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tempting him to excesses； and openly avowed that intention。
Such were the principal figures of La Billardiere's division of the
ministry； where also were other clerks of less account； who resembled
more or less those that are represented here。 It is difficult even for
an observer to decide from the aspect of these strange personalities
whether the goose…quill tribe were becoming idiots from the effects of
their employment or whether they entered the service because they were
natural born fools。 Possibly the making of them lies at the door of
Nature and of the government both。 Nature； to a civil…service clerk
is； in fact； the sphere of the office； his horizon is bounded on all
sides by green boxes； to him； atmospheric changes are the air of the
corridors； the masculine exhalations contained in rooms without
ventilators； the odor of paper； pens； and ink； the soil he treads is a
tiled pavement or a wooden floor； strewn with a curious litter and
moistened by the attendant's watering…pot； his sky is the ceiling
toward which he yawns； his element is dust。 Several distinguished
doctors have remonstrated against the influence of this second nature；
both savage and civilized； on the moral being vegetating in those
dreadful pens called bureaus； where the sun seldom penetrates； where
thoughts are tied down to occupations like that of horses who turn a
crank and who； poor beasts； yawn distressingly and die quickly。
Rabourdin was； therefore； fully justified in seeking to reform their
present condition； by lessening their numbers and giving to each a
larger salary and far heavier work。 Men are neither wearied nor bored
when doing great things。 Under the present system government loses
fully four hours out of the nine which the clerks owe to the service；
hours wasted； as we shall see； in conversations； in gossip； in
disputes； and； above all； in underhand intriguing。 The reader must
have haunted the bureaus of the ministerial departments before he can
realize how much their petty and belittling life resembles that of
seminaries。 Wherever men live collectively this likeness is obvious；
in regiments； in law…courts； you will find the elements of the school
on a smaller or larger scale。 The government clerks； forced to be
together for nine hours of the day； looked upon their office as a sort
of class…room where they had tasks to perform； where the head of the
bureau was no other than a schoolmaster； and where the gratuities
bestowed took the place of prizes given out to proteges；a place；
moreover； where they teased and hated each other； and yet felt a
certain comradeship； colder than that of a regiment； which itself is
less hearty than that of seminaries。 As a man advances in life he
grows more selfish； egoism develops； and relaxes all the secondary
bonds of affection。 A government office is； in short； a microcosm of
society； with its oddities and hatreds； its envy and its cupidity； its
determination to push on； no matter who goes under； its frivolous
gossip which gives so many wounds； and its perpetual spying。
CHAPTER V
THE MACHINE IN MOTION
At this moment the division of Monsieur de la Billardiere was in a
state of unusual excitement； resulting very naturally from the event
which was about to happen； for heads of divisions do not die every
day； and there is no insurance office where the chances of life and
death are calculated with more sagacity than in a government bureau。
Self…interest stifles all compassion； as it does in children； but the
government service adds hypocrisy to boot。
The clerks of the bureau Baudoyer arrived at eight o'clock in the
morning； whereas those of the bureau Rabourdin seldom appeared till
nine；a circumstance which did not prevent the work in the latter
office from being more rapidly dispatched than that of the former。
Dutocq had important reasons for coming early on this particular
morning。 The previous evening he had furtively entered the study where
Sebastien was at work； and had seen him copying some papers for
Rabourdin； he concealed himself until he saw Sebastien leave the
premises without taking any papers away with him。 Certain； therefore；
of finding the rather voluminous memorandum which he had seen；
together with its copy； in some corner of the study； he searched
through the boxes one after another until he finally came upon the
fatal list。 He carried it in hot haste to an autograph…printing house；
where he obtained two pressed copies of the memorandum； showing； of
course； Rabourdin's own writing。 Anxious not to arouse suspicion； he
had gone very early to the office and replaced both the memorandum and
Sebastien's copy in the box from which he had taken them。 Sebastien；
who was kept up till after midnight at Madame Rabourdin's party； was；
in spite of his desire to get to the office early； preceded by the
spirit of hatred。 Hatred lived in the rue Saint…Louis…Saint…Honore；
whereas love and devotion lived far…off in the rue du Roi…Dore in the
Marais。 This slight delay was destined to affect Rabourdin's whole
career。
Sebastien opened his box eagerly； found the memorandum and his own
unfinished copy all in order； and locked them at once into the desk as
Rabourdin had directed。 The mornings are dark in these offices towards
the end of December； sometimes indeed the lamps are lit till after ten
o'clock； consequently Sebastien did not happen to notice the pressure
of the copying…machine upon the paper。 But when； about half…past nine
o'clock； Rabourdin looked at his memorandum he saw at once the effects
of the copying process； and all the more readily because he was then
considering whether these autographic presses could not be made to do
the work of copying clerks。
〃Did any one get to the office before you？〃 he asked。
〃Yes；〃 replied Sebastien；〃Monsieur Dutocq。〃
〃Ah！ well； he was punctual。 Send Antoine to me。〃
Too noble to distress Sebastien uselessly by blaming him for a
misfortune now beyond remedy； Rabourdin said no more。 Antoine came。
Rabourdin asked if any clerk had remained at the office after four
o'clock the previous evening。 The man replied that Monsieur Dutocq had
worked there later than Monsieur de la Roche； who was usually the last
to leave。 Rabourdin dismissed him with a nod； and resumed the thread
of his reflections。
〃Twice I have prevented his dismissal；〃 he said to himself； 〃and this
is my reward。〃
This morning was to Rabourdin like the solemn hour in which great
commanders decide upon a battle and weigh all chances。 Knowing the
spirit of official life better than any one； he well knew that it
would never pardon； any more than a school or the galleys or the army
pardon； what looked like espionage or tale…bearing。 A man capable of
informing against his comrades is disgraced； dishonored； despised； the
ministers in such a case would disavow their own agents。 Nothing was
left to an official so placed but to send in his resignation and leav