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where the servant is stationed； is furnished with a stove； a large
black table with inkstand； pens； and paper； and benches； but no mats
on which to wipe the public feet。 The clerk's office beyond is a large
room； tolerably well lighted； but seldom floored with wood。 Wooden
floors and fireplaces are commonly kept sacred to heads of bureaus and
divisions； and so are closets； wardrobes； mahogany tables； sofas and
armchairs covered with red or green morocco； silk curtains； and other
articles of administrative luxury。 The clerk's office contents itself
with a stove； the pipe of which goes into the chimney； if there be a
chimney。 The wall paper is plain and all of one color； usually green
or brown。 The tables are of black wood。 The private characteristics of
the several clerks often crop out in their method of settling
themselves at their desks；the chilly one has a wooden footstool
under his feet； the man with a bilious temperament has a metal mat；
the lymphatic being who dreads draughts constructs a fortification of
boxes on a screen。 The door of the under…head…clerk's office always
stands open so that he may keep an eye to some extent on his
subordinates。
Perhaps an exact description of Monsieur de la Billardiere's division
will suffice to give foreigners and provincials an idea of the
internal manners and customs of a government office； the chief
features of which are probably much the same in the civil service of
all European governments。
In the first place； picture to yourself the man who is thus described
in the Yearly Register：
〃Chief of Division。Monsieur la baron Flamet de la Billardiere
（Athanase…Jean…Francois…Michel） formerly provost…marshal of the
department of the Correze； gentleman in ordinary of the bed…
chamber； president of the college of the department of the
Dordogne； officer of the Legion of honor； knight of Saint Louis
and of the foreign orders of Christ； Isabella； Saint Wladimir；
etc。； member of the Academy of Gers； and other learned bodies；
vice…president of the Society of Belles…lettres； member of the
Association of Saint…Joseph and of the Society of Prisons； one of
the mayors of Paris； etc。〃
The person who requires so much typographic space was at this time
occupying an area five feet six in length by thirty…six inches in
width in a bed； his head adorned with a cotton night…cap tied on by
flame…colored ribbons； attended by Despleins； the King's surgeon； and
young doctor Bianchon； flanked by two old female relatives； surrounded
by phials of all kinds； bandages； appliances； and various mortuary
instruments； and watched over by the curate of Saint…Roch； who was
advising him to think of his salvation。
La Billardiere's division occupied the upper floor of a magnificent
mansion； in which the vast official ocean of a ministry was contained。
A wide landing separated its two bureaus； the doors of which were duly
labelled。 The private offices and antechambers of the heads of the two
bureaus； Monsieur Rabourdin and Monsieur Baudoyer； were below on the
second floor； and beyond that of Monsieur Rabourdin were the
antechamber； salon； and two offices of Monsieur de la Billardiere。
On the first floor； divided in two by an entresol； were the living
rooms and office of Monsieur Ernest de la Briere； an occult and
powerful personage who must be described in a few words； for he well
deserves the parenthesis。 This young man held； during the whole time
that this particular administration lasted； the position of private
secretary to the minister。 His apartment was connected by a secret
door with the private office of his Excellency。 A private secretary is
to the minister himself what des Lupeaulx was to the ministry at
large。 The same difference existed between young La Briere and des
Lupeaulx that there is between an aide…de…camp and a chief of staff。
This ministerial apprentice decamps when his protector leaves office；
returning sometimes when he returns。 If the minister enjoys the royal
favor when he falls； or still has parliamentary hopes； he takes his
secretary with him into retirement only to bring him back on his
return； otherwise he puts him to grass in some of the various
administrative pastures；for instance； in the Court of Exchequer；
that wayside refuge where private secretaries wait for the storm to
blow over。 The young man is not precisely a government official； he is
a political character； however； and sometimes his politics are limited
to those of one man。 When we think of the number of letters it is the
private secretary's fate to open and read； besides all his other
avocations； it is very evident that under a monarchical government his
services would be well paid for。 A drudge of this kind costs ten or
twenty thousand francs a year； and he enjoys； moreover； the opera…
boxes； the social invitations； and the carriages of the minister。 The
Emperor of Russia would be thankful to be able to pay fifty thousand a
year to one of these amiable constitutional poodles； so gentle； so
nicely curled； so caressing； so docile； always spick and span；
careful watch…dogs besides； and faithful to a degree！ But the private
secretary is a product of the representative government hot…house； he
is propagated and developed there； and there only。 Under a monarchy
you will find none but courtiers and vassals； whereas under a
constitutional government you may be flattered； served； and adulated
by free men。 In France ministers are better off than kings or women；
they have some one who thoroughly understands them。 Perhaps； indeed；
the private secretary is to be pitied as much as women and white
paper。 They are nonentities who are made to bear all things。 They are
allowed no talents except hidden ones； which must be employed in the
service of their ministers。 A public show of talent would ruin them。
The private secretary is therefore an intimate friend in the gift of
government However； let us return to the bureaus。
Three men…servants lived in peace in the Billardiere division； to wit：
a footman for the two bureaus； another for the service of the two
chiefs； and a third for the director of the division himself。 All
three were lodged； warmed； and clothed by the State； and wore the
well…known livery of the State； blue coat with red pipings for
undress； and broad red； white； and blue braid for great occasions。 La
Billardiere's man had the air of a gentleman…usher； an innovation
which gave an aspect of dignity to the division。
Pillars of the ministry； experts in all manners and customs
bureaucratic； well…warmed and clothed at the State's expense； growing
rich by reason of their few wants； these lackeys saw completely
through the government officials； collectively and individually。 They
had no better way of amusing their idle hours than by observing these
personages and studying their peculiarities。 They knew how far to
trust the clerks with loans of money； doing their various commissions
w