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〃I'll make sure of Rabourdin's support by forgiving him now；I'll get
even with him later。 If he hasn't this place for the time being I
should have to give up a woman who is capable of becoming a most
precious instrument in the pursuit of high political fortune。 She
understands everything； shrinks from nothing； from no idea whatever！
and besides； I can't know before his Excellency what new scheme of
administration Rabourdin has invented。 No； my dear des Lupeaulx； the
thing in hand is to win all now for your Celestine。 You may make as
many faces as you please； Madame la comtesse； but you will invite
Madame Rabourdin to your next select party。〃
Des Lupeaulx was one of those men who to satisfy a passion are quite
able to put away revenge in some dark corner of their minds。 His
course was taken； he was resolved to get Rabourdin appointed。
〃I will prove to you； my dear fellow； that I deserve a good place in
your galley；〃 thought he as he seated himself in his study and began
to unfold a newspaper。
He knew so well what the ministerial organ would contain that he
rarely took the trouble to read it； but on this occasion he did open
it to look at the article on La Billardiere； recollecting with
amusement the dilemma in which du Bruel had put him by bringing him
the night before Bixiou's amendments to the obituary。 He was laughing
to himself as he reread the biography of the late Comte da Fontaine；
dead a few months earlier； which he had hastily substituted for that
of La Billardiere； when his eyes were dazzled by the name of Baudoyer。
He read with fury the article which pledged the minister； and then he
rang violently for Dutocq； to send him at once to the editor。 But what
was his astonishment on reading the reply of the opposition paper！ The
situation was evidently serious。 He knew the game； and he saw that the
man who was shuffling his cards for him was a Greek of the first
order。 To dictate in this way through two opposing newspapers in one
evening； and to begin the fight by forestalling the intentions of the
minister was a daring game！ He recognized the pen of a liberal editor；
and resolved to question him that night at the opera。 Dutocq appeared。
〃Read that；〃 said des Lupeaulx； handing him over the two journals； and
continuing to run his eye over others to see if Baudoyer had pulled
any further wires。 〃Go to the office and ask who has dared to thus
compromise the minister。〃
〃It was not Monsieur Baudoyer himself；〃 answered Dutocq； 〃for he never
left the ministry yesterday。 I need not go and inquire； for when I
took your article to the newspaper office I met a young abbe who
brought in a letter from the Grand Almoner； before which you yourself
would have had to bow。〃
〃Dutocq； you have a grudge against Monsieur Rabourdin； and it isn't
right； for he has twice saved you from being turned out。 However； we
are not masters of our own feelings； we sometimes hate our
benefactors。 Only； remember this； if you show the slightest treachery
to Rabourdin； without my permission； it will be your ruin。 As to that
newspaper； let the Grand Almoner subscribe as largely as we do； if he
wants its services。 Here we are at the end of the year； the matter of
subscriptions will come up for discussion； and I shall have something
to say on that head。 As to La Billardiere's place； there is only one
way to settle the matter； and that is to appoint Rabourdin this very
day。〃
〃Gentlemen；〃 said Dutocq； returning to the clerks' office and
addressing his colleagues。 〃I don't know if Bixiou has the art of
looking into futurity； but if you have not read the ministerial
journal I advise you to study the article about Baudoyer； then； as
Monsieur Fleury takes the opposition sheet； you can see the reply。
Monsieur Rabourdin certainly has talent； but a man who in these days
gives a six…thousand…franc monstrance to the Church has a devilish
deal more talent than he。〃
Bixiou ＇entering＇。 〃What say you； gentlemen； to the First Epistle to
the Corinthians in our pious ministerial journal； and the reply
Epistle to the Ministers in the opposition sheet？ How does Monsieur
Rabourdin feel now； du Bruel？〃
Du Bruel ＇rushing in＇。 〃I don't know。〃 ＇He drags Bixiou back into his
cabinet； and says in a low voice＇ 〃My good fellow； your way of helping
people is like that of the hangman who jumps upon a victim's shoulders
to break his neck。 You got me into a scrape with des Lupeaulx； which
my folly in ever trusting you richly deserved。 A fine thing indeed；
that article on La Billardiere。 I sha'n't forget the trick！ Why； the
very first sentence was as good as telling the King he was
superannuated and it was time for him to die。 And as to that Quiberon
bit； it said plainly that the King was a What a fool I was！〃
Bixiou ＇laughing＇。 〃Bless my heart！ are you getting angry？ Can't a
fellow joke any more？〃
Du Bruel。 〃Joke！ joke indeed。 When you want to be made head…clerk
somebody shall joke with you； my dear fellow。〃
Bixiou ＇in a bullying tone＇。 〃Angry； are we？〃
Du Bruel。 〃Yes！〃
Bixiou ＇dryly＇。 〃So much the worse for you。〃
Du Bruel ＇uneasy＇。 〃You wouldn't pardon such a thing yourself； I
know。〃
Bixiou ＇in a wheedling tone＇。 〃To a friend？ indeed I would。〃 ＇They
hear Fleury's voice。＇ 〃There's Fleury cursing Baudoyer。 Hey； how well
the thing has been managed！ Baudoyer will get the appointment。〃
＇Confidentially＇ 〃After all； so much the better。 Du Bruel； just keep
your eye on the consequences。 Rabourdin would be a mean…spirited
creature to stay under Baudoyer； he will send in his registration； and
that will give us two places。 You can be head of the bureau and take
me for under…head…clerk。 We will make vaudevilles together； and I'll
fag at your work in the office。〃
Du Bruel ＇smiling＇。 〃Dear me； I never thought of that。 Poor Rabourdin！
I shall be sorry for him； though。〃
Bixiou。 〃That shows how much you love him！〃 ＇Changing his tone＇ 〃Ah；
well； I don't pity him any longer。 He's rich； his wife gives parties
and doesn't ask me；me； who go everywhere！ Well； good…bye； my dear
fellow； good…bye； and don't owe me a grudge！〃 ＇He goes out through the
clerks' office。＇ 〃Adieu； gentlemen； didn't I tell you yesterday that a
man who has nothing but virtues and talents will always be poor； even
though he has a pretty wife？〃
Henry。 〃You are so rich； you！〃
Bixiou。 〃Not bad； my Cincinnatus！ But you'll give me that dinner at
the Rocher de Cancale。〃
Poiret。 〃It is absolutely impossible for me to understand Monsieur
Bixiou。〃
Phellion ＇with an elegaic air＇。 〃Monsieur Rabourdin so seldom reads
the newspapers that it might perhaps be serviceable to deprive
ourselves momentarily by taking them in to him。〃 ＇Fleury hands over
his paper； Vimeux the office sheet； and Phellion departs with them。＇
At that moment des Lupeaulx； coming leisurely downstairs to breakfast
with the minister； was asking himself whether； before playin