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the imaginary force conferred on it by subordinate powers who
perpetually threatened each other with its evils。 The liberal scandal…
mongers delighted in representing the Grand Almoner and the whole
Jesuitical Chapter as political； administrative； civil； and military
giants。 Fear creates bugbears。 At this crisis Baudoyer firmly believed
in the said Chapter； little aware that the only Jesuits who had put
him where he now was sat by his own fireside； and in the Cafe Themis
playing dominoes。
At certain epochs in history certain powers appear； to whom all evils
are attributed； though at the same time their genius is denied； they
form an efficient argument in the mouth of fools。 Just as Monsieur de
Talleyrand was supposed to hail all events of whatever kind with a bon
mot； so in these days of the Restoration the clerical party had the
credit of doing and undoing everything。 Unfortunately； it did and
undid nothing。 Its influence was not wielded by a Cardinal Richelieu
or a Cardinal Mazarin； it was in the hands of a species of Cardinal de
Fleury； who； timid for over five years； turned bold for one day；
injudiciously bold。 Later on； the 〃Doctrine〃 did more； with impunity；
at Saint…Merri； than Charles X。 pretended to do in July； 1830。 If the
section on the censorship so foolishly introduced into the new charter
had been omitted； journalism also would have had its Saint…Merri。 The
younger Branch could have legally carried out Charles X。's plan。
〃Remain where you are； head of a bureau under Baudoyer；〃 went on des
Lupeaulx。 〃Have the nerve to do this； make yourself a true politician；
put ideas and generous impulses aside； attend only to your functions；
don't say a word to your new director； don't help him with a
suggestion； and do nothing yourself without his order。 In three months
Baudoyer will be out of the ministry； either dismissed； or stranded on
some other administrative shore。 They may attach him to the king's
household。 Twice in my life I have been set aside as you are； and
overwhelmed by an avalanche of folly； I have quietly waited and let it
pass。〃
〃Yes；〃 said Rabourdin； 〃but you were not calumniated； your honor was
not assailed； compromised〃
〃Ha； ha； ha！〃 cried des Lupeaulx； interrupting him with a burst of
Homeric laughter。 〃Why； that's the daily bread of every remarkable man
in this glorious kingdom of France！ And there are but two ways to meet
such calumny；either yield to it； pack up； and go plant cabbages in
the country； or else rise above it； march on； fearless； and don't turn
your head。〃
〃For me； there is but one way of untying the noose which treachery and
the work of spies have fastened round my throat；〃 replied Rabourdin。
〃I must explain the matter at once to his Excellency； and if you are
as sincerely attached to me as you say you are； you will put me face
to face with him to…morrow。〃
〃You mean that you wish to explain to him your plan for the reform of
the service？〃
Rabourdin bowed。
〃Well； then； trust the papers with me；your memoranda； all the
documents。 I promise you that he shall sit up all night and examine
them。〃
〃Let us go to him； then！〃 cried Rabourdin； eagerly； 〃six years' toil
certainly deserves two or three hours attention from the king's
minister； who will be forced to recognize； if he does not applaud；
such perseverance。〃
Compelled by Rabourdin's tenacity to take a straightforward path；
without ambush or angle where his treachery could hide itself； des
Lupeaulx hesitated for a single instant； and looked at Madame
Rabourdin； while he inwardly asked himself； 〃Which shall I permit to
triumph； my hatred for him； or my fancy for her？〃
〃You have no confidence in my honor；〃 he said； after a pause。 〃I see
that you will always be to me the author of your SECRET ANALYSIS。
Adieu； madame。〃
Madame Rabourdin bowed coldly。 Celestine and Xavier returned at once
to their own rooms without a word； both were overcome by their
misfortune。 The wife thought of the dreadful situation in which she
stood toward her husband。 The husband； resolving slowly not to remain
at the ministry but to send in his resignation at once； was lost in a
sea of reflections； the crisis for him meant a total change of life
and the necessity of starting on a new career。 All night he sat before
his fire； taking no notice of Celestine； who came in several times on
tiptoe； in her night…dress。
〃I must go once more to the ministry； to bring away my papers； and
show Baudoyer the routine of the business；〃 he said to himself at
last。 〃I had better write my resignation now。〃
He turned to his table and began to write； thinking over each clause
of the letter； which was as follows：
Monseigneur；I have the honor to inclose to your Excellency my
resignation。 I venture to hope that you still remember hearing me
say that I left my honor in your hands； and that everything； for
me； depended on my being able to give you an immediate
explanation。
This explanation I have vainly sought to give。 To…day it would；
perhaps； be useless； for a fragment of my work relating to the
administration； stolen and misused； has gone the rounds of the
offices and is misinterpreted by hatred； in consequence； I find
myself compelled to resign； under the tacit condemnation of my
superiors。
Your Excellency may have thought； on the morning when I first
sought to speak with you； that my purpose was to ask for my
promotion； when； in fact； I was thinking only of the glory and
usefulness of your ministry and of the public good。 It is all…
important； I think； to correct that impression。
Then followed the usual epistolary formulas。
It was half…past seven in the morning when the man consummated the
sacrifice of his ideas； he burned everything； the toil of years。
Fatigued by the pressure of thought； overcome by mental suffering； he
fell asleep with his head on the back of his armchair。 He was wakened
by a curious sensation； and found his hands covered with his wife's
tears and saw her kneeling before him。 Celestine had read the
resignation。 She could measure the depth of his fall。 They were now to
be reduced to live on four thousand francs a year； and that day she
had counted up her debts；they amounted to something like thirty…two
thousand francs！ The most ignoble of all wretchedness had come upon
them。 And that noble man who had trusted her was ignorant that she had
abused the fortune he had confided to her care。 She was sobbing at his
feet； beautiful as the Magdalen。
〃My cup is full；〃 cried Xavier； in terror。 〃I am dishonored at the
ministry； and dishonored〃
The light of her pure honor flashed from Celestine's eyes； she sprang
up like a startled horse and cast a fulminating glance at Rabourdin。
〃I！ I！〃 she said； on two sublime tones。 〃Am I a base wife？ If I were；
you would have been appointed。 But；〃 she added mournfully； 〃it is
easier to believe that tha