第40章

"Iamnottheonlypersonwhohasdoubtsonthesubject。YoumustgrantthepossibilityoftheCrownlosinganenormoussumatthefirstdrawing？"

"Certainly，sir，butbetweenpossibilityandrealityisalltheregionoftheinfinite。Indeed，ImaysaythatitwouldbeagreatpieceofgoodfortuneiftheCrownweretoloselargelyonthefirstdrawing。"

"Apieceofbadfortune，youmean，surely？"

"Abadfortunetobedesired。Youknowthatalltheinsurancecompaniesarerich。IwillundertaketoprovebeforeallthemathematiciansinEuropethatthekingisboundtogainoneinfiveinthislottery。Thatisthesecret。Youwillconfessthatthereasonoughttoyieldtoamathematicalproof？"

"Yes，ofcourse；buthowisitthattheCastellettocannotguaranteetheCrownacertaingain？"

"NeithertheCastellettonoranybodyintheworldcanguaranteeabsolutelythatthekingshallalwayswin。Whatguaranteesusagainstanysuspicionofsharppracticeisthedrawingonceamonth，asthenthepublicissurethattheholderofthelotterymaylose。"

"Willyoubegoodenoughtoexpressyoursentimentsonthesubjectbeforethecouncil？"

"Iwilldosowithmuchpleasure。"

"Youwillanswerallobjections？"

"IthinkIcanpromiseasmuch。"

"Willyougivemeyourplan？"

"Notbeforeitisaccepted，andIamguaranteedareasonableprofit。"

"Butyourplanmaypossiblybethesameastheonebeforeus。"

"Ithinknot。IseeM。deCalsabigiforthefirsttime，andashehasnotshewnmehisscheme，andIhavenotcommunicatedminetohim，itisimprobable，nottosayimpossible，thatweshouldagreeinallrespects。Besides，inmyplanIclearlyshewhowmuchprofittheCrownoughttogetperannum。"

"Itmight，therefore，beformedbyacompanywhowouldpaytheCrownafixedsum？"

"Ithinknot。"

"Why？"

"Forthisreason。Theonlythingwhichwouldmakethelotterypay，wouldbeanirresistiblecurrentofpublicopinioninitsfavour。

Ishouldnotcaretohaveanythingtodowithitintheserviceofacompany，who，thinkingtoincreasetheirprofits，mightextendtheiroperations——acoursewhichwouldentailcertainloss。"

"Idon’tseehow。"

"InathousandwayswhichIwillexplaintoyouanothertime，andwhichIamsureyoucanguessforyourself。Inshort，ifIamtohaveanyvoiceinthematter，itmustbeaGovernmentlotteryornothing。"

"M。deCalsabigithinksso，too。"

"Iamdelightedtohearit，butnotatallsurprised；for，thinkingonthesamelines，weareboundtoarriveatthesameresults。"

"HaveyouanybodyreadyfortheCastelletto？"

"Ishallonlywantintelligentmachines，ofwhomthereareplentyinFrance。"

Iwentoutforamomentandfoundthemingroupsonmyreturn，discussingmyprojectwithgreatearnestness。

M。Calsabigiafteraskingmeafewquestionstookmyhand，whichheshookheartily，sayingheshouldliketohavesomefurtherconversationwithme；andreturningthefriendlypressure，ItoldhimthatIshouldesteemitasanhonourtobenumberedamongsthisfriends。ThereuponIleftmyaddresswithM。duVernaiandtookmyleave，satisfied，bymyinspectionofthefacesbeforeme，thattheyallhadahighopinionofmytalents。

Threedaysafter，M。deCalsabigicalledonme；andafterreceivinghiminmybeststyleIsaidthatifIhadnotcalledonhimitwasonlybecauseIdidnotwishtobetroublesome。Hetoldmethatmydecisivewayofspeakinghadmadeagreatimpression，andhewascertainthatifIcaredtomakeinterestwiththecomptrollerwecouldsetupthelotteryandmakealargeprofit。

"Ithinkso，too，"saidI，"butthefinancierswillmakeamuchlargerprofit，andyettheydonotseemanxiousaboutit。Theyhavenotcommunicatedwithme，butitistheirlook—out，asIshallnotmakeitmychiefaim。"

"Youwillundoubtedlyhearsomethingaboutittoday，forIknowforafactthatM。deBoulognehasspokenofyoutoM。deCourteuil。"

"Verygood，butIassureyouIdidnotaskhimtodoso。"

Aftersomefurtherconversationheaskedme，inthemostfriendlymannerpossible，tocomeanddinewithhim，andIacceptedhisinvitationwithagreatpleasure；andjustaswewerestartingI

receivedanotefromM。deBernis，inwhichhesaidthatifIcouldcometoVersaillesthenextdayhewouldpresentmetoMadamedePompadour，andthatIshouldhaveanopportunityofseeingM。deBoulogne。

Inhighgleeatthishappychance，lessfromvanitythanpolicyI

madeM。deCalsabigireadtheletter，andIwaspleasedtoseehimopeninghiseyesashereadit。

"YoucanforceDuVernaihimselftoacceptthelottery，"hesaid，"andyourfortuneismadeifyouarenottoorichalreadytocareaboutsuchmatters。"

"Nobodyiseverrichenoughtodespisegoodfortune，especiallywhenitisnotduetofavour。"

"Verytrue。Wehavebeendoingourutmostfortwoyearstogettheplanaccepted，andhavemetwithnothingbeyondfoolishobjectionswhichyouhavecrushedtopieces。Nevertheless，ourplansmustbeverysimilar。Believemeitwillbebestforustoworkinconcert，forbyyourselfyouwouldfindinsuperabledifficultiesintheworking，andyouwillfindno’intelligentmachines’inParis。Mybrotherwilldoallthework，andyouwillbeabletoreaptheadvantagesatyourease。"

"Areyou，then，nottheinventoroftheschemewhichhasbeenshewnme？"

"No，itistheworkofmybrother。"

"ShallIhavethepleasureorseeinghim？"

"Certainly。Hisbodyisfeeble，buthismindisinallitsvigour。

Weshallseehimdirectly。"

Thebrotherwasnotamanofaverypleasingappearance，ashewascoveredwithakindofleprosy；butthatdidnotpreventhimhavingagoodappetite，writing，andenjoyingallhisbodilyandintellectualfaculties；hetalkedwellandamusingly。Heneverwentintosociety，as，besideshispersonaldisfigurement，hewastormentedwithanirresistibleandfrequentdesireofscratchinghimself，nowinoneplace，andnowinanother；andasallscratchingisaccountedanabominablethinginParis，hepreferredtobeabletousehisfingernailstothepleasuresofsociety。Hewaspleasedtosaythat，believinginGodandHisworks，hewaspersuadedhisnailshadbeengivenhimtoprocuretheonlysolacehewascapableofinthekindoffurywithwhichhewastormented。

"Youareabeliever，then，infinalcauses？Ithinkyouareright，butstillIbelieveyouwouldhavescratchedyourselfifGodhadforgottentogiveyouanynails。"

Myremarksmadehimlaugh，andhethenbegantospeakofourcommonbusiness，andIsoonfoundhimtobeamanofintellect。Hewastheelderofthetwobrothers，andabachelor。Hewasexpertinallkindsofcalculations，anaccomplishedfinancier，withauniversalknowledgeofcommerce，agoodhistorian，awit，apoet，andamanofgallantry。HisbirthplacewasLeghorn，hehadbeeninaGovernmentofficeatNaples，andhadcometoPariswithM。del’Hopital。Hisbrotherwasalsoamanoflearningandtalent，butineveryrespecthisinferior。

Heshewedmethepileofpapers，onwhichhehadworkedoutalltheproblemsreferringtothelottery。

"Ifyouthinkyoucandowithoutme，"saidhe，"Imustcomplimentyouonyourabilities；butIthinkyouwillfindyourselfmistaken，forifyouhavenopracticalknowledgeofthematterandnobusinessmentohelpyou，yourtheorieswillnotcarryyoufar。Whatwillyoudoafteryouhaveobtainedthedecree？Whenyouspeakbeforethecouncil，ifyoutakemyadvice，youwillfixadateafterwhichyouarenottobeheldresponsible——thatistosay，afterwhichyouwillhavenothingmoretodowithit。Unlessyoudoso，youwillbecertaintoencountertriflingandprocrastinationwhichwilldeferyourplantotheGreekKalends。Ontheotherhand，IcanassureyouthatM。duVernaiwouldbeverygladtoseeusjoinhands:"

Verymuchinclinedtotakethesegentlemenintopartnership，forthegoodreasonthatIcouldnotdowithoutthem，buttakingcarethattheyshouldsuspectnothing，Iwentdownwiththeyoungerbrother，whointroducedmetohiswifebeforedinner。IfoundpresentanoldladywellknownatParisunderthenameofGeneralLaMothe，famousforherformerbeautyandhergout，anotherladysomewhatadvancedinyears，whowascalledBaronessBlanche，andwasstillthemistressofM。deVaux，anotherstyledthePresident’slady，andafourth，fairasthedawn，MadameRazzetti，fromPiedmont，thewifeofoneoftheviolinplayersattheopera，andsaidtobecourtedbyM。deFondpertuis，thesuperintendentoftheopera。

Wesatdowntodinner，butIwassilentandabsorbed，allmythoughtsbeingmonopolizedbythelottery。Intheevening，atSilvia’s，Iwaspronouncedabsentandpensive，andsoIwasinspiteofthesentimentwithwhichMademoiselleBalettiinspiredme——asentimentwhicheverydaygrewinstrength。

IsetoutforVersaillesnextmorningtwohoursbeforeday—break，andwaswelcomedbyM。deBernis，whosaidhewouldbetthatbutforhimIshouldneverhavediscoveredmytalentforfinance。

"M。deBoulognetellsmeyouastonishedM。duVernai，whoisgenerallyesteemedoneoftheacutestmeninFrance。Ifyouwilltakemyadvice，Casanova，youwillkeepupthatacquaintanceandpayhimassiduouscourt。Imaytellyouthatthelotteryiscertaintobeestablished，thatitwillbeyourdoing，andthatyououghttomakesomethingconsiderableoutofit。Assoonasthekinggoesouttohunt，beathandintheprivateapartments，andIwillseizeafavourablemomentforintroducingyoutothefamousmarquise。

AfterwardsgototheOfficeforForeignAffairs，andintroduceyourselfinmynametotheAbbedelaVille。Heisthechiefofficialthere，andwillgiveyouagoodreception。"

M。deBoulognetoldmethat，assoonasthecouncilofthemilitaryschoolhadgiventheirconsent，hewouldhavethedecreefortheestablishmentofthelotterypublished，andheurgedmetocommunicatetohimanyideaswhichImighthaveonthesubjectoffinance。

AtnoonMadamedePompadourpassedthroughtheprivateapartmentswiththePrincedeSoubise，andmypatronhastenedtopointmeouttotheillustriouslady。Shemademeagracefulcurtsy，andtoldmethatshehadbeenmuchinterestedinthesubjectofmyflight。

"Doyougo，"saidshe，"toseeyourambassador？"

"Ishewmyrespecttohim，madam，bykeepingaway。"

"IhopeyoumeantosettleinFrance。"

"Itwouldbemydearestwishtodoso，madam，butIstandinneedofpatronage，andIknowthatinFrancepatronageisonlygiventomenoftalent，whichisformeadiscouragingcircumstance。"

"Onthecontrary，Ithinkyouhavereasontobehopeful，asyouhavesomegoodfriends。ImyselfshallbedelightedifIcanbeofanyassistancetoyou。"

Asthefairmarquisemovedon，Icouldonlystammerforthmygratitude。

InextwenttotheAbbedelaVille，whoreceivedmewiththeutmostcourtesy，andtoldmethathewouldremembermeattheearliestopportunity。

Versailleswasabeautifulspot，butIhadonlycomplimentsandnotinvitationstoexpectthere，soafterleavingM。delaVilleIwenttoaninntogetsomedinner。AsIwassittingdown，anabbeofexcellentappearance，justlikedozensofotherFrenchabbes，accostedmepolitely，andaskedmeifIobjectedtoourdiningtogether。Ialwaysthoughtthecompanyofapleasantmanathingtobedesired，soIgrantedhisrequest；andassoonashesatdownhecomplimentedmeonthedistinguishedmannerinwhichIhadbeentreatedbyM。delaVille。"Iwastherewritingaletter，"saidhe，"andIcouldhearalltheobligingthingstheabbesaidtoyou。MayIask，sir，howyouobtainedaccesstohim？"

"Ifyoureallywishtoknow，Imaybeabletotellyou。"

"Itispurecuriosityonmypart。"

"Well，then，Iwillsaynothing，frompureprudence。"

"Ibegyourpardon。"

"Certainly，withpleasure。"

Havingthusshutthemouthofthecuriousimpertinent，heconfinedhisconversationtoordinaryandmoreagreeabletopics。Afterdinner，havingnofurtherbusinessatVersailles，Imadepreparationsforleaving，onwhichtheabbebeggedtobeofmycompany。Althoughamanwhofrequentsthesocietyofabbesisnotthoughtmuchmoreofthanonewhofrequentsthesocietyofgirls。ItoldhimthatasI

wasgoingtoParisinapublicconveyance——farfromitsbeingaquestionofpermission——Ishouldbeonlytoohappytohavethepleasureofhiscompany。OnreachingParisweparted，afterpromisingtocalloneachother，andIwenttoSilvia’sandtooksupperthere。Theagreeablemistressofthehousecomplimentedmeonmynobleacquaintances，andmademepromisetocultivatetheirsociety。

AssoonasIgotbacktomyownlodging，IfoundanotefromM。duVernai，whorequestedmetocometothemilitaryschoolateleveno’clockonthenextday，andlaterintheeveningCalsabigicametomefromhisbrother，withalargesheetofpapercontainingallthecalculationspertainingtothelottery。

Fortuneseemedtobeinmyfavour，forthistabularstatementcametomelikeablessingfromonhigh。Resolving，therefore，tofollowtheinstructionswhichIpretendedtoreceiveindifferently。Iwenttothemilitaryschool，andassoonasIarrivedtheconferencebegan。

M。d’Alemberthadbeenrequestedtobepresentasanexpertinarithmeticalcalculations。IfM。duVernaihadbeentheonlypersontobeconsulted，thisstepwouldnothavebeennecessary；butthecouncilcontainedsomeobstinateheadswhowereunwillingtogivein。

Theconferencelastedthreehours。

Aftermyspeech，whichonlylastedhalfanhour，M。deCourteuilsummedupmyarguments，andanhourwaspassedinstatingobjectionswhichIrefutedwiththegreatestease。Ifinallytoldthemthatnomanofhonourandlearningwouldvolunteertoconductthelotteryontheunderstandingthatitwastowineverytime，andthatifanyonehadtheimpudencetogivesuchanundertakingtheyshouldturnhimoutoftheroomforthwith，foritwasimpossiblethatsuchanagreementcouldbemaintainedexceptbysomeroguery。

Thishaditseffect，fornobodyreplied；andM。duVernairemarkedthatiftheworstcametotheworstthelotterycouldbesuppressed。

AtthisIknewmybusinesswasdone，andallpresent，aftersigningadocumentwhichM。duVernaigavethem，tooktheirleave，andImyselfleftdirectlyafterwardswithafriendlyleave—takingfromM。duVernal。

M。Calsabigicametoseemethenextday，bringingtheagreeablenewsthattheaffairwassettled，andthatallthatwaswantingwasthepublicationofthedecree。

"Iamdelightedtohearit，"Isaid，"andIwillgotoM。deBoulogne’severyday，andgetyouappointedchiefadministratorassoonasIknowwhatIhavegotformyself。"

Itookcarenottoleaveastoneunturnedinthisdirection，asI

knewthat，withthegreat，promisingandkeepingapromisearetwodifferentthings。Thedecreeappearedaweekafter。Calsabigiwasmadesuperintendent，withanallowanceofthreethousandfrancsforeverydrawing，ayearlypensionoffourthousandfrancsforusboth，andthechiefofthelottery。Hissharewasamuchlargeronethanmine，butIwasnotjealousasIknewhehadagreaterclaimthanI。

Isoldfiveofthesixofficesthathadbeenallottedtomefortwothousandfrancseach，andopenedthesixthwithgreatstyleintheRueSt。Denis，puttingmyvaletthereasaclerk。HewasabrightyoungItalian，whohadbeenvalettothePrincedelaCatolica，theambassadorfromNaples。

Thedayforthefirstdrawingwasfixed，andnoticewasgiventhatthewinningnumberswouldbepaidinaweekfromthetimeofdrawingatthechiefoffice。

Withtheideaofdrawingcustomtomyoffice，Igavenoticethatallwinningticketsbearingmysignaturewouldbepaidatmyofficeintwenty—fourhoursafterthedrawing。Thisdrewcrowdstomyofficeandconsiderablyincreasedmyprofits，asIhadsixpercent。onthereceipts。AnumberoftheclerksintheotherofficeswerefoolishenoughtocomplaintoCalsabigithatIhadspoilttheirgains，buthesentthemabouttheirbusinesstellingthemthattogetthebetterofmetheyhadonlytodoasIdid——iftheyhadthemoney。

Myfirsttakingamountedtofortythousandfrancs。Anhourafterthedrawingmyclerkbroughtmethenumbers，andshewedmethatwehadfromseventeentoeighteenthousandfrancstopay，forwhichIgavehimthenecessaryfunds。

WithoutmythinkingofitIthusmadethefortuneofmyclerk，foreverywinnergavehimsomething，andallthisIlethimkeepforhimself。

Thetotalreceiptsamountedtotwomillions，andtheadministrationmadeaprofitofsixhundredthousandfrancs，ofwhichParisalonehadcontributedahundredthousandfrancs。Thiswaswellenoughforafirstattempt。

OnthedayafterthedrawingIdinedwithCalsabigiatM。duVernai’s，andIhadthepleasureofhearinghimcomplainthathehadmadetoomuchmoney。Parishadeighteenortwentyternes，andalthoughtheyweresmalltheyincreasedthereputationofthelottery，anditwaseasytoseethatthereceiptsatthenextdrawingwouldbedoubled。Themockassaultsthatweremadeuponmeputmeinagoodhumour，andCalsabigisaidthatmyideahadinsuredmeanincomeofahundredthousandfrancsayear，thoughitwouldruintheotherreceivers。

"Ihaveplayedsimilarstrokesmyself，"saidM。duVernai，"andhavemostlysucceeded；andasfortheotherreceiverstheyareatperfectlibertytofollowM。Casanova’sexample，anditalltendstoincreasethereputeofaninstitutionwhichweowetohimandtoyou。

Attheseconddrawingaterneoffortythousandfrancsobligedmetoborrowmoney。Myreceiptsamountedtosixtythousand，butbeingobligedtodeliverovermychestontheeveningbeforethedrawing，I

hadtopayoutofmyownfunds，andwasnotrepaidforaweek。

InallthegreathousesIwentto，andatthetheatres，assoonasI

wasseen，everybodygavememoney，askingmetolayitoutasIlikedandtosendthemthetickets，as，sofar，thelotterywasstrangetomostpeople。Ithusgotintothewayofcarryingaboutmeticketsofallsorts，orrat