"I mentioned a little while ago," Falk resumed, "that I've broken to-day with my past life and thrown up my career as a government employé. I'll only add that I intend taking up literature."
"Literature? Good Heavens! Why? Oh, but that is a pity!"
"It isn't; but I want you to tell me how to set about finding work."
"H'm! That's really difficult to say. The profession is crowded with so many people of all sorts. But you mustn't think of it. It really is a pity to spoil your career; the literary profession is a bad one."
Struve looked sorry, but he could not hide a certain satisfaction at having met a friend in misfortune.
"But tell me," he continued, "Why are you throwing up a career which promises a man honours as well as influence?"
"Honours to those who have usurped the power, and influence to the most unscrupulous."
"Stuff! It isn't really as bad as all that?"
"Isn't it? Well, then I must speak more plainly. I'll show you the inner working of one of the six departments for which I had put down. The first five I left at once for the very simple reason that there was no room for me. Whenever I went and asked whether there was anything for me to do, I was told No! And I never saw anybody doing anything. And that was in the busy departments, like the Committee on Brandy Distilleries, the Direct Taxation Office and The Board of Administration of Employés' Pensions. But when I noticed the swarming crowd of officials, the idea struck me that the department which had to pay out all the salaries must surely be very busy indeed. I therefore put my name down for the Board of Payment of Employés' Salaries."
"And did you go there?" asked Struve, beginning to feel interested.