第2章
加入书架 A- A+
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  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。

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