登陆注册
4610400000051

第51章 THE WORMS AT WORK(2)

Du Bruel. "'--of the Bedchamber, the King rewarded not only the services rendered by the Provost, who knew how to harmonize the severity of his functions with the customary urbanity of the Bourbons, but the bravery of the Vendean hero, who never bent the knee to the imperial idol. He leaves a son, who inherits his loyalty and his talents.'"Bixiou. "Don't you think all that is a little too florid? I should tone down the poetry. 'Imperial idol!' 'bent the knee!' damn it, my dear fellow, writing vaudevilles has ruined your style; you can't come down to pedestrial prose. I should say, 'He belonged to the small number of those who.' Simplify, simplify! the man himself was a simpleton."Du Bruel. "That's vaudeville, if you like! You would make your fortune at the theatre, Bixiou."Bixiou. "What have you said about Quiberon?" [Reads over du Bruel's shoulder.] "Oh, that won't do! Here, this is what you must say: 'He took upon himself, in a book recently published, the responsibility for all the blunders of the expedition to Quiberon,--thus proving the nature of his loyalty, which did not shrink from any sacrifice.'

That's clever and witty, and exalts La Billardiere."Du Bruel. "At whose expense?"

Bixiou [solemn as a priest in a pulpit]. "Why, Hoche and Tallien, of course; don't you read history?"Du Bruel. "No. I subscribed to the Baudouin series, but I've never had time to open a volume; one can't find matter for vaudevilles there."Phellion [at the door]. "We all want to know, Monsieur Bixiou, what made you think that the worthy and honorable Monsieur Rabourdin, who has so long done the work of this division for Monsieur de la Billardiere,--he, who is the senior head of all the bureaus, and whom, moreover, the minister summoned as soon as he heard of the departure of the late Monsieur de la Billardiere,--will not be appointed head of the division."Bixiou. "Papa Phellion, you know geography?"

Phellion [bridling up]. "I should say so!"

Bixiou. "And history?"

Phellion [affecting modesty]. "Possibly."

Bixiou [looking fixedly at him]. "Your diamond pin is loose, it is coming out. Well, you may know all that, but you don't know the human heart; you have gone no further in the geography and history of that organ than you have in the environs of the city of Paris."Poiret [to Vimeux]. "Environs of Paris? I thought they were talking of Monsieur Rabourdin."Bixiou. "About that bet? Does the entire bureau Rabourdin bet against me?"All. "Yes."

Bixiou. "Du Bruel, do you count in?"

Du Bruel. "Of course I do. We want Rabourdin to go up a step and make room for others."Bixiou. "Well, I accept the bet,--for this reason; you can hardly understand it, but I'll tell it to you all the same. It would be right and just to appoint Monsieur Rabourdin" [looking full at Dutocq], "because, in that case, long and faithful service, honor, and talent would be recognized, appreciated, and properly rewarded. Such an appointment is in the best interests of the administration."[Phellion, Poiret, and Thuillier listen stupidly, with the look of those who try to peer before them in the darkness.] "Well, it is just because the promotion would be so fitting, and because the man has such merit, and because the measure is so eminently wise and equitable that I bet Rabourdin will not be appointed. Yes, you'll see, that appointment will slip up, just like the invasion from Boulogne, and the march to Russia, for the success of which a great genius has gathered together all the chances. It will fail as all good and just things do fail in this low world. I am only backing the devil's game."Du Bruel. "Who do you think will be appointed?"Bixiou. "The more I think about Baudoyer, the more sure I feel that he unites all the opposite qualities; therefore I think he will be the next head of this division."Dutocq. "But Monsieur des Lupeaulx, who sent for me to borrow my Charlet, told me positively that Monsieur Rabourdin was appointed, and that the little La Billardiere would be made Clerk of the Seals."Bixiou. "Appointed, indeed! The appointment can't be made and signed under ten days. It will certainly not be known before New-Year's day.

There he goes now across the courtyard; look at him, and say if the virtuous Rabourdin looks like a man in the sunshine of favor. I should say he knows he's dismissed." [Fleury rushes to the window.]

"Gentlemen, adieu; I'll go and tell Monsieur Baudoyer that I hear from you that Rabourdin is appointed; it will make him furious, the pious creature! Then I'll tell him of our wager, to cool him down,--a process we call at the theatre turning the Wheel of Fortune, don't we, du Bruel? Why do I care who gets the place? simply because if Baudoyer does he will make me under-head-clerk" [goes out].

Poiret. "Everybody says that man is clever, but as for me, I can never understand a word he says" [goes on copying]. "I listen and listen; Ihear words, but I never get at any meaning; he talks about the environs of Paris when he discusses the human heart and" [lays down his pen and goes to the stove] "declares he backs the devil's game when it is a question of Russia and Boulogne; now what is there so clever in that, I'd like to know? We must first admit that the devil plays any game at all, and then find out what game; possibly dominoes"[blows his nose].

Fleury [interrupting]. "Pere Poiret is blowing his nose; it must be eleven o'clock."Du Bruel. "So it is! Goodness! I'm off to the secretary; he wants to read the obituary."Poiret. "What was I saying?"

Thuillier. "Dominoes,--perhaps the devil plays dominoes." [Sebastien enters to gather up the different papers and circulars for signature.]

Vimeux. "Ah! there you are, my fine young man. Your days of hardship are nearly over; you'll get a post. Monsieur Rabourdin will be appointed. Weren't you at Madame Rabourdin's last night? Lucky fellow!

they say that really superb women go there."

Sebastien. "Do they? I didn't know."

Fleury. "Are you blind?"

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 破茧成蝶:冷峻王爷别想逃

    破茧成蝶:冷峻王爷别想逃

    她是一国公主,忍辱复生嫁给这个不曾蒙面的男人。她不懂爱,不懂情,只想见见她们的孩子,可是为什么?连这点小小的愿望都不能实现。最后,她不再奢望,带着久违的笑容走进那年与他相遇的河畔,一点点,一点点,她毫不吃力的看着他,她决定。这一世,她选择放手,下一世,她不要再见到他,哪怕爱得死去活来。可是!连天都不能成全她吗?一切重新来过。她沉沦数日,看清数日,直到再次遇到他,再次对上那双冷酷无情却依稀渐现温柔的眼眸,她还是心软了。于是,她决定!这一世,她要追他,然后弥补上一世,她失去的一切。
  • 中国的修养2:企业的修为

    中国的修养2:企业的修为

    企业不仅是利润实体,它首先是一个精神载体。身为企业的名片,你的品位决定了企业的品质,你的修为决定了企业的寿命。人能够组成群体,成为一个组织,靠的是义。仁是感情体验,义是外在约束。正己而后正人。搞管理,先管理自己,再管理别人,再做大事业。与其权威服人,不如品德感人;与其用力做事,不如用德做人。一个优秀的企业,需要品质;一个卓越的企业,需要品位。从品质走向品位,正像一个人从土豪走向贵族,需要脱胎换骨地成长,才能赢得业界的尊重。
  • 世界经典探案故事全集:蛛丝马迹的故事

    世界经典探案故事全集:蛛丝马迹的故事

    我们编辑的这套《世界经典探案故事全集》包括《侦探出动的故事》、《高超推理的故事》、《蛛丝马迹的故事》、《扑朔迷离的故事》、《缉捕追踪的故事》、《原形毕露的故事》、《斗智斗勇的故事》、《智破奇案的故事》、《真相大白的故事》和《插翅难逃的故事》等10册,这些作品汇集了古今中外著名的疑案、迷案、奇案、悬案、冤案等近百篇,其故事情节惊险曲折,探案英雄大智大勇,阅读这些侦破故事,不仅可以启迪智慧、增强思维、了解社会、增长知识,还可以学到自我保卫、推理破案的常识,防范日常生活的不测。
  • 广动植之二

    广动植之二

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • V星王子甜蜜入侵Ⅱ

    V星王子甜蜜入侵Ⅱ

    “你一辈子都要戴着它,它是属于你的!”黑夜中,我被一个神秘男生莫名其妙的戴上一只设有密码戒指不说,还糊里糊涂的跟我说了一大堆奇怪的话!本以为只是遇到一个疯子帅哥而已,却没想到,翌日,他居然成为了我的同桌。不仅如此,他还当众扬言要取代我未婚夫的位置,惹得全校的师生把再次把我莫筱塔当成一个水性杨花的女生!“莫筱塔,我——沐熙辰,发誓一定会住进你的心!”他自大的演讲之后,竟然还拉起我带着密码戒指的那只手,当着我的未婚夫大声宣布:“钟离旭,你看着吧,终有一天,我要她的心里时时刻刻都想着我。即使,你们最终还是在一起的!”他的出现是处心积虑的阴谋,还是另有隐情?真相即将浮出水面……一切的一切,只因我的爱人并非地球人,而是——外星人!
  • God the Known and God the Unknown

    God the Known and God the Unknown

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 銮凤升鸣

    銮凤升鸣

    世人皆以为神仙都是高高在上的高人,各个都是旷世奇才,殊不知纵是神仙也有废柴的!一个是青丘之国的大王子,自命清高,桀骜不驯,虽不至于放荡不羁,但也是不问世事的怪狐。一个是因同自己的亲弟弟犯下无法饶恕的过错而被天帝贬至冥界的天界二殿下,眼看回天宫遥遥无期,成天混日子的所谓的冥帝,也就是名头好听一些而已。一个是龙王五公子,仗着年纪小,整天瞎混,研究吃喝玩乐,还总喊自己宝宝,但却是本体硕大的饕餮。一个是因同自己的二哥犯下不可饶恕的过错而被天帝收回九成法力贬至捞山的天界三殿下,更是消失无踪!但却都因为一个无意间闯入青丘的来路不明的女子而改变了自己的一生!且看废柴神仙是如何变得不那么废柴的……
  • 殷塬

    殷塬

    万年前,世间唯一的祖帝刑洛炼化十大神器,打造世界第一神器,结果十大神器力量排斥外溢,四界所有异能者修为全部被削减一阶,天道规则紊乱,异能者再无一人踏出那一步,刑洛也遭反噬重伤,不久后死亡,十大神器也破损遗失在四界各地,世间再无出祖帝,直到一个少年的出现,一切发生了转变,奇迹从这里上演……
  • 地球的花衣:自然奇观(地理知识知道点)

    地球的花衣:自然奇观(地理知识知道点)

    山是地球上分布最为广泛的地貌之一,高耸入云的山峰常常给人一种博大宽厚之感。正因为如此,山历来都是人们向往之地,历史上的隐士常常选择名山作为隐居之地,孔子也曾说过“智者乐水,仁者乐山”这样的话。
  • 希利尔讲世界地理

    希利尔讲世界地理

    这是一本绝佳的地理启蒙读物,在书中,“地理”已经不再是个干巴巴、硬邦邦的字眼儿,而是听上去跟“历险”更沾边儿些。 希利尔以地理知识与旅行见闻为素材,精心绘制了一张生动的“地图”,让这本书变成了孩子环游世界旅行的指南——从北美洲到南美洲,从欧洲到亚洲,最后是非洲、大洋洲。 希利尔将精彩的世界藏在每张书页中,所以当孩子们翻开这本书时,他们并不是简单地阅读,而是在探索一个未知的世界。