"Unjust! unjust!" shrieked M. Deviolaine. "I would have you know that I have never done an unjust thing in my life." "It would seem there is a beginning for everything." "Did you ever see--oh, did you ever see such a young rip!" continued M. Deviolaine, as he paced up and down his office,--"did you ever see! did you ever see!..." Then, turning to me again, he said-- "Very well, I will not treat you unjustly; no, indeed no, you shall not have more work to do than the others; but you shall have as much, and you shall be watched to see that you get through it! M. Fossier shall receive orders from me to carry out this inspection." I moved my lips. "What next! Have you something now to say against M. Fossier?" "No, only that I think him ugly." "Well, what then?" "Why, I would much rather he were good-looking, on his own account first and also on my own." "But what does it matter to you whether M. Fossier be ugly or beautiful?" "If I have to meet a face three or four times in a day I should much prefer it to be agreeable rather than disagreeable." "Well, I never met such a cursed young puppy in all my days! You will soon want me to choose my head clerks to suit your taste!... Get out! Go back to your office, and try to make up for lost time." "I will do so; but, first, I want to ask a promise from you, monsieur." "Well, upon my word, if he isn't actually going to impose his own conditions on me!" "You will accept this one, I am sure." "Now, what do you wish, Monsieur le poëte?" "I should like you yourself each day to overlook the work I have done and see how I have done it." "Well, I promise you that.... And when is the first performance to take place?" "I can hardly tell you; but I am very sure you will be present at it!" "Yes, I will be there, in more senses than one; you may be quite easy on that score.... Now, go and behave yourself!" And he made a threatening gesture, upon which I went out. M. Deviolaine kept his word to me. He gave me plenty of work to do without overdoing me. But, as he had promised, M. Fossier always came and brought the work to me himself, and if, by ill luck, I was not at my desk, M. Deviolaine was instantly informed of my absence. CHAPTER XI Conclusion of _Christine_--A patron, after a fashion--Nodier recommends me to Taylor--The Royal Commissary and the author of _Hécube_--Semi-official reading before Taylor--Official reading before the Committee--I am received with acclamation--The intoxication of success--How history is written--M. Deviolaine's incredulity--Picard's opinions concerning my play--Nodier's opinion--Second reading at the Théâtre-Français and definite acceptance But none of these hindrances prevented me from finishing _Christine._ I had, however, scarcely written the famous last line-- "Eh bien, j'en ai pitié, mon père ... Qu'on l'achève!"