usher at the
Tuilleries imitate the voice of the emperor, he also acquired the same
intonations and studied slowness.

He thus became so much like his model that they might easily have been
mistaken for each other, and certain high dignitaries were heard to
remark that they found it unseemly and even vulgar; the matter was
mentioned to the prime minister, who ordered that the employee should
appear before him. But at the sight of him he began to laugh and
repeated two or three times: "That's funny, really funny!" This
was repeated, and the following day Patissot's immediate superior
recommended that his subordinate receive an increase of salary of three
hundred francs. He received it immediately.

From that time on his promotions came regularly, thanks to his ape-like
faculty of imitation. The presentiment that some high honor might come
to him some day caused his chiefs to speak to him with deference.

When the Republic was proclaimed it was a disaster for him. He felt
lost, done for, and, losing his head, he stopped dyeing his hair, shaved
his face clean and had his hair cut short, thus acquiring a paternal and
benevolent expression which could not compromise him in any way.

Then his chiefs took revenge for the long time during which he had
imposed upon them, and, having all turned Republican through an
instinct of self preservation, they cut down his salary and delayed his
promotion. He, too, changed his opinions. But the Republic not being
a palpable and living person whom one can resemble, and the presidents
succeeding each other with rapidity, he found himself plunged in the
greatest embarrassment, in terrible distress, and, after an unsuccessful
imitation of his last ideal, M. Thiers, he felt a check put on all his
attempts at imitation. He needed a new manifestation of his personality.
He searched for a long time; then, one morning, he arrived at the office
wearing a new hat which had on the side a small red, white and blue
rosette. His colleagues were astounded; they laughed all that day,
the next day, all the week, all the month. But the seriousness of his
demeanor at last disconcerted them, and once more his superiors became
anxious. What mystery could be hidden under this sign? Was it a simple
manifestation of patriotism, or an affirmation of his allegiance to the
Republic, or perhaps the badge of some powerful association? But to
wear it so persistently he must surely have some powerful and hidden
pro