第4章

"Thisyoungfellow,"thoughthe,"isagood-lookinglad;onemightgosofarastosaythatheisveryhandsome.Ifheweretomaketoomuchmoney,hewouldonlyfallintodissipatedways,andthenhewouldnotwork.Intheinterestsofusboth,Ishallonlyoffersixhundredfrancs,incointhough,notpaper."

Heclimbedthestairsandgavethreerapsatthedoor.Luciencametoopenit.Theroomwasforlorninitsbareness.Abowlofmilkandapennyrollstoodonthetable.ThedestitutionofgeniusmadeanimpressiononDaddyDoguereau.

"Lethimpreservethesesimplehabitsoflife,thisfrugality,thesemodestrequirements,"thoughthe——Aloudhesaid:"Itisapleasuretometoseeyou.Thus,sir,livedJean-Jacques,whomyouresembleinmorewaysthanone.Amidsuchsurroundingsthefireofgeniusshinesbrightly;goodworkisdoneinsuchroomsasthese.Thisishowmenoflettersshouldwork,insteadoflivingriotouslyincafesandrestaurants,wastingtheirtimeandtalentandourmoney."

Hesatdown.

"Yourromanceisnotbad,youngman.Iwasaprofessorofrhetoriconce;IknowFrenchhistory,therearesomecapitalthingsinit.Youhaveafuturebeforeyou,infact."

"Oh!sir."

"No;Itellyouso.Wemaydobusinesstogether.Iwillbuyyourromance."

Lucien"sheartswelledandthrobbedwithgladness.Hewasabouttoentertheworldofliterature;heshouldseehimselfinprintatlast.

"Iwillgiveyoufourhundredfrancs,"continuedDoguereauinhoneyedaccents,andhelookedatLucienwithanairwhichseemedtobetokenaneffortofgenerosity.

"Thevolume?"queriedLucien.

"Fortheromance,"saidDoguereau,heedlessofLucien"ssurprise."Inreadymoney,"headded;"andyoushallundertaketowritetwobooksformeeveryyearforsixyears.Ifthefirstbookisoutofprintinsixmonths,Iwillgiveyousixhundredfrancsfortheothers.So,ifyouwritetwobookseachyear,youwillbemakingahundredfrancsamonth;youwillhaveasureincome,youwillbewelloff.TherearesomeauthorswhomIonlypaythreehundredfrancsforaromance;I

givetwohundredfortranslationsofEnglishbooks.Suchpriceswouldhavebeenexorbitantintheolddays."

"Sir,wecannotpossiblycometoanunderstanding.Givemebackmymanuscript,Ibeg,"saidLucien,inacoldchill.

"Hereitis,"saidtheoldbookseller."Youknownothingofbusiness,sir.Beforeanauthor"sfirstbookcanappear,apublisherisboundtosinksixteenhundredfrancsonthepaperandtheprintingofit.Itiseasiertowritearomancethantofindallthatmoney.Ihaveahundredromancesinmanuscript,andIhavenotahundredandsixtythousandfrancsinmycashbox,alas!IhavenotmadesomuchinallthesetwentyyearsthatIhavebeenabookseller.Soyoudon"tmakeafortunebyprintingromances,yousee.VidalandPorchononlytakethemofusonconditionsthatgrowharderandharderdaybyday.Youhaveonlyyourtimetolose,whileIamobligedtodisbursetwothousandfrancs.Ifwefail,habentsuafatalibelli,Ilosetwothousandfrancs;while,asforyou,yousimplyhurlanodeatthethick-headedpublic.WhenyouhavethoughtoverthisthatIhavethehonoroftellingyou,youwillcomebacktome——YOUWILLCOMEBACKTO

ME!"heassertedauthoritatively,bywayofreplytoascornfulgesturemadeinvoluntarilybyLucien."Sofarfromfindingapublisherobligingenoughtorisktwothousandfrancsforanunknownwriter,youwillnotfindapublisher"sclerkthatwilltroublehimselftolookthroughyourscreed.NowthatIhavereaditIcanpointoutagoodmanyslipsingrammar.Youhaveputobserverforfaireobserverandmalgreque.Malgreisapreposition,andrequiresanobject."

Lucienappearedtobehumiliated.

"WhenIseeyouagain,youwillhavelostahundredfrancs,"headded.

"Ishallonlygiveahundredcrowns."

Withthatheroseandtookhisleave.Onthethresholdhesaid,"Ifyouhadnotsomethinginyou,andafuturebeforeyou;ifIdidnottakeaninterestinstudiousyouth,Ishouldnothavemadeyousuchahandsomeoffer.Ahundredfrancspermonth!Thinkofit!Afterall,aromanceinadrawerisnoteatingitsheadofflikeahorseinastable,norwillitfindyouinvictualseither,andthat"safact."

Luciensnatcheduphismanuscriptanddasheditonthefloor.

"Iwouldratherburnit,sir!"heexclaimed.

"Youhaveapoet"shead,"returnedhissenior.

Luciendevouredhisbreadandsuppedhisbowlofmilk,thenhewentdownstairs.Hisroomwasnotlargeenoughforhim;hewasturningroundandroundinitlikealioninacageattheJardindesPlantes.

AttheBibliothequeSaint-Genevieve,whitherLucienwasgoing,hehadcometoknowastrangerbysight;ayoungmanoffive-and-twentyorthereabouts,workingwiththesustainedindustrywhichnothingcandisturbnordistract,thesignbywhichyourgenuineliteraryworkerisknown.Evidentlytheyoungmanhadbeenreadingthereforsometime,forthelibrarianandattendantsallknewhimandpaidhimspecialattention;thelibrarianwouldevenallowhimtotakeawaybooks,withwhichLuciensawhimreturninthemorning.Inthestrangerstudentherecognizedabrotherinpenuryandhope.

Pale-facedandslightandthin,withafineforeheadhiddenbymassesofblack,tolerablyunkempthair,therewassomethingabouthimthatattractedindifferenteyes:itwasavagueresemblancewhichheboretoportraitsoftheyoungBonaparte,engravedfromRobertLefebvre"spicture.Thatengravingisapoemofmelancholyintensity,ofsuppressedambition,ofpowerworkingbelowthesurface.Studythefacecarefully,andyouwilldiscovergeniusinitanddiscretion,andallthesubtletyandgreatnessoftheman.Theportraithasspeakingeyeslikeawoman"s;theylookout,greedyofspace,cravingdifficultiestovanquish.EvenifthenameofBonapartewerenotwrittenbeneathit,youwouldgazelongatthatface.

Lucien"syoungstudent,theincarnationofthispicture,usuallyworefootedtrousers,shoeswiththicksolestothem,anovercoatofcoarsecloth,ablackcravat,awaistcoatofsomegray-and-whitematerialbuttonedtothechin,andacheaphat.Contemptforsuperfluityindresswasvisibleinhiswholeperson.LucienalsodiscoveredthatthemysteriousstrangerwiththatunmistakablestampwhichgeniussetsupontheforeheadofitsslaveswasoneofFlicoteaux"smostregularcustomers;heatetolive,carelessofthefarewhichappearedtobefamiliartohim,anddrankwater.WhereverLuciensawhim,atthelibraryoratFlicoteaux"s,therewasadignityinhismanner,springingdoubtlessfromtheconsciousnessofapurposethatfilledhislife,adignitywhichmadehimunapproachable.Hehadtheexpressionofathinker,meditationdweltonthefinenoblycarvedbrow.Youcouldtellfromthedarkbrighteyes,soclear-sightedandquicktoobserve,thattheirownerwaswonttoprobetothebottomofthings.Hegesticulatedverylittle,hisdemeanorwasgrave.Lucienfeltaninvoluntaryrespectforhim.

ManytimesalreadythepairhadlookedateachotherattheBibliothequeoratFlicoteaux"s;manytimestheyhadbeenonthepointofspeaking,butneitherofthemhadventuredsofarasyet.Thesilentyoungmanwentofftothefurtherendofthelibrary,onthesideatrightanglestothePlacedelaSorbonne,andLucienhadnoopportunityofmakinghisacquaintance,althoughhefeltdrawntoaworkerwhomheknewbyindescribabletokensforacharacterofnocommonorder.Both,astheycametoknowafterwards,wereunsophisticatedandshy,giventofearswhichcauseapleasurableemotiontosolitarycreatures.PerhapstheyneverwouldhavebeenbroughtintocommunicationiftheyhadnotcomeacrosseachotherthatdayofLucien"sdisaster;forasLucienturnedintotheRuedesGres,hesawthestudentcomingawayfromtheBibliothequeSainte-Genevieve.

"Thelibraryisclosed;Idon"tknowwhy,monsieur,"saidhe.

TearswerestandinginLucien"seyes;heexpressedhisthanksbyoneofthosegesturesthatspeakmoreeloquentlythanwords,andunlockheartsatoncewhentwomenmeetinyouth.TheywenttogetheralongtheRuedesGrestowardstheRuedelaHarpe.

"Asthatisso,IshallgototheLuxembourgforawalk,"saidLucien.

"Whenyouhavecomeout,itisnoteasytosettledowntoworkagain."

"No;one"sideaswillnotflowinthepropercurrent,"remarkedthestranger."Somethingseemstohaveannoyedyou,monsieur?"

"Ihavejusthadaqueeradventure,"saidLucien,andhetoldthehistoryofhisvisittotheQuai,andgaveanaccountofhissubsequentdealingswiththeoldbookseller.Hegavehisnameandsaidawordortwoofhisposition.Inonemonthorthereaboutshehadspentsixtyfrancsonhisboard,thirtyforlodging,twentymorefrancsingoingtothetheatre,andtenatBlosse"sreadingroom——onehundredandtwentyfrancsinall,andnowhehadjustahundredandtwentyfrancsinhand.

"Yourstoryismine,monsieur,andthestoryoftenortwelvehundredyoungfellowsbesideswhocomefromthecountrytoPariseveryyear.

Thereareothersevenworseoffthanweare.Doyouseethattheatre?"

hecontinued,indicatingtheturretsoftheOdeon."Therecameonedaytolodgeinoneofthehousesinthesquareamanoftalentwhohadfallenintothelowestdepthsofpoverty.Hewasmarried,inadditiontothemisfortuneswhichwesharewithhim,toawifewhomheloved;

andthepoorerorthericher,asyouwill,bytwochildren.Hewasburdenedwithdebt,butheputhisfaithinhispen.HetookacomedyinfiveactstotheOdeon;thecomedywasaccepted,themanagementarrangedtobringitout,theactorslearnedtheirparts,thestagemanagerurgedontherehearsals.Fiveseveralbitsofluck,fivedramastobeperformedinreallife,andfarhardertasksthanthewritingofafive-actplay.Thepoorauthorlodgedinagarret;youcanseetheplacefromhere.Hedrainedhislastresourcestoliveuntilthefirstrepresentation;hiswifepawnedherclothes,theyalllivedondrybread.Onthedayofthefinalrehearsal,thehouseholdowedfiftyfrancsintheQuartertothebaker,themilkwoman,andtheporter.Theauthorhadonlythestrictlynecessaryclothes——acoat,ashirt,trousers,awaistcoat,andapairofboots.Hefeltsureofhissuccess;hekissedhiswife.Theendoftheirtroubleswasathand.

"Atlast!Thereisnothingagainstusnow,"criedhe——"Yes,thereisfire,"saidhiswife;"look,theOdeonisonfire!"——TheOdeonwasonfire,monsieur.Sodonotyoucomplain.Youhaveclothes,youhaveneitherwifenorchild,youhaveahundredandtwentyfrancsforemergenciesinyourpocket,andyouowenooneapenny——Well,thepiecewentthroughahundredandfiftyrepresentationsattheTheatreLouvois.TheKingallowedtheauthorapension."Geniusispatience,"

asBuffonsaid.Andpatienceafterallisaman"snearestapproachtoNature"sprocessesofcreation.WhatisArt,monsieur,butNatureconcentrated?"

BythistimetheyoungmenwerestridingalongthewalksoftheLuxembourg,andinnolongtimeLucienlearnedthenameofthestrangerwhowasdoinghisbesttoadministercomfort.Thatnamehassincegrownfamous.Danield"Arthezisoneofthemostillustriousoflivingmenofletters;oneoftherarefewwhoshowusanexampleof"anoblegiftwithanoblenaturecombined,"toquoteapoet"sfinethought.

"Thereisnocheaproutetogreatness,"Danielwentoninhiskindvoice."TheworksofGeniusarewateredwithtears.Thegiftthatisinyou,likeanexistenceinthephysicalworld,passesthroughchildhoodanditsmaladies.Naturesweepsawaysicklyordeformedcreatures,andSocietyrejectsanimperfectlydevelopedtalent.Anymanwhomeanstoriseabovetherestmustmakereadyforastruggleandbeundauntedbydifficulties.Agreatwriterisamartyrwhodoesnotdie;thatisall——Thereisthestampofgeniusonyourforehead,"

d"Arthezcontinued,envelopingLucienbyaglance;"butunlessyouhavewithinyouthewillofgenius,unlessyouaregiftedwithangelicpatience,unless,nomatterhowfarthefreaksofFatehavesetyoufromyourdestinedgoal,youcanfindthewaytoyourInfiniteastheturtlesintheIndiesfindtheirwaytotheocean,youhadbettergiveupatonce."

"Thendoyouyourselfexpecttheseordeals?"askedLucien.

"Trialsofeverykind,slanderandtreachery,andeffronteryandcunning,therivalswhoactunfairly,andthekeencompetitionoftheliterarymarket,"hiscompanionsaidresignedly."Whatisafirstloss,ifonlyyourworkwasgood?"

"Willyoulookatmineandgivemeyouropinion?"askedLucien.

"Sobeit,"saidd"Arthez."IamlivingintheRuedesQuatre-Vents.

Desplein,oneofthemostillustriousmenofgeniusinourtime,thegreatestsurgeonthattheworldhasknown,onceenduredthemartyrdomofearlystruggleswiththefirstdifficultiesofagloriouscareerinthesamehouse.Ithinkofthateverynight,andthethoughtgivesmethestockofcouragethatIneedeverymorning.Iamlivingintheveryroomwhere,likeRousseau,hehadnoTheresa.Comeinanhour"stime.Ishallbein."

Thepoetsgraspedeachother"shandswitharushofmelancholyandtenderfeelinginexpressibleinwords,andwenttheirseparateways;

Lucientofetchhismanuscript,Danield"Artheztopawnhiswatchandbuyacoupleoffaggots.Theweatherwascold,andhisnew-foundfriendshouldfindafireinhisroom.

Lucienwaspunctual.HenoticedatoncethatthehousewasofanevenpoorerclassthantheHoteldeCluny.Astaircasegraduallybecamevisibleatthefurtherendofadarkpassage;hemountedtothefifthfloor,andfoundd"Arthez"sroom.

Abookcaseofdark-stainedwood,withrowsoflabeledcardboardcasesontheshelves,stoodbetweenthetwocrazywindows.Agaunt,paintedwoodenbedstead,ofthekindseeninschooldormitories,anight-

table,pickedupcheaplysomewhere,andacoupleofhorsehairarmchairs,filledthefurtherendoftheroom.Thewall-paper,aHighlandplaidpattern,wasglazedoverwiththegrimeofyears.

Betweenthewindowandthegratestoodalongtablelitteredwithpapers,andoppositethefireplacetherewasacheapmahoganychestofdrawers.Asecond-handcarpetcoveredthefloor——anecessaryluxury,foritsavedfiring.Acommonofficearmchair,cushionedwithleather,crimsononce,butnowhoarywithwear,wasdrawnuptothetable.Addhalf-a-dozenricketychairs,andyouhaveacompletelistofthefurniture.Luciennoticedanold-fashionedcandle-sconceforacard-

table,withanadjustablescreenattached,andwonderedtoseefourwaxcandlesinthesockets.D"Arthezexplainedthathecouldnotendurethesmelloftallow,alittletraitdenotinggreatdelicacyofsenseperception,andtheexquisitesensibilitywhichaccompaniesit.

Thereadinglastedforsevenhours.Daniellistenedconscientiously,forbearingtointerruptbywordorcomment——oneoftherarestproofsofgoodtasteinalistener.

"Well?"queriedLucien,layingthemanuscriptonthechimney-piece.

"Youhavemadeagoodstartontherightway,"d"Arthezansweredjudicially,"butyoumustgooveryourworkagain.YoumuststrikeoutadifferentstyleforyourselfifyoudonotmeantoapeSirWalterScott,foryouhavetakenhimforyourmodel.Youbegin,forinstance,ashebegins,withlongconversationstointroduceyourcharacters,andonlywhentheyhavesaidtheirsaydoesdescriptionandactionfollow.

"Thisopposition,necessaryinallworkofadramatickind,comeslast.Justputthetermsoftheproblemtheotherwayround.Givedescriptions,towhichourlanguagelendsitselfsoadmirably,insteadofdiffusedialogue,magnificentinScott"swork,butcolorlessinyourown.Leadnaturallyuptoyourdialogue.Plungestraightintotheaction.Treatyoursubjectfromdifferentpointsofview,sometimesinaside-light,sometimesretrospectively;varyyourmethods,infact,todiversifyyourwork.YoumaybeoriginalwhileadaptingtheScotsnovelist"sformofdramaticdialoguetoFrenchhistory.ThereisnopassioninScott"snovels;heignorespassion,orperhapsitwasinterdictedbythehypocriticalmannersofhiscountry.Womanforhimisdutyincarnate.Hisheroines,withpossiblyoneortwoexceptions,areallalike;hehasdrawnthemallfromthesamemodel,aspainterssay.Theyare,everyoneofthem,descendedfromClarissaHarlowe.Andreturningcontinually,ashedid,tothesameideaofwoman,howcouldhedootherwisethanproduceasingletype,variedonlybydegreesofvividnessinthecoloring?WomanbringsconfusionintoSocietythroughpassion.Passiongivesinfinitepossibilities.Thereforedepictpassion;youhaveonegreatresourceopentoyou,foregonebythegreatgeniusforthesakeofprovidingfamilyreadingforprudishEngland.InFranceyouhavethecharmingsinner,thebrightly-coloredlifeofCatholicism,contrastedwithsombreCalvinisticfiguresonabackgroundofthetimeswhenpassionsranhigherthanatanyotherperiodofourhistory.

"EveryepochwhichhasleftauthenticrecordssincethetimeofCharlestheGreatcallsforatleastoneromance.Somerequirefourorfive;theperiodsofLouisXIV.,ofHenryIV.,ofFrancisI.,forinstance.YouwouldgiveusinthiswayapicturesquehistoryofFrance,withthecostumesandfurniture,thehousesandtheirinteriors,anddomesticlife,givingusthespiritofthetimeinsteadofalaboriousnarrationofascertainedfacts.Thenthereisfurtherscopefororiginality.Youcanremovesomeofthepopulardelusionswhichdisfigurethememoriesofmostofourkings.BeboldenoughinthisfirstworkofyourstorehabilitatethegreatmagnificentfigureofCatherine,whomyouhavesacrificedtotheprejudiceswhichstillcloudhername.Andfinally,paintCharlesIX.forusashereallywas,andnotasProtestantwritershavemadehim.Tenyearsofpersistentwork,andfameandfortunewillbeyours."

Bythistimeitwasnineo"clock;LucienfollowedtheexamplesetinsecretbyhisfuturefriendbyaskinghimtodineatEldon"s,andspenttwelvefrancsatthatrestaurant.DuringthedinnerDanieladmittedLucienintothesecretofhishopesandstudies.Danield"Arthezwouldnotallowthatanywritercouldattaintoapre-eminentrankwithoutaprofoundknowledgeofmetaphysics.Hewasengagedinransackingthespoilsofancientandmodernphilosophy,andintheassimilationofitall;hewouldbelikeMoliere,aprofoundphilosopherfirst,andawriterofcomediesafterwards.Hewasstudyingtheworldofbooksandthelivingworldabouthim——thoughtandfact.Hisfriendswerelearnednaturalists,youngdoctorsofmedicine,politicalwritersandartists,anumberofearneststudentsfullofpromise.

D"Arthezearnedalivingbyconscientiousandill-paidwork;hewrotearticlesforencyclopaedias,dictionariesofbiographyandnaturalscience,doingjustenoughtoenablehimtolivewhilehefollowedhisownbent,andneithermorenorless.Hehadapieceofimaginativeworkonhand,undertakensolelyforthesakeofstudyingtheresourcesoflanguage,animportantpsychologicalstudyintheformofanovel,unfinishedasyet,ford"Artheztookituporlaiditdownasthehumortookhim,andkeptitfordaysofgreatdistress.D"Arthez"srevelationsofhimselfweremadeverysimply,buttoLucienheseemedlikeanintellectualgiant;andbyeleveno"clock,whentheylefttherestaurant,hebegantofeelasudden,warmfriendshipforthisnature,unconsciousofitsloftiness,thisunostentatiousworth.

Lucientookd"Arthez"sadviceunquestioningly,andfolloweditouttotheletter.Themostmagnificentpalacesoffancyhadbeensuddenlyflungopentohimbyanobly-giftedmind,maturedalreadybythoughtandcriticalexaminationsundertakenfortheirownsake,notforpublication,butforthesolitarythinker"sownsatisfaction.TheburningcoalhadbeenlaidonthelipsofthepoetofAngouleme,awordutteredbyahardstudentinParishadfallenupongroundpreparedtoreceiveitintheprovincial.Luciensetaboutrecastinghiswork.

InhisgladnessatfindinginthewildernessofParisanatureaboundingingenerousandsympatheticfeeling,thedistinguishedprovincialdid,asallyoungcreatureshungeringforaffectionarewonttodo;hefastened,likeachronicdisease,uponthisonefriendthathehadfound.HecalledforD"ArthezonhiswaytotheBibliotheque,walkedwithhimonfinedaysintheLuxembourgGardens,andwentwithhisfriendeveryeveningasfarasthedoorofhislodging-houseaftersittingnexttohimatFlicoteaux"s.Hepressedclosetohisfriend"ssideasasoldiermightkeepbyacomradeonthefrozenRussianplains.

Duringthoseearlydaysofhisacquaintance,henoticed,notwithoutchagrin,thathispresenceimposedacertainrestraintonthecircleofDaniel"sintimates.Thetalkofthosesuperiorbeingsofwhomd"Arthezspoketohimwithsuchconcentratedenthusiasmkeptwithintheboundsofareservebutlittleinkeepingwiththeevidentwarmthoftheirfriendships.AtthesetimesLuciendiscreetlytookhisleave,afeelingofcuriosityminglingwiththesenseofsomethinglikepainattheostracismtowhichhewassubjectedbythesestrangers,whoalladdressedeachotherbytheirChristiannames.Eachoneofthem,liked"Arthez,borethestampofgeniusuponhisforehead.

Aftersomeprivateopposition,overcomebyd"ArthezwithoutLucien"sknowledge,thenewcomerwasatlengthjudgedworthytomakeoneofthecenacleofloftythinkers.Henceforwardhewastobeoneofalittlegroupofyoungmenwhometalmosteveryeveningind"Arthez"sroom,unitedbythekeenestsympathiesandbytheearnestnessoftheirintellectuallife.Theyallforesawagreatwriterind"Arthez;theylookeduponhimastheirchiefsincethelossofoneoftheirnumber,amysticalgenius,oneofthemostextraordinaryintellectsoftheage.Thisformerleaderhadgonebacktohisprovinceforreasonsonwhichitservesnopurposetoenter,butLucienoftenheardthemspeakofthisabsentfriendas"Louis."Severalofthegroupweredestinedtofallbytheway;butothers,liked"Arthez,havesincewonallthefamethatwastheirdue.AfewdetailsastothecirclewillreadilyexplainLucien"sstrongfeelingofinterestandcuriosity.

OneamongthosewhostillsurvivewasHoraceBianchon,thenahouse-

studentattheHotel-Dieu;later,ashininglightattheEcoledeParis,andnowsowellknownthatitisneedlesstogiveanydescriptionofhisappearance,genius,orcharacter.

NextcameLeonGiraud,thatprofoundphilosopherandboldtheorist,turningallsystemsinsideout,criticising,expressing,andformulating,draggingthemalltothefeetofhisidol——Humanity;

greateveninhiserrors,forhishonestyennobledhismistakes.Anintrepidtoiler,aconscientiousscholar,hebecametheacknowledgedheadofaschoolofmoralistsandpoliticians.Timealonecanpronounceuponthemeritsofhistheories;butifhisconvictionshavedrawnhimintopathsinwhichnoneofhisoldcomradestread,nonethelessheisstilltheirfaithfulfriend.

ArtwasrepresentedbyJosephBridau,oneofthebestpaintersamongtheyoungermen.Butforatooimpressionablenature,whichmadehavocofJoseph"sheart,hemighthavecontinuedthetraditionsofthegreatItalianmasters,though,forthatmatter,thelastwordhasnotyetbeensaidconcerninghim.HecombinesRomanoutlinewithVenetiancolor;butloveisfataltohiswork,lovenotmerelytransfixeshisheart,butsendshisarrowthroughthebrain,derangesthecourseofhislife,andsetsthevictimdescribingthestrangestzigzags.Ifthemistressofthemomentistookindortoocruel,JosephwillsendintotheExhibitionsketcheswherethedrawingiscloggedwithcolor,orpicturesfinishedunderthestressofsomeimaginarywoe,inwhichhegavehiswholeattentiontothedrawing,andleftthecolortotakecareofitself.Heisaconstantdisappointmenttohisfriendsandthepublic;yetHoffmannwouldhaveworshipedhimforhisdaringexperimentsintherealmsofart.WhenBridauiswhollyhimselfheisadmirable,andaspraiseissweettohim,hisdisgustisgreatwhenonepraisesthefailuresinwhichhealonediscoversallthatislackingintheeyesofthepublic.Heiswhimsicaltothelastdegree.

Hisfriendshaveseenhimdestroyafinishedpicturebecause,inhiseyes,itlookedtoosmooth."Itisoverdone,"hewouldsay;"itisnigglingwork."

Withhiseccentric,yetloftynature,withanervousorganizationandallthatitentailsoftormentanddelight,thecravingforperfectionbecomesmorbid.IntellectuallyheisakintoSterne,thoughheisnotaliteraryworker.Thereisanindescribablepiquancyabouthisepigramsandsalliesofthought.Heiseloquent,heknowshowtolove,buttheuncertaintythatappearsinhisexecutionisapartoftheverynatureoftheman.Thebrotherhoodlovedhimfortheveryqualitieswhichthephilistinewouldstyledefects.

LastamongthelivingcomesFulgenceRidal.Nowriterofourtimespossessesmoreoftheexuberantspiritofpurecomedythanthispoet,carelessoffame,whowillflinghismorecommonplaceproductionstotheatricalmanagers,andkeepthemostcharmingscenesintheseraglioofhisbrainforhimselfandhisfriends.Ofthepublicheasksjustsufficienttosecurehisindependence,andthendeclinestodoanythingmore.IndolentandprolificasRossini,compelled,likegreatpoet-comedians,likeMoliereandRabelais,toseebothsidesofeverything,andallthatistobesaidbothforandagainst,heisasceptic,readytolaughatallthings.FulgenceRidalisagreatpracticalphilosopher.Hisworldlywisdom,hisgeniusforobservation,hiscontemptforfame("fuss,"ashecallsit)havenotsearedakindheart.Heisasenergeticonbehalfofanotherasheiscarelesswherehisowninterestsareconcerned;andifhebestirshimself,itisforafriend.LivinguptohisRabelaisianmask,heisnoenemytogoodcheer,thoughhenevergoesoutofhiswaytofindit;heismelancholyandgay.Hisfriendsdubbedhimthe"DogoftheRegiment."

Youcouldhavenobetterportraitofthemanthanhisnickname.

Threemoreoftheband,atleastasremarkableasthefriendswhohavejustbeensketchedinoutline,weredestinedtofallbytheway.Ofthese,Meyrauxwasthefirst.MeyrauxdiedafterstirringupthefamouscontroversybetweenCuvierandGeoffroySaint-Hilaire,agreatquestionwhichdividedthewholescientificworldintotwooppositecamps,withthesetwomenofequalgeniusasleaders.ThisbefellsomemonthsbeforethedeathofthechampionofrigorousanalyticalscienceasopposedtothepantheismofonewhoisstilllivingtobearanhonorednameinGermany.Meyrauxwasthefriendofthat"Louis"ofwhomdeathwassosoontorobtheintellectualworld.

Withthesetwo,bothmarkedbydeath,andunknownto-dayinspiteoftheirwideknowledgeandtheirgenius,standsathird,MichelChrestien,thegreatRepublicanthinker,whodreamedofEuropeanFederation,andhadnosmallshareinbringingabouttheSaint-

Simonianmovementof1830.ApoliticianofthecalibreofSaint-JustandDanton,butsimple,meekasamaid,andbrimfulofillusionsandloving-kindness;theownerofasingingvoicewhichwouldhavesentMozart,orWeber,orRossiniintoecstasies,forhissingingofcertainsongsofBeranger"scouldintoxicatetheheartinyouwithpoetry,orhope,orlove——MichelChrestien,poorasLucien,poorasDanield"Arthez,asalltherestofhisfriends,gainedalivingwiththehaphazardindifferenceofaDiogenes.Heindexedlengthyworks,hedrewupprospectusesforbooksellers,andkepthisdoctrinestohimself,asthegravekeepsthesecretsofthedead.Yetthegaybohemianofintellectuallife,thegreatstatesmanwhomighthavechangedthefaceoftheworld,fellasaprivatesoldierinthecloisterofSaint-Merri;someshopkeeper"sbulletstruckdownoneofthenoblestcreaturesthatevertrodFrenchsoil,andMichelChrestiendiedforotherdoctrinesthanhisown.HisFederationschemewasmoredangeroustothearistocracyofEuropethantheRepublicanpropaganda;

itwasmorefeasibleandlessextravagantthanthehideousdoctrinesofindefinitelibertyproclaimedbytheyoungmadcapswhoassumethecharacterofheirsoftheConvention.Allwhoknewthenobleplebeianweptforhim;thereisnotoneofthembutremembers,andoftenremembers,agreatobscurepolitician.

Esteemandfriendshipkeptthepeacebetweentheextremesofhostileopinionandconvictionrepresentedinthebrotherhood.Danield"ArthezcameofagoodfamilyinPicardy.HisbeliefintheMonarchywasquiteasstrongasMichelChrestien"sfaithinEuropeanFederation.FulgenceRidalscoffedatLeonGiraud"sphilosophicaldoctrines,whileGiraudhimselfprophesiedford"Arthez"sbenefittheapproachingendofChristianityandtheextinctionoftheinstitutionofthefamily.

MichelChrestien,abelieverinthereligionofChrist,thedivinelawgiver,whotaughttheequalityofmen,woulddefendtheimmortalityofthesoulfromBianchon"sscalpel,forHoraceBianchonwasbeforeallthingsananalyst.

Therewasplentyofdiscussion,butnobickering.Vanitywasnotengaged,forthespeakerswerealsotheaudience.Theywouldtalkovertheirworkamongthemselvesandtakecounselofeachotherwiththedelightfulopennessofyouth.Ifthematterinhandwasserious,theopponentwouldleavehisownpositiontoenterintohisfriend"spointofview;andbeinganimpartialjudgeinamatteroutsidehisownsphere,wouldprovethebetterhelper;envy,thehideoustreasureofdisappointment,abortivetalent,failure,andmortifiedvanity,wasquiteunknownamongthem.Allofthem,moreover,weregoingtheirseparateways.Forthesereasons,Lucienandothersadmittedtotheirsocietyfeltattheireaseinit.Whereveryoufindrealtalent,youwillfindfrankgoodfellowshipandsincerity,andnosortofpretension,thewitthatcaressestheintellectandneverisaimedatself-love.

Whenthefirstnervousness,causedbyrespect,woreoff,itwasunspeakablypleasanttomakeoneofthiselectcompanyofyouth.

Familiaritydidnotexcludeineachaconsciousnessofhisownvalue,noraprofoundesteemforhisneighbor;andfinally,aseverymemberofthecirclefeltthathecouldaffordtoreceiveortogive,noonemadeadifficultyofaccepting.Talkwasunflagging,fullofcharm,andrangingoverthemostvariedtopics;wordslightasarrowsspedtothemark.Therewasastrangecontrastbetweenthedirematerialpovertyinwhichtheyoungmenlivedandthesplendoroftheirintellectualwealth.Theylookeduponthepracticalproblemsofexistencesimplyasmatterforfriendlyjokes.Thecoldweatherhappenedtosetinearlythatyear.Fiveofd"Arthez"sfriendsappearedoneday,eachconcealingfirewoodunderhiscloak;thesameideahadoccurredtothefive,asitsometimeshappensthatalltheguestsatapicnicareinspiredwiththenotionofbringingapieastheircontribution.

Allofthemweregiftedwiththemoralbeautywhichreactsuponthephysicalform,and,nolessthanworkandvigils,overlaysayouthfulfacewithashadeofdivinegold;purityoflifeandthefireofthoughthadbroughtrefinementandregularityintofeaturessomewhatpinchedandrugged.Thepoet"samplitudeofbrowwasastrikingcharacteristiccommontothemall;thebright,sparklingeyestoldofcleanlinessoflife.Thehardshipsofpenury,whentheywerefeltatall,werebornsogailyandembracedwithsuchenthusiasm,thattheyhadleftnotracetomartheserenitypeculiartothefacesoftheyoungwhohavenograveerrorslaidtotheirchargeasyet,whohavenotstoopedtoanyofthebasecompromiseswrungfromimpatienceofpovertybythestrongdesiretosucceed.Thetemptationtouseanymeanstothisendisthegreatersincethatmenoflettersarelenientwithbadfaithandextendaneasyindulgencetotreachery.

Thereisanelementinfriendshipwhichdoublesitscharmandrendersitindissoluble——asenseofcertaintywhichislackinginlove.Theseyoungmenweresureofthemselvesandofeachother;theenemyofonewastheenemyofall;themosturgentpersonalconsiderationswouldhavebeenshatterediftheyhadclashedwiththesacredsolidarityoftheirfellowship.Allalikeincapableofdisloyalty,theycouldopposeaformidableNotoanyaccusationbroughtagainsttheabsentanddefendthemwithperfectconfidence.Withalikenobilityofnatureandstrengthoffeeling,itwaspossibletothinkandspeakfreelyonallmattersofintellectualorscientificinterest;hencethehonestyoftheirfriendships,thegaietyoftheirtalk,andwiththisintellectualfreedomofthecommunitytherewasnofearofbeingmisunderstood;theystooduponnoceremonywitheachother;theysharedtheirtroublesandjoys,andgavethoughtandsympathyfromfullhearts.ThecharmingdelicacyoffeelingwhichmakesthetaleofDeuxAmisatreasuryforgreatsouls,wastheruleoftheirdailylife.Itmaybeimagined,therefore,thattheirstandardofrequirementswasnotaneasyone;theyweretooconsciousoftheirworth,toowellawareoftheirhappiness,tocaretotroubletheirlifewiththeadmixtureofanewandunknownelement.

Thisfederationofinterestsandaffectionlastedfortwentyyearswithoutacollisionordisappointment.DeathalonecouldthinthenumbersofthenoblePleiades,takingfirstLouisLambert,laterMeyrauxandMichelChrestien.

WhenMichelChrestienfellin1832hisfriendswent,inspiteoftheperilsofthestep,tofindhisbodyatSaint-Merri;andHoraceBianchon,Danield"Arthez,LeonGiraud,JosephBridau,andFulgenceRidalperformedthelastdutiestothedead,betweentwopoliticalfires.BynighttheyburiedtheirbelovedinthecemeteryofPere-

Lachaise;HoraceBianchon,undauntedbythedifficulties,clearedthemawayoneafteranother——itwasheindeedwhobesoughttheauthoritiesforpermissiontoburythefalleninsurgentandconfessedtohisoldfriendshipwiththedeadFederalist.Thelittlegroupoffriendspresentatthefuneralwiththosefivegreatmenwillneverforgetthattouchingscene.

Asyouwalkinthetrimcemeteryyouwillseeagravepurchasedinperpetuity,agrass-coveredmoundwithadarkwoodencrossaboveit,andthenameinlargeredletters——MICHELCHRESTIEN.Thereisnoothermonumentlikeit.Thefriendsthoughttopayatributetothesternlysimplenatureofthemanbythesimplicityoftherecordofhisdeath.

So,inthatchillygarret,thefairestdreamsoffriendshipwererealized.Thesemenwerebrothersleadinglivesofintellectualeffort,loyallyhelpingeachother,makingnoreservations,notevenoftheirworstthoughts;menofvastacquirements,naturestriedinthecrucibleofpoverty.Onceadmittedasanequalamongsuchelectsouls,Lucienrepresentedbeautyandpoetry.Theyadmiredthesonnetswhichhereadtothem;theywouldaskhimforasonnetashewouldaskMichelChrestienforasong.And,inthedesertofParis,LucienfoundanoasisintheRuedesQuatre-Vents.

AtthebeginningofOctober,Lucienhadspentthelastofhismoneyonalittlefirewood;hewashalf-waythroughthetaskofrecastinghiswork,themoststrenuousofalltoil,andhewaspenniless.AsforDanield"Arthez,burningblocksofspenttan,andfacingpovertylikeahero,notawordofcomplaintcamefromhim;hewasassoberasanyelderlyspinster,andmethodicalasamiser.ThiscouragecalledoutLucien"scourage;hehadonlynewlycomeintothecircle,andshrankwithinvinciblerepugnancefromspeakingofhisstraits.Onemorninghewentout,manuscriptinhand,andreachedtheRueduCoq;hewouldsellTheArcherofCharlesIX.toDoguereau;butDoguereauwasout.

Lucienlittleknewhowindulgentgreatnaturescanbetotheweaknessesofothers.Everyoneofthefriendshadthoughtofthepeculiartroublesbesettingthepoetictemperament,oftheprostrationwhichfollowsuponthestruggle,whenthesoulhasbeenoverwroughtbythecontemplationofthatnaturewhichitisthetaskofarttoreproduce.Andstrongastheyweretoenduretheirownills,theyfeltkeenlyforLucien"sdistress;theyguessedthathisstockofmoneywasfailing;andafterallthepleasanteveningsspentinfriendlytalkanddeepmeditations,afterthepoetry,theconfidences,theboldflightsoverthefieldsofthoughtorintothefarfutureofthenations,yetanothertraitwastoprovehowlittleLucienhadunderstoodthesenewfriendsofhis.

"Lucien,dearfellow,"saidDaniel,"youdidnotdineatFlicoteaux"syesterday,andweknowwhy."

Luciencouldnotkeepbacktheoverflowingtears.

"Youshowedawantofconfidenceinus,"saidMichelChrestien;"weshallchalkthatupoverthechimney,andwhenwehavescoredtenwewill——"

"Wehaveallofusfoundabitofextrawork,"saidBianchon;"formyownpart,IhavebeenlookingafterarichpatientforDesplein;

d"ArthezhaswrittenanarticlefortheRevueEncyclopedique;

ChrestienthoughtofgoingouttosingintheChampsElyseesofaneveningwithapocket-handkerchiefandfourcandles,buthefoundapamphlettowriteinsteadforamanwhohasamindtogointopolitics,andgavehisemployersixhundredfrancsworthofMachiavelli;LeonGiraudborrowedfiftyfrancsofhispublisher,Josephsoldoneortwosketches;andFulgence"spiecewasgivenonSunday,andtherewasafullhouse."

"Herearetwohundredfrancs,"saidDaniel,"andletussaynomoreaboutit."

"Why,ifheisnotgoingtohugusallasifwehaddonesomethingextraordinary!"criedChrestien.

Lucien,meanwhile,hadwrittentothehomecircle.Hisletterwasamasterpieceofsensibilityandgoodwill,aswellasasharpcrywrungfromhimbydistress.TheanswerswhichhereceivedthenextdaywillgivesomeideaofthedelightthatLucientookinthislivingencyclopediaofangelicspirits,eachofwhomborethestampoftheartorsciencewhichhefollowed:——

DavidSechardtoLucien.

"MyDEARLUCIEN,——Enclosedherewithisabillatninetydays,payabletoyourorder,fortwohundredfrancs.YoucandrawonM.

Metivier,papermerchant,ourPariscorrespondentintheRueSerpente.MygoodLucien,wehaveabsolutelynothing.Evehasundertakenthechargeoftheprinting-house,andworksathertaskwithsuchdevotion,patience,andindustry,thatIblessheavenforgivingmesuchanangelforawife.Sheherselfsaysthatitisimpossibletosendyoutheleasthelp.ButIthink,myfriendnowthatyouarestartedinsopromisingaway,withsuchgreatandnobleheartsforyourcompanions,thatyoucanhardlyfailtoreachthegreatnesstowhichyouwereborn,aidedasyouarebyintelligencealmostdivineinDanield"ArthezandMichelChrestienandLeonGiraud,andcounseledbyMeyrauxandBianchonandRidal,whomwehavecometoknowthroughyourdearletter.SoIhavedrawnthisbillwithoutEve"sknowledge,andIwillcontrivesomehowtomeetitwhenthetimecomes.Keeponyourway,Lucien;

itisrough,butitwillbeglorious.IcanbearanythingbutthethoughtofyousinkingintothesloughsofParis,ofwhichIsawsomuch.Havesufficientstrengthofmindtodoasyouaredoing,andkeepoutofscrapesandbadcompany,wildyoungfellowsandmenoflettersofacertainstamp,whomIlearnedtotakeattheirjustvaluationwhenIlivedinParis.Beaworthycompeerofthedivinespiritswhomwehavelearnedtolovethroughyou.Yourlifewillsoonmeetwithitsreward.Farewell,dearestbrother;youhavesenttransportsofjoytomyheart.Ididnotexpectsuchcourageofyou.

"DAVID."

EveSechardtoLucien.

"DEAR,——yourlettermadeallofuscry.Asforthenobleheartstowhomyourgoodangelsurelyledyou,tellthemthatamotherandapooryoungwifewillprayforthemnightandmorning;andifthemostferventprayerscanreachtheThroneofGod,surelytheywillbringblessingsuponyouall.Theirnamesareengraveduponmyheart.Ah!somedayIshallseeyourfriends;IwillgotoParis,ifIhavetowalkthewholeway,tothankthemfortheirfriendshipforyou,fortomethethoughthasbeenlikebalmtosmartingwounds.Weareworkinglikedaylaborershere,dear.Thishusbandofmine,theunknowngreatmanwhomIlovemoreandmoreeveryday,asIdiscovermomentbymomentthewealthofhisnature,leavestheprinting-housemoreandmoretome.Why,I

guess.Ourpoverty,yours,andours,andourmother"s,isheartbreakingtohim.OuradoredDavidisaPrometheusgnawedbyavulture,ahaggard,sharp-beakedregret.Asforhimself,noblefellow,hescarcelythinksofhimself;heishopingtomakeafortuneforUS.Hespendshiswholetimeinexperimentsinpaper-

making;hebeggedmetotakehisplaceandlookafterthebusiness,andgivesmeasmuchhelpashispreoccupationallows.

Alas!Ishallbeamothersoon.Thatshouldhavebeenacrowningjoy;butasthingsare,itsaddensme.Poormother!shehasgrownyoungagain;shehasfoundstrengthtogobacktohertiringnursing.Weshouldbehappyifitwerenotforthesemoneycares.

OldFatherSechardwillnotgivehissonafarthing.Davidwentovertoseeifhecouldborrowalittleforyou,forwewereindespairoveryourletter."IknowLucien,"Davidsaid;"hewilllosehisheadanddosomethingrash."——Igavehimagoodscolding.

"Mybrotherdisappointusinanyway!"Itoldhim,"LucienknowsthatIshoulddieofsorrow."——MotherandIhavepawnedafewthings;Daviddoesnotknowaboutit,motherwillredeemthemassoonasshehasmadealittlemoney.Inthiswaywehavemanagedtoputtogetherahundredfrancs,whichIamsendingyoubythecoach.IfIdidnotansweryourlastletter,donotrememberitagainstme,dear;wewereworkingallnightjustthen.Ihavebeenworkinglikeaman.Oh,IhadnoideathatIwassostrong!

"Mme.deBargetonisaheartlesswoman;shehasnosoul;evenifshecaredforyounolonger,sheowedittoherselftouseherinfluenceforyouandtohelpyouwhenshehadtornyoufromustoplungeyouintothatdreadfulseaofParis.OnlybythespecialblessingofHeavencouldyouhavemetwithtruefriendsthereamongthosecrowdsofmenandinnumerableinterests.Sheisnotwortharegret.Iusedtowishthattheremightbesomedevotedwomanalwayswithyou,asecondmyself;butnowIknowthatyourfriendswilltakemyplace,andIamhappy.Spreadyourwings,mydeargreatgenius,youwillbeourprideaswellasourbeloved.

"EVE."

"Mydarling,"themotherwrote,"Icanonlyaddmyblessingtoallthatyoursistersays,andassureyouthatyouaremoreinmythoughtsandinmyprayers(alas!)thanthosewhomIseedaily;

forsomehearts,theabsentarealwaysintheright,andsoitiswiththeheartofyourmother."

Sotwodaysaftertheloanwasofferedsograciously,Lucienrepaidit.Perhapslifehadneverseemedsobrighttohimasatthatmoment;

butthetouchofself-loveinhisjoydidnotescapethedelicatesensibilityandsearchingeyesofhisfriends.

"Anyonemightthinkthatyouwereafraidtooweusanything,"

exclaimedFulgence.

"Oh!thepleasurethathetakesinreturningthemoneyisaveryserioussymptomtomymind,"saidMichelChrestien."Itconfirmssomeobservationsofmyown.ThereisaspiceofvanityinLucien."

"Heisapoet,"saidd"Arthez.