"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."