"Dean in years! I'm not so sure of that."
"Pshaw! between ourselves, there's no use in prevaricating; we all knew one another's ages at school."
"True; but we're not at school now."
"Ha! ha! that's good, that is; it ought to be framed. Dubotté, you are well over thirty-one."
"Not very much; only three months."
"That makes you thirty-one and a quarter."
"You're at least twenty-eight yourself, Dodichet."
"I don't conceal my age: I am twenty-seven and a half, Adhémar twenty-nine, and Lucien twenty-six; he's the youngest of the lot. So far, so good. I move that Phœbus proceed."
"All right.—Messieurs, I have no reason to complain of destiny. Having obtained a position in the Interior Department, where my assiduity, my zeal, and my fine handwriting procured me rapid promotion, I soon married; I found a very attractive young lady, who had a good-sized dowry; I was introduced to her; she liked me and declared that she would be happy to marry a man employed in the Interior Department. Our nuptials were celebrated. I have every reason to congratulate myself: my wife adores me, she sees only through my eyes. My emoluments are respectable; I am able to live pleasantly; so that I might fairly say that I have arrived, that my position is assured; but no, messieurs, I have not yet reached the height to which I aspire. For I am ambitious: I want to be a sub-prefect, or at least the head of a bureau; but I hope to arrive before long. Dixi."