nd then."

Colleville. "But you don't get twenty-five hundred francs."

Bixiou. "Monsieur Dutocq gets that in Rabourdin's office; why shouldn't
I get it this year? Monsieur Baudoyer gets it."

Colleville. "Only through the influence of Monsieur Saillard. No other
chief clerk gets that in any of the divisions."

Paulmier. "Bah! Hasn't Monsieur Cochin three thousand? He succeeded
Monsieur Vavasseur, who served ten years under the Empire at four
thousand. His salary was dropped to three when the King first returned;
then to two thousand five hundred before Vavasseur died. But Monsieur
Cochin, who succeeded him, had influence enough to get the salary put
back to three thousand."

Colleville. "Monsieur Cochin signs E. A. L. Cochin (he is named
Emile-Adolphe-Lucian), which, when anagrammed, gives Cochineal.
Now observe, he's a partner in a druggist's business in the rue des
Lombards, the Maison Matifat, which made its fortune by that identical
colonial product."

Baudoyer [entering]. "Monsieur Chazelle, I see, is not here; you will be
good enough to say I asked for him, gentlemen."

Bixiou [who had hastily stuck a hat on Chazelle's chair when he heard
Baudoyer's step]. "Excuse me, Monsieur, but Chazelle has gone to the
Rabourdins' to make an inquiry."

Chazelle [entering with his hat on his head, and not seeing Baudoyer].
"La Billardiere is done for, gentlemen! Rabourdin is head of the
division and Master of petitions; he hasn't stolen /his/ promotion,
that's very certain."

Baudoyer [to Chazelle]. "You found that appointment in your second hat,
I presume" [points to the hat on the chair]. "This is the third time
within a month that you have come after nine o'clock. If you continue
the practice you will get on--elsewhere." [To Bixiou, who is reading the
newspaper.] "My dear Monsieur Bixiou, do pray leave the newspapers to
these gentlemen who are going to breakfast, and come into my office for
your orders for the day. I don't know what Monsieur Rabourdin wants with
Gabriel; he keeps him to do his private errands, I believe. I've rung
three times and can't get him." [Baudoyer and Bixiou retire into the
private office.]

Chazelle. "Damned unlucky!"

Paulmier [delighted to annoy Chazelle]. "Why didn't you look about when
you came into the room? You might have seen the elephant, and the hat
too; they are big enough to be visible."

Chazelle [dismally]. "Disgusting business! I don't see why we should
be treated like