“It is going to be a fine celebration,” he said. The gentleman looked at him sideways and answered in a haughty manner:
“That makes no difference to me!”
“You are not going to take part in it?” asked the surprised clerk. The other shook his head disdainfully and declared:
“They make me tired with their celebrations! Whose celebration is it? The government's? I do not recognize this government, monsieur!”
But Patissot, as government employee, took on his superior manner, and answered in a stern voice:
“Monsieur, the Republic is the government.”
His neighbor was not in the least disturbed, and, pushing his hands down in his pockets, he exclaimed:
“Well, and what then? It makes no difference to me. Whether it's for the Republic or something else, I don't care! What I want, monsieur, is to know my government. I saw Charles X. and adhered to him, monsieur; I saw Louis-Philippe and adhered to him, monsieur; I saw Napoleon and adhered to him; but I have never seen the Republic.”
Patissot, still serious, answered:
“The Republic, monsieur, is represented by its president!”