“Go thou, Buttinsky, and fill Pullovitch up to the neck, and when he is right have me installed as a First Class Clerk. And do it quick, see?”
And Buttinsky was afraid lest De Bum should open his mouth; so he loaded Pullovitch as he was bid, and De Bum became in name and Salary, a First Class Clerk.
Now, these things being done, other happenings followed as a matter of natural consequence. The respectable ones in the Department of Pullovitch, who were not many by this time, murmured among themselves, and said: “If we remain in the service of Pullovitch we will lose our good name, and be classed with such as Slopft and De Bum. Let us, therefore, resign before it is too late.”
So every one who had any respect for himself resigned, and left the Department of Pullovitch, and it became absolutely corrupt.
Then other Departments became as that of Pullovitch, till corruption crept even to the Throne. And the enemies of Russia, who saw these things, waited and waited till she was rotten at the heart. Then they rose up and slew her.
Corruption creeps in softly and easily; but is only eradicated through much bloodshed and strife.
IF AND BUT
If a man only knew all there was to know
Of a fox and his cunning ways;