第15章

"Iwillwriteit,"saidHectorMerlin."Itismyownpointofview."

"Yourpartywillcomplainthatyouarecompromisingthem,"saidFinot.

"Felicien,youmustundertakeit;Dauriatwillbringitout,andwewillkeepthesecret."

"HowmuchshallIget?"

"Sixhundredfrancs.Signit"LeComteC,threestars.""

"It"sabargain,"saidFelicienVernou.

"Soyouareintroducingthecanardtothepoliticalworld,"remarkedLousteau.

"ItissimplytheChabotaffaircarriedintotheregionofabstractideas,"saidFinot."FastenintentionsontheGovernment,andthenletloosepublicopinion."

"HowaGovernmentcanleavethecontrolofideastosuchapackofscampsasweare,ismatterforperpetualandprofoundastonishmenttome,"saidClaudeVignon.

"IftheMinistryblunderssofarastocomedownintothearena,wecangivethemadrubbing.Iftheyarenettledbyit,thethingwillrankleinpeople"sminds,andtheGovernmentwillloseitsholdonthemasses.Thenewspaperrisksnothing,andtheauthoritieshaveeverythingtolose."

"Francewillbeacipheruntilnewspapersareabolishedbylaw,"saidClaudeVignon."Youaremakingprogresshourly,"headded,addressingFinot."YouareamodernorderofJesuits,lackingthecreed,thefixedidea,thediscipline,andtheunion."

Theywentbacktothecard-tables;andbeforelongthelightofthecandlesgrewfeebleinthedawn.

"Lucien,yourfriendsfromtheRuedesQuatre-Ventslookedasdismalascriminalsgoingtobehanged,"saidCoralie.

"Theywerethejudges,notthecriminals,"repliedthepoet.

"JudgesaremoreamusingthanTHAT,"saidCoralie.

ForamonthLucien"swholetimewastakenupwithsupperparties,dinnerengagements,breakfasts,andeveningparties;hewassweptawaybyanirresistiblecurrentintoavortexofdissipationandeasywork.

Henolongerthoughtofthefuture.Thepowerofcalculationamidthecomplicationsoflifeisthesignofastrongwillwhichpoets,weaklings,andmenwholiveapurelyintellectuallifecannevercounterfeit.Lucienwaslivingfromhandtomouth,spendinghismoneyasfastashemadeit,likemanyanotherjournalist;nordidhegivesomuchasathoughttothoseperiodicallyrecurrentdaysofreckoningwhichchequerthelifeofthebohemianinParissosadly.

Indressandfigurehewasarivalforthegreatdandiesoftheday.

Coralie,likeallzealots,lovedtoadornheridol.SheruinedherselftogiveherbelovedpoettheaccoutrementswhichhadsostirredhisenvyintheGardenoftheTuileries.Lucienhadwonderfulcanes,andacharmingeyeglass;hehaddiamondstuds,andscarf-rings,andsignet-

rings,besidesanassortmentofwaistcoatsmarveloustobehold,andinsufficientnumbertomatcheverycolorinavarietyofcostumes.Histransitiontotheestateofdandyswiftlyfollowed.WhenhewenttotheGermanMinister"sdinner,alltheyoungmenregardedhimwithsuppressedenvy;yetdeMarsay,Vandenesse,Ajuda-Pinto,MaximedeTrailles,Rastignac,Beaudenord,Manerville,andtheDucdeMaufrigneusegaveplacetononeinthekingdomoffashion.Menoffashionareasjealousamongthemselvesaswomen,andinthesameway.

LucienwasplacedbetweenMme.deMontcornetandMme.d"Espard,inwhosehonorthedinnerwasgiven;bothladiesoverwhelmedhimwithflatteries.

"Whydidyouturnyourbackonsocietywhenyouwouldhavebeensowellreceived?"askedtheMarquise."Everyonewaspreparedtomakemuchofyou.AndIhaveaquarrelwithyoutoo.Youowedmeacall——I

amstillwaitingtoreceiveit.IsawyouattheOperatheotherday,andyouwouldnotdeigntocometoseemenortotakeanynoticeofme."

"Yourcousin,madame,sounmistakablydismissedme——"

"Oh!youdonotknowwomen,"theMarquised"Espardbrokeinuponhim.

"Youhavewoundedthemostangelicheart,thenoblestnaturethatI

know.YoudonotknowallthatLouisewastryingtodoforyou,norhowtactfullyshelaidherplansforyou——Oh!andshewouldhavesucceeded,"theMarquisecontinued,replyingtoLucien"smuteincredulity."Herhusbandisdeadnow;died,ashewasboundtodie,ofanindigestion;couldyoudoubtthatshewouldbefreesoonerorlater?AndcanyousupposethatshewouldliketobeMadameChardon?

ItwasworthwhiletotakesometroubletogainthetitleofComtessedeRubempre.Love,yousee,isagreatvanity,whichrequiresthelesservanitiestobeinharmonywithitself——especiallyinmarriage.

Imightloveyoutomadness——whichistosay,sufficientlytomarryyou——andyetIshouldfinditveryunpleasanttobecalledMadameChardon.Youcanseethat.AndnowthatyouunderstandthedifficultiesofParislife,youwillknowhowmanyroundaboutwaysyoumusttaketoreachyourend;verywell,then,youmustadmitthatLouisewasaspiringtoanallbutimpossiblepieceofCourtfavor;shewasquiteunknown,sheisnotrich,andthereforeshecouldnotaffordtoneglectanymeansofsuccess.

"Youareclever,"theMarquised"Espardcontinued;"butwewomen,whenwelove,areclevererthanthecleverestman.MycousintriedtomakethatabsurdChateletuseful——Oh!"shebrokeoff,"Iowenotalittleamusementtoyou;yourarticlesonChateletmademelaughheartily."

Lucienknewnotwhattothinkofallthis.Ofthetreacheryandbadfaithofjournalismhehadhadsomeexperience;butinspiteofhisperspicacity,hescarcelyexpectedtofindbadfaithortreacheryinsociety.Thereweresomesharplessonsinstoreforhim.

"But,madame,"heobjected,forherwordsarousedalivelycuriosity,"isnottheHeronunderyourprotection?"

"Oneisobligedtobeciviltoone"sworstenemiesinsociety,"

protestedshe;"onemaybebored,butonemustlookasifthetalkwasamusing,andnotseldomoneseemstosacrificefriendsthebettertoservethem.Areyoustillanovice?Youmeantowrite,andyetyouknownothingofcurrentdeceit?MycousinapparentlysacrificedyoutotheHeron,buthowcouldshedispensewithhisinfluenceforyou?Ourfriendstandswellwiththepresentministry;andwehavemadehimseethatyourattackswilldohimservice——uptoacertainpoint,forwewantyoutomakeitupagainsomeofthesedays.Chatelethasreceivedcompensationsforhistroubles;for,asdesLupeaulxsaid,"WhilethenewspapersaremakingChateletridiculous,theywillleavetheMinistryinpeace.""

Therewasapause;theMarquiseleftLucientohisownreflections.

"M.BlondetledmetohopethatIshouldhavethepleasureofseeingyouinmyhouse,"saidtheComtessedeMontcornet."Youwillmeetafewartistsandmenofletters,andsomeoneelsewhohasthekeenestdesiretobecomeacquaintedwithyou——Mlle.desTouches,theowneroftalentsrareamongoursex.Youwillgotoherhouse,nodoubt.Mlle.

deTouches(orCamilleMaupin,ifyoupreferit)isprodigiouslyrich,andpresidesoveroneofthemostremarkablesalonsinParis.Shehasheardthatyouareashandsomeasyouareclever,andisdyingtomeetyou."

LuciencouldonlypouroutincoherentthanksandglanceenviouslyatEmileBlondet.TherewasasgreatadifferencebetweenagreatladylikeMme.deMontcornetandCoralieasbetweenCoralieandagirloutofthestreets.TheCountesswasyoungandwittyandbeautiful,withtheverywhitefairnessofwomenofthenorth.HermotherwasthePrincessScherbellof,andtheMinisterbeforedinnerhadpaidherthemostrespectfulattention.

BythistimetheMarquisehadmadeanendoftriflingdisdainfullywiththewingofachicken.

"MypoorLouisefeltsomuchaffectionforyou,"shesaid."Shetookmeintoherconfidence;Iknewherdreamsofagreatcareerforyou.

Shewouldhaveborneagreatdeal,butwhatscornyoushowedherwhenyousentbackherletters!Crueltywecanforgive;thosewhohurtusmusthavestillsomefaithinus;butindifference!Indifferenceislikepolarsnows,itextinguishesalllife.So,youmustseethatyouhavelostapreciousaffectionthroughyourownfault.Whybreakwithher?Evenifshehadscornedyou,youhadyourwaytomake,hadyounot?——yournametowinback?Louisethoughtofallthat."

"Thenwhywasshesilent?"

"EH!monDieu!"criedtheMarquise,"itwasImyselfwhoadvisedhernottotakeyouintoherconfidence.Betweenourselves,youknow,youseemedsolittleusedtothewaysoftheworld,thatItookalarm.I

wasafraidthatyourinexperienceandrashardormightwreckourcarefully-madeschemes.Canyourecollectyourselfasyouwerethen?

Youmustadmitthatifyoucouldseeyourdoubleto-day,youwouldsaythesameyourself.Youarenotlikethesameman.Thatwasourmistake.Butwouldonemaninathousandcombinesuchintellectualgiftswithsuchwonderfulaptitudefortakingthetoneofsociety?I

didnotthinkthatyouwouldbesuchanastonishingexception.Youweretransformedsoquickly,youacquiredthemannerofParissoeasily,thatIdidnotrecognizeyouintheBoisdeBoulogneamonthago."

Lucienheardthegreatladywithinexpressiblepleasure;theflatterieswerespokenwithsuchapetulant,childlike,confidingair,andsheseemedtotakesuchadeepinterestinhim,thathethoughtofhisfirsteveningatthePanorama-Dramatique,andbegantofancythatsomesuchmiraclewasabouttotakeplaceasecondtime.Everythinghadsmileduponhimsincethathappyevening;hisyouth,hethought,wasthetalismanthatworkedthischange.Hewouldprovethisgreatlady;sheshouldnottakehimunawares.

"Then,whatweretheseschemeswhichhaveturnedtochimeras,madame?"

askedhe.

"LouisemeanttoobtainaroyalpatentpermittingyoutobearthenameandtitleofRubempre.ShewishedtoputChardonoutofsight.Youropinionshaveputthatoutofthequestionnow,butTHENitwouldnothavebeensohardtomanage,andatitlewouldmeanafortuneforyou.

"Youwilllookonthesethingsastriflesandvisionaryideas,"shecontinued;"butweknowsomethingoflife,andweknow,too,allthesolidadvantagesofaCount"stitlewhenitisbornebyafashionableandextremelycharmingyoungman.Announce"M.Chardon"and"M.leComtedeRubempre"beforeheiressesorEnglishgirlswithamilliontotheirfortune,andnotethedifferenceoftheeffect.TheCountmightbeindebt,buthewouldfindopenhearts;hisgoodlooks,broughtintoreliefbyhistitle,wouldbelikeadiamondinarichsetting;

M.Chardonwouldnotbesomuchasnoticed.WEhavenotinventedthesenotions;theyareeverywhereintheworld,evenamongtheburgeois.

Youareturningyourbackonfortuneatthisminute.Doyouseethatgood-lookingyoungman?HeistheVicomteFelixdeVandenesse,oneoftheKing"sprivatesecretaries.TheKingisfondenoughofyoungmenoftalent,andVandenessecamefromtheprovinceswithbaggagenearlyaslightasyours.Youareathousandtimesclevererthanhe;butdoyoubelongtoagreatfamily,haveyouaname?YouknowdesLupeaulx;

hisnameisverymuchlikeyours,forhewasbornaChardin;well,hewouldnotsellhislittlefarmofLupeaulxforamillion,hewillbeComtedesLupeaulxsomeday,andperhapshisgrandsonmaybeaduke——

Youhavemadeafalsestart;andifyoucontinueinthatway,itwillbealloverwithyou.SeehowmuchwiserM.EmileBlondethasbeen!HeisengagedonaGovernmentnewspaper;heiswelllookedonbythoseinauthority;hecanaffordtomixwithLiberals,forheholdssoundopinions;andsoonorlaterhewillsucceed.Butthenheunderstoodhowtochoosehisopinionsandhisprotectors.

"Yourcharmingneighbor"(Mme.d"EspardglancedatMme.deMontcornet)

"wasaTroisville;therearetwopeersofFranceinthefamilyandtwodeputies.Shemadeawealthymarriagewithhername;sheseesagreatdealofsocietyatherhouse;shehasinfluence,shewillmovethepoliticalworldforyoungM.Blondet.WherewillaCoralietakeyou?

Inafewyears"timeyouwillbehopelesslyindebtandwearyofpleasure.Youhavechosenbadlyinlove,andyouarearrangingyourlifeill.ThewomanwhomyoudelighttowoundwasattheOperatheothernight,andthiswashowshespokeofyou.Shedeploredthewayinwhichyouwerethrowingawayyourtalentandtheprimeofyouth;

shewasthinkingofyou,andnotofherself,allthewhile."

"Ah!ifyouwereonlytellingmethetruth,madame!"criedLucien.

"WhatobjectshouldIhaveintellinglies?"returnedtheMarquise,withaglanceofcolddisdainwhichannihilatedhim.Hewassodashedbyit,thattheconversationdropped,fortheMarquisewasoffended,andsaidnomore.

Lucienwasnettledbyhersilence,buthefeltthatitwasduetohisownclumsiness,andpromisedhimselfthathewouldrepairhiserror.

HeturnedtoMme.deMontcornetandtalkedtoherofBlondet,extollingthatyoungwriterforherbenefit.TheCountesswasgracioustohim,andaskedhim(atasignfromMme.d"Espard)tospendaneveningatherhouse.Itwastobeasmallandquietgatheringtowhichonlyfriendswereinvited——Mme.deBargetonwouldbethereinspiteofhermourning;Lucienwouldbepleased,shewassure,tomeetMme.deBargeton.

"Mme.laMarquisesaysthatallthewrongisonmyside,"saidLucien;

"sosurelyitrestswithhercousin,doesitnot,todecidewhethershewillmeetme?"

"Putanendtothoseridiculousattacks,whichonlycouplehernamewiththenameofamanforwhomshedoesnotcareatall,andyouwillsoonsignatreatyofpeace.Youthoughtthatshehadusedyouill,I

amtold,butImyselfhaveseenherinsadnessbecauseyouhadforsakenher.Isittruethatshelefttheprovincesonyouraccount?"

Luciensmiled;hedidnotventuretomakeanyotherreply.

"Oh!howcouldyoudoubtthewomanwhomadesuchsacrificesforyou?

Beautifulandintellectualassheis,shedeservesbesidestobelovedforherownsake;andMme.deBargetoncaredlessforyouthanforyourtalents.Believeme,womenvalueintellectmorethangoodlooks,"

addedtheCountess,stealingaglanceatEmileBlondet.

IntheMinister"shotelLuciencouldseethedifferencesbetweenthegreatworldandthatotherworldbeyondthepaleinwhichhehadlatelybeenliving.Therewasnosortofresemblancebetweenthetwokindsofsplendor,nosinglepointincommon.TheloftinessanddispositionoftheroomsinoneofthehandsomesthousesintheFaubourgSaint-Germain,theancientgilding,thebreadthofdecorativestyle,thesubduedrichnessoftheaccessories,allthiswasstrangeandnewtohim;butLucienhadlearnedveryquicklytotakeluxuryforgranted,andheshowednosurprise.Hisbehaviorwasasfarremovedfromassuranceorfatuityontheonehandasfromcomplacencyandservilityupontheother.Hismannerwasgood;hefoundfavorintheeyesofallwhowerenotpreparedtobehostile,liketheyoungermen,whoresentedhissuddenintrusionintothegreatworld,andfeltjealousofhisgoodlooksandhissuccess.

Whentheyrosefromtable,heofferedhisarmtoMme.d"Espard,andwasnotrefused.Rastignac,watchinghim,sawthattheMarquisewasgracioustoLucien,andcameinthecharacterofafellow-countrymantoremindthepoetthattheyhadmetoncebeforeatMme.duVal-

Noble"s.Theyoungpatricianseemedanxioustofindanallyinthegreatmanfromhisownprovince,askedLucientobreakfastwithhimsomemorning,andofferedtointroducehimtosomeyoungmenoffashion.Lucienwasnothingloath.

"ThedearBlondetiscoming,"saidRastignac.

ThetwowerestandingneartheMarquisdeRonquerolles,theDucdeRhetore,deMarsay,andGeneralMontriveau.TheMinistercameacrosstojointhegroup.

"Well,"saidhe,addressingLucienwithabluffGermanheartinessthatconcealedhisdangeroussubtlety;"well,soyouhavemadeyourpeacewithMme.d"Espard;sheisdelightedwithyou,andweallknow,"headded,lookingroundthegroup,"howdifficultitistopleaseher."

"Yes,butsheadoresintellect,"saidRastignac,"andmyillustriousfellow-countrymanhaswitenoughtosell."

"Hewillsoonfindoutthatheisnotdoingwellforhimself,"Blondetputinbriskly."Hewillcomeover;hewillsoonbeoneofus."

ThosewhostoodaboutLucienrangthechangesonthistheme;theolderandresponsiblemenlaiddownthelawwithoneortwoprofoundremarks;theyoungeronesmademerryattheexpenseoftheLiberals.

"HesimplytossedupheadortailsforRightorLeft,Iamsure,"

remarkedBlondet,"butnowhewillchooseforhimself."

Lucienburstoutlaughing;hethoughtofhistalkwithLousteauthateveningintheLuxembourgGardens.

"Hehastakenonabear-leader,"continuedBlondet,"oneEtienneLousteau,anewspaperhackwhoseesafive-francpieceinacolumn.

Lousteau"spoliticsconsistinabeliefthatNapoleonwillreturn,and(andthisseemstometobestillmoresimple)inaconfidenceinthegratitudeandpatriotismoftheirworshipsthegentlemenoftheLeft.

AsaRubempre,Lucien"ssympathiesshouldleantowardsthearistocracy;asajournalist,heoughttobeforauthority,orhewillneverbeeitherRubempreorasecretary-general."

TheMinisternowaskedLucientotakeahandatwhist;but,tothegreatastonishmentofthosepresent,hedeclaredthathedidnotknowthegame.

"Comeearlytomeonthedayofthatbreakfastaffair,"Rastignacwhispered,"andIwillteachyoutoplay.YouareadiscredittotheroyalcityofAngouleme;and,torepeatM.deTalleyrand"ssaying,youarelayingupanunhappyoldageforyourself."

DesLupeaulxwasannounced.HerememberedLucien,whomhehadmetatMme.duVal-Noble"s,andbowedwithasemblanceoffriendlinesswhichthepoetcouldnotdoubt.DesLupeaulxwasinfavor,hewasaMasterofRequests,anddidtheMinistrysecretservices;hewas,moreover,cunningandambitious,slippinghimselfineverywhere;hewaseverybody"sfriend,forheneverknewwhomhemightneed.Hesawplainlythatthiswasayoungjournalistwhosesocialsuccesswouldprobablyequalhissuccessinliterature;saw,too,thatthepoetwasambitious,andoverwhelmedhimwithprotestationsandexpressionsoffriendshipandinterest,tillLucienfeltasiftheywereoldfriendsalready,andtookhispromisesandspeechesformorethantheirworth.

DesLupeaulxmadeapointofknowingamanthoroughlywellifhewantedtogetridofhimorfearedhimasarival.So,toallappearance,Lucienwaswellreceived.HeknewthatmuchofhissuccesswasowingtotheDucdeRhetore,theMinister,Mme.d"Espard,andMme.

deMontcornet,andwenttospendafewmomentswiththetwoladiesbeforetakingleave,andtalkedhisverybestforthem.

"Whatacoxcomb!"saiddesLupeaulx,turningtotheMarquisewhenhehadgone.

"Hewillberottenbeforeheisripe,"deMarsayadded,smiling."Youmusthaveprivatereasonsofyourown,madame,forturninghisheadinthisway."

WhenLuciensteppedintothecarriageinthecourtyard,hefoundCoraliewaitingforhim.Shehadcometofetchhim.Thelittleattentiontouchedhim;hetoldherthehistoryofhisevening;and,tohisnosmallastonishment,thenewnotionswhichevennowwererunninginhisheadmetwithCoralie"sapproval.Shestronglyadvisedhimtoenlistundertheministerialbanner.

"YouhavenothingtoexpectfromtheLiberalsbuthardknocks,"shesaid."Theyplotandconspire;theymurderedtheDucdeBerri.WilltheyupsettheGovernment?Never!Youwillnevercometoanythingthroughthem,whileyouwillbeComtedeRubempreifyouthrowinyourlotwiththeotherside.YoumightrenderservicestotheState,andbeapeerofFrance,andmarryanheiress.BeanUltra.Itistheproperthingbesides,"sheadded,thisbeingthelastwordwithheronallsubjects."IdinedwiththeVal-Noble;shetoldmethatTheodoreGaillardisreallygoingtostarthislittleRoyalistRevue,soastoreplytoyourwitticismsandthejokesintheMiroir.Tohearthemtalk,M.Villele"spartywillbeinofficebeforetheyearisout.Trytoturnthechangetoaccountbeforetheycometopower;andsaynothingtoEtienneandyourfriends,fortheyarequiteequaltoplayingyousomeillturn."

Aweeklater,LucienwenttoMme.deMontcornet"shouse,andsawthewomanwhomhehadsoloved,whomlaterhehadstabbedtotheheartwithajest.Hefeltthemostviolentagitationatthesightofher,forLouisealsohadundergoneatransformation.ShewastheLouisethatshewouldalwayshavebeenbutforherdetentionintheprovinces——shewasagreatlady.Therewasagraceandrefinementinhermourningdresswhichtoldthatshewasahappywidow;Lucienfanciedthatthiscoquetrywasaimedinsomedegreeathim,andhewasright;

but,likeanogre,hehadtastedflesh,andallthateveninghevacillatedbetweenCoralie"swarm,voluptuousbeautyandthedried-up,haughty,cruelLouise.Hecouldnotmakeuphismindtosacrificetheactresstothegreatlady;andMme.deBargeton——alltheoldfeelingrevivinginheratthesightofLucien,Lucien"sbeauty,Lucien"scleverness——waswaitingandexpectingthatsacrificeallevening;andafterallherinsinuatingspeechesandherfascinations,shehadhertroubleforherpains.Shelefttheroomwithafixeddeterminationtoberevenged.

"Well,dearLucien,"shehadsaid,andinherkindnesstherewasbothgenerosityandParisiangrace;"well,dearLucien,soyou,thatweretohavebeenmypride,tookmeforyourfirstvictim;andIforgaveyou,mydear,forIfeltthatinsucharevengetherewasatraceoflovestillleft."

Withthatspeech,andthequeenlywayinwhichitwasuttered,Mme.deBargetonrecoveredherposition.Lucien,convincedthathewasathousandtimesintheright,feltthathehadbeenputinthewrong.

Notonewordofthecausesoftherupture!notonesyllableoftheterriblefarewellletter!Awomanoftheworldhasawonderfulgeniusfordiminishingherfaultsbylaughingatthem;shecanobliteratethemallwithasmileoraquestionoffeignedsurprise,andsheknowsthis.Sheremembersnothing,shecanexplaineverything;sheisamazed,asksquestions,comments,amplifies,andquarrelswithyou,tillintheendhersinsdisappearlikestainsontheapplicationofalittlesoapandwater;blackasinkyouknewthemtobe;andlo!inamoment,youbeholdimmaculatewhiteinnocence,andluckyareyouifyoudonotfindthatyouyourselfhavesinnedinsomewaybeyondredemption.

InamomentoldillusionsregainedtheirpoweroverLucienandLouise;

theytalkedlikefriends,asbefore;butwhenthelady,withahesitatingsigh,putthequestion,"Areyouhappy?"Lucienwasnotreadywithaprompt,decidedanswer;hewasintoxicatedwithgratifiedvanity;Coralie,who(letusadmitit)hadmadelifeeasyforhim,hadturnedhishead.Amelancholy"No"wouldhavemadehisfortune,buthemustneedsbegintoexplainhispositionwithregardtoCoralie.Hesaidthathewaslovedforhisownsake;hesaidagoodmanyfoolishthingsthatamanwillsaywhenheissmittenwithatenderpassion,andthoughtthewhilethathewasdoingacleverthing.

Mme.deBargetonbitherlips.Therewasnomoretobesaid.Mme.

d"EspardbroughtMme.deMontcornettohercousin,andLucienbecametheherooftheevening,sotospeak.Hewasflattered,petted,andmademuchofbythethreewomen;hewasentangledwithartwhichnowordscandescribe.Hissocialsuccessinthisfineandbrilliantcirclewasatleastasgreatashistriumphsinjournalism.BeautifulMlle.desTouches,sowellknownas"CamilleMaupin,"askedhimtooneofherWednesdaydinners;hisbeauty,nowsojustlyfamous,seemedtohavemadeanimpressionuponher.Lucienexertedhimselftoshowthathiswitequaledhisgoodlooks,andMlle.desTouchesexpressedheradmirationwithaplayfuloutspokennessandaprettyfervoroffriendshipwhichdeceivesthosewhodonotknowlifeinParistoitsdepths,norsuspecthowcontinualenjoymentwhetstheappetitefornovelty.

"IfsheshouldlikemeasmuchasIlikeher,wemightabridgetheromance,"saidLucien,addressingdeMarsayandRastignac.

"Youbothofyouwriteromancestoowelltocaretolivethem,"

returnedRastignac."Canmenandwomenwhowriteeverfallinlovewitheachother?Atimeissuretocomewhentheybegintomakelittlecuttingremarks."

"Itwouldnotbeabaddreamforyou,"laugheddeMarsay."Thecharmingyoungladyisthirtyyearsold,itistrue,butshehasanincomeofeightythousandlivres.Sheisadorablycapricious,andherstyleofbeautywearswell.Coralieisasillylittlefool,mydearboy,wellenoughforastart,forayoungsparkmusthaveamistress;

butunlessyoumakesomegreatconquestinthegreatworld,anactresswilldoyouharminthelongrun.Now,myboy,goandcutoutConti.

Hereheis,justabouttosingwithCamilleMaupin.Poetryhastakenprecedenceofmusiceversincetimebegan."

ButwhenLucienheardMlle.desTouches"voiceblendingwithConti"s,hishopesfled.

"Contisingstoowell,"hetolddesLupeaulx;andhewentbacktoMme.

deBargeton,whocarriedhimofftoMme.d"Espardinanotherroom.

"Well,willyounotinterestyourselfinhim?"askedMme.deBargeton.

TheMarquisespokewithanairhalfkindly,halfinsolent."LetM.

Chardonfirstputhimselfinsuchapositionthathewillnotcompromisethosewhotakeaninterestinhim,"shesaid."Ifhewishestodrophispatronymicandtobearhismother"sname,heshouldatanyratebeontherightside,shouldhenot?"

"InlessthantwomonthsIwillarrangeeverything,"saidLucien.

"Verywell,"returnedMme.d"Espard."Iwillspeaktomyfatheranduncle;theyareinwaiting,theywillspeaktotheChancellorforyou."

ThediplomatistandthetwowomenhadverysoondiscoveredLucien"sweakside.Thepoet"sheadwasturnedbythegloryofthearistocracy;

everymanwhoenteredtheroomsboreasoundingnamemountedinaglitteringtitle,andhehimselfwasplainChardon.Unspeakablemortificationfilledhimatthesoundofit.Whereverhehadbeenduringthelastfewdays,thatpanghadbeenconstantlypresentwithhim.Hefelt,moreover,asensationquiteasunpleasantwhenhewentbacktohisdeskafteraneveningspentinthegreatworld,inwhichhemadeatolerablefigure,thankstoCoralie"scarriageandCoralie"sservants.

Helearnedtoride,inordertoescortMme.d"Espard,Mlle.desTouches,andtheComtessedeMontcornetwhentheydroveintheBois,aprivilegewhichhehadenviedotheryoungmensogreatlywhenhefirstcametoParis.Finotwasdelightedtogivehisright-handmananorderfortheOpera,soLucienwastedmanyaneveningthere,andthenceforwardhewasamongtheexquisitesoftheday.

ThepoetaskedRastignacandhisnewassociatestoabreakfast,andmadetheblunderofgivingitinCoralie"sroomsintheRuedeVendome;hewastooyoung,toomuchofapoet,tooself-confident,todiscerncertainshadesanddistinctionsinconduct;andhowshouldanactress,agood-heartedbutuneducatedgirl,teachhimlife?Hisguestswereanythingbutcharitablydisposedtowardshim;itwasclearlyproventotheirmindsthatLucienthecriticandtheactresswereincollusionfortheirmutualinterests,andalloftheyoungmenwerejealousofanarrangementwhichallofthemstigmatized.ThemostpitilessofthosewholaughedthateveningatLucien"sexpensewasRastignachimself.Rastignachadmadeandheldhispositionbyverysimilarmeans;butsocarefulhadhebeenofappearances,thathecouldaffordtotreatscandalasslander.

Lucienprovedanaptpupilatwhist.Playbecameapassionwithhim;

andsofarfromdisapproving,Coralieencouragedhisextravagancewiththepeculiarshort-sightednessofanall-absorbinglove,whichseesnothingbeyondthemoment,andisreadytosacrificeanything,eventhefuture,tothepresentenjoyment.Coralielookedoncardsasasafe-guardagainstrivals.Agreatlovehasmuchincommonwithchildhood——achild"sheedless,careless,spendthriftways,achild"slaughterandtears.

Inthosedaystherelivedandflourishedasetofyoungmen,someofthemrich,somepoor,andallofthemidle,called"free-livers"

(viveurs);and,indeed,theylivedwithincredibleinsolence——

unabashedandunproductiveconsumers,andyetmoreintrepiddrinkers.

Thesespendthriftsmingledtheroughestpracticaljokeswithalifenotsomuchrecklessassuicidal;theydrewbackfromnoimpossibility,andgloriedinprankswhich,nevertheless,wereconfinedwithincertainlimits;andastheyshowedthemostoriginalwitintheirescapades,itwasimpossiblenottopardonthem.

NosignofthetimesmoreplainlydiscoveredthehelotismtowhichtheRestorationhadcondemnedtheyoungmanhoodoftheepoch.Theyoungermen,beingatalosstoknowwhattodowiththemselves,werecompelledtofindotheroutletsfortheirsuperabundantenergybesidesjournalism,orconspiracy,orart,orletters.Theysquanderedtheirstrengthinthewildestexcesses,suchsapandluxuriantpowerwasthereinyoungFrance.Thehardworkersamongthesegildedyouthswantedpowerandpleasure;theartistswishedformoney;theidlesoughttostimulatetheirappetitesorwishedforexcitement;oneandallofthemwantedaplace,andoneandallwereshutoutfrompoliticsandpubliclife.Nearlyallthe"free-livers"weremenofunusualmentalpowers;someheldoutagainsttheenervatinglife,otherswereruinedbyit.ThemostcelebratedandthecleverestamongthemwasEugeneRastignac,whoentered,withdeMarsay"shelp,uponapoliticalcareer,inwhichhehassincedistinguishedhimself.Thepracticaljokes,inwhichthesetindulgedbecamesofamous,thatnotafewvaudevilleshavebeenfoundeduponthem.

BlondetintroducedLucientothissocietyofprodigals,ofwhichhebecameabrilliantornament,rankingnexttoBixiou,oneofthemostmischievousanduntiringscoffingwitsofhistime.AllthroughthatwinterLucien"slifewasonelongfitofintoxication,withintervalsofeasywork.Hecontinuedhisseriesofsketchesofcontemporarylife,andveryoccasionallymadegreateffortstowriteafewpagesofseriouscriticism,onwhichhebroughthisutmostpowerofthoughttobear.Butstudywastheexception,nottherule,andonlyundertakenatthebiddingofnecessity;dinnersandbreakfasts,partiesofpleasureandplay,tookupmostofhistime,andCoralieabsorbedallthatwasleft.Hewouldnotthinkofthemorrow.Hesawbesidesthathisso-calledfriendswereleadingthesamelife,earningmoneyeasilybywritingpublishers"prospectusesandarticlespaidforbyspeculators;allofthemlivedbeyondtheirincomes,noneofthemthoughtseriouslyofthefuture.

Lucienhadbeenadmittedintotheranksofjournalismandofliteratureontermsofequality;heforesawimmensedifficultiesinthewayifheshouldtrytoriseabovetherest.Everyonewaswillingtolookuponhimasanequal;noonewouldhavehimforasuperior.

Unconsciouslyhegaveuptheideaofwinningfameinliterature,foritseemedeasiertogainsuccessinpolitics.

"Intrigueraiseslessoppositionthantalent,"duChatelethadsaidoneday(forLucienandtheBaronhadmadeuptheirquarrel);"aplotbelowthesurfacerousesnoone"sattention.Intrigue,moreover,issuperiortotalent,foritmakessomethingoutofnothing;while,forthemostpart,theimmenseresourcesoftalentonlyinjureaman."

SoLucienneverlostsightofhisprincipalidea;andthoughto-morrow,followingcloseupontheheelsofto-dayinthemidstofanorgy,neverfoundthepromisedworkaccomplished,Lucienwasassiduousinsociety.HepaidcourttoMme.deBargeton,theMarquised"Espard,andtheComtessedeMontcornet;henevermissedasinglepartygivenbyMlle.desTouches,appearinginsocietyafteradinnergivenbyauthorsorpublishers,andleavingthesalonsforasuppergiveninconsequenceofabet.Thedemandsofconversationandtheexcitementofplayabsorbedalltheideasandenergyleftbyexcess.Thepoethadlostthelucidityofjudgmentandcoolnessofheadwhichmustbepreservedifamanistoseeallthatisgoingonaroundhim,andnevertolosetheexquisitetactwhichtheparvenueneedsateverymoment.HowshouldheknowhowmanyatimeMme.deBargetonlefthimwithwoundedsusceptibilities,howoftensheforgavehimoraddedonemorecondemnationtotherest?

Chateletsawthathisrivalhadstillachanceleft,sohebecameLucien"sfriend.Heencouragedthepoetindissipationthatwastedhisenergies.Rastignac,jealousofhisfellow-countryman,andthinking,besides,thatChateletwouldbeasurerandmoreusefulallythanLucien,hadtakenuptheBaron"scause.So,somefewdaysafterthemeetingofthePetrarchandLauraofAngouleme,RastignacbroughtaboutthereconciliationbetweenthepoetandtheelderlybeauatasumptuoussuppergivenattheRocherdeCancale.Lucienneverreturnedhometillmorning,androseinthemiddleoftheday;Coraliewasalwaysathisside,hecouldnotforegoasinglepleasure.Sometimeshesawhisrealposition,andmadegoodresolutions,buttheycametonothinginhisidle,easylife;andthemainspringofwillgrewslack,andonlyrespondedtotheheaviestpressureofnecessity.

CoraliehadbeengladthatLucienshouldamusehimself;shehadencouragedhiminthisrecklessexpenditure,becauseshethoughtthatthecravingswhichshefosteredwouldbindherlovertoher.Buttender-heartedandlovingasshewas,shefoundcouragetoadviseLuciennottoforgethiswork,andonceortwicewasobligedtoremindhimthathehadearnedverylittleduringthemonth.Theirdebtsweregrowingfrightfullyfast.Thefifteenhundredfrancswhichremainedfromthepurchase-moneyoftheMargueriteshadbeenswallowedupatonce,togetherwithLucien"sfirstfivehundredlivres.Inthreemonthshehadonlymadeathousandfrancs,yethefeltasthoughhehadbeenworkingtremendouslyhard.ButbythistimeLucienhadadoptedthe"free-livers"pleasanttheoryofdebts.

Debtsarebecomingtoayoungman,butaftertheageoffive-and-

twentytheyareinexcusable.Itshouldbeobservedthattherearecertainnaturesinwhichareallypoetictemperisunitedwithaweakenedwill;andthesewhileabsorbedinfeeling,thattheymaytransmutepersonalexperience,sensation,orimpressionintosomepermanentformareessentiallydeficientinthemoralsensewhichshouldaccompanyallobservation.Poetspreferrathertoreceivetheirownimpressionsthantoenterintothesoulsofotherstostudythemechanismoftheirfeelingsandthoughts.SoLucienneitheraskedhisassociateswhatbecameofthosewhodisappearedfromamongthem,norlookedintothefuturesofhisso-calledfriends.Someofthemwereheirstoproperty,othershaddefiniteexpectations;yetotherseitherpossessednamesthatwereknownintheworld,oramostrobustbeliefintheirdestinyandafixedresolutiontocircumventthelaw.Lucien,too,believedinhisfutureonthestrengthofvariousprofoundaxiomaticsayingsofBlondet"s:"Everythingcomesoutallrightatlast——Ifamanhasnothing,hisaffairscannotbeembarrassed——Wehavenothingtolosebutthefortunethatweseek——Swimwiththestream;itwilltakeyousomewhere——Aclevermanwithafootinginsocietycanmakeafortunewheneverhepleases."

Thatwinter,filledasitwaswithsomanypleasuresanddissipations,wasanecessaryintervalemployedinfindingcapitalforthenewRoyalistpaper;TheodoreGaillardandHectorMerlinonlybroughtoutthefirstnumberoftheReveilinMarch1822.TheaffairhadbeensettledatMme.duVal-Noble"shouse.Mme.duval-Nobleexercisedacertaininfluenceoverthegreatpersonages,Royalistwriters,andbankerswhometinhersplendidrooms——"fitforataleoutoftheArabianNights,"astheelegantandclevercourtesanherselfusedtosay——totransactbusinesswhichcouldnotbearrangedelsewhere.TheeditorshiphadbeenpromisedtoHectorMerlin.Lucien,Merlin"sintimate,wasprettycertaintobehisright-handman,andafeuilletoninaMinisterialpaperhadbeenpromisedtohimbesides.

AllthroughthedissipationsofthatwinterLucienhadbeensecretlymakingreadyforthischangeoffront.Childashewas,hefanciedthathewasadeeppoliticianbecauseheconcealedthepreparationfortheapproachingtransformation-scene,whilehewascountinguponMinisteriallargessestoextricatehimselffromembarrassmentandtolightenCoralie"ssecretcares.Coraliesaidnothingofherdistress;

shesmilednow,asalways;butBerenicewasbolder,shekeptLucieninformedoftheirdifficulties;andthebuddinggreatman,moved,afterthefashionofpoets,bythetaleofdisasters,wouldvowthathewouldbegintoworkinearnest,andthenforgethisresolution,anddrownhisfleetingcaresinexcess.OnedayCoraliesawthepoeticbrowovercast,andscoldedBerenice,andtoldherloverthateverythingwouldbesettled.

Mme.d"EspardandMme.deBargetonwerewaitingforLucien"sprofessionofhisnewcreed,sotheysaid,beforeapplyingthroughChateletforthepatentwhichshouldpermitLucientobeartheso-muchdesiredname.LucienhadproposedtodedicatetheMargueritestoMme.

d"Espard,andtheMarquiseseemedtobenotalittleflatteredbyacomplimentwhichauthorshavebeensomewhatcharyofpayingsincetheybecameapowerintheland;butwhenLucienwenttoDauriatandaskedafterhisbook,thatworthypublishermethimwithexcellentreasonsforthedelayinitsappearance.Dauriathadthisandthatinhand,whichtookupallhistime;anewvolumebyCanaliswascomingout,andhedidnotwantthetwobookstoclash;M.deLamartine"ssecondseriesofMeditationswasinthepress,andtwoimportantcollectionsofpoetryoughtnottoappeartogether.

Bythistime,however,Lucien"sneedsweresopressingthathehadrecoursetoFinot,andreceivedanadvanceonhiswork.When,atasupper-partythatevening,thepoetjournalistexplainedhispositiontohisfriendsinthefastset,theydrownedhisscruplesinchampagne,icedwithpleasantries.Debts!Therewasneveryetamanofanypowerwithoutdebts!Debtsrepresentedsatisfiedcravings,clamorousvices.Amanonlysucceedsunderthepressureoftheironhandofnecessity.Debtsforsooth!

"Why,theonepledgeofwhichagreatmancanbesure,isgivenhimbyhisfriendthepawnbroker,"criedBlondet.

"Ifyouwanteverything,youmustoweforeverything,"calledBixiou.

"No,"correcteddesLupeaulx,"ifyouoweforeverything,youhavehadeverything."