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you would have been appointed。 But；〃 she added mournfully； 〃it is
easier to believe that than to believe what is the truth。〃
〃Then what is it？〃 said Rabourdin。
〃All in three words；〃 she said； 〃I owe thirty thousand francs。〃
Rabourdin caught his wife to his heart with a gesture of almost
frantic joy； and seated her on his knee。
〃Take comfort； dear；〃 he said； in a tone of voice so adorably kind
that the bitterness of her grief was changed to something
inexpressibly tender。 〃I too have made mistakes； I have worked
uselessly for my country when I thought I was being useful to her。 But
now I mean to take another path。 If I had sold groceries we should now
be millionaires。 Well； let us be grocers。 You are only twenty…eight；
dear angel； in ten years you shall recover the luxury that you love；
which we must needs renounce for a short time。 I； too； dear heart； am
not a base or common husband。 We will sell our farm； its value has
increased of late。 That and the sale of our furniture will pay my
debts。
MY debts！ Celestine embraced her husband a thousand times in the
single kiss with which she thanked him for that generous word。
〃We shall still have a hundred thousand francs to put into business。
Before the month is out I shall find some favorable opening。 If luck
gave a Martin Falleix to a Saillard； why should we despair？ Wait
breakfast for me。 I am going now to the ministry； but I shall come
back with my neck free of the yoke。〃
Celestine clasped her husband in her arms with a force men do not
possess； even in their passionate moments； for women are stronger
through emotion than men through power。 She wept and laughed and
sobbed in turns。
When Rabourdin left the house at eight o'clock； the porter gave him
the satirical cards suggested by Bixiou。 Nevertheless； he went to the
ministry； where he found Sebastien waiting near the door to entreat
him not to enter any of the bureaus； because an infamous caricature of
him was making the round of the offices。
〃If you wish to soften the pain of my downfall；〃 he said to the lad；
〃bring me that drawing； I am now taking my resignation to Ernest de la
Briere myself； that it may not be altered or distorted while passing
through the routine channels。 I have my own reasons for wishing to see
that caricature。〃
When Rabourdin came back to the courtyard； after making sure that his
letter would go straight into the minister's hands； he found Sebastien
in tears； with a copy of the lithograph； which the lad reluctantly
handed over to him。
〃It is very clever；〃 said Rabourdin； showing a serene brow to his
companion； though the crown of thorns was on it all the same。
He entered the bureaus with a calm air； and went at once into
Baudoyer's section to ask him to come to the office of the head of the
division and receive instructions as to the business which that
incapable being was henceforth to direct。
〃Tell Monsieur Baudoyer that there must be no delay；〃 he added； in the
hearing of all the clerks； 〃my resignation is already in the
minister's hands； and I do not wish to stay here longer than is
necessary。〃
Seeing Bixiou； Rabourdin went straight up to him； showed him the
lithograph； and said； to the great astonishment of all present；
〃Was I not right in saying you were an artist？ Still； it is a pity you
directed the point of your pencil against a man who cannot be judged
in this way； nor indeed by the bureaus at all；but everything is
laughed at in France； even God。〃
Then he took Baudoyer into the office of the late La Billardiere。 At
the door he found Phellion and Sebastien； the only two who； under his
great disaster； dared to remain openly faithful to the fallen man。
Rabourdin noticed that Phellion's eyes were moist； and he could not
refrain from wringing his hand。
〃Monsieur；〃 said the good man； 〃if we can serve you in any way； make
use of us。〃
Monsieur Rabourdin shut himself up in the late chief's office with
Monsieur Baudoyer； and Phellion helped him to show the new incumbent
all the administrative difficulties of his new position。 At each
separate affair which Rabourdin carefully explained； Baudoyer's little
eyes grew big as saucers。
〃Farewell； monsieur；〃 said Rabourdin at last； with a manner that was
half…solemn； half…satirical。
Sebastien meanwhile had made up a package of papers and letters
belonging to his chief and had carried them away in a hackney coach。
Rabourdin passed through the grand courtyard； while all the clerks
were watching from the windows； and waited there a moment to see if
the minister would send him any message。 His Excellency was dumb。
Phellion courageously escorted the fallen man to his home； expressing
his feelings of respectful admiration； then he returned to the office；
and took up his work； satisfied with his own conduct in rendering
these funeral honors to the neglected and misjudged administrative
talent。
Bixiou ＇seeing Phellion re…enter＇。 〃Victrix cause diis placuit； sed
victa Catoni。〃
Phellion。 〃Yes； monsieur。〃
Poiret。 〃What does that mean？〃
Fleury。 〃That priests rejoice； and Monsieur Rabourdin has the respect
of men of honor。〃
Dutocq ＇annoyed＇。 〃You didn't say that yesterday。〃
Fleury。 〃If you address me you'll have my hand in your face。 It is
known for certain that you filched those papers from Monsieur
Rabourdin。〃 ＇Dutocq leaves the office。＇ 〃Oh； yes； go and complain to
your Monsieur des Lupeaulx； spy！〃
Bixiou ＇laughing and grimacing like a monkey＇。 〃I am curious to know
how the division will get along。 Monsieur Rabourdin is so remarkable a
man that he must have had some special views in that work of his。
Well； the minister loses a fine mind。〃 ＇Rubs his hands。＇
Laurent ＇entering＇。 〃Monsieur Fleury is requested to go to the
secretary's office。〃
All the clerks。 〃Done for！〃
Fleury ＇leaving the room＇。 〃I don't care； I am offered a place as
responsible editor。 I shall have all my time to myself to lounge the
streets or do amusing work in a newspaper office。〃
Bixiou。 〃Dutocq has already made them cut off the head of that poor
Desroys。〃
Colleville ＇entering joyously＇。 〃Gentlemen； I am appointed head of
this bureau。〃
Thuillier。 〃Ah； my friend； if it were I myself； I couldn't be better
pleased。〃
Bixiou。 〃His wife has managed it。〃 ＇Laughter。＇
Poiret。 〃Will any one tell me the meaning of all that is happening
here to…day？〃
Bixiou。 〃Do you really want to know？ Then listen。 The antechamber of
the administration is henceforth a chamber； the court is a boudoir；
the best way to get in is through the cellar； and the bed is more than
ever a cross…cut。〃
Poiret。 〃Monsieur Bixiou； may I entreat you； explain？〃
Bixiou。 〃I'll paraphrase my opinion。 To be anything at all you must
begin by being everything。 It is quite certain that a reform of this
service is needed； for on my word of honor； the State robs