[During this conversation Baudoyer is sitting by the fire in Godard’s room, and the two are conversing in a low voice.]

Baudoyer.  “Yes, the worthy man is dying.  The two ministers are both with him.  My father-in-law has been notified of the event.  If you want to do me a signal service you will take a cab and go and let Madame Baudoyer know what is happening; for Monsieur Saillard can’t leave his desk, nor I my office.  Put yourself at my wife’s orders; do whatever she wishes.  She has, I believe, some ideas of her own, and wants to take certain steps simultaneously.” [The two functionaries go out together.]

Godard.  “Monsieur Bixiou, I am obliged to leave the office for the rest of the day.  You will take my place.”

Baudoyer [to Bixiou, benignly].  “Consult me, if there is any necessity.”

Bixiou.  “This time, La Billardiere is really dead.”

Dutocq [in Bixiou’s ear].  “Come outside a minute.” [The two go into the corridor and gaze at each other like birds of ill-omen.]

Dutocq [whispering].  “Listen.  Now is the time for us to understand each other and push our way.  What would you say to your being made head of the bureau, and I under you?”

Bixiou [shrugging his shoulders].  “Come, come, don’t talk nonsense!”

Dutocq.  “If Baudoyer gets La Billardiere’s place Rabourdin won’t stay on where he is.  Between ourselves, Baudoyer is so incapable that if du Bruel and you don’t help him he will certainly be dismissed in a couple of months.  If I know arithmetic that will give three empty places for us to fill—­”

Bixiou.  “Three places right under our noses, which will certainly be given to some bloated favorite, some spy, some pious fraud,—­to Colleville perhaps, whose wife has ended where all pretty women end —­in piety.”

Dutocq.  “No, to you, my dear fellow, if you will only, for once in your life, use your wits logically.” [He stopped as if to study the effect of his adverb in Bixiou’s face.] “Come, let us play fair.”

Bixiou [stolidly].  “Let me see your game.”

Dutocq.  “I don’t wish to be anything more than under-head-clerk.  I know myself perfectly well, and I know I haven’t the ability, like you, to be head of a bureau.  Du Bruel can be director, and you the head of this bureau; he will leave you his place as soon as he has made his pile; and as for me, I shall swim with the tide comfortably, under your protection, till I can retire on a pension.”

Bixiou.  “Sly dog! but how to you expect to carry out a plan which means forcing the minister’s hand and ejecting a man of talent?  Between ourselves, Rabourdin is the only man capable of taking charge of the division, and I might say of the ministry.  Do you know that they talk of putting in over his head that solid lump of foolishness, that cube of idiocy, Baudoyer?”

Dutocq [consequentially].  “My dear fellow, I am in a position to rouse the whole division against Rabourdin.  You know how devoted Fleury is to him?  Well, I can make Fleury despise him.”