第6章

Inthisrespecttheecclesiastichadevidentlywontheday；and，indeed，fromtimetotimeamalicioussmileborehiscynicalanecdotescompany。

“Ifyoursystemofmoralityatallresemblesyourmannerofregardinghistory。”saidLucien，“Ishoulddearlyliketoknowthemotiveofyourpresentactofcharity，forsuchitseemstobe。”

“There，youngman，Ihavecometothelastheadofmysermon；youwillpermitmetoreserveit，forinthatcaseweshallnotpartcompanyto-day。”saidthecanon，withthetactofthepriestwhoseesthathisguilehassucceeded。

“Verywell，talkmorality。”saidLucien。Tohimselfhesaid，“Iwilldrawhimout。”

“Moralitybeginswiththelaw。”saidthepriest。“Ifitweresimplyaquestionofreligion，lawswouldbesuperfluous；religiouspeopleshavefewlaws。Thelawsofstatecraftareabovecivillaw。Well，doyoucaretoknowtheinscriptionwhichapoliticiancanread，writtenatlargeoveryournineteenthcentury？In1793theFrenchinventedtheideaofthesovereigntyofthepeople——andthesovereigntyofthepeoplecametoanendundertheabsoluterulerintheEmperor。Somuchforyourhistoryasanation。Nowforyourprivatemanners。Mme。

TallienandMme。Beauharnaisbothactedalike。Napoleonmarriedtheone，andmadeheryourEmpress；theotherhewouldneverreceiveatcourt，princessthoughshewas。Thesans-culotteof1793takestheIronCrownin1804。ThefanaticalloversofEqualityorDeathconspirefourteenyearsafterwardswithaLegitimistaristocracytobringbackLouisXVIII。Andthatsamearistocracy，lordingitto-dayintheFaubourgSaint-Germain，hasdoneworse——hasbeenmerchant，usurer，pastry-cook，farmer，andshepherd。SoinFrancesystemspoliticalandmoralhavestartedfromonepointandreachedanotherdiametricallyopposed；andmenhaveexpressedonekindofopinionandactedonanother。Therehasbeennoconsistencyinnationalpolicy，norintheconductofindividuals。Youcannotbesaidtohaveanymoralityleft。

Successisthesupremejustificationofallactionswhatsoever。Thefactinitselfisnothing；theimpressionthatitmakesuponothersiseverything。Hence，pleaseobserveasecondprecept：Presentafairexteriortotheworld，keeptheseamysideoflifetoyourself，andturnaresplendentcountenanceuponothers。Discretion，themottoofeveryambitiousman，isthewatchwordofourOrder；takeitforyourown。Greatmenareguiltyofalmostasmanybasedeedsaspooroutcasts；buttheyarecarefultodothesethingsinshadowandtoparadetheirvirtuesinthelight，ortheywouldnotbegreatmen。

Yourinsignificantmanleaveshisvirtuesintheshade；hepubliclydisplayshispitiableside，andisdespisedaccordingly。You，forinstance，havehiddenyourtitlestogreatnessandmadeadisplayofyourworstfailings。Youopenlytookanactressforyourmistress，livedwithheranduponher；youwerebynomeanstoblameforthis；

everybodyadmittedthatbothofyouwereperfectlyfreetodoasyouliked；butyouranfulltiltagainsttheideasoftheworld，andtheworldhasnotshownyoutheconsiderationthatisshowntothosewhoobeytherulesofthegame。IfyouhadleftCoralietothisM。

Camusot，ifyouhadhiddenyourrelationswithher，youmighthavemarriedMme。deBargeton；youwouldnowbeprefectofAngoulemeandMarquisdeRubempre。

“Changeyourtactics，bringyourgoodlooks，yourcharm，yourwit，yourpoetrytothefront。Ifyouindulgeinsmalldiscreditablecourses，letitbewithinfourwalls，andyouwillneveragainbeguiltyofablotonthedecorationsofthisgreattheatricalscenecalledsociety。Napoleoncalledthis’washingdirtylinenathome。’

Thecorollaryfollowsnaturallyonthissecondprecept——Formiseverything。Becarefultograspthemeaningofthatword’form。’Therearepeoplewho，forwantofknowingbetter，willhelpthemselvestomoneyunderpressureofwant，andtakeitbyforce。Thesepeoplearecalledcriminals；and，perforce，theysquareaccountswithJustice。A

poormanofgeniusdiscoverssomesecret，someinventionasgoodasatreasure；youlendhimthreethousandfrancs(forthat，practically，theCointetshavedone；theyholdyourbills，andtheyareabouttorobyourbrother-in-law)；youtormenthimuntilherevealsorpartlyrevealshissecret；yousettleyouraccountswithyourownconscience，andyourconsciencedoesnotdragyouintotheassizecourt。

“Theenemiesofsocialorder，beholdingthiscontrast，takeoccasiontoyapatjustice，andwaxwrothinthenameofthepeople，because，forsooth，burglarsandfowl-stealersaresenttothehulks，whileamanwhobringswholefamiliestoruinbyafraudulentbankruptcyisletoffwithafewmonths’imprisonment。Butthesehypocritesknowquitewellthatthejudgewhopassessentenceonthethiefismaintainingthebarriersetbetweenthepoorandtherich，andthatifthatbarrierwereoverturned，socialchaoswouldensue；while，inthecaseofthebankrupt，themanwhostealsaninheritancecleverly，andthebankerwhoslaughtersabusinessforhisownbenefit，moneymerelychangeshands，thatisall。

“Society，myson，isboundtodrawthosedistinctionswhichIhavepointedoutforyourbenefit。Theonegreatpointisthis——youmustbeamatchforsociety。Napoleon，Richelieu，andtheMediciswereamatchfortheirgenerations。Andasforyou，youvalueyourselfattwelvethousandfrancs！YouofthisgenerationinFranceworshipthegoldencalf；whatelseisthereligionofyourCharterthatwillnotrecognizeamanpoliticallyunlessheownsproperty？Whatisthisbutthecommand，’Strivetoberich？’Someday，whenyoushallhavemadeafortunewithoutbreakingthelaw，youwillberich；youwillbetheMarquisdeRubempre，andyoucanindulgeintheluxuryofhonor。Youwillbesoextremelysensitiveonthepointofhonorthatnoonewilldaretoaccuseyouofpastshortcomingsifintheprocessofmakingyourwayyoushouldhappentosmirchitnowandagain，whichImyselfshouldneveradvise。”headded，pattingLucien’shand。

“Sowhatmustyouputinthatcomelyheadofyours？Simplythisandnothingmore——proposetoyourselfabrilliantandconspicuousgoal，andgotowardsitsecretly；letnooneseeyourmethodsoryourprogress。Youhavebehavedlikeachild；beaman，beahunter，lieinwaitforyourquarryintheworldofParis，waitforyourchanceandyourgame；youneednotbeparticularnormindfulofyourdignity，asitiscalled；weareallofusslavestosomething，tosomefailingofourownortonecessity；butkeepthatlawoflaws——secrecy。”

“Father，youfrightenme。”saidLucien；“thisseemstometobeahighwayman’stheory。”

“Andyouareright。”saidthecanon，“butitisnoinventionofmine。

Allparvenusreasoninthisway——thehouseofAustriaandthehouseofFrancealike。Youhavenothing，yousay？TheMedicis，Richelieu，andNapoleonstartedfrompreciselyyourstandpoint；butTHEY，mychild，consideredthattheirprospectswereworthingratitude，treachery，andthemostglaringinconsistencies。Youmustdareallthingstogainallthings。Letusdiscussit。Supposethatyousitdowntoagameofbouillotte，doyoubegintoargueovertherulesofthegame？Theretheyare，youacceptthem。”

“Come，now。”thoughtLucien，“hecanplaybouillotte。”

“Andwhatdoyoudo？“continuedthepriest；“doyoupractiseopenness，thatfairestofvirtues？Notmerelydoyouhideyourtactics，butyoudoyourbesttomakeothersbelievethatyouareonthebrinkofruinassoonasyouaresureofwinningthegame。Inshort，youdissemble，doyounot？Youlietowinfourorfivelouisd’or。Whatwouldyouthinkofaplayersogenerousastoproclaimthatheheldahandfulloftrumps？Verywell；theambitiousmanwhocarriesvirtue’spreceptsintothearenawhenhisantagonistshaveleftthembehindisbehavinglikeachild。Oldmenoftheworldmightsaytohim，ascard-playerswouldsaytothemanwhodeclinestotakeadvantageofhistrumps，’Monsieur，yououghtnottoplayatbouillotte。’

“Didyoumaketherulesofthegameofambition？WhydidItellyoutobeamatchforsociety？——Because，inthesedays，societybydegreeshasusurpedsomanyrightsovertheindividual，thattheindividualiscompelledtoactinself-defence。Thereisnoquestionoflawsnow，theirplacehasbeentakenbycustom，whichistosaygrimacings，andformsmustalwaysbeobserved。”

Lucienstartedwithsurprise。

“Ah，mychild！“saidthepriest，afraidthathehadshockedLucien’sinnocence；“didyouexpecttofindtheAngelGabrielinanAbbeloadedwithalltheiniquitiesofthediplomacyandcounter-diplomacyoftwokings？IamanagentbetweenFerdinandVII。andLouisXVIII。，two——

kingswhoowetheircrownstoprofound——er——combinations，letussay。

IbelieveinGod，butIhaveastillgreaterbeliefinourOrder，andourOrderhasnobeliefsaveintemporalpower。Inordertostrengthenandconsolidatethetemporalpower，ourOrderupholdstheCatholicApostolicandRomanChurch，whichistosay，thedoctrineswhichdisposetheworldatlargetoobedience。WearetheTemplarsofmoderntimes；wehaveadoctrineofourown。LiketheTemplars，wehavebeendispersed，andforthesamereasons；wearealmostamatchfortheworld。Ifyouwillenlistasasoldier，Iwillbeyourcaptain。Obeymeasawifeobeysherhusband，asachildobeyshismother，andI

willguaranteethatyoushallbeMarquisdeRubempreinlessthansixmonths；youshallmarryintooneoftheproudesthousesintheFaubourgSaint-Germain，andsomedayyoushallsitonabenchwithpeersofFrance。WhatwouldyouhavebeenatthismomentifIhadnotamusedyoubymyconversation？——Anundiscoveredcorpseinadeepbedofmud。Wellandgood，nowforaneffortofimagination——“

Lucienlookedcuriouslyathisprotector。

“Here，inthiscalechebesidetheAbbeCarlosHerrera，canonofToledo，secretenvoyfromHisMajestyFerdinandVII。tohisMajestytheKingofFrance，bearerofadespatchthuswordeditmaybe——’Whenyouhavedeliveredme，hangallthosewhomIfavoratthismoment，moreespeciallythebearerofthisdespatch，forthenhecantellnotales’——well，besidethisenvoysitsayoungmanwhohasnothingincommonwiththatpoetrecentlydeceased。Ihavefishedyououtofthewater，Ihavebroughtyoutolifeagain，youbelongtomeasthecreaturebelongstothecreator，astheefritsoffairytalesbelongtothegenii，asthejanissarytotheSultan，asthesoultothebody。I

willsustainyouinthewaytopowerwithastronghand；andatthesametimeIpromisethatyourlifeshallbeacontinualcourseofpleasure，honors，andenjoyment。Youshallneverwantformoney。Youshallshine，youshallgobravelyintheeyesoftheworld；whileI，crouchinginthemud，willlayafirmfoundationforthebrilliantedificeofyourfortunes。ForIlovepowerforitsownsake。Ishallalwaysrejoiceinyourenjoyment，forbiddentome。Inshort，myselfshallbecomeyourself！Well，ifadayshouldcomewhenthispactbetweenmanandthetempter，thisagreementbetweenthechildandthediplomatistshouldnolongersuityourideas，youcanstilllookaboutforsomequietspot，likethatpoolofwhichyouwerespeaking，anddrownyourself；youwillonlybeasyouarenow，oralittlemoreoralittlelesswretchedanddishonored。”

“ThisisnotliketheArchbishopofGranada’shomily。”saidLucienastheystoppedtochangehorses。

“Callthisconcentratededucationbywhatnameyouwill，myson，foryouaremyson，Iadoptyouhenceforth，andshallmakeyoumyheir；itistheCodeofambition。God’selectarefewandfarbetween。Thereisnochoice，youmustburyyourselfinthecloister(andthereyouveryoftenfindtheworldagaininminiature)oraccepttheCode。”

“Perhapsitwouldbebetternottobesowise。”saidLucien，tryingtofathomthisterriblepriest。

“What！“rejoinedthecanon。“Youbegintoplaybeforeyouknowtherulesofthegame，andnowyouthrowitupjustasyourchancesarebest，andyouhaveasubstantialgodfathertobackyou！Andyoudonotevencaretoplayareturnmatch？YoudonotmeantosaythatyouhavenomindtobeevenwiththosewhodroveyoufromParis？“

Lucienquivered；thesoundsthatrangthrougheverynerveseemedtocomefromsomebronzeinstrument，someChinesegong。

“Iamonlyapoorpriest。”returnedhismentor，andagrimexpression，dreadfultobehold，appearedforamomentonafaceburnedtoacopper-redbythesunofSpain，“Iamonlyapoorpriest；butifIhadbeenhumiliated，vexed，tormented，betrayed，andsoldasyouhavebeenbythescoundrelsofwhomyouhavetoldme，IshoulddolikeanArabofthedesert——Iwoulddevotemyselfbodyandsoultovengeance。I

mightendbydanglingfromagibbet，garroted，impaled，guillotinedinyourFrenchfashion，Ishouldnotcarearap；buttheyshouldnothavemyheaduntilIhadcrushedmyenemiesundermyheel。”

Lucienwassilent；hehadnowishtodrawthepriestoutanyfurther。

“SomearedescendedfromCainandsomefromAbel。”thecanonconcluded；“Imyselfamofmixedblood——Cainformyenemies，Abelformyfriends。WoetohimthatshallawakenCain！Afterall，youareaFrenchman；IamaSpaniard，and，whatismore，acanon。”

“WhataTartar！“thoughtLucien，scanningtheprotectorthussenttohimbyHeaven。

TherewasnosignoftheJesuit，norevenoftheecclesiastic，abouttheAbbeCarlosHerrera。Hishandswerelarge，hewasthick-setandbroad-chested，evidentlyhepossessedthestrengthofaHercules；histerrificexpressionwassoftenedbybenignityassumedatwill；butacomplexionofimpenetrablebronzeinspiredfeelingsofrepulsionratherthanattachmentfortheman。

Thestrangediplomatistlookedsomewhatlikeabishop，forheworepowderonhislong，thickhair，afterthefashionofthePrincedeTalleyrand；agoldcross，hangingfromastripofblueribbonwithawhiteborder，indicatedanecclesiasticaldignitary。Theoutlinesbeneaththeblacksilkstockingswouldnothavedisgracedanathlete。

Theexquisiteneatnessofhisclothesandpersonrevealedanamountofcarewhichasimplepriest，and，aboveall，aSpanishpriest，doesnotalwaystakewithhisappearance。Athree-corneredhatlayonthefrontseatofthecarriage，whichborethearmsofSpain。

Inspiteofthesenseofrepulsion，theeffectmadebytheman’sappearancewasweakenedbyhismanner，fierceandyetwinningasitwas；heevidentlylaidhimselfouttopleaseLucien，andthewinningmannerbecamealmostcoaxing。YetLuciennoticedthesmallesttriflesuneasily。Hefeltthatthemomentofdecisionhadcome；theyhadreachedthesecondstagebeyondRuffec，andthedecisionmeantlifeordeath。

TheSpaniard’slastwordsvibratedthroughmanychordsinhisheart，and，totheshameofboth，itmustbesaidthatallthatwasworstinLucienrespondedtoanappealdeliberatelymadetohisevilimpulses，andtheeyesthatstudiedthepoet’sbeautifulfacehadreadhimveryclearly。LucienbeheldParisoncemore；inimaginationhecaughtagainatthereinsofpowerletfallfromhisunskilledhands，andheavengedhimself！ThecomparisonswhichhehimselfhaddrawnsolatelybetweenthelifeofParisandlifeintheprovincesfadedfromhismindwiththemorepainfulmotivesforsuicide；hewasabouttoreturntohisnaturalsphere，andthistimewithaprotector，apoliticalintriguerunscrupulousasCromwell。

“Iwasalone，nowtherewillbetwoofus。”hetoldhimself。Andthenthispriesthadbeenmoreandmoreinterestedashetoldofhissinsoneafteranother。Theman’scharityhadgrownwiththeextentofhismisdoings；nothinghadastonishedthisconfessor。Andyet，whatcouldbethemotiveofamoverintheintriguesofkings？Lucienatfirstwasfaintobecontentwiththebanalanswer——theSpanishareagenerousrace。TheSpaniardisgenerous！evensotheItalianisjealousandapoisoner，theFrenchmanfickle，theGermanfrank，theJewignoble，andtheEnglishmannoble。Reversetheseverdictsandyoushallarrivewithinareasonabledistanceofthetruth！TheJewshavemonopolizedthegoldoftheworld；theycomposeRoberttheDevil，actPhedre，singWilliamTell，givecommissionsforpicturesandbuildpalaces，writeReisebilderandwonderfulverse；theyaremorepowerfulthanever，theirreligionisaccepted，theyhavelentmoneytotheHolyFatherhimself！AsforGermany，aforeignerisoftenaskedwhetherhehasacontractinwriting，andthisisinthesmallestmatters，sotrickyaretheyintheirdealings。InFrancethespectacleofnationalblundershasneverlackednationalapplauseforthepastfiftyyears；wecontinuetowearhatswhichnomortalcanexplain，andeverychangeofgovernmentismadeontheexpressconditionthatthingsshallremainexactlyastheywerebefore。Englandflauntsherperfidyinthefaceoftheworld，andherabominabletreacheryisonlyequaledbyhergreed。AllthegoldoftwoIndiespassedthroughthehandsofSpain，andnowshehasnothingleft。ThereisnocountryintheworldwherepoisonissolittleinrequestasinItaly，nocountrywheremannersareeasierormoregentle。AsfortheSpaniard，hehastradedlargelyonthereputationoftheMoor。

AstheCanonofToledoreturnedtothecaleche，hehadspokenawordtothepost-boy。“Drivepost-haste。”hesaid，“andtherewillbethreefrancsfordrink-moneyforyou。”Then，seeingthatLucienhesitated，“Come！come！“heexclaimed，andLucientookhisplaceagain，tellinghimselfthathemeanttotrytheeffectoftheargumentumadhominem。

“Father。”hebegan，“afterpouringout，withallthecoolnessintheworld，aseriesofmaximswhichthevulgarwouldconsiderprofoundlyimmoral——“

“Andsotheyare。”saidthepriest；“thatiswhyJesusChristsaidthatitmustneedsbethatoffencescome，myson；andthatiswhytheworlddisplayssuchhorrorofoffences。”

“AmanofyourstampwillnotbesurprisedbythequestionwhichIamabouttoask？“

“Indeed，myson，youdonotknowme。”saidCarlosHerrera。“DoyousupposethatIshouldengageasecretaryunlessIknewthatIcoulddependuponhisprinciplessufficientlytobesurethathewouldnotrobme？Ilikeyou。Youareasinnocentineverywayasatwenty-year-

oldsuicide。Yourquestion？“

“Whydoyoutakeaninterestinme？Whatpricedoyousetonmyobedience？Whyshouldyougivemeeverything？Whatisyourshare？“

TheSpaniardlookedatLucien，andasmilecameoverhisface。

“Letuswaittillwecometothenexthill；wecanwalkupandtalkoutintheopen。Thebackseatofatravelingcarriageisnottheplaceforconfidences。”

Theytraveledinsilenceforsometime；therapidityofthemovementseemedtoincreaseLucien’smoralintoxication。

“Hereisahill，father。”hesaidatlastawakeningfromakindofdream。

“Verywell，wewillwalk。”TheAbbecalledtothepostiliontostop，andthetwosprangoutupontheroad。

“Youchild。”saidtheSpaniard，takingLucienbythearm，“haveyoueverthoughtoverOtway’sVenicePreserved？DidyouunderstandtheprofoundfriendshipbetweenmanandmanwhichbindsPierreandJaffiereachtoeachsocloselythatawomanisasnothingincomparison，andallsocialconditionsarechanged？——Well，somuchforthepoet。”

“Sothecanonknowssomethingofthedrama。”thoughtLucien。“HaveyoureadVoltaire？“heasked。

“Ihavedonebetter。”saidtheother；“Iputhisdoctrineinpractice。”

“YoudonotbelieveinGod？“

“Come！itisIwhoamtheatheist，isit？“theAbbesaid，smiling。

“Letuscometopracticalmatters，mychild。”headded，puttinganarmroundLucien’swaist。“Iamforty-sixyearsold，Iamthenaturalsonofagreatlord；consequently，Ihavenofamily，andIhaveaheart。

But，learnthis，carveitonthatstillsosoftbrainofyours——mandreadstobealone。Andofallkindsofisolation，inwardisolationisthemostappalling。TheearlyanchoritelivedwithGod；hedweltinthespiritworld，themostpopulousworldofall。Themiserlivesinaworldofimaginationandfruition；hiswholelifeandallthatheis，evenhissex，liesinhisbrain。Aman’sfirstthought，beheleperorconvict，hopelesslysickordegraded，istofindanotherwithalikefatetoshareitwithhim。Hewillexerttheutmostthatisinhim，everypower，allhisvitalenergy，tosatisfythatcraving；itishisverylife。Butforthattyrannouslonging，wouldSatanhavefoundcompanions？Thereisawholepoemyettobewritten，afirstpartofParadiseLost；Milton’spoemisonlytheapologyfortherevolt。”

“ItwouldbetheIliadofCorruption。”saidLucien。

“Well，Iamalone，Ilivealone。IfIwearthepriest’shabit，Ihavenotapriest’sheart。Iliketodevotemyselftosomeone；thatismyweakness。Thatismylife，thatishowIcametobeapriest。Iamnotafraidofingratitude，andIamgrateful。TheChurchisnothingtome；

itisanidea。IamdevotedtotheKingofSpain，butyoucannotgiveaffectiontoaKingofSpain；heismyprotector，hetowersaboveme。

Iwanttolovemycreature，tomouldhim，fashionhimtomyuse，andlovehimasafatherloveshischild。Ishalldriveinyourtilbury，myboy，enjoyyoursuccesswithwomen，andsaytomyself，’Thisfineyoungfellow，thisMarquisdeRubempre，mycreationwhomIhavebroughtintothisgreatworld，ismyverySelf；hisgreatnessismydoing，hespeaksorissilentwithmyvoice，heconsultsmeineverything。’TheAbbedeVermontfeltthusforMarie-Antoinette。”

“Heledhertothescaffold。”

“HedidnotlovetheQueen。”saidthepriest。“HEonlylovedtheAbbedeVermont。”

“MustIleavedesolationbehindme？“

“Ihavemoney，youshalldrawonme。”

“IwoulddoagreatdealjustnowtorescueDavidSechard。”saidLucien，inthetoneofonewhohasgivenupallideaofsuicide。

“Saybutoneword，myson，andbyto-morrowmorningheshallhavemoneyenoughtosethimfree。”

“What！Wouldyougivemetwelvethousandfrancs？“

“Ah！child，doyounotseethatwearetravelingonattherateoffourleaguesanhour？WeshalldineatPoitiersbeforelong，andthere，ifyoudecidetosignthepact，togivemeasingleproofofobedience，agreatproofthatIshallrequire，thentheBordeauxcoachshallcarryfifteenthousandfrancstoyoursister——“

“Whereisthemoney？“

TheSpaniardmadenoanswer，andLuciensaidwithinhimself，“ThereI

hadhim；hewaslaughingatme。”

Inanothermomenttheytooktheirplaces。Neitherofthemsaidaword。

SilentlytheAbbegropedinthepocketofthecoach，anddrewoutatraveler’sleatherpouchwiththreedivisionsinit；thencehetookahundredPortuguesemoidores，bringingouthislargehandfilledwithgoldthreetimes。

“Father，Iamyours。”saidLucien，dazzledbythestreamofgold。

“Child！“saidthepriest，andsetatenderkissonLucien’sforehead。

“Thereistwiceasmuchstillleftinthebag，besidesthemoneyfortravelingexpenses。”

“Andyouaretravelingalone！“criedLucien。

“Whatisthat？“askedtheSpaniard。“IhavemorethanahundredthousandcrownsindraftsonParis。Adiplomatistwithoutmoneyisinyourpositionofthismorning——apoetwithoutawillofhisown！“

AsLucientookhisplaceinthecalechebesidetheso-calledSpanishdiplomatist，Everosetogiveherchildadraughtofmilk，foundthefatalletterinthecradle，andreadit。Asuddencoldchilledthedampsofmorningslumber，dizzinesscameoverher，shecouldnotsee。

ShecalledaloudtoMarionandKolb。

“Hasmybrothergoneout？“sheasked，andKolbansweredatoncewith，“Yes，Montame，peforetay。”

“KeepthisthatIamgoingtotellyouaprofoundsecret。”saidEve。

“Mybrotherhasgonenodoubttomakeawaywithhimself。Hurry，bothofyou，makeinquiriescautiously，andlookalongtheriver。”

Evewasleftaloneinadullstupor，dreadfultosee。HertroublewasatitsheightwhenPetit-Claudcameinatseveno’clocktotalkoverthestepstobetakeninDavid’scase。Atsuchatime，anyvoiceintheworldmayspeak，andweletthemspeak。

“Ourpoor，dearDavidisinprison，madame。”sobeganPetit-Claud。“I

foresawallalongthatitwouldendinthis。IadvisedhimatthetimetogointopartnershipwithhiscompetitorstheCointets；forwhileyourhusbandhassimplytheidea，theyhavethemeansofputtingitintopracticalshape。SoassoonasIheardofhisarrestyesterdayevening，whatdidIdobuthurryawaytofindtheCointetsandtrytoobtainsuchconcessionsasmightsatisfyyou。Ifyoutrytokeepthediscoverytoyourselves，youwillcontinuetolivealifeofshiftsandchicanery。Youmustgivein，orelsewhenyouareexhaustedandatthelastgasp，youwillendbymakingabargainwithsomecapitalistorother，andperhapstoyourowndetriment，whereasto-dayIhopetoseeyoumakeagoodonewithMM。Cointet。Inthiswayyouwillsaveyourselvesthehardshipsandthemiseryoftheinventor’sduelwiththegreedofthecapitalistandtheindifferenceofthepublic。Letussee！IftheMM。Cointetshouldpayyourdebts——if，overandaboveyourdebts，theyshouldpayyouafurthersumofmoneydown，whetherornotheinventionsucceeds；whileatthesametimeitisthoroughlyunderstoodthatifitsucceedsacertainproportionoftheprofitsofworkingthepatentshallbeyours，wouldyounotbedoingverywell？——

Youyourself，madame，wouldthenbetheproprietoroftheplantintheprinting-office。Youwouldsellthebusiness，nodoubt；itisquiteworthtwentythousandfrancs。Iwillundertaketofindyouabuyeratthatprice。

“NowifyoudrawupadeedofpartnershipwiththeMM。Cointet，andreceivefifteenthousandfrancsofcapital；andifyouinvestitinthefundsatthepresentmoment，itwillbringyouinanincomeoftwothousandfrancs。Youcanliveontwothousandfrancsintheprovinces。

Bearinmind，too，madame，that，givencertaincontingencies，therewillbeyetfurtherpayments。Isay’contingencies，’becausewemustlayouraccountswithfailure。

“Verywell。”continuedPetit-Claud，“nowthesethingsIamsurethatI

canobtainforyou。Firstofall，David’sreleasefromprison；

secondly，fifteenthousandfrancs，apremiumpaidonhisdiscovery，whethertheexperimentsfailorsucceed；andlastly，apartnershipbetweenDavidandtheMM。Cointet，tobetakenoutafterprivateexperimentmadejointly。Thedeedofpartnershipfortheworkingofthepatentshouldbedrawnuponthefollowingbasis：TheMM。Cointettobearalltheexpenses，thecapitalinvestedbyDavidtobeconfinedtotheexpensesofprocuringthepatent，andhisshareoftheprofitstobefixedattwenty-fivepercent。Youareaclear-headedandverysensiblewoman，qualitieswhicharenotoftenfoundcombinedwithgreatbeauty；thinkovertheseproposals，andyouwillseethattheyareveryfavorable。”

PoorEveinherdespairburstintotears。”Ah，sir！whydidyounotcomeyesterdayeveningtotellmethis？Weshouldhavebeenspareddisgraceand——andsomethingfarworse——“

“IwastalkingwiththeCointetsuntilmidnight。TheyarebehindMetivier，asyoumusthavesuspected。ButhowhassomethingworsethanourpoorDavid’sarresthappenedsinceyesterdayevening？“

“HereistheawfulnewsthatIfoundwhenIawokethismorning。”shesaid，holdingoutLucien’sletter。“Youhavejustgivenmeproofofyourinterestinus；youareDavid’sfriendandLucien’s；Ineednotaskyoutokeepthesecret——“

“Youneednotfeeltheleastanxiety。”saidPetit-Claud，ashereturnedtheletter。“Lucienwillnottakehislife。Yourhusband’sarrestwashisdoing；hewasobligedtofindsomeexcuseforleavingyou，andthisexitofhislookstomelikeapieceofstagebusiness。”

TheCointetshadgainedtheirends。Theyhadtormentedtheinventorandhisfamily，until，wornoutbythetorture，thevictimslongedforarespite，andthenseizedtheiropportunityandmadetheoffer。Noteveryinventorhasthetenacityofthebull-dogthatwillperishwithhisteethfastsetinhiscapture；theCointetshadshrewdlyestimatedDavid’scharacter。ThetallCointetlookeduponDavid’simprisonmentasthefirstsceneofthefirstactofthedrama。ThesecondactopenedwiththeproposalwhichPetit-Claudhadjustmade。Asarch-

schemer，theattorneylookeduponLucien’sfranticfollyasabitofunhoped-forluck，achancethatwouldfinallydecidetheissuesoftheday。

Evewascompletelyprostratedbythisevent；Petit-Claudsawthis，andmeanttoprofitbyherdespairtowinherconfidence，forhesawatlasthowmuchsheinfluencedherhusband。SofarfromdiscouragingEve，hetriedtoreassureher，andverycleverlydivertedherthoughtstotheprison。SheshouldpersuadeDavidtotaketheCointetsintopartnership。

“Davidtoldme，madame，thatheonlywishedforafortuneforyoursakeandyourbrother’s；butitshouldbecleartoyoubynowthattotrytomakearichmanofLucienwouldbemadness。Theyoungsterwouldrunthroughthreefortunes。”

Eve’sattitudetoldplainlyenoughthatshehadnomoreillusionsleftwithregardtoherbrother。Thelawyerwaitedalittlesothathersilenceshouldhavetheweightofconsent。

“Thingsbeingso，itisnowaquestionofyouandyourchild。”hesaid。“Itrestswithyoutodecidewhetheranincomeoftwothousandfrancswillbeenoughforyourwelfare，tosaynothingofoldSechard’sproperty。Yourfather-in-law’sincomehasamountedtosevenoreightthousandfrancsforalongtimepast，tosaynothingofcapitallyingoutatinterest。So，afterall，youhaveagoodprospectbeforeyou。Whytormentyourself？“

Petit-ClaudleftEveSechardtoreflectuponthisprospect。ThewholeschemehadbeendrawnupwithnolittleskillbythetallCointettheeveningbefore。

“Givethemtheglimpseofapossibilityofmoneyinhand。”thelynxhadsaid，whenPetit-Claudbroughtthenewsofthearrest；“onceletthemgrowaccustomedtothatidea，andtheyareours；wewilldriveabargain，andlittlebylittleweshallbringthemdowntoourpriceforthesecret。”

Theargumentofthesecondactofthecommercialdramawasinamannersummedupinthatspeech。

Mme。Sechard，heartbrokenandfullofdreadforherbrother’sfate，dressedandcamedownstairs。AnagonyofterrorseizedherwhenshethoughtthatshemustcrossAngoulemealoneonthewaytotheprison。

Petit-Claudgavelittlethoughttohisfairclient’sdistress。Whenhecamebacktoofferhisarm，itwasfromatolerablyMachiavellianmotive；butEvegavehimcreditfordelicateconsideration，andheallowedhertothankhimforit。Thelittleattention，atsuchamoment，fromsohardaman，modifiedMme。Sechard’spreviousopinionofPetit-Claud。

“Iamtakingyouroundbythelongestway。”hesaid，“andweshallmeetnobody。”

“Forthefirsttimeinmylife，monsieur，IfeelthatIhavenorighttoholdupmyheadbeforeotherpeople；Ihadasharplessongiventomelastnight——“

“Itwillbethefirstandthelast。”

“Oh！Icertainlyshallnotstayinthetownnow——“

“LetmeknowifyourhusbandconsentstotheproposalsthatareallbutdefinitelyofferedbytheCointets。”saidPetit-Claudatthegateoftheprison；“IwillcomeatoncewithanorderforDavid’sreleasefromCachan，andinalllikelihoodhewillnotgobackagaintoprison。”

Thissuggestion，madeontheverythresholdofthejail，wasapieceofcunningstrategy——acombinazione，astheItalianscallanindefinablemixtureoftreacheryandtruth，acunninglyplannedfraudwhichdoesnotbreaktheletterofthelaw，orapieceofdefttrickeryforwhichthereisnolegalremedy。St。Bartholomew’sforinstance，wasapoliticalcombination。

Imprisonmentfordebt，forreasonspreviouslyexplained，issucharareoccurrenceintheprovinces，thatthereisnohouseofdetention，andadebtorisperforceimprisonedwiththeaccused，convicted，andcondemned——thethreegraduatedsubdivisionsoftheclassgenericallystyledcriminal。Davidwasputforthetimebeinginacellonthegroundfloorfromwhichsomeprisonerhadprobablybeenrecentlydischargedattheendofhistime。Onceinscribedonthejailer’sregister，withtheamountallowedbythelawforaprisoner’sboardforonemonth，Davidconfrontedabig，stoutman，morepowerfulthantheKinghimselfinaprisoner’seyes；thiswasthejailer。

Aninstanceofathinjailerisunknownintheprovinces。Theplace，tobeginwith，isalmostasinecure，andajailerisakindofinnkeeperwhopaysnorentandlivesverywell，whilehisprisonersfareveryill；for，likeaninnkeeper，hegivesthemroomsaccordingtotheirpayments。HeknewDavidbyname，andwhatwasmore，knewaboutDavid’sfather，andthoughtthathemightventuretolettheprinterhaveagoodroomoncreditforonenight；forDavidwaspenniless。

TheprisonofAngoulemewasbuiltintheMiddleAges，andhasnomorechangedthantheoldcathedral。Itisbuiltagainsttheoldpresidial，orancientcourtofappeal，andpeoplestillcallitthemaisondejustice。Itboaststheconventionalprisongateway，thesolid-looking，nail-studdeddoor，thelow，wornarchwaywhichthebetterdeservesthequalification“cyclopean。”becausethejailer’speepholeorjudaslooksoutlikeasingleeyefromthefrontofthebuilding。Asyouenteryoufindyourselfinacorridorwhichrunsacrosstheentirewidthofthebuilding，witharowofdoorsofcellsthatgiveupontheprisonyardandarelightedbyhighwindowscoveredwithasquareirongrating。Thejailer’shouseisseparatedfromthesecellsbyanarchwayinthemiddle，throughwhichyoucatchaglimpseoftheirongateoftheprisonyard。ThejailerinstalledDavidinacellnexttothearchway，thinkingthathewouldliketohaveamanofDavid’sstampasanearneighborforthesakeofcompany。

“Thisisthebestroom。”hesaid。Davidwasstruckdumbwithamazementatthesightofit。

Thestonewallsweretolerablydamp。Thewindows，sethighinthewall，wereheavilybarred；thestone-pavedfloorwascoldasice，andfromthecorridoroutsidecamethesoundofthemeasuredtrampofthewarder，monotonousaswavesonthebeach。“Youareaprisoner！youarewatchedandguarded！“saidthefootstepsateverymomentofeveryhour。Allthesesmallthingstogetherproduceaprodigiouseffectuponthemindsofhonestfolk。Davidsawthatthebedwasexecrable，butthefirstnightinaprisonisfullofviolentagitation，andonlyonthesecondnightdoestheprisonernoticethathiscouchishard。Thejailerwasgraciouslydisposed；henaturallysuggestedthathisprisonershouldwalkintheyarduntilnightfall。

David’shourofanguishonlybeganwhenhewaslockedintohiscellforthenight。Lightsarenotallowedinthecells。Aprisonerdetainedonarrestusedtobesubjectedtorulesdevisedformalefactors，unlesshebroughtaspecialexemptionsignedbythepublicprosecutor。ThejailercertainlymightallowDavidtositbyhisfire，buttheprisonermustgobacktohiscellatlocking-uptime。PoorDavidlearnedthehorrorsofprisonlifebyexperience，theroughcoarsenessofthetreatmentrevoltedhim。Yetarevulsion，familiartothosewholivebythought，passedoverhim。Hedetachedhimselffromhisloneliness，andfoundawayofescapeinapoet’swakingdream。

Atlasttheunhappyman’sthoughtsturnedtohisownaffairs。Thestimulatinginfluenceofaprisonuponconscienceandself-scrutinyisimmense。Davidaskedhimselfwhetherhehaddonehisdutyastheheadofafamily。Whatdespairinggriefhiswifemustfeelatthismoment！

WhyhadhenotdoneasMarionhadsaid，andearnedmoneyenoughtopursuehisinvestigationsatleisure？

“HowcanIstayinAngoulemeaftersuchadisgrace？AndwhenIcomeoutofprison，whatwillbecomeofus？Whereshallwego？“

Doubtsastohisprocessbegantooccurtohim，andhepassedthroughanagonywhichnonesaveinventorscanunderstand。Goingfromdoubttodoubt，Davidbegantoseehisrealpositionmoreclearly；andtohimselfhesaid，astheCointetshadsaidtooldSechard，asPetit-

ClaudhadjustsaidtoEve，“Supposethatallshouldgowell，whatdoesitamounttoinpractice？Thefirstthingtobedoneistotakeoutapatent，andmoneyisneededforthat——andexperimentsmustbetriedonalargescaleinapaper-mill，whichmeansthatthediscoverymustpassintootherhands。Oh！Petit-Claudwasright！“

Averyvividlightsometimesdawnsinthedarkestprison。

“Pshaw！“saidDavid；“IshallseePetit-Claudto-morrownodoubt。”andheturnedandsleptonthefilthymattresscoveredwithcoarsebrownsacking。

SowhenEveunconsciouslyplayedintothehandsoftheenemythatmorning，shefoundherhusbandmorethanreadytolistentoproposals。

Sheputherarmsabouthimandkissedhim，andsatdownontheedgeofthebed(fortherewasbutonechairofthepoorestandcommonestkindinthecell)。Hereyesfellontheunsightlypailinacorner，andoverthewallscoveredwithinscriptionsleftbyDavid’spredecessors，andtearsfilledtheeyesthatwereredwithweeping。Shehadsobbedlongandverybitterly，butthesightofherhusbandinafelon’scelldrewfreshtears。

“Andthedesireoffamemayleadonetothis！“shecried。“Oh！myangel，giveupyourcareer。Letuswalktogetheralongthebeatentrack；wewillnottrytomakehastetoberich，David……Ineedverylittletobeveryhappy，especiallynow，afterallthatwehavebeenthrough……Andifyouonlyknew——thedisgraceofarrestisnottheworst……Look。”

SheheldoutLucien’sletter，andwhenDavidhadreadit，shetriedtocomforthimbyrepeatingPetit-Claud’sbittercomment。

“IfLucienhastakenhislife，thethingisdonebynow。”saidDavid；

“ifhehasnotmadeawaywithhimselfbythistime，hewillnotkillhimself。Ashehimselfsays，’hiscouragecannotlastlongerthanamorning——’“

“Butthesuspense！“criedEve，forgivingalmosteverythingatthethoughtofdeath。ThenshetoldherhusbandoftheproposalswhichPetit-ClaudprofessedtohavereceivedfromtheCointets。Davidacceptedthematoncewithmanifestpleasure。

“WeshallhaveenoughtoliveuponinavillagenearL’Houmeau，wheretheCointets’paper-millstands。Iwantnothingnowbutaquietlife。”

saidDavid。“IfLucienhaspunishedhimselfbydeath，wecanwaitsolongasfatherlives；andifLucienisstillliving，poorfellow，hewilllearntoadapthimselftoournarrowways。TheCointetscertainlywillmakemoneybymydiscovery；but，afterall，whatamIcomparedwithourcountry？Onemaninit，thatisall；andifthewholecountryisbenefited，Ishallbecontent。There！dearEve，neitheryounorI

weremeanttobesuccessfulinbusiness。Wedonotcareenoughaboutmakingaprofit；wehavenotthedoggedobjectiontopartingwithourmoney，evenwhenitislegallyowing，whichisakindofvirtueofthecounting-house，forthesetwosortsofavaricearecalledprudenceandafacultyofbusiness。”

Evefeltoverjoyed；sheandherhusbandheldthesameviews，andthisisoneofthesweetestflowersoflove；fortwohumanbeingswholoveeachothermaynotbeofthesamemind，nortakethesameviewoftheirinterests。ShewrotetoPetit-Claudtellinghimthattheybothconsentedtothegeneralscheme，andaskedhimtoreleaseDavid。Thenshebeggedthejailertodeliverthemessage。

TenminuteslaterPetit-Claudenteredthedismalplace。“Gohome，madame。”hesaid，addressingEve，“wewillfollowyou——Well，mydearfriend“(turningtoDavid)，“soyouallowedthemtocatchyou！Whydidyoucomeout？Howcameyoutomakesuchamistake？“

“Eh！howcouldIdootherwise？LookatthisletterthatLucienwrote。”

Davidheldoutasheetofpaper。ItwasCerizet’sforgedletter。

Petit-Claudreadit，lookedatit，fingeredthepaperashetalked，andstilltaking，presently，asifthroughabsenceofmind，foldeditupandputitinhispocket。ThenhelinkedhisarminDavid’s，andtheywentouttogether，theorderforreleasehavingcomeduringtheconversation。

ItwaslikeheaventoDavidtobeathomeagain。HecriedlikeachildwhenhetooklittleLucieninhisarmsandlookedroundhisroomafterthreeweeksofimprisonment，andthedisgrace，accordingtoprovincialnotions，ofthelastfewhours。KolbandMarionhadcomeback。MarionhadheardinL’HoumeauthatLucienhadbeenseenwalkingalongontheParisroad，somewherebeyondMarsac。Somecountryfolk，comingintomarket，hadnoticedhisfineclothes。Kolb，therefore，hadsetoutonhorsebackalongthehighroad，andheardatlastatManslethatLucienwastravelingpostinacaleche——M。Marronhadrecognizedhimashepassed。

“WhatdidItellyou？“saidPetit-Claud。“Thatfellowisnotapoet；

heisaromanceinheavenknowshowmanychapters。”

“Travelingpost！“repeatedEve。“Wherecanhebegoingthistime？“

“NowgotoseetheCointets，theyareexpectingyou。”saidPetit-

Claud，turningtoDavid。

“Ah，monsieur！“criedthebeautifulEve，“praydoyourbestforourinterests；ourwholefutureliesinyourhands。”

“Ifyoupreferit，madame，theconferencecanbeheldhere。IwillleaveDavidwithyou。TheCointetswillcomethisevening，andyoushallseeifIcandefendyourinterests。”

“Ah！monsieur，Ishouldbeveryglad。”saidEve。

“Verywell。”saidPetit-Claud；“thisevening，atseveno’clock。”

“Thankyou。”saidEve；andfromhertoneandglancePetit-Claudknewthathehadmadegreatprogressinhisfairclient’sconfidence。

“Youhavenothingtofear；youseeIwasright。”headded。“Yourbrotherisahundredmilesawayfromsuicide，andwhenallcomestoall，perhapsyouwillhavealittlefortunethisevening。Abona-fidepurchaserforthebusinesshasturnedup。”

“Ifthatisthecase。”saidEve，“whyshouldwenotwaitawhilebeforebindingourselvestotheCointets？“

Petit-Claudsawthedanger。“Youareforgetting，madame。”hesaid，“thatyoucannotsellyourbusinessuntilyouhavepaidM。Metivier；

foradistresswarranthasbeenissued。”

AssoonasPetit-ClaudreachedhomehesentforCerizet，andwhentheprinter’sforemanappeared，drewhimintotheembrasureofthewindow。

“To-morrowevening。”hesaid，“youwillbetheproprietoroftheSechards’printing-office，andthentherearethosebehindyouwhohaveinfluenceenoughtotransferthelicense；“(theninaloweredvoice)，“butyouhavenomindtoendinthehulks，Isuppose？“

“Thehulks！What’sthat？What’sthat？“

“YourlettertoDavidwasaforgery。Itisinmypossession。WhatwouldHenriettesayinacourtoflaw？Idonotwanttoruinyou。”headdedhastily，seeinghowwhiteCerizet’sfacegrew。

“Youwantsomethingmoreofme？“criedCerizet。

“Well，hereitis。”saidPetit-Claud。“Followmecarefully。YouwillbeamasterprinterinAngoulemeintwomonths’time……butyouwillnothavepaidforyourbusiness——youwillnotpayforitintenyears。Youwillworkalongwhileyetforthosethathavelentyouthemoney，andyouwillbethecat’s-pawoftheLiberalparty……Now_I_shalldrawupyouragreementwithGannerac，andIcandrawitupinsuchawaythatyouwillhavethebusinessinyourownhandsoneofthesedays。But——iftheLiberalsstartapaper，ifyoubringitout，andifIamdeputypublicprosecutor，thenyouwillcometoanunderstandingwiththeCointetsandpublisharticlesofsuchanaturethattheywillhavethepapersuppressed……TheCointetswillpayyouhandsomelyforthatservice……Iknow，ofcourse，thatyouwillbeahero，avictimofpersecution；youwillbeapersonageamongtheLiberals——aSergeantMercier，aPaul-LouisCourier，aManualonasmallscale。Iwilltakecarethattheyleaveyouyourlicense。Infact，onthedaywhenthenewspaperissuppressed，Iwillburnthisletterbeforeyoureyes……Yourfortunewillnotcostyoumuch。”

Aworkingmanhasthehaziestnotionsastothelawwithregardtoforgery；andCerizet，whobeheldhimselfalreadyinthedock，breathedagain。

“Inthreeyears’time。”continuedPetit-Claud，“IshallbepublicprosecutorinAngouleme。Youmayhaveneedofmesomeday；bearthatinmind。”

“It’sagreed。”saidCerizet，“butyoudon’tknowme。Burnthatletternowandtrusttomygratitude。”

Petit-ClaudlookedCerizetintheface。Itwasaduelinwhichoneman’sgazeisascalpelwithwhichheessaystoprobethesoulofanother，andtheeyesofthatotherareatheatre，asitwere，towhichallhisvirtueissummonedfordisplay。

Petit-Clauddidnotutteraword。Helightedataperandburnedtheletter。“Hehashiswaytomake。”hesaidtohimself。

“Hereisonethatwillgothroughfireandwaterforyou。”saidCerizet。

DavidawaitedtheinterviewwiththeCointetswithavaguefeelingofuneasiness；not，however，onaccountoftheproposedpartnership，norforhisowninterests——hefeltnervousastotheiropinionofhiswork。Hewasinsomethingthesamepositionasadramaticauthorbeforehisjudges。Theinventor’sprideinthediscoverysonearlycompletedleftnoroomforanyotherfeelings。

Atseveno’clockthatevening，whileMme。duChatelet，pleadingasickheadache，hadgonetoherroominherunhappinessovertherumorsofLucien’sdeparture；whileM。deComte，lefttohimself，wasentertaininghisguestsatdinner——thetallCointetandhisstoutbrother，accompaniedbyPetit-Claud，openednegotiationswiththecompetitorwhohaddeliveredhimselfup，boundhandandfoot。

Adifficultyawaitedthemattheoutset。HowwasitpossibletodrawupadeedofpartnershipunlesstheyknewDavid’ssecret？AndifDaviddivulgedhissecret，hewouldbeatthemercyoftheCointets。Petit-

Claudarrangedthatthedeedofpartnershipshouldbethefirstdrawnup。ThereuponthetallCointetaskedtoseesomespecimensofDavid’swork，andDavidbroughtoutthelastsheetthathehadmade，guaranteeingthepriceofproduction。

“Well。”saidPetit-Claud，“thereyouhavethebasisoftheagreementreadymade。Youcangointopartnershiponthestrengthofthosesamples，insertingaclausetoprotectyourselvesincasetheconditionsofthepatentarenotfulfilledinthemanufacturingprocess。”

“Itisonethingtomakesamplesofpaperonasmallscaleinyourownroomwithasmallmould，monsieur，andanothertoturnoutaquantity。”saidthetallCointet，addressingDavid。“Quiteanotherthing，asyoumayjudgefromthissinglefact。Wemanufacturecoloredpapers。Webuyparcelsofcoloringabsolutelyidentical。Everycakeofindigousedfor’blueing’ourpost-demyistakenfromabatchsuppliedbythesamemaker。Well，wehaveneveryetbeenabletoobtaintwobatchesofpreciselythesameshade。Therearevariationsinthematerialwhichwecannotdetect。Thequantityandthequalityofthepulpmodifyeveryquestionatonce。Supposethatyouhaveinacaldronaquantityofingredientsofsomekind(Idon’tasktoknowwhattheyare)，youcandoasyoulikewiththem，thetreatmentcanbeuniformlyapplied，youcanmanipulate，knead，andpestlethemassatyourpleasureuntilyouhaveahomogeneoussubstance。Butwhowillguaranteethatitwillbethesamewithabatchoffivehundredreams，andthatyourplanwillsucceedinbulk？“

David，Eve，andPetit-Claudlookedatoneanother；theireyessaidmanythings。

“Takeasomewhatsimilarcase。”continuedthetallCointetafterapause。“Youcuttwoorthreetrussesofmeadowhay，andstoreitinaloftbefore’theheatisoutofthegrass，’asthepeasantssay；thehayferments，butnoharmcomesofit。Youfollowupyourexperimentbystoringacoupleofthousandtrussesinawoodenbarn——and，ofcourse，thehaysmoulders，andthebarnblazesuplikealightedmatch。Youareaneducatedman。”continuedCointet；“youcanseetheapplicationforyourself。Sofar，youhaveonlycutyourtwotrussesofhay；weareafraidofsettingfiretoourpaper-millbybringinginacoupleofthousandtrusses。Inotherwords，wemayspoilmorethanonebatch，makeheavylosses，andfindourselvesnonethebetterforlayingoutagooddealofmoney。”

Davidwascompletelyflooredbythisreasoning。Practicalwisdomspokeinmatter-of-factlanguagetotheory，whosewordisalwaysforthefuture。

“Devilfetchme，ifI’llsignsuchadeedofpartnership！“thestoutCointetcriedbluntly。“Youmaythrowawayyourmoneyifyoulike，Boniface；asforme，Ishallkeepmine。Hereismyoffer——topayM。

Sechard’sdebtsANDsixthousandfrancs，andanotherthreethousandfrancsinbillsattwelveandfifteenmonths。”headded。“Thatwillbequiteenoughrisktorun——WehaveabalanceoftwelvethousandfrancsagainstMetivier。Thatwillmakefifteenthousandfrancs——ThatisallthatIwouldpayforthesecretifIweregoingtoexploititformyself。Sothisisthegreatdiscoverythatyouweretalkingabout，Boniface！Manythanks！Ithoughtyouhadmoresense。No，youcan’tcallthisbusiness。”

“Thequestionforyou。”saidPetit-Claud，undismayedbytheexplosion，“resolvesitselfintothis：’Doyoucaretorisktwentythousandfrancstobuyasecretthatmaymakerichmenofyou？’Why，theriskusuallyisinproportiontotheprofit，gentlemen。Youstaketwentythousandfrancsonyourluck。Agamblerputsdownalouisatrouletteforachanceofwinningthirty-six，butheknowsthatthelouisislost。Dothesame。”

“Imusthavetimetothinkitover。”saidthestoutCointet；“Iamnotsocleverasmybrother。Iamaplain，straight-forwardsortofchap，thatonlyknowsonething——howtoprintprayer-booksattwentysousandsellthemfortwofrancs。WhereIseeaninventionthathasonlybeentriedonce，Iseeruin。Yousucceedwiththefirstbatch，youspoilthenext，yougoon，andyouaredrawnin；foronceputanarmintothatmachinery，therestofyoufollows。”andherelatedananecdoteverymuchtothepoint——howaBordeauxmerchanthadruinedhimselfbyfollowingascientificman’sadvice，andtryingtobringtheLandesintocultivation；andfollowedupthetalewithhalf-a-

dozensimilarinstancesofagriculturalandcommercialfailuresnearerhomeinthedepartmentsoftheCharenteandDordogne。Hewaxedwarmoverhisrecitals。Hewouldnotlistentoanotherword。Petit-Claud’sdemurs，sofarfromsoothingthestoutCointet，appearedtoirritatehim。

“Iwouldrathergivemoreforacertainty，ifImadeonlyasmallprofitonit。”hesaid，lookingathisbrother。“Itismyopinionthatthingshavegonefarenoughforbusiness。”heconcluded。

“Stillyoucamehereforsomething，didn’tyou？“askedPetit-Claud。

“Whatisyouroffer？“

“IoffertoreleaseM。Sechard，and，ifhisplansucceeds，togivehimthirtypercentoftheprofits。”thestoutCointetansweredbriskly。

“But，monsieur。”objectedEve，“howshouldwelivewhiletheexperimentswerebeingmade？Myhusbandhasenduredthedisgraceofimprisonmentalready；hemayaswellgobacktoprison，itmakesnodifferencenow，andwewillpayourdebtsourselves——“

Petit-Claudlaidafingeronhislipsinwarning。

“Youareunreasonable。”saidhe，addressingthebrothers。“Youhaveseenthepaper；M。Sechard’sfathertoldyouthathehadshuthissonup，andthathehadmadecapitalpaperinasinglenightfrommaterialsthatmusthavecostamerenothing。Youareheretomakeanoffer。Areyoupurchasers，yesorno？“

“Stay。”saidthetallCointet，“whethermybrotheriswillingorno，I

willriskthismuchmyself。IwillpayM。Sechard’sdebts，Iwillpaysixthousandfrancsoverandabovethedebts，andM。Sechardshallhavethirtypercentoftheprofits。Butmindthis——ifinthespaceofoneyearhefailstocarryouttheundertakingswhichhehimselfwillmakeinthedeedofpartnership，hemustreturnthesixthousandfrancs，andweshallkeepthepatentandextricateourselvesasbestwemay。”

“Areyousureofyourself？“askedPetit-Claud，takingDavidaside。

“Yes。”saidDavid。Hewasdeceivedbythetacticsofthebrothers，andafraidlestthestoutCointetshouldbreakoffthenegotiationsonwhichhisfuturedepended。

“Verywell，Iwilldraftthedeed。”saidPetit-Claud，addressingtherestoftheparty。“Eachofyoushallhaveacopyto-night，andyouwillhaveallto-morrowmorninginwhichtothinkitover。To-morrowafternoonatfouro’clock，whenthecourtrises，youwillsigntheagreement。You，gentlemen，willwithdrawMetivier’ssuit，andI，formypart，willwritetostopproceedingsintheCourt-Royal；wewillgivenoticeoneithersidethattheaffairhasbeensettledoutofcourt。”

DavidSechard’sundertakingswerethuswordedinthedeed：——

“M。DavidSechard，printerofAngouleme，affirmingthathehasdiscoveredamethodofsizingpaper-pulpinthevat，andalsoamethodofaffectingareductionoffiftypercentinthepriceofallkindsofmanufacturedpapers，byintroducingcertainvegetablesubstancesintothepulp，eitherbyintermixtureofsuchsubstanceswiththeragsalreadyinuse，orbyemployingthemsolelywithouttheadditionofrags：apartnershipforworkingthepatenttobepresentlyappliedforisentereduponbyM。DavidSechardandthefirmofCointetBrothers，subjecttothefollowingconditionalclausesandstipulations。”

OneoftheclausessodraftedthatDavidSechardforfeitedallhisrightsifhefailedtofulfilhisengagementswithintheyear；thetallCointetwasparticularlycarefultoinsertthatclause，andDavidSechardallowedittopass。

WhenPetit-Claudappearedwithacopyoftheagreementnextmorningathalf-pastseveno’clock，hebroughtnewsforDavidandhiswife。

Cerizetofferedtwenty-twothousandfrancsforthebusiness。Thewholeaffaircouldbesignedandsettledinthecourseoftheevening。“ButiftheCointetsknewaboutit。”headded，“theywouldbequitecapableofrefusingtosignthedeedofpartnership，ofharassingyou，andsellingyouup。”

“Areyousureofpayment？“askedEve。Shehadthoughtithopelesstotrytosellthebusiness；andnow，toherastonishment，abargainwhichwouldhavebeentheirsalvationthreemonthsagowasconcludedinthissummaryfashion。

“Themoneyhasbeendepositedwithme。”heansweredsuccinctly。

“Why，hereismagicatwork！“saidDavid，andheaskedPetit-Claudforanexplanationofthispieceofluck。

“No。”saidPetit-Claud，“itisverysimple。ThemerchantsinL’Houmeauwantanewspaper。”

“ButIamboundnottopublishapaper。”saidDavid。

“Yes，youarebound，butisyoursuccessor？——Howeveritis。”hecontinued，“donottroubleyourselfatall；sellthebusiness，pockettheproceeds，andleaveCerizettofindhiswaythroughtheconditionsofthesale——hecantakecareofhimself。”

“Yes。”saidEve。

“AndifitturnsoutthatyoumaynotprintanewspaperinAngouleme。”

saidPetit-Claud，“thosewhoarefindingthecapitalforCerizetwillbringoutthepaperinL’Houmeau。”

Theprospectoftwenty-twothousandfrancs，ofwantnowatend，dazzledEve。Thepartnershipanditshopestookasecondplace。And，therefore，M。andMme。Sechardgavewayonafinalpointofdispute。

ThetallCointetinsistedthatthepatentshouldbetakenoutinthenameofanyoneofthepartners。Whatdifferencecoulditmake？ThestoutCointetsaidthelastword。

“Heisfindingthemoneyforthepatent；heisbearingtheexpensesofthejourney——anothertwothousandfrancsoverandabovetherestoftheexpenses。Hemusttakeitoutinhisownname，orwewillnotstirinthematter。”

Thelynxgainedavictoryatallpoints。Thedeedofpartnershipwassignedthatafternoonathalf-pastfour。

ThetallCointetpolitelygaveMme。Sechardadozenthread-patternforksandspoonsandabeautifulTernauxshawl，bywayofpin-money，saidhe，andtoeffaceanyunpleasantimpressionmadeintheheatofdiscussion。Thecopiesofthedrafthadscarcelybeenmadeout，CachanhadbarelyhadtimetosendthedocumentstoPetit-Claud，togetherwiththethreeunluckyforgedbills，whentheSechardsheardadeafeningrumbleinthestreet，adrayfromtheMessageriesstoppedbeforethedoor，andKolb’svoicemadethestaircaseringagain。

“Montame！montame！vifteentausendvrancs，vromBoidiers“(Poitiers)。

“Gootmoney！vromMonziereLucien！“

“Fifteenthousandfrancs！“criedEve，throwingupherarms。

“Yes，madame。”saidthecarmaninthedoorway，“fifteenthousandfrancs，broughtbytheBordeauxcoach，andtheydidn’twantanymoreneither！Ihavetwomendownstairsbringingupthebags。M。LucienChardondeRubempreisthesender。Ihavebroughtupalittleleatherbagforyou，containingfivehundredfrancsingold，andaletterit’slikely。”

“MYDEARSISTER，——Herearefifteenthousandfrancs。Insteadoftakingmylife，Ihavesoldit。Iamnolongermyown；IamonlythesecretaryofaSpanishdiplomatist；Iamhiscreature。Anewanddreadfullifeisbeginningforme。PerhapsIshouldhavedonebettertodrownmyself。

“Good-bye。Davidwillbereleased，andwiththefourthousandfrancshecanbuyalittlepaper-mill，nodoubt，andmakehisfortune。Forgetme，allofyou。Thisisthewishofyourunhappybrother。

“LUCIEN。”

“Itisdecreedthatmypoorboyshouldbeunluckyineverything，andevenwhenhedoeswell，ashesaidhimself。”saidMme。Chardon，asshewatchedthemenpilingupthebags。

“Wehavehadanarrowescape！“exclaimedthetallCointet，whenhewasoncemoreinthePlaceduMurier。“Anhourlatertheglitterofthesilverwouldhavethrownanewlightonthedeedofpartnership。Ourmanwouldhavefoughtshyofit。Wehavehispromisenow，andinthreemonths’timeweshallknowwhattodo。”

Thatveryevening，atseveno’clock，Cerizetboughtthebusiness，andthemoneywaspaidover，thepurchaserundertakingtopayrentforthelastquarter。ThenextdayEvesentfortythousandfrancstotheReceiver-General，andboughttwothousandfivehundredfrancsofrentesinherhusband’sname。Thenshewrotetoherfather-in-lawandaskedhimtofindasmallfarm，worthabouttenthousandfrancs，forhernearMarsac。Shemeanttoinvestherownfortuneinthisway。

ThetallCointet’splotwasformidablysimple。Fromtheveryfirstheconsideredthattheplanofsizingthepulpinthevatwasimpracticable。Therealsecretoffortunelayinthecompositionofthepulp，inthecheapvegetablefibreasasubstituteforrags。Hemadeuphismind，therefore，tolayimmensestressonthesecondaryproblemofsizingthepulp，andtopassoverthediscoveryofcheaprawmaterial，andforthefollowingreasons：

TheAngoulemepaper-millsmanufacturepaperforstationers。Notepaper，foolscap，crown，andpost-demyareallnecessarilysized；andthesepapershavebeentheprideoftheAngoulememillsforalongwhilepast，stationerybeingthespecialtyoftheCharente。ThisfactgavecolortotheCointet’surgencyuponthepointofsizinginthepulping-trough；but，asamatteroffact，theycarednothingforthispartofDavid’sresearches。Thedemandforwriting-paperisexceedinglysmallcomparedwiththealmostunlimiteddemandforunsizedpaperforprinters。AsBonifaceCointettraveledtoParistotakeoutthepatentinhisownname，hewasprojectingplansthatwereliketoworkarevolutioninhispaper-mill。ArrivedinParis，hetookuphisquarterswithMetivier，andgavehisinstructionstohisagent。

Metivierwastocallupontheproprietorsofnewspapers，andoffertodeliverpaperatpricesbelowthosequotedbyallotherhouses；hecouldguaranteeineachcasethatthepapershouldbeabettercolor，andineverywaysuperiortothebestkindshithertoinuse。

Newspapersarealwayssuppliedbycontract；therewouldbetimebeforethepresentcontractsexpiredtocompleteallthesubterraneanoperationswithbuyers，andtoobtainamonopolyofthetrade。CointetcalculatedthathecouldridhimselfofSechardwhileMetivierwastakingordersfromtheprincipalParisnewspapers，whicheventhenconsumedtwohundredreamsdaily。CointetnaturallyofferedMetivieralargecommissiononthecontracts，forhewishedtosecureacleverrepresentativeonthespot，andtowastenotimeintravelingtoandfro。AndinthismannerthefortunesofthefirmofMetivier，oneofthelargesthousesinthepapertrade，werefounded。ThetallCointetwentbacktoAngoulemetobepresentatPetit-Claud’swedding，withamindatrestastothefuture。

Petit-Claudhadsoldhisprofessionalconnection，andwasonlywaitingforM。Milaud’spromotiontotakethepublicprosecutor’splace，whichhadbeenpromisedtohimbytheComtesseduChatelet。Thepublicprosecutor’sseconddeputywasappointedfirstdeputytotheCourtofLimoges，theKeeperoftheSealssentamanofhisowntoAngouleme，andthepostoffirstdeputywaskeptvacantforacoupleofmonths。

TheintervalwasPetit-Claud’shoneymoon。

WhileBonifaceCointetwasinParis，Davidmadeafirstexperimentalbatchofunsizedpaperfarsuperiortothatincommonusefornewspapers。Hefolloweditupwithasecondbatchofmagnificentvellumpaperforfineprinting，andthistheCointetsusedforaneweditionoftheirdiocesanprayer-book。ThematerialhadbeenprivatelypreparedbyDavidhimself；hewouldhavenohelpersbutKolbandMarion。

WhenBonifacecamebackthewholeaffairworeadifferentaspect；helookedatthesamples，andwasfairlysatisfied。

“Mygoodfriend。”hesaid，“thewholetradeofAngoulemeisincrownpaper。Wemustmakethebestpossiblecrownpaperathalfthepresentprice；thatisthefirstandforemostquestionforus。”

ThenDavidtriedtosizethepulpforthedesiredpaper，andtheresultwasaharshsurfacewithgrainsofsizedistributedalloverit。OnthedaywhentheexperimentwasconcludedandDavidheldthesheetsinhishand，hewentawaytofindaspotwherehecouldbealoneandswallowhisbitterdisappointment。ButBonifaceCointetwentinsearchofhimandcomfortedhim。Bonifacewasdelightfullyamiable。

“Donotloseheart。”hesaid；“goon！Iamagoodfellow，Iunderstandyou；Iwillstandbyyoutotheend。”

“Really。”Davidsaidtohiswifeatdinner，“wearewithgoodpeople；

IshouldnothaveexpectedthatthetallCointetwouldbesogenerous。”Andherepeatedhisconversationwithhiswilypartner。

Threemonthswerespentinexperiments。Davidsleptatthemill；henotedtheeffectsofvariouspreparationsuponthepulp。Atonetimeheattributedhisnon-successtoanadmixtureofrag-pulpwithhisowningredients，andmadeabatchentirelycomposedofthenewmaterial；

atanother，heendeavoredtosizepulpmadeexclusivelyfromrags；

perseveringinhisexperimentsundertheeyesofthetallCointet，whomhehadceasedtomistrust，untilhehadtriedeverypossiblecombinationofpulpandsize。Davidlivedinthepaper-millforthefirstsixmonthsof1823——ifitcanbecalledliving，toleavefooduntasted，andgoinneglectofpersonanddress。Hewrestledsodesperatelywiththedifficulties，thatanybodybuttheCointetswouldhaveseenthesublimityofthestruggle，forthebravefellowwasnotthinkingofhisowninterests。Themomenthadcomewhenhecaredfornothingbutthevictory。Withmarveloussagacityhewatchedtheunaccountablefreaksofthesemi-artificialsubstancescalledintoexistencebymanforendsofhisown；substancesinwhichnaturehadbeentamed，asitwere，andhertacitresistanceovercome；andfromtheseobservationsdrewgreatconclusions；finding，ashedid，thatsuchcreationscanonlybeobtainedbyfollowingthelawsofthemoreremoteaffinitiesofthings，of“asecondnature。”ashecalledit，insubstances。

TowardstheendofAugusthesucceededtosomeextentinsizingthepaperpulpinthevat；theresultbeingakindofpaperidenticalwithamakeinuseforprinters’proofsatthepresentday——akindofpaperthatcannotbedependedupon，forthesizingitselfisnotalwayscertain。Thiswasagreatresult，consideringtheconditionofthepapertradein1823，andDavidhopedtosolvethefinaldifficultiesoftheproblem，but——ithadcosttenthousandfrancs。

SingularrumorswerecurrentatthistimeinAngoulemeandL’Houmeau。

ItwassaidthatDavidSechardwasruiningthefirmofCointetBrothers。Experimentshadeatenuptwentythousandfrancs；andtheresult，saidgossip，waswretchedlybadpaper。Othermanufacturerstookfrightatthis，huggedthemselvesontheirold-fashionedmethods，and，beingjealousoftheCointets，spreadrumorsoftheapproachingfallofthatambitioushouse。AsforthetallCointet，hesetupthenewmachineryformakinglengthsofpaperinaribbon，andallowedpeopletobelievethathewasbuyingplantforDavid’sexperiments。

ThenthecunningCointetusedDavid’sformulaforpulp，whileurginghispartnertogivehiswholeattentiontothesizingprocess；andthousandsofreamsofthenewpaperweredespatchedtoMetivierinParis。

WhenSeptemberarrived，thetallCointettookDavidaside，and，learningthatthelattermeditatedacrowningexperiment，dissuadedhimfromfurtherattempts。

“GotoMarsac，mydearDavid，seeyourwife，andtakearestafteryourlabors；wedon’twanttoruinourselves。”saidCointetinthefriendliestway。“Thisgreattriumphofyours，afterall，isonlyastarting-point。Weshallwaitnowforawhilebeforetryinganynewexperiments。Tobefair！seewhathascomeofthem。Wearenotmerelypaper-makers，weareprintersbesidesandbankers，andpeoplesaythatyouareruiningus。”

DavidSechard’sgestureofprotestonbehalfofhisgoodfaithwassublimeinitssimplicity。

“NotthatfiftythousandfrancsthrownintotheCharentewouldruinus。”saidCointet，inreplytomuteprotest，“butwedonotwishtobeobligedtopaycashforeverythinginconsequenceofslandersthatshakeourcredit；THATwouldbringustoastandstill。Wehavereachedthetermfixedbyouragreement，andweareboundoneithersidetothinkoverourposition。”

“Heisright。”thoughtDavid。Hehadforgottentheroutineworkofthebusiness，thoroughlyabsorbedashehadbeeninexperimentsonalargescale。

DavidwenttoMarsac。ForthepastsixmonthshehadgoneoveronSaturdayevening，returningagaintoL’HoumeauonTuesdaymorning。

Eve，aftermuchcounselfromherfather-in-law，hadboughtahousecalledtheVerberie，withthreeacresoflandandacroftplantedwithvines，whichlaylikeawedgeintheoldman’svineyard。Here，withhermotherandMarion，shelivedaveryfrugallife，forfivethousandfrancsofthepurchasemoneystillremainedunpaid。Itwasacharminglittledomain，theprettiestbitofpropertyinMarsac。Thehouse，withagardenbeforeitandayardattheback，wasbuiltofwhitetufaornamentedwithcarvings，cutwithoutgreatexpenseinthateasilywroughtstone，androofedwithslate。TheprettyfurniturefromthehouseinAngoulemelookedprettierstillatMarsac，fortherewasnottheslightestattemptatcomfortorluxuryinthecountryinthosedays。Arowoforange-trees，pomegranates，andrareplantsstoodbeforethehouseonthesideofthegarden，settherebythelastowner，anoldgeneralwhodiedunderM。Marron’shands。

Davidwasenjoyinghisholidaysittingunderanorange-treewithhiswife，andfather，andlittleLucien，whenthebailifffromMansleappeared。CointetBrothersgavetheirpartnerformalnoticetoappointanarbitratortosettledisputes，inaccordancewithaclauseintheagreement。TheCointetsdemandedthatthesixthousandfrancsshouldberefunded，andthepatentsurrenderedinconsiderationoftheenormousoutlaymadetonopurpose。

“Peoplesaythatyouareruiningthem。”saidoldSechard。“Well，well，ofallthatyouhavedone，thatistheonethingthatIamgladtoknow。”

Atnineo’clockthenextmorningEveandDavidstoodinPetit-Claud’swaiting-room。Thelittlelawyerwastheguardianofthewidowandorphanbyvirtueofhisoffice，anditseemedtothemthattheycouldtakenootheradvice。Petit-Claudwasdelightedtoseehisclients，andinsistedthatM。andMme。Sechardshoulddohimthepleasureofbreakfastingwithhim。

“DotheCointetswantsixthousandfrancsofyou？“heasked，smiling。

“Howmuchisstillowingofthepurchase-moneyoftheVerberie？“

“Fivethousandfrancs，monsieur。”saidEve，“butIhavetwothousand——“

“Keepyourmoney。”Petit-Claudbrokein。“Letussee：fivethousand——why，youwantquiteanothertenthousandfrancstosettleyourselvescomfortablydownyonder。Verygood，intwohours’timetheCointetsshallbringyoufifteenthousandfrancs——“

Evestartedwithsurprise。

“Ifyouwillrenounceallclaimstotheprofitsunderthedeedofpartnership，andcometoanamicablesettlement。”saidPetit-Claud。

“Doesthatsuityou？“

“Willitreallybelawfullyours？“askedEve。

“Verymuchso。”saidthelawyer，smiling。“TheCointetshaveworkedyoutroubleenough；Ishouldliketomakeanendoftheirpretensions。

Listentome；Iamamagistratenow，anditismydutytotellyouthetruth。Verygood。TheCointetsareplayingyoufalseatthismoment，butyouareintheirhands。Ifyouacceptbattle，youmightpossiblygainthelawsuitwhichtheywillbring。Doyouwishtobewhereyouarenowaftertenyearsoflitigation？Experts’feesandexpensesofarbitrationwillbemultiplied，themostcontradictoryopinionswillbegiven，andyoumusttakeyourchance。And。”headded，smilingagain，“thereisnoattorneyherethatcandefendyou，sofarasI

see。Mysuccessorhasnotmuchability。There，abadcompromiseisbetterthanasuccessfullawsuit。”

“Anyarrangementthatwillgiveusaquietlifewilldoforme。”saidDavid。

Petit-Claudcalledtohisservant。

“Paul！goandaskM。Segaud，mysuccessor，tocomehere——HeshallgotoseetheCointetswhilewebreakfast“saidPetit-Claud，addressinghisformerclients，“andinafewhours’timeyouwillbeonyourwayhometoMarsac，ruined，butwithmindsatrest。Tenthousandfrancswillbringyouinanotherfivehundredfrancsofincome，andyouwilllivecomfortablyonyourbitofproperty。”

Twohourslater，asPetit-Claudhadprophesied，MaitreSegaudcamebackwithanagreementdulydrawnupandsignedbytheCointets，andfifteennoteseachforathousandfrancs。

“Wearemuchindebtedtoyou。”saidSechard，turningtoPetit-Claud。

“Why，Ihavejustthismomentruinedyou。”saidPetit-Claud，lookingathisastonishedformerclients。“Itellyouagain，Ihaveruinedyou，asyouwillseeastimegoeson；butIknowyou，youwouldratherberuinedthanwaitforafortunewhichperhapsmightcometoolate。”

“Wearenotmercenary，monsieur。”saidMadameEve。“Wethankyouforgivingusthemeansofhappiness；weshallalwaysfeelgratefultoyou。”

“Greatheavens！don’tcalldownblessingsonME！“criedPetit-Claud。

“Itfillsmewithremorse；butto-day，Ithink，Ihavemadefullreparation。IfIamamagistrate，itisentirelyowingtoyou；andifanybodyistofeelgrateful，itisI。Good-bye。”

Astimewenton，KolbchangedhisopinionofSechardsenior；andasfortheoldman，hetookalikingtoKolbwhenhefoundthat，likehimself，theAlsaciencouldneitherwritenorreadaword，andthatitwaseasytomakehimtipsy。Theold“bear“impartedhisideasonvinecultureandthesaleofavintagetotheex-cuirassier，andtrainedhimwithaviewtoleavingamanwithaheadonhisshoulderstolookafterhischildrenwhenheshouldbegone；forhegrewchildishatthelast，andgreatwerehisfearsastothefateofhisproperty。HehadchosenCourtoisthemillerashisconfidant。“YouwillseehowthingswillgowithmychildrenwhenIamunderground。Lord！itmakesmeshuddertothinkofit。”

OldSecharddiedinthemonthofMarch，1929，leavingabouttwohundredthousandfrancsinland。HisacresaddedtotheVerberiemadeafineproperty，whichKolbhadmanagedtoadmirationforsometwoyears。

Davidandhiswifefoundnearlyahundredthousandcrownsingoldinthehouse。ThedepartmentoftheCharentehadvaluedoldSechard’smoneyatamillion；rumor，asusual，exaggeratingtheamountofahoard。EveandDavidhadbarelythirtythousandfrancsofincomewhentheyaddedtheirlittlefortunetotheinheritance；theywaitedawhile，andsoitfelloutthattheyinvestedtheircapitalinGovernmentsecuritiesatthetimeoftheRevolutionofJuly。

Then，andnotuntilthen，couldthedepartmentoftheCharenteandDavidSechardformsomeideaofthewealthofthetallCointet。Richtotheextentofseveralmillionsoffrancs，theelderCointetbecameadeputy，andisatthisdayapeerofFrance。ItissaidthathewillbeMinisterofCommerceinthenextGovernment；forin1842hemarriedMlle。Popinot，daughterofM。AnselmePopinot，oneofthemostinfluentialstatesmenofthedynasty，deputyandmayorofanarrondissementinParis。

DavidSechard’sdiscoveryhasbeenassimilatedbytheFrenchmanufacturingworld，asfoodisassimilatedbyalivingbody。Thankstotheintroductionofmaterialsotherthanrags，FrancecanproducepapermorecheaplythananyotherEuropeancountry。Dutchpaper，asDavidforesaw，nolongerexists。Soonerorlateritwillbenecessary，nodoubt，toestablishaRoyalPaperManufactory；liketheGobelins，theSevresporcelainworks，theSavonnerie，andtheImprimerieroyale，whichsofarhaveescapedthedestructionthreatenedbybourgeoisvandalism。

DavidSechard，belovedbyhiswife，fatheroftwoboysandagirl，hasthegoodtastetomakenoallusiontohispastefforts。Evehadthesensetodissuadehimfromfollowinghisterriblevocation；fortheinventorlikeMosesonMountHoreb，isconsumedbytheburningbush。

Hecultivatesliteraturebywayofrecreation，andleadsacomfortablelifeofleisure，befittingthelandownerwholivesonhisownestate。

Hehasbiddenfarewellforevertoglory，andbravelytakenhisplaceintheclassofdreamersandcollectors；forhedabblesinentomology，andisatpresentinvestigatingthetransformationsofinsectswhichscienceonlyknowsinthefinalstage。

EverybodyhasheardofPetit-Claud’ssuccessasattorney-general；heistherivalofthegreatVinetofProvins，anditishisambitiontobePresidentoftheCourt-RoyalofPoitiers。

Cerizethasbeenintroublesofrequentlyforpoliticaloffencesthathehasbeenagooddealtalkedabout；andasoneoftheboldestenfantsperdusoftheLiberalpartyhewasnicknamedthe“BraveCerizet。”WhenPetit-Claud’ssuccessorcompelledhimtosellhisbusinessinAngouleme，hefoundafreshcareerontheprovincialstage，wherehistalentsasanactorwereliketobeturnedtobrilliantaccount。Thechiefstageheroine，however，obligedhimtogotoParistofindacureforloveamongtheresourcesofscience，andtherehetriedtocurryfavorwiththeLiberalparty。

AsforLucien，thestoryofhisreturntoParisbelongstotheScenesofParisianlife。

End