\"Wehavejustheardnewsofadreadfulcatastrophe;thegreatestthinkeroftheage,ourmostlovedfriend,whowaslikealightamongusfortwoyears——\"
\"LouisLambert!\"
\"Hasfallenavictimtocatalepsy.Thereisnohopeforhim,\"saidBianchon.
\"Hewilldie,hissoulwanderingintheskies,hisbodyunconsciousonearth,\"saidMichelChrestiensolemnly.
\"Hewilldieashelived,\"saidd\'Arthez.
\"Lovefelllikeafirebrandinthevastempireofhisbrainandburnedhimaway,\"saidLeonGiraud.
\"Yes,\"saidJosephBridau,\"hehasreachedaheightthatwecannotsomuchassee.\"
\"WEaretobepitied,notLouis,\"saidFulgenceRidal.
\"Perhapshewillrecover,\"exclaimedLucien.
\"FromwhatMeyrauxhasbeentellingus,recoveryseemsimpossible,\"
answeredBianchon.\"Medicinehasnopoweroverthechangethatisworkinginhisbrain.\"
\"Yettherearephysicalmeans,\"saidd\'Arthez.
\"Yes,\"saidBianchon;\"wemightproduceimbecilityinsteadofcatalepsy.\"
\"Istherenowayofofferinganotherheadtothespiritofevil?I
wouldgiveminetosavehim!\"criedMichelChrestien.
\"AndwhatwouldbecomeofEuropeanfederation?\"askedd\'Arthez.
\"Ah!true,\"repliedMichelChrestien.\"OurdutytoHumanitycomesfirst;toonemanafterwards.\"
\"Icameherewithaheartfullofgratitudetoyouall,\"saidLucien.
\"Youhavechangedmyalloyintogoldencoin.\"
\"Gratitude!Forwhatdoyoutakeus?\"askedBianchon.
\"Wehadthepleasure,\"addedFulgence.
\"Well,soyouareajournalist,areyou?\"askedLeonGiraud.\"ThefameofyourfirstappearancehasreachedeventheLatinQuarter.\"
\"Iamnotajournalistyet,\"returnedLucien.
\"Aha!Somuchthebetter,\"saidMichelChrestien.
\"Itoldyouso!\"saidd\'Arthez.\"Lucienknowsthevalueofacleanconscience.Whenyoucansaytoyourselfasyoulayyourheadonthepillowatnight,\'Ihavenotsatinjudgmentonanotherman\'swork;I
havegivenpaintonoone;Ihavenotusedtheedgeofmywittodealastabtosomeharmlesssoul;Ihavesacrificednoone\'ssuccesstoajest;Ihavenoteventroubledthehappinessofimbecility;Ihavenotaddedtotheburdensofgenius;Ihavescornedtheeasytriumphsofepigram;inshort,Ihavenotactedagainstmyconvictions,\'isnotthisaviaticumthatgivesonedailystrength?\"
\"Butonecansayallthis,surely,andyetworkonanewspaper,\"saidLucien.\"IfIhadabsolutelynootherwayofearningaliving,I
shouldcertainlycometothis.\"
\"Oh!oh!oh!\"criedFulgence,hisvoicerisinganoteeachtime;\"wearecapitulating,arewe?\"
\"Hewillturnjournalist,\"LeonGiraudsaidgravely.\"Oh,Lucien,ifyouwouldonlystayandworkwithus!Weareabouttobringoutaperiodicalinwhichjusticeandtruthshallneverbeviolated;wewillspreaddoctrinesthat,perhaps,willbeofrealservicetomankind——\"
\"Youwillnothaveasinglesubscriber,\"LucienbrokeinwithMachiavellianwisdom.
\"Therewillbefivehundredofthem,\"assertedMichelChrestien,\"buttheywillbeworthfivehundredthousand.\"
\"Youwillneedalotofcapital,\"continuedLucien.
\"No,onlydevotion,\"saidd\'Arthez.
\"Anybodymighttakehimforaperfumer\'sassistant,\"burstoutMichelChrestien,lookingatLucien\'shead,andsniffingcomically.\"Youwereseendrivingaboutinaverysmartturnoutwithapairofthoroughbreds,andamistressforaprince,Coralieherself.\"
\"Well,andisthereanyharminit?\"
\"Youwouldnotsaythatifyouthoughtthattherewasnoharminit,\"
saidBianchon.
\"IcouldhavewishedLucienaBeatrice,\"saidd\'Arthez,\"anoblewoman,whowouldhavebeenahelptohiminlife——\"
\"But,Daniel,\"askedLucien,\"loveislovewhereveryoufindit,isitnot?\"
\"Ah!\"saidtherepublicanmember,\"onthatonepointIamanaristocrat.Icouldnotbringmyselftoloveawomanwhomustrubshoulderswithallsortsofpeopleinthegreen-room;whomanactorkissesonstage;shemustlowerherselfbeforethepublic,smileoneveryone,liftherskirtsasshedances,anddresslikeaman,thatalltheworldmayseewhatnoneshouldseesaveIalone.OrifIlovedsuchawoman,sheshouldleavethestage,andmyloveshouldcleanseherfromthestainofit.\"
\"Andifshewouldnotleavethestage?\"
\"Ishoulddieofmortification,jealousy,andallsortsofpain.Youcannotpluckloveoutofyourheartasyoudrawatooth.\"
Lucien\'sfacegrewdarkandthoughtful.
\"WhentheyfindoutthatIamtoleratingCamusot,howtheywilldespiseme,\"hethought.
\"Lookhere,\"saidthefiercerepublican,withhumorousfierceness,\"youcanbeagreatwriter,butalittleplay-actoryoushallneverbe,\"andhetookuphishatandwentout.
\"Heishard,isMichelChrestien,\"commentedLucien.
\"Hardandsalutary,likethedentist\'spincers,\"saidBianchon.
\"Michelforeseesyourfuture;perhapsinthestreet,atthismoment,heisthinkingofyouwithtearsinhiseyes.\"
D\'Arthezwaskind,andtalkedcomfortingly,andtriedtocheerLucien.
Thepoetspentanhourwithhisfriends,thenhewent,buthisconsciencetreatedhimhardly,cryingtohim,\"Youwillbeajournalist——ajournalist!\"asthewitchcriedtoMacbeththatheshouldbekinghereafter!
Outinthestreet,helookedupatd\'Arthez\'swindows,andsawafaintlightshininginthem,andhisheartsank.Adimforebodingtoldhimthathehadbiddenhisfriendsgood-byeforthelasttime.
AsheturnedoutofthePlacedelaSorbonneintotheRuedeCluny,hesawacarriageatthedoorofhislodging.CoraliehaddrivenallthewayfromtheBoulevardduTempleforthesakeofamomentwithherloveranda\"good-night.\"Lucienfoundhersobbinginhisgarret.Shewouldbeaswretchedlypoorasherpoet,shewept,asshearrangedhisshirtsandglovesandhandkerchiefsinthecrazychestofdrawers.Herdistresswassorealandsogreat,thatLucien,butevennowchiddenforhisconnectionwithanactress,sawCoralieasasaintreadytoassumethehair-shirtofpoverty.Theadorablegirl\'sexcuseforhervisitwasanannouncementthatthefirmofCamusot,Coralie,andLucienmeanttoinviteMatifat,Florine,andLousteauthesecondtriotosupper;hadLucienanyinvitationstoissuetopeoplewhomightbeusefultohim?LuciensaidthathewouldtakecounselofLousteau.
Afewmomentswerespenttogether,andCoraliehurriedaway.ShesparedLucientheknowledgethatCamusotwaswaitingforherbelow.
Nextmorning,ateighto\'clock,LucienwenttoEtienneLousteau\'sroom,founditempty,andhurriedawaytoFlorine.LousteauandFlorine,settledintopossessionoftheirnewquarterslikeamarriedcouple,receivedtheirfriendintheprettybedroom,andallthreebreakfastedsumptuouslytogether.
\"Why,Ishouldadviseyou,myboy,tocomewithmetoseeFelicienVernou,\"saidLousteau,whentheysatattable,andLucienhadmentionedCoralie\'sprojectedsupper;\"askhimtobeoftheparty,andkeepwellwithhim,ifyoucankeepwellwithsucharascal.FelicienVernoudoesafeuilletonforapoliticalpaper;hemightperhapsintroduceyou,andyoucouldblossomoutintoleadersinitatyourease.ItisaLiberalpaper,likeours;youwillbeaLiberal,thatisthepopularparty;andbesides,ifyoumeantogoovertotheMinisterialists,youwoulddobetterforyourselfiftheyhadreasontobeafraidofyou.ThenthereisHectorMerlinandhisMme.duVal-
Noble;youmeetgreatpeopleattheirhouse——dukesanddandiesandmillionaires;didn\'ttheyaskyouandCoralietodinewiththem?\"
\"Yes,\"repliedLucien;\"youaregoingtoo,andsoisFlorine.\"LucienandEtiennewerenowonfamiliartermsafterFriday\'sdebauchandthedinnerattheRocherdeCancale.
\"Verywell,Merlinisonthepaper;weshallcomeacrosshimprettyoften;heisthechaptofollowcloseonFinot\'sheels.Youwoulddowelltopayhimattention;askhimandMme.duVal-Nobletosupper.Hemaybeusefultoyoubeforelong;forrancorouspeoplearealwaysinneedofothers,andhemaydoyouagoodturnifhecanreckononyourpen.\"
\"Yourbeginninghasmadeenoughsensationtosmoothyourway,\"saidFlorine;\"takeadvantageofitatonce,oryouwillsoonbeforgotten.\"
\"Thebargain,thegreatbusiness,isconcluded,\"Lousteaucontinued.
\"ThatFinot,withoutasparkoftalentinhim,istobeeditorofDauriat\'sweeklypaper,withasalaryofsixhundredfrancspermonth,andownerofasixthshare,forwhichhehasnotpaidonepenny.AndI,mydearfellow,amnoweditorofourlittlepaper.EverythingwentoffasIexpected;Florinemanagedsuperbly,shecouldgivepointstoTallyrandhimself.\"
\"Wehaveaholdonmenthroughtheirpleasures,\"saidFlorine,\"whileadiplomatistonlyworksontheirself-love.Adiplomatistseesamanmadeupfortheoccasion;weknowhiminhismomentsoffolly,soourpowerisgreater.\"
\"Andwhenthethingwassettled,Matifatmadethefirstandlastjokeofhiswholedruggist\'scareer,\"putinLousteau.\"Hesaid,\'Thisaffairisquiteinmyline;Iamsupplyingdrugstothepublic.\'\"
\"IsuspectthatFlorineputhimuptoit,\"criedLucien.
\"Andbythesemeans,mylittledear,yourfootisinthestirrup,\"
continuedLousteau.
\"Youwerebornwithasilverspooninyourmouth,\"remarkedFlorine.
\"Whatlotsofyoungfellowswaitforyears,waittilltheyaresickofwaiting,forachancetogetanarticleintoapaper!YouwilldolikeEmileBlondet.Insixmonths\'timeyouwillbegivingyourselfhighandmightyairs,\"sheadded,withamockingsmile,inthelanguageofherclass.
\"Haven\'tIbeeninParisforthreeyears?\"saidLousteau,\"andonlyyesterdayFinotbegantopaymeafixedmonthlysalaryofthreehundredfrancs,andahundredfrancspersheetforhispaper.\"
\"Well;youaresayingnothing!\"exclaimedFlorine,withhereyesturnedonLucien.
\"Weshallsee,saidLucien.
\"Mydearboy,ifyouhadbeenmybrother,Icouldnothavedonemoreforyou,\"retortedLousteau,somewhatnettled,\"butIwon\'tanswerforFinot.ScoresofsharpfellowswillbesiegeFinotforthenexttwodayswithofferstoworkforlowpay.Ihavepromisedforyou,butyoucandrawbackifyoulike——Youlittleknowhowluckyyouare,\"headdedafterapause.\"Allthoseinoursetcombinetoattackanenemyinvariouspapers,andlendeachotherahelpinghandallround.\"
\"LetusgointhefirstplacetoFelicienVernou,\"saidLucien.Hewaseagertoconcludeanalliancewithsuchformidablebirdsofprey.
Lousteausentforacab,andthepairoffriendsdrovetoVernou\'shouseonthesecondfloorupanalleyintheRueMandar.ToLucien\'sgreatastonishment,theharsh,fastidious,andseverecritic\'ssurroundingswerevulgartothelastdegree.Amarbledpaper,cheapandshabby,withameaninglesspatternrepeatedatregularintervals,coveredthewalls,andaseriesofaquatintsingiltframesdecoratedtheapartment,whereVernousatattablewithawomansoplainthatshecouldonlybethelegitimatemistressofthehouse,andtwoverysmallchildrenperchedonhighchairswithabarinfronttopreventtheinfantsfromtumblingout.FelicienVernou,inacottondressing-
gowncontrivedoutoftheremainsofoneofhiswife\'sdresses,wasnotoverwellpleasedbythisinvasion.
\"Haveyoubreakfasted,Lousteau?\"heasked,placingachairforLucien.
\"WehavejustleftFlorine;wehavebeenbreakfastingwithher.\"
LuciencouldnottakehiseyesoffMme.Vernou.Shelookedlikeastout,homelycook,withatolerablyfaircomplexion,butcommonplacetothelastdegree.Theladyworeabandanatiedoverhernight-cap,thestringsofthelatterarticleofdressbeingtiedsotightlyunderthechinthatherpuffycheeksstoodoutoneitherside.Ashapeless,beltlessgarment,fastenedbyasinglebuttonatthethroat,envelopedherfromheadtofootinsuchafashionthatacomparisontoamilestoneatoncesuggesteditself.Herhealthleftnoroomforhope;
hercheekswerealmostpurple;herfingerslookedlikesausages.InamomentitdawneduponLucienhowitwasthatVernouwasalwayssoillateaseinsociety;herewasthelivingexplanationofhismisanthropy.Sickofhismarriage,unabletobringhimselftoabandonhiswifeandfamily,hehadyetsufficientoftheartistictempertosuffercontinuallyfromtheirpresence;Vernouwasanactorbynatureboundnevertopardonthesuccessofanother,condemnedtochronicdiscontentbecausehewasnevercontentwithhimself.LucienbegantounderstandthesourlookwhichseemedtoaddtothebleakexpressionofenvyonVernou\'sface;theacerbityoftheepigramswithwhichhisconversationwassown,thejournalist\'spungentphrases,keenandelaboratelywroughtasastiletto,wereatonceexplained.
\"Letusgointomystudy,\"Vernousaid,risingfromthetable;\"youhavecomeonbusiness,nodoubt.\"
\"Yesandno,\"repliedEtienneLousteau.\"Itisasupper,oldchap.\"
\"IhavebroughtamessagefromCoralie,\"saidLucienMme.Vernoulookedupatonceatthename,\"toaskyoutosupper
\"Shewilltakeoffenceifwedon\'tgo;andyouareverygladofherwhenyouhaveabilltodiscount.\"
\"Thiswifeofmine,mydearboy,canneverbemadetounderstandthatasupperengagementfortwelveo\'clockdoesnotpreventyoufromgoingtoaneveningpartythatcomestoanendateleven.SheisalwayswithmewhileIwork,\"headded.
\"Youhavesomuchimagination!\"saidLucien,andtherebymadeamortalenemyofVernou.
\"Well,\"continuedLousteau,\"youarecoming;butthatisnotall.M.
deRubempreisabouttobeoneofus,soyoumustpushhiminyourpaper.Givehimoutforachapthatwillmakeanameforhimselfinliterature,sothathecanputinatleastacoupleofarticleseverymonth.\"
\"Yes,ifhemeanstobeoneofus,andwillattackourenemies,aswewillattackhis,IwillsayawordforhimattheOperato-night,\"
repliedVernou.
\"Verywell——good-byetillto-morrow,myboy,\"saidLousteau,shakinghandswitheverysignofcordiality.\"Whenisyourbookcomingout?\"
\"ThatdependsonDauriat;itisready,\"saidVernoupater-familias.
\"Areyousatisfied?\"
\"Yesandno——\"
\"Wewillgetupasuccess,\"saidLousteau,andherosewithabowtohiscolleague\'swife.
Theabruptdeparturewasnecessaryindeed;forthetwoinfants,engagedinanoisyquarrel,werefightingwiththeirspoons,andflingingthepapineachother\'sfaces.
\"That,myboy,isawomanwhoallunconsciouslywillworkgreathavocincontemporaryliterature,\"saidEtienne,whentheycameaway.\"PoorVernoucannotforgiveusforhiswife.Heoughttoberelievedofherintheinterestsofthepublic;andadelugeofblood-thirstyreviewsandstingingsarcasmsagainstsuccessfulmenofeverysortwouldbeaverted.Whatistobecomeofamanwithsuchawifeandthatpairofabominablebrats?HaveyouseenRigaudininPicard\'sLaMaisonenLoterie?Youhave?Well,likeRigaudin,Vernouwillnotfighthimself,buthewillsetothersfighting;hewouldgiveaneyetoputoutbotheyesintheheadofthebestfriendhehas.Youwillseehimusingthebodiesoftheslainforastepping-stone,rejoicingovereveryone\'smisfortunes,attackingprinces,dukes,marquises,andnobles,becausehehimselfisacommoner;revilingtheworkofunmarriedmenbecauseheforsoothhasawife;andeverlastinglypreachingmorality,thejoysofdomesticlife,andthedutiesofthecitizen.Inshort,thisverymoralcriticwillsparenoone,noteveninfantsoftenderage.HelivesintheRueMandarwithawifewhomightbetheMamamouchioftheBourgeoisgentilhommeandacoupleoflittleVernousasuglyassin.
HetriestosneerattheFaubourgSaint-Germain,wherehewillneversetfoot,andmakeshisduchessestalklikehiswife.ThatisthesortofmantoraiseahowlattheJesuits,insulttheCourt,andcredittheCourtpartywiththedesignofrestoringfeudalrightsandtherightofprimogeniture——justtheonetopreachacrusadeforEquality,hethatthinkshimselftheequalofnoone.Ifhewereabachelor,hewouldgointosociety;ifhewereinafairwaytobeaRoyalistpoetwithapensionandtheCrossoftheLegionofHonor,hewouldbeanoptimist,andjournalismoffersstarting-pointsbythehundred.
Journalismisthegiantcatapultsetinmotionbypigmyhatreds.Haveyouanywishtomarryafterthis?Vernouhasnoneofthemilkofhumankindnessinhim,itisallturnedtogall;andheisemphaticallytheJournalist,atigerwithtwohandsthattearseverythingtopieces,asifhispenhadthehydrophobia.\"
\"Itisacaseofgunophobia,\"saidLucien.\"Hasheability?\"
\"Heiswitty,heisawriterofarticles.Heincubatesarticles;hedoesthatallhislifeandnothingelse.Themostdoggedindustrywouldfailtograftabookonhisprose.Felicienisincapableofconceivingaworkonalargescale,ofbroadeffects,offittingcharactersharmoniouslyinaplotwhichdevelopstillitreachesaclimax.Hehasideas,buthehasnoknowledgeoffacts;hisheroesareutopiancreatures,philosophicalorLiberalnotionsmasquerading.Heisatpainstowriteanoriginalstyle,buthisinflatedperiodswouldcollapseatapin-prickfromacritic;andthereforehegoesinterrorofreviews,likeeveryoneelsewhocanonlykeephisheadabovewaterwiththebladdersofnewspaperpuffs.\"
\"Whatanarticleyouaremakingoutofhim!\"
\"Thatparticularkind,myboy,mustbespoken,andneverwritten.\"
\"Youareturningeditor,\"saidLucien.
\"WhereshallIputyoudown?\"
\"AtCoralie\'s.\"
\"Ah!weareinfatuated,\"saidLousteau.\"Whatamistake!DoasIdowithFlorine,letCoraliebeyourhousekeeper,andtakeyourfling.\"
\"Youwouldsendasainttoperdition,\"laughedLucien.
\"Well,thereisnodamningadevil,\"retortedLousteau.
Theflippanttone,thebrillianttalkofthisnewfriend,hisviewsoflife,hisparadoxes,theaxiomsofParisianMachiavelism,——allthesethingsimpressedLucienunawares.Theoreticallythepoetknewthatsuchthoughtswereperilous;buthebelievedthempracticallyuseful.
ArrivedintheBoulevardduTemple,thefriendsagreedtomeetattheofficebetweenfourandfiveo\'clock.HectorMerlinwoulddoubtlessbethere.Lousteauwasright.TheinfatuationofdesirewasuponLucien;
forthecourtesanwholovesknowshowtograppleherlovertoherbyeveryweaknessinhisnature,fashioningherselfwithincredibleflexibilitytohiseverywish,encouragingthesoft,effeminatehabitswhichstrengthenherhold.Lucienwasthirstingalreadyforenjoyment;
hewasinlovewiththeeasy,luxurious,andexpensivelifewhichtheactressled.
HefoundCoralieandCamusotintoxicatedwithjoy.TheGymnaseofferedCoralieanengagementafterEasterontermsforwhichshehadneverdaredtohope.
\"Andthisgreatsuccessisowingtoyou,\"saidCamusot.
\"Yes,surely.TheAlcaldewouldhavefallenflatbutforhim,\"criedCoralie;\"iftherehadbeennoarticle,IshouldhavebeeninforanothersixyearsoftheBoulevardtheatres.\"
ShedanceduptoLucienandflungherarmsroundhim,puttinganindescribablesilkensoftnessandsweetnessintoherenthusiasm.LovehadcometoCoralie.AndCamusot?hiseyesfell.Lookingdownafterthewontofmankindinmomentsofsharppain,hesawtheseamofLucien\'sboots,adeepyellowthreadusedbythebestbootmakersofthattime,instrongcontrastwiththeglisteningleather.Thecolorofthatseamhadtingedhisthoughtsduringapreviousconversationwithhimself,ashesoughttoexplainthepresenceofamysteriouspairofhessiansinCoralie\'sfender.Herememberednowthathehadseenthenameof\"Gay,RuedelaMichodiere,\"printedinblacklettersonthesoftwhitekidlining.
\"Youhaveahandsomepairofboots,sir,\"hesaid.
\"Likeeverythingelseabouthim,\"saidCoralie.
\"Ishouldbeverygladofyourbootmaker\'saddress.\"
\"Oh,howliketheRuedesBourdonnaistoaskforatradesman\'saddress,\"criedCoralie.\"DoYOUintendtopatronizeayoungman\'sbootmaker?Aniceyoungmanyouwouldmake!Dokeeptoyourowntop-
boots;theyarethekindforasteady-goingmanwithawifeandfamilyandamistress.\"
\"Indeed,ifyouwouldtakeoffoneofyourboots,sir,Ishouldbeverymuchobliged,\"persistedCamusot.
\"Icouldnotgetitonagainwithoutabutton-hook,\"saidLucien,flushingup.
\"Berenicewillfetchyouone;wecandowithsomehere,\"jeeredCamusot.
\"PapaCamusot!\"saidCoralie,lookingathimwithcruelscorn,\"havethecourageofyourpitifulbaseness.Come,speakout!Youthinkthatthisgentleman\'sbootsareverylikemine,doyounot?——Iforbidyoutotakeoffyourboots,\"sheadded,turningtoLucien——\"Yes,M.
Camusot.Yes,yousawsomebootslyingaboutinthefenderheretheotherday,andthatistheidenticalpair,andthisgentlemanwashidinginmydressing-roomatthetime,waitingforthem;andhehadpassedthenighthere.Thatwaswhatyouwerethinking,hein?Thinkso;Iwouldratheryoudid.Itisthesimpletruth.Iamdeceivingyou.AndifIam?Idoittopleasemyself.\"
Shesatdown.Therewasnoangerinherface,noembarrassment;shelookedfromCamusottoLucien.Thetwomenavoidedeachother\'seyes.
\"Iwillbelievenothingthatyoudonotwishmetobelieve,\"saidCamusot.\"Don\'tplaywithme,Coralie;Iwaswrong——\"
\"Iameitherashamelessbaggagethathastakenasuddenfancy;orapoor,unhappygirlwhofeelswhatlovereallyisforthefirsttime,thelovethatallwomenlongfor.Andwhicheverwayitis,youmustleavemeortakemeasIam,\"shesaid,withaqueenlygesturethatcrushedCamusot.
\"Isitreallytrue?\"heasked,seeingfromtheirfacesthatthiswasnojest,yetbeggingtobedeceived.
\"Ilovemademoiselle,\"Lucienfalteredout.
Atthatword,Coraliesprangtoherpoetandheldhimtightlytoher;
then,withherarmsstillabouthim,sheturnedtothesilk-mercer,asiftobidhimseethebeautifulpicturemadebytwoyounglovers.
\"PoorMusot,takeallthatyougavetomebackagain;Idonotwanttokeepanythingofyours;forIlovethisboyheremadly,notforhisintellect,butforhisbeauty.Iwouldratherstarvewithhimthanhavemillionswithyou.\"
Camusotsankintoalowchair,hidhisfaceinhishands,andsaidnotaword.
\"Wouldyoulikeustogoaway?\"sheasked.Therewasanoteofferocityinhervoicewhichnowordscandescribe.
ColdchillsrandownLucien\'sspine;hebeheldhimselfburdenedwithawoman,anactress,andahousehold.
\"Stayhere,Coralie;keepitall,\"theoldtradesmansaidatlast,inafaint,unsteadyvoicethatcamefromhisheart;\"Idon\'twantanythingback.Thereistheworthofsixtythousandfrancshereinthefurniture;butIcouldnotbeartothinkofmyCoralieinwant.Andyet,itwillnotbelongbeforeyoucometowant.Howevergreatthisgentleman\'stalentmaybe,hecan\'taffordtokeepyou.Weoldfellowsmustexpectthissortofthing.Coralie,letmecomeandseeyousometimes;Imaybeofusetoyou.And——Iconfessit;Icannotlivewithoutyou.\"
Thepoorman\'sgentleness,strippedashewasofhishappinessjustashappinesshadreacheditsheight,touchedLuciendeeply.Coraliewasquiteunsoftenedbyit.
\"Comeasoftenasyouwish,poorMusot,\"shesaid;\"IshalllikeyouallthebetterwhenIdon\'tpretendtoloveyou.\"
Camusotseemedtoberesignedtohisfatesolongashewasnotdrivenoutoftheearthlyparadise,inwhichhislifecouldnothavebeenalljoy;hetrustedtothechancesoflifeinParisandtothetemptationsthatwouldbesetLucien\'spath;hewouldwaitawhile,andallthathadbeenhisshouldbehisagain.Soonerorlater,thoughtthewilytradesman,thishandsomeyoungfellowwouldbeunfaithful;hewouldkeepawatchonhim;andthebettertodothisandusehisopportunitywithCoralie,hewouldbetheirfriend.ThepersistentpassionthatcouldconsenttosuchhumiliationterrifiedLucien.Camusot\'sproposalofadinneratVery\'sinthePalaisRoyalwasaccepted.
\"Whatjoy!\"criedCoralie,assoonasCamusothaddeparted.\"YouwillnotgobacknowtoyourgarretintheLatinQuarter;youwilllivehere.Weshallalwaysbetogether.YoucantakearoomintheRueCharlotforthesakeofappearances,andvoguelegalere!\"
ShebegantodanceherSpanishdance,withanexcitedeagernessthatrevealedthestrengthofthepassioninherheart.
\"IfIworkhardImaymakefivehundredfrancsamonth,\"Luciensaid.
\"AndIshallmakeasmuchagainatthetheatre,withoutcountingextras.Camusotwillpayformydressesasbefore.Heisfondofme!
WecanlivelikeCroesusonfifteenhundredfrancsamonth.\"
\"Andthehorses?andthecoachman?andthefootman?\"inquiredBerenice.
\"Iwillgetintodebt,\"saidCoralie.AndshebegantodancewithLucien.
\"ImustclosewithFinotafterthis,\"Lucienexclaimed.
\"There!\"saidCoralie,\"Iwilldressandtakeyoutoyouroffice.I
willwaitoutsideintheboulevardforyouwiththecarriage.\"
LuciensatdownonthesofaandmadesomeverysoberreflectionsashewatchedCoralieathertoilet.ItwouldhavebeenwisertoleaveCoraliefreethantostartallatoncewithsuchanestablishment;butCoraliewastherebeforehiseyes,andCoraliewassolovely,sograceful,sobewitching,thatthemorepicturesqueaspectsofbohemiawereinevidence;andheflungdownthegauntlettofortune.
BerenicewasorderedtosuperintendLucien\'sremovalandinstallation;
andCoralie,triumphant,radiant,andhappy,carriedoffherlove,herpoet,andmustneedsgoalloverParisonthewaytotheRueSaint-
Fiacre.Lucienspranglightlyupthestaircase,andenteredtheofficewithanairofbeingquiteathome.Coloquintewastherewiththestampedpaperstillonhishead;andoldGiroudeautoldhimagain,hypocriticallyenough,thatnoonehadyetcomein.
\"ButtheeditorandcontributorsMUSTmeetsomewhereorothertoarrangeaboutthejournal,\"saidLucien.
\"Verylikely;butIhavenothingtodowiththewritingofthepaper,\"
saidtheEmperor\'scaptain,resuminghisoccupationofcheckingoffwrapperswithhiseternalbroum!broum!
Wasitluckyorunlucky?FinotchancedtocomeinatthatverymomenttoannouncehisshamabdicationandtobidGiroudeauwatchoverhisinterests.
\"Noshilly-shallywiththisgentleman;heisonthestaff,\"Finotaddedforhisuncle\'sbenefit,ashegraspedLucienbythehand.
\"Oh!isheonthepaper?\"exclaimedGiroudeau,muchsurprisedatthisfriendliness.\"Well,sir,youcameonwithoutmuchdifficulty.\"
\"Iwanttomakethingssnugforyouhere,lestEtienneshouldbamboozleyou,\"continuedFinot,lookingknowinglyatLucien.\"Thisgentlemanwillbepaidthreefrancspercolumnallround,includingtheatres.\"
\"Youhavenevertakenanyoneonsuchtermsbefore,\"saidGiroudeau,openinghiseyes.
\"AndhewilltakethefourBoulevardtheatres.Seethatnobodysneakshisboxes,andthathegetshisshareoftickets——Ishouldadviseyou,nevertheless,tohavethemsenttoyouraddress,\"headded,turningtoLucien——\"Andheagreestowritebesidestenmiscellaneousarticlesoftwocolumnseach,forfiftyfrancspermonth,foroneyear.Doesthatsuityou?\"
\"Yes,\"saidLucien.Circumstanceshadforcedhishand.
\"Drawuptheagreement,uncle,andwewillsignitwhenwecomedownstairs.\"
\"Whoisthegentleman?\"inquiredGiroudeau,risingandtakingoffhisblacksilkskull-cap.
\"M.LuciendeRubempre,whowrotethearticleonTheAlcalde.\"
\"Youngman,youhaveagoldmineTHERE,\"saidtheoldsoldier,tappingLucienontheforehead.\"Iamnotliterarymyself,butIreadthatarticleofyours,andIlikedit.Thatisthekindofthing!There\'sgaietyforyou!\'Thatwillbringusnewsubscribers,\'saysItomyself.Andsoitdid.Wesoldfiftymorenumbers.\"
\"IsmyagreementwithLousteaumadeoutinduplicateandreadytosign?\"askedFinot,speakingaside.
\"Yes.\"
\"Thenante-datethisgentleman\'sagreementbyoneday,sothatLousteauwillbeboundbythepreviouscontract.\"
Finottookhisnewcontributor\'sarmwithafriendlinessthatcharmedLucien,anddrewhimoutonthelandingtosay:——
\"Yourpositionismadeforyou.IwillintroduceyoutoMYstaffmyself,andto-nightLousteauwillgoroundwithyoutothetheatres.
YoucanmakeahundredandfiftyfrancspermonthonthislittlepaperofourswithLousteauasitseditor,sotrytokeepwellwithhim.Theroguebearsagrudgeagainstmeasitis,fortyinghishandssofarasyouareconcerned;butyouhaveability,andIdon\'tchoosethatyoushallbesubjectedtothewhimsoftheeditor.Youmightletmehaveacoupleofsheetseverymonthformyreview,andIwillpayyoutwohundredfrancs.Thisisbetweenourselves,don\'tmentionittoanybodyelse;Ishouldbelaidopentothespiteofeveryonewhosevanityismortifiedbyyourgoodfortune.Writefourarticles,fillyourtwosheets,signtwowithyourownname,andtwowithapseudonym,sothatyoumaynotseemtobetakingthebreadoutofanybodyelse\'smouth.YouoweyourpositiontoBlondetandVignon;
theythinkthatyouhaveafuturebeforeyou.Sokeepoutofscrapes,and,aboveallthings,beonyourguardagainstyourfriends.Asforme,weshallalwaysgetonwelltogether,youandI.Helpme,andI