We are jointly responsible, we've got to keep together, dash it all!" "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 ?" Then, as Monferrand sat down, no longer protesting but waiting, Duvillard, who was again thinking of his passion, full of anger at the recollection of Barroux' refusal, rose in his turn, and exclaimed: "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!" Monferrand, who was well informed on the Silviane question, remained grave, and for a moment amused himself by trying to excite the Baron.
"Taboureau," said he, "is a somewhat dull and old-fashioned University man, but at the department of Public Instruction he's in his proper element." "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 ?" "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." His sly smile had returned to his face.