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with a combination lock。 You can open it with the word 'sky'； put the
memorandum and your copy into it and shut it carefully。〃
This proof of confidence dried the poor fellow's tears。 Rabourdin
advised him to take a cup of tea and some cakes。
〃Mamma forbids me to drink tea； on account of my chest；〃 said
Sebastien。
〃Well； then； my dear child；〃 said the imposing Madame Rabourdin； who
wished to appear gracious； 〃here are some sandwiches and cream； come
and sit by me。〃
She made Sebastien sit down beside her； and the lad's heart rose in
his throat as he felt the robe of this divinity brush the sleeve of
his coat。 Just then the beautiful woman caught sight of Monsieur des
Lupeaulx standing in the doorway。 She smiled； and not waiting till he
came to her； she went to him。
〃Why do you stay there as if you were sulking？〃 she asked。
〃I am not sulking；〃 he returned； 〃I came to announce some good news；
but the thought has overtaken me that it will only add to your
severity towards me。 I fancy myself six months hence almost a stranger
to you。 Yes； you are too clever； and I too experienced；too blase； if
you like；for either of us to deceive the other。 Your end is attained
without its costing you more than a few smiles and gracious words。〃
〃Deceive each other！ what can you mean？〃 she cried； in a hurt tone。
〃Yes； Monsieur de la Billardiere is dying； and from what the minister
told me this evening I judge that your husband will be appointed in
his place。〃
He thereupon related what he called his scene at the ministry and the
jealousy of the countess； repeating her remarks about the invitation
he had asked her to send to Madame Rabourdin。
〃Monsieur des Lupeaulx；〃 said Madame Rabourdin； with dignity； 〃permit
me to tell you that my husband is the oldest head…clerk as well as the
most capable man in the division； also that the appointment of La
Billardiere over his head made much talk in the service； and that my
husband has stayed on for the last year expecting this promotion； for
which he has really no competitor and no rival。〃
〃That is true。〃
〃Well； then；〃 she resumed； smiling and showing her handsome teeth；
〃how can you suppose that the friendship I feel for you is marred by a
thought of self…interest？ Why should you think me capable of that？〃
Des Lupeaulx made a gesture of admiring denial。
〃Ah！〃 she continued； 〃the heart of woman will always remain a secret
for even the cleverest of men。 Yes； I welcomed you to my house with
the greatest pleasure； and there was； I admit； a motive of self…
interest behind my pleasure〃
〃Ah！〃
〃You have a career before you；〃 she whispered in his ear； 〃a future
without limit； you will be deputy； minister！〃 （What happiness for an
ambitious man when such things as these are warbled in his ear by the
sweet voice of a pretty woman！） 〃Oh； yes！ I know you better than you
know yourself。 Rabourdin is a man who could be of immense service to
you in such a career； he could do the steady work while you were in
the Chamber。 Just as you dream of the ministry； so I dream of seeing
Rabourdin in the Council of State； and general director。 It is
therefore my object to draw together two men who can never injure；
but； on the contrary； must greatly help each other。 Isn't that a
woman's mission？ If you are friends； you will both rise the faster；
and it is surely high time that each of you made hay。 I have burned my
ships；〃 she added； smiling。 〃But you are not as frank with me as I
have been with you。〃
〃You would not listen to me if I were；〃 he replied； with a melancholy
air； in spite of the deep inward satisfaction her remarks gave him。
〃What would such future promotions avail me； if you dismiss me now？〃
〃Before I listen to you；〃 she replied； with naive Parisian liveliness；
〃we must be able to understand each other。〃
And she left the old fop to go and speak with Madame de Chessel； a
countess from the provinces； who seemed about to take leave。
〃That is a very extraordinary woman；〃 said des Lupeaulx to himself。 〃I
don't know my own self when I am with her。〃
Accordingly； this man of no principle； who six years earlier had kept
a ballet…girl； and who now； thanks to his position； made himself a
seraglio with the pretty wives of the under…clerks； and lived in the
world of journalists and actresses； became devotedly attentive all the
evening to Celestine； and was the last to leave the house。
〃At last！〃 thought Madame Rabourdin； as she undressed that night； 〃we
have the place！ Twelve thousand francs a year and perquisites； beside
the rents of our farms at Grajeux；nearly twenty thousand francs a
year。 It is not affluence； but at least it isn't poverty。〃
CHAPTER IV
THREE…QUARTER LENGTH PORTRAITS OF CERTAIN GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
If it were possible for literature to use the microscope of the
Leuwenhoeks； the Malpighis； and the Raspails （an attempt once made by
Hoffman； of Berlin）； and if we could magnify and then picture the
teredos navalis； in other words； those ship…worms which brought
Holland within an inch of collapsing by honey…combing her dykes； we
might have been able to give a more distinct idea of Messieurs
Gigonnet； Baudoyer； Saillard； Gaudron； Falleix； Transon； Godard and
company； borers and burrowers； who proved their undermining power in
the thirtieth year of this century。
But now it is time to show another set of teredos； who burrowed and
swarmed in the government offices where the principal scenes of our
present study took place。
In Paris nearly all these government bureaus resemble each other。 Into
whatever ministry you penetrate to ask some slight favor； or to get
redress for a trifling wrong； you will find the same dark corridors；
ill…lighted stairways； doors with oval panes of glass like eyes； as at
the theatre。 In the first room as you enter you will find the office
servant； in the second； the under…clerks； the private office of the
second head…clerk is to the right or left； and further on is that of
the head of the bureau。 As to the important personage called； under
the Empire； head of division； then； under the Restoration； director；
and now by the former name； head or chief of division； he lives either
above or below the offices of his three or four different bureaus。
Speaking in the administrative sense； a bureau consists of a man…
servant； several supernumeraries （who do the work gratis for a certain
number of years）； various copying clerks； writers of bills and deeds；
order clerks； principal clerks； second or under head…clerk； and head…
clerk； otherwise called head or chief of the bureau。 These
denominational titles vary under some administrations； for instance；
the order…clerks are sometimes called auditors； or again； book…
keepers。
Paved like the corridor； and hung with a shabby paper； the first room；
where the servant is stationed； is furnished with a stove； a large
black table