按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Martin； for the reason that I suspect some unknown cause for this
perspiration； which； in that case； might not be perspiration； but；
possibly； the effect of something lately added； or formerly done；
to my hat。〃
Monsieur Tournan at once informed his customer of the presence of a
greasy substance； obtained by the trying…out of the fat of a pig or
sow。 The next day Poiret appeared at the office with another hat； lent
by Monsieur Tournan while a new one was making； but he did not sleep
that night until he had added the following sentence to the preceding
entries in his journal： 〃It is asserted that my hat contained lard；
the fat of a pig。〃
This inexplicable fact occupied the intellect of Poiret junior for the
space of two weeks； and he never knew how the phenomenon was produced。
The clerks told him tales of showers of frogs； and other dog…day
wonders； also the startling fact that an imprint of the head of
Napoleon had been found in the root of a young elm； with other
eccentricities of natural history。 Vimeux informed him that one day
his hathis； Vimeux'shad stained his forehead black； and that hat…
makers were in the habit of using drugs。 After that Poiret paid many
visits to Monsieur Tournan to inquire into his methods of manufacture。
In the Rabourdin bureau was a clerk who played the man of courage and
audacity； professed the opinions of the Left centre； and rebelled
against the tyrannies of Baudoyer as exercised upon what he called the
unhappy slaves of that office。 His name was Fleury。 He boldly
subscribed to an opposition newspaper； wore a gray hat with a broad
brim； red bands on his blue trousers； a blue waistcoat with gilt
buttons； and a surtout coat crossed over the breast like that of a
quartermaster of gendarmerie。 Though unyielding in his opinions； he
continued to be employed in the service； all the while predicting a
fatal end to a government which persisted in upholding religion。 He
openly avowed his sympathy for Napoleon； now that the death of that
great man put an end to the laws enacted against 〃the partisans of the
usurper。〃 Fleury； ex…captain of a regiment of the line under the
Emperor； a tall； dark； handsome fellow； was now； in addition to his
civil…service post； box…keeper at the Cirque…Olympique。 Bixiou never
ventured on tormenting Fleury； for the rough trooper； who was a good
shot and clever at fencing； seemed quite capable of extreme brutality
if provoked。 An ardent subscriber to 〃Victoires et Conquetes；〃 Fleury
nevertheless refused to pay his subscription； though he kept and read
the copies； alleging that they exceeded the number proposed in the
prospectus。 He adored Monsieur Rabourdin； who had saved him from
dismissal； and was even heard to say that if any misfortune happened
to the chief through anybody's fault he would kill that person。 Dutocq
meanly courted Fleury because he feared him。 Fleury； crippled with
debt； played many a trick on his creditors。 Expert in legal matters；
he never signed a promissory note； and had prudently attached his own
salary under the names of fictitious creditors； so that he was able to
draw nearly the whole of it himself。 He played ecarte； was the life of
evening parties； tossed off glasses of champagne without wetting his
lips； and knew all the songs of Beranger by heart。 He was proud of his
full； sonorous voice。 His three great admirations were Napoleon；
Bolivar； and Beranger。 Foy； Lafitte； and Casimir Delavigne he only
esteemed。 Fleury； as you will have guessed already； was a Southerner；
destined； no doubt； to become the responsible editor of a liberal
journal。
Desroys； the mysterious clerk of the division； consorted with no one；
talked little； and hid his private life so carefully that no one knew
where he lived； nor who were his protectors； nor what were his means
of subsistence。 Looking about them for the causes of this reserve；
some of his colleagues thought him a 〃carbonaro；〃 others an Orleanist；
there were others again who doubted whether to call him a spy or a man
of solid merit。 Desroys was； however； simple and solely the son of a
〃Conventionel；〃 who did not vote the king's death。 Cold and prudent by
temperament； he had judged the world and ended by relying on no one
but himself。 Republican in secret； an admirer of Paul…Louis Courier
and a friend of Michael Chrestien； he looked to time and public
intelligence to bring about the triumph of his opinions from end to
end of Europe。 He dreamed of a new Germany and a new Italy。 His heart
swelled with that dull； collective love which we must call
humanitarianism； the eldest son of deceased philanthropy； and which is
to the divine catholic charity what system is to art； or reasoning to
deed。 This conscientious puritan of freedom； this apostle of an
impossible equality； regretted keenly that his poverty forced him to
serve the government； and he made various efforts to find a place
elsewhere。 Tall； lean； lanky； and solemn in appearance； like a man who
expects to be called some day to lay down his life for a cause； he
lived on a page of Volney； studied Saint…Just； and employed himself on
a vindication of Robespierre； whom he regarded as the successor of
Jesus Christ。
The last of the individuals belonging to these bureaus who merits a
sketch here is the little La Billardiere。 Having； to his great
misfortune； lost his mother； and being under the protection of the
minister； safe therefore from the tyrannies of Baudoyer； and received
in all the ministerial salons； he was nevertheless detested by every
one because of his impertinence and conceit。 The two chiefs were
polite to him； but the clerks held him at arm's length and prevented
all companionship by means of the extreme and grotesque politeness
which they bestowed upon him。 A pretty youth of twenty…two； tall and
slender； with the manners of an Englishman； a dandy in dress； curled
and perfumed； gloved and booted in the latest fashion； and twirling an
eyeglass； Benjamin de la Billardiere thought himself a charming fellow
and possessed all the vices of the world with none of its graces。 He
was now looking forward impatiently to the death of his father； that
he might succeed to the title of baron。 His cards were printed 〃le
Chevalier de la Billardiere〃 and on the wall of his office hung； in a
frame； his coat of arms （sable； two swords in saltire； on a chief
azure three mullets argent； with the motto； 〃Toujours fidele〃）。
Possessed with a mania for talking heraldry； he once asked the young
Vicomte de Portenduere why his arms were charged in a certain way； and
drew down upon himself the happy answer； 〃I did not make them。〃 He
talked of his devotion to the monarchy and the attentions the Dauphine
paid him。 He stood very well with des Lupeaulx； whom he thought his
friend； and they often breakfasted together。 Bixiou posed as his
mentor； and hoped to rid the division and France of the young fool by
tempting him to excesses； and openly avowed that intent