第16章

Thepartycontrivedtoconvincethenovicethathisdebtswereagoldenspurtourgeonthehorsesofthechariotofhisfortunes.

ThereisalwaysthestockexampleofJuliusCaesarwithhisdebtoffortymillions,andFriedrichII.onanallowanceofoneducatamonth,andahostofothergreatmenwhosefailingsareheldupforthecorruptionofyouth,whilenotawordissaidoftheirwide-

reachingideas,theircourageequaltoallodds.

CreditorsseizedCoralie"shorses,carriage,andfurnitureatlast,foranamountoffourthousandfrancs.LucienwenttoLousteauandaskedhisfriendtomeethisbillforthethousandfrancslenttopaygamingdebts;butLousteaushowedhimcertainpiecesofstampedpaper,whichprovedthatFlorinewasinmuchthesamecase.Lousteauwasgrateful,however,andofferedtotakethenecessarystepsforthesaleofLucien"sArcherofCharlesIX.

"HowcameFlorinetobeinthisplight?"askedLucien.

"TheMatifattookalarm,"saidLousteau."Wehavelosthim;butifFlorinechooses,shecanmakehimpaydearforhistreachery.Iwilltellyouallaboutit."

Threedaysafterthisbootlesserrand,LucienandCoraliewerebreakfastinginmelancholyspiritsbesidethefireintheirprettybedroom.Berenicehadcookedadishofeggsforthemoverthegrate;

forthecookhadgone,andthecoachmanandservantshadtakenleave.

Theycouldnotsellthefurniture,forithadbeenattached;therewasnotasingleobjectofanyvalueinthehouse.Agoodlycollectionofpawntickets,formingaveryinstructiveoctavovolume,representedallthegold,silver,andjewelry.Berenicehadkeptbackacoupleofspoonsandforks,thatwasall.

Lousteau"snewspaperwasofservicenowtoCoralieandLucien,littleastheysuspectedit;forthetailor,dressmaker,andmillinerwereafraidtomeddlewithajournalistwhowasquitecapableofwritingdowntheirestablishments.

EtienneLousteaubrokeinupontheirbreakfastwithashoutof"Hurrah!LongliveTheArcherofCharlesIX.!AndIhaveconvertedahundredfrancsworthofbooksintocash,children.Wewillgohalves."

HehandedfiftyfrancstoCoralie,andsentBereniceoutinquestofamoresubstantialbreakfast.

"HectorMerlinandIwenttoabooksellers"tradedinneryesterday,andpreparedthewayforyourromancewithcunninginsinuations.

Dauriatisintreaty,butDauriatishagglingoverit;hewon"tgivemorethanfourthousandfrancsfortwothousandcopies,andyouwantsixthousandfrancs.WemadeyououttwiceasgreatasSirWalterScott!Oh!youhavesuchnovelsasneverwereintheinwardsofyou.

Itisnotamerebookforsale,itisabigbusiness;youarenotsimplythewriterofonemoreorlessingeniousnovel,youaregoingtowriteawholeseries.Theword"series"didit!So,mindyou,don"tforgetthatyouhaveagreathistoricalseriesonhand——LaGrandeMademoiselle,orTheFranceofLouisQuatorze;CotillonI.,ortheEarlyDaysofLouisQuinze;TheQueenandtheCardinal,orParisandtheFronde;TheSonoftheConcini,orRichelieu"sIntrigue.Thesenovelswillbeannouncedonthewrapperofthebook.Wecallthismanoeuvre"givingasuccessatossinthecoverlet,"forthetitlesarealltoappearonthecover,tillyouwillbebetterknownforthebooksthatyouhavenotwrittenthanfortheworkyouhavedone.And"InthePress"isawayofgainingcreditinadvanceforworkthatyouwilldo.Come,now,letushavealittlefun!Herecomesthechampagne.Youcanunderstand,Lucien,thatourmenopenedeyesasbigassaucers.Bytheby,Iseethatyouhavesaucersstillleft."

"Theyareattached,"explainedCoralie.

"Iunderstand,andIresume.Showapublisheronemanuscriptvolumeandhewillbelieveinalltherest.Apublisheraskstoseeyourmanuscript,andgivesyoutounderstandthatheisgoingtoreadit.

Whydisturbhisharmlessvanity?Theyneverreadamanuscript;theywouldnotpublishsomanyiftheydid.Well,HectorandIallowedittoleakoutthatyoumightconsideranofferoffivethousandfrancsforthreethousandcopies,intwoeditions.LetmehaveyourArcher;

thedayafterto-morrowwearetobreakfastwiththepublishers,andwewillgettheupperhandofthem."

"Whoarethey?"askedLucien.

"TwopartnersnamedFendantandCavalier;theyaretwogoodfellows,prettystraightforwardinbusiness.OneofthemusedtobewithVidalandPorchon,theotheristhecleveresthandontheQuaidesAugustins.Theyonlystartedinbusinesslastyear,andhavelostalittleontranslationsofEnglishnovels;sonowmygentlemenhaveamindtoexploitthenativeproduct.Thereisarumorcurrentthatthosedealersinspoiledwhitepaperaretradingonotherpeople"scapital;butIdon"tthinkitmattersverymuchtoyouwhofindsthemoney,solongasyouarepaid."

Twodayslater,thepairwenttoabreakfastintheRueSerpente,inLucien"soldquarterofParis.LousteaustillkepthisroomintheRuedelaHarpe;anditwasinthesamestateasbefore,butthistimeLucienfeltnosurprise;hehadbeeninitiatedintothelifeofjournalism;heknewallitsupsanddowns.SincethateveningofhisintroductiontotheWoodenGalleries,hehadbeenpaidformanyanarticle,andgambledawaythemoneyalongwiththedesiretowrite.Hehadfilledcolumns,notoncebutmanytimes,intheingeniouswaysdescribedbyLousteauonthatmemorableeveningastheywenttothePalaisRoyal.HewasdependentuponBarbetandBraulard;hetraffickedinbooksandtheatre-tickets;heshranknolongerfromanyattack,fromwritinganypanegyric;andatthismomenthewasinsomesortrejoicingtomakeallhecouldoutofLousteaubeforeturninghisbackontheLiberals.Hisintimateknowledgeofthepartywouldstandhimingoodsteadinfuture.AndLousteau,onhisside,wasprivatelyreceivingfivehundredfrancsofpurchase-money,underthenameofcommission,fromFendantandCavalierforintroducingthefutureSirWalterScotttotwoenterprisingtradesmeninsearchofaFrenchAuthorof"Waverley."

ThefirmofFendantandCavalierhadstartedinbusinesswithoutanycapitalwhatsoever.Agreatmanypublishinghouseswereestablishedatthattimeinthesameway,andarelikelytobeestablishedsolongaspapermakersandprinterswillgivecreditforthetimerequiredtoplaysomesevenoreightofthegamesofchancecalled"newpublications."Atthattime,asatpresent,theauthor"scopyrightwaspaidforinbillsatsix,nine,andtwelvemonths——amethodofpaymentdeterminedbythecustomofthetrade,forbooksellerssettleaccountsbetweenthemselvesbybillsatevenlongerdates.Papermakersandprintersarepaidinthesameway,sothatinpracticethepublisher-

booksellerhasadozenorascoreofworksonsaleforatwelvemonthbeforehepaysforthem.Evenifonlytwoorthreeofthesehitthepublictaste,theprofitablespeculationspayforthebad,andthepublisherpayshiswaybygrafting,asitwere,onebookuponanother.

Butifallofthemturnoutbadly;orif,forhismisfortune,thepublisher-booksellerhappenstobringoutsomereallygoodliteraturewhichstaysonhanduntiltherightpublicdiscoversandappreciatesit;orifitcoststoomuchtodiscountthepaperthathereceives,then,resignedly,hefileshisschedule,andbecomesabankruptwithanuntroubledmind.Hewaspreparedallalongforsomethingofthekind.So,allthechancesbeinginfavorofthepublishers,theystakedotherpeople"smoney,nottheirownuponthegaming-tableofbusinessspeculation.

ThiswasthecasewithFendantandCavalier.Cavalierbroughthisexperience,Fendanthisindustry;thecapitalwasajoint-stockaffair,andveryaccuratelydescribedbythatword,foritconsistedinafewthousandfrancsscrapedtogetherwithdifficultybythemistressesofthepair.Outofthisfundtheyallowedeachotherafairlyhandsomesalary,andscrupulouslyspentitallindinnerstojournalistsandauthors,oratthetheatre,wheretheirbusinesswastransacted,astheysaid.Thisquestionablyhonestcouplewerebothsupposedtobeclevermenofbusiness,butFendantwasmoreslipperythanCavalier.Cavalier,truetohisname,traveledabout,FendantlookedafterbusinessinParis.Apartnershipbetweentwopublishersisalwaysmoreorlessofaduel,andsoitwaswithFendantandCavalier.

Theyhadbroughtoutplentyofromancesalready,suchastheTourduNord,LeMarchanddeBenares,LaFontaineduSepulcre,andTekeli,translationsoftheworksofGalt,anEnglishnovelistwhoneverattainedmuchpopularityinFrance.ThesuccessoftranslationsofScotthadcalledtheattentionofthetradetoEnglishnovels.Theraceofpublishers,allagogforasecondNormanconquest,wereseekingindustriouslyforasecondScott,justasataratherlaterdayeveryonemustneedslookforasphaltinstonysoil,orbitumeninmarshes,andspeculateinprojectedrailways.ThestupidityofthePariscommercialworldisconspicuousintheseattemptstodothesamethingtwice,forsuccessliesincontraries;andinParis,ofallplacesintheworld,successspoilssuccess.SobeneaththetitleofStrelitz,orRussiaaHundredYearsAgo,FendantandCavalierrashlyaddedinbiglettersthewords,"InthestyleofScott."

FendantandCavalierwereingreatneedofasuccess.Asinglegoodbookmightfloattheirsunkenbales,theythought;andtherewasthealluringprospectbesidesofarticlesinthenewspapers,thegreatwayofpromotingsalesinthosedays.Abookisveryseldomboughtandsoldforitsjustvalue,andpurchasesaredeterminedbyconsiderationsquiteotherthanthemeritsofthework.SoFendantandCavalierthoughtofLucienasajournalist,andofhisbookasasalablearticle,whichwouldhelpthemtotideovertheirmonthlysettlement.

Thepartnersoccupiedthegroundfloorofoneofthegreatold-

fashionedhousesintheRueSerpente;theirprivateofficehadbeencontrivedatthefurtherendofasuiteoflargedrawing-rooms,nowconvertedintowarehousesforbooks.LucienandEtiennefoundthepublishersintheiroffice,theagreementdrawnup,andthebillsready.Lucienwonderedatsuchpromptaction.

Fendantwasshortandthin,andbynomeansreassuringofaspect.Withhislow,narrowforehead,sunkennose,andhardmouth,helookedlikeaKalmuckTartar;apairofsmall,wide-awakeblackeyes,thecrabbedirregularoutlineofhiscountenance,avoicelikeacrackedbell——theman"swholeappearance,infact,combinedtogivetheimpressionthatthiswasaconsummaterascal.Ahoneyedtonguecompensatedforthesedisadvantages,andhegainedhisendsbytalk.Cavalier,astout,thick-setyoungfellow,lookedmorelikethedriverofamailcoachthanapublisher;hehadhairofasandycolor,afieryredcountenance,andtheheavybuildanduntiringtongueofacommercialtraveler.

"Thereisnoneedtodiscussthisaffair,"saidFendant,addressingLucienandLousteau."Ihavereadthework,itisveryliterary,andsoexactlythekindofthingwewant,thatIhavesentitoffasitistotheprinter.Theagreementisdrawnonthelineslaiddown,andbesides,wealwaysmakethesamestipulationsinallcases.Thebillsfalldueinsix,nine,andtwelvemonthsrespectively;youwillmeetwithnodifficultyindiscountingthem,andwewillrefundyouthediscount.Wehavereservedtherightofgivinganewtitletothebook.Wedon"tcareforTheArcherofCharlesIX.;itdoesn"tticklethereader"scuriositysufficiently;therewereseveralkingsofthatname,yousee,andthereweresomanyarchersintheMiddleAges.IfyouhadonlycalledittheSoldierofNapoleon,now!ButTheArcherofCharlesIX.!——why,Cavalierwouldhavetogiveacourseofhistorylessonsbeforehecouldplaceacopyanywhereintheprovinces."

"Ifyoubutknewtheclassofpeoplethatwehavetodowith!"

exclaimedCavalier.

"SaintBartholomewwouldsuitbetter,"continuedFendant.

"Catherinede"Medici,orFranceunderCharlesIX.,wouldsoundmorelikeoneofScott"snovels,"addedCavalier.

"Wewillsettleitwhentheworkisprinted,"saidFendant.

"Doasyouplease,solongasIapproveyourtitle,"saidLucien.

Theagreementwasreadover,signedinduplicate,andeachofthecontractingpartiestooktheircopy.Lucienputthebillsinhispocketwithunequaledsatisfaction,andthefourrepairedtoFendant"sabode,wheretheybreakfastedonbeefsteaksandoysters,kidneysinchampagne,andBriecheese;butifthefarewassomethingofthehomeliest,thewineswereexquisite;Cavalierhadanacquaintanceatravelerinthewinetrade.Justastheysatdowntotabletheprinterappeared,toLucien"ssurprise,withthefirsttwoproof-sheets.

"Wewanttogetonwithit,"Fendantsaid;"wearecountingonyourbook;wewantasuccessconfoundedlybadly."

Thebreakfast,begunatnoon,lastedtillfiveo"clock.

"Whereshallwegetcashforthesethings?"askedLucienastheycameaway,somewhatheatedandflushedwiththewine.

"WemighttryBarbet,"suggestedEtienne,andtheyturneddowntotheQuaidesAugustins.

"CoralieisastonishedtothehighestdegreeoverFlorine"sloss.

Florineonlytoldheraboutityesterday;sheseemedtolaytheblameofitonyou,andwassovexed,thatshewasreadytothrowyouover."

"That"strue,"saidLousteau.Winehadgotthebetterofprudence,andheunbosomedhimselftoLucien,endingupwith:"Myfriend——foryouaremyfriend,Lucien;youlentmeathousandfrancs,andyouhaveonlyonceaskedmeforthemoney——shunplay!IfIhadnevertouchedacard,Ishouldbeahappyman.Iowemoneyallround.AtthismomentI

havethebailiffsatmyheels;indeed,whenIgotothePalaisRoyal,Ihavedangerouscapestodouble."

Inthelanguageofthefastset,doublingacapemeantdodgingacreditor,orkeepingoutofhisway.Lucienhadnotheardtheexpressionbefore,buthewasfamiliarwiththepracticebythistime.

"Areyourdebtssoheavy?"

"Ameretrifle,"saidLousteau."Athousandcrownswouldpullmethrough.Ihaveresolvedtoturnsteadyandgiveupplay,andIhavedonealittle"chantage"topaymydebts."

"Whatis"chantage"?"askedLucien.

"ItisanEnglishinventionrecentlyimported.A"chanteur"isamanwhocanmanagetoputaparagraphinthepapers——neveraneditornoraresponsibleman,fortheyarenotsupposedtoknowanythingaboutit,andthereisalwaysaGiroudeauoraPhilippeBridautobefound.A

bravoofthisstampfindsupsomebodywhohashisownreasonsfornotwantingtobetalkedabout.Plentyofpeoplehaveafewpeccadilloes,orsomemoreorlessoriginalsin,upontheirconsciences;thereareplentyoffortunesmadeinwaysthatwouldnotbearlookinginto;

sometimesamanhaskepttheletterofthelaw,andsometimeshehasnot;andineithercase,thereisatidbitoftattlefortheinquirer,as,forinstance,thattaleofFouche"spolicesurroundingthespiesofthePrefectofPolice,who,notbeinginthesecretofthefabricationofforgedEnglishbanknotes,werejustabouttopounceontheclandestineprintersemployedbytheMinister,orthereisthestoryofPrinceGalathionne"sdiamonds,theMaubreuileaffair,orthePombretonwillcase.The"chanteur"getspossessionofsomecompromisingletter,asksforaninterview;andifthemanthatmadethemoneydoesnotbuysilence,the"chanteur"drawsapictureofthepressreadytotakethematterupandunravelhisprivateaffairs.Therichmanisfrightened,hecomesdownwiththemoney,andthetricksucceeds.

"Youarecommittedtosomeriskyventure,whichmighteasilybewrittendowninaseriesofarticles;a"chanteur"waitsuponyou,andofferstowithdrawthearticles——foraconsideration."Chanteurs"aresenttomeninoffice,whowillbargainthattheiractsandnottheirprivatecharactersaretobeattacked,ortheyareheedlessoftheircharacters,andanxiousonlytoshieldthewomantheylove.Oneofyouracquaintance,thatcharmingMasterofRequestsdesLupeaulx,isakindofagentforaffairsofthissort.Therascalhasmadeapositionforhimselfinthemostmarvelouswayintheverycentreofpower;heisthemiddle-manofthepressandtheambassadoroftheMinisters;heworksuponaman"sself-love;hebribesnewspaperstopassoveraloaninsilence,ortomakenocommentonacontractwhichwasneverputupforpublictender,andthejackalsofLiberalbankersgetashareoutofit.Thatwasabitof"chantage"thatyoudidwithDauriat;hegaveyouathousandcrownstoletNathanalone.Intheeighteenthcentury,whenjournalismwasstillinitsinfancy,thiskindofblackmailwasleviedbypamphleteersinthepayoffavoritesandgreatlords.TheoriginalinventorwasPietroAretino,agreatItalian.Kingswentinfearofhim,asstage-playersgoinfearofanewspaperto-day."

"WhatdidyoudototheMatifattomakethethousandcrowns?"

"IattackedFlorineinhalfadozenpapers.FlorinecomplainedtoMatifat.MatifatwenttoBraulardtofindoutwhattheattacksmeant.

Ididmy"chantage"forFinot"sbenefit,andFinotputBraulardonthewrongscent;BraulardtoldthemanofdrugsthatYOUweredemolishingFlorineinCoralie"sinterest.ThenGiroudeauwentroundtoMatifatandtoldhim(inconfidence)thatthewholebusinesscouldbeaccommodatedifhe(Matifat)wouldconsenttosellhissixthshareinFinot"sreviewfortenthousandfrancs.Finotwastogivemeathousandcrownsifthedodgesucceeded.Well,Matifatwasonlytoogladtogetbacktenthousandfrancsoutofthethirtythousandinvestedinariskyspeculation,ashethought,forFlorinehadbeentellinghimforseveraldayspastthatFinot"sreviewwasdoingbadly;

and,insteadofpayingadividend,somethingwassaidofcallingupmorecapital.SoMatifatwasjustabouttoclosewiththeoffer,whenthemanagerofthePanorama-Dramatiquecomestohimwithsomeaccommodationbillsthathewantedtonegotiatebeforefilinghisschedule.ToinduceMatifattotakethemofhim,heletoutawordofFinot"strick.Matifat,beingashrewdmanofbusiness,tookthehint,heldtighttohissixth,andislaughinginhissleeveatus.FinotandIarehowlingwithdespair.Wehavebeensomisguidedastoattackamanwhohasnoaffectionforhismistress,aheartless,soullesswretch.Unluckily,too,forus,Matifat"sbusinessisnotamenabletothejurisdictionofthepress,andhecannotbemadetosmartforitthroughhisinterests.Adruggistisnotlikeahatteroramilliner,oratheatreoraworkofart;heisabovecriticism;youcan"trundownhisopiumanddyewoods,norcocoabeans,paint,andpepper.

Florineisatherwits"end;thePanoramaclosesto-morrow,andwhatwillbecomeofhershedoesnotknow."

"Coralie"sengagementattheGymnasebeginsinafewdays,"saidLucien;"shemightdosomethingforFlorine."

"Notshe!"saidLousteau."Coralieisnotclever,butsheisnotquitesimpleenoughtohelpherselftoarival.Weareinamesswithavengeance.AndFinotisinsuchahurrytobuybackhissixth——"

"Why?"

"Itisacapitalbitofbusiness,mydearfellow.Thereisachanceofsellingthepaperforthreehundredthousandfrancs;Finotwouldhaveone-third,andhispartnersbesidesaregoingtopayhimacommission,whichhewillsharewithdesLupeaulx.SoIproposetodoanotherturnof"chantage.""

""Chantage"seemstomeanyourmoneyoryourlife?"

"Itisbetterthanthat,"saidLousteau;"itisyourmoneyoryourcharacter.Ashorttimeagotheproprietorofaminornewspaperwasrefusedcredit.ThedaybeforeyesterdayitwasannouncedinhiscolumnsthatagoldrepeatersetwithdiamondsbelongingtoacertainnotabilityhadfounditswayinacuriousfashionintothehandsofaprivatesoldierintheGuards;thestorypromisedtothereadersmighthavecomefromtheArabianNights.Thenotabilitylostnotimeinaskingthateditortodinewithhim;theeditorwasdistinctlyagainerbythetransaction,andcontemporaryhistoryhaslostananecdote.Wheneverthepressmakesvehementonslaughtsuponsomeoneinpower,youmaybesurethatthereissomerefusaltodoaservicebehindit.BlackmailingwithregardtoprivatelifeistheterroroftherichestEnglishman,andagreatsourceofwealthtothepressinEngland,whichisinfinitelymorecorruptthanours.Wearechildrenincomparison!InEnglandtheywillpayfiveorsixthousandfrancsforacompromisinglettertosellagain."

"ThenhowcanyoulayholdofMatifat?"askedLucien.

"Mydearboy,thatlowtradesmanwrotethequeerestletterstoFlorine;thespelling,style,andmatterofthemisludicroustothelastdegree.WecanstrikehimintheverymidstofhisLaresandPenates,wherehefeelshimselfsafest,withoutsomuchasmentioninghisname;andhecannotcomplain,forhelivesinfearandterrorofhiswife.ImaginehiswrathwhenheseesthefirstnumberofalittleserialentitledtheAmoursofaDruggist,andisgivenfairwarningthathislove-lettershavefallenintothehandsofcertainjournalists.Hetalksaboutthe"littlegodCupid,"hetellsFlorinethatsheenableshimtocrossthedesertoflife(whichlooksasifhetookherforacamel),andspells"never"withtwov"s.Thereisenoughinthatimmenselyfunnycorrespondencetobringaninfluxofsubscribersforafortnight.Hewillshakeinhisshoeslestananonymouslettershouldsupplyhiswifewiththekeytotheriddle.

ThequestioniswhetherFlorinewillconsenttoappeartopersecuteMatifat.Shehassomeprinciples,whichistosay,somehopes,stillleft.Perhapsshemeanstokeepthelettersandmakesomethingforherselfoutofthem.Sheiscunning,asbefitsmypupil.Butassoonasshefindsoutthatabailiffisnolaughingmatter,orFinotgivesherasuitablepresentorhopesofanengagement,shewillgivemetheletters,andIwillsellthemtoFinot.Finotwillputthecorrespondenceinhisuncle"shands,andGiroudeauwillbringMatifattoterms."

TheseconfidencessoberedLucien.Hisfirstthoughtwasthathehadsomeextremelydangerousfriends;hissecond,thatitwouldbeimpolitictobreakwiththem;forifMme.d"Espard,Mme.deBargeton,andChateletshouldfailtokeeptheirwordwithhim,hemightneedtheirterriblepoweryet.BythistimeEtienneandLucienhadreachedBarbet"smiserablebookshopontheQuai.EtienneaddressedBarbet:

"Wehavefivethousandfrancs"worthofbillsatsix,nine,andtwelvemonths,givenbyFendantandCavalier.Areyouwillingtodiscountthemforus?"

"Iwillgiveyouthreethousandfrancsforthem,"saidBarbetwithimperturbablecoolness.

"Threethousandfrancs!"echoedLucien.

"Nobodyelsewillgiveyouasmuch,"rejoinedthebookseller."Thefirmwillgobankruptbeforethreemonthsareout;butIhappentoknowthattheyhavesomegoodbooksthatarehangingonhand;theycannotaffordtowait,soIshallbuytheirstockforcashandpaythemwiththeirownbills,andgetthebooksatareductionoftwothousandfrancs.That"showitis."

"Doyoumindlosingacoupleofthousandfrancs,Lucien?"askedLousteau.

"Yes!"Lucienansweredvehemently.Hewasdismayedbythisfirstrebuff.

"Youaremakingamistake,"saidEtienne.

"Youwon"tfindanyonethatwilltaketheirpaper,"saidBarbet.

"Yourbookistheirlaststake,sir.Theprinterwillnottrustthem;

theyareobligedtoleavethecopiesinpawnwithhim.Iftheymakeahitnow,itwillonlystaveoffbankruptcyforanother

discounter"sbusinesstoknowwhetherthethreenamesonabillareeachgoodforthirtypercentincaseofbankruptcy.Andhereattheoutsetyouonlyoffertwosignatures,andneitherofthemworthtenpercent."

Thetwojournalistsexchangedglancesinsurprise.Herewasalittlescrubofabooksellerputtingtheessenceoftheartandmysteryofbill-discountinginthesefewwords.

"Thatwilldo,Barbet,"saidLousteau."Canyoutellusofabill-

brokerthatwilllookatus?"

"ThereisDaddyChaboisseau,ontheQuaiSaint-Michel,youknow.HetidedFendantoverhislastmonthlysettlement.Ifyouwon"tlistentomyoffer,youmightgoandseewhathesaystoyou;butyouwouldonlycomebacktome,andthenIshallofferyoutwothousandfrancsinsteadofthree."

EtienneandLucienbetookthemselvestotheQuaiSaint-Michel,andfoundChaboisseauinalittlehousewithapassageentry.Chaboisseau,abill-discounter,whosedealingswereprincipallywiththebooktrade,livedinasecond-floorlodgingfurnishedinthemosteccentricmanner.Abrevet-rankbankerandmillionairetoboot,hehadatastefortheclassicalstyle.Thecornicewasintheclassicalstyle;thebedstead,inthepurestclassicaltaste,datedfromthetimeoftheEmpire,whensuchthingswereinfashion;thepurplehangingsfelloverthewallliketheclassicdraperiesinthebackgroundofoneofDavid"spictures.Chairsandtables,lampsandsconces,andeveryleastdetailhadevidentlybeensoughtwithpatientcareinfurniturewarehouses.Therewastheeleganceofantiquityabouttheclassicrevivalaswellasitsfragileandsomewhataridgrace.Themanhimself,likehismanneroflife,wasingrotesquecontrastwiththeairymythologicallookofhisrooms;anditmayberemarkedthatthemosteccentriccharactersarefoundamongmenwhogivetheirwholeenergiestomoney-making.

Menofthisstampare,inacertainsense,intellectuallibertines.

Everythingiswithintheirreach,consequentlytheirfancyisjaded,andtheywillmakeimmenseeffortstoshakeofftheirindifference.

Thestudentofhumannaturecanalwaysdiscoversomehobby,someaccessibleweaknessandsensitivespotintheirheart.Chaboisseaumighthaveentrenchedhimselfinantiquityasinanimpregnablecamp.

"Themanwillbeanantiquetomatch,nodoubt,"saidEtienne,smiling.

Chaboisseau,alittleoldpersonwithpowderedhair,woreagreenishcoatandsnuff-brownwaistcoat;hewastrickedoutbesidesinblacksmall-clothes,ribbedstockings,andshoesthatcreakedashecameforwardtotakethebills.Afterashortscrutiny,hereturnedthemtoLucienwithaseriouscountenance.

"MMFendantandCavalieraredelightfulyoungfellows;theyhaveplentyofintelligence;but,Ihavenomoney,"hesaidblandly.

"Myfriendherewouldbewillingtomeetyouinthematterofdiscount——"Etiennebegan.

"Iwouldnottakethebillsonanyconsideration,"returnedthelittlebroker.ThewordssliddownuponLousteau"ssuggestionlikethebladeoftheguillotineonaman"sneck.

Thetwofriendswithdrew;butasChaboisseauwentprudentlyoutwiththemacrosstheante-chamber,Luciennoticedapileofsecond-handbooks.Chaboisseauhadbeeninthetrade,andthiswasarecentpurchase.Shiningconspicuousamongthem,henoticedacopyofaworkbythearchitectDucereau,whichgivesexceedinglyaccurateplansofvariousroyalpalacesandchateauxinFrance.

"Couldyouletmehavethatbook?"heasked.

"Yes,"saidChaboisseau,transformedintoabookseller.

"Howmuch?"

"Fiftyfrancs."

"Itisdear,butIwantit.AndIcanonlypayyouwithoneofthebillswhichyourefusetotake."

"Youhaveabillthereforfivehundredfrancsatsixmonths;Iwilltakethatoneofyou,"saidChaboisseau.

Apparentlyatthelaststatementofaccounts,therehadbeenabalanceoffivehundredfrancsinfavorofFendantandCavalier.

Theywentbacktotheclassicaldepartment.Chaboisseaumadeoutalittlememorandum,interestsomuchandcommissionsomuch,totaldeductionthirtyfrancs,thenhesubtractedfiftyfrancsforDucerceau"sbook;finally,fromacash-boxfullofcoin,hetookfourhundredandtwentyfrancs.

"Lookhere,though,M.Chaboisseau,thebillsareeitherallofthemgood,orallbadalike;whydon"tyoutaketherest?"

"Thisisnotdiscounting;Iampayingmyselfforasale,"saidtheoldman.

EtienneandLucienwerestilllaughingatChaboisseau,withoutunderstandinghim,whentheyreachedDauriat"sshop,andEtienneaskedGabussontogivethemthenameofabill-broker.GabussonthusappealedtogavethemaletterofintroductiontoabrokerintheBoulevardPoissonniere,tellingthematthesametimethatthiswasthe"oddestandqueerestparty"(tousehisownexpression)thathe,Gabusson,hadcomeacross.Thefriendstookacabbythehour,andwenttotheaddress.

"IfSamanonwon"ttakeyourbills,"Gabussonhadsaid,"nobodyelsewilllookatthem."

Asecond-handbookselleronthegroundfloor,asecond-handclothes-

dealeronthefirststory,andasellerofindecentprintsonthesecond,Samanoncarriedonafourthbusiness——hewasamoney-lenderintothebargain.NocharacterinHoffmann"sromances,nosinister-

broodingmiserofScott"s,cancomparewiththisfreakofhumanandParisiannature(alwaysadmittingthatSamanonwashuman).Inspiteofhimself,Lucienshudderedatthesightofthedried-uplittleoldcreature,whosebonesseemedtobecuttingaleatherskin,spottedwithallsortsoflittlegreenandyellowpatches,likeaportraitbyTitianorVeronesewhenyoulookatitclosely.OneofSamanon"seyeswasfixedandglassy,theotherlivelyandbright;heseemedtokeepthatdeadeyeforthebill-discountingpartofhisprofession,andtheotherforthetradeinthepornographiccuriositiesupstairs.Afewstraywhitehairsescapingfromunderasmall,sleek,rustyblackwig,stooderectaboveasallowforeheadwithasuggestionofmenaceaboutit;ahollowtrenchineithercheekdefinedtheoutlineofthejaws;

whileasetofprojectingteeth,stillwhite,seemedtostretchtheskinofthelipswiththeeffectofanequineyawn.Thecontrastbetweentheill-assortedeyesandgrinningmouthgaveSamanonapassablyferociousair;andtheverybristlesontheman"schinlookedstiffandsharpaspins.

Norwastheretheslightestsignabouthimofanydesiretoredeemasinisterappearancebyattentiontothetoilet;histhreadbarejacketwasallbutdroppingtopieces;acravat,whichhadoncebeenblack,wasfrayedbycontactwithastubblechin,andleftonexhibitionathroataswrinkledasaturkey-gobbler"s.

ThiswastheindividualwhomEtienneandLuciendiscoveredinhisfilthycounting-house,busilyaffixingticketstothebacksofaparcelofbooksfromarecentsale.Inaglance,thefriendsexchangedtheinnumerablequestionsraisedbytheexistenceofsuchacreature;

thentheypresentedGabusson"sintroductionandFendantandCavalier"sbills.Samanonwasstillreadingthenotewhenathirdcomerentered,thewearerofashortjacket,whichseemedinthedimly-lightedshoptobecutoutofapieceofzincroofing,sosolidwasitbyreasonofalloywithallkindsofforeignmatter.Oddlyattiredashewas,themanwasanartistofnosmallintellectualpower,andtenyearslaterhewasdestinedtoassistintheinaugurationofthegreatbutill-

foundedSaint-Simoniansystem.

"Iwantmycoat,myblacktrousers,andsatinwaistcoat,"saidthisperson,pressinganumberedticketonSamanon"sattention.Samanontouchedthebrassbuttonofabell-pull,andawomancamedownfromsomeupperregion,aNormandeapparently,tojudgebyherrich,freshcomplexion.

"Letthegentlemanhavehisclothes,"saidSamanon,holdingoutahandtothenewcomer."It"sapleasuretodobusinesswithyou,sir;butthatyoungsterwhomoneofyourfriendsintroducedtometookmeinmostabominably."

"TookHIMin!"chuckledthenewcomer,pointingoutSamanontothetwojournalistswithanextremelycomicalgesture.Thegreatmandroppedthirtysousintothemoney-lender"syellow,wrinkledhand;liketheNeapolitanlazzaroni,hewastakinghisbestclothesoutofpawnforastateoccasion.Thecoinsdroppedjinglingintothetill.

"Whatqueerbusinessareyouupto?"askedLousteauoftheartist,anopium-eaterwhodweltamongvisionsofenchantedpalacestillheeithercouldnotorwouldnotcreate.

"HElendsyouagooddealmorethananordinarypawnbrokeronanythingyoupledge;and,besides,heissoawfullycharitable,heallowsyoutotakeyourclothesoutwhenyoumusthavesomethingtowear.IamgoingtodinewiththeKellersandmymistressto-night,"hecontinued;"andtomeitiseasiertofindthirtysousthantwohundredfrancs,soIkeepmywardrobehere.Ithasbroughtthecharitableusurerahundredfrancsinthelastsixmonths.Samanonhasdevouredmylibraryalready,volumebyvolume"(livrealivre).

"Andsoubysou,"Lousteausaidwithalaugh.

"Iwillletyouhavefifteenhundredfrancs,"saidSamanon,lookingup.

Lucienstarted,asifthebill-brokerhadthrustared-hotskewerthroughhisheart.Samanonwassubjectingthebillsandtheirdatestoaclosescrutiny.

"Andeventhen,"headded,"ImustseeFendantfirst.Heoughttodepositsomebookswithme.Youaren"tworthmuch"(turningtoLucien);"youarelivingwithCoralie,andyourfurniturehasbeenattached."

Lousteau,watchingLucien,sawhimtakeuphisbills,anddashoutintothestreet."Heisthedevilhimself!"exclaimedthepoet.Forseveralsecondshestoodoutsidegazingattheshopfront.Thewholeplacewassopitiful,thatapasser-bycouldnotseeitwithoutsmilingatthesight,andwonderingwhatkindofbusinessamancoulddoamongthosemean,dirtyshelvesofticketedbooks.

Averyfewmomentslater,thegreatman,inincognito,cameout,verywelldressed,smiledathisfriends,andturnedtogowiththeminthedirectionofthePassagedesPanoramas,wherehemeanttocompletehistoiletbythepolishingofhisboots.

"IfyouseeSamanoninabookseller"sshop,orcallingonapaper-

merchantoraprinter,youmayknowthatitisalloverwiththatman,"saidtheartist."Samanonistheundertakercometotakethemeasurementsforacoffin."

"Youwon"tdiscountyourbillsnow,Lucien,"saidEtienne.

"IfSamanonwillnottakethem,nobodyelsewill;heistheultimaratio,"saidthestranger."HeisoneofGigonnet"slambs,aspyforPalma,Werbrust,Gobseck,andtherestofthosecrocodileswhoswimintheParismoney-market.Everymanwithafortunetomake,orunmake,issuretocomeacrossoneofthemsoonerorlater."

"Ifyoucannotdiscountyourbillsatfiftypercent,"remarkedLousteau,"youmustexchangethemforhardcash."

"How?"

"GivethemtoCoralie;Camusotwillcashthemforher——Youaredisgusted,"addedLousteau,asLuciencuthimshortwithastart.

"Whatnonsense!Howcanyouallowsuchasillyscrupletoturnthescale,whenyourfutureisinthebalance?"

"IshalltakethismoneytoCoralieinanycase,"beganLucien.

"Hereismorefolly!"criedLousteau."Youwillnotkeepyourcreditorsquietwithfourhundredfrancswhenyoumusthavefourthousand.Letuskeepalittleandgetdrunkonit,ifwelosetherestatrougeetnoir."

"Thatissoundadvice,"saidthegreatman.

Thosewords,spokennotfourpacesfromFrascati"s,weremagneticintheireffect.Thefriendsdismissedtheircabandwentuptothegaming-table.

Attheoutsettheywonthreethousandfrancs,thentheylostandfelltofivehundred;againtheywonthreethousandsevenhundredfrancs,andagaintheylostallbutafive-francpiece.Afteranotherturnoflucktheystakedtwothousandfrancsonanevennumbertodoublethestakeatastroke;anevennumberhadnotturnedupforfivetimesinsuccession,andthiswasthesixthtime.Theypuntedthewholesum,andanoddnumberturneduponcemore.

Aftertwohoursofall-absorbing,frenziedexcitement,thetwodasheddownthestaircasewiththehundredfrancskeptbackforthedinner.

Uponthesteps,betweentwopillarswhichsupportthelittlesheet-

ironverandatowhichsomanyeyeshavebeenupturnedinlongingordespair,LousteaustoppedandlookedintoLucien"sflushed,excitedface.

"Letusjusttryfiftyfrancs,"hesaid.

Andupthestairsagaintheywent.Anhourlatertheyownedathousandcrowns.Blackhadturnedupforthefifthconsecutivetime;theytrustedthattheirpreviousluckwouldnotrepeatitself,andputthewholesumonthered——blackturnedupforthesixthtime.Theyhadlost.Itwasnowsixo"clock.

"Letusjusttrytwenty-fivefrancs,"saidLucien.

Thenewventurewassoonmade——andlost.Thetwenty-fivefrancswentinfivestakes.ThenLucien,inafrenzy,flungdownhislasttwenty-

fivefrancsonthenumberofhisage,andwon.Nowordscandescribehowhishandstrembledasherakedinthecoinswhichthebankpaidhimonebyone.HehandedtenlouistoLousteau.

"Fly!"hecried;"takeittoVery"s."

Lousteautookthehintandwenttoorderdinner.Lucien,leftalone,laidhisthirtylouisontheredandwon.Emboldenedbytheinnervoicewhichagambleralwayshears,hestakedthewholeagainonthered,andagainhewon.Hefeltasiftherewereafurnacewithinhim.

Withoutheedingthevoice,helaidahundredandtwentylouisontheblackandlost.Thentothetorturingexcitementofsuspensesucceededthedeliciousfeelingofreliefknowntothegamblerwhohasnothinglefttolose,andmustperforceleavethepalaceoffireinwhichhisdreamsmeltandvanish.

HefoundLousteauatVery"s,andflunghimselfuponthecookery(tomakeuseofLafontaine"sexpression),anddrownedhiscaresinwine.

Bynineo"clockhisideasweresoconfusedthathecouldnotimaginewhytheportressintheRuedeVendomepersistedinsendinghimtotheRuedelaLune.

"Mlle.Coraliehasgone,"saidthewoman."Shehastakenlodgingselsewhere.Sheleftheraddresswithmeonthisscrapofpaper."

Lucienwastoofargonetobesurprisedatanything.Hewentbacktothecabwhichhadbroughthim,andwasdriventotheRuedelaLune,makingpunstohimselfonthenameofthestreetashewent.

ThenewsofthefailureofthePanorama-Dramatiquehadcomelikeathunder-clap.Coralie,takingalarm,madehastetosellherfurniture(withtheconsentofhercreditors)tolittleoldCardot,whoinstalledFlorentineintheroomsatonce.Thetraditionofthehouseremainedunbroken.Coraliepaidhercreditorsandsatisfiedthelandlord,proceedingwithher"washing-day,"asshecalledit,whileBereniceboughttheabsolutelyindispensablenecessariestofurnishafourth-floorlodgingintheRuedelaLune,afewdoorsfromtheGymnase.HereCoraliewaswaitingforLucien"sreturn.Shehadbroughtherloveunsulliedoutoftheshipwreckandtwelvehundredfrancs.

Lucien,morethanhalfintoxicated,pouredouthiswoestoCoralieandBerenice.

"Youdidquiteright,myangel,"saidCoralie,withherarmsabouthisneck."BerenicecaneasilynegotiateyourbillswithBraulard."

ThenextmorningLucienawoketoanenchantedworldofhappinessmadeabouthimbyCoralie.Shewasmorelovingandtenderinthosedaysthanshehadeverbeen;perhapsshethoughtthatthewealthofloveinherheartshouldmakehimamendsforthepovertyoftheirlodging.Shelookedbewitchinglycharming,withtheloosehairstrayingfromunderthecrushedwhitesilkhandkerchiefaboutherhead;therewassoftlaughterinhereyes;herwordswereasbrightasthefirstraysofsunrisethatshoneinthroughthewindows,pouringafloodofgolduponsuchcharmingpoverty.

Notthattheroomwassqualid.Thewallswerecoveredwithasea-greenpaper,borderedwithred;therewasonemirroroverthechimney-piece,andasecondabovethechestofdrawers.Thebareboardswerecoveredwithacheapcarpet,whichBerenicehadboughtinspiteofCoralie"sorders,andpaidforoutofherownlittlestore.Awardrobe,withaglassdoorandachest,heldthelovers"clothing,themahoganychairswerecoveredwithbluecottonstuff,andBerenicehadmanagedtosaveaclockandacoupleofchinavasesfromthecatastrophe,aswellasfourspoonsandforksandhalf-a-dozenlittlespoons.Thebedroomwasenteredfromthedining-room,whichmighthavebelongedtoaclerkwithanincomeoftwelvehundredfrancs.Thekitchenwasnextthelanding,andBerenicesleptaboveinanattic.Therentwasnotmorethanahundredcrowns.

Thedismalhouseboastedashamcarriageentrance,theporter"sboxbeingcontrivedbehindoneoftheuselessleavesofthegate,andlightedbyapeepholethroughwhichthatpersonagewatchedthecomingsandgoingsofseventeenfamilies,forthishivewasa"good-payingproperty,"inauctioneer"sphrase.

Lucien,lookingroundtheroom,discoveredadesk,aneasy-chair,paper,pens,andink.ThesightofBereniceinhighspirits(shewasbuildinghopesonCoralie"sdebutattheGymnase),andofCoralieherselfconningherpartwithaknotofblueribbontiedaboutit,droveallcaresandanxietiesfromthesoberedpoet"smind.

"Solongasnobodyinsocietyhearsofthissuddencomedown,weshallpullthrough,"hesaid."Afterall,wehavefourthousandfivehundredfrancsbeforeus.IwillturnmynewpositioninRoyalistjournalismtoaccount.To-morrowweshallstarttheReveil;Iamanoldhandnow,andIwillmakesomethingout."

AndCoralie,seeingnothingbutloveinthewords,kissedthelipsthatutteredthem.BythistimeBerenicehadsetthetablenearthefireandservedamodestbreakfastofscrambledeggs,acoupleofcutlets,coffee,andcream.Justthentherecameaknockatthedoor,andLucien,tohisastonishment,beheldthreeofhisloyalfriendsofolddays——d"Arthez,LeonGiraud,andMichelChrestien.Hewasdeeplytouched,andaskedthemtosharethebreakfast.

"No;wehavecomeonmoreseriousbusinessthancondolence,"saidd"Arthez;"weknowthewholestory,wehavejustcomefromtheRuedeVendome.Youknowmyopinions,Lucien.UnderanyothercircumstancesI

shouldbegladtohearthatyouhadadoptedmypoliticalconvictions;

butsituatedasyouarewithregardtotheLiberalPress,itisimpossibleforyoutogoovertotheUltras.Yourlifewillbesullied,yourcharacterblightedforever.Wehavecometoentreatyouinthenameofourfriendship,weakenedthoughitmaybe,nottosoilyourselfinthisway.YouhavebeenprominentinattackingtheRomantics,theRight,andtheGovernment;youcannotnowdeclarefortheGovernment;theRight,andtheRomantics."

"Myreasonsforthechangearebasedonloftygrounds;theendwilljustifythemeans,"saidLucien.

"PerhapsyoudonotfullycomprehendourpositiononthesideoftheGovernment,"saidLeonGiraud."TheGovernment,theCourt,theBourbons,theAbsolutistParty,ortosumupinthegeneralexpression,thewholesystemopposedtotheconstitutionalsystem,maybedivideduponthequestionofthebestmeansofextinguishingtheRevolution,butisunanimousastotheadvisabilityofextinguishingthenewspapers.TheReveil,theFoudre,andtheDrapeauBlanchaveallbeenfoundedfortheexpresspurposeofreplyingtotheslander,gibes,andrailingoftheLiberalpress.Icannotapprovethem,foritispreciselythisfailuretorecognizethegrandeurofourpriesthoodthathasledustobringoutaseriousandself-respectingpaper;

whichperhaps,"headdedparenthetically,"mayexerciseaworthyinfluencebeforeverylong,andwinrespect,andcarryweight;butthisRoyalistartilleryisdestinedforafirstattemptatreprisals,theLiberalsaretobepaidbackintheirowncoin——shaftforshaft,woundforwound.

"WhatcancomeofitLucien?ThemajorityofnewspaperreadersinclinefortheLeft;andinthepress,asinwarfare,thevictoryiswiththebigbattalions.Youwillbeblackguards,liars,enemiesofthepeople;

theothersidewillbedefendersoftheircountry,martyrs,mentobeheldinhonor,thoughtheymaybeevenmorehypocriticalandslipperythantheiropponents.Inthesewaystheperniciousinfluenceofthepresswillbeincreased,whilethemostodiousformofjournalismwillreceivesanction.Insultandpersonalitieswillbecomearecognizedprivilegeofthepress;newspapershavetakenthistoneinthesubscribers"interests;andwhenbothsideshaverecoursetothesameweapons,thestandardissetandthegeneraltoneofjournalismtakenforgranted.Whentheevilisdevelopedtoitsfullestextent,restrictivelawswillbefollowedbyprohibitions;therewillbeareturnofthecensorshipofthepressimposedaftertheassassinationoftheDucdeBerri,andrepealedsincetheopeningoftheChambers.