I know, for I served my apprenticeship under Robert Lindet.

The clerks had to work in his day! You ought to have seen how they scratched paper here till midnight; why, the stoves went out and nobody noticed it.

It was all because the guillotine was there! now-a-days they only mark 'em when they come in late!" "Uncle Antoine," said Gabriel, "as you are so talkative this morning, just tell us what you think a clerk really ought to be." "A government clerk," replied Antoine, gravely, "is a man who sits in a government office and writes.

But there, there, what am I talking about?
Without the clerks, where should we be, I'd like to know?
Go along and look after your stoves and mind you never say harm of a government clerk, you fellows.

Gabriel, the stove in the large office draws like the devil; you must turn the damper." Antoine stationed himself at a corner of the landing whence he could see all the officials as they entered the porte-cochere; he knew every one at the ministry, and watched their behavior, observing narrowly the contrasts in their dress and appearance.
The first to arrive after Sebastien was a clerk of deeds in Rabourdin's office named Phellion, a respectable family-man.