第5章

“Hecameoutofthatprettywell！“saidthepublicprosecutor，noddingapproval；“ourspeecheswereallprepared，andhiswasimprovised。”

Atteno’clockthepartybegantobreakup，andlittleknotsofguestswenthometogether。DavidSechardheardtheunwontedmusic。

“WhatisgoingoninL’Houmeau？“heaskedofBasine。

“Theyaregivingadinnertoyourbrother-in-law，Lucien——“

“Iknowthathewouldfeelsorrytomissmethere。”hesaid。

AtmidnightPetit-ClaudwalkedhomewithLucien。AstheyreachedthePlaceduMurier，Luciensaid，“Comelife，comedeath，wearefriends，mydearfellow。”

“Mymarriagecontract。”saidthelawyer，“withMlle。FrancoisedelaHayewillbesignedto-morrowatMme。deSenonches’house；domethepleasureofcoming。Mme。deSenonchesimploredmetobringyou，andyouwillmeetMme。duChatelet；theyaresuretotellherofyourspeech，andshewillfeelflatteredbyit。”

“IknewwhatIwasabout。”saidLucien。

“Oh！youwillsaveDavid。”

“IamsureIshall。”thepoetreplied。

JustatthatmomentDavidappearedasifbymagicinthePlaceduMurier。Thiswashowithadcomeabout。Hefeltthathewasinaratherdifficultposition；hiswifeinsistedthatLucienmustneithergotoDavidnorknowofhishiding-place；andLucienallthewhilewaswritingthemostaffectionateletters，sayingthatinafewdays’timeallshouldbesetright；andevenasBasineClergetexplainedthereasonwhythebandplayed，sheputtwolettersintohishands。ThefirstwasfromEve。

“DEAREST。”shewrote，“doasifLucienwerenothere；donottroubleyourselfintheleast；ourwholesecuritydependsuponthefactthatyourenemiescannotfindyou；getthatideafirmlyintoyourhead。IhavemoreconfidenceinKolbandMarionandBasinethaninmyownbrother；suchismymisfortune。Alas！poorLucienisnottheingenuousandtender-heartedpoetwhomweusedtoknow；

anditissimplybecauseheistryingtointerfereonyourbehalf，andbecauseheimaginesthathecandischargeourdebts(andthisfrompride，myDavid)，thatIamafraidofhim。SomefineclotheshavebeensentfromParisforhim，andfivegoldpiecesinaprettypurse。Hegavethemoneytome，andwearelivingonit。

“Wehaveoneenemytheless。Yourfatherhasgone，thankstoPetit-Claud。Petit-Claudunraveledhisdesigns，andputanendtothematoncebytellinghimthatyouwoulddonothingwithoutconsultinghim，andthathe(Petit-Claud)wouldnotallowyoutoconcedeasinglepointinthematteroftheinventionuntilyouhadbeenpromisedanindemnityofthirtythousandfrancs；fifteenthousandtofreeyoufromembarrassment，andfifteenthousandmoretobeyoursinanycase，whetheryourinventionsucceedsorno。I

cannotunderstandPetit-Claud。Iembraceyou，dear，awife’skissforherhusbandintrouble。OurlittleLucieniswell。Howstrangeitistowatchhimgrowrosyandstrong，likeaflower，inthesestormydays！MotherpraysGodforyounow，asalways，andsendsloveonlylesstenderthanmine——Your“EVE。”

Asamatteroffact，Petit-ClaudandtheCointetshadtakenfrightatoldSechard’speasantshrewdness，andgotridofhimsomuchthemoreeasilybecauseitwasnowvintagetimeatMarsac。Eve’sletterenclosedanotherfromLucien：——

“MYDEARDAVID，——Everythingisgoingwell。Iamarmedcap-a-pie；

to-dayIopenthecampaign，andinforty-eighthoursIshallhavemadegreatprogress。HowgladIshallbetoembraceyouwhenyouarefreeagainandmydebtsareallpaid！Mymotherandsisterpersistinmistrustingme；theirsuspicionwoundsmetothequick。

AsifIdidnotknowalreadythatyouarehidingwithBasine，foreverytimethatBasinecomestothehouseIhearnewsofyouandreceiveanswerstomyletters；andbesides，itisplainthatmysistercouldnotfindanyoneelsetotrust。IthurtsmecruellytothinkthatIshallbesonearyouto-day，andyetthatyouwillnotbepresentatthisbanquetinmyhonor。IowemylittletriumphtothevaingloryofAngouleme；inafewdaysitwillbequiteforgotten，andyoualonewouldhavetakenarealpleasureinit。But，afterall，inalittlewhileyouwillpardoneverythingtoonewhocountsitmorethanallthetriumphsintheworldtobeyourbrother，“LUCIEN。”

TwoforcestuggedsharplyatDavid’sheart；headoredhiswife；andifheheldLucieninsomewhatlessesteem，hisfriendshipwasscarcelydiminished。Insolitudeourfeelingshaveunrestrictedplay；andamanpreoccupiedlikeDavid，withall-absorbingthoughts，willgivewaytoimpulsesforwhichordinarylifewouldhaveprovidedasufficientcounterpoise。AshereadLucien’slettertothesoundofmilitarymusic，andheardofthisunlooked-forrecognition，hewasdeeplytouchedbythatexpressionofregret。Hehadknownhowitwouldbe。A

veryslightexpressionoffeelingappealsirresistiblytoasensitivesoul，fortheyareapttocreditotherswithlikedepths。Howshouldthedropfallunlessthecupwerefulltothebrim？

Soatmidnight，inspiteofallBasine’sentreaties，DavidmustgotoseeLucien。

“Nobodywillbeoutinthestreetsatthistimeofnight。”hesaid；“I

shallnotbeseen，andtheycannotarrestme。EvenifIshouldmeetpeople，IcanmakeuseofKolb’swayofgoingintohiding。Andbesides，itissointolerablylongsinceIsawmywifeandchild。”

Thereasoningwasplausibleenough；Basinegaveway，andDavidwent。

Petit-Claudwasjusttakingleaveashecameupandathiscryof“LUCIEN！“thetwobrothersflungtheirarmsabouteachotherwithtearsintheireyes。

Lifeholdsnotmanymomentssuchasthese。Lucien’sheartwentoutinresponsetothisfriendshipforitsownsake。Therewasneverquestionofdebtorandcreditorbetweenthem，andtheoffendermetwithnoreproachessavehisown。David，generousandnoblethathewas，waslongingtobestowpardon；hemeantfirstofalltoreadLucienalecture，andscatterthecloudsthatoverspreadtheloveofthebrotherandsister；andwiththeseendsinview，thelackofmoneyanditsconsequentdangersdisappearedentirelyfromhismind。

“Gohome。”saidPetit-Claud，addressinghisclient；“takeadvantageofyourimprudencetoseeyourwifeandchildagain，atanyrate；andyoumustnotbeseen，mindyou！——Howunlucky！“headded，whenhewasaloneinthePlaceduMurier。“IfonlyCerizetwerehere——“

ThebuildingsmagniloquentlystyledtheAngoulemeLawCourtsweretheninprocessofconstruction。Petit-Claudmutteredthesewordstohimselfashepassedbythehoardings，andheardatapupontheboards，andavoiceissuingfromacrackbetweentwoplanks。

“HereIam。”saidCerizet；“IsawDavidcomingoutofL’Houmeau。Iwasbeginningtohavemysuspicionsabouthisretreat，andnowIamsure；

andIknowwheretohavehim。ButIwanttoknowsomethingofLucien’splansbeforeIsetthesnareforDavid；andhereareyousendinghimintothehouse！Findsomeexcuseforstoppinghere，atleast，andwhenDavidandLuciencomeout，sendthemroundthisway；theywillthinktheyarequitealone，andIshalloverheartheirgood-bye。”

“Youareaverydevil。”mutteredPetit-Claud。

“Well，I’mblessedifamanwouldn’tdoanythingforthethingyoupromisedme。”

Petit-Claudwalkedawayfromthehoarding，andpacedupanddowninthePlaceduMurier；hewatchedthewindowsoftheroomwherethefamilysattogether，andthoughtofhisownprospectstokeepuphiscourage。Cerizet’sclevernesshadgivenhimthechanceofstrikingthefinalblow。Petit-Claudwasadouble-dealeroftheprofoundlycautiousstampthatisnevercaughtbythebaitofapresentsatisfaction，norentangledbyapersonalattachment，afterhisfirstinitiationintothestrategyofself-seekingandtheinstabilityofthehumanheart。

So，fromtheveryfirst，hehadputlittletrustinCointet。Heforesawthathismarriagenegotiationsmightveryeasilybebrokenoff，sawalsothatinthatcasehecouldnotaccuseCointetofbadfaith，andhehadtakenhismeasuresaccordingly。ButsincehissuccessattheHoteldeBargeton，Petit-Claud’sgamewasaboveboard。

Acertainunder-plotofhiswasuselessnow，andevendangeroustoamanwithhispoliticalambitions。Hehadlaidthefoundationsofhisfutureimportanceinthefollowingmanner：——

GanneracandafewofthewealthymenofbusinessinL’HoumeauformedasortofLiberalcliqueinconstantcommunication(throughcommercialchannels)withtheleadersoftheOpposition。TheVilleleministry，acceptedbythedyingLouisXVIII。，gavethesignalforachangeoftacticsintheOppositioncamp；for，sincethedeathofNapoleon，theliberalshadceasedtoresorttothedangerousexpedientofconspiracy。Theywerebusyorganizingresistancebylawfulmeansthroughouttheprovinces，andaimingatsecuringcontrolofthegreatbulkofelectorsbyconvincingthemasses。Petit-Claud，arabidLiberal，andamanofL’Houmeau，wastheinstigator，thesecretcounselor，andtheverylifeofthismovementinthelowertown，whichgroanedunderthetyrannyofthearistocratsattheupperend。HewasthefirsttoseethedangerofleavingthewholepressofthedepartmentinthecontroloftheCointets；theOppositionmusthaveitsorgan；itwouldnotdotobebehindothercities。

“IfeachoneofusgivesGanneracabillforfivehundredfrancs，hewouldhavesometwentythousandfrancsandmore；wemightbuyupSechard’sprinting-office，andwecoulddoaswelikedwiththemaster-printerifwelenthimthecapital。”Petit-Claudhadsaid。

Othershadtakenuptheidea，andinthiswayPetit-ClaudstrengthenedhispositionwithregardtoDavidontheonesideandtheCointetsontheother。Castingabouthimforatoolforhisparty，henaturallythoughtthatarogueofCerizet’scalibrewastheverymanforthepurpose。

“IfyoucanfindSechard’shiding-placeandputhiminourhands，somebodywilllendyoutwentythousandfrancstobuyhisbusiness，andverylikelytherewillbeanewspapertoprint。So，setaboutit。”hehadsaid。

Petit-ClaudputmorefaithinCerizet’sactivitythaninalltheDoublonsinexistence；andthenitwasthathepromisedCointetthatSechardshouldbearrested。Butnowthatthelittlelawyercherishedhopesofoffice，hesawthathemustturnhisbackupontheLiberals；

and，meanwhile，theamountfortheprinting-officehadbeensubscribedinL’Houmeau。Petit-Clauddecidedtoallowthingstotaketheirnaturalcourse。

“Pooh！“hethought，“Cerizetwillgetintotroublewithhispaper，andgivemeanopportunityofdisplayingmytalents。”

Hewalkeduptothedooroftheprinting-officeandspoketoKolb，thesentinel。“GoupandwarnDavidthathehadbettergonow。”hesaid，“andtakeeveryprecaution。Iamgoinghome；itisoneo’clock。”

MarioncametotakeKolb’splace。LucienandDavidcamedowntogetherandwentout，Kolbahundredpacesaheadofthem，andMarionatthesamedistancebehind。Thetwofriendswalkedpastthehoarding，Lucientalkingeagerlythewhile。

“Myplanisextremelysimple，David；buthowcouldItellyouaboutitwhileEvewasthere？Shewouldneverunderstand。IamquitesurethatatthebottomofLouise’sheartthereisafeelingthatIcanrouse，andIshouldliketoarouseitifitisonlytoavengemyselfuponthatidiottheprefect。Ifourloveaffaironlylastsforaweek，I

willcontrivetosendanapplicationthroughherforthesubventionoftwentythousandfrancsforyou。Iamgoingtoseeheragainto-morrowinthelittleboudoirwhereouroldaffairoftheheartbegan；Petit-

Claudsaysthattheroomisthesameasever；Ishallplaymypartinthecomedy；andIwillsendwordbyBasineto-morrowmorningtotellyouwhethertheactorwashissed。Youmaybeatlibertybythen，whoknows？——NowdoyouunderstandhowitwasthatIwantedclothesfromParis？Onecannotactthelover’spartinrags。”

Atsixo’clockthatmorningCerizetwenttoPetit-Claud。

“Doubloncanbereadytotakehismanto-morrowatnoon，Iwillanswerforit。”hesaid；“IknowoneofMlle。Clerget’sgirls，doyouunderstand？“Cerizetunfoldedhisplan，andPetit-ClaudhurriedtofindCointet。

“IfM。FrancisduHautoywillsettlehispropertyonFrancoise，youshallsignadeedofpartnershipwithSechardintwodays。Ishallnotbemarriedforaweekafterthecontractissigned，soweshallbothbewithinthetermsofourlittleagreement，titfortat。To-night，however，wemustkeepaclosewatchoverLucienandMme。laComtesseduChatelet，forthewholebusinessliesinthat……IfLucienhopestosucceedthroughtheCountess’influence，IhaveDavidsafe——“

“YouwillbeKeeperoftheSealsyet，itismybelief。”saidCointet。

“Andwhynot？NooneobjectstoM。dePeyronnet。”saidPetit-Claud。HehadnotaltogethersloughedhisskinofLiberalism。

Mlle。delaHaye’sambiguouspositionbroughtmostoftheuppertowntothesigningofthemarriagecontract。Thecomparativepovertyoftheyoungcoupleandtheabsenceofacorbeillequickenedtheinterestthatpeoplelovetoexhibit；foritiswithbeneficenceaswithovations，wepreferthedeedsofcharitywhichgratifyself-love。TheMarquisedePimentel，theComtesseduChatelet，M。deSenonches，andoneortwofrequentersofthehousehadgivenFrancoiseafewweddingpresents，whichmadegreattalkinthecity。Theseprettytrifles，togetherwiththetrousseauwhichZephirinehadbeenpreparingforthepasttwelvemonths，thegodfather’sjewels，andtheusualweddinggifts，consoledFrancoiseandrousedthecuriosityofsomemothersofdaughters。

Petit-ClaudandCointethadbothremarkedthattheirpresenceintheAngoulemeOlympuswasenduredratherthancourted。CointetwasFrancoise’strusteeandquasi-guardian；andifPetit-Claudwastosignthecontract，Petit-Claud’spresencewasasnecessaryastheattendanceofthemantobehangedatanexecution；butthough，oncemarried，Mme。Petit-Claudmightkeepherrightofentrytohergodmother’shouse，Petit-Claudforesawsomedifficultyonhisownaccount，andresolvedtobebeforehandwiththesehaughtypersonages。

Hefeltashamedofhisparents。HehadsenthismothertostayatMansle；nowhebeggedhertosaythatshewasoutofhealthandtogiveherconsentinwriting。Sohumiliatingwasittobewithoutrelations，protectors，orwitnessestohissignature，thatPetit-ClaudthoughthimselfinluckthathecouldbringapresentablefriendattheCountess’request。HecalledtotakeupLucien，andtheydrovetotheHoteldeBargeton。

Onthatmemorableeveningthepoetdressedtooutshineeverymanpresent。Mme。deSenoncheshadspokenofhimastheheroofthehour，andafirstinterviewbetweentwoestrangedloversisthekindofscenethatprovincialsparticularlylove。Lucienhadcometobethelionoftheevening；hewassaidtobesohandsome，somuchchanged，sowonderful，thateverywell-bornwomaninAngoulemewascurioustoseehimagain。Followingthefashionofthetransitionperiodbetweentheeighteenthcenturysmallclothesandthevulgarcostumeofthepresentday，heworetight-fittingblacktrousers。Menstillshowedtheirfiguresinthosedays，totheutterdespairoflean，clumsily-

mademortals；andLucienwasanApollo。Theopen-workgraysilkstockings，theneatshoes，andtheblacksatinwaistcoatwerescrupulouslydrawnoverhisperson，andseemedtoclingtohim。Hisforeheadlookedthewhiterbycontrastwiththethick，brightcurlsthatroseaboveitwithstudiedgrace。Theproudeyeswereradiant。

Thehands，smallasawoman’s，nevershowedtobetteradvantagethanwhengloved。HehadmodeledhimselfupondeMarsay，thefamousParisiandandy，holdinghishatandcaneinonehand，andkeepingtheotherfreefortheveryoccasionalgestureswhichillustratedhistalk。

LucienhadquiteintendedtoemulatethefamousfalsemodestyofthosewhobendtheirheadstopassbeneaththePorteSaint-Denis，andtoslipunobservedintotheroom；butPetit-Claud，havingbutonefriend，madehimuseful。HebroughtLucienalmostpompouslythroughacrowdedroomtoMme。deSenonches。Thepoetheardamurmurashepassed；notsoverylongagothathumofvoiceswouldhaveturnedhishead，to-dayhewasquitedifferent；hedidnotdoubtthathehimselfwasgreaterthanthewholeOlympusputtogether。

“Madame。”hesaid，addressingMme。deSenonches，“IhavealreadycongratulatedmyfriendPetit-Claud(amanwiththestuffinhimofwhichKeepersoftheSealsaremade)onthehonorofhisapproachingconnectionwithyou，slightasarethetiesbetweengodmotherandgoddaughter——“(thiswiththeairofamanutteringanepigram，bynomeanslostuponanywomanintheroom，foreverywomanwaslisteningwithoutappearingtodoso。)“Andasformyself。”hecontinued，“Iamdelightedtohavetheopportunityofpayingmyhomagetoyou。”

Hespokeeasilyandfluently，assomegreatlordmightspeakundertheroofofhisinferiors；andashelistenedtoZephirine’sinvolvedreply，hecastaglanceovertheroomtoconsidertheeffectthathewishedtomake。ThepausegavehimtimetodiscoverFrancisduHautoyandtheprefect；tobowgracefullytoeachwiththepropershadeofdifferenceinhissmile，and，finally，toapproachMme。duChateletasifhehadjustcaughtsightofher。Thatmeetingwastherealeventoftheevening。Noonesomuchasthoughtofthemarriagecontractlyingintheadjoiningbedroom，whitherFrancoiseandthenotaryledguestafterguesttosignthedocument。LucienmadeasteptowardsLouisedeNegrepelisse，andthenspokewiththatgraceofmannernowassociated，forher，withmemoriesofParis。

“DoIowetoyou，madame，thepleasureofaninvitationtodineatthePrefecturethedayafterto-morrow？“hesaid。

“Youoweitsolelytoyourfame，monsieur。”Louiseanswereddrily，somewhattakenabackbytheturnofaphrasebywhichLuciendeliberatelytriedtowoundherpride。

“Ah！MadamelaComtesse，Icannotbringyoutheguestifthemanisindisgrace。”saidLucien，and，withoutwaitingforananswer，heturnedandgreetedtheBishopwithstatelygrace。

“Yourlordship’sprophecyhasbeenpartiallyfulfilled。”hesaid，andtherewasawinningcharminhistones；“Iwillendeavortofulfilittotheletter。Iconsidermyselfveryfortunatesincethiseveningbringsmeanopportunityofpayingmyrespectstoyou。”

LuciendrewtheBishopintoaconversationthatlastedfortenminutes。ThewomenlookedonLucienasaphenomenon。HisunexpectedinsolencehadstruckMme。duChateletdumb；shecouldnotfindananswer。Lookingroundtheroom，shesawthateverywomanadmiredLucien；shewatchedgroupaftergrouprepeatingthephrasesbywhichLuciencrushedherwithseemingdisdain，andherheartcontractedwithaspasmofmortification。

“SupposethatheshouldnotcometothePrefectureafterthis，whattalktherewouldbe！“shethought。“Wheredidhelearnthispride？CanMlle。desToucheshavetakenafancyforhim？……Heissohandsome。

TheysaythatshehurriedtoseehiminParisthedayafterthatactressdied……Perhapshehascometotherescueofhisbrother-in-law，andhappenedtobebehindourcalecheatManslebyaccident。Lucienlookedatusverystrangelythatmorning。”

AcrowdofthoughtscrossedLouise’sbrain，andunluckilyforher，shecontinuedtopondervisiblyasshewatchedLucien。HewastalkingwiththeBishopasifhewerethekingoftheroom；makingnoefforttofindanyoneout，waitingtillotherscametohim，lookingroundabouthimwithvaryingexpression，andasmuchathiseaseashismodeldeMarsay。M。deSenonchesappearedatnogreatdistance，butLucienstillstoodbesidetheprelate。

AttheendoftenminutesLouisecouldcontainherselfnolonger。SheroseandwentovertotheBishopandsaid：

“Whatisbeingsaid，mylord，thatyousmilesooften？“

Luciendrewbackdiscreetly，andleftMme。duChateletwithhislordship。

“Ah！Mme。laComtesse，whatacleveryoungfellowheis！Hewasexplainingtomethatheowedallheistoyou——“

“_I_amnotungrateful，madame。”saidLucien，withareproachfulglancethatcharmedtheCountess。

“Letushaveanunderstanding。”shesaid，beckoninghimwithherfan。

“Comeintotheboudoir。MyLordBishop，youshalljudgebetweenus。”

“Shehasfoundafunnytaskforhislordship。”saidoneoftheChandourcamp，sufficientlyaudibly。

“Judgebetweenus！“repeatedLucien，lookingfromtheprelatetothelady；“then，isoneofusinfault？“

LouisedeNegrepelissesatdownonthesofainthefamiliarboudoir。

ShemadetheBishopsitononesideandLucienontheother，thenshebegantospeak。ButLucien，tothejoyandsurpriseofhisoldlove，honoredherwithinattention；herwordsfellunheededonhisears；hesatlikePastainTancredi，withthewordsOpatria！uponherlips，themusicofthegreatcavatinaDellRizzomighthavepassedintohisface。Indeed，Coralie’spupilhadcontrivedtobringthetearstohiseyes。

“Oh！Louise，howIlovedyou！“hemurmured，carelessoftheBishop’spresence，heedlessoftheconversation，assoonasheknewthattheCountesshadseenthetears。

“Dryyoureyes，oryouwillruinmehereasecondtime。”shesaidinanasidethathorrifiedtheprelate。

“Andonceisenough。”wasLucien’squickretort。“ThatspeechfromMme。d’Espard’scousinwoulddrytheeyesofaweepingMagdalene。Ohme！foralittlemomentoldmemories，andlostillusions，andmytwentiethyearcamebacktome，andyouhave——“

Hislordshiphastilyretreatedtothedrawing-roomatthis；itseemedtohimthathisdignitywasliketobecompromisedbythissentimentalpair。Everyoneostentatiouslyrefrainedfrominterruptingthem，andaquarterofanhourwentby；tillatlastSixteduChatelet，vexedbythelaughterandtalk，andexcursionstotheboudoirdoor，wentinwithacountenancedistinctlyoverclouded，andfoundLouiseandLucientalkingexcitedly。

“Madame。”saidSixteinhiswife’sear，“youknowAngoulemebetterthanIdo，andsurelyyoushouldthinkofyourpositionasMme。laPrefeteandoftheGovernment？“

“Mydear。”saidLouise，scanningherresponsibleeditorwithahaughtinessthatmadehimquake，“IamtalkingwithM。deRubempreofmatterswhichinterestyou。Itisaquestionofrescuinganinventorabouttofallavictimtothebasestmachinations；youwillhelpus。

Astothoseladiesyonder，andtheiropinionofme，youshallseehowIwillfreezethevenomoftheirtongues。”

ShecameoutoftheboudoironLucien’sarm，anddrewhimacrosstosignthecontractwithagreatlady’saudacity。

“Writeyournameaftermine。”shesaid，handinghimthepen。AndLuciensubmissivelysignedintheplaceindicatedbeneathhername。

“M。deSenonches，wouldyouhaverecognizedM。deRubempre？“shecontinued，andtheinsolentsportsmanwascompelledtogreetLucien。

Shereturnedtothedrawing-roomonLucien’sarm，andseatedhimontheawe-inspiringcentralsofabetweenherselfandZephirine。There，enthronedlikeaqueen，shebegan，atfirstinalowvoice，aconversationinwhichepigramevidentlywasnotwanting。Someofheroldfriends，andseveralwomenwhopaidcourttoher，cametojointhegroup，andLuciensoonbecametheheroofthecircle。TheCountessdrewhimoutonthesubjectoflifeinParis；hissatiricaltalkflowedwithspontaneousandincrediblespirit；hetoldanecdotesofcelebrities，thoseconversationalluxurieswhichtheprovincialdevourswithsuchavidity。Hiswitwasasmuchadmiredashisgoodlooks。AndMme。laComtesseSixteduChatelet，preparingLucien’striumphsopatiently，satlikeaplayerenrapturedwiththesoundofhisinstrument；shegavehimopportunitiesforareply；shelookedroundthecircleforapplausesoopenly，thatnotafewofthewomenbegantothinkthattheirreturntogetherwassomethingmorethanacoincidence，andthatLucienandLouise，lovingwithalltheirhearts，hadbeenseparatedbyadoubletreason。Pique，verylikely，hadbroughtaboutthisill-starredmatchwithChatelet。Andareactionsetinagainsttheprefect。

BeforetheCountessrosetogoatoneo’clockinthemorning，sheturnedtoLucienandsaidinalowvoice，“Domethepleasureofcomingpunctuallyto-morrowevening。”Then，withthefriendliestlittlenod，shewent，sayingafewwordstoChatelet，whowaslookingforhishat。

“IfMme。duChatelethasgivenmeacorrectideaofthestateofaffairs，countonme，mydearLucien。”saidtheprefect，preparingtohurryafterhiswife。Shewasgoingawaywithouthim，aftertheParisfashion。“Yourbrother-in-lawmayconsiderthathistroublesareatanend。”headdedashewent。

“M。leComtesurelyowesmesomuch。”smiledLucien。

CointetandPetit-Claudheardthesefarewellspeeches。

“Well，well，wearedonefornow。”Cointetmutteredinhisconfederate’sear。Petit-Claud，thunderstruckbyLucien’ssuccess，amazedbyhisbrilliantwitandvaryingcharm，wasgazingatFrancoisedelaHaye；thegirl’swholefacewasfullofadmirationforLucien。

“Belikeyourfriend。”sheseemedtosaytoherbetrothed。AgleamofjoyflittedoverPetit-Claud’scountenance。

“Westillhaveawholedaybeforetheprefect’sdinner；Iwillanswerforeverything。”

Anhourlater，asPetit-ClaudandLucienwalkedhometogether，Lucientalkedofhissuccess。“Well，mydearfellow，Icame，Isaw，I

conquered！Sechardwillbeveryhappyinafewhours’time。”

“JustwhatIwantedtoknow。”thoughtPetit-Claud。Aloudhesaid——“I

thoughtyouweresimplyapoet，Lucien，butyouareaLauzuntoo，thatistosay——twiceapoet。”andtheyshookhands——forthelasttime，asitproved。

“Goodnews，dearEve。”saidLucien，wakinghissister，“Davidwillhavenodebtsinlessthanamonth！“

“Howisthat？“

“Well，myLouiseisstillhiddenbyMme。duChatelet’spetticoat。Shelovesmemorethanever；shewillsendafavorablereportofourdiscoverytotheMinisteroftheInteriorthroughherhusband。Sowehaveonlytoendureourtroublesforonemonth，whileIavengemyselfontheprefectandcompletethehappinessofhismarriedlife。”

Evelistened，andthoughtthatshemustbedreaming。

“Isawthelittlegraydrawing-roomwhereItrembledlikeachildtwoyearsago；itseemedasifscalesfellfrommyeyeswhenIsawthefurnitureandthepicturesandthefacesagain。HowParischangesone’sideas！“

“Isthatagoodthing？“askedEve，atlastbeginningtounderstand。

“Come，come；youarestillasleep。Wewilltalkaboutitto-morrowafterbreakfast。”

Cerizet’splotwasexceedinglysimple，acommonplacestratagemfamiliartotheprovincialbailiff。Itssuccessentirelydependsuponcircumstances，andinthiscaseitwascertain，sointimatewasCerizet’sknowledgeofthecharactersandhopesofthoseconcerned。

CerizethadbeenakindofDonJuanamongtheyoungwork-girls，rulinghisvictimsbyplayingoneoffagainstanother。SincehehadbeentheCointet’sextraforeman，hehadsingledoutoneofBasineClerget’sassistants，agirlalmostashandsomeasMme。Sechard。HenrietteSignol’sparentsownedasmallvineyardtwoleaguesoutofAngouleme，ontheroadtoSaintes。TheSignols，likeeverybodyelseinthecountry，couldnotaffordtokeeptheironlychildathome；sotheymeanthertogoouttoservice，incountryphrase。Theartofclear-

starchingisapartofeverycountryhousemaid’straining；andsogreatwasMme。Prieur’sreputation，thattheSignolssentHenriettetoherasapprentice，andpaidfortheirdaughter’sboardandlodging。

Mme。Prieurwasoneoftheold-fashionedmistresses，whoconsiderthattheyfillaparent’splacetowardstheirapprentices。Theywerepartofthefamily；shetookthemwithhertochurch，andlookedscrupulouslyafterthem。HenrietteSignolwasatall，fine-lookinggirl，withboldeyes，andlong，thick，darkhair，andthepale，veryfaircomplexionofgirlsintheSouth——whiteasamagnoliaflower。ForwhichreasonsHenriettewasoneofthefirstonwhomCerizetcasthiseyes；butHenriettecameof“honestfarmerfolk。”andonlyyieldedatlasttojealousy，tobadexample，andthetreacherouspromiseofsubsequentmarriage。BythistimeCerizetwastheCointet’sforeman。

WhenhelearnedthattheSignolsownedavineyardworthsometenortwelvethousandfrancs，andatolerablycomfortablecottage，hehastenedtomakeitimpossibleforHenriettetomarryanyoneelse。

AffairshadreachedthispointwhenPetit-Claudheldouttheprospectofaprintingofficeandtwentythousandfrancsofborrowedcapital，whichwastoproveayokeupontheborrower’sneck。Cerizetwasdazzled，theofferturnedhishead；HenrietteSignolwasnowonlyanobstacleinthewayofhisambitions，andheneglectedthepoorgirl。

Henriette，inherdespair，clungmorecloselytoherseducerashetriedtoshakeheroff。WhenCerizetbegantosuspectthatDavidwashidinginBasine’shouse，hisviewswithregardtoHenrietteunderwentanotherchange，thoughhetreatedherasbefore。Akindoffrenzyworksinagirl’sbrainwhenshemustmarryherseducertoconcealherdishonor，andCerizetwasonthewatchtoturnthismadnesstohisownaccount。

DuringthemorningofthedaywhenLucienhadsethimselftoreconquerhisLouise，CerizettoldBasine’ssecrettoHenriette，givinghertounderstandatthesametimethattheirmarriageandfutureprospectsdependeduponthediscoveryofDavid’shiding-place。Thusinstructed，HenrietteeasilymadecertainofthefactthatDavidwasinBasineClerget’sinnerroom。Itneveroccurredtothegirlthatshewasdoingwrongtoactthespy，andCerizetinvolvedherintheguiltofbetrayalbythisfirststep。

LucienwasstillsleepingwhileCerizet，closetedwithPetit-Claud，heardthehistoryoftheimportanttrifleswithwhichallAngoulemepresentlywouldring。

TheCointets’foremangaveasatisfiednodasPetit-Claudcametoanend。“Luciensurelyhaswrittenyoualinesincehecameback，hashenot？“heasked。

“ThisisallthatIhave。”answeredthelawyer，andheheldoutanoteonMme。Sechard’swriting-paper。

“Verywell。”saidCerizet，“letDoublonbeinwaitatthePaletGateabouttenminutesbeforesunset；tellhimtoposthisgendarmes，andyoushallhaveourman。”

“AreyousureofYOURpartofthebusiness？“askedPetit-Claud，scanningCerizet。

“Irelyonchance。”saidtheex-streetboy，“andsheisasaucyhuzzy；

shedoesnotlikehonestfolk。

“Youmustsucceed。”saidCerizet。“Youhavepushedmeintothisdirtybusiness；youmayaswellletmehaveafewbanknotestowipeoffthestains。”——Thendetectingalookthathedidnotlikeintheattorney’sface，hecontinued，withadeadlyglance，“Ifyouhavecheatedme，sir，ifyoudon’tbuytheprinting-officeformewithinaweek——youwillleaveayoungwidow；“heloweredhisvoice。

“IfwehaveDavidonthejailregisteratsixo’clock，comeroundtoM。Gannerac’satnine，andwewillsettleyourbusiness。”saidPetit-

Claudperemptorily。

“Agreed。Yourwillshallbedone，governor。”saidCerizet。

Cerizetunderstoodtheartofwashingpaper，adangerousartfortheTreasury。HewashedoutLucien’sfourlinesandreplacedthem，imitatingthehandwritingwithadexteritywhichauguredillforhisownfuture：——

“MYDEARDAVID，——Yourbusinessissettled；youneednotfeartogototheprefect。Youcangooutatsunset。Iwillcometomeetyouandtellyouwhattodoattheprefecture——Yourbrother，“LUCIEN。”

AtnoonLucienwrotetoDavid，tellinghimofhisevening’ssuccess。

Theprefectwouldbesuretolendhisinfluence，hesaid；hewasfullofenthusiasmovertheinvention，andwasdrawingupareportthatverydaytosendtotheGovernment。MarioncarriedthelettertoBasine，takingsomeofLucien’slinentothelaundryasapretextfortheerrand。

Petit-ClaudhadtoldCerizetthataletterwouldinallprobabilitybesent。CerizetcalledforMlle。Signol，andthetwowalkedbytheCharente。Henriette’sintegritymusthaveheldoutforalongwhile，forthewalklastedfortwohours。Awholefutureofhappinessandeaseandtheinterestsofachildwereatstake，andCerizetaskedameretrifleofher。Hewasverycarefulbesidestosaynothingoftheconsequencesofthattrifle。Shewasonlytocarryaletterandamessage，thatwasall；butitwasthegreatnessoftherewardforthetriflingservicethatfrightenedHenriette。Nevertheless，Cerizetgainedherconsentatlast；shewouldhelphiminhisstratagem。

Atfiveo’clockHenriettemustgooutandcomeinagain，tellingBasineClergetthatMme。Sechardwantedtospeaktoheratonce。

FifteenminutesafterBasine’sdepartureshemustgoupstairs，knockatthedooroftheinnerroom，andgiveDavidtheforgednote。Thatwasall。Cerizetlookedtochancetomanagetherest。

Forthefirsttimeintwelvemonths，Evefelttheirongraspofnecessityrelaxalittle。Shebeganatlasttohope。She，too，wouldenjoyherbrother’svisit；shewouldshowherselfabroadonthearmofamanfetedinhisnativetown，adoredbythewomen，belovedbytheproudComtesseduChatelet。Shedressedherselfprettily，andproposedtowalkoutafterdinnerwithherbrothertoBeaulieu。InSeptemberallAngoulemecomesoutatthathourtobreathethefreshair。

“Oh！thatisthebeautifulMme。Sechard。”voicessaidhereandthere。

“Ishouldneverhavebelieveditofher。”saidawoman。

“Thehusbandisinhiding，andthewifewalksabroad。”saidMme。

PostelforyoungMme。Sechard’sbenefit。

“Oh，letusgohome。”saidpoorEve；“Ihavemadeamistake。”

Afewminutesbeforesunset，thesoundofacrowdrosefromthestepsthatleaddowntoL’Houmeau。Apparentlysomecrimehadbeencommitted，forpersonscomingfromL’Houmeauweretalkingamongthemselves。

CuriositydrewLucienandEvetowardsthesteps。

“Athiefhasjustbeenarrestednodoubt，themanlooksaspaleasdeath。”oneofthesepassers-bysaidtothebrotherandsister。Thecrowdgrewlarger。

LucienandEvewatchedagroupofsomethirtychildren，oldwomenandmen，returningfromwork，clusteringaboutthegendarmes，whosegold-

lacedcapsgleamedabovetheheadsoftherest。Aboutahundredpersonsfollowedtheprocession，thecrowdgatheringlikeastormcloud。

“Oh！itismyhusband！“Evecriedout。

“DAVID！“exclaimedLucien。

“Itishiswife。”saidvoices，andthecrowdmadeway。

“Whatmadeyoucomeout？“askedLucien。

“Yourletter。”saidDavid，haggardandwhite。

“Iknewit！“saidEve，andshefaintedaway。Lucienraisedhissister，andwiththehelpoftwostrangershecarriedherhome；Marionlaidherinbed，andKolbrushedoffforadoctor。Evewasstillinsensiblewhenthedoctorarrived；andLucienwasobligedtoconfesstohismotherthathewasthecauseofDavid’sarrest；forhe，ofcourse，knewnothingoftheforgedletterandCerizet’sstratagem。Thenhewentuptohisroomandlockedhimselfin，struckdumbbythemaledictioninhismother’seyes。

Inthedeadofnighthewroteonemoreletteramidconstantinterruptions；thereadercandivinetheagonyofthewriter’smindfromthosephrases，jerkedout，asitwere，onebyone：——

“MYBELOVEDSISTER，——Wehaveseeneachotherforthelasttime。Myresolutionisfinal，andforthisreason。Inmanyfamiliesthereisoneunluckymember，akindofdiseaseintheirmidst。Iamthatunluckyoneinourfamily。Theobservationisnotmine；itwasmadeatafriendlysupperoneeveningattheRocherdeCancalebyadiplomatewhohasseenagreatdealoftheworld。Whilewelaughedandjoked，heexplainedthereasonwhysomeyoungladyorsomeotherremainedunmarried，totheastonishmentoftheworld——

itwas’atouchofherfather，’hesaid，andwiththatheunfoldedhistheoryofinheritedweaknesses。Hetoldushowsuchandsuchafamilywouldhaveflourishedbutforthemother；howitwasthatasonhadruinedhisfather，orafatherhadstrippedhischildrenofprospectsandrespectability。Itwassaidlaughingly，butwethoughtofsomanycasesinpointintenminutesthatIwasstruckwiththetheory。Theamountoftruthinitfurnishedallsortsofwildparadoxes，whichjournalistsmaintaincleverlyenoughfortheirownamusementwhenthereisnobodyelseathandtomystify。

Ibringbadlucktoourfamily。Myheartisfullofloveforyou，yetIbehavelikeanenemy。Theblowdealtunintentionallyisthecruelestblowofall。WhileIwasleadingabohemianlifeinParis，alifemadeupofpleasureandmisery；takinggoodfellowshipforfriendship，forsakingmytruefriendsforthosewhowishedtoexploitme，andsucceeded；forgetfulofyou，orrememberingyouonlytocauseyoutrouble，——allthatwhileyouwerewalkinginthehumblepathofhardwork，makingyourwayslowlybutsurelytothefortunewhichItriedsomadlytosnatch。

Whileyougrewbetter，Igrewworse；afatalelemententeredintomylifethroughmyownchoice。Yes，unboundedambitionmakesanobscureexistencesimplyimpossibleforme。Ihavetastesandremembrancesofpastpleasuresthatpoisontheenjoymentswithinmyreach；onceIshouldhavebeensatisfiedwiththem，nowitistoolate。Oh，dearEve，noonecanthinkmorehardlyofmethanI

domyself；mycondemnationisabsoluteandpitiless。ThestruggleinParisdemandssteadyeffort；mywillpowerisspasmodic，mybrainworksintermittently。ThefutureissoappallingthatIdonotcaretofaceit，andthepresentisintolerable。

“Iwantedtoseeyouagain。Ishouldhavedonebettertostayinexileallmydays。Butexilewithoutmeansofsubsistencewouldbemadness；Iwillnotaddanotherfollytotherest。Deathisbetterthanamaimedlife；Icannotthinkofmyselfinanypositioninwhichmyoverweeningvanitywouldnotleadmeintofolly。

“Somehumanbeingsarelikethefigure0，anothermustbeputbeforeit，andtheyacquiretentimestheirvalue。Iamnothingunlessastronginexorablewillisweddedtomine。Mme。deBargetonwasintruthmywife；whenIrefusedtoleaveCoralieforherIspoiledmylife。YouandDavidmighthavebeenexcellentpilotsforme，butyouarenotstrongenoughtotamemyweakness，whichinsomesorteludescontrol。Ilikeaneasylife，alifewithoutcares；toclearanobstacleoutofmywayIcandescendtobasenessthatsticksatnothing。Iwasbornaprince。Ihavemorethantherequisiteintellectualdexterityforsuccess，butonlybymoments；andtheprizesofacareersocrowdedbyambitiouscompetitorsaretothosewhoexpendnomorethanthenecessarystrength，andretainasufficientreservewhentheyreachthegoal。

“Ishalldoharmagainwiththebestintentionsintheworld。Somemenarelikeoaks，Iamadelicateshrubitmaybe，andI

forsooth，mustneedsaspiretobeaforestcedar。

“Thereyouhavemybankrupt’sschedule。Thedisproportionbetweenmypowersandmydesires，mywantofbalance，inshort，willbringallmyeffortstonothing。Therearemanysuchcharactersamongmenofletters，manymenwhoseintellectualpowersandcharacterarealwaysatvariance，whowillonethingandwishanother。Whatwouldbecomeofme？Icanseeitallbeforehand，asIthinkofthisandthatgreatlightthatonceshoneonParis，nowutterlyforgotten。OnthethresholdofoldageIshallbeamanolderthanmyage，needyandwithoutaname。Mywholesoulrisesupagainstthethoughtofsuchaclose；Iwillnotbeasocialrag。Ah，dearsister，lovedandworshipedatleastasmuchforyourseverityatthelastasforyourtendernessatthefirst——ifwehavepaidsodearformyjoyatseeingyoualloncemore，youandDavidmayperhapssomedaythinkthatyoucouldgrudgenopricehoweverhighforalittlelasthappinessforanunhappycreaturewholovedyou。

Donottrytofindme，Eve；donotseektoknowwhatbecomesofme。Myintellectforonceshallbebackedbymywill。

Renunciation，myangel，isdailydeathofself；myrenunciationwillonlylastforoneday；Iwilltakeadvantagenowofthatday……

“TWOO’CLOCK。

“Yes，Ihavequitemadeupmymind。Farewellforever，dearEve。

ThereissomethingsweetinthethoughtthatIshallliveonlyinyourheartshenceforth，andIwishnootherburyingplace。Oncemore，farewell……Thatisthelastwordfromyourbrother“LUCIEN。”

Lucienreadtheletterover，creptnoiselesslydownstairs，andleftitinthechild’scradle；amidfallingtearshesetalastkissontheforeheadofhissleepingsister；thenhewentout。Heputouthiscandleinthegraydusk，tookalastlookattheoldhouse，stolesoftlyalongthepassage，andopenedthestreetdoor；butinspiteofhiscaution，heawakenedKolb，whosleptonamattressontheworkshopfloor。

“Whogoesthere？“criedKolb。

“ItisI，Lucien；Iamgoingaway，Kolb。”

“Youvouldhafdonebettergifyouatneferkom。”Kolbmutteredaudibly。

“IshouldhavedonebetterstillifIhadnevercomeintotheworld。”

Lucienanswered。“Good-bye，Kolb；Idon’tbearyouanygrudgeforthinkingasIthinkmyself。TellDavidthatIwassorryIcouldnotbidhimgood-bye，andsaythatthiswasmylastthought。”

BythetimetheAlsacienwasupanddressed，Lucienhadshutthehousedoor，andwasonhiswaytowardstheCharentebythePromenadedeBeaulieu。Hemighthavebeengoingtoafestival，forhehadputonhisnewclothesfromParisandhisdandy’strinketsforadrowningshroud。SomethinginLucien’stonehadstruckKolb。Atfirstthemanthoughtofgoingtoaskhismistresswhethersheknewthatherbrotherhadleftthehouse；butasthedeepestsilenceprevailed，heconcludedthatthedeparturehadbeenarrangedbeforehand，andlaydownagainandslept。

Little，consideringthegravityofthequestion，hasbeenwrittenonthesubjectofsuicide；ithasnotbeenstudied。Perhapsitisadiseasethatcannotbeobserved。Suicideisoneeffectofasentimentwhichwewillcallself-esteem，ifyouwill，topreventconfusionbyusingtheword“honor。”Whenamandespiseshimself，andseesthatothersdespisehim，whenreallifefailstofulfilhishopes，thencomesthemomentwhenhetakeshislife，andtherebydoeshomagetosociety——shornofhisvirtuesorhissplendor，hedoesnotcaretofacehisfellows。Amongatheists——Christiansbeingwithoutthequestionofsuicide——amongatheists，whatevermaybesaidtothecontrary，nonebutabasecowardcantakeupadishonoredlife。

Therearethreekindsofsuicide——thefirstisonlythelastandacutestageofalongillness，andthiskindbelongsdistinctlytopathology；thesecondisthesuicideofdespair；andthethirdthesuicidebasedonlogicalargument。DespairanddeductivereasoninghadbroughtLucientothispass，butbothvarietiesarecurable；itisonlythepathologicalsuicidethatisinevitable。Notinfrequentlyyoufindallthreecausescombined，asinthecaseofJean-JacquesRousseau。

Lucienhavingmadeuphismindfelltoconsideringmethods。Thepoetwouldfaindieasbecameapoet。AtfirsthethoughtofthrowinghimselfintotheCharenteandmakinganendthenandthere；butashecamedownthestepsfromBeaulieuforthelasttime，heheardthewholetowntalkingofhissuicide；hesawthehorridsightofadrowneddeadbody，andthoughtoftherecognitionandtheinquest；

and，likesomeothersuicides，feltthatvanityreachedbeyonddeath。

HerememberedthedayspentatCourtois’mill，andhisthoughtsreturnedtotheroundpoolamongthewillowsthathesawashecamealongbythelittleriver，suchapoolasyouoftenfindonsmallstreams，withastill，smoothsurfacethatconcealsgreatdepthsbeneath。Thewaterisneithergreennorbluenorwhitenortawny；itislikeapolishedsteelmirror。Nosword-grassgrowsaboutthemargin；therearenobluewaterforget-me-nots，norbroadlilyleaves；

thegrassatthebrimisshortandthick，andtheweepingwillowsthatdroopovertheedgegrowpicturesquelyenough。Itiseasytoimagineasheerprecipicebeneathfilledwithwatertothebrim。Anymanwhoshouldhavethecouragetofillhispocketswithpebbleswouldnotfailtofinddeath，andneverbeseenthereafter。

Atthetimewhileheadmiredthelovelyminiatureofalandscape，thepoethadthoughttohimself，“’Tisaspottomakeyourmouthwaterforanoyade。”

HethoughtofitnowashewentdownintoL’Houmeau；andwhenhetookhiswaytowardsMarsac，withthelastsombrethoughtsgnawingathisheart，itwaswiththefirmresolvetohidehisdeath。Thereshouldbenoinquestheldoverhim，hewouldnotbelaidinearth；nooneshouldseehiminthehideousconditionofthecorpsethatfloatsonthesurfaceofthewater。Beforelonghereachedoneoftheslopes，commonenoughonallFrenchhighroads，andcommonestofallbetweenAngoulemeandPoitiers。HesawthecoachfromBordeauxtoPariscomingupatfullspeedbehindhim，andknewthatthepassengerswouldprobablyalighttowalkupthehill。Hedidnotcaretobeseenjustthen。

Turningoffsharplyintoabeatentrack，hebegantopicktheflowersinavineyardhardby。

WhenLuciencamebacktotheroadwithagreatbunchoftheyellowstone-cropwhichgrowseverywhereuponthestonysoilofthevineyards，hecameoutuponatravelerdressedinblackfromheadtofoot。Thestrangerworepowder，thereweresilverbucklesonhisshoesofOrleansleather，andhisbrownfacewasscarredandseamedasifhehadfallenintothefireininfancy。Thetraveler，soobviouslyclericalinhisdress，waswalkingslowlyandsmokingacigar。HeturnedasLucienjumpeddownfromthevineyardintotheroad。Thedeepmelancholyonthehandsomeyoungface，thepoet’ssymbolicalflowers，andhiselegantdressseemedtostrikethestranger。HelookedatLucienwithsomethingoftheexpressionofahunterthathasfoundhisquarryatlastafterlongandfruitlesssearch。HeallowedLucientocomealongsideinnauticalphrase；thenheslackenedhispace，andappearedtolookalongtheroadupthehill；Lucien，followingthedirectionofhiseyes，sawalighttravelingcarriagewithtwohorses，andapost-boystandingbesideit。

“Youhaveallowedthecoachtopassyou，monsieur；youwillloseyourplaceunlessyoucaretotakeaseatinmycalecheandovertakethemail，foritisratherquickertravelingpostthanbythepublicconveyance。”ThetravelerspokewithextremepolitenessandaverymarkedSpanishaccent。

Withoutwaitingforananswer，hedrewacigar-casefromhispocket，openedit，andhelditouttoLucien。

“Iamnotonajourney。”saidLucien，“andIamtooneartheendofmystagetoindulgeinthepleasureofsmoking——“

“Youareveryseverewithyourself。”returnedtheSpaniard。“ThoughI

amacanonofthecathedralofToledo，Ioccasionallysmokeacigarette。Godgaveustobaccotoallayourpassionsandourpains。

Youseemtobedowncast，oratanyrate，youcarrythesymbolicalflowerofsorrowinyourhand，liketheruefulgodHymen。Come！allyourtroubleswillvanishawaywiththesmoke。”andagaintheecclesiasticheldouthislittlestrawcase；therewassomethingfascinatinginhismanner，andkindlinesstowardsLucienlighteduphiseyes。

“Forgiveme，father“Lucienansweredstiffly；“thereisnocigarthatcanscattermytroubles。”Tearscametohiseyesatthewords。

“ItmustsurelybeDivineProvidencethatpromptedmetotakealittleexercisetoshakeoffatraveler’smorningdrowsiness。”saidthechurchman。“Adivinepromptingtofulfilmymissionhereonearthbyconsolingyou——Whatgreattroublecanyouhaveatyourage？“

“Yourconsolations，father，candonothingforme。YouareaSpaniard，IamaFrenchman；youbelieveinthecommandmentsoftheChurch，Iamanatheist。”

“SantaVirgendelPilar！youareanatheist！“criedtheother，layingahandonLucien’sarmwithmaternalsolicitude。“Ah！hereisoneofthecuriousthingsIpromisedmyselftoseeinParis。We，inSpain，donotbelieveinatheists。ThereisnocountrybutFrancewhereonecanhavesuchopinionsatnineteenyears。”

“Oh！Iamanatheistinthefullestsenseoftheword。IhavenobeliefinGod，insociety，inhappiness。Takeagoodlookatme，father；forinafewhours’timelifewillbeoverforme。Mylastsunhasrisen。”saidLucien；withasortofrhetoricaleffecthewavedhishandtowardsthesky。

“Howso；whathaveyoudonethatyoumustdie？Whohascondemnedyoutodie？“

“Atribunalfromwhichthereisnoappeal——Imyself。”

“You，child！“criedthepriest。“Haveyoukilledaman？Isthescaffoldwaitingforyou？Letusreasontogetheralittle。Ifyouareresolved，asyousay，toreturntonothingness，everythingonearthisindifferenttoyou，isitnot？“

Lucienbowedassent。

“Verywell，then；canyounottellmeaboutyourtroubles？Somelittleaffairofthehearthastakenabadturn，nodoubt？“

Lucienshruggedhisshouldersverysignificantly。

“Areyouresolvedtokillyourselftoescapedishonor，ordoyoudespairoflife？Verygood。YoucankillyourselfatPoitiersquiteaseasilyasatAngouleme，andatToursitwillbenoharderthanatPoitiers。ThequicksandsoftheLoirenevergiveuptheirprey——“

“No，father。”saidLucien；“Ihavesettleditall。NotthreeweeksagoIchanceduponthemostcharmingraftthatcanferryamansickandtiredofthislifeintotheotherworld——“

“Theotherworld？Youarenotanatheist。”

“Oh！byanotherworldImeanmynexttransformation，animalorplant。”

“Haveyousomeincurabledisease？“

“Yes，father。”

“Ah！nowwecometothepoint。Whatisit？“

“Poverty。”

ThepriestlookedatLucien。“Thediamonddoesnotknowitsownvalue。”hesaid，andtherewasaninexpressiblecharm，andatouchofsomethinglikeironyinhissmile。

“Nonebutapriestcouldflatterapoormanabouttodie。”exclaimedLucien。

“Youarenotgoingtodie。”theSpaniardreturnedauthoritatively。

“Ihaveheardmanytimesofmenthatwererobbedonthehighroad，butIhaveneveryetheardofonethatfoundafortunethere。”saidLucien。

“Youwillhearofonenow。”saidthepriest，glancingtowardsthecarriagetomeasurethetimestillleftfortheirwalktogether。

“Listentome。”hecontinued，withhiscigarbetweenhisteeth；“ifyouarepoor，thatisnoreasonwhyyoushoulddie。Ineedasecretary，forminehasjustdiedatBarcelona。IaminthesamepositionasthefamousBaronGoertz，ministerofCharlesXII。HewastravelingtowardSweden(justasIamgoingtoParis)，andinsomelittletownorotherhechanceduponthesonofagoldsmith，ayoungmanofremarkablegoodlooks，thoughtheycouldscarcelyequalyours……BaronGoertzdiscernedintelligenceintheyoungman(justasI

seepoetryonyourbrow)；hetookhimintohistravelingcarriage，asIshalltakeyouveryshortly；andofaboycondemnedtospendhisdaysinburnishingspoonsandforksandmakingtrinketsinsomelittletownlikeAngouleme，hemadeafavorite，asyoushallbemine。

“ArrivedatStockholm，heinstalledhissecretaryandoverwhelmedhimwithwork。Theyoungmanspenthisnightsinwriting，and，likeallgreatworkers，hecontractedabadhabit，atrick——hetooktochewingpaper。ThelateM。deMalesherbesusetorappeopleovertheknuckles；

andhedidthisonce，bytheby，tosomebodyorotherwhosesuitdependeduponhim。Thehandsomeyoungsecretarybeganbychewingblankpaper，founditinsipidforawhile，andacquiredatasteformanuscriptashavingmoreflavor。Peopledidnotsmokeasyetinthosedays。Atlast，fromflavortoflavor，hebegantochewparchmentandswallowit。Now，atthattimeatreatywasbeingnegotiatedbetweenRussiaandSweden。TheStates-GeneralinsistedthatCharlesXII。

shouldmakepeace(muchastheytriedinFrancetomakeNapoleontreatforpeacein1814)andthebasisofthesenegotiationswasthetreatybetweenthetwopowerswithregardtoFinland。Goertzgavetheoriginalintohissecretary’skeeping；butwhenthetimecameforlayingthedraftbeforetheStates-General，atriflingdifficultyarose；thetreatywasnottobefound。TheStates-GeneralbelievedthattheMinister，panderingtotheKing’swishes，hadtakenitintohisheadtogetridofthedocument。BaronGoertzwas，infact，accusedofthis，andthesecretaryownedthathehadeatenthetreaty。

Hewastriedandconvictedandcondemnedtodeath——Butyouhavenotcometothatyet，sotakeacigarandsmoketillwereachthecaleche。”

Lucientookacigarandlitit，Spanishfashion，atthepriest’scigar。“Heisright。”hethought；“Icantakemylifeatanytime。”

“Itoftenhappensthatayoungman’sfortunestakeaturnwhendespairisdarkest。”theSpaniardcontinued。“ThatiswhatIwishedtotellyou，butIpreferredtoproveitbyacaseinpoint。Herewasthehandsomeyoungsecretarylyingundersentenceofdeath，andhiscasethemoredesperatebecause，ashehadbeencondemnedbytheStates-

General，theKingcouldnotpardonhim，butheconnivedathisescape。

Thesecretarystoleawayinafishing-boatwithafewcrownsinhispocket，andreachedthecourtofCourlandwithaletterofintroductionfromGoertz，explaininghissecretary’sadventuresandhiscrazeforpaper。TheDukeofCourlandwasaspendthrift；hehadastewardandaprettywife——threeseveralcausesofruin。Heplacedthecharmingyoungstrangerwithhissteward。

“Ifyoucanimaginethatthesometimesecretaryhadbeencuredofhisdepravedtastebyasentenceofdeath，youdonotknowthegripthataman’sfailingshaveuponhim；letamandiscoversomesatisfactionforhimself，andtheheadsmanwillnotkeephimfromit——Howisitthatthevicehasthispower？Isitinherentstrengthinthevice，orinherentweaknessinhumannature？Aretherecertaintastesthatshouldberegardedasvergingoninsanity？Formyself，Icannothelplaughingatthemoralistswhotrytoexpelsuchdiseasesbyfinephrases——Well，itsofelloutthatthestewardrefusedademandformoney；andtheDuketakingfrightatthis，calledforanaudit。Sheerimbecility！Nothingeasierthantomakeoutabalance-sheet；thedifficultyneverliesthere。ThestewardgavehissecretaryallthenecessarydocumentsforcompilingascheduleofthecivillistofCourland。Hehadnearlyfinisheditwhen，inthedeadofnight，theunhappypaper-eaterdiscoveredthathewaschewinguponeoftheDuke’sdischargesforaconsiderablesum。Hehadeatenhalfthesignature！Horrorseizeduponhim；hefledtotheDuchess，flunghimselfatherfeet，toldherofhiscraze，andimploredtheaidofhissovereignlady，imploredherinthemiddleofthenight。ThehandsomeyoungfacemadesuchanimpressionontheDuchessthatshemarriedhimassoonasshewasleftawidow。Andsointhemid-

eighteenthcentury，inalandwheretheking-at-armsisking，thegoldsmith’ssonbecameaprince，andsomethingmore。OnthedeathofCatherineI。hewasregent；heruledtheEmpressAnne，andtriedtobetheRichelieuofRussia。Verywell，youngman；nowknowthis——ifyouarehandsomerthanBiron，I，simplecanonthatIam，amworthmorethanaBaronGoertz。Sogetin；wewillfindaduchyofCourlandforyouinParis，orfailingtheduchy，weshallcertainlyfindtheduchess。”

TheSpanishpriestlaidahandonLucien’sarm，andliterallyforcedhimintothetravelingcarriage。Thepostilionshutthedoor。

“Nowspeak；Iamlistening。”saidthecanonofToledo，toLucien’sbewilderment。“Iamanoldpriest；youcantellmeeverything，thereisnothingtofear。Sofarwehaveonlyrunthroughourpatrimonyorsquanderedmamma’smoney。Wehavemadeaflittingfromourcreditors，andwearehonorpersonifieddowntothetipsofourelegantlittleboots……Come，confess，boldly；itwillbejustasifyouweretalkingtoyourself。”

LucienfeltlikethatheroofanEasterntale，thefisherwhotriedtodrownhimselfinmid-ocean，andsankdowntofindhimselfakingofcountriesunderthesea。TheSpanishpriestseemedsoreallyaffectionate，thatthepoethesitatednolonger；betweenAngoulemeandRuffechetoldthestoryofhiswholelife，omittingnoneofhismisdeeds，andendedwiththefinalcatastrophewhichhehadbroughtabout。Thetaleonlygainedinpoeticcharmbecausethiswasthethirdtimehehadtolditinthepastfortnight。JustashemadeanendtheypassedthehouseoftheRastignacfamily。

“YoungRastignacleftthatplaceforParis。”saidLucien；“heiscertainlynotmyequal，buthehashadbetterluck。”

TheSpaniardstartedatthename。“Oh！“hesaid。

“Yes。Thatshylittleplacebelongstohisfather。AsIwastellingyoujustnow，hewastheloverofMme。deNucingen，thefamousbanker’swife。Idriftedintopoetry；hewascleverer，hetookthepracticalside。”

Theprieststoppedthecaleche；andwassofarcuriousastowalkdownthelittleavenuethatledtothehouse，showingmoreinterestintheplacethanLucienexpectedfromaSpanishecclesiastic。

“Then，doyouknowtheRastignacs？“askedLucien。

“IknoweveryoneinParis。”saidtheSpaniard，takinghisplaceagaininthecarriage。“Andsoforwantoftenortwelvethousandfrancs，youwereabouttotakeyourlife；youareachild，youknowneithermennorthings。Aman’sfutureisworththevaluethathechoosestosetuponit，andyouvalueyoursattwelvethousandfrancs！Well，I

willgivemorethanthatforyouanytime。Asforyourbrother-in-

law’simprisonment，itisthemeresttrifle。IfthisdearM。Sechardhasmadeadiscovery，hewillbearichmansomeday，andarichmanhasneverbeenimprisonedfordebt。Youdonotseemtometobestronginhistory。Historyisoftwokinds——thereistheofficialhistorytaughtinschools，alyingcompilationadusumdelphini；andthereisthesecrethistorywhichdealswiththerealcausesofevents——ascandalouschronicle。Letmetellyoubrieflyalittlestorywhichyouhavenotheard。Therewas，onceuponatime，aman，youngandambitious，andapriesttoboot。Hewantedtoenteruponapoliticalcareer，sohefawnedontheQueen’sfavorite；thefavoritetookaninterestinhim，gavehimtherankofminister，andaseatatthecouncilboard。Oneeveningsomebodywrotetotheyoungaspirant，thinkingtodohimaservice(neverdoaservice，bytheby，unlessyouareasked)，andtoldhimthathisbenefactor’slifewasindanger。

TheKing’swrathwaskindledagainsthisrival；to-morrow，ifthefavoritewenttothepalace，hewouldcertainlybestabbed；sosaidtheletter。Well，now，youngman，whatwouldyouhavedone？“

“Ishouldhavegoneatoncetowarnmybenefactor。”Lucienexclaimedquickly。

“Youareindeedthechildwhichyourstoryreveals！“saidthepriest。

“Ourmansaidtohimself，’IftheKingisresolvedtogotosuchlengths，itisalloverwithmybenefactor；Imustreceivethislettertoolate；’sohesleptontillthefavoritewasstabbed——“

“Hewasamonster！“saidLucien，suspectingthatthepriestmeanttosoundhim。

“Soareallgreatmen；thisonewastheCardinaldeRichelieu，andhisbenefactorwastheMarechald’Ancre。YoureallydonotknowyourhistoryofFrance，yousee。WasInotrightwhenItoldyouthathistoryastaughtinschoolsissimplyacollectionoffactsanddates，morethandoubtfulinthefirstplace，andwithnobearingwhateveronthegistofthematter。YouaretoldthatsuchapersonasJeanneDarconceexisted；whereistheuseofthat？Haveyouneverdrawnyourownconclusionsfromthatfact？neverseenthatifFrancehadacceptedtheAngevindynastyofthePlantagenets，thetwopeoplesthusreunitedwouldberulingtheworldto-day，andtheislandsthatnowbrewpoliticalstormsforthecontinentwouldbeFrenchprovinces？……Why，haveyousomuchasstudiedthemeansbywhichsimplemerchantsliketheMedicisbecameGrandDukesofTuscany？“

“ApoetinFranceisnotboundtobe’aslearnedasaBenedictine，’“

saidLucien。

“Well，theybecameGrand-DukesasRichelieubecameaminister。Ifyouhadlookedintohistoryforthecausesofeventsinsteadofgettingtheheadingsbyheart，youwouldhavefoundpreceptsforyourguidanceinthislife。Theserealfactstakenatrandomfromamongsomanysupplyyouwiththeaxiom——’Lookuponmen，andonwomenmostofall，asyourinstruments；butneverletthemseethis。’Ifsomeonehigherinplacecanbeusefultoyou，worshiphimasyourgod；andneverleavehimuntilhehaspaidthepriceofyourservilitytothelastfarthing。Inyourintercoursewithmen，inshort，begraspingandmeanasaJew；allthattheJewdoesformoney，youmustdoforpower。Andbesidesallthis，whenamanhasfallenfrompower，carenomoreforhimthanifhehadceasedtoexist。Anddoyouaskwhyyoumustdothesethings？Youmeantoruletheworld，doyounot？Youmustbeginbyobeyingandstudyingit。Scholarsstudybooks；politiciansstudymen，andtheirinterestsandthespringsofaction。Societyandmankindinmassesarefatalists；theybowdownandworshiptheaccomplishedfact。DoyouknowwhyIamgivingyouthislittlehistorylesson？Itseemstomethatyourambitionisboundless——“

“Yes，father。”

“Isawthatmyself。”saidthepriest。“Butatthismomentyouarethinking，’HereisthisSpanishcanoninventinganecdotesandstraininghistorytoprovetomethatIhavetoomuchvirtue——’“

Lucienbegantosmile；histhoughtshadbeenreadsoclearly。

“Verywell，letustakefactsthateveryschoolboyknows。OnedayFranceisalmostentirelyoverrunbytheEnglish；theKinghasonlyasingleprovinceleft。Twofiguresarisefromamongthepeople——apoorherdgirl，thatveryJeanneDarcofwhomwewerespeaking，andaburghernamedJacquesCoeur。Thegirlbringsthepowerofvirginity，thestrengthofherarm；theburghergiveshisgold，andthekingdomissaved。Themaidistakenprisoner，andtheKing，whocouldhaveransomedher，leaveshertobeburnedalive。TheKingallowshiscourtiertoaccusethegreatburgherofcapitalcrime，andtheyrobhimanddivideallhiswealthamongthemselves。Thespoilsofaninnocentman，hunteddown，broughttobay，anddrivenintoexilebytheLaw，wenttoenrichfivenoblehouses；andthefatheroftheArchbishopofBourgesleftthekingdomforeverwithoutonesouofallhispossessionsinFrance，andnoresourcebutmoneysremittedtoArabsandSaracensinEgypt。Itisopentoyoutosaythattheseexamplesareoutofdate，thatthreecenturiesofpubliceducationhavesinceelapsed，andthattheoutlinesofthoseagesaremoreorlessdimfigures。Well，youngman，doyoubelieveinthelastdemi-godofFrance，inNapoleon？Oneofhisgeneralswasindisgraceallthroughhiscareer；Napoleonmadehimamarshalgrudgingly，andneversenthimonserviceifhecouldhelpit。ThatmarshalwasKellermann。

Doyouknowthereasonofthegrudge？……KellermannsavedFranceandtheFirstConsulatMarengobyabrilliantcharge；theranksapplaudedunderfireandinthethickofthecarnage。Thatheroicchargewasnotevenmentionedinthebulletin。Napoleon’scoolnesstowardKellermann，Fouche’sfall，andTalleyrand’sdisgracewereallattributabletothesamecause；itistheingratitudeofaCharlesVII。，oraRichelieu，or——“

“But，father。”saidLucien，“supposethatyoushouldsavemylifeandmakemyfortune，youaremakingthetiesofgratitudesomewhatslight。”

“Littlerogue。”saidtheAbbe，smilingashepinchedLucien’searwithanalmostroyalfamiliarity。“Ifyouareungratefultome，itwillbebecauseyouareastrongman，andIshallbendbeforeyou。Butyouarenotthatjustyet；asasimple’prenticeyouhavetriedtobemastertoosoon，thecommonfaultofFrenchmenofyourgeneration。Napoleon’sexamplehasspoiledthemall。Yousendinyourresignationbecauseyouhavenotthepairofepaulettesthatyoufancied。Buthaveyouattemptedtobringthefullforceofyourwillandeveryactionofyourlifetobearuponyouroneidea？“

“Alas！no。”

“Youhavebeeninconsistent，astheEnglishsay。”smiledthecanon。

“WhatIhavebeenmattersnothingnow。”saidLucien，“ifIcanbenothinginthefuture。”

“Ifatthebackofallyourgoodqualitiesthereispowersempervirens。”continuedthepriest，notaversetoshowthathehadalittleLatin，“nothinginthisworldcanresistyou。Ihavetakenenoughofalikingforyoualready——“

Luciensmiledincredulously。

“Yes。”saidthepriest，inanswertothesmile，“youinterestmeasmuchasifyouhadbeenmyson；andIamstrongenoughtoaffordtotalktoyouasopenlyasyouhavejustdonetome。DoyouknowwhatitisthatIlikeaboutyou？——This：youhavemadeasortoftabularasawithinyourself，andarereadytohearasermononmoralitythatyouwillhearnowhereelse；formankindinthemassareevenmoreconsummatehypocritesthananyoneindividualcanbewhenhisinterestsdemandapieceofacting。Mostofusspendagoodpartofourlivesinclearingourmindsofthenotionsthatsprangupuncheckedduringournonage。Thisiscalled’gettingourexperience。’“

Lucien，listening，thoughtwithinhimself，“Hereissomeoldintriguerdelightedwithachanceofamusinghimselfonajourney。Heispleasedwiththeideaofbringingaboutachangeofopinioninapoorwretchonthebrinkofsuicide；andwhenheistiredofhisamusement，hewilldropme。Stillheunderstandsparadox，andseemstobequiteamatchforBlondetorLousteau。”

Butinspiteofthesesagereflections，thediplomate’spoisonhadsunkdeeplyintoLucien’ssoul；thegroundwasreadytoreceiveit，andthehavocwroughtwasthegreaterbecausesuchfamousexampleswerecited。Lucienfellunderthecharmofhiscompanion’scynicaltalk，andclungthemorewillinglytolifebecausehefeltthatthisarmwhichdrewhimupfromthedepthswasastrongone。