第8章

Lucien,followinghisfriend,wentsuddenlyoutofthelightedcorridorintotheblackdarknessofthepassagebetweenthehouseandthewings.Ashortflightofdampstepssurmounted,oneofthestrangestofallspectaclesopenedoutbeforetheprovincialpoet"seyes.Theheightoftheroof,theslendernessoftheprops,theladdershungwithArgandlamps,theatrociousuglinessofscenerybeheldatclosequarters,thethickpaintontheactors"faces,andtheiroutlandishcostumes,madeofsuchcoarsematerials,thestagecarpentersingreasyjackets,thefiremen,thestagemanagerstruttingaboutwithhishatonhishead,thesupernumerariessittingamongthehangingback-scenes,theropesandpulleys,theheterogeneouscollectionofabsurdities,shabby,dirty,hideous,andgaudy,wassomethingsoaltogetherdifferentfromthestageseenoverthefootlights,thatLucien"sastonishmentknewnobounds.Thecurtainwasjustabouttofallonagoodold-fashionedmelodramaentitledBertram,aplayadaptedfromatragedybyMaturinwhichCharlesNodier,togetherwithByronandSirWalterScott,heldinthehighestesteem,thoughtheplaywasafailureonthestageinParis.

"Keepatightholdofmyarm,unlessyouhaveamindtofallthroughatrap-door,orbringdownaforestonyourhead;youwillpulldownapalace,orcarryoffacottage,ifyouarenotcareful,"saidEtienne——

"IsFlorineinherdressing-room,mypet?"headded,addressinganactresswhostoodwaitingforhercue.

"Yes,love.Thankyouforthethingsyousaidaboutme.YouaresomuchnicersinceFlorinehascomehere."

"Come,don"tspoilyourentry,littleone.Quickwithyou,looksharp,andsay,"Stop,wretchedman!"nicely,fortherearetwothousandfrancsoftakings."

Lucienwasstruckwithamazementwhenthegirl"swholefacesuddenlychanged,andsheshrieked,"Stop,wretchedman!"acrythatfrozethebloodinyourveins.Shewasnolongerthesamecreature.

"Sothisisthestage,"hesaidtoLousteau.

"Itislikethebookseller"sshopintheWoodenGalleries,oraliterarypaper,"saidEtienneLousteau;"itisakitchen,neithermorenorless."

Nathanappearedatthismoment.

"Whatbringsyouhere?"inquiredLousteau.

"Why,IamdoingtheminortheatresfortheGazetteuntilsomethingbetterturnsup."

"Oh!cometosupperwithusthisevening;speakwellofFlorine,andI

willdoasmuchforyou."

"Verymuchatyourservice,"returnedNathan.

"Youknow;sheislivingintheRueduBondynow."

"Lousteau,dearboy,whoisthehandsomeyoungmanthatyouhavebroughtwithyou?"askedtheactress,nowreturnedtothewings.

"Agreatpoet,dear,thatwillhaveafamousnameoneofthesedays——

M.Nathan,ImustintroduceM.LuciendeRubempretoyou,asyouaretomeetagainatsupper."

"Youhaveagoodname,monsieur,"saidNathan.

"Lucien,M.RaoulNathan,"continuedEtienne.

"Ireadyourbooktwodaysago;and,uponmyword,Icannotunderstandhowyou,whohavewrittensuchabook,andsuchpoetry,canbesohumbletoajournalist."

"Waittillyourfirstbookcomesout,"saidNathan,andashrewdsmileflittedoverhisface.

"Isay!Isay!hereareUltrasandLiberalsactuallyshakinghands!"

criedVernou,spyingthetrio.

"InthemorningIholdtheviewsofmypaper,"saidNathan,"intheeveningIthinkasIplease;alljournalistsseedoubleatnight."

FelicienVernouturnedtoLousteau.

"Finotislookingforyou,Etienne;hecamewithme,and——hereheis!"

"Ah,bytheby,thereisnotaplaceinthehouse,isthere?"askedFinot.

"Youwillalwaysfindaplaceinourhearts,"saidtheactress,withthesweetestsmileimaginable.

"Isay,mylittleFlorville,areyoucuredalreadyofyourfancy?TheytoldmethataRussianprincehadcarriedyouoff."

"Whocarriesoffwomeninthesedays"saidFlorville(shewhohadcried,"Stop,wretchedman!")."WestayedatSaint-Mandefortendays,andmyprincegotoffwithpayingtheforfeitmoneytothemanagement.

ThemanagerwillgodownonhiskneestoprayforsomemoreRussianprinces,"Florvillecontinued,laughing;"theforfeitmoneywassomuchcleargain."

"Andasforyou,child,"saidFinot,turningtoaprettygirlinapeasant"scostume,"wheredidyoustealthesediamondear-drops?HaveyouhookedanIndianprince?"

"No,ablackingmanufacturer,anEnglishman,whohasgoneoffalready.

Itisnoteverybodywhocanfindmillionaireshopkeepers,tiredofdomesticlife,whenevertheylike,asFlorinedoesandCoralie.Aren"ttheyjustlucky?"

"Florville,youwillmakeabadentry,"saidLousteau;"theblackinghasgonetoyourhead!"

"Ifyouwantasuccess,"saidNathan,"insteadofscreaming,"Heissaved!"likeaFury,walkonquitequietly,gotothestaircase,andsay,"Heissaved,"inachestvoice,likePasta"s"Opatria,"inTancreda——There,goalong!"andhepushedhertowardsthestage.

"Itistoolate,"saidVernou,"theeffecthashungfire."

"Whatdidshedo?thehouseisapplaudinglikemad,"askedLousteau.

"Wentdownonherkneesandshowedherbosom;thatishergreatresource,"saidtheblacking-maker"swidow.

"Themanagerisgivingupthestageboxtous;youwillfindmetherewhenyoucome,"saidFinot,asLousteauwalkedoffwithLucien.

Atthebackofthestage,throughalabyrinthofsceneryandcorridors,thepairclimbedseveralflightsofstairsandreachedalittleroomonathirdfloor,NathanandFelicienVernoufollowingthem.

"Good-dayorgood-night,gentlemen,"saidFlorine.Then,turningtoashort,stoutmanstandinginacorner,"Thesegentlemenaretherulersofmydestiny,"shesaid,myfutureisintheirhands;buttheywillbeunderourtableto-morrowmorning,Ihope,ifM.Lousteauhasforgottennothing——"

"Forgotten!YouaregoingtohaveBlondetoftheDebats,"saidEtienne,"thegenuineBlondet,theveryBlondet——Blondethimself,inshort."

"Oh!Lousteau,youdearboy!stop,Imustgiveyouakiss,"andsheflungherarmsaboutthejournalist"sneck.Matifat,thestoutpersoninthecorner,lookedseriousatthis.

Florinewasthin;herbeauty,likeabud,gavepromiseoftheflowertocome;thegirlofsixteencouldonlydelighttheeyesofartistswhopreferthesketchtothepicture.Allthequicksubtletyofhercharacterwasvisibleinthefeaturesofthecharmingactress,whoatthattimemighthavesatforGoethe"sMignon.Matifat,awealthydruggistoftheRuedesLombards,hadimaginedthatalittleBoulevardactresswouldhavenoveryexpensivetastes,butinelevenmonthsFlorinehadcosthimsixtythousandfrancs.NothingseemedmoreextraordinarytoLucienthanthesightofanhonestandworthymerchantstandinglikeastatueofthegodTerminusintheactress"

narrowdressing-room,atinyplacesometenfeetsquare,hungwithaprettywall-paper,andadornedwithafull-lengthmirror,asofa,andtwochairs.Therewasafireplaceinthedressing-closet,acarpetonthefloor,andcupboardsallroundtheroom.AdresserwasputtingthefinishingtouchestoaSpanishcostume;forFlorinewastotakethepartofacountessinanimbroglio.

"ThatgirlwillbethehandsomestactressinParisinfiveyears"

time,"saidNathan,turningtoFelicienVernou.

"Bytheby,darlings,youwilltakecareofmeto-morrow,won"tyou?"

saidFlorine,turningtothethreejournalists."Ihaveengagedcabsforto-night,forIamgoingtosendyouhomeastipsyasShroveTuesday.Matifathassentinwines——oh!winesworthyofLouisXVIII.,andengagedthePrussianambassador"scook."

"Weexpectsomethingenormousfromthelookofthegentleman,"

remarkedNathan.

"AndheisquiteawarethatheistreatingthemostdangerousmeninParis,"addedFlorine.

MatifatwaslookinguneasilyatLucien;hefeltjealousoftheyoungman"sgoodlooks.

"ButhereissomeonethatIdonotknow,"Florinecontinued,confrontingLucien."WhichofyouhasimportedtheApolloBelvederefromFlorence?HeisascharmingasoneofGirodet"sfigures."

"Heisapoet,mademoiselle,fromtheprovinces.Iforgottopresenthimtoyou;youaresobeautifulto-nightthatyouputtheCompleteGuidetoEtiquetteoutofaman"shead——"

"Ishesorichthathecanaffordtowritepoetry?"askedFlorine.

"PoorasJob,"saidLucien.

"Itisagreattemptationforsomeofus,"saidtheactress.

Justthentheauthoroftheplaysuddenlyentered,andLucienbeheldM.duBruel,ashort,attenuatedyoungmaninanovercoat,acompositehumanblendofthejack-in-office,theownerofhouse-property,andthestockbroker.

"Florine,child,"saidthispersonage,"areyousureofyourpart,eh?

Noslipsofmemory,youknow.Andmindthatsceneinthesecondact,maketheironytell,bringoutthatsubtletouch;say,"Idonotloveyou,"justasweagreed."

"Whydoyoutakepartsinwhichyouhavetosaysuchthings?"askedMatifat.

Thedruggist"sremarkwasreceivedwithageneralshoutoflaughter.

"Whatdoesitmattertoyou,"saidFlorine,"solongasIdon"tsaysuchthingstoyou,greatstupid?——Oh!hisstupidityisthepleasureofmylife,"shecontinued,glancingatthejournalist."Uponmyword,Iwouldpayhimsomuchforeveryblunder,ifitwouldnotbetheruinofme."

"Yes,butyouwilllookatmewhenyousayit,asyoudowhenyouarerehearsing,anditgivesmeaturn,"remonstratedthedruggist.

"Verywell,then,IwilllookatmyfriendLousteauhere."

Abellrangoutsideinthepassage.

"Goout,allofyou!"criedFlorine;"letmereadmypartoveragainandtrytounderstandit."

LucienandLousteauwerethelasttogo.LousteausetakissonFlorine"sshoulder,andLucienheardhersay,"Notto-night.

Impossible.Thatstupidoldanimaltoldhiswifethathewasgoingoutintothecountry."

"Isn"tshecharming?"saidEtienne,astheycameaway.

"But——butthatMatifat,mydearfellow——"

"Oh!youknownothingofParisianlife,myboy.Somethingscannotbehelped.Supposethatyoufellinlovewithamarriedwoman,itcomestothesamething.Italldependsonthewaythatyoulookatit."

EtienneandLucienenteredthestage-box,andfoundthemanagertherewithFinot.Matifatwasintheground-floorboxexactlyoppositewithafriendofhis,asilk-mercernamedCamusot(Coralie"sprotector),andaworthylittleoldsoul,hisfather-in-law.Allthreeofthesecitymenwerepolishingtheiropera-glasses,andanxiouslyscanningthehouse;certainsymptomsinthepitappearedtodisturbthem.Theusualheterogeneousfirst-nightelementsfilledtheboxes——journalistsandtheirmistresses,lorettesandtheirlovers,asprinklingofthedeterminedplaygoerswhonevermissafirstnightiftheycanhelpit,andaveryfewpeopleoffashionwhocareforthissortofsensation.

Thefirstboxwasoccupiedbytheheadofadepartment,towhomduBruel,makerofvaudevilles,owedasnuglittlesinecureintheTreasury.

LucienhadgonefromsurprisetosurprisesincethedinneratFlicoteaux"s.FortwomonthsLiteraturehadmeantalifeofpovertyandwant;inLousteau"sroomhehadseenitatitscynicalworst;intheWoodenGallerieshehadmetLiteratureabjectandLiteratureinsolent.Thesharpcontrastsofheightsanddepths;ofcompromisewithconscience;ofsupremepowerandwantofprinciple;oftreacheryandpleasure;ofmentalelevationandbondage——allthismadehisheadswim,heseemedtobewatchingsomestrangeunheard-ofdrama.

Finotwastalkingwiththemanager."DoyouthinkduBruel"spiecewillpay?"heasked.

"DuBruelhastriedtodosomethinginBeaumarchais"style.Boulevardaudiencesdon"tcareforthatkindofthing;theylikeharrowingsensations;witisnotmuchappreciatedhere.EverythingdependsonFlorineandCoralieto-night;theyarebewitchinglyprettyandgraceful,wearveryshortskirts,anddanceaSpanishdance,andpossiblytheymaycarryoffthepiecewiththepublic.Thewholeaffairisagamblingspeculation.Afewclevernoticesinthepapers,andImaymakeahundredthousandcrowns,iftheplaytakes."

"Oh!come,itwillonlybeamoderatesuccess,Icansee,"saidFinot.

"Threeofthetheatreshavegotupaplot,"continuedthemanager;

"theywillevenhissthepiece,butIhavemadearrangementstodefeattheirkindintentions.Ihavesquaredthemenintheirpay;theywillmakeamuddleofit.AcoupleofcitymenyonderhavetakenahundredticketsapiecetosecureatriumphforFlorineandCoralie,andgiventhemtoacquaintancesableandreadytoactaschuckersout.Thefellows,havingbeenpaidtwice,willgoquietly,andasceneofthatsortalwaysmakesagoodimpressiononthehouse."

"Twohundredtickets!Whatinvaluablemen!"exclaimedFinot.

"Yes.WithtwomoreactressesashandsomelykeptasFlorineandCoralie,Ishouldmakesomethingoutofthebusiness."

ForthepasttwohoursthewordmoneyhadbeensoundinginLucien"searsasthesolutionofeverydifficulty.Inthetheatreasinthepublishingtrade,andinthepublishingtradeasinthenewspaper-

office——itwaseverywherethesame;therewasnotawordofartorofglory.Thesteadybeatofthegreatpendulum,Money,seemedtofalllikehammer-strokesonhisheartandbrain.Andyetwhiletheorchestraplayedtheoverture,whilethepitwasfullofnoisytumultofapplauseandhisses,unconsciouslyhedrewacomparisonbetweenthissceneandothersthatcameupinhismind.VisionsarosebeforehimofDavidandtheprinting-office,ofthepoetrythathecametoknowinthatatmosphereofpurepeace,whentogethertheybeheldthewondersofArt,thehighsuccessesofgenius,andvisionsofgloryborneonstainlesswings.Hethoughtoftheeveningsspentwithd"Arthezandhisfriends,andtearsglitteredinhiseyes.

"Whatisthematterwithyou?"askedEtienneLousteau.

"Iseepoetryfallenintothemire."

"Ah!youhavestillsomeillusionsleft,mydearfellow."

"IstherenothingforitbuttocringeandsubmittothickheadslikeMatifatandCamusot,asactressesbowdowntojournalists,andweourselvestothebooksellers?"

"Myboy,doyouseethatdull-brainedfellow?"saidEtienne,loweringhisvoice,andglancingatFinot."Hehasneithergeniusnorcleverness,butheiscovetous;hemeanstomakeafortuneatallcosts,andheisakeenmanofbusiness.Didn"tyouseehowhemadefortypercentoutofmeatDauriat"s,andtalkedasifheweredoingmeafavor?——Well,hegetslettersfromnotafewunknownmenofgeniuswhogodownontheirkneestohimforahundredfrancs."

Thewordsrecalledthepen-and-inksketchthatlayonthetableintheeditor"sofficeandthewords,"Finot,myhundredfrancs!"Lucien"sinmostsoulshrankfromthemanindisgust.

"Iwouldsoonerdie,"hesaid.

"Soonerlive,"retortedEtienne.

Thecurtainrose,andthestage-managerwentofftothewingstogiveorders.FinotturnedtoEtienne.

"Mydearfellow,Dauriathaspassedhisword;Iamproprietorofone-

thirdofhisweeklypaper.Ihaveagreedtogivethirtythousandfrancsincash,onconditionthatIamtobeeditoranddirector."Tisasplendidthing.BlondettoldmethattheGovernmentintendstotakerestrictivemeasuresagainstthepress;therewillbenonewpapersallowed;insixmonths"timeitwillcostamillionfrancstostartanewjournal,soIstruckabargainthoughIhaveonlytenthousandfrancsinhand.Listentome.Ifyoucansellone-halfofmyshare,thatisone-sixthofthepaper,toMatifatforthirtythousandfrancs,youshallbeeditorofmylittlepaperwithasalaryoftwohundredandfiftyfrancspermonth.Iwantinanycasetohavethecontrolofmyoldpaper,andtokeepmyholduponit;butnobodyneedknowthat,andyournamewillappearaseditor.Youwillbepaidattherateoffivefrancspercolumn;youneednotpaycontributorsmorethanthreefrancs,andyoukeepthedifference.Thatmeansanotherfourhundredandfiftyfrancspermonth.But,atthesametime,Ireservetherighttousethepapertoattackordefendmenorcauses,asIplease;andyoumayindulgeyourownlikesanddislikessolongasyoudonotinterferewithmyschemes.PerhapsImaybeaMinisterialist,perhapsUltra,Idonotknowyet;butImeantokeepupmyconnectionswiththeLiberalparty(belowthesurface).Icanspeakoutwithyou;youareagoodfellow.Imight,perhaps,giveyoutheChamberstodoforanotherpaperonwhichIwork;IamafraidIcanscarcelykeeponwithitnow.SoletFlorinedothisbitofjockeying;tellhertoputthescrewonherdruggist.IfIcan"tfindthemoneywithinforty-eighthours,Imustcryoffmybargain.Dauriatsoldanotherthirdtohisprinterandpaper-dealerforthirtythousandfrancs;sohehashisownthirdgratis,andtenthousandfrancstothegood,forheonlygavefiftythousandforthewholeaffair.Andinanotheryear"stimethemagazinewillbeworthtwohundredthousandfrancs,iftheCourtbuysitup;iftheCourthasthegoodsensetosuppressnewspapers,astheysay."

"Youarelucky,"saidLousteau.

"IfyouhadgonethroughallthatIhaveendured,youwouldnotsaythatofme.Ihadmyfillofmiseryinthosedays,yousee,andtherewasnohelpforit.Myfatherisahatter;hestillkeepsashopintheRueduCoq.Nothingbutmillionsofmoneyorasocialcataclysmcanopenoutthewaytomygoal;andofthetwoalternatives,Idon"tknownowthattherevolutionisnottheeasier.IfIboreyourfriend"sname,Ishouldhaveachancetogeton.Hush,herecomesthemanager.Good-bye,"andFinotrosetohisfeet,"IamgoingtotheOpera.Ishallverylikelyhaveaduelonmyhandsto-morrow,forI

haveputmyinitialstoaterrificattackonacoupleofdancersundertheprotectionoftwoGenerals.IamgivingitthemhotandstrongattheOpera."

"Aha?"saidthemanager.

"Yes.Theyarestingywithme,"returnedFinot,"nowcuttingoffabox,andnowdecliningtotakefiftysubscriptions.Ihavesentinmyultimatum;Imeantohaveahundredsubscriptionsoutofthemandaboxfourtimesamonth.Iftheytakemyterms,Ishallhaveeighthundredreadersandathousandpayingsubscribers,soweshallhavetwelvehundredwiththeNewYear."

"Youwillendbyruiningus,"saidthemanager.

"YOUarenotmuchhurtwithyourtensubscriptions.IhadtwogoodnoticesputintotheConstitutionnel."

"Oh!Iamnotcomplainingofyou,"criedthemanager.

"Good-byetillto-morrowevening,Lousteau,"saidFinot."YoucangivemeyouranswerattheFrancais;thereisanewpieceonthere;andasIshallnotbeabletowritethenotice,youcantakemybox.Iwillgiveyoupreference;youhaveworkedyourselftodeathforme,andI

amgrateful.FelicienVernouofferedtwentythousandfrancsforathirdshareofmylittlepaper,andtoworkwithoutasalaryforatwelvemonth;butIwanttobeabsolutemaster.Good-bye."

"HeisnotnamedFinot"(finaud,slyboots)"fornothing,"saidLucien.

"Heisagallows-birdthatwillgetonintheworld,"saidEtienne,carelesswhetherthewilyschemeroverheardtheremarkornot,asheshutthedoorofthebox.

"HE!"saidthemanager."Hewillbeamillionaire;hewillenjoytherespectofallwhoknowhim;hemayperhapshavefriendssomeday——"

"Goodheavens!whataden!"saidLucien."Andareyougoingtodragthatexcellentcreatureintosuchabusiness?"hecontinued,lookingatFlorine,whogavethemsideglancesfromthestage.

"Shewillcarryitthroughtoo.Youdonotknowthedevotionandthewilesofthesebelovedbeings,"saidLousteau.

"Theyredeemtheirfailingsandexpiatealltheirsinsbyboundlesslove,whentheylove,"saidthemanager."Agreatloveisallthegranderinanactressbyreasonofitsviolentcontrastwithhersurroundings."

"Andhewhofindsit,findsadiamondworthyoftheproudestcrownlyinginthemud,"returnedLousteau.

"ButCoralieisnotattendingtoherpart,"remarkedthemanager.

"Coralieissmittenwithourfriendhere,allunsuspiciousofhisconquest,andCoraliewillmakeafiasco;sheismissinghercues,thisisthesecondtimeshehadnotheardtheprompter.Pray,gointothecorner,monsieur,"hecontinued."IfCoralieissmittenwithyou,Iwillgoandtellherthatyouhaveleftthehouse."

"No!no!"criedLousteau;"tellCoraliethatthisgentlemaniscomingtosupper,andthatshecandoasshelikeswithhim,andshewillplaylikeMlle.Mars."

Themanagerwent,andLucienturnedtoEtienne."What!doyoumeantosaythatyouwillaskthatdruggist,throughMlle.Florine,topaythirtythousandfrancsforone-halfashare,whenFinotgavenomoreforthewholeofit?Andaskwithouttheslightestscruple?——"

LousteauinterruptedLucienbeforehehadtimetofinishhisexpostulation."Mydearboy,whatcountrycanyoucomefrom?Thedruggistisnotaman;heisastrongboxdeliveredintoourhandsbyhisfancyforanactress."

"Howaboutyourconscience?"

"Conscience,mydearfellow,isastickwhicheveryonetakesuptobeathisneighborandnotforapplicationtohisownback.Come,now!

whothedevilareyouangrywith?Inonedaychancehasworkedamiracleforyou,amiracleforwhichIhavebeenwaitingthesetwoyears,andyoumustneedsamuseyourselfbyfindingfaultwiththemeans?What!youappeartometopossessintelligence;youseemtobeinafairwaytoreachthatfreedomfromprejudicewhichisafirstnecessitytointellectualadventurersintheworldwelivein;andareyouwallowinginscruplesworthyofanunwhoaccusesherselfofeatinganeggwithconcupiscence?IfFlorinesucceeds,Ishallbeeditorofanewspaperwithafixedsalaryoftwohundredandfiftyfrancspermonth;IshalltaketheimportantplaysandleavethevaudevillestoVernou,andyoucantakemyplaceanddotheBoulevardtheatres,andsogetafootinthestirrup.Youwillmakethreefrancspercolumnandwriteacolumnaday——thirtycolumnsamonthmeansninetyfrancs;youwillhavesomesixtyfrancsworthofbookstoselltoBarbet;andlastly,youcandemandtenticketsamonthofeachofyourtheatres——thatis,fortyticketsinall——andsellthemforfortyfrancstoaBarbetwhodealsinthem(Iwillintroduceyoutotheman),soyouwillhavetwohundredfrancscomingineverymonth.ThenifyoumakeyourselfusefultoFinot,youmightgetahundredfrancsforanarticleinthisnewweeklyreviewofhis,inwhichcaseyouwouldshowuncommontalent,forallthearticlesaresigned,andyoucannotputinslip-shodworkasyoucanonasmallpaper.Inthatcaseyouwouldbemakingahundredcrownsamonth.Now,mydearboy,therearemenofability,likethatpoord"Arthez,whodinesatFlicoteaux"severyday,whomaywaitfortenyearsbeforetheywillmakeahundredcrowns;andyouwillbemakingfourthousandfrancsayearbyyourpen,tosaynothingofthebooksyouwillwriteforthetrade,ifyoudoworkofthatkind.

"Now,asub-prefect"ssalaryonlyamountstoathousandcrowns,andtherehestopsinhisarrondissement,wearingawaytimeliketherungofachair.Isaynothingofthepleasureofgoingtothetheatrewithoutpayingforyourseat,forthatisadelightwhichquicklypalls;butyoucangobehindthescenesinfourtheatres.Behardandsarcasticforamonthortwo,andyouwillbesimplyoverwhelmedwithinvitationsfromactresses,andtheiradorerswillpaycourttoyou;

youwillonlydineatFlicoteaux"swhenyouhappentohavelessthanthirtysousinyourpocketandnodinnerengagement.AttheLuxembourg,atfiveo"clock,youdidnotknowwhichwaytoturn;now,youareontheeveofenteringaprivilegedclass,youwillbeoneofthehundredpersonswhotellFrancewhattothink.Inthreedays"

time,ifallgoeswell,youcan,ifyouchoose,makeaman"slifeacursetohimbyputtingthirtyjokesathisexpenseinprintattherateofthreeaday;youcan,ifyouchoose,drawarevenueofpleasurefromtheactressesatyourtheatres;youcanwreckagoodplayandsendallParisrunningafterabadone.IfDauriatdeclinestopayyouforyourMarguerites,youcanmakehimcometoyou,andmeeklyandhumblyimploreyoutotaketwothousandfrancsforthem.Ifyouhavetheability,andknockofftwoorthreearticlesthatthreatentospoilsomeofDauriat"sspeculations,ortoruinabookonwhichhecounts,youwillseehimcomeclimbingupyourstairslikeaclematis,andalwaysatthedoorofyourdwelling.Asforyournovel,thebooksellerswhowouldshowyoumoreorlesspolitelytothedooratthismomentwillbestandingoutsideyouratticinastring,andthevalueofthemanuscript,whicholdDoguereauvaluedatfourhundredfrancswillrisetofourthousand.Thesearetheadvantagesofthejournalist"sprofession.Soletusdoourbesttokeepallnewcomersoutofit.Itneedsanimmenseamountofbrainstomakeyourway,andastillgreateramountofluck.Andhereareyouquibblingoveryourgoodfortune!Ifwehadnotmetto-day,yousee,atFlicoteaux"s,youmighthavedancedattendanceonthebooksellersforanotherthreeyears,orstarvedliked"Arthezinagarret.Bythetimethatd"ArthezisaslearnedasBayleandasgreatawriterofproseasRousseau,weshallhavemadeourfortunes,youandI,andweshallholdhisinourhands——wealthandfametogiveortohold.Finotwillbeadeputyandproprietorofagreatnewspaper,andweshallbewhateverwemeanttobe——peersofFrance,orprisonerfordebtinSainte-Pelagie."

"SoFinotwillsellhispapertothehighestbidderamongtheMinisters,justashesellsfavorablenoticestoMme.BastienneandrunsdownMlle.Virginie,sayingthatMme.Bastienne"sbonnetsaresuperiortothemillinerywhichtheypraisedatfirst!"saidLucien,recollectingthatsceneintheoffice.

"Mydearfellow,youareasimpleton,"Lousteauremarkeddrily."ThreeyearsagoFinotwaswalkingontheuppersofhisboots,diningforeighteensousatTabar"s,andknockingoffatradesman"sprospectus(whenhecouldgetit)fortenfrancs.HisclotheshungtogetherbysomemiracleasmysteriousastheImmaculateConception.NOW,Finothasapaperofhisown,worthaboutahundredthousandfrancs.Whatwithsubscriberswhopayandtakenocopies,genuinesubscriptions,andindirecttaxesleviedbyhisuncle,heismakingtwentythousandfrancsayear.Hedinesmostsumptuouslyeveryday;hehassetupacabrioletwithinthelastmonth;andnow,atlast,beholdhimtheeditorofaweeklyreviewwithasixthshare,forwhichhewillnotpayapenny,asalaryoffivehundredfrancspermonth,andanotherthousandfrancsforsupplyingmatterwhichcostshimnothing,andforwhichthefirmpays.Youyourself,tobeginwith,ifFinotconsentstopayyoufiftyfrancspersheet,willbeonlytoogladtolethimhavetwoorthreearticlesfornothing.Whenyouareinhisposition,youcanjudgeFinot;amancanonlybetriedbyhispeers.Andforyou,istherenotanimmensefutureopeningoutbeforeyou,ifyouwillblindlyministertohisenmity,attackatFinot"sbidding,andpraisewhenhegivestheword?Supposethatyouyourselfwishtoberevengeduponsomebody,youcanbreakafoeorfriendonthewheel.Youhaveonlytosaytome,"Lousteau,letusputanendtoSo-and-so,"andwewillkillhimbyaphraseputinthepapermorningbymorning;andafterwardsyoucanslaytheslainwithasolemnarticleinFinot"sweekly.Indeed,ifitisamatterofcapitalimportancetoyou,Finotwouldallowyoutobludgeonyourmaninabigpaperwithtenortwelvethousandsubscribers,IFyoumakeyourselfindispensabletoFinot."

"ThenareyousurethatFlorinecanbringherdruggisttomakethebargain?"askedLucien,dazzledbytheseprospects.

"Quitesure.Nowcomestheinterval,Iwillgoandtellhereverythingatonceinawordortwo;itwillbesettledto-night.IfFlorineoncehasherlessonbyheart,shewillhaveallmywitandherownbesides."

"Andtheresitsthathonesttradesman,gapingwithopen-mouthedadmirationatFlorine,littlesuspectingthatyouareabouttogetthirtythousandfrancsoutofhim!——"

"Moretwaddle!Anybodymightthinkthatthemanwasgoingtoberobbed!"criedLousteau."Why,mydearboy,iftheministerbuysthenewspaper,thedruggistmaymaketwentythousandfrancsinsixmonthsonaninvestmentofthirtythousand.Matifatisnotlookingatthenewspaper,butatFlorine"sprospects.AssoonasitisknownthatMatifatandCamusot——(fortheywillgoshares)——thatMatifatandCamusotareproprietorsofareview,thenewspaperswillbefulloffriendlynoticesofFlorineandCoralie.Florine"snamewillbemade;

shewillperhapsobtainanengagementinanothertheatrewithasalaryoftwelvethousandfrancs.Infact,Matifatwillsaveathousandfrancseverymonthindinnersandpresentstojournalists.Youknownothingofmen,norofthewaythingsaremanaged."

"Poorman!"saidLucien,"heislookingforwardtoanevening"spleasure."

"AndhewillbesawnintwowithargumentsuntilFlorineseesFinot"sreceiptforasixthshareofthepaper.Andto-morrowIshallbeeditorofFinot"spaper,andmakingathousandfrancsamonth.Theendofmytroublesisinsight!"criedFlorine"slover.

Lousteauwentout,andLuciensatlikeonebewildered,lostintheinfiniteofthought,soaringabovethiseverydayworld.IntheWoodenGallerieshehadseenthewiresbywhichthetradeinbooksismoved;

hehasseensomethingofthekitchenwheregreatreputationsaremade;

hehadbeenbehindthescenes;hehadseentheseamysideoflife,theconsciencesofmeninvolvedinthemachineryofParis,themechanismofitall.AshewatchedFlorineonthestagehealmostenviedLousteauhisgoodfortune;already,forafewmomentshehadforgottenMatifatinthebackground.Hewasnotleftaloneforlong,perhapsfornotmorethanfiveminutes,butthoseminutesseemedaneternity.

Thoughtsrosewithinhimthatsethissoulonfire,asthespectacleonthestagehadheatedhissenses.Helookedatthewomenwiththeirwantoneyes,allthebrighterfortheredpaintontheircheeks,atthegleamingbarenecks,theluxuriantformsoutlinedbythelasciviousfoldsofthebasquina,theveryshortskirts,thatdisplayedasmuchaspossibleoflimbsencasedinscarletstockingswithgreenclockstothem——adisquietingvisionforthepit.

Adoubleprocessofcorruptionwasworkingwithinhiminparallellines,liketwochannelsthatwillspreadsoonerorlaterinfloodtimeandmakeone.ThatcorruptionwaseatingintoLucien"ssoul,asheleanedbackinhiscorner,staringvacantlyatthecurtain,onearmrestingonthecrimsonvelvetcushion,andhishanddroopingovertheedge.Hefeltthefascinationofthelifethatwasofferedtohim,ofthegleamsoflightamongitsclouds;andthissomuchthemorekeenlybecauseitshoneoutlikeablazeoffireworksagainsttheblankdarknessofhisownobscure,monotonousdaysoftoil.

Suddenlyhislistlesseyesbecameawareofaburningglancethatreachedhimthrougharentinthecurtain,androusedhimfromhislethargy.ThosewereCoralie"seyesthatgloweduponhim.HeloweredhisheadandlookedacrossatCamusot,whojustthenenteredtheoppositebox.

Thatamateurwasaworthysilk-merceroftheRuedesBourdonnais,stoutandsubstantial,ajudgeinthecommercialcourt,afatheroffourchildren,andthehusbandofasecondwife.Attheageoffifty-

six,withacapofgrayhaironhishead,hehadthesmugappearanceofamanwhohashiseightythousandfrancsofincome;andhavingbeenforcedtoputupwithagooddealthathedidnotlikeinthewayofbusiness,hasfullymadeuphismindtoenjoytherestofhislife,andnottoquitthisearthuntilhehashadhisshareofcakesandale.Abrowthecoloroffreshbutterandfloridcheekslikeamonk"sjowlseemedscarcelybigenoughtocontainhisexuberantjubilation.

Camusothadlefthiswifeathome,andtheywereapplaudingCoralietotheskies.Alltherichman"scitizenvanitywassummedupandgratifiedinCoralie;inCoralie"slodginghegavehimselftheairsofagreatlordofabygoneday;now,atthismoment,hefeltthathalfofhersuccesswashis;theknowledgethathehadpaidforitconfirmedhiminthisidea.Camusot"sconductwassanctionedbythepresenceofhisfather-in-law,alittleoldfogywithpowderedhairandleeringeyes,highlyrespectednevertheless.

AgainLucienfeltdisgustrisingwithinhim.HethoughtoftheyearwhenhelovedMme.deBargetonwithanexaltedanddisinterestedlove;

andatthatthoughtlove,asapoetunderstandsit,spreaditswhitewingsabouthim;countlessmemoriesdrewacircleofdistantbluehorizonaboutthegreatmanofAngouleme,andagainhefelltodreaming.

Upwentthecurtain,andtherestoodCoralieandFlorineuponthestage.

"HeisthinkingaboutasmuchofyouasoftheGrandTurk,mydeargirl,"FlorinesaidinanasidewhileCoraliewasfinishingherspeech.

Luciencouldnothelplaughing.HelookedatCoralie.ShewasoneofthemostcharmingandcaptivatingactressesinParis,rivalingMme.

PerrinandMlle.Fleuriet,anddestinedlikewisetosharetheirfate.