\"Thisyoungfellow,\"thoughthe,\"isagood-lookinglad;onemightgosofarastosaythatheisveryhandsome.Ifheweretomaketoomuchmoney,hewouldonlyfallintodissipatedways,andthenhewouldnotwork.Intheinterestsofusboth,Ishallonlyoffersixhundredfrancs,incointhough,notpaper.\"
Heclimbedthestairsandgavethreerapsatthedoor.Luciencametoopenit.Theroomwasforlorninitsbareness.Abowlofmilkandapennyrollstoodonthetable.ThedestitutionofgeniusmadeanimpressiononDaddyDoguereau.
\"Lethimpreservethesesimplehabitsoflife,thisfrugality,thesemodestrequirements,\"thoughthe——Aloudhesaid:\"Itisapleasuretometoseeyou.Thus,sir,livedJean-Jacques,whomyouresembleinmorewaysthanone.Amidsuchsurroundingsthefireofgeniusshinesbrightly;goodworkisdoneinsuchroomsasthese.Thisishowmenoflettersshouldwork,insteadoflivingriotouslyincafesandrestaurants,wastingtheirtimeandtalentandourmoney.\"
Hesatdown.
\"Yourromanceisnotbad,youngman.Iwasaprofessorofrhetoriconce;IknowFrenchhistory,therearesomecapitalthingsinit.Youhaveafuturebeforeyou,infact.\"
\"Oh!sir.\"
\"No;Itellyouso.Wemaydobusinesstogether.Iwillbuyyourromance.\"
Lucien\'sheartswelledandthrobbedwithgladness.Hewasabouttoentertheworldofliterature;heshouldseehimselfinprintatlast.
\"Iwillgiveyoufourhundredfrancs,\"continuedDoguereauinhoneyedaccents,andhelookedatLucienwithanairwhichseemedtobetokenaneffortofgenerosity.
\"Thevolume?\"queriedLucien.
\"Fortheromance,\"saidDoguereau,heedlessofLucien\'ssurprise.\"Inreadymoney,\"headded;\"andyoushallundertaketowritetwobooksformeeveryyearforsixyears.Ifthefirstbookisoutofprintinsixmonths,Iwillgiveyousixhundredfrancsfortheothers.So,ifyouwritetwobookseachyear,youwillbemakingahundredfrancsamonth;youwillhaveasureincome,youwillbewelloff.TherearesomeauthorswhomIonlypaythreehundredfrancsforaromance;I
givetwohundredfortranslationsofEnglishbooks.Suchpriceswouldhavebeenexorbitantintheolddays.\"
\"Sir,wecannotpossiblycometoanunderstanding.Givemebackmymanuscript,Ibeg,\"saidLucien,inacoldchill.
\"Hereitis,\"saidtheoldbookseller.\"Youknownothingofbusiness,sir.Beforeanauthor\'sfirstbookcanappear,apublisherisboundtosinksixteenhundredfrancsonthepaperandtheprintingofit.Itiseasiertowritearomancethantofindallthatmoney.Ihaveahundredromancesinmanuscript,andIhavenotahundredandsixtythousandfrancsinmycashbox,alas!IhavenotmadesomuchinallthesetwentyyearsthatIhavebeenabookseller.Soyoudon\'tmakeafortunebyprintingromances,yousee.VidalandPorchononlytakethemofusonconditionsthatgrowharderandharderdaybyday.Youhaveonlyyourtimetolose,whileIamobligedtodisbursetwothousandfrancs.Ifwefail,habentsuafatalibelli,Ilosetwothousandfrancs;while,asforyou,yousimplyhurlanodeatthethick-headedpublic.WhenyouhavethoughtoverthisthatIhavethehonoroftellingyou,youwillcomebacktome——YOUWILLCOMEBACKTO
ME!\"heassertedauthoritatively,bywayofreplytoascornfulgesturemadeinvoluntarilybyLucien.\"Sofarfromfindingapublisherobligingenoughtorisktwothousandfrancsforanunknownwriter,youwillnotfindapublisher\'sclerkthatwilltroublehimselftolookthroughyourscreed.NowthatIhavereaditIcanpointoutagoodmanyslipsingrammar.Youhaveputobserverforfaireobserverandmalgreque.Malgreisapreposition,andrequiresanobject.\"
Lucienappearedtobehumiliated.
\"WhenIseeyouagain,youwillhavelostahundredfrancs,\"headded.
\"Ishallonlygiveahundredcrowns.\"
Withthatheroseandtookhisleave.Onthethresholdhesaid,\"Ifyouhadnotsomethinginyou,andafuturebeforeyou;ifIdidnottakeaninterestinstudiousyouth,Ishouldnothavemadeyousuchahandsomeoffer.Ahundredfrancspermonth!Thinkofit!Afterall,aromanceinadrawerisnoteatingitsheadofflikeahorseinastable,norwillitfindyouinvictualseither,andthat\'safact.\"
Luciensnatcheduphismanuscriptanddasheditonthefloor.
\"Iwouldratherburnit,sir!\"heexclaimed.
\"Youhaveapoet\'shead,\"returnedhissenior.
Luciendevouredhisbreadandsuppedhisbowlofmilk,thenhewentdownstairs.Hisroomwasnotlargeenoughforhim;hewasturningroundandroundinitlikealioninacageattheJardindesPlantes.
AttheBibliothequeSaint-Genevieve,whitherLucienwasgoing,hehadcometoknowastrangerbysight;ayoungmanoffive-and-twentyorthereabouts,workingwiththesustainedindustrywhichnothingcandisturbnordistract,thesignbywhichyourgenuineliteraryworkerisknown.Evidentlytheyoungmanhadbeenreadingthereforsometime,forthelibrarianandattendantsallknewhimandpaidhimspecialattention;thelibrarianwouldevenallowhimtotakeawaybooks,withwhichLuciensawhimreturninthemorning.Inthestrangerstudentherecognizedabrotherinpenuryandhope.
Pale-facedandslightandthin,withafineforeheadhiddenbymassesofblack,tolerablyunkempthair,therewassomethingabouthimthatattractedindifferenteyes:itwasavagueresemblancewhichheboretoportraitsoftheyoungBonaparte,engravedfromRobertLefebvre\'spicture.Thatengravingisapoemofmelancholyintensity,ofsuppressedambition,ofpowerworkingbelowthesurface.Studythefacecarefully,andyouwilldiscovergeniusinitanddiscretion,andallthesubtletyandgreatnessoftheman.Theportraithasspeakingeyeslikeawoman\'s;theylookout,greedyofspace,cravingdifficultiestovanquish.EvenifthenameofBonapartewerenotwrittenbeneathit,youwouldgazelongatthatface.
Lucien\'syoungstudent,theincarnationofthispicture,usuallyworefootedtrousers,shoeswiththicksolestothem,anovercoatofcoarsecloth,ablackcravat,awaistcoatofsomegray-and-whitematerialbuttonedtothechin,andacheaphat.Contemptforsuperfluityindresswasvisibleinhiswholeperson.LucienalsodiscoveredthatthemysteriousstrangerwiththatunmistakablestampwhichgeniussetsupontheforeheadofitsslaveswasoneofFlicoteaux\'smostregularcustomers;heatetolive,carelessofthefarewhichappearedtobefamiliartohim,anddrankwater.WhereverLuciensawhim,atthelibraryoratFlicoteaux\'s,therewasadignityinhismanner,springingdoubtlessfromtheconsciousnessofapurposethatfilledhislife,adignitywhichmadehimunapproachable.Hehadtheexpressionofathinker,meditationdweltonthefinenoblycarvedbrow.Youcouldtellfromthedarkbrighteyes,soclear-sightedandquicktoobserve,thattheirownerwaswonttoprobetothebottomofthings.Hegesticulatedverylittle,hisdemeanorwasgrave.Lucienfeltaninvoluntaryrespectforhim.
ManytimesalreadythepairhadlookedateachotherattheBibliothequeoratFlicoteaux\'s;manytimestheyhadbeenonthepointofspeaking,butneitherofthemhadventuredsofarasyet.Thesilentyoungmanwentofftothefurtherendofthelibrary,onthesideatrightanglestothePlacedelaSorbonne,andLucienhadnoopportunityofmakinghisacquaintance,althoughhefeltdrawntoaworkerwhomheknewbyindescribabletokensforacharacterofnocommonorder.Both,astheycametoknowafterwards,wereunsophisticatedandshy,giventofearswhichcauseapleasurableemotiontosolitarycreatures.PerhapstheyneverwouldhavebeenbroughtintocommunicationiftheyhadnotcomeacrosseachotherthatdayofLucien\'sdisaster;forasLucienturnedintotheRuedesGres,hesawthestudentcomingawayfromtheBibliothequeSainte-Genevieve.
\"Thelibraryisclosed;Idon\'tknowwhy,monsieur,\"saidhe.
TearswerestandinginLucien\'seyes;heexpressedhisthanksbyoneofthosegesturesthatspeakmoreeloquentlythanwords,andunlockheartsatoncewhentwomenmeetinyouth.TheywenttogetheralongtheRuedesGrestowardstheRuedelaHarpe.
\"Asthatisso,IshallgototheLuxembourgforawalk,\"saidLucien.
\"Whenyouhavecomeout,itisnoteasytosettledowntoworkagain.\"
\"No;one\'sideaswillnotflowinthepropercurrent,\"remarkedthestranger.\"Somethingseemstohaveannoyedyou,monsieur?\"
\"Ihavejusthadaqueeradventure,\"saidLucien,andhetoldthehistoryofhisvisittotheQuai,andgaveanaccountofhissubsequentdealingswiththeoldbookseller.Hegavehisnameandsaidawordortwoofhisposition.Inonemonthorthereaboutshehadspentsixtyfrancsonhisboard,thirtyforlodging,twentymorefrancsingoingtothetheatre,andtenatBlosse\'sreadingroom——onehundredandtwentyfrancsinall,andnowhehadjustahundredandtwentyfrancsinhand.
\"Yourstoryismine,monsieur,andthestoryoftenortwelvehundredyoungfellowsbesideswhocomefromthecountrytoPariseveryyear.
Thereareothersevenworseoffthanweare.Doyouseethattheatre?\"
hecontinued,indicatingtheturretsoftheOdeon.\"Therecameonedaytolodgeinoneofthehousesinthesquareamanoftalentwhohadfallenintothelowestdepthsofpoverty.Hewasmarried,inadditiontothemisfortuneswhichwesharewithhim,toawifewhomheloved;
andthepoorerorthericher,asyouwill,bytwochildren.Hewasburdenedwithdebt,butheputhisfaithinhispen.HetookacomedyinfiveactstotheOdeon;thecomedywasaccepted,themanagementarrangedtobringitout,theactorslearnedtheirparts,thestagemanagerurgedontherehearsals.Fiveseveralbitsofluck,fivedramastobeperformedinreallife,andfarhardertasksthanthewritingofafive-actplay.Thepoorauthorlodgedinagarret;youcanseetheplacefromhere.Hedrainedhislastresourcestoliveuntilthefirstrepresentation;hiswifepawnedherclothes,theyalllivedondrybread.Onthedayofthefinalrehearsal,thehouseholdowedfiftyfrancsintheQuartertothebaker,themilkwoman,andtheporter.Theauthorhadonlythestrictlynecessaryclothes——acoat,ashirt,trousers,awaistcoat,andapairofboots.Hefeltsureofhissuccess;hekissedhiswife.Theendoftheirtroubleswasathand.
\'Atlast!Thereisnothingagainstusnow,\'criedhe——\'Yes,thereisfire,\'saidhiswife;\'look,theOdeonisonfire!\'——TheOdeonwasonfire,monsieur.Sodonotyoucomplain.Youhaveclothes,youhaveneitherwifenorchild,youhaveahundredandtwentyfrancsforemergenciesinyourpocket,andyouowenooneapenny——Well,thepiecewentthroughahundredandfiftyrepresentationsattheTheatreLouvois.TheKingallowedtheauthorapension.\'Geniusispatience,\'
asBuffonsaid.Andpatienceafterallisaman\'snearestapproachtoNature\'sprocessesofcreation.WhatisArt,monsieur,butNatureconcentrated?\"
BythistimetheyoungmenwerestridingalongthewalksoftheLuxembourg,andinnolongtimeLucienlearnedthenameofthestrangerwhowasdoinghisbesttoadministercomfort.Thatnamehassincegrownfamous.Danield\'Arthezisoneofthemostillustriousoflivingmenofletters;oneoftherarefewwhoshowusanexampleof\"anoblegiftwithanoblenaturecombined,\"toquoteapoet\'sfinethought.
\"Thereisnocheaproutetogreatness,\"Danielwentoninhiskindvoice.\"TheworksofGeniusarewateredwithtears.Thegiftthatisinyou,likeanexistenceinthephysicalworld,passesthroughchildhoodanditsmaladies.Naturesweepsawaysicklyordeformedcreatures,andSocietyrejectsanimperfectlydevelopedtalent.Anymanwhomeanstoriseabovetherestmustmakereadyforastruggleandbeundauntedbydifficulties.Agreatwriterisamartyrwhodoesnotdie;thatisall——Thereisthestampofgeniusonyourforehead,\"
d\'Arthezcontinued,envelopingLucienbyaglance;\"butunlessyouhavewithinyouthewillofgenius,unlessyouaregiftedwithangelicpatience,unless,nomatterhowfarthefreaksofFatehavesetyoufromyourdestinedgoal,youcanfindthewaytoyourInfiniteastheturtlesintheIndiesfindtheirwaytotheocean,youhadbettergiveupatonce.\"
\"Thendoyouyourselfexpecttheseordeals?\"askedLucien.
\"Trialsofeverykind,slanderandtreachery,andeffronteryandcunning,therivalswhoactunfairly,andthekeencompetitionoftheliterarymarket,\"hiscompanionsaidresignedly.\"Whatisafirstloss,ifonlyyourworkwasgood?\"
\"Willyoulookatmineandgivemeyouropinion?\"askedLucien.
\"Sobeit,\"saidd\'Arthez.\"IamlivingintheRuedesQuatre-Vents.
Desplein,oneofthemostillustriousmenofgeniusinourtime,thegreatestsurgeonthattheworldhasknown,onceenduredthemartyrdomofearlystruggleswiththefirstdifficultiesofagloriouscareerinthesamehouse.Ithinkofthateverynight,andthethoughtgivesmethestockofcouragethatIneedeverymorning.Iamlivingintheveryroomwhere,likeRousseau,hehadnoTheresa.Comeinanhour\'stime.Ishallbein.\"
Thepoetsgraspedeachother\'shandswitharushofmelancholyandtenderfeelinginexpressibleinwords,andwenttheirseparateways;
Lucientofetchhismanuscript,Danield\'Artheztopawnhiswatchandbuyacoupleoffaggots.Theweatherwascold,andhisnew-foundfriendshouldfindafireinhisroom.
Lucienwaspunctual.HenoticedatoncethatthehousewasofanevenpoorerclassthantheHoteldeCluny.Astaircasegraduallybecamevisibleatthefurtherendofadarkpassage;hemountedtothefifthfloor,andfoundd\'Arthez\'sroom.
Abookcaseofdark-stainedwood,withrowsoflabeledcardboardcasesontheshelves,stoodbetweenthetwocrazywindows.Agaunt,paintedwoodenbedstead,ofthekindseeninschooldormitories,anight-
table,pickedupcheaplysomewhere,andacoupleofhorsehairarmchairs,filledthefurtherendoftheroom.Thewall-paper,aHighlandplaidpattern,wasglazedoverwiththegrimeofyears.
Betweenthewindowandthegratestoodalongtablelitteredwithpapers,andoppositethefireplacetherewasacheapmahoganychestofdrawers.Asecond-handcarpetcoveredthefloor——anecessaryluxury,foritsavedfiring.Acommonofficearmchair,cushionedwithleather,crimsononce,butnowhoarywithwear,wasdrawnuptothetable.Addhalf-a-dozenricketychairs,andyouhaveacompletelistofthefurniture.Luciennoticedanold-fashionedcandle-sconceforacard-
table,withanadjustablescreenattached,andwonderedtoseefourwaxcandlesinthesockets.D\'Arthezexplainedthathecouldnotendurethesmelloftallow,alittletraitdenotinggreatdelicacyofsenseperception,andtheexquisitesensibilitywhichaccompaniesit.
Thereadinglastedforsevenhours.Daniellistenedconscientiously,forbearingtointerruptbywordorcomment——oneoftherarestproofsofgoodtasteinalistener.
\"Well?\"queriedLucien,layingthemanuscriptonthechimney-piece.
\"Youhavemadeagoodstartontherightway,\"d\'Arthezansweredjudicially,\"butyoumustgooveryourworkagain.YoumuststrikeoutadifferentstyleforyourselfifyoudonotmeantoapeSirWalterScott,foryouhavetakenhimforyourmodel.Youbegin,forinstance,ashebegins,withlongconversationstointroduceyourcharacters,andonlywhentheyhavesaidtheirsaydoesdescriptionandactionfollow.
\"Thisopposition,necessaryinallworkofadramatickind,comeslast.Justputthetermsoftheproblemtheotherwayround.Givedescriptions,towhichourlanguagelendsitselfsoadmirably,insteadofdiffusedialogue,magnificentinScott\'swork,butcolorlessinyourown.Leadnaturallyuptoyourdialogue.Plungestraightintotheaction.Treatyoursubjectfromdifferentpointsofview,sometimesinaside-light,sometimesretrospectively;varyyourmethods,infact,todiversifyyourwork.YoumaybeoriginalwhileadaptingtheScotsnovelist\'sformofdramaticdialoguetoFrenchhistory.ThereisnopassioninScott\'snovels;heignorespassion,orperhapsitwasinterdictedbythehypocriticalmannersofhiscountry.Womanforhimisdutyincarnate.Hisheroines,withpossiblyoneortwoexceptions,areallalike;hehasdrawnthemallfromthesamemodel,aspainterssay.Theyare,everyoneofthem,descendedfromClarissaHarlowe.Andreturningcontinually,ashedid,tothesameideaofwoman,howcouldhedootherwisethanproduceasingletype,variedonlybydegreesofvividnessinthecoloring?WomanbringsconfusionintoSocietythroughpassion.Passiongivesinfinitepossibilities.Thereforedepictpassion;youhaveonegreatresourceopentoyou,foregonebythegreatgeniusforthesakeofprovidingfamilyreadingforprudishEngland.InFranceyouhavethecharmingsinner,thebrightly-coloredlifeofCatholicism,contrastedwithsombreCalvinisticfiguresonabackgroundofthetimeswhenpassionsranhigherthanatanyotherperiodofourhistory.
\"EveryepochwhichhasleftauthenticrecordssincethetimeofCharlestheGreatcallsforatleastoneromance.Somerequirefourorfive;theperiodsofLouisXIV.,ofHenryIV.,ofFrancisI.,forinstance.YouwouldgiveusinthiswayapicturesquehistoryofFrance,withthecostumesandfurniture,thehousesandtheirinteriors,anddomesticlife,givingusthespiritofthetimeinsteadofalaboriousnarrationofascertainedfacts.Thenthereisfurtherscopefororiginality.Youcanremovesomeofthepopulardelusionswhichdisfigurethememoriesofmostofourkings.BeboldenoughinthisfirstworkofyourstorehabilitatethegreatmagnificentfigureofCatherine,whomyouhavesacrificedtotheprejudiceswhichstillcloudhername.Andfinally,paintCharlesIX.forusashereallywas,andnotasProtestantwritershavemadehim.Tenyearsofpersistentwork,andfameandfortunewillbeyours.\"
Bythistimeitwasnineo\'clock;LucienfollowedtheexamplesetinsecretbyhisfuturefriendbyaskinghimtodineatEldon\'s,andspenttwelvefrancsatthatrestaurant.DuringthedinnerDanieladmittedLucienintothesecretofhishopesandstudies.Danield\'Arthezwouldnotallowthatanywritercouldattaintoapre-eminentrankwithoutaprofoundknowledgeofmetaphysics.Hewasengagedinransackingthespoilsofancientandmodernphilosophy,andintheassimilationofitall;hewouldbelikeMoliere,aprofoundphilosopherfirst,andawriterofcomediesafterwards.Hewasstudyingtheworldofbooksandthelivingworldabouthim——thoughtandfact.Hisfriendswerelearnednaturalists,youngdoctorsofmedicine,politicalwritersandartists,anumberofearneststudentsfullofpromise.
D\'Arthezearnedalivingbyconscientiousandill-paidwork;hewrotearticlesforencyclopaedias,dictionariesofbiographyandnaturalscience,doingjustenoughtoenablehimtolivewhilehefollowedhisownbent,andneithermorenorless.Hehadapieceofimaginativeworkonhand,undertakensolelyforthesakeofstudyingtheresourcesoflanguage,animportantpsychologicalstudyintheformofanovel,unfinishedasyet,ford\'Artheztookituporlaiditdownasthehumortookhim,andkeptitfordaysofgreatdistress.D\'Arthez\'srevelationsofhimselfweremadeverysimply,buttoLucienheseemedlikeanintellectualgiant;andbyeleveno\'clock,whentheylefttherestaurant,hebegantofeelasudden,warmfriendshipforthisnature,unconsciousofitsloftiness,thisunostentatiousworth.
Lucientookd\'Arthez\'sadviceunquestioningly,andfolloweditouttotheletter.Themostmagnificentpalacesoffancyhadbeensuddenlyflungopentohimbyanobly-giftedmind,maturedalreadybythoughtandcriticalexaminationsundertakenfortheirownsake,notforpublication,butforthesolitarythinker\'sownsatisfaction.TheburningcoalhadbeenlaidonthelipsofthepoetofAngouleme,awordutteredbyahardstudentinParishadfallenupongroundpreparedtoreceiveitintheprovincial.Luciensetaboutrecastinghiswork.
InhisgladnessatfindinginthewildernessofParisanatureaboundingingenerousandsympatheticfeeling,thedistinguishedprovincialdid,asallyoungcreatureshungeringforaffectionarewonttodo;hefastened,likeachronicdisease,uponthisonefriendthathehadfound.HecalledforD\'ArthezonhiswaytotheBibliotheque,walkedwithhimonfinedaysintheLuxembourgGardens,andwentwithhisfriendeveryeveningasfarasthedoorofhislodging-houseaftersittingnexttohimatFlicoteaux\'s.Hepressedclosetohisfriend\'ssideasasoldiermightkeepbyacomradeonthefrozenRussianplains.
Duringthoseearlydaysofhisacquaintance,henoticed,notwithoutchagrin,thathispresenceimposedacertainrestraintonthecircleofDaniel\'sintimates.Thetalkofthosesuperiorbeingsofwhomd\'Arthezspoketohimwithsuchconcentratedenthusiasmkeptwithintheboundsofareservebutlittleinkeepingwiththeevidentwarmthoftheirfriendships.AtthesetimesLuciendiscreetlytookhisleave,afeelingofcuriosityminglingwiththesenseofsomethinglikepainattheostracismtowhichhewassubjectedbythesestrangers,whoalladdressedeachotherbytheirChristiannames.Eachoneofthem,liked\'Arthez,borethestampofgeniusuponhisforehead.
Aftersomeprivateopposition,overcomebyd\'ArthezwithoutLucien\'sknowledge,thenewcomerwasatlengthjudgedworthytomakeoneofthecenacleofloftythinkers.Henceforwardhewastobeoneofalittlegroupofyoungmenwhometalmosteveryeveningind\'Arthez\'sroom,unitedbythekeenestsympathiesandbytheearnestnessoftheirintellectuallife.Theyallforesawagreatwriterind\'Arthez;theylookeduponhimastheirchiefsincethelossofoneoftheirnumber,amysticalgenius,oneofthemostextraordinaryintellectsoftheage.Thisformerleaderhadgonebacktohisprovinceforreasonsonwhichitservesnopurposetoenter,butLucienoftenheardthemspeakofthisabsentfriendas\"Louis.\"Severalofthegroupweredestinedtofallbytheway;butothers,liked\'Arthez,havesincewonallthefamethatwastheirdue.AfewdetailsastothecirclewillreadilyexplainLucien\'sstrongfeelingofinterestandcuriosity.
OneamongthosewhostillsurvivewasHoraceBianchon,thenahouse-
studentattheHotel-Dieu;later,ashininglightattheEcoledeParis,andnowsowellknownthatitisneedlesstogiveanydescriptionofhisappearance,genius,orcharacter.
NextcameLeonGiraud,thatprofoundphilosopherandboldtheorist,turningallsystemsinsideout,criticising,expressing,andformulating,draggingthemalltothefeetofhisidol——Humanity;
greateveninhiserrors,forhishonestyennobledhismistakes.Anintrepidtoiler,aconscientiousscholar,hebecametheacknowledgedheadofaschoolofmoralistsandpoliticians.Timealonecanpronounceuponthemeritsofhistheories;butifhisconvictionshavedrawnhimintopathsinwhichnoneofhisoldcomradestread,nonethelessheisstilltheirfaithfulfriend.
ArtwasrepresentedbyJosephBridau,oneofthebestpaintersamongtheyoungermen.Butforatooimpressionablenature,whichmadehavocofJoseph\'sheart,hemighthavecontinuedthetraditionsofthegreatItalianmasters,though,forthatmatter,thelastwordhasnotyetbeensaidconcerninghim.HecombinesRomanoutlinewithVenetiancolor;butloveisfataltohiswork,lovenotmerelytransfixeshisheart,butsendshisarrowthroughthebrain,derangesthecourseofhislife,andsetsthevictimdescribingthestrangestzigzags.Ifthemistressofthemomentistookindortoocruel,JosephwillsendintotheExhibitionsketcheswherethedrawingiscloggedwithcolor,orpicturesfinishedunderthestressofsomeimaginarywoe,inwhichhegavehiswholeattentiontothedrawing,andleftthecolortotakecareofitself.Heisaconstantdisappointmenttohisfriendsandthepublic;yetHoffmannwouldhaveworshipedhimforhisdaringexperimentsintherealmsofart.WhenBridauiswhollyhimselfheisadmirable,andaspraiseissweettohim,hisdisgustisgreatwhenonepraisesthefailuresinwhichhealonediscoversallthatislackingintheeyesofthepublic.Heiswhimsicaltothelastdegree.
Hisfriendshaveseenhimdestroyafinishedpicturebecause,inhiseyes,itlookedtoosmooth.\"Itisoverdone,\"hewouldsay;\"itisnigglingwork.\"
Withhiseccentric,yetloftynature,withanervousorganizationandallthatitentailsoftormentanddelight,thecravingforperfectionbecomesmorbid.IntellectuallyheisakintoSterne,thoughheisnotaliteraryworker.Thereisanindescribablepiquancyabouthisepigramsandsalliesofthought.Heiseloquent,heknowshowtolove,buttheuncertaintythatappearsinhisexecutionisapartoftheverynatureoftheman.Thebrotherhoodlovedhimfortheveryqualitieswhichthephilistinewouldstyledefects.
LastamongthelivingcomesFulgenceRidal.Nowriterofourtimespossessesmoreoftheexuberantspiritofpurecomedythanthispoet,carelessoffame,whowillflinghismorecommonplaceproductionstotheatricalmanagers,andkeepthemostcharmingscenesintheseraglioofhisbrainforhimselfandhisfriends.Ofthepublicheasksjustsufficienttosecurehisindependence,andthendeclinestodoanythingmore.IndolentandprolificasRossini,compelled,likegreatpoet-comedians,likeMoliereandRabelais,toseebothsidesofeverything,andallthatistobesaidbothforandagainst,heisasceptic,readytolaughatallthings.FulgenceRidalisagreatpracticalphilosopher.Hisworldlywisdom,hisgeniusforobservation,hiscontemptforfame(\"fuss,\"ashecallsit)havenotsearedakindheart.Heisasenergeticonbehalfofanotherasheiscarelesswherehisowninterestsareconcerned;andifhebestirshimself,itisforafriend.LivinguptohisRabelaisianmask,heisnoenemytogoodcheer,thoughhenevergoesoutofhiswaytofindit;heismelancholyandgay.Hisfriendsdubbedhimthe\"DogoftheRegiment.\"
Youcouldhavenobetterportraitofthemanthanhisnickname.
Threemoreoftheband,atleastasremarkableasthefriendswhohavejustbeensketchedinoutline,weredestinedtofallbytheway.Ofthese,Meyrauxwasthefirst.MeyrauxdiedafterstirringupthefamouscontroversybetweenCuvierandGeoffroySaint-Hilaire,agreatquestionwhichdividedthewholescientificworldintotwooppositecamps,withthesetwomenofequalgeniusasleaders.ThisbefellsomemonthsbeforethedeathofthechampionofrigorousanalyticalscienceasopposedtothepantheismofonewhoisstilllivingtobearanhonorednameinGermany.Meyrauxwasthefriendofthat\"Louis\"ofwhomdeathwassosoontorobtheintellectualworld.
Withthesetwo,bothmarkedbydeath,andunknownto-dayinspiteoftheirwideknowledgeandtheirgenius,standsathird,MichelChrestien,thegreatRepublicanthinker,whodreamedofEuropeanFederation,andhadnosmallshareinbringingabouttheSaint-
Simonianmovementof1830.ApoliticianofthecalibreofSaint-JustandDanton,butsimple,meekasamaid,andbrimfulofillusionsandloving-kindness;theownerofasingingvoicewhichwouldhavesentMozart,orWeber,orRossiniintoecstasies,forhissingingofcertainsongsofBeranger\'scouldintoxicatetheheartinyouwithpoetry,orhope,orlove——MichelChrestien,poorasLucien,poorasDanield\'Arthez,asalltherestofhisfriends,gainedalivingwiththehaphazardindifferenceofaDiogenes.Heindexedlengthyworks,hedrewupprospectusesforbooksellers,andkepthisdoctrinestohimself,asthegravekeepsthesecretsofthedead.Yetthegaybohemianofintellectuallife,thegreatstatesmanwhomighthavechangedthefaceoftheworld,fellasaprivatesoldierinthecloisterofSaint-Merri;someshopkeeper\'sbulletstruckdownoneofthenoblestcreaturesthatevertrodFrenchsoil,andMichelChrestiendiedforotherdoctrinesthanhisown.HisFederationschemewasmoredangeroustothearistocracyofEuropethantheRepublicanpropaganda;
itwasmorefeasibleandlessextravagantthanthehideousdoctrinesofindefinitelibertyproclaimedbytheyoungmadcapswhoassumethecharacterofheirsoftheConvention.Allwhoknewthenobleplebeianweptforhim;thereisnotoneofthembutremembers,andoftenremembers,agreatobscurepolitician.
Esteemandfriendshipkeptthepeacebetweentheextremesofhostileopinionandconvictionrepresentedinthebrotherhood.Danield\'ArthezcameofagoodfamilyinPicardy.HisbeliefintheMonarchywasquiteasstrongasMichelChrestien\'sfaithinEuropeanFederation.FulgenceRidalscoffedatLeonGiraud\'sphilosophicaldoctrines,whileGiraudhimselfprophesiedford\'Arthez\'sbenefittheapproachingendofChristianityandtheextinctionoftheinstitutionofthefamily.
MichelChrestien,abelieverinthereligionofChrist,thedivinelawgiver,whotaughttheequalityofmen,woulddefendtheimmortalityofthesoulfromBianchon\'sscalpel,forHoraceBianchonwasbeforeallthingsananalyst.
Therewasplentyofdiscussion,butnobickering.Vanitywasnotengaged,forthespeakerswerealsotheaudience.Theywouldtalkovertheirworkamongthemselvesandtakecounselofeachotherwiththedelightfulopennessofyouth.Ifthematterinhandwasserious,theopponentwouldleavehisownpositiontoenterintohisfriend\'spointofview;andbeinganimpartialjudgeinamatteroutsidehisownsphere,wouldprovethebetterhelper;envy,thehideoustreasureofdisappointment,abortivetalent,failure,andmortifiedvanity,wasquiteunknownamongthem.Allofthem,moreover,weregoingtheirseparateways.Forthesereasons,Lucienandothersadmittedtotheirsocietyfeltattheireaseinit.Whereveryoufindrealtalent,youwillfindfrankgoodfellowshipandsincerity,andnosortofpretension,thewitthatcaressestheintellectandneverisaimedatself-love.
Whenthefirstnervousness,causedbyrespect,woreoff,itwasunspeakablypleasanttomakeoneofthiselectcompanyofyouth.
Familiaritydidnotexcludeineachaconsciousnessofhisownvalue,noraprofoundesteemforhisneighbor;andfinally,aseverymemberofthecirclefeltthathecouldaffordtoreceiveortogive,noonemadeadifficultyofaccepting.Talkwasunflagging,fullofcharm,andrangingoverthemostvariedtopics;wordslightasarrowsspedtothemark.Therewasastrangecontrastbetweenthedirematerialpovertyinwhichtheyoungmenlivedandthesplendoroftheirintellectualwealth.Theylookeduponthepracticalproblemsofexistencesimplyasmatterforfriendlyjokes.Thecoldweatherhappenedtosetinearlythatyear.Fiveofd\'Arthez\'sfriendsappearedoneday,eachconcealingfirewoodunderhiscloak;thesameideahadoccurredtothefive,asitsometimeshappensthatalltheguestsatapicnicareinspiredwiththenotionofbringingapieastheircontribution.
Allofthemweregiftedwiththemoralbeautywhichreactsuponthephysicalform,and,nolessthanworkandvigils,overlaysayouthfulfacewithashadeofdivinegold;purityoflifeandthefireofthoughthadbroughtrefinementandregularityintofeaturessomewhatpinchedandrugged.Thepoet\'samplitudeofbrowwasastrikingcharacteristiccommontothemall;thebright,sparklingeyestoldofcleanlinessoflife.Thehardshipsofpenury,whentheywerefeltatall,werebornsogailyandembracedwithsuchenthusiasm,thattheyhadleftnotracetomartheserenitypeculiartothefacesoftheyoungwhohavenograveerrorslaidtotheirchargeasyet,whohavenotstoopedtoanyofthebasecompromiseswrungfromimpatienceofpovertybythestrongdesiretosucceed.Thetemptationtouseanymeanstothisendisthegreatersincethatmenoflettersarelenientwithbadfaithandextendaneasyindulgencetotreachery.
Thereisanelementinfriendshipwhichdoublesitscharmandrendersitindissoluble——asenseofcertaintywhichislackinginlove.Theseyoungmenweresureofthemselvesandofeachother;theenemyofonewastheenemyofall;themosturgentpersonalconsiderationswouldhavebeenshatterediftheyhadclashedwiththesacredsolidarityoftheirfellowship.Allalikeincapableofdisloyalty,theycouldopposeaformidableNotoanyaccusationbroughtagainsttheabsentanddefendthemwithperfectconfidence.Withalikenobilityofnatureandstrengthoffeeling,itwaspossibletothinkandspeakfreelyonallmattersofintellectualorscientificinterest;hencethehonestyoftheirfriendships,thegaietyoftheirtalk,andwiththisintellectualfreedomofthecommunitytherewasnofearofbeingmisunderstood;theystooduponnoceremonywitheachother;theysharedtheirtroublesandjoys,andgavethoughtandsympathyfromfullhearts.ThecharmingdelicacyoffeelingwhichmakesthetaleofDeuxAmisatreasuryforgreatsouls,wastheruleoftheirdailylife.Itmaybeimagined,therefore,thattheirstandardofrequirementswasnotaneasyone;theyweretooconsciousoftheirworth,toowellawareoftheirhappiness,tocaretotroubletheirlifewiththeadmixtureofanewandunknownelement.
Thisfederationofinterestsandaffectionlastedfortwentyyearswithoutacollisionordisappointment.DeathalonecouldthinthenumbersofthenoblePleiades,takingfirstLouisLambert,laterMeyrauxandMichelChrestien.
WhenMichelChrestienfellin1832hisfriendswent,inspiteoftheperilsofthestep,tofindhisbodyatSaint-Merri;andHoraceBianchon,Danield\'Arthez,LeonGiraud,JosephBridau,andFulgenceRidalperformedthelastdutiestothedead,betweentwopoliticalfires.BynighttheyburiedtheirbelovedinthecemeteryofPere-
Lachaise;HoraceBianchon,undauntedbythedifficulties,clearedthemawayoneafteranother——itwasheindeedwhobesoughttheauthoritiesforpermissiontoburythefalleninsurgentandconfessedtohisoldfriendshipwiththedeadFederalist.Thelittlegroupoffriendspresentatthefuneralwiththosefivegreatmenwillneverforgetthattouchingscene.
Asyouwalkinthetrimcemeteryyouwillseeagravepurchasedinperpetuity,agrass-coveredmoundwithadarkwoodencrossaboveit,andthenameinlargeredletters——MICHELCHRESTIEN.Thereisnoothermonumentlikeit.Thefriendsthoughttopayatributetothesternlysimplenatureofthemanbythesimplicityoftherecordofhisdeath.
So,inthatchillygarret,thefairestdreamsoffriendshipwererealized.Thesemenwerebrothersleadinglivesofintellectualeffort,loyallyhelpingeachother,makingnoreservations,notevenoftheirworstthoughts;menofvastacquirements,naturestriedinthecrucibleofpoverty.Onceadmittedasanequalamongsuchelectsouls,Lucienrepresentedbeautyandpoetry.Theyadmiredthesonnetswhichhereadtothem;theywouldaskhimforasonnetashewouldaskMichelChrestienforasong.And,inthedesertofParis,LucienfoundanoasisintheRuedesQuatre-Vents.
AtthebeginningofOctober,Lucienhadspentthelastofhismoneyonalittlefirewood;hewashalf-waythroughthetaskofrecastinghiswork,themoststrenuousofalltoil,andhewaspenniless.AsforDanield\'Arthez,burningblocksofspenttan,andfacingpovertylikeahero,notawordofcomplaintcamefromhim;hewasassoberasanyelderlyspinster,andmethodicalasamiser.ThiscouragecalledoutLucien\'scourage;hehadonlynewlycomeintothecircle,andshrankwithinvinciblerepugnancefromspeakingofhisstraits.Onemorninghewentout,manuscriptinhand,andreachedtheRueduCoq;hewouldsellTheArcherofCharlesIX.toDoguereau;butDoguereauwasout.
Lucienlittleknewhowindulgentgreatnaturescanbetotheweaknessesofothers.Everyoneofthefriendshadthoughtofthepeculiartroublesbesettingthepoetictemperament,oftheprostrationwhichfollowsuponthestruggle,whenthesoulhasbeenoverwroughtbythecontemplationofthatnaturewhichitisthetaskofarttoreproduce.Andstrongastheyweretoenduretheirownills,theyfeltkeenlyforLucien\'sdistress;theyguessedthathisstockofmoneywasfailing;andafterallthepleasanteveningsspentinfriendlytalkanddeepmeditations,afterthepoetry,theconfidences,theboldflightsoverthefieldsofthoughtorintothefarfutureofthenations,yetanothertraitwastoprovehowlittleLucienhadunderstoodthesenewfriendsofhis.
\"Lucien,dearfellow,\"saidDaniel,\"youdidnotdineatFlicoteaux\'syesterday,andweknowwhy.\"
Luciencouldnotkeepbacktheoverflowingtears.
\"Youshowedawantofconfidenceinus,\"saidMichelChrestien;\"weshallchalkthatupoverthechimney,andwhenwehavescoredtenwewill——\"
\"Wehaveallofusfoundabitofextrawork,\"saidBianchon;\"formyownpart,IhavebeenlookingafterarichpatientforDesplein;
d\'ArthezhaswrittenanarticlefortheRevueEncyclopedique;
ChrestienthoughtofgoingouttosingintheChampsElyseesofaneveningwithapocket-handkerchiefandfourcandles,buthefoundapamphlettowriteinsteadforamanwhohasamindtogointopolitics,andgavehisemployersixhundredfrancsworthofMachiavelli;LeonGiraudborrowedfiftyfrancsofhispublisher,Josephsoldoneortwosketches;andFulgence\'spiecewasgivenonSunday,andtherewasafullhouse.\"
\"Herearetwohundredfrancs,\"saidDaniel,\"andletussaynomoreaboutit.\"
\"Why,ifheisnotgoingtohugusallasifwehaddonesomethingextraordinary!\"criedChrestien.
Lucien,meanwhile,hadwrittentothehomecircle.Hisletterwasamasterpieceofsensibilityandgoodwill,aswellasasharpcrywrungfromhimbydistress.TheanswerswhichhereceivedthenextdaywillgivesomeideaofthedelightthatLucientookinthislivingencyclopediaofangelicspirits,eachofwhomborethestampoftheartorsciencewhichhefollowed:——
DavidSechardtoLucien.
\"MyDEARLUCIEN,——Enclosedherewithisabillatninetydays,payabletoyourorder,fortwohundredfrancs.YoucandrawonM.
Metivier,papermerchant,ourPariscorrespondentintheRueSerpente.MygoodLucien,wehaveabsolutelynothing.Evehasundertakenthechargeoftheprinting-house,andworksathertaskwithsuchdevotion,patience,andindustry,thatIblessheavenforgivingmesuchanangelforawife.Sheherselfsaysthatitisimpossibletosendyoutheleasthelp.ButIthink,myfriendnowthatyouarestartedinsopromisingaway,withsuchgreatandnobleheartsforyourcompanions,thatyoucanhardlyfailtoreachthegreatnesstowhichyouwereborn,aidedasyouarebyintelligencealmostdivineinDanield\'ArthezandMichelChrestienandLeonGiraud,andcounseledbyMeyrauxandBianchonandRidal,whomwehavecometoknowthroughyourdearletter.SoIhavedrawnthisbillwithoutEve\'sknowledge,andIwillcontrivesomehowtomeetitwhenthetimecomes.Keeponyourway,Lucien;
itisrough,butitwillbeglorious.IcanbearanythingbutthethoughtofyousinkingintothesloughsofParis,ofwhichIsawsomuch.Havesufficientstrengthofmindtodoasyouaredoing,andkeepoutofscrapesandbadcompany,wildyoungfellowsandmenoflettersofacertainstamp,whomIlearnedtotakeattheirjustvaluationwhenIlivedinParis.Beaworthycompeerofthedivinespiritswhomwehavelearnedtolovethroughyou.Yourlifewillsoonmeetwithitsreward.Farewell,dearestbrother;youhavesenttransportsofjoytomyheart.Ididnotexpectsuchcourageofyou.
\"DAVID.\"
EveSechardtoLucien.
\"DEAR,——yourlettermadeallofuscry.Asforthenobleheartstowhomyourgoodangelsurelyledyou,tellthemthatamotherandapooryoungwifewillprayforthemnightandmorning;andifthemostferventprayerscanreachtheThroneofGod,surelytheywillbringblessingsuponyouall.Theirnamesareengraveduponmyheart.Ah!somedayIshallseeyourfriends;IwillgotoParis,ifIhavetowalkthewholeway,tothankthemfortheirfriendshipforyou,fortomethethoughthasbeenlikebalmtosmartingwounds.Weareworkinglikedaylaborershere,dear.Thishusbandofmine,theunknowngreatmanwhomIlovemoreandmoreeveryday,asIdiscovermomentbymomentthewealthofhisnature,leavestheprinting-housemoreandmoretome.Why,I
guess.Ourpoverty,yours,andours,andourmother\'s,isheartbreakingtohim.OuradoredDavidisaPrometheusgnawedbyavulture,ahaggard,sharp-beakedregret.Asforhimself,noblefellow,hescarcelythinksofhimself;heishopingtomakeafortuneforUS.Hespendshiswholetimeinexperimentsinpaper-
making;hebeggedmetotakehisplaceandlookafterthebusiness,andgivesmeasmuchhelpashispreoccupationallows.
Alas!Ishallbeamothersoon.Thatshouldhavebeenacrowningjoy;butasthingsare,itsaddensme.Poormother!shehasgrownyoungagain;shehasfoundstrengthtogobacktohertiringnursing.Weshouldbehappyifitwerenotforthesemoneycares.
OldFatherSechardwillnotgivehissonafarthing.Davidwentovertoseeifhecouldborrowalittleforyou,forwewereindespairoveryourletter.\'IknowLucien,\'Davidsaid;\'hewilllosehisheadanddosomethingrash.\'——Igavehimagoodscolding.
\'Mybrotherdisappointusinanyway!\'Itoldhim,\'LucienknowsthatIshoulddieofsorrow.\'——MotherandIhavepawnedafewthings;Daviddoesnotknowaboutit,motherwillredeemthemassoonasshehasmadealittlemoney.Inthiswaywehavemanagedtoputtogetherahundredfrancs,whichIamsendingyoubythecoach.IfIdidnotansweryourlastletter,donotrememberitagainstme,dear;wewereworkingallnightjustthen.Ihavebeenworkinglikeaman.Oh,IhadnoideathatIwassostrong!
\"Mme.deBargetonisaheartlesswoman;shehasnosoul;evenifshecaredforyounolonger,sheowedittoherselftouseherinfluenceforyouandtohelpyouwhenshehadtornyoufromustoplungeyouintothatdreadfulseaofParis.OnlybythespecialblessingofHeavencouldyouhavemetwithtruefriendsthereamongthosecrowdsofmenandinnumerableinterests.Sheisnotwortharegret.Iusedtowishthattheremightbesomedevotedwomanalwayswithyou,asecondmyself;butnowIknowthatyourfriendswilltakemyplace,andIamhappy.Spreadyourwings,mydeargreatgenius,youwillbeourprideaswellasourbeloved.
\"EVE.\"
\"Mydarling,\"themotherwrote,\"Icanonlyaddmyblessingtoallthatyoursistersays,andassureyouthatyouaremoreinmythoughtsandinmyprayers(alas!)thanthosewhomIseedaily;
forsomehearts,theabsentarealwaysintheright,andsoitiswiththeheartofyourmother.\"
Sotwodaysaftertheloanwasofferedsograciously,Lucienrepaidit.Perhapslifehadneverseemedsobrighttohimasatthatmoment;
butthetouchofself-loveinhisjoydidnotescapethedelicatesensibilityandsearchingeyesofhisfriends.
\"Anyonemightthinkthatyouwereafraidtooweusanything,\"
exclaimedFulgence.
\"Oh!thepleasurethathetakesinreturningthemoneyisaveryserioussymptomtomymind,\"saidMichelChrestien.\"Itconfirmssomeobservationsofmyown.ThereisaspiceofvanityinLucien.\"
\"Heisapoet,\"saidd\'Arthez.
