“For absolute government, the only kind of government under which enterprises against the spirit of the law can be put down.  Yes.  Arbitrary rule is the salvation of a country when it comes to the support of justice, for the right of mercy is strictly one-sided.  The king can pardon a fraudulent bankrupt; he cannot do anything for the victims.  The letter of the law is fatal to modern society.”

“Just get that into the electors’ heads!” said Bixiou.

“Some one has undertaken to do it.”

“Who?”

“Time.  As the Bishop of Leon said, ’Liberty is ancient, but kingship is eternal; any nation in its right mind returns to monarchical government in one form or another.’”

“I say, there was somebody next door,” said Finot, hearing us rise to go.

“There always is somebody next door,” retorted Bixiou.  “But he must have been drunk.”

PARIS, November 1837.

ADDENDUM

The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.

Aiglemont, General, Marquis Victor d’
  At the Sign of the Cat and Racket
  A Woman of Thirty

Beaudenord, Godefroid de
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  The Ball at Sceaux

Bidault (known as Gigonnet)
  The Government Clerks
  Gobseck
  The Vendetta
  Cesar Birotteau
  A Daughter of Eve

Bixiou, Jean-Jacques
  The Purse
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  The Government Clerks
  Modeste Mignon
  Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
  The Muse of the Department
  Cousin Betty
  The Member for Arcis
  Beatrix
  A Man of Business
  Gaudissart II. 
  The Unconscious Humorists
  Cousin Pons

Blondet, Emile
  Jealousies of a Country Town
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
  Modeste Mignon
  Another Study of Woman
  The Secrets of a Princess
  A Daughter of Eve
  The Peasantry

Claparon, Charles
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  Cesar Birotteau
  Melmoth Reconciled
  A Man of Business
  The Middle Classes

Cochin, Emile-Louis-Lucien-Emmanuel
  Cesar Birotteau
  The Government Clerks
   The Middle Classes

Cochin, Adolphe
  Cesar Birotteau

Cointet, Boniface
  Lost Illusions
  The Member for Arcis

Couture
  Beatrix
  The Middle Classes

Desroches (son)
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  Colonel Chabert
  A Start in Life
  A Woman of Thirty
  The Commission in Lunacy
  The Government Clerks
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
  A Man of Business
  The Middle Classes

Falleix, Martin
  The Government Clerks

Finot, Andoche
  Cesar Birotteau
  A Bachelor’s Establishment
  A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
  Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
  The Government Clerks
  A Start in Life
  Gaudissart the Great