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is plate out of the corner of his eye。
〃 'But； yes； Monpavon； I assure you。 They look extremely good； these mushrooms。 I am truly sorry that I have no appetite left。'
〃The duke remained very serious。
〃 'Come； M。 Jansoulet； I sincerely hope that you are not going to offer me this affront； you also。 Mushrooms selected by myself。'
〃 'Oh； Excellency； the very idea of such a thing！ Why； I would eat them with my eyes closed。'
〃So you see what sort of luck he had； the poor Nabob； the first time that he dined with us。 Duperron； who was serving opposite him； told us all about it in the pantry。 It seems there could have been nothing more comic than to see the Jansoulet stuffing himself with mushrooms； and rolling terrified eyes； while the others sat watching him curiously without touching their plates。 He sweated under the effort； poor wretch。 And the best of it was that he took a second portion； he actually found the courage to take a second portion。 He kept drinking off glasses of wine； however； like a mason； between each mouthful。 Ah； well； do you wish to hear my opinion？ What he did there was very clever； and I am no longer surprised that this fat cow…herd should have become the favourite of sovereigns。 He knows where to flatter them in those little pretensions which no man avows。 In brief； the duke has been crazy over him since that day。〃
This little story caused much laughter and scattered the clouds which had been raised by a few imprudent words。 So then； since the wine had untied people's tongues； and they knew each other better； elbows were leaned on the table and the conversation fell on masters； on the places in which each of them had served； on the amusing things he had seen in them。 Ah！ of how many such adventures did I not hear； how much of the interior life of those establishments did I not see pass before me。 Naturally I also made my own little effect with the story of my larder at the Territorial； the times when I used to keep my stew in the empty safe； which circumstance； however； did not prevent our old cashier； a great stickler for forms； from changing the key…word of the lock every two days； as though all the treasures of the Bank of France had been inside。 M。 Louis appeared to find my anecdote entertaining。 But the most astonishing was what the little Bois l'Hery； with his Parisian street…boy's accent； related to us concerning the household of his employers。
Marquis and Marquise de Bois l'Hery； second floor； Boulevard Haussmann。 Furniture rich as at the Tuileries； blue satin on all the walls； Chinese ornaments； pictures； curiosities； a veritable museum； indeed； overflowing even on to the stairway。 The service very smart： six men…servants； chestnut livery in winter； nankeen livery in summer。 These people are seen everywhere at the small Mondays； at the races； at first…nights； at embassy balls； and their name always in the newspapers with a remark upon the handsome toilettes of Madame； and Monsieur's remarkable chic。 Well！ all that is nothing at all but pretence； plated goods； show； and when the marquis wants five francs nobody would lend them to him upon his possessions。 The furniture is hired by the fortnight from Fitily； the upholsterer of the demi…monde。 The curiosities； the pictures； belong to old Schwalbach； who sends his clients round there and makes them pay doubly dear； since people don't bargain when they think they are dealing with a marquis； an amateur。 As for the toilettes of the marquise； the milliner and the dressmaker provide her with them each season gratis； get her to wear the new fashions； a little ridiculous sometimes but which society subsequently adopts because Madame is still a very handsome woman and reputed for her elegance； she is what is called a /launcher/。 Finally； the servants！ Makeshifts like the rest； changed each week at the pleasure of the registry office which sends them there to do a period of probation by way of preliminary to a serious engagement。 If you have neither sureties nor certificates； if you have just come out of prison or anything of that kind； Glanand； the famous agent of the Rue de la Paix； sends you off to the Boulevard Haussmann。 You remain in service there for a week or two； just the time necessary to buy a good reference from the marquis； who； of course； it is understood； pays you nothing and barely boards you； for in that house the kitchen…ranges are cold most of the time； Monsieur and Madame dining out nearly every evening or going to balls； where a supper is included in the entertainment。 It is positive fact that there are people in Paris who take the sideboard seriously and make the first meal of their day after midnight。 The Bois l'Herys； in consequence； are well…informed with regard to the houses that provide refreshments。 They will tell you that you get a very good supper at the Austrian Embassy； that the Spanish Embassy rather neglects the wines； and that it is at the Foreign Office again that you find the best /chaud…froid de volailles/。 And that is the life of this curious household。 Nothing that they possess is really theirs； everything is tacked on； loosely fastened with pins。 A gust of wind and the whole thing blows away。 But at least they are certain of losing nothing。 It is this assurance which gives to the marquis that air of raillery worthy of a Father Tranquille which he has when he looks at you with both hands in his pockets； as much as to say： 〃Ah； well； and what then？ What can they do to me？〃
And the little groom； in the attitude which I have just mentioned； with his head like that of a prematurely old and vicious child； imitated his master so well that I could fancy I saw himself as he looks at our board meetings； standing in front of the governor and overwhelming him with his cynical pleasantries。 All the same； one must admit that Paris is a tremendously great city； for a man to be able to live thus； through fifteen； twenty years of tricks； artifice； dust thrown in people's eyes； without everybody finding him out； and for him still to be able to make a triumphal entry into a drawing…room in the rear of his name announced loudly and repeatedly； 〃Monsieur le Marquis de Bois l'Hery。〃
No； look you； the things that are to be learned at a servants' party； what a curious spectacle is presented by the fashionable world of Paris； seen thus from below； from the basements； you need to go to one before you can realize。 Here； for instance； is a little fragment of conversation which； happening to find myself between M。 Francis and M。 Louis； I overheard about the worthy sire de Monpavon。
〃You are making a mistake； Francis。 You are in funds just now。 You ought to take advantage of the occasion to restore that money to the Treasury。〃
〃What will you have？〃 replied M。 Francis with a despondent air。 〃Play is devouring us。〃
〃Yes； I know it well。 But take care。 We shall not always be there。 We may die； fall from power。 Then you will be asked for accounts by the people down yonder。 And it will be a terrible business。〃
I had often heard whispered the story of a forced loan of two hundred thousand francs which the marquis was reputed to have secured from the State at the time when he was Receiver…General； but the testimony of his /