\"Thechildhasakeepsakeinhishands,somethingwhichmightbetraythewrongsdonebyyourbeneficence,yourkindnessindesertinghim.Youmighthavetoblushifyousawhimstrugglingforlife,andchancedtorecollectthatonceyouclaspedhimtoyourbreast.Whenyoureadthesewordsthekeepsakewillbeinyourownsafekeeping;youarefreetoforgeteverything.
\"Onceyoupointedoutfairhopestomeintheskies,IawaketofindrealityinthesqualidpovertyofParis.Whileyoupass,andothersbowbeforeyou,onyourbrilliantpathinthegreatworld,I,Iwhomyoudesertedonthethreshold,shallbeshiveringinthewretchedgarrettowhichyouconsignedme.Yetsomepangmayperhapstroubleyourmindamidfestivalsandpleasures;youmaythinksometimesofthechildwhomyouthrustintothedepths.Ifso,madame,thinkofhimwithoutremorse.Outofthedepthsofhismiserythechildoffersyoutheonethinglefttohim——hisforgivenessinalastlook.Yes,madame,thankstoyou,Ihavenothingleft.Nothing!wasnottheworldcreatedfromnothing?
GeniusshouldfollowtheDivineexample;IbeginwithGod-likeforgiveness,butasyetIknownotwhetherIpossesstheGod-likepower.YouneedonlytremblelestIshouldgoastray;foryouwouldbeanswerableformysins.Alas!Ipityyou,foryouwillhavenopartinthefuturetowardswhichIgo,withworkasmyguide.\"
Afterpenningthisrhetoricaleffusion,fullofthesombredignitywhichanartistofone-and-twentyisratherapttooverdo,Lucien\'sthoughtswentbacktothemathome.HesawtheprettyroomswhichDavidhadfurnishedforhim,atthecostofpartofhislittlestore,andavisionrosebeforehimofquiet,simplepleasuresinthepast.
Shadowyfigurescameabouthim;hesawhismotherandEveandDavid,andheardtheirsobsoverhisleave-taking,andatthathebegantocryhimself,forhefeltverylonelyinParis,andfriendlessandforlorn.
Twoorthreedayslaterhewrotetohissister:——
\"MydearEve,——Whenasistersharesthelifeofabrotherwhodevoteshimselftoart,itishersadprivilegetotakemoresorrowthanjoyintoherlife;andIambeginningtofearthatI
shallbeagreattroubletoyou.HaveInotabusedyourgoodnessalready?havenotallofyousacrificedyourselvestome?Itisthememoryofthepast,sofulloffamilyhappiness,thathelpsmetobearupinmypresentloneliness.NowthatIhavetastedthefirstbeginningsofpovertyandthetreacheryoftheworldofParis,howmythoughtshaveflowntoyou,swiftasaneaglebacktoitseyrie,sothatImightbewithtrueaffectionagain.Didyouseesparksinthecandle?Didacoalpopoutofthefire?Didyouhearsinginginyourears?Anddidmothersay,\'Lucienisthinkingofus,\'andDavidanswer,\'Heisfightinghiswayintheworld?\'
\"MyEve,Iamwritingthisletterforyoureyesonly.Icannottellanyoneelseallthathashappenedtome,goodandbad,blushingforboth,asIwrite,forgoodhereisasrareaseviloughttobe.Youshallhaveagreatpieceofnewsinaveryfewwords.Mme.deBargetonwasashamedofme,disownedme,wouldnotseeme,andgavemeupninedaysafterwecametoParis.Shesawmeinthestreetandlookedanotherway;when,simplytofollowherintothesocietytowhichshemeanttointroduceme,IhadspentseventeenhundredandsixtyfrancsoutofthetwothousandI
broughtfromAngouleme,themoneysohardlyscrapedtogether.\'Howdidyouspendit?\'youwillask.Parisisastrangebottomlessgulf,mypoorsister;youcandinehereforlessthanafranc,yetthesimplestdinneratafashionablerestaurantcostsfiftyfrancs;therearewaistcoatsandtrouserstobehadforfourfrancsandtwofrancseach;butafashionabletailorneverchargeslessthanahundredfrancs.Youpayforeverything;youpayahalfpennytocrossthekennelinthestreetwhenitrains;youcannotgotheleastlittlewayinacabforlessthanthirty-twosous.
\"IhavebeenstayinginoneofthebestpartsofParis,butnowI
amlivingattheHoteldeCluny,intheRuedeCluny,oneofthepoorestanddarkestslums,shutinbetweenthreechurchesandtheoldbuildingsoftheSorbonne.Ihaveafurnishedroomonthefourthfloor;itisverybareandverydirty,but,allthesame,I
payfifteenfrancsamonthforit.ForbreakfastIspendapennyonarollandahalfpennyformilk,butIdineverydecentlyfortwenty-twosousatarestaurantkeptbyamannamedFlicoteauxinthePlacedelaSorbonneitself.Myexpenseseverymonthwillnotexceedsixtyfrancs,everythingincluded,untilthewinterbegins——atleastIhopenot.Somytwohundredandfortyfrancsoughttolastmeforthefirstfourmonths.BetweennowandthenIshallhavesoldTheArcherofCharlesIX.andtheMargueritesnodoubt.
Donotbeintheleastuneasyonmyaccount.Ifthepresentiscoldandbareandpoverty-stricken,thebluedistantfutureisrichandsplendid;mostgreatmenhaveknownthevicissitudeswhichdepressbutcannotoverwhelmme.
\"Plautus,thegreatcomicLatinpoet,wasonceamiller\'slad.
MachiavelliwroteThePrinceatnight,andbydaywasacommonworking-manlikeanyoneelse;andmorethanall,thegreatCervantes,wholostanarmatthebattleofLepanto,andhelpedtowinthatfamousday,wascalleda\'base-born,handlessdotard\'bythescribblersofhisday;therewasanintervaloftenyearsbetweentheappearanceofthefirstpartandthesecondofhissublimeDonQuixoteforlackofapublisher.Thingsarenotsobadasthatnowadays.Mortificationsandwantonlyfalltothelotofunknownwriters;assoonasaman\'snameisknown,hegrowsrich,andIwillberich.Andbesides,Ilivewithinmyself,IspendhalfthedayattheBibliothequeSainte-Genevieve,learningallthatIwanttolearn;IshouldnotgofarunlessIknewmorethanIdo.SoatthismomentIamalmosthappy.InafewdaysIhavefalleninwithmylifeverygladly.IbegintheworkthatIlovewithdaylight,mysubsistenceissecure,Ithinkagreatdeal,andIstudy.IdonotseethatIamopentoattackatanypoint,nowthatIhaverenouncedaworldwheremyvanitymightsufferatanymoment.Thegreatmenofeveryageareobligedtoleadlivesapart.Whataretheybutbirdsintheforest?Theysing,naturefallsunderthespelloftheirsong,andnooneshouldseethem.
Thatshallbemylot,alwayssupposingthatIcancarryoutmyambitiousplans.
\"Mme.deBargetonIdonotregret.Awomanwhocouldbehaveasshebehaveddoesnotdeserveathought.NoramIsorrythatIleftAngouleme.ShedidwiselywhensheflungmeintotheseaofParistosinkorswim.Thisistheplaceformenoflettersandthinkersandpoets;hereyoucultivateglory,andIknowhowfairtheharvestisthatwereapinthesedays.Nowhereelsecanawriterfindthelivingworksofthegreatdead,theworksofartwhichquickentheimaginationinthegalleriesandmuseumshere;nowhereelsewillyoufindgreatreferencelibrariesalwaysopeninwhichtheintellectmayfindpasture.Andlastly,hereinParisthereisaspiritwhichyoubreatheintheair;itinfusestheleastdetails,everyliterarycreationbearstracesofitsinfluence.
Youlearnmorebytalkinacafe,oratatheatre,inonehalfhour,thanyouwouldlearnintenyearsintheprovinces.Here,intruth,whereveryougo,thereisalwayssomethingtosee,somethingtolearn,somecomparisontomake.Extremecheapnessandexcessivedearness——thereisParisforyou;thereishoneycombhereforeverybee,everynaturefindsitsownnourishment.So,thoughlifeishardformejustnow,Irepentofnothing.Onthecontrary,afairfuturespreadsoutbeforeme,andmyheartrejoicesthoughitissaddenedforthemoment.Good-byemydearsister.Donotexpectlettersfrommeregularly;itisoneofthepeculiaritiesofParisthatonereallydoesnotknowhowthetimegoes.Lifeissoalarminglyrapid.IkissthemotherandyouandDavidmoretenderlythanever.\"
ThenameofFlicoteauxisengravedonmanymemories.FewindeedwerethestudentswholivedintheLatinQuarterduringthelasttwelveyearsoftheRestorationanddidnotfrequentthattemplesacredtohungerandimpecuniosity.Thereadinnerofthreecourses,withaquarterbottleofwineorabottleofbeer,couldbehadforeighteensous;orfortwenty-twosousthequarterbottlebecomesabottle.
Flicoteaux,thatfriendofyouth,wouldbeyondadoubthaveamassedacolossalfortunebutforalineonhisbilloffare,alinewhichrivalestablishmentsarewonttoprintincapitalletters,thus——BREAD
ATDISCRETION,which,beinginterpreted,shouldread\"indiscretion.\"
Flicoteauxhasbeennursing-fathertomanyanillustriousname.
Verily,theheartofmorethanonegreatmanoughttowaxwarmwithinnumerablerecollectionsofinexpressibleenjoymentatthesightofthesmall,squarewindowpanesthatlookuponthePlacedelaSorbonne,andtheRueNeuve-de-Richelieu.FlicoteauxII.andFlicoteauxIII.respectedtheoldexterior,maintainingthedingyhueandgeneralairofarespectable,old-establishedhouse,showingtherebythedepthoftheircontemptforthecharlatanismoftheshop-
front,thekindofadvertisementwhichfeaststheeyesattheexpenseofthestomach,towhichyourmodernrestaurantalmostalwayshasrecourse.Hereyoubeheldnopilesofstraw-stuffedgameneverdestinedtomaketheacquaintanceofthespit,nofantasticalfishtojustifythemountebank\'sremark,\"Isawafinecarpto-day;Iexpecttobuyitthisdayweek.\"Insteadoftheprimevegetablesmorefittinglydescribedbythewordprimeval,artfullydisplayedinthewindowforthedelectationofthemilitarymanandhisfellowcountry-
womanthenursemaid,honestFlicoteauxexhibitedfullsalad-bowlsadornedwithmanyarivet,orpyramidsofstewedprunestorejoicethesightofthecustomer,andassurehimthattheword\"dessert,\"withwhichotherhandbillsmadetoofree,wasinthiscasenochartertohoodwinkthepublic.Loavesofsixpounds\'weight,cutinfourquarters,madegoodthepromiseof\"breadatdiscretion.\"Suchwastheplentyoftheestablishment,thatMolierewouldhavecelebrateditifithadbeeninexistenceinhisday,socomicallyappropriateisthename.
Flicoteauxstillsubsists;solongasstudentsaremindedtolive,Flicoteauxwillmakealiving.Youfeedthere,neithermorenorless;
andyoufeedasyouwork,withmoroseorcheerfulindustry,accordingtothecircumstancesandthetemperament.
Atthattimehiswell-knownestablishmentconsistedoftwodining-
halls,atrightanglestoeachother;long,narrow,low-ceiledrooms,lookingrespectivelyontheRueNeuve-de-RichelieuandthePlacedelaSorbonne.Thefurnituremusthavecomeoriginallyfromtherefectoryofsomeabbey,fortherewasamonasticlookaboutthelengthytables,wheretheserviettesofregularcustomers,eachthrustthroughanumberedringofcrystallizedtinplate,werelaidbytheirplaces.
FlicoteauxI.onlychangedtheserviettesofaSunday;butFlicoteauxII.changedthemtwiceaweek,itissaid,underpressureofcompetitionwhichthreatenedhisdynasty.
Flicoteaux\'srestaurantisnobanqueting-hall,withitsrefinementsandluxuries;itisaworkshopwheresuitabletoolsareprovided,andeverybodygetsupandgoesassoonashehasfinished.Thecomingandgoingwithinareswift.Thereisnodawdlingamongthewaiters;theyareallbusy;everyoneofthemiswanted.
Thefareisnotveryvaried.Thepotatoisapermanentinstitution;
theremightnotbeasingletuberleftinIreland,andprevailingdearthelsewhere,butyouwouldstillfindpotatoesatFlicoteaux\'s.
Notonceinthirtyyearsshallyoumissitspalegold(thecolorbelovedofTitian),sprinkledwithchoppedverdure;thepotatoenjoysaprivilegethatwomenmightenvy;suchasyouseeitin1814,soshallyoufinditin1840.MuttoncutletsandfilletofbeefatFlicoteaux\'srepresentblackgameandfilletofsturgeonatVery\'s;
theyarenotontheregularbilloffare,thatis,andmustbeorderedbeforehand.Beefofthefemininegenderthereprevails;theyoungofthebovinespeciesappearsinallkindsofingeniousdisguises.Whenthewhitingandmackerelaboundonourshores,theyarelikewiseseeninlargenumbersatFlicoteaux\'s;hiswholeestablishment,indeed,isdirectlyaffectedbythecapricesoftheseasonandthevicissitudesofFrenchagriculture.ByeatingyourdinnersatFlicoteaux\'syoulearnahostofthingsofwhichthewealthy,theidle,andfolkindifferenttothephasesofNaturehavenosuspicion,andthestudentpennedupintheLatinQuarteriskeptaccuratelyinformedofthestateoftheweatherandgoodorbadseasons.HeknowswhenitisagoodyearforpeasorFrenchbeans,andthekindofsaladstuffthatisplentiful;whentheGreatMarketisgluttedwithcabbages,heisatonceawareofthefact,andthefailureofthebeetrootcropisbroughthometohismind.Aslander,oldincirculationinLucien\'stime,connectedtheappearanceofbeef-steakswithamortalityamonghorseflesh.
FewParisianrestaurantsaresowellworthseeing.EveryoneatFlicoteaux\'sisyoung;youseenothingbutyouth;andalthoughearnestfacesandgrave,gloomy,anxiousfacesarenotlacking,youseehopeandconfidenceandpovertygailyendured.Dress,asarule,iscareless,andregularcomersindecentclothesaremarkedexceptions.
Everybodyknowsatoncethatsomethingextraordinaryisafoot:amistresstovisit,atheatreparty,orsomeexcursionintohigherspheres.Here,itissaid,friendshipshavebeenmadeamongstudentswhobecamefamousmeninafterdays,aswillbeseeninthecourseofthisnarrative;butwiththeexceptionofafewknotsofyoungfellowsfromthesamepartofFrancewhomakeagroupabouttheendofatable,thegravityofthedinersishardlyrelaxed.Perhapsthisgravityisduetothecatholicityofthewine,whichchecksgoodfellowshipofanykind.
Flicoteaux\'sfrequentersmayrecollectcertainsombreandmysteriousfiguresenvelopedinthegloomofthechilliestpenury;thesebeingswoulddinetheredailyforacoupleofyearsandthenvanish,andthemostinquisitiveregularcomercouldthrownolightonthedisappearanceofsuchgoblinsofParis.FriendshipsstruckupoverFlicoteaux\'sdinnersweresealedinneighboringcafesintheflamesofheadypunch,orbythegenerouswarmthofasmallcupofblackcoffeeglorifiedbyadashofsomethinghotterandstronger.
Lucien,likeallneophytes,wasmodestandregularinhishabitsinthoseearlydaysattheHoteldeCluny.Afterthefirstunluckyventureinfashionablelifewhichabsorbedhiscapital,hethrewhimselfintohisworkwiththefirstearnestenthusiasm,whichisfritteredawaysosoonoverthedifficultiesorintheby-pathsofeverylifeinParis.Themostluxuriousandtheverypoorestlivesareequallybesetwithtemptationswhichnothingbutthefierceenergyofgeniusorthemorosepersistenceofambitioncanovercome.
LucienusedtodropinatFlicoteaux\'sabouthalf-pastfour,havingremarkedtheadvantagesofanearlyarrival;thebill-of-farewasmorevaried,andtherewasstillsomechanceofobtainingthedishofyourchoice.Likeallimaginativepersons,hehadtakenafancytoaparticularseat,andshoweddiscriminationinhisselection.Ontheveryfirstdayhehadnoticedatablenearthecounter,andfromthefacesofthosewhosataboutit,andchancesnatchesoftheirtalk,herecognizedbrothersofthecraft.Asortofinstinct,moreover,pointedoutthetablenearthecounterasaspotwhencehecouldparlaywiththeownersoftherestaurant.Intimeanacquaintancewouldgrowup,hethought,andtheninthedayofdistresshecouldnodoubtobtainthenecessarycredit.Sohetookhisplaceatasmallsquaretableclosetothedesk,intendedprobablyforcasualcomers,forthetwocleanservietteswereunadornedwithrings.Lucien\'soppositeneighborwasathin,pallidyouth,toallappearanceaspoorashimself;hishandsomefacewassomewhatworn,alreadyittoldofhopesthathadvanished,leavinglinesuponhisforeheadandbarrenfurrowsinhissoul,whereseedshadbeensownthathadcometonothing.Lucienfeltdrawntothestrangerbythesetokens;hissympathieswentouttohimwithirresistiblefervor.
Afteraweek\'sexchangeofsmallcourtesiesandremarks,thepoetfromAngoulemefoundthefirstpersonwithwhomhecouldchat.Thestranger\'snamewasEtienneLousteau.Twoyearsagohehadlefthisnativeplace,atowninBerri,justasLucienhadcomefromAngouleme.
Hislivelygestures,brighteyes,andoccasionallycurtspeechrevealedabitterapprenticeshiptoliterature.EtiennehadcomefromSancerrewithhistragedyinhispocket,drawntoParisbythesamemotivesthatimpelledLucien——hopeoffameandpowerandmoney.
SometimesEtienneLousteaucameforseveraldaystogether;butinalittlewhilehisvisitsbecamefewandfarbetween,andhewouldstayawayforfiveorsixdaysinsuccession.Thenhewouldcomeback,andLucienwouldhopetoseehispoetnextday,onlytofindastrangerinhisplace.Whentwoyoungmenmeetdaily,theirtalkharksbacktotheirlastconversation;butthesecontinualinterruptionsobligedLucientobreaktheiceafresheachtime,andfurthercheckedanintimacywhichmadelittleprogressduringthefirstfewweeks.Oninquiryofthedamselatthecounter,Lucienwastoldthathisfuturefriendwasonthestaffofasmallnewspaper,andwrotereviewsofbooksanddramaticcriticismofpiecesplayedattheAmbigu-Comique,theGaite,andthePanorama-Dramatique.TheyoungmanbecameapersonageallatonceinLucien\'seyes.Now,hethought,hewouldleadtheconversationonrathermorepersonaltopics,andmakesomeefforttogainafriendsolikelytobeusefultoabeginner.Thejournaliststayedawayforafortnight.LuciendidnotknowthatEtienneonlydinedatFlicoteaux\'swhenhewashardup,andhencehisgloomyairofdisenchantmentandthechillymanner,whichLucienmetwithgracioussmilesandamiableremarks.But,afterall,theprojectofafriendshipcalledformaturedeliberation.Thisobscurejournalistappearedtoleadanexpensivelifeinwhichpetitsverres,cupsofcoffee,punch-bowls,sight-seeing,andsuppersplayedapart.IntheearlydaysofLucien\'slifeintheLatinQuarter,hebehavedlikeapoorchildbewilderedbyhisfirstexperienceofParislife;sothatwhenhehadmadeastudyofpricesandweighedhispurse,helackedcouragetomakeadvancestoEtienne;hewasafraidofbeginningafreshseriesofblundersofwhichhewasstillrepenting.Andhewasstillundertheyokeofprovincialcreeds;histwoguardianangels,EveandDavid,roseupbeforehimattheleastapproachofanevilthought,puttinghiminmindofallthehopesthatwerecenteredonhim,ofthehappinessthatheowedtotheoldmother,ofallthepromisesofhisgenius.
HespenthismorningsinstudyinghistoryattheBibliothequeSainte-
Genevieve.HisveryfirstresearchesmadehimawareoffrightfulerrorsinthememoirsofTheArcherofCharlesIX.Whenthelibraryclosed,hewentbacktohisdamp,chillyroomtocorrecthiswork,cuttingoutwholechaptersandpiecingittogetheranew.AndafterdiningatFlicoteaux\'s,hewentdowntothePassageduCommercetoseethenewspapersatBlosse\'sreading-room,aswellasnewbooksandmagazinesandpoetry,soastokeephimselfinformedofthemovementsoftheday.Andwhen,towardsmidnight,hereturnedtohiswretchedlodgings,hehadusedneitherfuelnorcandle-light.Hisreadinginthosedaysmadesuchanenormouschangeinhisideas,thatherevisedthevolumeofflower-sonnets,hisbelovedMarguerites,workingthemovertosuchpurpose,thatscarceahundredlinesoftheoriginalverseswereallowedtostand.
SointhebeginningLucienledthehonest,innocentlifeofthecountryladwhoneverleavestheLatinQuarter;devotinghimselfwhollytohiswork,withthoughtsofthefuturealwaysbeforehim;whofindsFlicoteaux\'sordinaryluxuriousafterthesimplehome-fare;andstrollsforrecreationalongthealleysoftheLuxembourg,thebloodsurgingbacktohisheartashegivestimidsideglancestotheprettywomen.Butthiscouldnotlast.Lucien,withhispoetictemperamentandboundlesslongings,couldnotwithstandthetemptationsheldoutbytheplay-bills.
TheTheatre-Francais,theVaudeville,theVarietes,theOpera-Comiquerelievedhimofsomesixtyfrancs,althoughhealwayswenttothepit.
WhatstudentcoulddenyhimselfthepleasureofseeingTalmainoneofhisfamousroles?Lucienwasfascinatedbythetheatre,thatfirstloveofallpoetictemperaments;theactorsandactresseswereawe-
inspiringcreatures;hedidnotsomuchasdreamofthepossibilityofcrossingthefootlightsandmeetingthemonfamiliarterms.Themenandwomenwhogavehimsomuchpleasureweresurelymarvelousbeings,whomthenewspaperstreatedwithasmuchgravityasmattersofnationalinterest.Tobeadramaticauthor,tohaveaplayproducedonthestage!Whatadreamwasthistocherish!AdreamwhichafewboldspiritslikeCasimirDelavignehadactuallyrealized.Thickswarmingthoughtslikethese,andmomentsofbeliefinhimself,followedbydespairgaveLuciennorest,andkepthiminthenarrowwayoftoilandfrugality,inspiteofthesmotheredgrumblingsofmorethanonefrenzieddesire.
Carryingprudencetoanextreme,hemadeitarulenevertoentertheprecinctsofthePalaisRoyal,thatplaceofperditionwherehehadspentfiftyfrancsatVery\'sinasingleday,andnearlyfivehundredfrancsonhisclothes;andwhenheyieldedtotemptation,andsawFleury,Talma,thetwoBaptistes,orMichot,hewentnofurtherthanthemurkypassagewheretheatre-goersusedtostandinastringfromhalf-pastfiveintheafternoontillthehourwhenthedoorsopened,andbelatedcomerswerecompelledtopaytensousforaplaceneartheticket-office.Andafterwaitingfortwohours,thecryof\"Allticketsaresold!\"rangnotunfrequentlyintheearsofdisappointedstudents.Whentheplaywasover,Lucienwenthomewithdowncasteyes,throughstreetslinedwithlivingattractions,andperhapsfellinwithoneofthosecommonplaceadventureswhichloomsolargeinayoungandtimorousimagination.
OnedayLuciencountedoverhisremainingstockofmoney,andtookalarmatthemeltingofhisfunds;acoldperspirationbrokeoutuponhimwhenhethoughtthatthetimehadcomewhenhemustfindapublisher,andtryalsotofindworkforwhichapublisherwouldpayhim.Theyoungjournalist,withwhomhehadmadeaone-sidedfriendship,nevercamenowtoFlicoteaux\'s.Lucienwaswaitingforachance——whichfailedtopresentitself.InParistherearenochancesexceptformenwithaverywidecircleofacquaintance;chancesofsuccessofeverykindincreasewiththenumberofyourconnections;
and,therefore,inthissensealsothechancesareinfavorofthebigbattalions.Lucienhadsufficientprovincialforesightstillleft,andhadnomindtowaituntilonlyalastfewcoinsremainedtohim.Heresolvedtofacethepublishers.
SoonetolerablychillySeptembermorningLucienwentdowntheRuedelaHarpe,withhistwomanuscriptsunderhisarm.AshemadehiswaytotheQuaidesAugustins,andwentalong,lookingintothebooksellers\'windowsononesideandintotheSeineontheother,hisgoodgeniusmighthavecounseledhimtopitchhimselfintothewatersoonerthanplungeintoliterature.Afterheart-searchinghesitations,afteraprofoundscrutinyofthevariouscountenances,moreorlessencouraging,soft-hearted,churlish,cheerful,ormelancholy,tobeseenthroughthewindowpanes,orinthedoorwaysofthebooksellers\'
establishments,heespiedahousewheretheshopmenwerebusypackingbooksatagreatrate.Goodswerebeingdespatched.Thewallswereplasteredwithbills:
JUSTOUT.
LESOLITAIRE,byM.leVicomted\'Arlincourt.
Thirdedition.
LEONIDE,byVictorDucange;fivevolumes12mo,printedonfinepaper.12francs.
INDUCTIONSMORALES,byKeratry.
\"Theyarelucky,thattheyare!\"exclaimedLucien.
Theplacard,anewandoriginalideaofthecelebratedLadvocat,wasjustbeginningtoblossomoutuponthewalls.InnolongspacePariswastowearmotley,thankstotheexertionsofhisimitators,andtheTreasurywastodiscoveranewsourceofrevenue.
AnxietysentthebloodsurgingtoLucien\'sheart,ashewhohadbeensogreatatAngouleme,soinsignificantoflateinParis,slippedpasttheotherhouses,summonedupallhiscourage,andatlastenteredtheshopthrongedwithassistants,customers,andbooksellers——\"Andauthorstoo,perhaps!\"thoughtLucien.
\"IwanttospeakwithM.VidalorM.Porchon,\"hesaid,addressingashopman.Hehadreadthenamesonthesign-board——VIDAL&PORCHON(itran),Frenchandforeignbooksellers\'agents.
\"Bothgentlemenareengaged,\"saidtheman.
\"Iwillwait.\"
Lefttohimself,thepoetscrutinizedthepackages,andamusedhimselfforacoupleofhoursbyscanningthetitlesofbooks,lookingintothem,andreadingapageortwohereandthere.Atlast,ashestoodleaningagainstawindow,heheardvoices,andsuspectingthatthegreencurtainshideitherVidalorPorchon,helistenedtotheconversation.
\"Willyoutakefivehundredcopiesofme?Ifyouwill,Iwillletyouhavethematfivefrancs,andgivefourteentothedozen.\"
\"Whatdoesthatbringtheminat?\"
\"Sixteensousless.\"
\"Fourfrancsfoursous?\"saidVidalorPorchon,whicheveritwas.
\"Yes,\"saidthevendor.
\"Credityouraccount?\"inquiredthepurchaser.
\"Oldhumbug!youwouldsettlewithmeineighteenmonths\'time,withbillsatatwelvemonth.\"
\"No.Settledatonce,\"returnedVidalorPorchon.
\"Billsatninemonths?\"askedthepublisherorauthor,whoevidentlywassellinghisbook.
\"No,mydearfellow,twelvemonths,\"returnedoneofthefirmofbooksellers\'agents.
Therewasapause.
\"Youaresimplycuttingmythroat!\"saidthevisitor.
\"Butinayear\'stimeshallwehaveplacedahundredcopiesofLeonide?\"saidtheothervoice.\"Ifbookswentoffasfastasthepublisherswouldlike,weshouldbemillionaires,mygoodsir;buttheydon\'t,theygoasthepublicpleases.ThereissomeonenowbringingoutaneditionofScott\'snovelsateighteensouspervolume,threelivrestwelvesouspercopy,andyouwantmetogiveyoumoreforyourstaleremainders?No.Ifyoumeanmetopushthisnovelofyours,youmustmakeitworthmywhile——Vidal!\"
Astoutman,withapenbehindhisear,camedownfromhisdesk.
\"HowmanycopiesofDucangedidyouplacelastjourney?\"askedPorchonofhispartner.
\"TwohundredofLePetitVieillarddeCalais,buttosellthemIwasobligedtocrydowntwobookswhichpayinlesscommission,anduncommonlyfine\'nightingales\'theyarenow.
(A\"nightingale,\"asLucienafterwardslearned,isabookseller\'snameforbooksthatlingeronhand,perchedoutofsightintheloneliestnooksintheshop.)
\"Andbesides,\"addedVidal,\"Picardisbringingoutsomenovels,asyouknow.Wehavebeenpromisedtwentypercentonthepublishedpricetomakethethingasuccess.\"
\"Verywell,attwelvemonths,\"thepublisheransweredinapiteousvoice,thunderstruckbyVidal\'sconfidentialremark.
\"Isitanoffer?\"Porchoninquiredcurtly.
\"Yes.\"Thestrangerwentout.Afterhehadgone,LucienheardPorchonsaytoVidal:
\"Wehavethreehundredcopiesonordernow.Wewillkeephimwaitingforhissettlement,selltheLeonidesforfivefrancsnet,settlementinsixmonths,and——\"
\"Andthatwillbefifteenhundredfrancsintoourpockets,\"saidVidal.
\"Oh,Isawquitewellthathewasinafix.HeisgivingDucangefourthousandfrancsfortwothousandcopies.\"
LuciencutVidalshortbyappearingintheentranceoftheden.
\"Ihavethehonorofwishingyouagoodday,gentlemen,\"hesaid,addressingbothpartners.Thebooksellersnoddedslightly.
\"IhaveaFrenchhistoricalromanceafterthestyleofScott.ItiscalledTheArcherofCharlesIX.;Iproposetoofferittoyou——\"
PorchonglancedatLucienwithlustrelesseyes,andlaidhispendownonthedesk.Vidalstaredrudelyattheauthor.
\"Wearenotpublishingbooksellers,sir;wearebooksellers\'agents,\"
hesaid.\"Whenwebringoutabookourselves,weonlydealinwell-
knownnames;andweonlytakeseriousliteraturebesides——historyandepitomes.\"
\"Butmybookisveryserious.ItisanattempttosetthestrugglebetweenCatholicsandCalvinistsinitstruelight;theCatholicsweresupportersofabsolutemonarchy,andtheProtestantsforarepublic.\"
\"M.Vidal!\"shoutedanassistant.Vidalfled.
\"Idon\'tsay,sir,thatyourbookisnotamasterpiece,\"repliedPorchon,withscantycivility,\"butweonlydealinbooksthatarereadyprinted.Goandseesomebodythatbuysmanuscripts.ThereisoldDoguereauintheRueduCoq,neartheLouvre,heisintheromanceline.Ifyouhadonlyspokensooner,youmighthaveseenPollet,acompetitorofDoguereauandofthepublisherintheWoodenGalleries.\"
\"Ihaveavolumeofpoetry——\"
\"M.Porchon!\"somebodyshouted.
\"POETRY!\"Porchonexclaimedangrily.\"Forwhatdoyoutakeme?\"headded,laughinginLucien\'sface.Andhedivedintotheregionsofthebackshop.
LucienwentbackacrossthePontNeufabsorbedinreflection.Fromallthatheunderstoodofthismercantiledialect,itappearedthatbooks,likecottonnightcaps,weretoberegardedasarticlesofmerchandisetobesolddearandboughtcheap.
\"Ihavemadeamistake,\"saidLucientohimself;but,allthesame,thisrough-and-readypracticalaspectofliteraturemadeanimpressionuponhim.
IntheRueduCoqhestoppedinfrontofamodest-lookingshop,whichhehadpassedbefore.HesawtheinscriptionDOGUEREAU,BOOKSELLER,paintedaboveitinyellowlettersonagreenground,andrememberedthathehadseenthenameatthefootofthetitle-pageofseveralnovelsatBlosse\'sreading-room.Inhewent,notwithouttheinwardtrepidationwhichamanofanyimaginationfeelsattheprospectofabattle.Insidetheshophediscoveredanodd-lookingoldman,oneofthequeercharactersofthetradeinthedaysoftheEmpire.
Doguereauworeablackcoatwithvastsquareskirts,whenfashionrequiredswallow-tailcoats.Hiswaistcoatwasofsomecheapmaterial,acheckedpatternofmanycolors;asteelchain,withacopperkeyattachedtoit,hungfromhisfobanddangleddownoveraroomypairofblacknethergarments.Thebooksellers\'watchmusthavebeenthesizeofanonion.Iron-grayribbedstockings,andshoeswithsilverbucklescompletediscostume.Theoldman\'sheadwasbare,andornamentedwithafringeofgrizzledlocks,quitepoeticallyscanty.
\"OldDoguereau,\"asPorchonstyledhim,wasdressedhalflikeaprofessorofbelles-lettresastohistrousersandshoes,halflikeatradesmanwithrespecttothevariegatedwaistcoat,thestockings,andthewatch;andthesameoddmixtureappearedinthemanhimself.Heunitedthemagisterial,dogmaticair,andthehollowcountenanceoftheprofessorofrhetoricwiththesharpeyes,suspiciousmouth,andvagueuneasinessofthebookseller.
\"M.Doguereau?\"askedLucien.
\"Thatismyname,sir.\"
\"Youareveryyoung,\"remarkedthebookseller.
\"Myage,sir,hasnothingtodowiththematter.\"
\"True,\"andtheoldbooksellertookupthemanuscript.\"Ah,begad!TheArcherofCharlesIX.,agoodtitle.Letusseenow,youngman,justtellmeyoursubjectinawordortwo.\"
\"Itisahistoricalwork,sir,inthestyleofScott.ThecharacterofthestrugglebetweentheProtestantsandCatholicsisdepictedasastrugglebetweentwoopposedsystemsofgovernment,inwhichthethroneisseriouslyendangered.IhavetakentheCatholicside.\"
\"Eh!butyouhaveideas,youngman.Verywell,Iwillreadyourbook,Ipromiseyou.IwouldratherhavehadsomethingmoreinMrs.
Radcliffe\'sstyle;butifyouareindustrious,ifyouhavesomenotionofstyle,conceptions,ideas,andtheartoftellingastory,Idon\'taskbetterthantobeofusetoyou.Whatdowewantbutgoodmanuscripts?\"
\"WhencanIcomeback?\"
\"Iamgoingintothecountrythisevening;Ishallbebackagainthedayafterto-morrow.Ishallhavereadyourmanuscriptbythattime;
andifitsuitsme,wemightcometotermsthatveryday.\"
Seeinghisacquaintancesoeasy,LucienwasinspiredwiththeunluckyideaofbringingtheMargueritesuponthescene.
\"Ihaveavolumeofpoetryaswell,sir——\"hebegan.
\"Oh!youareapoet!ThenIdon\'twantyourromance,\"andtheoldmanhandedbackthemanuscript.\"Therhymingfellowscometogriefwhentheytrytheirhandsatprose.Inproseyoucan\'tusewordsthatmeannothing;youabsolutelymustsaysomething.\"
\"ButSirWalterScott,sir,wrotepoetryaswellas——\"
\"Thatistrue,\"saidDoguereau,relenting.Heguessedthattheyoungfellowbeforehimwaspoor,andkeptthemanuscript.\"Wheredoyoulive?Iwillcomeandseeyou.\"
Lucien,allunsuspiciousoftheideaatthebackoftheoldman\'shead,gavehisaddress;hedidnotseethathehadtodowithabookselleroftheoldschool,asurvivaloftheeighteenthcentury,whenbooksellerstriedtokeepVoltairesandMontesquieusstarvingingarretsunderlockandkey.
\"TheLatinQuarter.Iamcomingbackthatveryway,\"saidDoguereau,whenhehadreadtheaddress.
\"Goodman!\"thoughtLucien,ashetookhisleave.\"SoIhavemetwithafriendtoyoungauthors,amanoftastewhoknowssomething.Thatisthekindofmanforme!ItisjustasIsaidtoDavid——talentsoonmakesitswayinParis.\"
Lucienwenthomeagainhappyandlightofheart;hedreamedofglory.
HegavenotanotherthoughttotheominouswordswhichfellonhisearashestoodbythecounterinVidalandPorchon\'sshop;hebeheldhimselfthericherbytwelvehundredfrancsatleast.Twelvehundredfrancs!ItmeantayearinParis,awholeyearofpreparationfortheworkthathemeanttodo.Whatplanshebuiltonthathope!Whatsweetdreams,whatvisionsofalifeestablishedonabasisofwork!
Mentallyhefoundnewquarters,andsettledhimselfinthem;itwouldnothavetakenmuchtosethimmakingapurchaseortwo.HecouldonlystaveoffimpatiencebyconstantreadingatBlosse\'s.
TwodayslateroldDoguereaucometothelodgingsofhisbuddingSirWalterScott.HewasstruckwiththepainswhichLucienhadtakenwiththestyleofthishisfirstwork,delightedwiththestrongcontrastsofcharactersanctionedbytheepoch,andsurprisedatthespiritedimaginationwhichayoungwriteralwaysdisplaysintheschemingofafirstplot——hehadnotbeenspoiled,thoughtoldDaddyDoguereau.HehadmadeuphismindtogiveathousandfrancsforTheArcherofCharlesIX.;hewouldbuythecopyrightoutandout,andbindLucienbyanengagementforseveralbooks,butwhenhecametolookatthehouse,theoldfoxthoughtbetterofit.
\"Ayoungfellowthatlivesherehasnonebutsimpletastes,\"saidhetohimself;\"heisfondofstudy,fondofwork;Ineednotgivemorethaneighthundredfrancs.\"
\"Fourthfloor,\"answeredthelandlady,whenheaskedforM.LuciendeRubempre.Theoldbookseller,peeringup,sawnothingbuttheskyabovethefourthfloor.
