human
You know, I owe you a grudge,
gpt
And why, pray?
human
Why, because you never helped me in the matter of that friend of mine who wishes to make her _debut_ in 'Polyeucte.'
gpt
Ah! yes, Silviane d'Aulnay! But, my dear sir, it was Taboureau who put spokes in the wheel. The Fine Arts are his department, and the question was entirely one for him. And I could do nothing; for that very worthy and honest gentleman, who came to us from a provincial faculty, was full of scruples. For my own part I'm an old Parisian, I can understand anything, and I should have been delighted to please you.
human
Taboureau, Taboureau! said he,
gpt
No, no, I can't cast Taboureau adrift at this moment--people would make too much sport of it--a ministry wrecked or saved by a Silviane question!
human
You do wrong to laugh, my dear Minister. Governments have fallen or set themselves erect again through smaller matters than that. And should you fall to-morrow I trust that you will never have occasion to regret it.