第12章

willhelpyou.Youhavefortyfrancs"worthofboxesandticketstosell,andsixtyfrancs"worthofbookstoconvertintocash.Withthatandyourworkonthepaper,youwillbemakingfourhundredandfiftyfrancseverymonth.Ifyouuseyourwits,youwillfindwaysofmakinganothertwohundredfrancsatleastamongthepublishers;theywillpayyouforreviewsandprospectuses.Butyouaremine,areyounot?I

cancountuponyou."

LuciensqueezedFinot"shandintransportsofjoywhichnowordscanexpress.

"Don"tletanyoneseethatanythinghaspassedbetweenus,"saidFinotinhisear,andheflungopenadoorofaroomintheroofattheendofalongpassageonthefifthfloor.

Atablecoveredwithagreenclothwasdrawnuptoablazingfire,andseatedinvariouschairsandloungesLuciendiscoveredLousteau,FelicienVernou,HectorMerlin,andtwoothersunknowntohim,alllaughingorsmoking.Arealinkstand,fullofinkthistime,stoodonthetableamongagreatlitterofpapers;whileacollectionofpens,theworseforwear,butstillserviceableforjournalists,toldthenewcontributorveryplainlythatthemightyenterprisewascarriedoninthisapartment.

"Gentlemen,"saidFinot,"theobjectofthisgatheringistheinstallationofourfriendLousteauinmyplaceaseditorofthenewspaperwhichIamcompelledtorelinquish.ButalthoughmyopinionswillnecessarilyundergoatransformationwhenIaccepttheeditorshipofareviewofwhichthepoliticsareknowntoyou,myCONVICTIONS

remainthesame,andweshallbefriendsasbefore.Iamquiteatyourservice,andyoulikewisewillbereadytodoanythingforme.

Circumstanceschange;principlesarefixed.Principlesarethepivotonwhichthehandsofthepoliticalbarometerturn."

Therewasaninstantshoutoflaughter.

"Whoputthatintoyourmouth?"askedLousteau.

"Blondet!"saidFinot.

"Windy,showery,stormy,settledfair,"saidMerlin;"wewillallrowinthesameboat."

"Inshort,"continuedFinot,"nottomuddleourwitswithmetaphors,anyonewhohasanarticleortwoformewillalwaysfindFinot——Thisgentleman,"turningtoLucien,"willbeoneofyou——Ihavearrangedwithhim,Lousteau."

EveryonecongratulatedFinotonhisadvanceandnewprospects.

"Sothereyouare,mountedonourshoulders,"saidacontributorwhomLuciendidnotknow."YouwillbetheJanusofJournal——"

"Solongasheisn"ttheJanot,"putinVernou.

"Areyougoingtoallowustomakeattacksonourbetesnoires?"

"Anyoneyoulike."

"Ah,yes!"saidLousteau;"butthepapermustkeeponitslines.M.

Chateletisverywroth;weshallnotlethimoffforaweekyet."

"Whathashappened?"askedLucien.

"Hecameheretoaskforanexplanation,"saidVernou."TheImperialbuckfoundoldGiroudeauathome;andoldGiroudeautoldhim,withallthecoolnessintheworld,thatPhilippeBridauwrotethearticle.

PhilippeaskedtheBarontomentionthetimeandtheweapons,andthereitended.WeareengagedatthismomentinofferingexcusestotheBaroninto-morrow"sissue.Everyphraseisastabforhim."

"Keepyourteethinhimandhewillcomeroundtome,"saidFinot;

"anditwilllookasifIwereobliginghimbyappeasingyou.HecansayawordtotheMinistry,andwecangetsomethingorotheroutofhim——anassistantschoolmaster"splace,oratobacconist"slicense.Itisaluckythingforusthatweflickedhimontheraw.DoesanybodyherecaretotakeaseriousarticleonNathanformynewpaper?"

"GiveittoLucien,"saidLousteau."HectorandVernouwillwritearticlesintheirpapersatthesametime."

"Good-day,gentlemen;weshallmeeteachotherfacetofaceatBarbin"s,"saidFinot,laughing.

Lucienreceivedsomecongratulationsonhisadmissiontothemightyarmyofjournalists,andLousteauexplainedthattheycouldbesureofhim."LucienwantsyoualltosupinabodyatthehouseofthefairCoralie."

"CoralieisgoingonattheGymnase,"saidLucien.

"Verywell,gentlemen;itisunderstoodthatwepushCoralie,eh?Putafewlinesabouthernewengagementinyourpapers,andsaysomethingabouthertalent.CreditthemanagementoftheGymnasewithtackanddiscernment;willitdotosayintelligence?"

"Yes,sayintelligence,"saidMerlin;"FrederichassomethingofScribe"s."

"Oh!Well,then,themanageroftheGymnaseisthemostperspicaciousandfar-sightedofmenofbusiness,"saidVernou.

"Lookhere!don"twriteyourarticlesonNathanuntilwehavecometoanunderstanding;youshallhearwhy,"saidEtienneLousteau."Weoughttodosomethingforournewcomrade.Lucienherehastwobookstobringout——avolumeofsonnetsandanovel.Thepoweroftheparagraphshouldmakehimagreatpoetdueinthreemonths;andwewillmakeuseofhissonnets(Margueritesisthetitle)torundownodes,ballads,andreveries,andalltheRomanticpoetry."

"Itwouldbeadrollthingifthesonnetswerenogoodafterall,"

saidVernou——"Whatdoyouyourselfthinkofyoursonnets,Lucien?"

"Yes,whatdoyouthinkofthem?"askedoneofthetwowhomLuciendidnotknow.

"Theyareallright,gentlemen;Igiveyoumyword,"saidLousteau.

"Verywell,thatwilldoforme,"saidVernou;"Iwillheaveyourbookatthepoetsofthesacristy;Iamtiredofthem."

"IfDauriatdeclinestotaketheMargueritesthisevening,wewillattackhimbypitchingintoNathan."

"ButwhatwillNathansay?"criedLucien.

Hisfivecolleaguesburstoutlaughing.

"Oh!hewillbedelighted,"saidVernou."Youwillseehowwemanagethesethings."

"Soheisoneofus?"saidoneofthetwojournalists.

"Yes,yes,Frederic;notricks——Weareallworkingforyou,Lucien,yousee;youmuststandbyuswhenyourturncomes.WeareallfriendsofNathan"s,andweareattackinghim.Now,letusdivideAlexander"sempire——Frederic,willyoutaketheFrancaisandtheOdeon?"

"Ifthesegentlemenarewilling,"returnedthepersonaddressedasFrederic.Theothersnoddedassent,butLuciensawagleamofjealousyhereandthere.

"IamkeepingtheOpera,theItaliens,andtheOpera-Comique,"putinVernou.

"Andhowaboutme?AmItohavenotheatresatall?"askedthesecondstranger.

"Ohwell,HectorcanletyouhavetheVarietes,andLuciencanspareyouthePorteSaint-Martin——LethimhavethePorteSaint-Martin,Lucien,heiswildaboutFannyBeaupre;andyoucantaketheCirque-

Olympiqueinexchange.IshallhaveBobinoandtheFunambulesandMadameSaqui.Now,whathaveweforto-morrow?"

"Nothing."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing."

"Gentlemen,bebrilliantformyfirstnumber.TheBaronduChateletandhiscuttlefishbonewillnotlastforaweek,andthewriterofLeSolitaireiswornout."

"And"Sosthenes-Demosthenes"isstaletoo,"saidVernou;"everybodyhastakenitup."

"Thefactis,wewantanewsetofninepins,"saidFrederic.

"SupposethatwetakethevirtuousrepresentativesoftheRight?"

suggestedLousteau."WemightsaythatM.deBonaldhassweatyfeet."

"LetusbeginaseriesofsketchesofMinisterialistorators,"

suggestedHectorMerlin.

"Youdothat,youngster;youknowthem;theyareyourownparty,"saidLousteau;"youcouldindulgeanylittleprivategrudgesofyourown.

PitchintoBeugnotandSyrieysdeMayrinhacandtherest.Youmighthavethesketchesreadyinadvance,andweshallhavesomethingtofallbackupon."

"Howifweinventedoneortwocasesofrefusalofburialwithaggravatingcircumstances?"askedHector.

"DonotfollowinthetracksofthebigConstitutionalpapers;theyhavepigeon-holesfullofecclesiasticalcanards,"retortedVernou.

"Canards?"repeatedLucien.

"Thatisourwordforascrapoffictiontoldfortrue,putintoenliventhecolumnofmorningnewswhenitisflat.WeowethediscoverytoBenjaminFranklin,theinventorofthelightningconductorandtherepublic.ThatjournalistcompletelydeceivedtheEncyclopaedistsbyhistransatlanticcanards.RaynalgivestwoofthemforfactsinhisHistoirephilosophiquedesIndes."

"Ididnotknowthat,"saidVernou."Whatwerethestories?"

"OnewasataleaboutanEnglishmanandanegresswhohelpedhimtoescape;hesoldthewomanforaslaveaftergettingherwithchildhimselftoenhancehervalue.Theotherwastheeloquentdefenceofayoungwomanbroughtbeforetheauthoritiesforbearingachildoutofwedlock.FranklinownedtothefraudinNecker"shousewhenhecametoParis,muchtotheconfusionofFrenchphilosophism.BeholdhowtheNewWorldtwicesetabadexampletotheOld!"

"Injournalism,"saidLousteau,"everythingthatisprobableistrue.

Thatisanaxiom."

"Criminalprocedureisbasedonthesamerule,"saidVernou.

"Verywell,wemeethereatnineo"clock,"andwiththattheyrose,andthesittingbrokeupwiththemostaffectingdemonstrationsofintimacyandgood-will.

"WhathaveyoudonetoFinot,Lucien,thatheshouldmakeaspecialarrangementwithyou?Youaretheonlyonethathehasboundtohimself,"saidEtienneLousteau,astheycamedownstairs.

"I?Nothing.Itwashisownproposal,"saidLucien.

"Asamatteroffact,ifyoushouldmakeyourowntermswithhim,I

shouldbedelighted;weshould,bothofus,bethebetterforit."

OnthegroundfloortheyfoundFinot.HesteppedacrosstoLousteauandaskedhimintotheso-calledprivateoffice.GiroudeauimmediatelyputacoupleofstampedagreementsbeforeLucien.

"Signyouragreement,"hesaid,"andtheneweditorwillthinkthewholethingwasarrangedyesterday."

Lucien,readingthedocument,overheardfragmentsofatolerablywarmdisputewithinastothelineofconductandprofitsofthepaper.

EtienneLousteauwantedhisshareoftheblackmailleviedbyGiroudeau;and,inallprobability,thematterwascompromised,forthepaircameoutperfectlygoodfriends.

"WewillmeetatDauriat"s,Lucien,intheWoodenGalleriesateighto"clock,"saidEtienneLousteau.

Ayoungmanappeared,meanwhile,insearchofemployment,wearingthesamenervousshylookwithwhichLucienhimselfhadcometotheofficesoshortawhileago;andinhissecretsoulLucienfeltamusedashewatchedGiroudeauplayingoffthesametacticswithwhichtheoldcampaignerhadpreviouslyfoiledhim.Self-interestopenedhiseyestothenecessityofthemanoeuvreswhichraisedwell-nighinsurmountablebarriersbetweenbeginnersandtheupperroomwheretheelectweregatheredtogether.

"Contributorsdon"tgetverymuchasitis,"hesaid,addressingGiroudeau.

"Ifthereweremoreofyou,therewouldbesomuchless,"retortedthecaptain."Sothere!"

Theoldcampaignerswunghisloadedcane,andwentdowncoughingasusual.OutinthestreethewasamazedtoseeahandsomecarriagewaitingontheboulevardforLucien.

"YOUarethearmynowadays,"hesaid,"andwearethecivilians."

"Uponmyword,"saidLucien,ashedroveawaywithCoralie,"theseyoungwritersseemtometobethebestfellowsalive.HereamIajournalist,sureofmakingsixhundredfrancsamonthifIworklikeahorse.ButIshallfindapublisherformytwobooks,andIwillwriteothers;formyfriendswillinsureasuccess.Andso,Coralie,"voguelegalere!"asyousay."

"Youwillmakeyourway,dearboy;butyoumustnotbeasgood-naturedasyouaregood-looking;itwouldbetheruinofyou.Beill-natured,thatistheproperthing."

CoralieandLuciendroveintheBoisdeBoulogne,andagaintheymettheMarquised"Espard,Mme.deBargetonandtheBaronduChatelet.

Mme.deBargetongaveLucienalanguishingglancewhichmightbetakenasagreeting.Camusothadorderedthebestpossibledinner;andCoralie,feelingthatshewasridofheradorer,wasmorecharmingtothepoorsilk-mercerthanshehadeverbeeninthefourteenmonthsduringwhichtheirconnectionlasted;hehadneverseenhersokindly,soenchantinglylovely.

"Come,"hethought,"letuskeepnearheranyhow!"

Inconsequence,Camusotmadesecretovertures.HepromisedCoralieanincomeofsixthousandlivres;hewouldtransferthestockinthefundsintohername(hiswifeknewnothingabouttheinvestment)ifonlyshewouldconsenttobehismistressstill.Hewouldshuthiseyestoherlover.

"Andbetraysuchanangel?Why,justlookathim,youoldfossil,andlookatyourself!"andhereyesturnedtoherpoet.

CamusothadpressedLucientodrinktillthepoet"sheadwasrathercloudy.

Therewasnohelpforit;Camusotmadeuphismindtowaittillsheerwantshouldgivehimthiswomanasecondtime.

"ThenIcanonlybeyourfriend,"hesaid,ashekissedherontheforehead.

LucienwentfromCoralieandCamusottotheWoodenGalleries.WhatachangehadbeenwroughtinhismindbyhisinitiationintoJournalism!

Hemixedfearlesslynowwiththecrowdwhichsurgedtoandfrointhebuildings;heevenswaggeredalittlebecausehehadamistress;andhewalkedintoDauriat"sshopinanoffhandmannerbecausehewasajournalist.

Hefoundhimselfamongdistinguishedmen;gaveahandtoBlondetandNathanandFinot,andtoallthecoteriewithwhomhehadbeenfraternizingforaweek.Hewasapersonage,hethought,andheflatteredhimselfthathesurpassedhiscomrades.Thatlittleflickofthewinedidhimadmirableservice;hewaswitty,heshowedthathecould"howlwiththewolves."

Andyet,thetacitapproval,thepraisesspokenandunspokenonwhichhehadcounted,werenotforthcoming.Henoticedthefirststirringsofjealousyamongagroup,lesscurious,perhaps,thananxioustoknowtheplacewhichthisnewcomermighttake,andtheexactportionofthesum-totalofprofitswhichhewouldprobablysecureandswallow.

Lucienonlysawsmilesontwofaces——Finot,whoregardedhimasaminetobeexploited,andLousteau,whoconsideredthathehadproprietaryrightsinthepoet,lookedgladtoseehim.Lousteauhadbegunalreadytoassumetheairsofaneditor;hetappedsharplyonthewindow-panesofDauriat"sprivateoffice.

"Onemoment,myfriend,"criedavoicewithinasthepublisher"sfaceappearedabovethegreencurtains.

Themomentlastedanhour,andfinallyLucienandEtiennewereadmittedintothesanctum.

"Well,haveyouthoughtoverourfriend"sproposal?"askedEtienneLousteau,nowaneditor.

"Tobesure,"saidDauriat,lollinglikeasultaninhischair."I

havereadthevolume.AndIsubmittedittoamanoftaste,agoodjudge;forIdon"tpretendtounderstandthesethingsmyself.I

myself,myfriend,buyreputationsready-made,astheEnglishmanboughthisloveaffairs——Youareasgreatasapoetasyouarehandsomeasaman,myboy,"pronouncedDauriat."Uponmywordandhonor(Idon"ttellyouthatasapublisher,mind),yoursonnetsaremagnificent;nosignofeffortaboutthem,asisnaturalwhenamanwriteswithinspirationandverve.Youknowyourcraft,infact,oneofthegoodpointsofthenewschool.YourvolumeofMargueritesisafinebook,butthereisnobusinessinit,anditisnotworthmywhiletomeddlewithanythingbutaverybigaffair.Inconscience,I

won"ttakeyoursonnets.Itwouldbeimpossibletopushthem;thereisnotenoughinthethingtopaytheexpensesofabigsuccess.Youwillnotkeeptopoetrybesides;thisbookofyourswillbeyourfirstandlastattemptofthekind.Youareyoung;youbringmetheeverlastingvolumeofearlyversewhicheverymanofletterswriteswhenheleavesschool,hethinksalotofitatthetime,andlaughsatitlateron.

Lousteau,yourfriend,hasapoemputawaysomewhereamonghisoldsocks,I"llwarrant.Haven"tyouapoemthatyouthoughtagooddealofonce,Lousteau?"inquiredDauriat,withaknowingglanceattheother.

"HowshouldIbewritingproseotherwise,eh?"askedLousteau.

"There,yousee!Hehasneversaidawordtomeaboutit,forourfriendunderstandsbusinessandthetrade,"continuedDauriat."Formethequestionisnotwhetheryouareagreatpoet,Iknowthat,"headded,strokingdownLucien"spride;"youhaveagreatdeal,averygreatdealofmerit;ifIwereonlyjuststartinginbusiness,I

shouldmakethemistakeofpublishingyourbook.Butinthefirstplace,mysleepingpartnersandthoseatthebackofmearecuttingoffmysupplies;Idroppedtwentythousandfrancsoverpoetrylastyear,andthatisenoughforthem;theywillnothearofanymorejustnow,andtheyaremymasters.Nevertheless,thatisnotthequestion.

Iadmitthatyoumaybeagreatpoet,butwillyoubeaprolificwriter?Willyouhatchsonnetsregularly?Willyourunintotenvolumes?Istherebusinessinit?Ofcoursenot.Youwillbeadelightfulprosewriter;youhavetoomuchsensetospoilyourstylewithtaggingrhymestogether.Youhaveachancetomakethirtythousandfrancsperannumbywritingforthepapers,andyouwillnotexchangethatchanceforthreethousandfrancsmadewithdifficultybyyourhemistichesandstrophesandtomfoolery——"

"Youknowthatheisonthepaper,Dauriat?"putinLousteau.

"Yes,"Dauriatanswered."Yes,Isawhisarticle,andinhisowninterestsIdeclinetheMarguerites.Yes,sir,insixmonths"timeI

shallhavepaidyoumoremoneyforthearticlesthatIshallaskyoutowritethanforyourpoetrythatwillnotsell."

"Andfame?"saidLucien.

DauriatandLousteaulaughed.

"Ohdear!"saidLousteau,"therebeillusionsleft."

"Famemeanstenyearsofstickingtowork,andahundredthousandfrancslostormadeinthepublishingtrade.Ifyoufindanybodymadenoughtoprintyourpoetryforyou,youwillfeelsomerespectformeinanothertwelvemonth,whenyouhavehadtimetoseetheoutcomeofthetransaction"

"Haveyouthemanuscripthere?"Lucienaskedcoldly.

"Hereitis,myfriend,"saidDauriat.Thepublisher"smannertowardsLucienhadsweetenedsingularly.

Lucientookuptherollwithoutlookingatthestring,sosurehefeltthatDauriathadreadhisMarguerites.HewentoutwithLousteau,seeminglyneitherdisconcertednordissatisfied.Dauriatwentwiththemintotheshop,talkingofhisnewspaperandLousteau"sdaily,whileLucienplayedwiththemanuscriptoftheMarguerites.

"DoyousupposethatDauriathasreadyoursonnetsorsentthemtoanyoneelse?"EtienneLousteausnatchedanopportunitytowhisper.

"Yes,"saidLucien.

"Lookatthestring."Lucienlookeddownattheblotofink,andsawthatthemarkonthestringstillcoincided;heturnedwhitewithrage.

"Whichofthesonnetswasitthatyouparticularlyliked?"heasked,turningtothepublisher.

"Theyareallofthemremarkable,myfriend;butthesonnetontheMargueriteisdelightful,theclosingthoughtisfine,andexquisitelyexpressed.Ifeltsurefromthatsonnetthatyourproseworkwouldcommandasuccess,andIspoketoFinotaboutyouatonce.Writearticlesforus,andwewillpayyouwellforthem.Fameisaveryfinething,yousee,butdon"tforgetthepracticalandsolid,andtakeeverychancethatturnsup.Whenyouhavemademoney,youcanwritepoetry."

Thepoetdashedoutoftheshoptoavoidanexplosion.Hewasfurious.

Lousteaufollowed.

"Well,myboy,praykeepcool.Takemenastheyare——formeanstoanend.Doyouwishforrevenge?"

"Atanyprice,"mutteredthepoet.

"HereisacopyofNathan"sbook.Dauriathasjustgivenittome.Thesecondeditioniscomingoutto-morrow;readthebookagain,andknockoffanarticledemolishingit.FelicienVernoucannotendureNathan,forhethinksthatNathan"ssuccesswillinjurehisownforthcomingbook.Itisacrazewiththeselittlemindstofancythatthereisnotroomfortwosuccessesunderthesun;sohewillseethatyourarticlefindsaplaceinthebigpaperforwhichhewrites."

"Butwhatistheretobesaidagainstthebook;itisgoodwork!"

criedLucien.

"Oh,Isay!youmustlearnyourtrade,"saidLousteau,laughing.

"Giventhatthebookwasamasterpiece,underthestrokeofyourpenitmustturntodulltrash,dangerousandunwholesomestuff."

"Buthow?"

"Youturnallthegoodpointsintobadones."

"Iamincapableofsuchajuggler"sfeat."

"Mydearboy,ajournalistisajuggler;amanmustmakeuphismindtothedrawbacksofthecalling.Lookhere!Iamnotabadfellow;

thisistheway_I_shouldsettoworkmyself.Attention!Youmightbeginbypraisingthebook,andamuseyourselfawhilebysayingwhatyoureallythink."Good,"saysthereader,"thiscriticisnotjealous;hewillbeimpartial,nodoubt,"andfromthatpointyourpublicwillthinkthatyourcriticismisapieceofconscientiouswork.Then,whenyouhavewonyourreader"sconfidence,youwillregretthatyoumustblamethetendencyandinfluenceofsuchworkuponFrenchliterature."DoesnotFrance,"youwillsay,"swaythewholeintellectualworld?FrenchwritershavekeptEuropeinthepathofanalysisandphilosophicalcriticismfromagetoagebytheirpowerfulstyleandtheoriginalturngivenbythemtoideas."Here,forthebenefitofthephilistine,insertapanegyriconVoltaire,Rousseau,Diderot,Montesquieu,andBuffon.HoldforthupontheinexorableFrenchlanguage;showhowitspreadsavarnish,asitwere,overthought.Letfallafewaphorisms,suchas——"AgreatwriterinFranceisinvariablyagreatman;hewritesinalanguagewhichcompelshimtothink;itisotherwiseinothercountries"——andsoon,andsoon.Then,toproveyourcase,drawacomparisonbetweenRabener,theGermansatiricalmoralist,andLaBruyere.Nothinggivesacriticsuchanairasanapparentfamiliaritywithforeignliterature.KantisCousin"spedestal.

"OnceonthatgroundyoubringoutawordwhichsumsuptheFrenchmenofgeniusoftheeighteenthcenturyforthebenefitofsimpletons——youcallthatliteraturethe"literatureofideas."Armedwiththisexpression,youflingallthemightydeadattheheadsoftheillustriousliving.Youexplainthatinthepresentdayanewformofliteraturehassprungup;thatdialogue(theeasiestformofwriting)

isoverdone,anddescriptiondispenseswithanyneedforthinkingonthepartoftheauthororreader.YoubringupthefictionofVoltaire,Diderot,Sterne,andLeSage,sotrenchant,socompactofthestuffoflife;andturnfromthemtothemodernnovel,composedofsceneryandword-picturesandmetaphorandthedramaticsituations,ofwhichScottisfull.Inventionmaybedisplayedinsuchwork,butthereisnoroomforanythingelse."TheromanceafterthemannerofScottisamerepassingfashioninliterature,"youwillsay,andfulminateagainstthefatalwayinwhichideasaredilutedandbeatenthin;cryoutagainstastylewithinthereachofanyintellect,foranyonecancommenceauthoratsmallexpenseinawayofliterature,whichyoucannicknamethe"literatureofimagery."

"ThenyoufalluponNathanwithyourargument,andestablishitbeyoundcavilthatheisamereimitatorwithanappearanceofgenius.

Theconcisegrandstyleoftheeighteenthcenturyislacking;youshowthattheauthorsubstituteseventsforsentiments.Actionandstirisnotlife;hegivesyoupictures,butnoideas.

"Comeoutwithsuchphrases,andpeoplewilltakethemup——Inspiteofthemeritsofthework,itseemstoyoutobeadangerous,nay,afatalprecedent.ItthrowsopenthegatesofthetempleofFametothecrowd;andinthedistanceyoudescryalegionofpettyauthorshasteningtoimitatethisnovelandeasystyleofwriting.

"Hereyoulaunchoutintoresoundinglamentationsoverthedecadenceanddeclineoftaste,andslipineulogiesofMessieursEtienneJouy,Tissot,Gosse,Duval,Jay,BenjaminConstant,Aignan,Baour-Lormian,Villemain,andthewholeLiberal-BonapartistchoruswhopatronizeVernou"spaper.NextyoudrawapictureofthatgloriousphalanxofwritersrepellingtheinvasionoftheRomantics;thesearetheupholdersofideasandstyleasagainstmetaphorandbalderdash;themodernrepresentativesoftheschoolofVoltaireasopposedtotheEnglishandGermanschools,evenastheseventeenheroicdeputiesoftheLeftfoughtthebattleforthenationagainsttheUltrasoftheRight.

"Andthen,undercoverofnamesrespectedbytheimmensemajorityofFrenchmen(whowillalwaysbeagainsttheGovernment),youcancrushNathan;foralthoughhisworkisfarabovetheaverage,itconfirmsthebourgeoistasteforliteraturewithoutideas.Andafterthat,youunderstand,itisnolongeraquestionofNathanandhisbook,butofFranceandthegloryofFrance.Itisthedutyofallhonestandcourageouspenstomakestrenuousoppositiontotheseforeignimportations.Andwiththatyouflatteryourreaders.ShrewdFrenchmother-witisnoteasilycaughtnapping.Ifpublishers,bywayswhichyoudonotchoosetospecify,havestolenasuccess,thereadingpublicverysoonjudgesforitself,andcorrectsthemistakesmadebysomefivehundredfools,whoalwaysrushtothefore.

"Saythatthepublisherwhosoldafirsteditionofthebookisaudaciousindeedtoissueasecond,andexpressregretthatsocleveramandoesnotknowthetasteofthecountrybetter.Thereisthegistofit.Justasprinkleofthesaltofwitandadashofvinegartobringouttheflavor,andDauriatwillbedonetoaturn.ButmindthatyouendwithseemingtopityNathanforamistake,andspeakofhimasofamanfromwhomcontemporaryliteraturemaylookforgreatthingsifherenouncestheseways."

LucienwasamazedatthistalkfromLousteau.Asthejournalistspoke,thescalesfellfromhiseyes;hebeheldnewtruthsofwhichhehadneverbeforecaughtsomuchasaglimpse.

"Butallthisthatyouaresayingisquitetrueandjust,"saidhe.

"Ifitwerenot,howcouldyoumakeittellagainstNathan"sbook?"

askedLousteau."Thatisthefirstmannerofdemolishingabook,myboy;itisthepickaxestyleofcriticism.Butthereareplentyofotherways.Youreducationwillcompleteitselfintime.Whenyouareabsolutelyobligedtospeakofamanwhomyoudonotlike,forproprietorsandeditorsaresometimesundercompulsion,youbringoutaneutralspecialarticle.Youputthetitleofthebookattheheadofit,andbeginwithgeneralremarks,ontheGreeksandtheRomansifyoulike,andwindupwith——"andthisbringsustoMr.So-and-so"sbook,whichwillformthesubjectofasecondarticle."Thesecondarticleneverappears,andinthiswayyousnuffoutthebookbetweentwopromises.Butinthiscaseyouarewritingdown,notNathan,butDauriat;heneedsthepickaxestyle.Ifthebookisreallygood,thepickaxedoesnoharm;butitgoestothecoreofitifitisbad.Inthefirstcase,noonebutthepublisherisanytheworse;inthesecond,youdothepublicaservice.Bothmethods,moreover,areequallyserviceableinpoliticalcriticism."

EtienneLousteau"scruellessonopeneduppossibilitiesforLucien"simagination.Heunderstoodthiscrafttoadmiration.

"Letusgototheoffice,"saidLousteau;"weshallfindourfriendsthere,andwewillagreeamongourselvestochargeatNathan;theywilllaugh,youwillsee."

ArrivedintheRueSaint-Fiacre,theywentuptotheroomintheroofwherethepaperwasmadeup,andLucienwassurprisedandgratifiednolesstoseethealacritywithwhichhiscomradesproceededtodemolishNathan"sbook.HectorMerlintookupapieceofpaperandwroteafewlinesforhisownnewspaper——

"AsecondeditionofM.Nathan"sbookisannounced.Wehadintendedtokeepsilencewithregardtothatwork,butitsapparentsuccessobligesustopublishanarticle,notsomuchuponthebookitselfasuponcertaintendenciesofthenewschoolofliterature."

Attheheadofthe"Facetiae"inthemorning"spaper,Lousteauinsertedthefollowingnote:——

"M.DauriatisbringingoutasecondeditionofM.Nathan"sbook.

Evidentlyhedoesnotknowthelegalmaxim,Nonbisinidem.Allhonortorashcourage."

Lousteau"swordshadbeenlikeatorchforburning;Lucien"shotdesiretoberevengedonDauriattooktheplaceofconscienceandinspiration.ForthreedaysheneverleftCoralie"sroom;hesatatworkbythefire,waiteduponbyBerenice;petted,inmomentsofweariness,bythesilentandattentiveCoralie;till,attheendofthattime,hehadmadeafaircopyofaboutthreecolumnsofcriticism,andanastonishinglygoodpieceofwork.

Itwasnineo"clockintheeveningwhenheranroundtotheoffice,foundhisassociates,andreadoverhisworktoanattentiveaudience.

Feliciensaidnotasyllable.Hetookupthemanuscript,andmadeoffwithitpell-melldownthestaircase.

"Whathascometohim?"criedLucien.

"Hehastakenyourarticlestraighttotheprinter,"saidHectorMerlin.""Tisamasterpiece;notalinetoadd,norawordtotakeout."

"Therewasnoneedtodomorethanshowyoutheway,"saidLousteau.

"IshouldliketoseeNathan"sfacewhenhereadsthisto-morrow,"

saidanothercontributor,beamingwithgentlesatisfaction.

"Itisaswelltohaveyouforafriend,"remarkedHectorMerlin.

"Thenitwilldo?"Lucienaskedquickly.

"BlondetandVignonwillfeelbad,"saidLousteau.

"HereisashortarticlewhichIhaveknockedtogetherforyou,"beganLucien;"ifittakes,Icouldwriteyouaseries."

"Readitover,"saidLousteau,andLucienreadthefirstofthedelightfulshortpaperswhichmadethefortuneofthelittlenewspaper;aseriesofsketchesofParislife,aportrait,atype,anordinaryevent,orsomeoftheodditiesofthegreatcity.Thisspecimen——"TheManintheStreet"——waswritteninawaythatwasfreshandoriginal;thethoughtswerestruckoutbytheshockofthewords,thesoundingringoftheadverbsandadjectivescaughtthereader"sear.ThepaperwasasdifferentfromtheseriousandprofoundarticleonNathanastheLettrespersanesfromtheEspritdeslois.

"Youareabornjournalist,"saidLousteau."Itshallgointo-morrow.

Doasmuchofthissortofthingasyoulike."

"Ah,bytheby,"saidMerlin,"Dauriatisfuriousaboutthosetwobombshellshurledintohismagazine.Ihavejustcomefromhim.Hewashurlingimprecations,andinsucharagewithFinot,whotoldhimthathehadsoldhispapertoyou.Asforme,Itookhimasideandjustsaidawordinhisear."TheMargueriteswillcostyoudear,"Itoldhim."Amanoftalentcomestoyou,youturnthecoldshoulderonhim,andsendhimintothearmsofthenewspapers.""