RÈGLEMENT DES COMPTES. Monsieur de Macaire, permettez-moi de vous dire que votre compte m’étonne ! Pour un espion chargé de tenir le prince au courant des Journaux 120,000 ff. Pour une émeute qui a failli avoir lieu. 35,000 Honoraires de quelques personnages, partisans du Prince 370,000,15 525,000,15 Comment Monsieur le Duc, cela vous étonne, mais vous croyez donc qu’on remonte sur le trône aussi facilemen qu’on en descend ? erreur, Monsieur le Duc, erreur, vous n’êtes pas de votre siècle.
RÈGLEMENT DES COMPTES. Monsieur de Macaire, permettez-moi de vous dire que votre compte m’étonne ! Pour un espion chargé de tenir le prince au courant des Journaux 120,000 ff. Pour une émeute qui a failli avoir lieu. 35,000 Honoraires de quelques personnages, partisans du Prince 370,000,15 525,000,15 Comment Monsieur le Duc, cela vous étonne, mais vous croyez donc qu’on remonte sur le trône aussi facilemen qu’on en descend ? erreur, Monsieur le Duc, erreur, vous n’êtes pas de votre siècle.
Title (alt.):
SETTLEMENT OF ACCOUNTS. Monsieur de Macaire, allow me to tell you that I find your account amazing ! For a spy who has charged to keep the prince posted on the daily news for 120,000 Francs. For an uprising that never took place. 35,000 francs in fees for some people, supports of the Prince 370,000,15 525,000,15 What do you mean Duke, that you are surprised, you surely must know that ascending the throne is not as easy as descending it? wrong, Monsieur the Duke, completely wrong you are not up to date.. Charivari
Description:
A duke is asking Robert Macaire to pay him back. Robert Macaire may seem to be a realistic figure, however one should remember that in reality he is an artificial personality, created in 1823 by Benjamin Antier for his play „ L’Auberge des Adrets“. The breakthrough came in 1834, when Frédéric Lemaitre used the names of Macaire and his somewhat simple partner Serres-Bertrand for his various comedies in Paris. The figure of Macaire goes back as far as 1371, when - as the legend goes - Aubri de Montdidier, a nobleman from the court of Charles V was assassinated by Macaire. The murder was vindicated by his dog, the only witness of the assassination. A duel between the dog and Macaire, who was armed with a cudgel, should settle the case. The dog killed Macaire, who confessed the murder before he died. Macaire personified the clever business man, who was willing at any time to throw moral and ethical principles overboard for a quick buck. His personality fitted exactly to the period so well described by Alexis de Tocqueville: self-enrichment at all levels and a Government run on shareholders principles. Short-selling, pyramid systems, investments in Californian gold mines and IPOs of non existent companies were the name of the game. Thanks to Macaire and Bertrand, all the little tricks were demonstrated in detail to the public.
Copyright restrictions may apply. For permission to copy or use this image, contact the Robert D. Farber University Archives and Special Collections Department, Brandeis University Libraries. The following credit line must be included with each item used: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman Collection of Honoré Daumier Lithographs, Robert D. Farber University Archives & Special Collections Department, Brandeis University.
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Place of origin:
Paris
Notes:
3rd state.
Published in: Le Charivari, March 28, 1841.
Notes (acquisition):
Donated by: Benjamin A. and Julia M. Trustman, 1959.
