第14章

AttheAmbiguthehousewasfull;therewasnotaseatleftforhim.

Indignantcomplaintsbehindthescenesbroughtnoredress;thebox-

officekeeper,whodidnotknowhimasyet,saidthattheyhadsentordersfortwoboxestohispaper,andsenthimabouthisbusiness.

"IshallspeakoftheplayasIfindit,"saidLucien,nettledatthis.

"Whatadunceyouare!"saidtheleadinglady,addressingthebox-

officekeeper,"thatisCoralie"sadorer."

Thebox-officekeeperturnedroundimmediatelyatthis."Iwillspeaktothemanageratonce,sir,"hesaid.

InallthesesmalldetailsLuciensawtheimmensepowerwieldedbythepress.Hisvanitywasgratified.ThemanagerappearedtosaythattheDucdeRhetoreandTulliatheopera-dancerwereinthestage-box,andtheyhadconsentedtoallowLucientojointhem.

"Youhavedriventwopeopletodistraction,"remarkedtheyoungDuke,mentioningthenamesoftheBaronduChateletandMme.deBargeton.

"Distraction?Whatwillitbeto-morrow?"saidLucien."Sofar,myfriendshavebeenmereskirmishers,butIhavegiventhemred-hotshotto-night.To-morrowyouwillknowwhywearemakinggameof"Potelet."

Thearticleiscalled"Poteletfrom1811to1821."Chateletwillbeabyword,anameforthetypeofcourtierswhodenytheirbenefactorandrallytotheBourbons.WhenIhavedonewithhim,IamgoingtoMme.

deMontcornet"s."

Lucien"stalkwassparkling.HewaseagerthatthisgreatpersonageshouldseehowgrossamistakeMesdamesd"EspardanddeBargetonhadmadewhentheyslightedLuciendeRubempre.ButheshowedthetipofhisearwhenheassertedhisrighttobearthenameofRubempre,theDucdeRhetorehavingpurposelyaddressedhimasChardon.

"YoushouldgoovertotheRoyalists,"saidtheDuke."Youhaveprovedyourselfamanofability;nowshowyourgoodsense.Theonewayofobtainingapatentofnobilityandtherighttobearthetitleofyourmother"sfamily,isbyaskingforitinreturnforservicestoberenderedtotheCourt.TheLiberalswillnevermakeacountofyou.

TheRestorationwillgetthebetterofthepress,yousee,inthelongrun,andthepressistheonlyformidablepower.Theyhavebornewithittoolongasitis;thepressissuretobemuzzled.Takeadvantageofthelastmomentsoflibertytomakeyourselfformidable,andyouwillhaveeverything——intellect,nobility,andgoodlooks;nothingwillbeoutofyourreach.SoifyouareaLiberal,letitbesimplyforthemoment,sothatyoucanmakeabetterbargainforyourRoyalism."

WiththattheDukeentreatedLucientoacceptaninvitationtodinner,whichtheGermanMinister(ofFlorine"ssupper-party)wasabouttosend.Lucienfellunderthecharmofthenoblepeer"sarguments;thesalonsfromwhichhehadbeenexiledforever,ashethought,butafewmonthsago,wouldshortlyopentheirdoorsforhim!Hewasdelighted.Hemarveledatthepowerofthepress;IntellectandthePress,thesethenweretherealpowersinsociety.Anotherthoughtshapeditselfinhismind——WasEtienneLousteausorrythathehadopenedthegateofthetempletoanewcomer?Evennowhe(Lucien)feltonhisownaccountthatitwasstronglyadvisabletoputdifficultiesinthewayofeagerandambitiousrecruitsfromtheprovinces.IfapoetshouldcometohimashehadflunghimselfintoEtienne"sarms,hedarednotthinkofthereceptionthathewouldgivehim.

TheyouthfulDukemeanwhilesawthatLucienwasdeepinthought,andmadeaprettygoodguessatthematterofhismeditations.Hehimselfhadopenedoutwidehorizonsofpubliclifebeforeanambitiouspoet,withavacillatingwill,itistrue,butnotwithoutaspirations;andthejournalistshadalreadyshowntheneophyte,fromapinnacleofthetemple,allthekingdomsoftheworldoflettersanditsriches.

Lucienhimselfhadnosuspicionofalittleplotthatwasbeingwoven,nordidheimaginethatM.deRhetorehadahandinit.M.deRhetorehadspokenofLucien"scleverness,andMme.d"Espard"ssethadtakenalarm.Mme.deBargetonhadcommissionedtheDuketosoundLucien,andwiththatobjectinview,thenobleyouthhadcometotheAmbigu-

Comique.

Donotbelieveinstoriesofelaboratetreachery.Neitherthegreatworldnortheworldofjournalistslaidanydeepschemes;definiteplansarenotmadebyeither;theirMachiavelismlivesfromhandtomouth,sotospeak,andconsists,forthemostpart,inbeingalwaysonthespot,alwaysonthealerttoturneverythingtoaccount,alwaysonthewatchforthemomentwhenaman"srulingpassionshalldeliverhimintothehandsofhisenemies.TheyoungDukehadseenthroughLucienatFlorine"ssupper-party;hehadjusttouchedhisvainsusceptibilities;andnowhewastryinghisfirsteffortsindiplomacyuponthelivingsubject.

LucienhurriedtotheRueSaint-Fiacreaftertheplaytowritehisarticle.Itwasapieceofsavageandbittercriticism,writteninpurewantonness;hewasamusinghimselfbytryinghispower.Themelodrama,asamatteroffact,wasabetterpiecethantheAlcalde;

butLucienwishedtoseewhetherhecoulddamnagoodplayandsendeverybodytoseeabadone,ashisassociateshadsaid.

Heunfoldedthesheetatbreakfastnextmorning,tellingCoralieashedidsothathehadcutuptheAmbigu-Comique;andnotalittleastonishedwashetofindbelowhispaperonMme.deBargetonandChateletanoticeoftheAmbigu,somellowedandsoftenedinthecourseofthenight,thatalthoughthewittyanalysiswasstillpreserved,thejudgmentwasfavorable.Thearticlewasmorelikelytofillthehousethantoemptyit.Nowordscandescribehiswrath.HedeterminedtohaveawordortwowithLousteau.Hehadalreadybeguntothinkhimselfanindespensableman,andhevowedthathewouldnotsubmittobetyrannizedoverandtreatedlikeafool.Toestablishhispowerbeyondcavil,hewrotethearticleforDauriat"sreview,summingupandweighingallthevariousopinionsconcerningNathan"sbook;andwhilehewasinthehumor,hehitoffanotherofhisshortsketchesforLousteau"snewspaper.Inexperiencedjournalists,inthefirsteffervescenceofyouth,makealaborofloveofephemeralwork,andlavishtheirbestthoughtunthriftilythereon.

ThemanagerofthePanorama-Dramatiquegaveafirstperformanceofavaudevillethatnight,sothatFlorineandCoraliemightbefreefortheevening.Thereweretobecardsbeforesupper.Lousteaucamefortheshortnoticeofthevaudeville;ithadbeenwrittenbeforehandafterthegeneralrehearsal,forEtiennewishedtohavethepaperoffhismind.LucienreadoveroneofthecharmingsketchesofParisianwhimsicalitieswhichmadethefortuneofthepaper,andLousteaukissedhimonbotheyelids,andcalledhimtheprovidenceofjournalism.

"Thenwhydoyouamuseyourselfbyturningmyarticleinsideout?"

askedLucien.Hehadwrittenhisbrilliantsketchsimplyandsolelytogiveemphasistohisgrievance.

"I?"exclaimedLousteau.

"Well,whoelsecanhavealteredmyarticle?"

"Youdonotknowalltheinsandoutsyet,dearfellow.TheAmbigupaysforthirtycopies,andonlytakesnineforthemanagerandboxoffice-keeperandtheirmistresses,andforthethreelesseesofthetheatre.EveryoneoftheBoulevardtheatrespayseighthundredfrancsinthiswaytothepaper;andthereisquiteasmuchagaininboxesandordersforFinot,tosaynothingofthecontributionsofthecompany.Andiftheminortheatresdothis,youmayimaginewhatthebigonesdo!Nowyouunderstand?Weareboundtoshowagooddealofindulgence."

"Iunderstandthis,thatIamnotatlibertytowriteasIthink——"

"Eh!whatdoesthatmatter,solongasyouturnanhonestpenny?"

criedLousteau."Besides,myboy,whatgrudgehadyouagainstthetheatre?Youmusthavehadsomereasonforit,oryouwouldnothavecutuptheplayasyoudid.Ifyouslashforthesakeofslashing,thepaperwillgetintotrouble,andwhenthereisgoodreasonforhittingharditwillnottell.Didthemanagerleaveyououtinthecold?"

"Hehadnotkeptaplaceforme."

"Good,"saidLousteau."Ishalllethimseeyourarticle,andtellhimthatIsofteneditdown;youwillfinditservesyoubetterthanifithadappearedinprint.Goandaskhimforticketsto-morrow,andhewillsignfortyblankorderseverymonth.Iknowamanwhocangetridofthemforyou;Iwillintroduceyoutohim,andhewillbuythemallupathalf-price.Thereisatradedoneintheatretickets,justasBarbettradesinreviewers"copies.ThisisanotherBarbet,theleaderoftheclaque.Helivesnearby;comeandseehim,thereistimeenough."

"But,mydearfellow,itisascandalousthingthatFinotshouldlevyblackmailinmattersintellectual.Soonerorlater——"

"Really!"criedLousteau,"wheredoyoucomefrom?ForwhatdoyoutakeFinot?Beneathhispretenceofgood-nature,hisignoranceandstupidity,andthoseTurcaret"sairsofhis,thereisallthecunningofhisfatherthehatter.DidyounoticeanoldsoldieroftheEmpireinthedenattheoffice?ThatisFinot"suncle.Theuncleisnotonlyoneoftherightsort,hehasthelucktobetakenforafool;andhetakesallthatkindofbusinessuponhisshoulders.AnambitiousmaninParisiswelloffindeedifhehasawillingscapegoatathand.Inpubliclife,asinjournalism,therearehostsofemergenciesinwhichthechiefscannotaffordtoappear.IfFinotshouldenteronapoliticalcareer,hisunclewouldbehissecretary,andreceiveallthecontributionsleviedinhisdepartmentonbigaffairs.AnybodywouldtakeGiroudeauforafoolatfirstsight,buthehasjustenoughshrewdnesstobeaninscrutableoldfile.Heisonpicketduty;heseesthatwearenotpesteredwithhubbub,beginnerswantingajob,oradvertisements.Nootherpaperhashisequal,Ithink."

"Heplayshispartwell,"saidLucien;"Isawhimatwork."

EtienneandLucienreachedahandsomehouseintheRueduFaubourg-du-

Temple.

"IsM.Braulardin?"Etienneaskedoftheporter.

"MONSIEUR?"saidLucien."Then,istheleaderoftheclaque"Monsieur"?"

"Mydearboy,Braulardhastwentythousandfrancsofincome.AllthedramaticauthorsoftheBoulevardsareinhisclutches,andhaveastandingaccountwithhimasifhewereabanker.Ordersandcomplimentaryticketsaresoldhere.Braulardknowswheretogetridofsuchmerchandise.Nowforaturnatstatistics,ausefulscienceenoughinitsway.Attherateoffiftycomplimentaryticketseveryeveningforeachtheatre,youhavetwohundredandfiftyticketsdaily.Suppose,takingonewithanother,thattheyareworthacoupleoffrancsapiece,Braulardpaysahundredandtwenty-fivefrancsdailyforthem,andtakeshischanceofmakingcentpercent.Inthiswayauthors"ticketsalonebringhiminaboutfourthousandfrancseverymonth,orforty-eightthousandfrancsperannum.Allowtwentythousandfrancsforloss,forhecannotalwaysplaceallhistickets——"

"Whynot?"

"Oh!thepeoplewhopayatthedoorgoinwiththeholdersofcomplimentaryticketsforunreservedseats,andthetheatrereservestherightofadmittingthosewhopay.Therearefinewarmeveningstobereckonedwithbesides,andpoorplays.Braulardmakes,perhaps,thirtythousandfrancseveryyearinthisway,andhehashisclaqueursbesides,anotherindustry.FlorineandCoraliepaytributetohim;iftheydidnot,therewouldbenoapplausewhentheycomeonorgooff."

Lousteaugavethisexplanationinalowvoiceastheywentupthestair.

"Parisisaqueerplace,"saidLucien;itseemedtohimthathesawself-interestsquattingineverycorner.

Asmartmaid-servantopenedthedoor.AtthesightofEtienneLousteau,thedealerinordersandticketsrosefromasturdychairbeforealargecylinderdesk,andLucienbeheldtheleaderoftheclaque,Braulardhimself,dressedinagraymolletonjacket,footedtrousers,andredslippers;foralltheworldlikeadoctororasolicitor.Hewasatypicalself-mademan,Lucienthought——avulgar-

lookingfacewithapairofexceedinglycunninggrayeyes,handsmadeforhiredapplause,acomplexionoverwhichhardlivinghadpassedlikerainoveraroof,grizzledhair,andasomewhathuskyvoice.

"YouhavecomefromMlle.Florine,nodoubt,sir,andthisgentlemanforMlle.Coralie,"saidBraulard;"Iknowyouverywellbysight.

Don"ttroubleyourself,sir,"hecontinued,addressingLucien;"IambuyingtheGymnaseconnection,Iwilllookafteryourlady,andIwillgivehernoticeofanytrickstheymaytrytoplayonher."

"Thatisnotanoffertoberefused,mydearBraulard,butwehavecomeaboutthepressordersfortheBoulevardtheatres——Iaseditor,andthisgentlemanasdramaticcritic."

"Oh!——ah,yes!Finothassoldhispaper.Iheardaboutit.Heisgettingon,isFinot.Ihaveaskedhimtodinewithmeattheendoftheweek;ifyouwilldomethehonorandpleasureofcoming,youmaybringyourladies,andtherewillbeagrandjollification.AdeleDupuisiscoming,andDucange,andFredericduPetit-Mere,andMlle.

Millot,mymistress.Weshallhavegoodfunandbetterliquor."

"Ducangemustbeindifficulties.Hehaslosthislawsuit."

"Ihavelenthimtenthousandfrancs;ifCalassucceeds,itwillrepaytheloan,soIhavebeenorganizingasuccess.Ducangeisacleverman;hehasbrains——"

Lucienfanciedthathemustbedreamingwhenheheardaclaqueurappraisingawriter"svalue.

"Coraliehasimproved,"continuedBraulard,withtheairofacompetentcritic."Ifsheisagoodgirl,Iwilltakeherpart,fortheyhavegotupacabalagainstherattheGymnase.ThisishowI

meantodoit.Iwillhaveafewwell-dressedmeninthebalconiestosmileandmakealittlemurmur,andtheapplausewillfollow.Thatisadodgewhichmakesapositionforanactress.IhavealikingforCoralie,andyououghttobesatisfied,forshehasfeeling.Aha!I

canhissanyoneonthestageifIlike."

"Butletussettlethisbusinessaboutthetickets,"putinLousteau.

"Verywell,Iwillcometothisgentleman"slodgingforthematthebeginningofthemonth.Heisafriendofyours,andIwilltreathimasIdoyou.Youhavefivetheatres;youwillgetthirtytickets——thatwillbesomethinglikeseventy-fivefrancsamonth.Perhapsyouwillbewantinganadvance?"addedBraulard,liftingacash-boxfullofcoinoutofhisdesk.

"No,no,"saidLousteau;"wewillkeepthatshiftagainstarainyday."

"IwillworkwithCoralie,sir,andwewillcometoanunderstanding,"

saidBraulard,addressingLucien,whowaslookingabouthim,notwithoutprofoundastonishment.TherewasabookcaseinBraulard"sstudy,therewereframedengravingsandgoodfurniture;andastheypassedthroughthedrawingroom,henoticedthatthefittingswereneithertooluxuriousnoryetmean.Thedining-roomseemedtobethebestorderedroom,heremarkedonthisjokingly.

"ButBraulardisanepicure,"saidLousteau;"hisdinnersarefamousindramaticliterature,andtheyarewhatyoumightexpectfromhiscash-box."

"Ihavegoodwine,"Braulardrepliedmodestly——"Ah!herearemylamplighters,"headded,asasoundofhoarsevoicesandstrangefootstepscameupfromthestaircase.

Lucienonhiswaydownsawamarchpastofclaqueursandretailersoftickets.Itwasanillsmellingsquad,attiredincaps,seedytrousers,andthreadbareovercoats;aflockofgallows-birdswithbluishandgreenishtintsintheirfaces,neglectedbeards,andastrangemixtureofsavageryandsubservienceintheireyes.AhorriblepopulationlivesandswarmsupontheParisboulevards;sellingwatchguardsandbrassjewelryinthestreetsbyday,applaudingunderthechandeliersofthetheatreatnight,andreadytolendthemselvestoanydirtybusinessinthegreatcity.

"BeholdtheRomans!"laughedLousteau;"beholdfameincarnateforactressesanddramaticauthors.Itisnoprettierthanourownwhenyoucometolookatitclose."

"ItisdifficulttokeepillusionsonanysubjectinParis,"answeredLucienastheyturnedinathisdoor."Thereisataxuponeverything——everythinghasitsprice,andanythingcanbemadetoorder——evensuccess."

ThirtyguestswereassembledthateveninginCoralie"srooms,herdiningroomwouldnotholdmore.LucienhadaskedDauriatandthemanagerofthePanorama-Dramatique,MatifatandFlorine,Camusot,Lousteau,Finot,Nathan,HectorMerlinandMme.duVal-Noble,FelicienVernou,Blondet,Vignon,PhilippeBridau,Mariette,Giroudeau,CardotandFlorentine,andBixiou.HehadalsoaskedallhisfriendsoftheRuedesQuatre-Vents.Tulliathedancer,whowasnotunkind,saidgossip,toduBruel,hadcomewithoutherduke.Theproprietorsofthenewspapers,forwhommostofthejournalistswrote,werealsooftheparty.

Ateighto"clock,whenthelightsofthecandlesinthechandeliersshoneoverthefurniture,thehangings,andtheflowers,theroomsworethefestalairthatgivestoParisianluxurytheappearanceofadream;andLucienfeltindefinablestirringsofhopeandgratifiedvanityandpleasureatthethoughtthathewasthemasterofthehouse.Buthowandbywhomthemagicwandhadbeenwavedhenolongersoughttoremember.FlorineandCoralie,dressedwiththefancifulextravaganceandmagnificentartisticeffectofthestage,smiledonthepoetliketwofairiesatthegatesofthePalaceofDreams.AndLucienwasalmostinadream.

Hislifehadbeenchangedsosuddenlyduringthelastfewmonths;hehadgonesoswiftlyfromthedepthsofpenurytothelastextremeofluxury,thatatmomentshefeltasuncomfortableasadreamingmanwhoknowsthatheisasleep.Andyet,helookedroundatthefairrealityabouthimwithaconfidencetowhichenviousmindsmighthavegiventhenameoffatuity.

Lucienhimselfhadchanged.Hehadgrownpalerduringthesedaysofcontinualenjoyment;languorhadlentahumidlooktohiseyes;inshort,touseMme.d"Espard"sexpression,helookedlikeamanwhoisloved.Hewasthehandsomerforit.Consciousnessofhispowersandhisstrengthwasvisibleinhisface,enlightenedasitwasbyloveandexperience.Lookingoutovertheworldoflettersandofmen,itseemedtohimthathemightgotoandfroaslordofitall.Soberreflectionneverenteredhisromanticheadunlessitwasdriveninbythepressureofadversity,andjustnowthepresentheldnotacareforhim.Thebreathofpraiseswelledthesailsofhisskiff;alltheinstrumentsofsuccesslaytheretohishand;hehadanestablishment,amistresswhomallParisenviedhim,acarriage,anduntoldwealthinhisinkstand.Heartandsoulandbrainwerealiketransformedwithinhim;whyshouldhecaretobeoverniceaboutthemeans,whenthegreatresultswerevisiblytherebeforehiseyes.

Assuchastyleoflivingwillseem,andwithgoodreason,tobeanythingbutsecuretoeconomistswhohaveanyexperienceofParis,itwillnotbesuperfluoustogiveaglancetothefoundation,uncertainasitwas,uponwhichtheprosperityofthepairwasbased.

CamusothadgivenCoralie"stradesmeninstructionstogranthercreditforthreemonthsatleast,andthishadbeendonewithoutherknowledge.Duringthosethreemonths,therefore,horsesandservants,likeeverythingelse,waitedasifbyenchantmentatthebiddingoftwochildren,eagerforenjoyment,andenjoyingtotheirhearts"

content.

CoraliehadtakenLucien"shandandgivenhimaglimpseofthetransformationsceneinthedining-room,ofthesplendidlyappointedtable,ofchandeliers,eachfittedwithfortywax-lights,oftheroyallyluxuriousdessert,andamenuofChevet"s.Lucienkissedherontheforeheadandheldhercloselytohisheart.

"Ishallsucceed,child,"hesaid,"andthenIwillrepayyouforsuchloveanddevotion."

"Pshaw!"saidCoralie."Areyousatisfied?"

"IshouldbeveryhardtopleaseifIwerenot."

"Verywell,then,thatsmileofyourspaysforeverything,"shesaid,andwithaserpentinemovementsheraisedherheadandlaidherlipsagainsthis.

Whentheywentbacktotheothers,Florine,Lousteau,Matifat,andCamusotweresettingoutthecard-tables.Lucien"sfriendsbegantoarrive,foralreadythesefolkbegantocallthemselves"Lucien"sfriends";andtheysatoverthecardsfromnineo"clocktillmidnight.

Lucienwasunacquaintedwithasinglegame,butLousteaulostathousandfrancs,andLuciencouldnotrefusetolendhimthemoneywhenheaskedforit.

Michel,Fulgence,andJosephappearedaboutteno"clock;andLucien,chattingwiththeminacorner,sawthattheylookedsoberandseriousenough,nottosayillatease.D"Arthezcouldnotcome,hewasfinishinghisbook;LeonGiraudwasbusywiththefirstnumberofhisreview;sothebrotherhoodhadsentthreeartistsamongtheirnumber,thinkingthattheywouldfeellessoutoftheirelementinanuproarioussupperpartythantherest.

"Well,mydearfellows,"saidLucien,assumingaslightlypatronizingtone,"the"comicalfellow"maybecomeagreatpubliccharacteryet,yousee."

"IwishImaybemistaken;Idon"taskbetter,"saidMichel.

"AreyoulivingwithCoralieuntilyoucandobetter?"askedFulgence.

"Yes,"saidLucien,tryingtolookunconscious."Coraliehadanelderlyadorer,amerchant,andsheshowedhimthedoor,poorfellow.

IambetteroffthanyourbrotherPhilippe,"headded,addressingJosephBridau;"hedoesnotknowhowtomanageMariette."

"Youareamanlikeanothernow;inshort,youwillmakeyourway,"

saidFulgence.

"Amanthatwillalwaysbethesameforyou,underallcircumstances,"

returnedLucien.

MichelandFulgenceexchangedincredulousscornfulsmilesatthis.

Luciensawtheabsurdityofhisremark.

"Coralieiswonderfullybeautiful,"exclaimedJosephBridau."Whatamagnificentportraitshewouldmake!"

"Beautifulandgood,"saidLucien;"sheisanangel,uponmyword.Andyoushallpaintherportrait;sheshallsittoyouifyoulikeforyourVenetianladybroughtbytheoldwomantothesenator."

"Allwomenwholoveareangelic,"saidMichelChrestien.

JustatthatmomentRaoulNathanflewuponLucien,andgraspedbothhishandsandshooktheminasuddenaccessofviolentfriendship.

"Oh,mygoodfriend,youaresomethingmorethanagreatman,youhaveaheart,"criedhe,"amuchrarerthingthangeniusinthesedays.Youareadevotedfriend.Iamyours,inshort,throughthickandthin;I

shallneverforgetallthatyouhavedoneformethisweek."

Lucien"sjoyhadreachedthehighestpoint;tobethuscaressedbyamanofwhomeveryonewastalking!Helookedathisthreefriendsofthebrotherhoodwithsomethinglikeasuperiorair.Nathan"sappearanceuponthescenewastheresultofanoverturefromMerlin,whosenthimaproofofthefavorablereviewtoappearinto-morrow"sissue.

"IonlyconsentedtowritetheattackonconditionthatIshouldbeallowedtoreplytoitmyself,"LuciensaidinNathan"sear."Iamoneofyou."Thisincidentwasopportune;itjustifiedtheremarkwhichamusedFulgence.Lucienwasradiant.

"Whend"Arthez"sbookcomesout,"hesaid,turningtothethree,"Iaminapositiontobeusefultohim.Thatthoughtinitselfwouldinducemetoremainajournalist."

"Canyoudoasyoulike?"Michelaskedquickly.

"Sofarasonecanwhenoneisindispensable,"saidLucienmodestly.

Itwasalmostmidnightwhentheysatdowntosupper,andthefungrewfastandfurious.TalkwaslessrestrainedinLucien"shousethanatMatifat"s,fornoonesuspectedthattherepresentativesofthebrotherhoodandthenewspaperwritershelddivergentopinions.Youngintellects,depravedbyarguingforeitherside,nowcameintoconflictwitheachother,andfearfulaxiomsofthejournalisticjurisprudence,theninitsinfancy,hurtledtoandfro.ClaudeVignon,upholdingthedignityofcriticism,inveighedagainstthetendencyofthesmallernewspapers,sayingthatthewritersofpersonalitiesloweredthemselvesintheend.Lousteau,Merlin,andFinottookupthecudgelsforthesystemknownbythenameofblague;puffery,gossip,andhumbug,saidthey,wasthetestoftalent,andsetthehall-mark,asitwere,uponit."Anymanwhocanstandthattesthasrealpower,"

saidLousteau.

"Besides,"criedMerlin,"whenagreatmanreceivesovations,thereoughttobeachorusininsultstobalance,asinaRomantriumph."

"Oho!"putinLucien;"theneveryonehelduptoridiculeinprintwillfancythathehasmadeasuccess."

"Anyonewouldthinkthatthequestioninterestedyou,"exclaimedFinot.

"Andhowaboutoursonnets,"saidMichelChrestien;"isthatthewaytheywillwinusthefameofasecondPetrarch?"

"Lauraalreadycountsforsomethinginhisfame,"saidDauriat,apun[Laure(l"or)]receivedwithacclamations.

"Faciamusexperimentuminanimavili,"retortedLucienwithasmile.

"Andwoeuntohimwhomreviewersshallspare,flinginghimcrownsathisfirstappearance,forheshallbeshelvedlikethesaintsintheirshrines,andnomanshallpayhimtheslightestattention,"saidVernou.

"Peoplewillsay,"Lookelsewhere,simpleton;youhavehadyourduealready,"asChampcenetzsaidtotheMarquisdeGenlis,whowaslookingtoofondlyathiswife,"addedBlondet.

"SuccessistheruinofamaninFrance,"saidFinot."Wearesojealousofoneanotherthatwetrytoforget,andtomakeothersforget,thetriumphsofyesterday."

"Contradictionisthelifeofliterature,infact,"saidClaudeVignon.

"Inartasinnature,therearetwoprincipleseverywhereatstrife,"

exclaimedFulgence;"andvictoryforeithermeansdeath."

"Soitiswithpolitics,"addedMichelChrestien.

"Wehaveacaseinpoint,"saidLousteau."DauriatwillsellacoupleofthousandcopiesofNathan"sbookinthecomingweek.Andwhy?

Becausethebookthatwascleverlyattackedwillbeablydefended."

Merlintookuptheproofofto-morrow"spaper."Howcansuchanarticlefailtosellanedition?"heasked.

"Readthearticle,"saidDauriat."IamapublisherwhereverIam,evenatsupper."

MerlinreadLucien"striumphantrefutationaloud,andthewholepartyapplauded.

"Howcouldthatarticlehavebeenwrittenunlesstheattackhadprecededit?"askedLousteau.

Dauriatdrewtheproofofthethirdarticlefromhispocketandreaditover,Finotlisteningclosely;foritwastoappearinthesecondnumberofhisownreview,andaseditorheexaggeratedhisenthusiasm.

"Gentlemen,"saidhe,"soandnototherwisewouldBossuethavewrittenifhehadlivedinourday."

"Iamsureofit,"saidMerlin."Bossuetwouldhavebeenajournalistto-day."

"ToBossuettheSecond!"criedClaudeVignon,raisinghisglasswithanironicalbow.

"TomyChristopherColumbus!"returnedLucien,drinkingahealthtoDauriat.

"Bravo!"criedNathan.

"Isitanickname?"Merlininquired,lookingmaliciouslyfromFinottoLucien.

"Ifyougoonatthispace,youwillbequitebeyondus,"saidDauriat;"thesegentlemen"(indicatingCamusotandMatifat)"cannotfollowyouasitis.Ajokeislikeabitofthread;ifitisspuntoofine,itbreaks,asBonapartesaid."

"Gentlemen,"saidLousteau,"wehavebeeneye-witnessesofastrange,portentous,unheard-of,andtrulysurprisingphenomenon.Admiretherapiditywithwhichourfriendherehasbeentransformedfromaprovincialintoajournalist!"

"Heisabornjournalist,"saidDauriat.

"Children!"calledFinot,risingtohisfeet,"allofusherepresenthaveencouragedandprotectedouramphitryoninhisentranceuponacareerinwhichhehasalreadysurpassedourhopes.Intwomonthshehasshownuswhathecandoinaseriesofexcellentarticlesknowntousall.Iproposetobaptizehiminformasajournalist."

"Acrownofroses!tosignalizeadoubleconquest,"criedBixiou,glancingatCoralie.

CoraliemadeasigntoBerenice.ThatportlyhandmaidwenttoCoralie"sdressing-roomandbroughtbackaboxoftumbledartificialflowers.Themoreincapablemembersofthepartyweregrotesquelytrickedoutintheseblossoms,andacrownofroseswassoonwoven.

Finot,ashighpriest,sprinkledafewdropsofchampagneonLucien"sgoldencurls,pronouncingwithdeliciousgravitythewords——"InthenameoftheGovernmentStamp,theCaution-money,andtheFine,I

baptizethee,Journalist.Maythyarticlessitlightlyonthee!"

"Andmaytheybepaidfor,includingwhitelines!"criedMerlin.

JustatthatmomentLuciencaughtsightofthreemelancholyfaces.

MichelChrestien,JosephBridau,andFulgenceRidaltookuptheirhatsandwentoutamidastormofinvective.

"Queercustomers!"saidMerlin.

"Fulgenceusedtobeagoodfellow,"addedLousteau,"beforetheypervertedhismorals."

"Whoare"they"?"askedClaudeVignon.

"Someveryseriousyoungmen,"saidBlondet,"whomeetataphilosophico-religioussymposiumintheRuedesQuatre-Vents,andworrythemselvesaboutthemeaningofhumanlife——"

"Oh!oh!"

"Theyaretryingtofindoutwhetheritgoesroundinacircle,ormakessomeprogress,"continuedBlondet."Theywereveryhardputtoitbetweenthestraightlineandthecurve;thetriangle,warrantedbyScripture,seemedtothemtobenonsense,when,lo!therearoseamongthemsomeprophetorotherwhodeclaredforthespiral."

"Menmightmeettoinventmoredangerousnonsensethanthat!"

exclaimedLucien,makingafaintattempttochampionthebrotherhood.

"Youtaketheoriesofthatsortforidlewords,"saidFelicienVernou;

"butatimecomeswhentheargumentstaketheformofgunshotandtheguillotine."

"Theyhavenotcometothatyet,"saidBixiou;"theyhaveonlycomeasfarasthedesignsofProvidenceintheinventionofchampagne,thehumanitariansignificanceofbreeches,andtheblinddeitywhokeepstheworldgoing.TheypickupfallengreatmenlikeVico,Saint-Simon,andFourier.IammuchafraidthattheywillturnpoorJosephBridau"sheadamongthem."

"Bianchon,myoldschoolfellow,givesmethecoldshouldernow,"saidLousteau;"itisalltheirdoing——"

"Dotheygivelecturesonorthopedyandintellectualgymnastics?"

askedMerlin.

"Verylikely,"answeredFinot,"ifBianchonhasanyhandintheirtheories."

"Pshaw!"saidLousteau;"hewillbeagreatphysiciananyhow."

"Isn"td"Artheztheirvisiblehead?"askedNathan,"alittleyoungsterthatisgoingtoswallowallofusup."

"Heisagenius!"criedLucien.

"Genius,ishe!Well,givemeaglassofsherry!"saidClaudeVignon,smiling.

Everyone,thereupon,begantoexplainhischaracterforthebenefitofhisneighbor;andwhenaclevermanfeelsapressingneedofexplaininghimself,andofunlockinghisheart,itisprettyclearthatwinehasgottheupperhand.Anhourlater,allthemeninthecompanywerethebestfriendsintheworld,addressingeachotherasgreatmenandboldspirits,whoheldthefutureintheirhands.

Lucien,inhisqualityofhost,wassufficientlyclearheadedtoapprehendthemeaningofthesophistrieswhichimpressedhimandcompletedhisdemoralization.

"TheLiberalparty,"announcedFinot,"iscompelledtostirupdiscussionsomehow.ThereisnofaulttofindwiththeactionoftheGovernment,andyoumayimaginewhatafixtheOppositionisin.Whichofyounowcarestowriteapamphletinfavorofthesystemofprimogeniture,andraiseacryagainstthesecretdesignsoftheCourt?Thepamphletwillbepaidforhandsomely."