第2章

Marcashadlearnedeverythingthatarealstatesmanshouldknow；

indeed，hisamazementwasconsiderablewhenhehadoccasiontodiscerntheutterignoranceofmenwhohaverisentotheadministrationofpublicaffairsinFrance。Thoughinhimitwasvocationthathadledtostudy，naturehadbeengenerousandbestowedallthatcannotbeacquired——keenperceptions，self—command，animblewit，rapidjudgment，decisiveness，and，whatisthegeniusofthesemen，fertilityinresource。

BythetimewhenMarcasthoughthimselfdulyequipped，FrancewastornbyintestinedivisionsarisingfromthetriumphoftheHouseofOrleansovertheelderbranchoftheBourbons。

Thefieldofpoliticalwarfareisevidentlychanged。Civilwarhenceforthcannotlastforlong，andwillnotbefoughtoutintheprovinces。InFrancesuchstruggleswillbeofbriefdurationandattheseatofgovernment；andthebattlewillbethecloseofthemoralcontestwhichwillhavebeenbroughttoanissuebysuperiorminds。

ThisstateofthingswillcontinuesolongasFrancehasherpresentsingularformofgovernment，whichhasnoanalogywiththatofanyothercountry；forthereisnomoreresemblancebetweentheEnglishandtheFrenchconstitutionsthanbetweenthetwolands。

ThusMarcas’placewasinthepoliticalpress。Beingpoorandunabletosecurehiselection，hehopedtomakeasuddenappearance。Heresolvedonmakingthegreatestpossiblesacrificeforamanofsuperiorintellect，toworkasasubordinatetosomerichandambitiousdeputy。LikeasecondBonaparte，hesoughthisBarras；thenewColberthopedtofindaMazarin。Hedidimmenseservices，andhedidthemthenandthere；heassumednoimportance，hemadenoboast，hedidnotcomplainofingratitude。Hedidtheminthehopethathispatronwouldputhiminapositiontobeelecteddeputy；MarcaswishedfornothingbutaloanthatmightenablehimtopurchaseahouseinParis，thequalificationrequiredbylaw。RichardIII。askedfornothingbuthishorse。

InthreeyearsMarcashadmadehisman——oneofthefiftysupposedgreatstatesmenwhoarethebattledoreswithwhichtwocunningplayerstosstheministerialportfoliosexactlyasthemanbehindthepuppet—

showhitsPunchagainsttheconstableinhisstreettheatre，andcountsonalwaysgettingpaid。ThismanexistedonlybyMarcas，buthehadjustbrainsenoughtoappreciatethevalueofhis"ghost"andtoknowthatMarcas，ifheevercametothefront，wouldremainthere，wouldbeindispensable，whilehehimselfwouldbetranslatedtothepolarzoneofLuxembourg。SohedeterminedtoputinsurmountableobstaclesinthewayofhisMentor’sadvancement，andhidhispurposeunderthesemblanceoftheutmostsincerity。Likeallmeanmen，hecoulddissimulatetoperfection，andhesoonmadeprogressinthewaysofingratitude，forhefeltthathemustkillMarcas，nottobekilledbyhim。Thesetwomen，apparentlysounited，hatedeachotherassoonasonehaddeceivedtheother。

Thepoliticianwasmadeoneofaministry；Marcasremainedintheoppositiontohinderhismanfrombeingattacked；nay，byskilfultacticshewonhimtheapplauseoftheopposition。Toexcusehimselffornotrewardinghissubaltern，thechiefpointedouttheimpossibilityoffindingaplacesuddenlyforamanontheotherside，withoutagreatdealofmanoeuvring。Marcashadhopedconfidentlyforaplacetoenablehimtomarry，andthusacquirethequalificationhesoardentlydesired。Hewastwo—and—thirty，andtheChambererelongmustbedissolved。Havingdetectedhismaninthisflagrantactofbadfaith，heoverthrewhim，oratanyratecontributedlargelytohisoverthrow，andcoveredhimwithmud。

Afallenminister，ifheistoriseagaintopower，mustshowthatheistobefeared；thisman，intoxicatedbyRoyalglibness，hadfanciedthathispositionwouldbepermanent；heacknowledgedhisdelinquencies；besidesconfessingthem，hedidMarcasasmallmoneyservice，forMarcashadgotintodebt。HesubsidizedthenewspaperonwhichMarcasworked，andmadehimthemanagerofit。

Thoughhedespisedtheman，Marcas，who，practically，wasbeingsubsidizedtoo，consentedtotakethepartofthefallenminister。

Withoutunmaskingatonceallthebatteriesofhissuperiorintellect，Marcascamealittlefurtherthanbefore；heshowedhalfhisshrewdness。TheMinistrylastedonlyahundredandeightydays；itwasswallowedup。Marcashadputhimselfintocommunicationwithcertaindeputies，hadmouldedthemlikedough，leavingeachimpressedwithahighopinionofhistalent；hispuppetagainbecameamemberoftheMinistry，andthenthepaperwasministerial。TheMinistryunitedthepaperwithanother，solelytosqueezeoutMarcas，whointhisfusionhadtomakewayforarichandinsolentrival，whosenamewaswellknown，andwhoalreadyhadhisfootinthestirrup。

Marcasrelapsedintoutterdestitution；hishaughtypatronwellknewthedepthsintowhichhehadcasthim。

Wherewashetogo？Theministerialpapers，privilywarned，wouldhavenothingtosaytohim。Theoppositionpapersdidnotcaretoadmithimtotheiroffices。MarcascouldsideneitherwiththeRepublicansnorwiththeLegitimists，twopartieswhosetriumphwouldmeantheoverthrowofeverythingthatnowis。

"Ambitiousmenlikeafastholdonthings，"saidhewithasmile。

Helivedbywritingafewarticlesoncommercialaffairs，andcontributedtooneofthoseencyclopediasbroughtoutbyspeculationandnotbylearning。Finallyapaperwasfounded，whichwasdestinedtolivebuttwoyears，butwhichsecuredhisservices。Fromthatmomentherenewedhisconnectionwiththeminister’senemies；hejoinedthepartywhowereworkingforthefalloftheGovernment；andassoonashispickaxehadfreeplay，itfell。

Thispaperhadnowforsixmonthsceasedtoexist；hehadfailedtofindemploymentofanykind；hewasspokenofasadangerousman，calumnyattackedhim；hehadunmaskedahugefinancialandmercantilejobbyafewarticlesandapamphlet。Hewasknowntobeamouthpieceofabankerwhowassaidtohavepaidhimlargely，andfromwhomhewassupposedtoexpectsomepatronageinreturnforhischampionship。

Marcas，disgustedbymenandthings，wornoutbyfiveyearsoffighting，regardedasafreelanceratherthanasagreatleader，crushedbythenecessityofearninghisdailybread，whichhinderedhimfromgainingground，indespairattheinfluenceexertedbymoneyovermind，andgivenovertodirepoverty，buriedhimselfinagarret，tomakethirtysousaday，thesumstrictlyansweringtohisneeds。

Meditationhadleveledadesertallroundhim。Hereadthepaperstobeinformedofwhatwasgoingon。PozzodiBorgohadoncelivedlikethisforsometime。

Marcas，nodoubt，wasplanningaseriousattack，accustominghimselftodissimulation，andpunishinghimselfforhisblundersbyPythagoreanmuteness。Buthedidnottellusthereasonsforhisconduct。

Itisimpossibletogiveyouanideaofthescenesofthehighestcomedythatlaybehindthisalgebraicstatementofhiscareer；hisuselesspatiencedoggingthefootstepsoffortune，whichpresentlytookwings，hislongtrampsoverthethornybrakesofParis，hisbreathlesschasesasapetitioner，hisattemptstowinoverfools；theschemeslaidonlytofailthroughtheinfluenceofsomefrivolouswoman；themeetingswithmenofbusinesswhoexpectedtheircapitaltobringthemplacesandapeerage，aswellaslargeinterest。Thenthehopesrisinginatoweringwaveonlytobreakinfoamontheshoal；

thewonderswroughtinreconcilingadverseinterestswhich，afterworkingtogetherforaweek，fellasunder；theannoyance，athousandtimesrepeated，ofseeingaduncedecoratedwiththeLegionofHonor，andpreferred，thoughasignorantasashop—boy，toamanoftalent。

Then，whatMarcascalledthestratagemsofstupidity——youstrikeaman，andheseemsconvinced，henodshishead——everythingissettled；

nextday，thisindia—rubberball，flattenedforamoment，hasrecovereditselfinthecourseofthenight；itisasfullofwindasever；youmustbeginalloveragain；andyougoontillyouunderstandthatyouarenotdealingwithaman，butwithalumpofgumthatlosesshapeinthesunshine。

Thesethousandannoyances，thisvastwasteofhumanenergyonbarrenspots，thedifficultyofachievinganygood，theincrediblefacilityofdoingmischief；twostronggamesplayedout，twicewon，andthentwicelost；thehatredofastatesman——ablockheadwithapaintedfaceandawig，butinwhomtheworldbelieved——allthesethings，greatandsmall，hadnotcrushed，butforthemomenthaddashedMarcas。Inthedayswhenmoneyhadcomeintohishands，hisfingershadnotclutchedit；hehadallowedhimselftheexquisitepleasureofsendingitalltohisfamily——tohissisters，hisbrothers，hisoldfather。LikeNapoleoninhisfall，heaskedfornomorethanthirtysousaday，andanymanofenergycanearnthirtysousforaday’sworkinParis。

WhenMarcashadfinishedthestoryofhislife，intermingledwithreflections，maxims，andobservations，revealinghimasagreatpolitician，afewquestionsandanswersonbothsidesastotheprogressofaffairsinFranceandinEuropewereenoughtoprovetousthathewasarealstatesman；foramanmaybequicklyandeasilyjudgedwhenhecanbebroughtontothegroundofimmediatedifficulties:thereisacertainShibbolethformenofsuperiortalents，andwewereofthetribeofmodernLeviteswithoutbelongingasyettotheTemple。AsIhavesaid，ourfrivolitycoveredcertainpurposeswhichJustehascarriedout，andwhichIamabouttoexecute。

Whenwehaddonetalking，weallthreewentout，coldasitwas，towalkintheLuxembourggardenstillthedinnerhour。Inthecourseofthatwalkourconversation，gravethroughout，turnedonthepainfulaspectsofthepoliticalsituation。Eachofuscontributedhisremarks，hiscomment，orhisjest，apleasantryoraproverb。ThiswasnolongerexclusivelyadiscussionoflifeonthecolossalscalejustdescribedbyMarcas，thesoldierofpoliticalwarfare。Norwasitthedistressfulmonologueofthewreckednavigator，strandedinagarretintheHotelCorneille；itwasadialogueinwhichtwowell—informedyoungmen，havinggaugedthetimestheylivedin，wereendeavoring，undertheguidanceofamanoftalent，togainsomelightontheirownfutureprospects。

"Why，"askedJuste，"didyounotwaitpatientlyforanopportunity，andimitatetheonlymanwhohasbeenabletokeeptheleadsincetheRevolutionofJulybyholdinghisheadabovewater？"

"HaveInotsaidthatweneverknowwheretherootsofchancelie？

Carrellwasinidenticallythesamepositionastheoratoryouspeakof。Thatgloomyyoungman，ofabitterspirit，hadawholegovernmentinhishead；themanofwhomyouspeakhadnoideabeyondmountingonthecrupperofeveryevent。Ofthetwo，Carrelwasthebetterman。

Well，onebecomesaminister，Carrelremainedajournalist；theincompletebutcraftiermanisliving；Carrelisdead。

"Imaypointoutthatyourmanhasforfifteenyearsbeenmakinghisway，andisbutmakingitstill。Hemayyetbecaughtandcrushedbetweentwocarsfullofintriguesonthehighroadtopower。Hehasnohouse；hehasnotthefavorofthepalacelikeMetternich；nor，likeVillele，theprotectionofacompactmajority。

"Idonotbelievethatthepresentstateofthingswilllasttenyearslonger。Hence，supposingIshouldhavesuchpoorgoodluck，IamalreadytoolatetoavoidbeingsweptawaybythecommotionIforesee。Ishouldneedtobeestablishedinasuperiorposition。"

"Whatcommotion？"askedJuste。

"AUGUST，1830，"saidMarcasinsolemntones，holdingouthishandtowardsParis；"AUGUST，theoffspringofYouthwhichboundthesheaves，andofIntellectwhichhadripenedtheharvest，forgottoprovideforYouthandIntellect。

"Youthwillexplodeliketheboilerofasteam—engine。YouthhasnooutletinFrance；itisgatheringanavalancheofunderratedcapabilities，oflegitimateandrestlessambitions；youngmenarenotmarryingnow；familiescannottellwhattodowiththeirchildren。

Whatwillthethunderclapbethatwillshakedownthesemasses？Iknownot，buttheywillcrashdownintothemidstofthings，andoverthroweverything。Thesearelawsofhydrostaticswhichactonthehumanrace；theRomanEmpirehadfailedtounderstandthem，andtheBarbarichordescamedown。

"TheBarbarichordesnowaretheintelligentclass。Thelawsofoverpressureareatthismomentactingslowlyandsilentlyinourmidst。TheGovernmentisthegreatcriminal；itdoesnotappreciatethetwopowerstowhichitoweseverything；ithasalloweditshandstobetiedbytheabsurditiesoftheContract；itisbound，readytobethevictim。

"LouisXIV。，Napoleon，England，allwereorareeagerforintelligentyouth。InFrancetheyoungarecondemnedbythenewlegislation，bytheblunderingprinciplesofelectiverights，bytheunsoundnessoftheministerialconstitution。

"LookattheelectiveChamber；youwillfindnodeputiesofthirty；

theyouthofRichelieuandofMazarin，ofTurenneandofColbert，ofPittandofSaint—Just，ofNapoleonandofPrinceMetternich，wouldfindnoadmissionthere；Burke，Sheridan，orFoxcouldnotwinseats。

Evenifpoliticalmajorityhadbeenfixedatone—and—twenty，andeligibilityhadbeenrelievedofeverydisablingqualification，theDepartmentswouldhavereturnedtheverysamemembers，mendevoidofpoliticaltalent，unabletospeakwithoutmurderingFrenchgrammar，andamongwhom，intenyears，scarcelyonestatesmanhasbeenfound。

"Thecausesofanimpendingeventmaybeseen，buttheeventitselfcannotbeforetold。AtthismomenttheyouthofFranceisbeingdrivenintoRepublicanism，becauseitbelievesthattheRepublicwouldbringitemancipation。Itwillalwaysremembertheyoungrepresentativesofthepeopleandtheyoungarmyleaders！TheimprudenceoftheGovernmentisonlycomparabletoitsavarice。"

Thatdayleftitsechoesinourlives。MarcasconfirmedusinourresolutiontoleaveFrance，whereyoungmenoftalentandenergyarecrushedundertheweightofsuccessfulcommonplace，envious，andinsatiablemiddleage。

WedinedtogetherintheRuedelaHarpe。WethenceforthfeltforMarcasthemostrespectfulaffection；hegaveusthemostpracticalaidinthesphereofthemind。Thatmankneweverything；hehadstudiedeverything。Forushecasthiseyeoverthewholecivilizedworld，seekingthecountrywhereopeningswouldbeatoncethemostabundantandthemostfavorabletothesuccessofourplans。Heindicatedwhatshouldbethegoalofourstudies；hebidusmakehaste，explainingtousthattimewasprecious，thatemigrationwouldpresentlybegin，andthatitseffectwouldbetodepriveFranceofthecreamofitspowersandofitsyouthfultalent；thattheirintelligence，necessarilysharpened，wouldselectthebestplaces，andthatthegreatthingwastobefirstinthefield。

Thenceforward，weoftensatlateatworkunderthelamp。Ourgenerousinstructorwrotesomenotesforourguidance——twopagesforJusteandthreeforme——fullofinvaluableadvice——thesortofinformationwhichexperiencealonecansupply，suchlandmarksasonlygeniuscanplace。

Inthosepapers，smellingoftobacco，andcoveredwithwritingsovileastobealmosthieroglyphic，therearesuggestionsforafortune，andforecastsofunerringacumen。TherearehintsastocertainpartsofAmericaandAsiawhichhavebeenfullyjustified，bothbeforeandsinceJusteandIcouldsetout。

Marcas，likeus，wasinthemostabjectpoverty。Heearned，indeed，hisdailybread，buthehadneitherlinen，clothes，norshoes。Hedidnotmakehimselfoutanybetterthanhewas；hisdreamshadbeenofluxuryaswellasofpower。HedidnotadmitthatthiswastherealMarcas；heabandonedthisperson，indeed，tothecapricesoflife。

Whathelivedbywasthebreathofambition；hedreamedofrevengewhileblaminghimselfforyieldingtososhallowafeeling。Thetruestatesmanought，aboveallthings，tobesuperiortovulgarpassions；

likethemanofscience。ItwasinthesedaysofdirenecessitythatMarcasseemedtoussogreat——nay，soterrible；therewassomethingawfulinthegazewhichsawanotherworldthanthatwhichstrikestheeyeofordinarymen。Toushewasasubjectofcontemplationandastonishment；fortheyoung——whichofushasnotknownit？——theyounghaveakeencravingtoadmire；theylovetoattachthemselves，andarenaturallyinclinedtosubmittothementheyfeeltobesuperior，astheyaretodevotethemselvestoagreatcause。

Oursurprisewaschieflyrousedbyhisindifferenceinmattersofsentiment；womenhadnoplaceinhislife。Whenwespokeofthismatter，aperennialthemeofconversationamongFrenchmen，hesimplyremarked:

"Gownscosttoomuch。"

HesawthelookthatpassedbetweenJusteandme，andwenton:

"Yes，fartoomuch。Thewomanyoubuy——andsheistheleastexpensive——takesagreatdealofmoney。Thewomanwhogivesherselftakesallyourtime！Womanextinguisheseveryenergy，everyambition。Napoleonreducedhertowhatsheshouldbe。Fromthatpointofview，hereallywasgreat。HedidnotindulgesuchruinousfanciesofLouisXIV。andLouisXV。；atthesametimehecouldloveinsecret。"

Wediscoveredthat，likePitt，whomadeEnglandiswife，MarcasboreFranceinhisheart；heidolizedhiscountry；hehadnotathoughtthatwasnotforhisnativeland。Hisfuryatfeelingthathehadinhishandstheremedyfortheevilswhichsodeeplysaddenedhim，andcouldnotapplyit，ateintohissoul，andthisragewasincreasedbytheinferiorityofFranceatthattime，ascomparedwithRussiaandEngland。Franceathird—ratepower！Thiscrycameupagainandagaininhisconversation。Theintestinaldisordersofhiscountryhadenteredintohissoul。AllthecontestsbetweentheCourtandtheChamber，showing，astheydid，incessantchangeandconstantvacillation，whichmustinjuretheprosperityofthecountry，hescoffedatasbackstairssquabbles。

"Thisispeaceatthecostofthefuture，"saidhe。

OneeveningJusteandIwereatwork，sittinginperfectsilence。

Marcashadjustrisentotoilathiscopying，forhehadrefusedourassistanceinspiteofourmostearnestentreaties。Wehadofferedtotakeitinturnstocopyabatchofmanuscript，sothatheshoulddobutathirdofhisdistastefultask；hehadbeenquiteangry，andwehadceasedtoinsist。

Weheardthesoundofgentlemanlybootsinthepassage，andraisedourheads，lookingateachother。TherewasatapatMarcas’door——henevertookthekeyoutofthelock——andweheardtheheroanswer:

"Comein。"Then——"What，youhere，monsieur？"

"I，myself，"repliedtheretiredminister。

ItwastheDiocletianofthisunknownmartyr。

Forsometimeheandourneighborconversedinanundertone。SuddenlyMarcas，whosevoicehadbeenheardbutrarely，asisnaturalinadialogueinwhichtheapplicantbeginsbysettingforththesituation，brokeoutloudlyinreplytosomeofferwehadnotoverheard。

"Youwouldlaughatmeforafool，"criedhe，"ifItookyouatyourword。Jesuitsareathingofthepast，butJesuitismiseternal。YourMachiavelismandyourgenerosityareequallyhollowanduntrustworthy。

Youcanmakeyourowncalculations，butwhocancalculateonyou？YourCourtismadeupofowlswhofearthelight，ofoldmenwhoquakeinthepresenceoftheyoung，orwhosimplydisregardthem。TheGovernmentisformedonthesamepatternastheCourt。YouhavehunteduptheremainsoftheEmpire，astheRestorationenlistedtheVoltigeursofLouisXIV。

"Hithertotheevasionsofcowardicehavebeentakenforthemanoeuvringofability；butdangerswillcome，andtheyoungergenerationwillriseastheydidin1790。Theydidgrandthingsthen。

——Justnowyouchangeministriesasasickmanturnsinhisbed；theseoscillationsbetraytheweaknessoftheGovernment。Youworkonanunderhandsystemofpolicywhichwillbeturnedagainstyou，forFrancewillbetiredofyourshuffling。Francewillnottellyouthatsheistiredofyou；amanneverknowswhencehisruincomes；itisthehistorian’stasktofindout；butyouwillundoubtedlyperishastherewardofnothavingtheyouthofFrancetolendyouitsstrengthandenergy；forhavinghatedreallycapablemen；fornothavinglovinglychosenthemfromthisnoblegeneration；forhavinginallcasespreferredmediocrity。

"Youhavecometoaskmysupport，butyouareanatominthatdecrepitheapwhichismadehideousbyself—interest，whichtremblesandsquirms，and，becauseitissomean，triestomakeFrancemeantoo。Mystrongnature，myideas，wouldworklikepoisoninyou；twiceyouhavetrickedme，twicehaveIoverthrownyou。Ifweuniteathirdtime，itmustbeaveryseriousmatter。IshouldkillmyselfifIallowedmyselftobeduped；forIshouldbetoblame，notyou。"

Thenweheardthehumblestentreaties，themostferventadjuration，nottodeprivethecountryofsuchsuperiortalents。Themanspokeofpatriotism，andMarcasutteredasignificant"/Ouh！ouh！/"Helaughedathiswould—bepatron。Thenthestatesmanwasmoreexplicit；hebowedtothesuperiorityofhiserewhilecounselor；hepledgedhimselftoenableMarcastoremaininoffice，tobeelecteddeputy；thenheofferedhimahighappointment，promisinghimthathe，thespeaker，wouldthenceforthbethesubordinateofamanwhosesubalternhewasonlyworthytobe。Hewasinthenewly—formedministry，andhewouldnotreturntopowerunlessMarcashadapostinproportiontohismerit；hehadalreadymadeitacondition，Marcashadbeenregardedasindispensable。

Marcasrefused。

"Ihaveneverbeforebeeninapositiontokeepmypromises；hereisanopportunityofprovingmyselffaithfultomyword，andyoufailme。"

TothisMarcasmadenoreply。Thebootswereagainaudibleinthepassageonthewaytothestairs。

"Marcas！Marcas！"webothcried，rushingintohisroom。"Whyrefuse？

Hereallymeantit。Hisoffersareveryhandsome；atanyrate，gotoseetheministers。"

Inatwinkling，wehadgivenMarcasahundredreasons。Theminister’svoicewassincere；withoutseeinghim，wehadfeltsurethathewashonest。

"Ihavenoclothes，"repliedMarcas。

"Relyonus，"saidJuste，withaglanceatme。

Marcashadthecouragetotrustus；alightflashedinhiseye，hepushedhisfingersthroughhishair，liftingitfromhisforeheadwithagesturethatshowedsomeconfidenceinhisluckandwhenhehadthusunveiledhisface，sotospeak，wesawinhimamanabsolutelyunknowntous——Marcassublime，Marcasinhispower！Hismindwasinitselement——thebirdrestoredtothefreeair，thefishtothewater，thehorsegallopingacrosstheplain。

Itwastransient。Hisbrowcloudedagain，hehad，itwouldseem，avisionofhisfate。Haltingdoubthadfollowedcloseontheheelsofwhite—wingedhope。

Welefthimtohimself。

"Now，then，"saidItotheDoctor，"wehavegivenourword；howarewetokeepit？"

"Wewillsleepuponit，"saidJuste，"andto—morrowmorningwewilltalkitover。"

NextmorningwewentforawalkintheLuxembourg。

Wehadhadtimetothinkovertheincidentofthepastnight，andwerebothequallysurprisedatthelackofaddressshownbyMarcasintheminordifficultiesoflife——he，amanwhoneversawanydifficultiesinthesolutionofthehardestproblemsofabstractorpracticalpolitics。Buttheseelevatedcharacterscanallbetrippeduponagrainofsand，andwill，likethegrandestenterprise，missfireforwantofathousandfrancs。ItistheoldstoryofNapoleon，who，forlackofapairofboots，didnotsetoutforIndia。

"Well，whathaveyouhitupon？"askedJuste。

"Ihavethoughtofawaytogethimacompleteoutfit。"

"Where？"

"FromHumann。"

"How？"

"Humann，myboy，nevergoestohiscustomers——hiscustomersgotohim；

sothathedoesnotknowwhetherIamrichorpoor。HeonlyknowsthatIdresswellandlookdecentintheclotheshemakesforme。Ishalltellhimthatanuncleofminehasdroppedinfromthecountry，andthathisindifferenceinmattersofdressisquiteadiscredittomeintheuppercircleswhereIamtryingtofindawife。——ItwillnotbeHumannifhesendsinhisbillbeforethreemonths。"

TheDoctorthoughtthisacapitalideaforavaudeville，butpoorenoughinreallife，anddoubtedmysuccess。ButIgiveyoumywordofhonor，HumanndressedMarcas，and，beinganartist，turnedhimoutasapoliticalpersonageoughttobedressed。

JustelentMarcastwohundredfrancsingold，theproductoftwowatchesboughtoncredit，andpawnedattheMont—de—Piete。Formypart，Ihadsaidnothingofthesixshirtsandallnecessarylinen，whichcostmenomorethanthepleasureofaskingforthemfromaforewomaninashopwhomIhadtreatedtoMusard’sduringthecarnival。

Marcasacceptedeverything，thankingusnomorethanheought。Heonlyinquiredastothemeansbywhichwehadgotpossessionofsuchriches，andwemadehimlaughforthelasttime。WelookedonourMarcasasshipowners，whentheyhaveexhaustedtheircreditandeveryresourceattheircommanditfitoutavessel，mustlookonitasitputsouttosea。

HereCharleswassilent；heseemedcrushedbyhismemories。

"Well，"criedtheaudience，"andwhathappened？"

"Iwilltellyouinafewwords——forthisisnotromance——itishistory。"

WesawnomoreofMarcas。Theadministrationlastedforthreemonths；

itfellattheendofthesession。ThenMarcascamebacktous，workedtodeath。Hehadsoundedthecraterofpower；hecameawayfromitwiththebeginningsofbrainfever。Thediseasemaderapidprogress；

wenursedhim。Justeatoncecalledinthechiefphysicianofthehospitalwherehewasworkingashouse—surgeon。Iwasthenlivingaloneinourroom，andIwasthemostattentiveattendant；butcareandsciencealikewereinvain。BythemonthofJanuary，1838，Marcashimselffeltthathehadbutafewdaystolive。

Themanwhosesoulandbrainhehadbeenforsixmonthsneverevensenttoinquireafterhim。MarcasexpressedthegreatestcontemptfortheGovernment；heseemedtodoubtwhatthefateofFrancemightbe，anditwasthisdoubtthathadmadehimill。Hehad，hethought，detectedtreasonintheheartofpower，nottangible，seizabletreason，theresultoffacts，butthetreasonofasystem，thesubordinationofnationalintereststoselfishends。Hisbeliefinthedegradationofthecountrywasenoughtoaggravatehiscomplaint。

Imyselfwaswitnesstotheproposalsmadetohimbyoneoftheleadersoftheantagonisticpartywhichhehadfoughtagainst。Hishatredofthemenhehadtriedtoservewassovirulent，thathewouldgladlyhavejoinedthecoalitionthatwasabouttobeformedamongcertainambitiousspiritswho，atleast，hadoneideaincommon——thatofshakingofftheyokeoftheCourt。ButMarcascouldonlyreplytotheenvoyinthewordsoftheHoteldeVille:

"Itistoolate！"

Marcasdidnotleavemoneyenoughtopayforhisfuneral。JusteandI

hadgreatdifficultyinsavinghimfromtheignominyofapauper’sbier，andwealonefollowedthecoffinofZ。Marcas，whichwasdroppedintothecommongraveofthecemeteryofMont—Parnasse。

Welookedsadlyateachotheraswelistenedtothistale，thelastweheardfromthelipsofCharlesRabourdinthedaybeforeheembarkedatleHavreonabrigthatwastoconveyhimtotheislandsofMalay。WeallknewmorethanoneMarcas，morethanonevictimofhisdevotiontoaparty，repaidbybetrayalorneglect。

LESJARDIES，May1840。