ToMonsieurleBaronJamesdeRothschild，BankerandAustrianConsul-GeneralatParis。
AMANOFBUSINESS
Theword/lorette/isaeuphemisminventedtodescribethestatusofapersonage，orapersonageofastatus，ofwhichitisawkwardtospeak；theFrenchAcademie，initsmodesty，havingomittedtosupplyadefinitionoutofregardfortheageofitsfortymembers。Wheneveranewwordcomestosupplytheplaceofanunwieldycircumlocution，itsfortuneisassured；theword/lorette/haspassedintothelanguageofeveryclassofsociety，evenwheretheloretteherselfwillnevergainanentrance。Itwasonlyinventedin1840，andderivedbeyondadoubtfromtheagglomerationofsuchswallows\'nestsabouttheChurchofOurLadyofLoretto。Thisinformationisforetymoligistsonly。
Thosegentlemenwouldnotbesoofteninaquandaryifmediaevalwritershadonlytakensuchpainswithdetailsofcontemporarymannersaswetakeinthesedaysofanalysisanddescription。
Mlle。Turquet，orMalaga，forsheisbetterknownbyherpseudonymSee/LafausseMaitresse/。，wasoneoftheearliestparishionersofthatcharmingchurch。Atthetimetowhichthisstorybelongs，thatlightheartedandlivelydamselgladdenedtheexistenceofanotarywithawifesomewhattoobigoted，rigid，andfrigidfordomestichappiness。
Now，itsofelloutthatoneCarnivaleveningMaitreCardotwasentertainingguestsatMlle。Turquet\'shouse——Desrochestheattorney，Bixiouofthecaricatures，Lousteauthejournalist，Nathan，andothers；itisquiteunnecessarytogiveanyfurtherdescriptionofthesepersonages，allbearersofillustriousnamesinthe/ComedieHumaine/。YoungLaPalferine，inspiteofhistitleofCountandhisgreatdescent，which，alas!meansagreatdescentinfortunelikewise，hadhonoredthenotary\'slittleestablishmentwithhispresence。
Atdinner，insuchahouse，onedoesnotexpecttomeetthepatriarchalbeef，theskinnyfowlandsaladofdomesticandfamilylife，noristhereanyattemptatthehypocriticalconversationofdrawing-roomsfurnishedwithhighlyrespectablematrons。When，alas!
willrespectabilitybecharming？Whenwillthewomeningoodsocietyvouchsafetoshowratherlessoftheirshouldersandrathermorewitorgeniality？MargueriteTurquet，theAspasiaoftheCirque-Olympique，isoneofthosefrank，verylivingpersonalitiestowhomallisforgiven，suchunconscioussinnersarethey，suchintelligentpenitents；ofsuchasMalagaonemightask，likeCardot——awittymanenough，albeitanotary——tobewell\"deceived。”Andyetyoumustnotthinkthatanyenormitieswerecommitted。DesrochesandCardotweregoodfellowsgrowntoograyintheprofessionnottofeelateasewithBixiou，Lousteau，Nathan，andyoungLaPalferine。Andtheyontheirsidehadtoooftenhadrecoursetotheirlegaladvisers，andknewthemtoowelltotryto\"drawthemout，\"inlorettelanguage。
Conversation，perfumedwithsevencigars，atfirstwasasfantasticasakidletloose，butfinallyitsettleddownuponthestrategyoftheconstantwarwagedinParisbetweencreditorsanddebtors。
Now，ifyouwillbesogoodastorecallthehistoryandantecedentsoftheguests，youwillknowthatinallParis，youcouldscarcelyfindagroupofmenwithmoreexperienceinthismatter；theprofessionalmenononehand，andtheartistsontheother，weresomethinginthepositionofmagistratesandcriminalshobnobbingtogether。AsetofBixiou\'sdrawingstoillustratelifeinthedebtors\'prison，ledtheconversationtotakethisparticularturn；
andfromdebtors\'prisonstheywenttodebts。
Itwasmidnight。Theyhadbrokenupintolittleknotsroundthetableandbeforethefire，andgavethemselvesuptotheburlesquefunwhichisonlypossibleorcomprehensibleinParisandinthatparticularregionwhichisboundedbytheFaubourgMontmartre，theRueChausseed\'Antin，theupperendoftheRuedeNavarinandthelineoftheboulevards。
Intenminutes\'timetheyhadcometoanendofallthedeepreflections，allthemoralizings，smallandgreat，allthebadpunsmadeonasubjectalreadyexhaustedbyRabelaisthreehundredandfiftyyearsago。ItwasnotalittletotheircreditthatthepyrotechnicdisplaywascutshortwithafinalsquibfromMalaga。
\"Itallgoestotheshoemakers，\"shesaid。\"Ileftamillinerbecauseshefailedtwicewithmyhats。Thevixenhasbeenheretwenty-seventimestoaskfortwentyfrancs。Shedidnotknowthatweneverhavetwentyfrancs。Onehasathousandfrancs，oronesendstoone\'snotaryforfivehundred；buttwentyfrancsIhaveneverhadinmylife。Mycookandmymaidmay，perhaps，havesomuchbetweenthem；butformyownpart，Ihavenothingbutcredit，andIshouldlosethatifItooktoborrowingsmallsums。IfIweretoaskfortwentyfrancs，Ishouldhavenothingtodistinguishmefrommycolleaguesthatwalktheboulevard。”
\"Isthemillinerpaid？\"askedLaPalferine。
\"Oh，comenow，areyouturningstupid？\"saidshe，withawink。\"Shecamethismorningforthetwenty-seventhtime，thatishowIcametomentionit。”
\"Whatdidyoudo？\"askedDesroches。
\"Itookpityuponher，and——orderedalittlehatthatIhavejustinvented，aquitenewshape。IfMlle。Amandasucceedswithit，shewillsaynomoreaboutthemoney，herfortuneismade。”
\"Inmyopinion，\"putinDesroches，\"thefinestthingsthatIhaveseeninaduelofthiskindgivethosewhoknowParisafarbetterpictureofthecitythanallthefancyportraitsthattheypaint。Someofyouthinkthatyouknowathingortwo，\"hecontinued，glancingroundatNathan，Bixiou，LaPalferine，andLousteau，\"butthekingofthegroundisacertainCount，nowbusyranginghimself。Inhistime，hewassupposedtobethecleverest，adroitest，canniest，boldest，stoutest，mostsubtleandexperiencedofallthepirates，who，equippedwithfinemanners，yellowkidgloves，andcabs，haveeversailedoreverwillsailuponthestormyseasofParis。HefearsneitherGodnorman。HeappliesinprivatelifetheprinciplesthatguidetheEnglishCabinet。Uptothetimeofhismarriage，hislifewasonecontinualwar，like——Lousteau\'s，forinstance。Iwas，andamstillhissolicitor。”
\"AndthefirstletterofhisnameisMaximedeTrailles，\"saidLaPalferine。
\"Forthatmatter，hehaspaideveryone，andinjurednoone，\"
continuedDesroches。\"ButasyourfriendBixiouwassayingjustnow，itisaviolationofthelibertyofthesubjecttobemadetopayinMarchwhenyouhavenomindtopaytillOctober。Byvirtueofthisarticleofhisparticularcode，Maximeregardedacreditor\'sschemeformakinghimpayatonceasaswindler\'strick。Itwasalongtimesincehehadgraspedthesignificanceofthebillofexchangeinallitsbearings，directandremote。Ayoungmanonce，inmyplace，calledabillofexchangethe\'asses\'bridge\'inhishearing。\'No，\'saidhe，\'itistheBridgeofSighs；itistheshortestwaytoanexecution。\'
Indeed，hisknowledgeofcommerciallawwassocomplete，thataprofessionalcouldnothavetaughthimanything。Atthattimehehadnothing，asyouknow。Hiscarriageandhorseswerejobbed；helivedinhisvalet\'shouse；and，bytheway，hewillbeaherotohisvalettotheendofthechapter，evenafterthemarriagethatheproposestomake。Hebelongedtothreeclubs，anddinedatoneofthemwheneverhedidnotdineout。Asarule，hewastobefoundveryseldomathisownaddress——\"
\"Heoncesaidtome，\"interruptedLaPalferine，\"\'MyoneaffectationisthepretencethatImakeoflivingintheRuePigalle。\'\"
\"Well，\"resumedDesroches，\"hewasoneofthecombatants；andnowfortheother。YouhaveheardmoreorlesstalkofoneClaparon？\"
\"Hadhairlikethis!\"criedBixiou，rufflinghislockstilltheystoodonend。GiftedwiththesametalentformimickingabsurditieswhichChopinthepianistpossessestosohighadegree，heproceededforthwithtorepresentthecharacterwithstartlingtruth。
\"Herollshisheadlikethiswhenhespeaks；hewasonceacommercialtraveler；hehasbeenallsortsofthings——\"
\"Well，hewasborntotravel，foratthisminute，asIspeak，heisontheseaonhiswaytoAmerica，\"saidDesroches。\"Itishisonlychance，forinallprobabilityhewillbecondemnedbydefaultasafraudulentbankruptnextsession。”
\"Verymuchatsea!\"exclaimedMalaga。
\"ForsixorsevenyearsthisClaparonactedasmanofstraw，cat\'spaw，andscapegoattotwofriendsofours，duTilletandNucingen；butin1829hispartwassowellknownthat——\"
\"Ourfriendsdroppedhim，\"putinBixiou。
\"Theylefthimtohisfateatlast，andhewallowedinthemire，\"
continuedDesroches。\"In1833hewentintopartnershipwithoneCerizet——\"
\"What!hethatpromotedajoint-stockcompanysonicelythattheSixthChambercutshorthiscareerwithacoupleofyearsinjail？\"askedthelorette。
\"Thesame。UndertheRestoration，between1823and1827，Cerizet\'soccupationconsistedinfirstputtinghisnameintrepidlytovariousparagraphs，onwhichthepublicprosecutorfastenedwithavidity，andsubsequentlymarchingofftoprison。Amancouldmakeanameforhimselfwithsmallexpenseinthosedays。TheLiberalpartycalledtheirprovincialchampion\'thecourageousCerizet，\'andtowards1828
somuchzealreceiveditsrewardin\'generalinterest。\'
\"\'Generalinterest\'isakindofciviccrownbestowedonthedeservingbythedailypress。Cerizettriedtodiscountthe\'generalinterest\'takeninhim。HecametoParis，and，withsomehelpfromcapitalistsintheOpposition，startedasabroker，andconductedfinancialoperationstosomeextent，thecapitalbeingfoundbyamaninhiding，askilfulgamblerwhooverreachedhimself，andinconsequence，inJuly1830，hiscapitalfounderedintheshipwreckoftheGovernment。”
\"Oh!itwashewhomweusedtocalltheSystem，\"criedBixiou。
\"Saynoharmofhim，poorfellow，\"protestedMalaga。\"D\'Estournywasagoodsort。”
\"Youcanimaginethepartthataruinedmanwassuretoplayin1830
whenhisnameinpoliticswas\'thecourageousCerizet。”Hewassentoffintoaverysnuglittlesub-prefecture。Unluckilyforhim，itisonethingtobeinopposition——anymissileisgoodenoughtothrow，solongastheflightlasts；butquiteanothertobeinoffice。Threemonthslater，hewasobligedtosendinhisresignation。Hadhenottakenitintohisheadtoattempttowinpopularity？Still，ashehaddonenothingasyettoimperilhistitleof\'courageousCerizet，\'theGovernmentproposedbywayofcompensationthatheshouldmanageanewspaper；nominallyanOppositionnewspaper，butMinisterialist/inpetto/。SothefallofthisnoblenaturewasreallyduetotheGovernment。
ToCerizet，asmanagerofthepaper，itwasrathertooevidentthathewasasabirdperchedonarottenbough；andthenitwasthathepromotedthatnicelittlejoint-stockcompany，andtherebysecuredacoupleofyearsinprison；hewascaught，whilemoreingeniousswindlerssucceededincatchingthepublic。”
\"Weareacquaintedwiththemoreingenious，\"saidBixiou；\"letussaynoillofthepoorfellow；hewasnabbed；Coutureallowedthemtosqueezehiscash-box；whowouldeverhavethoughtitofhim？\"
\"Atallevents，Cerizetwasalowsortoffellow，agooddealdamagedbylowdebauchery。NowfortheduelIspokeabout。Neverdidtwotradesmenoftheworsttype，withtheworstmanners，thelowestpairofvillainsimaginable，gointopartnershipinadirtierbusiness。
Theirstock-in-tradeconsistedofthepeculiaridiomofthemanabouttown，theaudacityofpoverty，thecunningthatcomesofexperience，andaspecialknowledgeofParisiancapitalists，theirorigin，connections，acquaintances，andintrinsicvalue。Thispartnershipoftwo\'dabblers\'lettheStockExchangetermpass，foritistheonlywordwhichdescribesthem，thispartnershipofdabblersdidnotlastverylong。Theyfoughtlikefamishedcursovereverybitofgarbage。
\"TheearlierspeculationsofthefirmofCerizetandClaparonwere，however，wellplanned。ThetwoscampsjoinedforceswithBarbet，Chaboisseau，Samanon，andusurersofthatstamp，andboughtuphopelesslybaddebts。
\"Claparon\'splaceofbusinessatthattimewasacrampedentresolintheRueChabannais——fiveroomsatarentofsevenhundredfrancsatmost。Eachpartnersleptinalittlecloset，socarefullyclosedfromprudence，thatmyhead-clerkcouldnevergetinside。Thefurnitureoftheotherthreerooms——anante-chamber，awaiting-room，andaprivateoffice——wouldnothavefetchedthreehundredfrancsaltogetheratadistress-warrantsale。
YouknowenoughofParistoknowthelookofit；thestuffedhorsehair-coveredchairs，atablecoveredwithagreencloth，atrumperyclockbetweenacoupleofcandlesconces，growingtarnishedunderglassshades，thesmallgilt-framedmirroroverthechimney-piece，andinthegrateacharredstickortwooffirewoodwhichhadlastedthemfortwowinters，asmyhead-clerkputit。Asfortheoffice，youcanguesswhatitwaslike——moreletter-filesthanbusinessletters，asetofcommonpigeon-holesforeitherpartner，acylinderdesk，emptyasthecash-box，inthemiddleoftheroom，andacoupleofarmchairsoneithersideofacoalfire。Thecarpetonthefloorwasboughtcheapatsecond-handlikethebillsandbaddebts。
Inshort，itwasthemahoganyfurnitureoffurnishedapartmentswhichusuallydescendsfromoneoccupantofchamberstoanotherduringfiftyyearsofservice。Nowyouknowthepairofantagonists。
\"Duringthefirstthreemonthsofapartnershipdissolvedfourmonthslaterinaboutoffisticuffs，CerizetandClaparonboughtuptwothousandfrancs\'worthofbillsbearingMaxime\'ssignaturesinceMaximewashisname，andfilledacoupleofletterstoburstingwithjudgments，appeals，ordersofthecourt，distress-warrants，applicationforstayofproceedings，andalltherestofit；toputitbriefly，theyhadbillsforthreethousandtwohundredfrancsoddcentimes，forwhichtheyhadgivenfivehundredfrancs；thetransferbeingmadeunderprivateseal，withspecialpowerofattorney，tosavetheexpenseofregistration。Nowitsohappenedatthisjuncture，Maxime，beingofripeage，wasseizedwithoneofthefanciespeculiartothemanoffifty——\"
\"Antonia!\"exclaimedLaPalferine。\"ThatAntoniawhosefortuneImadebywritingtoaskforatoothbrush!\"
\"HerrealnameisChocardelle，\"saidMalaga，notoverwellpleasedbythefine-soundingpseudonym。
\"Thesame，\"continuedDesroches。
\"ItwastheonlymistakeMaximeevermadeinhislife。Butwhatwouldyouhave，noviceisabsolutelyperfect？\"putinBixiou。
\"Maximehadstilltolearnwhatsortofalifeamanmaybeledintobyagirlofeighteenwhensheismindedtotakeaheaderfromherhonestgarretintoasumptuouscarriage；itisalessonthatallstatesmenshouldtaketoheart。Atthistime，deMarsayhadjustbeenemployinghisfriend，ourfrienddeTrailles，inthehighcomedyofpolitics。Maximehadlookedhighforhisconquests；hehadnoexperienceofuntitledwomen；andatfiftyyearshefeltthathehadarighttotakeabiteoftheso-calledwildfruit，muchasasportsmanwillhaltunderapeasant\'sapple-tree。SotheCountfoundareading-
roomforMlle。Chocardelle，arathersmartlittleplacetobehadcheap，asusual——\"
\"Pooh!\"saidNathan。\"Shedidnotstayinitsixmonths。Shewastoohandsometokeepareading-room。”
\"Perhapsyouarethefatherofherchild？\"suggestedthelorette。
Desrochesresumed。
\"SincethefirmboughtupMaxime\'sdebts，Cerizet\'slikenesstoabailiff\'sofficergrewmoreandmorestriking，andonemorningaftersevenfruitlessattemptshesucceededinpenetratingintotheCount\'spresence。Suzon，theoldman-servant，albeithewasbynomeansinhisnovitiate，atlastmistookthevisitorforapetitioner，cometoproposeathousandcrownsifMaximewouldobtainalicensetosellpostagestampsforayounglady。Suzon，withouttheslightestsuspicionofthelittlescamp，athoroughbredParisstreet-boyintowhomprudencehadbeenrubbedbyrepeatedpersonalexperienceofthepolice-courts，inducedhismastertoreceivehim。Canyouseethemanofbusiness，withanuneasyeye，abaldforehead，andscarcelyanyhaironhishead，standinginhisthreadbarejacketandmuddyboots——\"
\"WhatapictureofaDun!\"criedLousteau。
\"——standingbeforetheCount，thatimageofflauntingDebt，inhisblueflanneldressing-gown，slippersworkedbysomeMarquiseorother，trousersofwhitewoolenstuff，andadazzlingshirt？Therehestood，withagorgeouscaponhisblackdyedhair，playingwiththetasselsathiswaist——\"
\"\'Tisabitofgenreforanybodywhoknowswhattheprettylittlemorningroom，hungwithsilkandfullofvaluablepaintings，whereMaximebreakfasts，\"saidNathan。\"YoutreadonaSmyrnacarpet，youadmirethesideboardsfilledwithcuriositiesandraritiesfittomakeaKingofSaxonyenvious——\"
\"Nowforthesceneitself，\"saidDesroches，andthedeepestsilencefollowed。
\"\'MonsieurleComte，\'beganCerizet，\'IhavecomefromaM。CharlesClaparon，whousedtobeabanker——\'
\"\'Ah!poordevil，andwhatdoeshewantwithme？\'
\"\'Well，heisatpresentyourcreditorforamatterofthreethousandtwohundredfrancs，seventy-fivecentimes，principal，interest，andcosts——\'
\"\'Coutelier\'sbusiness？\'putinMaxime，whoknewhisaffairsasapilotknowshiscoast。
\"\'Yes，MonsieurleComte，\'saidCerizetwithabow。\'Ihavecometoaskyourintentions。\'
\"\'Ishallonlypaywhenthefancytakesme，\'returnedMaxime，andherangforSuzon。\'ItwasveryrashofClaparontobuyupbillsofminewithoutspeakingtomebeforehand。Iamsorryforhim，forhedidsoverywellforsuchalongtimeasamanofstrawforfriendsofmine。
Ialwayssaidthatamanmustreallybeweakinhisintellecttoworkformenthatstuffthemselveswithmillions，andtoservethemsofaithfullyforsuchlowwages。Andnowherehegivesmeanotherproofofhisstupidity!Yes，mendeservewhattheyget。Itisyourowndoingwhetheryougetacrownonyourforeheadorabulletthroughyourhead；whetheryouareamillionaireoraporter，justiceisalwaysdoneyou。Icannothelpit，mydearfellow；Imyselfamnotaking，I
sticktomyprinciples。Ihavenopityforthosethatputmetoexpenseordonotknowtheirbusinessascreditors——Suzon!mytea!Doyouseethisgentleman？\'hecontinuedwhenthemancamein。\'Well，youhaveallowedyourselftobetakenin，pooroldboy。Thisgentlemanisacreditor；yououghttohaveknownhimbyhisboots。Nofriendnorfoeofmine，northosethatareneitherandwantsomethingofme，cometoseemeonfoot——MydearM。Cerizet，doyouunderstand？Youwillnotwipeyourbootsonmycarpetagain\'lookingashespokeatthemudthatwhitenedtheenemy\'ssoles。\'ConveymycomplimentsandsympathytoClaparon，poorbuffer，forIshallfilethisbusinessundertheletterZ。\'