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e days when there were sittings。 And to think that to work this transformation； to bring back to our brows gaiety； the mother of concord； to restore to our scrip its value ten times over； to our dear governor the esteem and confidence of which he had been so unjustly deprived； one man has sufficed； the being of supernatural wealth whom the hundred voices of renown designate by the name of the Nabob。
Oh； the first time that he came to the office； with his fine presence； his face a little worn perhaps； but so distinguished； his manners of one accustomed to frequent courts； upon terms of the utmost familiarity with all the princes of the Orientin a word； that indescribable quality of assurance and greatness which is bestowed by immense wealthI felt my heart bursting beneath the double row of buttons on my waistcoat。 People may mouth in vain their great words of equality and fraternity； there are men who stand so surely above the rest that one would like to bow one's self down flat in their presence； to find new phrases of admiration in order to compel them to take a practical interest in one。 Let us hasten to add that I had need of nothing of the kind to attract the attention of the Nabob。 As I rose at his passagemoved to some emotion； but with dignity； you may trust Passajon for thathe looked at me with a smile and said in an undertone to the young man who accompanied him： 〃What a fine head； like a〃 Then there came a word which I did not catch very well； a word ending in /art/； something like /leopard/。 No； however； it cannot have been that。 /Jean…Bart/； perhaps； although even then I hardly see the connection。 However that be； in any case he did say； 〃What a fine head；〃 and this condescension made me proud。 Moreover； all the directors show me a marked degree of kindness and politeness。 It seems that there was a discussion with regard to me at the meeting of the board； to determine whether I should be kept or dismissed like our cashier； that ill…tempered fellow who was always talking of getting everybody sent to the galleys； and whom they have now invited to go elsewhere to manufacture his cheap shirt…fronts。 Well done！ That will teach him to be rude to people。 So far as I am concerned； Monsieur the Governor kindly consented to overlook my somewhat hasty words； in consideration of my record of service at the Territorial and elsewhere； and at the conclusion of the board meeting； he said to me with his musical accent： 〃Passajon； you remain with us。〃 It may be imagined how happy I was and how profuse in the expression of my gratitude。 But just think！ I should have left with my few pence without hope of ever saving any more； obliged to go and cultivate my vineyard in that little country district of Montbars； a very narrow field for a man who has lived in the midst of all the financial aristocracy of Paris； and among those great banking operations by which fortunes are made at a stroke。 Instead of that； here I am established afresh in a magnificent situation； my wardrobe renewed； and my savings； which I spent a whole day in fingering over； intrusted to the kind care of the governor； who has undertaken to invest them for me advantageously。 I think that is a manoeuvre which he is the very man to execute successfully。 And no need for the least anxiety。 Every fear vanishes before the word which is in vogue just now at all the councils of administration； in all shareholders' meetings； on the Bourse； the boulevards； and everywhere： 〃The Nabob is in the affair。〃 That is to say； gold is being poured out abundantly； the worst /combinazioni/ are excellent。
He is so rich； that man！
Rich to a degree one cannot imagine。 Has he not just lent fifteen million francs as a simple loan passing from hand to hand； to the Bey of Tunis？ I repeat； fifteen millions。 It was a trick he played on the Hemerlingues； who wished to embroil him with that monarch and cut the grass under his feet in those fine regions of the Orient where it grows golden； high； and thick。 It was an old Turk whom I know； Colonel Brahim； one of our directors at the Territorial； who arranged the affair。 Naturally； the Bey； who happened to be； it appears； short of pocket…money； was very much touched by the alacrity of the Nabob to oblige him； and he has just sent him through Brahim a letter of thanks in which he announces that upon the occasion of his next visit to Vichy； he will stay a couple of days with him at that fine Chateau de Saint…Romans； which the former Bey； the brother of this one； honoured with a visit once before。 You may fancy； what an honour！ To receive a reigning prince as a guest！ The Hemerlingues are in a rage。 They who had manoeuvred so carefullythe son at Tunis； the father in Paristo get the Nabob into disfavour。 And then it is true that fifteen millions is a big sum。 And do not say； 〃Passajon is telling us some fine tales。〃 The person who acquainted me with the story has held in his hands the paper sent by the Bey in an envelope of green silk stamped with the royal seal。 If he did not read it； it was because this paper was written in Arabic； otherwise he would have made himself familiar with its contents as in the case of all the rest of the Nabob's correspondence。 This person is his /valet de chambre/； M。 Noel； to whom I had the honour of being introduced last Friday at a small evening…party of persons in service which he gave to all his friends。 I record an account of this function in my memoirs as one of the most curious things which I have seen in the course of my four years of sojourn in Paris。
I had thought at first when M。 Francis； Monpavon's /valet de chambre/； spoke to me of the thing； that it was a question of one of those little clandestine junketings such as are held sometimes in the garrets of our boulevards with the fragments of food brought up by Mlle。 Seraphine and the other cooks in the building； at which you drink stolen wine； and gorge yourself； sitting on trunks； trembling with fear； by the light of a couple of candles which are extinguished at the least noise in the corridors。 These secret practices are repugnant to my character。 But when I received； as for the regular servants' ball； an invitation written in a very beautiful hand upon pink paper：
〃M。 Noel rekwests M to be present at his evenin…party on the 25th instent。 Super will be provided〃
I saw clearly； not withstanding the defective spelling； that it was a question of something serious and authorized。 I dressed myself therefore in my newest frock…coat； my finest linen； and arrived at the Place Vendome at the address indicated by the invitation。
For the giving of his party； M。 Noel had taken advantage of a first… night at the opera； to which all fashionable society was thronging； thus giving the servants a free rein； and putting the entire place at our disposal until midnight。 Notwithstanding this； the host had preferred to receive us upstairs in his own bed…chamber； and this I approved highly； being in that matter of the opinion of the old fellow in the rhyme：
Fie on the pleasure That fear may corrupt！
But my word； the luxury on the Place Vendome！ A felt carpet on the floor； the bed hidden away in an alcove； Algerian curtains with red stripes； an ornamental clock i