reservation； and who was； as yet； wholly ignorant of the evils of
bureaucracy； had the follies of guilelessness as well as its grace。
Blamed on a former occasion for carrying away these papers； he now
bravely acknowledged his fault to its fullest extent； he related how
he had put away both the memorandum and the copy carefully in a box in
the office where no one would ever find them。 Tears rolled from his
eyes as he realized the greatness of his offence。
〃Come； come！〃 said Rabourdin； kindly。 〃Don't be so imprudent again；
but never mind now。 Go to the office very early tomorrow morning； here
is the key of a small safe which is in my roller secretary； it shuts
with a combination lock。 You can open it with the word 'sky'； put the
memorandum and your copy into it