第73章 FORWARD, MOLLUSKS!(5)

All that I told you turns out to be true; you can go and see for yourselves the work of this infamous informer; for it is in the hands of the virtuous, honest, estimable, upright, and pious Baudoyer, who is indeed utterly incapable of doing any such thing. Your chief has got every one of you under the guillotine. Go and see; follow the crowd; money returned if you are not satisfied; execution GRATIS! The appointments are postponed. All the bureaus are in arms; Rabourdin has been informed that the minister will not work with him. Come, be off;go and see for yourselves."

They all depart except Phellion and Poiret, who are left alone. The former loved Rabourdin too well to look for proof that might injure a man he was determined not to judge; the other had only five days more to remain in the office, and cared nothing either way. Just then Sebastien came down to collect the papers for signature. He was a good deal surprised, though he did not show it, to find the office deserted.

Phellion. "My young friend" [he rose, a rare thing], "do you know what is going on? what scandals are rife about Monsieur Rabourdin whom you love, and" [bending to whisper in Sebastien's ear] "whom I love as much as I respect him. They say he has committed the imprudence to leave a paper containing comments on the officials lying about in the office--" [Phellion stopped short, caught the young man in his strong arms, seeing that he turned pale and was near fainting, and placed him on a chair.] "A key, Monsieur Poiret, to put down his back; have you a key?"Poiret. "I have the key of my domicile."

[Old Poiret junior promptly inserted the said key between Sebastien's shoulders, while Phellion gave him some water to drink. The poor lad no sooner opened his eyes than he began to weep. He laid his head on Phellion's desk, and all his limbs were limp as if struck by lightning; while his sobs were so heartrending, so genuine, that for the first time in his life Poiret's feelings were stirred by the sufferings of another.]

Phellion [speaking firmly]. "Come, come, my young friend; courage! In times of trial we must show courage. You are a man. What is the matter? What has happened to distress you so terribly?"Sebastien [sobbing]. "It is I who have ruined Monsieur Rabourdin. Ileft that paper lying about when I copied it. I have killed my benefactor; I shall die myself. Such a noble man!--a man who ought to be minister!"Poiret [blowing his nose]. "Then it is true he wrote the report."Sebastien [still sobbing]. "But it was to--there, I was going to tell his secrets! Ah! that wretch of a Dutocq; it was he who stole the paper."His tears and sobs recommenced and made so much noise that Rabourdin came up to see what was the matter. He found the young fellow almost fainting in the arms of Poiret and Phellion.

Rabourdin. "What is the matter, gentlemen?"

Sebastien [struggling to his feet, and then falling on his knees before Rabourdin]. "I have ruined you, monsieur. That memorandum,--Dutocq, the monster, he must have taken it."

Rabourdin [calmly]. "I knew that already" [he lifts Sebastien]. "You are a child, my young friend." [Speaks to Phellion.] "Where are the other gentlemen?"Phellion. "They have gone into Monsieur Baudoyer's office to see a paper which it is said--"Rabourdin [interrupting him]. "Enough." [Goes out, taking Sebastien with him. Poiret and Phellion look at each other in amazement, and do not know what to say.]

Poiret [to Phellion]. "Monsieur Rabourdin--"

Phellion [to Poiret]. "Monsieur Rabourdin--"

Poiret. "Well, I never! Monsieur Rabourdin!"

Phellion. "But did you notice how calm and dignified he was?"Poiret [with a sly look that was more like a grimace]. "I shouldn't be surprised if there were something under it all."Phellion. "A man of honor; pure and spotless."Poiret. "Who is?"

Phellion. "Monsieur Poiret, you think as I think about Dutocq; surely you understand me?"Poiret [nodding his head three times and answering with a shrewd look]. "Yes." [The other clerks return.]

Fleury. "A great shock; I still don't believe the thing. Monsieur Rabourdin, a king among men! If such men are spies, it is enough to disgust one with virtue. I have always put Rabourdin among Plutarch's heroes."Vimeux. "It is all true."

Poiret [reflecting that he had only five days more to stay in the office]. "But, gentlemen, what do you say about the man who stole that paper, who spied upon Rabourdin?" [Dutocq left the room.]

Fleury. "I say he is a Judas Iscariot. Who is he?"Phellion [significantly]. "He is not here at THIS MOMENT."Vimeux [enlightened]. "It is Dutocq!"

Phellion. "I have no proof of it, gentlemen. While you were gone, that young man, Monsieur de la Roche, nearly fainted here. See his tears on my desk!"Poiret. "We held him fainting in our arms.--My key, the key of my domicile!--dear, dear! it is down his back." [Poiret goes hastily out.]

Vimeux. "The minister refused to transact business with Rabourdin to-day; and Monsieur Saillard, to whom the secretary said a few words, came to tell Monsieur Baudoyer to apply for the cross of the Legion of honor,--there is one to be granted, you know, on New-Year's day, to all the heads of divisions. It is quite clear what it all means.

Monsieur Rabourdin is sacrificed by the very persons who employed him.

Bixiou says so. We were all to be turned out, except Sebastien and Phellion."Du Bruel [entering]. "Well, gentlemen, is it true?"Thuillier. "To the last word."

Du Bruel [putting his hat on again]. "Good-bye." [Hurries out.]

Thuillier. "He may rush as much as he pleases to his Duc de Rhetore and Duc de Maufrigneuse, but Colleville is to be our under-head-clerk, that's certain."Phellion. "Du Bruel always seemed to be attached to Monsieur Rabourdin."Poiret [returning]. "I have had a world of trouble to get back my key.

That boy is crying still, and Monsieur Rabourdin has disappeared."[Dutocq and Bixiou enter.]