第11章

"Wehavejustheardnewsofadreadfulcatastrophe;thegreatestthinkeroftheage,ourmostlovedfriend,whowaslikealightamongusfortwoyears——"

"LouisLambert!"

"Hasfallenavictimtocatalepsy.Thereisnohopeforhim,"saidBianchon.

"Hewilldie,hissoulwanderingintheskies,hisbodyunconsciousonearth,"saidMichelChrestiensolemnly.

"Hewilldieashelived,"saidd"Arthez.

"Lovefelllikeafirebrandinthevastempireofhisbrainandburnedhimaway,"saidLeonGiraud.

"Yes,"saidJosephBridau,"hehasreachedaheightthatwecannotsomuchassee."

"WEaretobepitied,notLouis,"saidFulgenceRidal.

"Perhapshewillrecover,"exclaimedLucien.

"FromwhatMeyrauxhasbeentellingus,recoveryseemsimpossible,"

answeredBianchon."Medicinehasnopoweroverthechangethatisworkinginhisbrain."

"Yettherearephysicalmeans,"saidd"Arthez.

"Yes,"saidBianchon;"wemightproduceimbecilityinsteadofcatalepsy."

"Istherenowayofofferinganotherheadtothespiritofevil?I

wouldgiveminetosavehim!"criedMichelChrestien.

"AndwhatwouldbecomeofEuropeanfederation?"askedd"Arthez.

"Ah!true,"repliedMichelChrestien."OurdutytoHumanitycomesfirst;toonemanafterwards."

"Icameherewithaheartfullofgratitudetoyouall,"saidLucien.

"Youhavechangedmyalloyintogoldencoin."

"Gratitude!Forwhatdoyoutakeus?"askedBianchon.

"Wehadthepleasure,"addedFulgence.

"Well,soyouareajournalist,areyou?"askedLeonGiraud."ThefameofyourfirstappearancehasreachedeventheLatinQuarter."

"Iamnotajournalistyet,"returnedLucien.

"Aha!Somuchthebetter,"saidMichelChrestien.

"Itoldyouso!"saidd"Arthez."Lucienknowsthevalueofacleanconscience.Whenyoucansaytoyourselfasyoulayyourheadonthepillowatnight,"Ihavenotsatinjudgmentonanotherman"swork;I

havegivenpaintonoone;Ihavenotusedtheedgeofmywittodealastabtosomeharmlesssoul;Ihavesacrificednoone"ssuccesstoajest;Ihavenoteventroubledthehappinessofimbecility;Ihavenotaddedtotheburdensofgenius;Ihavescornedtheeasytriumphsofepigram;inshort,Ihavenotactedagainstmyconvictions,"isnotthisaviaticumthatgivesonedailystrength?"

"Butonecansayallthis,surely,andyetworkonanewspaper,"saidLucien."IfIhadabsolutelynootherwayofearningaliving,I

shouldcertainlycometothis."

"Oh!oh!oh!"criedFulgence,hisvoicerisinganoteeachtime;"wearecapitulating,arewe?"

"Hewillturnjournalist,"LeonGiraudsaidgravely."Oh,Lucien,ifyouwouldonlystayandworkwithus!Weareabouttobringoutaperiodicalinwhichjusticeandtruthshallneverbeviolated;wewillspreaddoctrinesthat,perhaps,willbeofrealservicetomankind——"

"Youwillnothaveasinglesubscriber,"LucienbrokeinwithMachiavellianwisdom.

"Therewillbefivehundredofthem,"assertedMichelChrestien,"buttheywillbeworthfivehundredthousand."

"Youwillneedalotofcapital,"continuedLucien.

"No,onlydevotion,"saidd"Arthez.

"Anybodymighttakehimforaperfumer"sassistant,"burstoutMichelChrestien,lookingatLucien"shead,andsniffingcomically."Youwereseendrivingaboutinaverysmartturnoutwithapairofthoroughbreds,andamistressforaprince,Coralieherself."

"Well,andisthereanyharminit?"

"Youwouldnotsaythatifyouthoughtthattherewasnoharminit,"

saidBianchon.

"IcouldhavewishedLucienaBeatrice,"saidd"Arthez,"anoblewoman,whowouldhavebeenahelptohiminlife——"

"But,Daniel,"askedLucien,"loveislovewhereveryoufindit,isitnot?"

"Ah!"saidtherepublicanmember,"onthatonepointIamanaristocrat.Icouldnotbringmyselftoloveawomanwhomustrubshoulderswithallsortsofpeopleinthegreen-room;whomanactorkissesonstage;shemustlowerherselfbeforethepublic,smileoneveryone,liftherskirtsasshedances,anddresslikeaman,thatalltheworldmayseewhatnoneshouldseesaveIalone.OrifIlovedsuchawoman,sheshouldleavethestage,andmyloveshouldcleanseherfromthestainofit."

"Andifshewouldnotleavethestage?"

"Ishoulddieofmortification,jealousy,andallsortsofpain.Youcannotpluckloveoutofyourheartasyoudrawatooth."

Lucien"sfacegrewdarkandthoughtful.

"WhentheyfindoutthatIamtoleratingCamusot,howtheywilldespiseme,"hethought.

"Lookhere,"saidthefiercerepublican,withhumorousfierceness,"youcanbeagreatwriter,butalittleplay-actoryoushallneverbe,"andhetookuphishatandwentout.

"Heishard,isMichelChrestien,"commentedLucien.

"Hardandsalutary,likethedentist"spincers,"saidBianchon.

"Michelforeseesyourfuture;perhapsinthestreet,atthismoment,heisthinkingofyouwithtearsinhiseyes."

D"Arthezwaskind,andtalkedcomfortingly,andtriedtocheerLucien.

Thepoetspentanhourwithhisfriends,thenhewent,buthisconsciencetreatedhimhardly,cryingtohim,"Youwillbeajournalist——ajournalist!"asthewitchcriedtoMacbeththatheshouldbekinghereafter!

Outinthestreet,helookedupatd"Arthez"swindows,andsawafaintlightshininginthem,andhisheartsank.Adimforebodingtoldhimthathehadbiddenhisfriendsgood-byeforthelasttime.

AsheturnedoutofthePlacedelaSorbonneintotheRuedeCluny,hesawacarriageatthedoorofhislodging.CoraliehaddrivenallthewayfromtheBoulevardduTempleforthesakeofamomentwithherloveranda"good-night."Lucienfoundhersobbinginhisgarret.Shewouldbeaswretchedlypoorasherpoet,shewept,asshearrangedhisshirtsandglovesandhandkerchiefsinthecrazychestofdrawers.Herdistresswassorealandsogreat,thatLucien,butevennowchiddenforhisconnectionwithanactress,sawCoralieasasaintreadytoassumethehair-shirtofpoverty.Theadorablegirl"sexcuseforhervisitwasanannouncementthatthefirmofCamusot,Coralie,andLucienmeanttoinviteMatifat,Florine,andLousteau(thesecondtrio)tosupper;hadLucienanyinvitationstoissuetopeoplewhomightbeusefultohim?LuciensaidthathewouldtakecounselofLousteau.

Afewmomentswerespenttogether,andCoraliehurriedaway.ShesparedLucientheknowledgethatCamusotwaswaitingforherbelow.

Nextmorning,ateighto"clock,LucienwenttoEtienneLousteau"sroom,founditempty,andhurriedawaytoFlorine.LousteauandFlorine,settledintopossessionoftheirnewquarterslikeamarriedcouple,receivedtheirfriendintheprettybedroom,andallthreebreakfastedsumptuouslytogether.

"Why,Ishouldadviseyou,myboy,tocomewithmetoseeFelicienVernou,"saidLousteau,whentheysatattable,andLucienhadmentionedCoralie"sprojectedsupper;"askhimtobeoftheparty,andkeepwellwithhim,ifyoucankeepwellwithsucharascal.FelicienVernoudoesafeuilletonforapoliticalpaper;hemightperhapsintroduceyou,andyoucouldblossomoutintoleadersinitatyourease.ItisaLiberalpaper,likeours;youwillbeaLiberal,thatisthepopularparty;andbesides,ifyoumeantogoovertotheMinisterialists,youwoulddobetterforyourselfiftheyhadreasontobeafraidofyou.ThenthereisHectorMerlinandhisMme.duVal-

Noble;youmeetgreatpeopleattheirhouse——dukesanddandiesandmillionaires;didn"ttheyaskyouandCoralietodinewiththem?"

"Yes,"repliedLucien;"youaregoingtoo,andsoisFlorine."LucienandEtiennewerenowonfamiliartermsafterFriday"sdebauchandthedinnerattheRocherdeCancale.

"Verywell,Merlinisonthepaper;weshallcomeacrosshimprettyoften;heisthechaptofollowcloseonFinot"sheels.Youwoulddowelltopayhimattention;askhimandMme.duVal-Nobletosupper.Hemaybeusefultoyoubeforelong;forrancorouspeoplearealwaysinneedofothers,andhemaydoyouagoodturnifhecanreckononyourpen."

"Yourbeginninghasmadeenoughsensationtosmoothyourway,"saidFlorine;"takeadvantageofitatonce,oryouwillsoonbeforgotten."

"Thebargain,thegreatbusiness,isconcluded,"Lousteaucontinued.

"ThatFinot,withoutasparkoftalentinhim,istobeeditorofDauriat"sweeklypaper,withasalaryofsixhundredfrancspermonth,andownerofasixthshare,forwhichhehasnotpaidonepenny.AndI,mydearfellow,amnoweditorofourlittlepaper.EverythingwentoffasIexpected;Florinemanagedsuperbly,shecouldgivepointstoTallyrandhimself."

"Wehaveaholdonmenthroughtheirpleasures,"saidFlorine,"whileadiplomatistonlyworksontheirself-love.Adiplomatistseesamanmadeupfortheoccasion;weknowhiminhismomentsoffolly,soourpowerisgreater."

"Andwhenthethingwassettled,Matifatmadethefirstandlastjokeofhiswholedruggist"scareer,"putinLousteau."Hesaid,"Thisaffairisquiteinmyline;Iamsupplyingdrugstothepublic.""

"IsuspectthatFlorineputhimuptoit,"criedLucien.

"Andbythesemeans,mylittledear,yourfootisinthestirrup,"

continuedLousteau.

"Youwerebornwithasilverspooninyourmouth,"remarkedFlorine.

"Whatlotsofyoungfellowswaitforyears,waittilltheyaresickofwaiting,forachancetogetanarticleintoapaper!YouwilldolikeEmileBlondet.Insixmonths"timeyouwillbegivingyourselfhighandmightyairs,"sheadded,withamockingsmile,inthelanguageofherclass.

"Haven"tIbeeninParisforthreeyears?"saidLousteau,"andonlyyesterdayFinotbegantopaymeafixedmonthlysalaryofthreehundredfrancs,andahundredfrancspersheetforhispaper."

"Well;youaresayingnothing!"exclaimedFlorine,withhereyesturnedonLucien.

"Weshallsee,saidLucien.

"Mydearboy,ifyouhadbeenmybrother,Icouldnothavedonemoreforyou,"retortedLousteau,somewhatnettled,"butIwon"tanswerforFinot.ScoresofsharpfellowswillbesiegeFinotforthenexttwodayswithofferstoworkforlowpay.Ihavepromisedforyou,butyoucandrawbackifyoulike——Youlittleknowhowluckyyouare,"headdedafterapause."Allthoseinoursetcombinetoattackanenemyinvariouspapers,andlendeachotherahelpinghandallround."

"LetusgointhefirstplacetoFelicienVernou,"saidLucien.Hewaseagertoconcludeanalliancewithsuchformidablebirdsofprey.

Lousteausentforacab,andthepairoffriendsdrovetoVernou"shouseonthesecondfloorupanalleyintheRueMandar.ToLucien"sgreatastonishment,theharsh,fastidious,andseverecritic"ssurroundingswerevulgartothelastdegree.Amarbledpaper,cheapandshabby,withameaninglesspatternrepeatedatregularintervals,coveredthewalls,andaseriesofaquatintsingiltframesdecoratedtheapartment,whereVernousatattablewithawomansoplainthatshecouldonlybethelegitimatemistressofthehouse,andtwoverysmallchildrenperchedonhighchairswithabarinfronttopreventtheinfantsfromtumblingout.FelicienVernou,inacottondressing-

gowncontrivedoutoftheremainsofoneofhiswife"sdresses,wasnotoverwellpleasedbythisinvasion.

"Haveyoubreakfasted,Lousteau?"heasked,placingachairforLucien.

"WehavejustleftFlorine;wehavebeenbreakfastingwithher."

LuciencouldnottakehiseyesoffMme.Vernou.Shelookedlikeastout,homelycook,withatolerablyfaircomplexion,butcommonplacetothelastdegree.Theladyworeabandanatiedoverhernight-cap,thestringsofthelatterarticleofdressbeingtiedsotightlyunderthechinthatherpuffycheeksstoodoutoneitherside.Ashapeless,beltlessgarment,fastenedbyasinglebuttonatthethroat,envelopedherfromheadtofootinsuchafashionthatacomparisontoamilestoneatoncesuggesteditself.Herhealthleftnoroomforhope;

hercheekswerealmostpurple;herfingerslookedlikesausages.InamomentitdawneduponLucienhowitwasthatVernouwasalwayssoillateaseinsociety;herewasthelivingexplanationofhismisanthropy.Sickofhismarriage,unabletobringhimselftoabandonhiswifeandfamily,hehadyetsufficientoftheartistictempertosuffercontinuallyfromtheirpresence;Vernouwasanactorbynatureboundnevertopardonthesuccessofanother,condemnedtochronicdiscontentbecausehewasnevercontentwithhimself.LucienbegantounderstandthesourlookwhichseemedtoaddtothebleakexpressionofenvyonVernou"sface;theacerbityoftheepigramswithwhichhisconversationwassown,thejournalist"spungentphrases,keenandelaboratelywroughtasastiletto,wereatonceexplained.

"Letusgointomystudy,"Vernousaid,risingfromthetable;"youhavecomeonbusiness,nodoubt."

"Yesandno,"repliedEtienneLousteau."Itisasupper,oldchap."

"IhavebroughtamessagefromCoralie,"saidLucien(Mme.Vernoulookedupatonceatthename),"toaskyoutosupper

"Shewilltakeoffenceifwedon"tgo;andyouareverygladofherwhenyouhaveabilltodiscount."

"Thiswifeofmine,mydearboy,canneverbemadetounderstandthatasupperengagementfortwelveo"clockdoesnotpreventyoufromgoingtoaneveningpartythatcomestoanendateleven.SheisalwayswithmewhileIwork,"headded.

"Youhavesomuchimagination!"saidLucien,andtherebymadeamortalenemyofVernou.

"Well,"continuedLousteau,"youarecoming;butthatisnotall.M.

deRubempreisabouttobeoneofus,soyoumustpushhiminyourpaper.Givehimoutforachapthatwillmakeanameforhimselfinliterature,sothathecanputinatleastacoupleofarticleseverymonth."

"Yes,ifhemeanstobeoneofus,andwillattackourenemies,aswewillattackhis,IwillsayawordforhimattheOperato-night,"

repliedVernou.

"Verywell——good-byetillto-morrow,myboy,"saidLousteau,shakinghandswitheverysignofcordiality."Whenisyourbookcomingout?"

"ThatdependsonDauriat;itisready,"saidVernoupater-familias.

"Areyousatisfied?"

"Yesandno——"

"Wewillgetupasuccess,"saidLousteau,andherosewithabowtohiscolleague"swife.

Theabruptdeparturewasnecessaryindeed;forthetwoinfants,engagedinanoisyquarrel,werefightingwiththeirspoons,andflingingthepapineachother"sfaces.

"That,myboy,isawomanwhoallunconsciouslywillworkgreathavocincontemporaryliterature,"saidEtienne,whentheycameaway."PoorVernoucannotforgiveusforhiswife.Heoughttoberelievedofherintheinterestsofthepublic;andadelugeofblood-thirstyreviewsandstingingsarcasmsagainstsuccessfulmenofeverysortwouldbeaverted.Whatistobecomeofamanwithsuchawifeandthatpairofabominablebrats?HaveyouseenRigaudininPicard"sLaMaisonenLoterie?Youhave?Well,likeRigaudin,Vernouwillnotfighthimself,buthewillsetothersfighting;hewouldgiveaneyetoputoutbotheyesintheheadofthebestfriendhehas.Youwillseehimusingthebodiesoftheslainforastepping-stone,rejoicingovereveryone"smisfortunes,attackingprinces,dukes,marquises,andnobles,becausehehimselfisacommoner;revilingtheworkofunmarriedmenbecauseheforsoothhasawife;andeverlastinglypreachingmorality,thejoysofdomesticlife,andthedutiesofthecitizen.Inshort,thisverymoralcriticwillsparenoone,noteveninfantsoftenderage.HelivesintheRueMandarwithawifewhomightbetheMamamouchioftheBourgeoisgentilhommeandacoupleoflittleVernousasuglyassin.

HetriestosneerattheFaubourgSaint-Germain,wherehewillneversetfoot,andmakeshisduchessestalklikehiswife.ThatisthesortofmantoraiseahowlattheJesuits,insulttheCourt,andcredittheCourtpartywiththedesignofrestoringfeudalrightsandtherightofprimogeniture——justtheonetopreachacrusadeforEquality,hethatthinkshimselftheequalofnoone.Ifhewereabachelor,hewouldgointosociety;ifhewereinafairwaytobeaRoyalistpoetwithapensionandtheCrossoftheLegionofHonor,hewouldbeanoptimist,andjournalismoffersstarting-pointsbythehundred.

Journalismisthegiantcatapultsetinmotionbypigmyhatreds.Haveyouanywishtomarryafterthis?Vernouhasnoneofthemilkofhumankindnessinhim,itisallturnedtogall;andheisemphaticallytheJournalist,atigerwithtwohandsthattearseverythingtopieces,asifhispenhadthehydrophobia."

"Itisacaseofgunophobia,"saidLucien."Hasheability?"

"Heiswitty,heisawriterofarticles.Heincubatesarticles;hedoesthatallhislifeandnothingelse.Themostdoggedindustrywouldfailtograftabookonhisprose.Felicienisincapableofconceivingaworkonalargescale,ofbroadeffects,offittingcharactersharmoniouslyinaplotwhichdevelopstillitreachesaclimax.Hehasideas,buthehasnoknowledgeoffacts;hisheroesareutopiancreatures,philosophicalorLiberalnotionsmasquerading.Heisatpainstowriteanoriginalstyle,buthisinflatedperiodswouldcollapseatapin-prickfromacritic;andthereforehegoesinterrorofreviews,likeeveryoneelsewhocanonlykeephisheadabovewaterwiththebladdersofnewspaperpuffs."

"Whatanarticleyouaremakingoutofhim!"

"Thatparticularkind,myboy,mustbespoken,andneverwritten."

"Youareturningeditor,"saidLucien.

"WhereshallIputyoudown?"

"AtCoralie"s."

"Ah!weareinfatuated,"saidLousteau."Whatamistake!DoasIdowithFlorine,letCoraliebeyourhousekeeper,andtakeyourfling."

"Youwouldsendasainttoperdition,"laughedLucien.

"Well,thereisnodamningadevil,"retortedLousteau.

Theflippanttone,thebrillianttalkofthisnewfriend,hisviewsoflife,hisparadoxes,theaxiomsofParisianMachiavelism,——allthesethingsimpressedLucienunawares.Theoreticallythepoetknewthatsuchthoughtswereperilous;buthebelievedthempracticallyuseful.

ArrivedintheBoulevardduTemple,thefriendsagreedtomeetattheofficebetweenfourandfiveo"clock.HectorMerlinwoulddoubtlessbethere.Lousteauwasright.TheinfatuationofdesirewasuponLucien;

forthecourtesanwholovesknowshowtograppleherlovertoherbyeveryweaknessinhisnature,fashioningherselfwithincredibleflexibilitytohiseverywish,encouragingthesoft,effeminatehabitswhichstrengthenherhold.Lucienwasthirstingalreadyforenjoyment;

hewasinlovewiththeeasy,luxurious,andexpensivelifewhichtheactressled.

HefoundCoralieandCamusotintoxicatedwithjoy.TheGymnaseofferedCoralieanengagementafterEasterontermsforwhichshehadneverdaredtohope.

"Andthisgreatsuccessisowingtoyou,"saidCamusot.

"Yes,surely.TheAlcaldewouldhavefallenflatbutforhim,"criedCoralie;"iftherehadbeennoarticle,IshouldhavebeeninforanothersixyearsoftheBoulevardtheatres."

ShedanceduptoLucienandflungherarmsroundhim,puttinganindescribablesilkensoftnessandsweetnessintoherenthusiasm.LovehadcometoCoralie.AndCamusot?hiseyesfell.Lookingdownafterthewontofmankindinmomentsofsharppain,hesawtheseamofLucien"sboots,adeepyellowthreadusedbythebestbootmakersofthattime,instrongcontrastwiththeglisteningleather.Thecolorofthatseamhadtingedhisthoughtsduringapreviousconversationwithhimself,ashesoughttoexplainthepresenceofamysteriouspairofhessiansinCoralie"sfender.Herememberednowthathehadseenthenameof"Gay,RuedelaMichodiere,"printedinblacklettersonthesoftwhitekidlining.

"Youhaveahandsomepairofboots,sir,"hesaid.

"Likeeverythingelseabouthim,"saidCoralie.

"Ishouldbeverygladofyourbootmaker"saddress."

"Oh,howliketheRuedesBourdonnaistoaskforatradesman"saddress,"criedCoralie."DoYOUintendtopatronizeayoungman"sbootmaker?Aniceyoungmanyouwouldmake!Dokeeptoyourowntop-

boots;theyarethekindforasteady-goingmanwithawifeandfamilyandamistress."

"Indeed,ifyouwouldtakeoffoneofyourboots,sir,Ishouldbeverymuchobliged,"persistedCamusot.

"Icouldnotgetitonagainwithoutabutton-hook,"saidLucien,flushingup.

"Berenicewillfetchyouone;wecandowithsomehere,"jeeredCamusot.

"PapaCamusot!"saidCoralie,lookingathimwithcruelscorn,"havethecourageofyourpitifulbaseness.Come,speakout!Youthinkthatthisgentleman"sbootsareverylikemine,doyounot?——Iforbidyoutotakeoffyourboots,"sheadded,turningtoLucien——"Yes,M.

Camusot.Yes,yousawsomebootslyingaboutinthefenderheretheotherday,andthatistheidenticalpair,andthisgentlemanwashidinginmydressing-roomatthetime,waitingforthem;andhehadpassedthenighthere.Thatwaswhatyouwerethinking,hein?Thinkso;Iwouldratheryoudid.Itisthesimpletruth.Iamdeceivingyou.AndifIam?Idoittopleasemyself."

Shesatdown.Therewasnoangerinherface,noembarrassment;shelookedfromCamusottoLucien.Thetwomenavoidedeachother"seyes.

"Iwillbelievenothingthatyoudonotwishmetobelieve,"saidCamusot."Don"tplaywithme,Coralie;Iwaswrong——"

"Iameitherashamelessbaggagethathastakenasuddenfancy;orapoor,unhappygirlwhofeelswhatlovereallyisforthefirsttime,thelovethatallwomenlongfor.Andwhicheverwayitis,youmustleavemeortakemeasIam,"shesaid,withaqueenlygesturethatcrushedCamusot.

"Isitreallytrue?"heasked,seeingfromtheirfacesthatthiswasnojest,yetbeggingtobedeceived.

"Ilovemademoiselle,"Lucienfalteredout.

Atthatword,Coraliesprangtoherpoetandheldhimtightlytoher;

then,withherarmsstillabouthim,sheturnedtothesilk-mercer,asiftobidhimseethebeautifulpicturemadebytwoyounglovers.

"PoorMusot,takeallthatyougavetomebackagain;Idonotwanttokeepanythingofyours;forIlovethisboyheremadly,notforhisintellect,butforhisbeauty.Iwouldratherstarvewithhimthanhavemillionswithyou."

Camusotsankintoalowchair,hidhisfaceinhishands,andsaidnotaword.

"Wouldyoulikeustogoaway?"sheasked.Therewasanoteofferocityinhervoicewhichnowordscandescribe.

ColdchillsrandownLucien"sspine;hebeheldhimselfburdenedwithawoman,anactress,andahousehold.

"Stayhere,Coralie;keepitall,"theoldtradesmansaidatlast,inafaint,unsteadyvoicethatcamefromhisheart;"Idon"twantanythingback.Thereistheworthofsixtythousandfrancshereinthefurniture;butIcouldnotbeartothinkofmyCoralieinwant.Andyet,itwillnotbelongbeforeyoucometowant.Howevergreatthisgentleman"stalentmaybe,hecan"taffordtokeepyou.Weoldfellowsmustexpectthissortofthing.Coralie,letmecomeandseeyousometimes;Imaybeofusetoyou.And——Iconfessit;Icannotlivewithoutyou."

Thepoorman"sgentleness,strippedashewasofhishappinessjustashappinesshadreacheditsheight,touchedLuciendeeply.Coraliewasquiteunsoftenedbyit.

"Comeasoftenasyouwish,poorMusot,"shesaid;"IshalllikeyouallthebetterwhenIdon"tpretendtoloveyou."

Camusotseemedtoberesignedtohisfatesolongashewasnotdrivenoutoftheearthlyparadise,inwhichhislifecouldnothavebeenalljoy;hetrustedtothechancesoflifeinParisandtothetemptationsthatwouldbesetLucien"spath;hewouldwaitawhile,andallthathadbeenhisshouldbehisagain.Soonerorlater,thoughtthewilytradesman,thishandsomeyoungfellowwouldbeunfaithful;hewouldkeepawatchonhim;andthebettertodothisandusehisopportunitywithCoralie,hewouldbetheirfriend.ThepersistentpassionthatcouldconsenttosuchhumiliationterrifiedLucien.Camusot"sproposalofadinneratVery"sinthePalaisRoyalwasaccepted.

"Whatjoy!"criedCoralie,assoonasCamusothaddeparted."YouwillnotgobacknowtoyourgarretintheLatinQuarter;youwilllivehere.Weshallalwaysbetogether.YoucantakearoomintheRueCharlotforthesakeofappearances,andvoguelegalere!"

ShebegantodanceherSpanishdance,withanexcitedeagernessthatrevealedthestrengthofthepassioninherheart.

"IfIworkhardImaymakefivehundredfrancsamonth,"Luciensaid.

"AndIshallmakeasmuchagainatthetheatre,withoutcountingextras.Camusotwillpayformydressesasbefore.Heisfondofme!

WecanlivelikeCroesusonfifteenhundredfrancsamonth."

"Andthehorses?andthecoachman?andthefootman?"inquiredBerenice.

"Iwillgetintodebt,"saidCoralie.AndshebegantodancewithLucien.

"ImustclosewithFinotafterthis,"Lucienexclaimed.

"There!"saidCoralie,"Iwilldressandtakeyoutoyouroffice.I

willwaitoutsideintheboulevardforyouwiththecarriage."

LuciensatdownonthesofaandmadesomeverysoberreflectionsashewatchedCoralieathertoilet.ItwouldhavebeenwisertoleaveCoraliefreethantostartallatoncewithsuchanestablishment;butCoraliewastherebeforehiseyes,andCoraliewassolovely,sograceful,sobewitching,thatthemorepicturesqueaspectsofbohemiawereinevidence;andheflungdownthegauntlettofortune.

BerenicewasorderedtosuperintendLucien"sremovalandinstallation;

andCoralie,triumphant,radiant,andhappy,carriedoffherlove,herpoet,andmustneedsgoalloverParisonthewaytotheRueSaint-

Fiacre.Lucienspranglightlyupthestaircase,andenteredtheofficewithanairofbeingquiteathome.Coloquintewastherewiththestampedpaperstillonhishead;andoldGiroudeautoldhimagain,hypocriticallyenough,thatnoonehadyetcomein.

"ButtheeditorandcontributorsMUSTmeetsomewhereorothertoarrangeaboutthejournal,"saidLucien.

"Verylikely;butIhavenothingtodowiththewritingofthepaper,"

saidtheEmperor"scaptain,resuminghisoccupationofcheckingoffwrapperswithhiseternalbroum!broum!

Wasitluckyorunlucky?FinotchancedtocomeinatthatverymomenttoannouncehisshamabdicationandtobidGiroudeauwatchoverhisinterests.

"Noshilly-shallywiththisgentleman;heisonthestaff,"Finotaddedforhisuncle"sbenefit,ashegraspedLucienbythehand.

"Oh!isheonthepaper?"exclaimedGiroudeau,muchsurprisedatthisfriendliness."Well,sir,youcameonwithoutmuchdifficulty."

"Iwanttomakethingssnugforyouhere,lestEtienneshouldbamboozleyou,"continuedFinot,lookingknowinglyatLucien."Thisgentlemanwillbepaidthreefrancspercolumnallround,includingtheatres."

"Youhavenevertakenanyoneonsuchtermsbefore,"saidGiroudeau,openinghiseyes.

"AndhewilltakethefourBoulevardtheatres.Seethatnobodysneakshisboxes,andthathegetshisshareoftickets——Ishouldadviseyou,nevertheless,tohavethemsenttoyouraddress,"headded,turningtoLucien——"Andheagreestowritebesidestenmiscellaneousarticlesoftwocolumnseach,forfiftyfrancspermonth,foroneyear.Doesthatsuityou?"

"Yes,"saidLucien.Circumstanceshadforcedhishand.

"Drawuptheagreement,uncle,andwewillsignitwhenwecomedownstairs."

"Whoisthegentleman?"inquiredGiroudeau,risingandtakingoffhisblacksilkskull-cap.

"M.LuciendeRubempre,whowrotethearticleonTheAlcalde."

"Youngman,youhaveagoldmineTHERE,"saidtheoldsoldier,tappingLucienontheforehead."Iamnotliterarymyself,butIreadthatarticleofyours,andIlikedit.Thatisthekindofthing!There"sgaietyforyou!"Thatwillbringusnewsubscribers,"saysItomyself.Andsoitdid.Wesoldfiftymorenumbers."

"IsmyagreementwithLousteaumadeoutinduplicateandreadytosign?"askedFinot,speakingaside.

"Yes."

"Thenante-datethisgentleman"sagreementbyoneday,sothatLousteauwillbeboundbythepreviouscontract."

Finottookhisnewcontributor"sarmwithafriendlinessthatcharmedLucien,anddrewhimoutonthelandingtosay:——

"Yourpositionismadeforyou.IwillintroduceyoutoMYstaffmyself,andto-nightLousteauwillgoroundwithyoutothetheatres.

YoucanmakeahundredandfiftyfrancspermonthonthislittlepaperofourswithLousteauasitseditor,sotrytokeepwellwithhim.Theroguebearsagrudgeagainstmeasitis,fortyinghishandssofarasyouareconcerned;butyouhaveability,andIdon"tchoosethatyoushallbesubjectedtothewhimsoftheeditor.Youmightletmehaveacoupleofsheetseverymonthformyreview,andIwillpayyoutwohundredfrancs.Thisisbetweenourselves,don"tmentionittoanybodyelse;Ishouldbelaidopentothespiteofeveryonewhosevanityismortifiedbyyourgoodfortune.Writefourarticles,fillyourtwosheets,signtwowithyourownname,andtwowithapseudonym,sothatyoumaynotseemtobetakingthebreadoutofanybodyelse"smouth.YouoweyourpositiontoBlondetandVignon;

theythinkthatyouhaveafuturebeforeyou.Sokeepoutofscrapes,and,aboveallthings,beonyourguardagainstyourfriends.Asforme,weshallalwaysgetonwelltogether,youandI.Helpme,andI