第72章 FORWARD, MOLLUSKS!(4)

"Would you forgive Monsieur de Chateaubriand for writing an article against the ministry? Well, read that, and see how Rabourdin has treated me in his secret document," said des Lupeaulx, giving the paper to the minister. "He pretends to reorganize the government from beginning to end,--no doubt in the interests of some secret society of which, as yet, we know nothing. I shall continue to be his friend for the sake of watching him; by that means I may render the government such signal service that they will have to make me count; for the peerage is the only thing I really care for. I want you fully to understand that I am not seeking office or anything else that would cause me to stand in your way; I am simply aiming for the peerage, which will enable me to marry a banker's daughter with an income of a couple of hundred thousand francs. And so, allow me to render you a few signal services which will make the King feel that I have saved the throne. I have long said that Liberalism would never offer us a pitched battle. It has given up conspiracies, Carbonaroism, and revolts with weapons; it is now sapping and mining, and the day is coming when it will be able to say, 'Out of that and let me in!' Do you think I have been courting Rabourdin's wife for my own pleasure?

No, but I got much information from her. So now, let us agree on two things; first, the postponement of the appointment; second, your SINCERE support of my election. You shall find at the end of the session that I have amply repaid you."For all answer, the minister took the appointment papers and placed them in des Lupeaulx's hand.

"I will go and tell Rabourdin," added des Lupeaulx, "that you cannot transact business with him till Saturday."The minister replied with an assenting gesture. The secretary despatched his man with a message to Rabourdin that the minister could not work with him until Saturday, on which day the Chamber was occupied with private bills, and his Excellency had more time at his disposal.

Just at this moment Saillard, having brought the monthly stipend, was slipping his little speech into the ear of the minister's wife, who drew herself up and answered with dignity that she did not meddle in political matters, and besides, she had heard that Monsieur Rabourdin was already appointed. Saillard, terrified, rushed up to Baudoyer's office, where he found Dutocq, Godard, and Bixiou in a state of exasperation difficult to describe; for they were reading the terrible paper on the administration in which they were all discussed.

Bixiou [with his finger on a paragraph]. "Here YOU are, pere Saillard.

Listen" [reads]:--

"Saillard.--The office of cashier to be suppressed in all the ministries; their accounts to be kept in future at the Treasury.

Saillard is rich and does not need a pension.

"Do you want to hear about your son-in-law?" [Turns over the leaves.]

"Here he is" [reads]:--

"Baudoyer.--Utterly incapable. To be thanked and dismissed. Rich; does not need a pension.

"And here's for Godard" [reads]:--

"Godard.--Should be dismissed; pension one-third of his present salary.

"In short, here we all are. Listen to what I am" [reads]: "An artist who might be employed by the civil list, at the Opera, or the Menus-Plaisirs, or the Museum. Great deal of capacity, little self-respect, no application,--a restless spirit. Ha! I'll give you a touch of the artist, Monsieur Rabourdin!"Saillard. "Suppress cashiers! Why, the man's a monster?"Bixiou. "Let us see what he says of our mysterious Desroys." [Turns over the pages; reads.]

"Desroys.--Dangerous; because he cannot be shaken in principles that are subversive of monarchial power. He is the son of the Conventionel, and he admires the Convention. He may become a very mischievous journalist."Baudoyer. "The police are not worse spies!"

Godard. "I shall go the general-secretary and lay a complaint in form;we must all resign in a body if such a man as that is put over us."Dutocq. "Gentlemen, listen to me; let us be prudent. If you rise at once in a body, we may all be accused of rancor and revenge. No, let the thing work, let the rumor spread quietly. When the whole ministry is aroused your remonstrances will meet with general approval."Bixiou. "Dutocq believes in the principles of the grand air composed by the sublime Rossini for Basilio,--which goes to show, by the bye, that the great composer was also a great politician. I shall leave my card on Monsieur Rabourdin to-morrow morning, inscribed thus: 'Bixiou;no self-respect, no application, restless mind.'"Godard. "A good idea, gentlemen. Let us all leave our cards to-morrow on Rabourdin inscribed in the same way."Dutocq [leading Bixiou apart]. "Come, you'll agree to make that caricature now, won't you?"Bixiou. "I see plainly, my dear fellow, that you knew all about this affair ten days ago" [looks him in the eye]. "Am I to be under-head-clerk?"

Dutocq. "On my word of honor, yes, and a thousand-franc fee beside, just as I told you. You don't know what a service you'll be rendering to powerful personages."Bixiou. "You know them?"

Dutocq. "Yes."

Bixiou. "Well, then I want to speak with them."Dutocq [dryly]. "You can make the caricature or not, and you can be under-head-clerk or not,--as you please."Bixiou. "At any rate, let me see that thousand francs."Dutocq. "You shall have them when you bring the drawing."Bixiou. "Forward, march! that lampoon shall go from end to end of the bureaus to-morrow morning. Let us go and torment the Rabourdins."[Then speaking to Saillard, Godard, and Baudoyer, who were talking together in a low voice.] "We are going to stir up the neighbors."[Goes with Dutocq into the Rabourdin bureau. Fleury, Thuillier, and Vimeux are there, talking excitedly.] "What's the matter, gentlemen?