Some people are born with a predominant instinct, with some vocation or
some desire aroused, from the very moment they begin to speak or to
think.
Ever since he was a child Monsieur Sacrement had only had one idea in
his head--to be decorated. When he was still quite a small boy he used to
wear a zinc Cross of the Legion of Honour just as other children wear a
soldier's cap, and he took his mother's hand in the street with a proud
look, sticking out his little chest with its red ribbon and metal star so
that it might show to advantage.
His studies were not a success, and he failed in his examination for
Bachelor of Arts; so, not knowing what to do, he married a pretty girl,
for he had plenty of money of his own.
They lived in Paris, like many rich middle-class people do, mixing with
their own particular set, without going among other people, proud of
knowing a Deputy, who might perhaps be a Minister some day, while two
heads of government departments were among their friends.
But Monsieur Sacrement could not get rid of his one absorbing idea, and
he was very unhappy because he had not the right to wear a little bit of
coloured ribbon in his buttonhole.
When he met any men who were decorated on the Boulevards, he looked at
them askance, with intense jealousy. Sometimes, when he had nothing
to do in the afternoon, he would count them, and say to himself: "Just let
me see how many I shall meet between the Madeleine and the Rue Drouot."
Then he would walk slowly, looking at every coat, with a practiced eye,
for the little bit of red ribbon, and when he had got to the end of his
walk he always said the numbers out loud. "Eight officers and seventeen
knights. As many as that! It is stupid to sow the Cross broadcast in that
fashion. I wonder how many I shall meet going back?"
And he returned slowly, unhappy when the crowd of passers-by interfered
with his seeing them.
He knew the places where most of them were to be found. They swarmed in
the Palais Royal. Fewer were seen in the Avenue de l'Opéra than in the Rue
de la Paix, while the right side of the Boulevard was more frequented by
them than the left.
They also seemed to prefer certain cafés and theatres. Whenever he saw
a group of white-haired old gentlemen standing together in the middle of
the pavement, interfering with the traffic, he used to say to himself:
"They are officers of the Legion of Honour," and he felt inclined to take
off his hat to them.
He had often remarked that the officers had a different bearing from
mere knights. They carried their heads higher, and you felt that they
enjoyed greater official consideration, and a more widely-extended
importance.
Sometimes M. Sacrement would be seized with a furious hatred for
everyone who was decorated; he felt like a Socialist towards them. Then,
when he got home, excited at meeting so many Crosses,--just like a poor
hungry wretch is on passing some dainty provision-shop,--he used to ask
in a loud voice:
"When shall we get rid of this wretched government?" And his wife would
be surprised, and ask:
"What is the matter with you to-day?"
"I am indignant," he would reply, "at the injustice I see going on
around us. Oh! the Communards were certainly right!"
After dinner he would go out again and look at the shops where all the
decorations were sold, and examine all the emblems of various shapes and
colours. He would have liked to possess them all, and to have walked
gravely at the head of a procession with his opera-hat under his arm and
his breast covered with decorations, radiant as a star, amid a buzz of
admiring whispers and a hum of respect. But, alas! he had no right to
wear any decoration whatever.
He used to say to himself: "It is really too difficult for any man to
obtain the Legion of Honour unless he is some public functionary. Suppose
I try to get appointed an officer of the Academy!"
But he did not know how to set about it, and spoke to his wife on the
subject, who was stupefied.
"Officer of the Academy! What have you done to deserve it?"
He got angry. "I know what I am talking about; I only want to know how
to set about it. You are quite stupid at times."