In this； he has attained very great skill； and his ever…dazzling linen would deceive； if it were not that at the least movement； when he walks； when he sits down； the stuff crackles upon him as though he had a cardboard box under his waistcoat。 Unfortunately all this paper does not feed him； and he is so thin； has such a mien； that you ask yourself on what he lives。 Between ourselves； I suspect him of paying a visit sometimes to my store…cupboard。 He can do so with ease； for； as cashier； he has the 〃word〃 which opens the safe with the secret lock； and I fancy that when my back is turned he forages a little among my provisions。
These are certainly very extraordinary； very incredible internal arrangements for a banking house。 It is； however； the mere truth that I am telling； and Paris is full of financial institutions after the pattern of ours。 Oh； if ever I publish my memoirs！ But to take up the interrupted thread of my story。
When he saw us all collected in his private room； the manager said to us with solemnity：
〃Gentlemen and dear comrades； the time of trials is ended。 The Territorial Bank inaugurates a new phase。〃
Upon this he commenced to speak to us of a superb /combinazione/it is his favourite word and he pronounces it in such an insinuating mannera /combinazione/ into which there was entering this famous Nabob； of whom all the newspapers are talking。 The Territorial Bank was therefore about to find itself in a position which would enable it to acquit itself of its obligations to its faithful servants； recognise acts of devotion； rid itself of useless parasites。 This for me； I imagine。 And in conclusion： 〃Prepare your statements。 All accounts will be settled not later than to…morrow。〃 Unhappily he has so often soothed us with lying words； that the effect of his speech was lost。 Formerly these fine promises were always swallowed。 At the announcement of a new /combinazione/； there used to be dancing； weeping for joy in the offices； and men would embrace each other like shipwrecked sailors discovering a sail。
Each one would prepare his account for the morrow； as he had said。 But on the morrow； no manager。 The day following； still nobody。 He had left town on a little journey。
At length； one day when all would be there； exasperated； putting out our tongues； maddened by the water which he had brought to our mouths； the governor would arrive； let himself drop into an easy chair； his head in his hands； and before one could speak to him： 〃Kill me；〃 he would say； 〃kill me。 I am a wretched impostor。 The /combinazione/ has failed。 It has failed； /Pechero！/ the /combinazione/。〃 And he would cry； sob； throw himself on his knees； pluck out his hair by handfuls； roll on the carpet。 He would call us by our Christian names； implore us to put an end to his existence； speak of his wife and children whose ruin he had consummated。 And none of us would have the courage to protest in face of a despair so formidable。 What do I say？ One always ended by sympathizing with him。 No； since theatres have existed； never has there been a comedian of his ability。 But to…day； that is all over； confidence is gone。 When he had left； every one shrugged his shoulders。 I must admit； however； that for a moment I had been shaken。 That assurance about the settling of my account； and then the name of the Nabob； that man so rich
〃You actually believe it； you？〃 the cashier said to me。 〃You will be always innocent； then； my poor Passajon。 Don't disturb yourself。 It will be the same with the Nabob as it was with Moessard's Queen。〃 And he returned to the manufacture of his shirt…fronts。
What he had just said referred to the time when Moessard was making love to his Queen； and had promised the governor that in case of success he would induce her Majesty to put capital into our undertaking。 At the office； we were all aware of this new adventure； and very anxious； as you may imagine； that it should succeed quickly； since our money depended upon it。 For two months this story held all of us breathless。 We felt some disquiet； we kept a watch on Moessard's face； considered that the lady was inclined to insist upon a great deal of ceremony； and our old cashier； with his dignified and serious air； when he was questioned on the matter； would answer gravely； behind his wire screen： 〃Nothing fresh；〃 or 〃The thing is in a good way。〃 Whereupon everybody was contented。 One would say to another； 〃It is making progress；〃 as though merely an ordinary enterprise was in question。 No； in good truth； there is only one Paris； where one can see such things。 Positively it makes your head turn sometimes。 In a word； Moessard； one fine morning； ceased coming to the office。 He had succeeded； it appears； but the Territorial Bank had not seemed to him a sufficiently advantageous investment for the money of his mistress。 Now； I ask you； was that honest？
For that matter； the notion of honesty is lost so easily as hardly to be believed。 When I reflect that I； Passajon； with my white hair； my venerable appearance； my so blameless pastthirty years of academical servicesam grown accustomed to living like a fish in the water； in the midst of these infamies； this swindling！ One might well ask what I am doing here； why I remain； how I am come to this。
How I am come to it？ Oh； /mon Dieu！/ very simply。 Four years ago； my wife being dead； my children married； I had just retired from my post as hall…porter at the college； when an advertisement in the newspaper chanced to meet my eye： 〃Wanted； an office…porter； middle…aged； at the Territorial Bank； 56； Boulevard Malesherbes。 Good references。〃 Let me confess it at the outset。 The modern Babylon had always attracted me。 Then； too； I felt myself still a young man。 I saw before me ten good years during which I might earn a little money； a great deal； perhaps； by means of investing my savings in the banking…house which I should enter。 So I wrote； inclosing my photograph； the one taken at Crespon's； in the Market Place； which represents me with chin closely shaven； a keen eye beneath my thick white eyebrows； my steel chain about my neck； my ribbon as an academy official； 〃the air of a conscript father upon his curule…chair；〃 as M。 Chalmette； our dean used to say。 （He insisted also that I much resembled the late King Louis XVIII； less strongly； however。） I supplied； further； the best of references； the most flattering recommendations from the gentlemen of the college。 By return of post； the governor replied that my appearance pleased himI believe it； /parbleu！/ an antechamber in the charge of a person with a striking face like mine is a bait for the shareholderand that I might come when I liked。 I ought； you may say to me； myself also to have made my inquiries。 Eh！ no doubt。 But I had to give so much information about myself that it never occurred to me to ask for any about them。 Besides； how could a man be suspicious； seeing this admirable installation； these lofty ceilings； these great safes； as big as cupboards； and these mirrors； in which you can see yourself from head to knee？ And then those sonorous prospectuses； those millions that I seemed to hear flying through the air； those colossal enterprises with their fabulous profits。 I was dazzled； fascinated。 It must be mentioned； too； that at the time the house did not bear quite the aspect which it has to…day。 Certainly； business was already going badlyour business always has gone badlythe paper appeared only at irregular intervals。 But a little /combinazione/ of the governor's enabled him to save appearances。
He had conceived the idea； just imagine； of opening a patriotic subscription for the purpose of erecting a statue to General Paolo Paoli； or some such name； in any case； to a great countryman of his own。 Money flowed accordingly into the Territorial。 Unfortunately； that state of things did not last。 By the end of a couple of months the statue was eaten up before it had been made； and the series of protests and writs recommenced。 Nowadays I am accustomed to them。 But in the days when I had just come from the country； the Auvergnats at the door； caused me a painful impression。 In the house； nobody paid attention to such things any longer。 It was known that at the last moment there would always arrive a Monpavon； a Bois l'Hery； to pacify the bailiffs； for all those gentlemen； being deeply implicated in the concern； have an interest in avoiding a bankruptcy。 That is the very circumstance which saves him； our wily governor。 The others run after their moneywe know the meaning which that expression has in gaming and they would not like all the stock on their hands to become worthless save to sell for waste paper。
Small and great； that is the case of all of us who are connected with the firm。 From the landlord； to whom two years' rent is owing and who； for fear of losing it all； allows us to stay for nothing； to us poor employees； even to me； who am involved to the extent of my seven thousand francs of savings and my four years of arrears； we are running after our money。 That is the reason why I remain obstinately here。
Doubtless； in spite of my advanced age； thanks to my good appearance； to my education； to the care which I have always taken of my clothes； I might have obtained some post under other management。 There is one person of excellent repute known to me； M。 Joyeuse； a bookkeeper in the firm of Hemerlingue & Son； the great bankers of the Rue Saint… Honore； who； every time he meets me； never fails to remark：
〃Passajon； my friend； don't stop in that den of brigands。 You are wrong to persist in remaining。 You will never get a halfpenny out of them。 So come to Hemerlingue's。 I undertake to find some little corner for you there。 You will earn less； but you will be paid much more。〃
I feel that he is quite right； that worthy fellow。 But the thing is stronger than I。 I cannot make up my mind to leave。 And yet it is by no means gay； the life I lead here in these great； cold rooms； where no one ever comes； where each man stows himself away in a corner without speaking。 What will you have？ Each knows the other too well。 Everything has been said already。
Again； until last year； we used to have sittings of the board of inspection； meetings of shareholders； stormy and noisy assemblies； veritab