«Les gens de bureau» est un récit plaisant et en même temps une une très bonne satyre de l'administration du XIX siècle. Ici vous pouvez trouver les parallèles à faire avec l'actuelle ou reconnaître quelques collègues dans les descriptions des fonctionnaires. Avec le portrait d'un jeune homme, Romain Caldas, Gaboriau réalise le portrait de différents types d'employés et de leurs misères. Est-ce que le travail dans l'administration publique a bien changé?
Romain Caldas, qui n'avait point eu de boules blanches à ses examens de l'école de droit découvrit un matin qu'il devait être admirablement propre à toutes les administrations.
En conséquence, il prit une grande feuille de papier, et de sa plus belle écriture, qui n'était pas belle, il adressa une demande d'emplois à S. Exc. M. le Ministre de l'équilibre National.
Un vieux monsieur qu'il ne connaissait guère y mit une apostille dans laquelle il déclarait que les talents du soussigné Caldas devaient être utilisés sans retard au profit de l'état.
En fait d'apostille, il n'y a que la première qui co?te. Romain eut bient?t la satisfaction de voir tout à l'entour de sa pétition vingt signatures de personnes qu'il ne connaissait pas du tout.
Sa demande envoyée, Caldas se mit à piocher consciencieusement les matières de son examen.
L'administration de l'équilibre, en effet, outre qu'elle exige des candidats aux emplois dont elle dispose le dipl?me de bachelier, les astreint encore à passer un examen spécial.
Peut-être l'administration s'est-elle aper?ue que tous les bacheliers ne savent pas l'orthographe.
D'autres mobiles encore l'ont guidée, lorsqu'elle a inauguré le système des épreuves.
D'abord un vif désir de ne pas rester au-dessous de la civilisation chinoise, qui donne au concours le tablier du cuisinier aussi bien que le bouton de jaspe du général.
Ensuite l'intention bien arrêtée de recruter désormais son personnel dans un choix de sujets hors ligne.
Enfin la généreuse pensée de déconcerter à tout jamais le népotisme et de substituer le règne du mérite au régime de la faveur.
Pour cette dernière raison sans doute, on est facilement admis à subir l'examen, pourvu que l'on soit chaudement appuyé par trois ou quatre grands personnages.
Caldas avait déjà légèrement préparé les trois premiers numéros du programme qui comprend quarante-sept numéros, lorsqu'il re?ut l'avis de se rendre au ministère pour y subir les épreuves écrites et orales.
Il s'y rendit fort inquiet. Les matières sur lesquelles il fallait répondre sont nombreuses et variées.
On demande aux candidats: une page d'écriture, un problème de trigonométrie, une dictée sur les difficultés les plus ardues de la langue fran?aise, une dissertation sur une question de statistique, et la géographie postale de la France.
C'est dans la salle des archives que l'examen a lieu.
Lorsque Caldas y pénétra, cent cinquante à deux cents concurrents l'y avaient déjà devancé; il en vint encore près du double après lui.
Tout ce monde s'asseyait en silence, et des gar?ons de bureau donnaient à chacun une plume, une écritoire et un cahier de papier blanc.
Modestement placé près de la porte, Caldas considérait cette singulière assemblée. Il était venu des candidats de toutes les paroisses: il y en avait de très-jeunes qui n'avaient pas encore de barbe, et de très-vieux qui n'avaient plus de cheveux; des gens d'une mise soignée, et des pauvres diables presque en haillons.
A un moment le silence fut troublé; les élèves de la pension Labadens, qui prépare à tous les ministères (Trente ans de succès.-On traite à forfait), venaient de faire leur entrée.
Ces jeunes élèves portaient l'uniforme des lycées et empestaient la pipe et l'absinthe.
L'un d'eux vint s'asseoir à la gauche de Caldas; déjà il avait à sa droite un vieillard sexagénaire dont les yeux s'abritaient derrière des lunettes vertes.
-Tous ces gens-là, pensait Caldas, ont pourtant un protecteur. Ils ont eu une signature illustre. Comment, par quels ressorts, par quels moyens?... Quelles ont été leurs influences? Sont-ils dans la manche d'une jolie femme, d'une chambrière, d'un perruquier ou d'un confesseur? Ce serait, en vérité, une curieuse statistique.
Dix heures sonnèrent. On ferma les portes.
Un monsieur très-décoré, qui occupait au fond de la salle un fauteuil placé sur une estrade, semblait présider l'assemblée.
Ce monsieur se leva et pronon?a à peu près ce petit discours:
?-Je ne vous cacherai pas, jeunes candidats, les horribles difficultés de cet examen; vous n'aurez cependant à répondre qu'à des questions d'une extrême simplicité. La plus rigoureuse sévérité présidera à la correction des compositions; les examinateurs seront d'ailleurs aussi indulgents que possible. Rendons tous grace à Son Excellence Monsieur le Ministre.?
L'examen commen?a. Il y eut une question qui embarrassa bien Caldas.
C'était un problème ainsi posé:
?Dire l'influence de la statistique sur la durée moyenne de la vie des hommes depuis dix ans.?
Il s'en tira pourtant en s'inspirant fort à propos d'un passage humanitaire de la Case de l'oncle Tom.
Du reste, Romain put travailler avec tranquillité. Il ne fut dérangé que tous les quarts d'heure par son voisin le lycéen qui lui offrait des prises de tabac dans sa queue de rat, et, de temps à autre, par le sexagénaire, qui lui demandait des conseils sur les participes. Trois messieurs, qui copièrent par-dessus son épaule, ne le gênèrent aucunement.
En rentrant chez lui, Caldas se disait:
-Cet examen est une excellente chose pour les candidats; au numéro de classement qu'obtient leur mérite, ils peuvent mesurer au juste l'influence de leurs protecteurs.
This early work by Émile Gaboriau was originally published in the late 19th century and we are now republishing it with a brand new introduction.
"Ms. Crawford, it’s time for you to divorce Mr. Larsen and come home. You're the only heiress the Master's waiting for.” ~•~ For the sake of love, Amara accepted the arranged marriage with Tobias William Larsen. She did everything to gain her husband’s heart but when his old love returned, she realized that all her effort was all for naught. Tobias demanded a divorce on the night of their wedding anniversary, even at the price of threatening her. Heartbroken, she finally dropped all her illusions about him and returned home to be the heiress. The next time she met Tobias, they were no longer couples but opponents. "Mr. Larsen, should I remind you again? We've divorced." "Amara, that's the stupidest mistake I've ever made. Please come back to me."
She was hurt. She was bullied and made fun of. And the only hope that kept her going was finding her mate. She has always been weak. Weak to the world. Why? Because she was a lantern. She didn't have a wolf. That's what everyone thought about her. When she found her mate, he wanted her to be his slut and not a wife. She might be an omega, but it doesn't mean she will take disloyalty and betrayal lightly. So she did something that no one in history ever did. She rejected an Alpha. "I, Alexis Clark, reject Brandon Sterling, the alpha of Black mist pack, and consider myself a free soul until I decide so."; Were her last words before she left that torturous place and became a rogue. A rogue that everyone was fearing and finding. Why? Because she was the rogue that has become one of the biggest problems of almost all the packs in the country. She was Alexis Clark. A rogue that rejected an Alpha, stealth food, kill other rogues, and more than that was living with humans and studying with them. What will happen when her case is given to the world's most dangerous alpha, Sebastian Sinclair, who has taken it upon himself to punish this rogue. The one who hated rogues and omega to a level that was beyond understanding. Why? Because his mate was an omega, who betrayed him with a rogue before dying. How will Alexis tackle this alpha, in whose College she was studying and living under hiding for almost a year? What will Sebastian do when he finds out the new girl he had been talking to is none other than the rogue omega that he had decided to kill? "To love you with all my might was my only wish, but you were the only one who gave me endless suffering. So today, I promise myself to not fall for anyone."; A simple saying that both Alexis and Sebastian had vowed upon. Will they be able to find their love amidst all these problems?
"You're the moon wolf, Lola. You're the wolf with the power of the Moon goddess", Serena said and collective gasps were heard in the room. After being rejected by her mate in Moonlit pack, Lola escaped on a full moon only to enter the territory of the next Alpha King who also happened to be her second chance mate. Adrian is the next Alpha King but he hasn't been able to assume his role because he needed a Luna by his side. A rogue that trespassed on his territory, whom he ordered be killed turned out to be his mate leaving him in a dilemma. Will Adrian reject Lola because she came into his territory as a rogue? Will he overcome what happened to him in the past and give Lola a chance or reject her and go ahead with Fay as his chosen Luna? What will happen when everyone finds out just how much power Lola wields and how she's supposed to protect her kind in an oncoming war? Find out in Lola - The Moon Wolf!
Three years ago, the Moore family opposed Charles Moore's choice to marry his beloved woman and selected Scarlett Riley as his bride. Charles didn't love her. In fact, he hated her. Not long after they got married, Scarlett received an offer from her dream university and jumped on it. Three years later, Charles's beloved woman fell terribly ill. In order to fulfill her last wish, he called Scarlett back and presented her with a divorce agreement. Scarlett was deeply hurt by Charles's abrupt decision, but she chose to let him go and agreed to sign the divorce papers. However, Charles seemed to delay the process deliberately, leaving Scarlett confused and frustrated. Now, Scarlett was trapped between the consequences of Charles's indecision. Would she be able to break free from him? Would Charles eventually come to his senses and face his true feelings?
COALESCENCE OF THE FIVE SERIES BOOK ONE: THE 5-TIME REJECTED GAMMA & THE LYCAN KING BOOK TWO: THE ROGUES WHO WENT ROGUE BOOK THREE: THE INDOMITABLE HUNTRESS & THE HARDENED DUKE *** BOOK ONE: After being rejected by 5 mates, Gamma Lucianne pleaded with the Moon Goddess to spare her from any further mate-bonds. To her dismay, she is being bonded for the sixth time. What’s worse is that her sixth-chance mate is the most powerful creature ruling over all werewolves and Lycans - the Lycan King himself. She is certain, dead certain, that a rejection would come sooner or later, though she hopes for it to be sooner. King Alexandar was ecstatic to meet his bonded mate, and couldn’t thank their Goddess enough for gifting him someone so perfect. However, he soon realizes that this gift is reluctant to accept him, and more than willing to sever their bond. He tries to connect with her but she seems so far away. He is desperate to get intimate with her but she seems reluctant to open up to him. He tries to tell her that he is willing to commit to her for the rest of his life but she doesn’t seem to believe him. He is pleading for a chance: a chance to get to know her; a chance to show her that he’s different; and a chance to love her. But when not-so-subtle crushes, jealous suitors, self-entitled Queen-wannabes, an old flame, a silent protector and a past wedding engagement threaten to jeopardize their relationship, will Lucianne and Xandar still choose to be together? Is their love strong enough to overcome everything and everyone? Or will Lucianne resort to enduring a sixth rejection from the one person she thought she could entrust her heart with?
“Gabriel Bryce, how can you stand being so shameless?” Leonica asked, staring daggers at her atrocious husband and his mistress. “This is the house gifted to my by grandmother, yet you dare bring another woman into it? Aren’t you afraid that grandmother would be disappointed with you actions…?” Leonica’s words remained unfinished as an enraged Gabriel swung his hand through the air, smacking his palm clean on her left cheek. Leonica held her throbbing cheek, eyes wide and teary as she stared at her husband who glared down at her ferociously. “The nerves of you to mention my grandmother. You have no right to do so!” He spat, taking a step forward and jabbing his index finger painfully into her shoulder, making her take several steps back. “Bare this in mind, Leonica Romero, if not for the wishes of my late grandmother, I’d much rather be dead than associate myself with somebody like you.” *~*~* *~*~* Leonica Romero has always had a long time crush on Gabriel Bryce, CEO of Bryce Empire and Norway’s Business tyrant. Fortunately, at the request of his Ill grandmother, her family’s long time friend, Leonica gets the chance to marry her beloved. Feeling elated, she abandoned her position and dream job in the Romero household and becomes a humble housewife for Gabriel. However, Three years later, on the day of Gabriel’s grandmother’s funeral, Leonica is stunned speechless when he demands for a divorce, as his ex girlfriend Angelina Fernandez had suddenly returned, proclaiming her undying love for him. But that wasn’t the only shock Leonica received that day. Hours after Gabriel’s declaration for a divorce, Leonica wakes up in the hospital to a shocking news. She was two months pregnant. And Gabriel knew nothing about this!