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。