human
Well, then, what shall we do?
gpt
Allow me.
human
Very good! And don't forget my orders,
gpt
But what would you have, my friends? It would be necessary for me to be the master. Ah! if I were the master! A Commission of Inquiry, yes! that's the proper form for a first-class funeral to take in a big affair like this, so full of nasty things. For my part, I should confess nothing, and I should have a Commission appointed. And then you would see the storm subside.
human
Just listen! said he;
gpt
No, no, my dear fellow, I don't play that game. We are jointly responsible, we've got to keep together, dash it all!
human
Keep together! Pooh! Not when simpletons purposely drown themselves! And, besides, if we others have need of you, we have a right to save you in spite of yourself! Isn't that so, my dear Baron?
gpt
Why, certainly! If the ministry's condemned let it fall! What good can you get out of a ministry which includes such a man as Taboureau! There you have an old, worn-out professor without any prestige, who comes to Paris from Grenoble, and has never set foot in a theatre in his life! Yet the control of the theatres is handed over to him, and naturally he's ever doing the most stupid things!
human
Taboureau, said he,
gpt
Oh! don't talk like that, my dear fellow! You are more intelligent than that, you are not going to defend Taboureau as Barroux did. It's quite true that I should very much like to see Silviane at the Comedie. She's a very good girl at heart, and she has an amazing lot of talent. Would you stand in her way if you were in Taboureau's place?
human
I? Good heavens, no! A pretty girl on the stage, why, it would please everybody, I'm sure. Only it would be necessary to have a man of the same views as were at the department of Instruction and Fine Arts.
gpt
A senator is the proper man for Public Instruction, said he.
human
But I can think of none, none at all, such as would be wanted. A man of broad mind, a real Parisian, and yet one whose presence at the head of the University wouldn't cause too much astonishment--there's perhaps Dauvergne--
gpt
Dauvergne! Who's he? exclaimed Monferrand in surprise.
human
Ah! yes, Dauvergne the senator for Dijon--but he's altogether ignorant of University matters, he hasn't the slightest qualification.
gpt
Well, as for that, resumed Fonsegue,
human
I'm trying to think. Dauvergne is certainly a good-looking fellow, tall and fair and decorative. Besides, he's immensely rich, has a most charming young wife--which does no harm, on the contrary--and he gives real _fetes_ at his place on the Boulevard St. Germain.
gpt
human
Wait a bit! I recollect now that in his young days Dauvergne wrote a comedy, a one act comedy in verse, and had it performed at Dijon. And Dijon's a literary town, you know, so that piece of his sets a little perfume of 'Belles-Lettres' around him. And then, too, he left Dijon twenty years ago, and is a most determined Parisian, frequenting every sphere of society. Dauvergne will do whatever one desires. He's the man for us, I tell you.
gpt
Dauvergne, Dauvergne, repeated Monferrand.
human
Then suddenly bursting into a hearty laugh:
gpt
And so we are reconstructing the Cabinet in order that that charming young woman may join the Comedie! The Silviane cabinet--well, and what about the other departments?
human
Le Globe