willhelpyou.Youhavefortyfrancs\'worthofboxesandticketstosell,andsixtyfrancs\'worthofbookstoconvertintocash.Withthatandyourworkonthepaper,youwillbemakingfourhundredandfiftyfrancseverymonth.Ifyouuseyourwits,youwillfindwaysofmakinganothertwohundredfrancsatleastamongthepublishers;theywillpayyouforreviewsandprospectuses.Butyouaremine,areyounot?I
cancountuponyou.\"
LuciensqueezedFinot\'shandintransportsofjoywhichnowordscanexpress.
\"Don\'tletanyoneseethatanythinghaspassedbetweenus,\"saidFinotinhisear,andheflungopenadoorofaroomintheroofattheendofalongpassageonthefifthfloor.
Atablecoveredwithagreenclothwasdrawnuptoablazingfire,andseatedinvariouschairsandloungesLuciendiscoveredLousteau,FelicienVernou,HectorMerlin,andtwoothersunknowntohim,alllaughingorsmoking.Arealinkstand,fullofinkthistime,stoodonthetableamongagreatlitterofpapers;whileacollectionofpens,theworseforwear,butstillserviceableforjournalists,toldthenewcontributorveryplainlythatthemightyenterprisewascarriedoninthisapartment.
\"Gentlemen,\"saidFinot,\"theobjectofthisgatheringistheinstallationofourfriendLousteauinmyplaceaseditorofthenewspaperwhichIamcompelledtorelinquish.ButalthoughmyopinionswillnecessarilyundergoatransformationwhenIaccepttheeditorshipofareviewofwhichthepoliticsareknowntoyou,myCONVICTIONS
remainthesame,andweshallbefriendsasbefore.Iamquiteatyourservice,andyoulikewisewillbereadytodoanythingforme.
Circumstanceschange;principlesarefixed.Principlesarethepivotonwhichthehandsofthepoliticalbarometerturn.\"
Therewasaninstantshoutoflaughter.
\"Whoputthatintoyourmouth?\"askedLousteau.
\"Blondet!\"saidFinot.
\"Windy,showery,stormy,settledfair,\"saidMerlin;\"wewillallrowinthesameboat.\"
\"Inshort,\"continuedFinot,\"nottomuddleourwitswithmetaphors,anyonewhohasanarticleortwoformewillalwaysfindFinot——Thisgentleman,\"turningtoLucien,\"willbeoneofyou——Ihavearrangedwithhim,Lousteau.\"
EveryonecongratulatedFinotonhisadvanceandnewprospects.
\"Sothereyouare,mountedonourshoulders,\"saidacontributorwhomLuciendidnotknow.\"YouwillbetheJanusofJournal——\"
\"Solongasheisn\'ttheJanot,\"putinVernou.
\"Areyougoingtoallowustomakeattacksonourbetesnoires?\"
\"Anyoneyoulike.\"
\"Ah,yes!\"saidLousteau;\"butthepapermustkeeponitslines.M.
Chateletisverywroth;weshallnotlethimoffforaweekyet.\"
\"Whathashappened?\"askedLucien.
\"Hecameheretoaskforanexplanation,\"saidVernou.\"TheImperialbuckfoundoldGiroudeauathome;andoldGiroudeautoldhim,withallthecoolnessintheworld,thatPhilippeBridauwrotethearticle.
PhilippeaskedtheBarontomentionthetimeandtheweapons,andthereitended.WeareengagedatthismomentinofferingexcusestotheBaroninto-morrow\'sissue.Everyphraseisastabforhim.\"
\"Keepyourteethinhimandhewillcomeroundtome,\"saidFinot;
\"anditwilllookasifIwereobliginghimbyappeasingyou.HecansayawordtotheMinistry,andwecangetsomethingorotheroutofhim——anassistantschoolmaster\'splace,oratobacconist\'slicense.Itisaluckythingforusthatweflickedhimontheraw.DoesanybodyherecaretotakeaseriousarticleonNathanformynewpaper?\"
\"GiveittoLucien,\"saidLousteau.\"HectorandVernouwillwritearticlesintheirpapersatthesametime.\"
\"Good-day,gentlemen;weshallmeeteachotherfacetofaceatBarbin\'s,\"saidFinot,laughing.
Lucienreceivedsomecongratulationsonhisadmissiontothemightyarmyofjournalists,andLousteauexplainedthattheycouldbesureofhim.\"LucienwantsyoualltosupinabodyatthehouseofthefairCoralie.\"
\"CoralieisgoingonattheGymnase,\"saidLucien.
\"Verywell,gentlemen;itisunderstoodthatwepushCoralie,eh?Putafewlinesabouthernewengagementinyourpapers,andsaysomethingabouthertalent.CreditthemanagementoftheGymnasewithtackanddiscernment;willitdotosayintelligence?\"
\"Yes,sayintelligence,\"saidMerlin;\"FrederichassomethingofScribe\'s.\"
\"Oh!Well,then,themanageroftheGymnaseisthemostperspicaciousandfar-sightedofmenofbusiness,\"saidVernou.
\"Lookhere!don\'twriteyourarticlesonNathanuntilwehavecometoanunderstanding;youshallhearwhy,\"saidEtienneLousteau.\"Weoughttodosomethingforournewcomrade.Lucienherehastwobookstobringout——avolumeofsonnetsandanovel.Thepoweroftheparagraphshouldmakehimagreatpoetdueinthreemonths;andwewillmakeuseofhissonnets(Margueritesisthetitle)torundownodes,ballads,andreveries,andalltheRomanticpoetry.\"
\"Itwouldbeadrollthingifthesonnetswerenogoodafterall,\"
saidVernou——\"Whatdoyouyourselfthinkofyoursonnets,Lucien?\"
\"Yes,whatdoyouthinkofthem?\"askedoneofthetwowhomLuciendidnotknow.
\"Theyareallright,gentlemen;Igiveyoumyword,\"saidLousteau.
\"Verywell,thatwilldoforme,\"saidVernou;\"Iwillheaveyourbookatthepoetsofthesacristy;Iamtiredofthem.\"
\"IfDauriatdeclinestotaketheMargueritesthisevening,wewillattackhimbypitchingintoNathan.\"
\"ButwhatwillNathansay?\"criedLucien.
Hisfivecolleaguesburstoutlaughing.
\"Oh!hewillbedelighted,\"saidVernou.\"Youwillseehowwemanagethesethings.\"
\"Soheisoneofus?\"saidoneofthetwojournalists.
\"Yes,yes,Frederic;notricks——Weareallworkingforyou,Lucien,yousee;youmuststandbyuswhenyourturncomes.WeareallfriendsofNathan\'s,andweareattackinghim.Now,letusdivideAlexander\'sempire——Frederic,willyoutaketheFrancaisandtheOdeon?\"
\"Ifthesegentlemenarewilling,\"returnedthepersonaddressedasFrederic.Theothersnoddedassent,butLuciensawagleamofjealousyhereandthere.
\"IamkeepingtheOpera,theItaliens,andtheOpera-Comique,\"putinVernou.
\"Andhowaboutme?AmItohavenotheatresatall?\"askedthesecondstranger.
\"Ohwell,HectorcanletyouhavetheVarietes,andLuciencanspareyouthePorteSaint-Martin——LethimhavethePorteSaint-Martin,Lucien,heiswildaboutFannyBeaupre;andyoucantaketheCirque-
Olympiqueinexchange.IshallhaveBobinoandtheFunambulesandMadameSaqui.Now,whathaveweforto-morrow?\"
\"Nothing.\"
\"Nothing?\"
\"Nothing.\"
\"Gentlemen,bebrilliantformyfirstnumber.TheBaronduChateletandhiscuttlefishbonewillnotlastforaweek,andthewriterofLeSolitaireiswornout.\"
\"And\'Sosthenes-Demosthenes\'isstaletoo,\"saidVernou;\"everybodyhastakenitup.\"
\"Thefactis,wewantanewsetofninepins,\"saidFrederic.
\"SupposethatwetakethevirtuousrepresentativesoftheRight?\"
suggestedLousteau.\"WemightsaythatM.deBonaldhassweatyfeet.\"
\"LetusbeginaseriesofsketchesofMinisterialistorators,\"
suggestedHectorMerlin.
\"Youdothat,youngster;youknowthem;theyareyourownparty,\"saidLousteau;\"youcouldindulgeanylittleprivategrudgesofyourown.
PitchintoBeugnotandSyrieysdeMayrinhacandtherest.Youmighthavethesketchesreadyinadvance,andweshallhavesomethingtofallbackupon.\"
\"Howifweinventedoneortwocasesofrefusalofburialwithaggravatingcircumstances?\"askedHector.
\"DonotfollowinthetracksofthebigConstitutionalpapers;theyhavepigeon-holesfullofecclesiasticalcanards,\"retortedVernou.
\"Canards?\"repeatedLucien.
\"Thatisourwordforascrapoffictiontoldfortrue,putintoenliventhecolumnofmorningnewswhenitisflat.WeowethediscoverytoBenjaminFranklin,theinventorofthelightningconductorandtherepublic.ThatjournalistcompletelydeceivedtheEncyclopaedistsbyhistransatlanticcanards.RaynalgivestwoofthemforfactsinhisHistoirephilosophiquedesIndes.\"
\"Ididnotknowthat,\"saidVernou.\"Whatwerethestories?\"
\"OnewasataleaboutanEnglishmanandanegresswhohelpedhimtoescape;hesoldthewomanforaslaveaftergettingherwithchildhimselftoenhancehervalue.Theotherwastheeloquentdefenceofayoungwomanbroughtbeforetheauthoritiesforbearingachildoutofwedlock.FranklinownedtothefraudinNecker\'shousewhenhecametoParis,muchtotheconfusionofFrenchphilosophism.BeholdhowtheNewWorldtwicesetabadexampletotheOld!\"
\"Injournalism,\"saidLousteau,\"everythingthatisprobableistrue.
Thatisanaxiom.\"
\"Criminalprocedureisbasedonthesamerule,\"saidVernou.
\"Verywell,wemeethereatnineo\'clock,\"andwiththattheyrose,andthesittingbrokeupwiththemostaffectingdemonstrationsofintimacyandgood-will.
\"WhathaveyoudonetoFinot,Lucien,thatheshouldmakeaspecialarrangementwithyou?Youaretheonlyonethathehasboundtohimself,\"saidEtienneLousteau,astheycamedownstairs.
\"I?Nothing.Itwashisownproposal,\"saidLucien.
\"Asamatteroffact,ifyoushouldmakeyourowntermswithhim,I
shouldbedelighted;weshould,bothofus,bethebetterforit.\"
OnthegroundfloortheyfoundFinot.HesteppedacrosstoLousteauandaskedhimintotheso-calledprivateoffice.GiroudeauimmediatelyputacoupleofstampedagreementsbeforeLucien.
\"Signyouragreement,\"hesaid,\"andtheneweditorwillthinkthewholethingwasarrangedyesterday.\"
Lucien,readingthedocument,overheardfragmentsofatolerablywarmdisputewithinastothelineofconductandprofitsofthepaper.
EtienneLousteauwantedhisshareoftheblackmailleviedbyGiroudeau;and,inallprobability,thematterwascompromised,forthepaircameoutperfectlygoodfriends.
\"WewillmeetatDauriat\'s,Lucien,intheWoodenGalleriesateighto\'clock,\"saidEtienneLousteau.
Ayoungmanappeared,meanwhile,insearchofemployment,wearingthesamenervousshylookwithwhichLucienhimselfhadcometotheofficesoshortawhileago;andinhissecretsoulLucienfeltamusedashewatchedGiroudeauplayingoffthesametacticswithwhichtheoldcampaignerhadpreviouslyfoiledhim.Self-interestopenedhiseyestothenecessityofthemanoeuvreswhichraisedwell-nighinsurmountablebarriersbetweenbeginnersandtheupperroomwheretheelectweregatheredtogether.
\"Contributorsdon\'tgetverymuchasitis,\"hesaid,addressingGiroudeau.
\"Ifthereweremoreofyou,therewouldbesomuchless,\"retortedthecaptain.\"Sothere!\"
Theoldcampaignerswunghisloadedcane,andwentdowncoughingasusual.OutinthestreethewasamazedtoseeahandsomecarriagewaitingontheboulevardforLucien.
\"YOUarethearmynowadays,\"hesaid,\"andwearethecivilians.\"
\"Uponmyword,\"saidLucien,ashedroveawaywithCoralie,\"theseyoungwritersseemtometobethebestfellowsalive.HereamIajournalist,sureofmakingsixhundredfrancsamonthifIworklikeahorse.ButIshallfindapublisherformytwobooks,andIwillwriteothers;formyfriendswillinsureasuccess.Andso,Coralie,\'voguelegalere!\'asyousay.\"
\"Youwillmakeyourway,dearboy;butyoumustnotbeasgood-naturedasyouaregood-looking;itwouldbetheruinofyou.Beill-natured,thatistheproperthing.\"
CoralieandLuciendroveintheBoisdeBoulogne,andagaintheymettheMarquised\'Espard,Mme.deBargetonandtheBaronduChatelet.
Mme.deBargetongaveLucienalanguishingglancewhichmightbetakenasagreeting.Camusothadorderedthebestpossibledinner;andCoralie,feelingthatshewasridofheradorer,wasmorecharmingtothepoorsilk-mercerthanshehadeverbeeninthefourteenmonthsduringwhichtheirconnectionlasted;hehadneverseenhersokindly,soenchantinglylovely.
\"Come,\"hethought,\"letuskeepnearheranyhow!\"
Inconsequence,Camusotmadesecretovertures.HepromisedCoralieanincomeofsixthousandlivres;hewouldtransferthestockinthefundsintohername(hiswifeknewnothingabouttheinvestment)ifonlyshewouldconsenttobehismistressstill.Hewouldshuthiseyestoherlover.
\"Andbetraysuchanangel?Why,justlookathim,youoldfossil,andlookatyourself!\"andhereyesturnedtoherpoet.
CamusothadpressedLucientodrinktillthepoet\'sheadwasrathercloudy.
Therewasnohelpforit;Camusotmadeuphismindtowaittillsheerwantshouldgivehimthiswomanasecondtime.
\"ThenIcanonlybeyourfriend,\"hesaid,ashekissedherontheforehead.
LucienwentfromCoralieandCamusottotheWoodenGalleries.WhatachangehadbeenwroughtinhismindbyhisinitiationintoJournalism!
Hemixedfearlesslynowwiththecrowdwhichsurgedtoandfrointhebuildings;heevenswaggeredalittlebecausehehadamistress;andhewalkedintoDauriat\'sshopinanoffhandmannerbecausehewasajournalist.
Hefoundhimselfamongdistinguishedmen;gaveahandtoBlondetandNathanandFinot,andtoallthecoteriewithwhomhehadbeenfraternizingforaweek.Hewasapersonage,hethought,andheflatteredhimselfthathesurpassedhiscomrades.Thatlittleflickofthewinedidhimadmirableservice;hewaswitty,heshowedthathecould\"howlwiththewolves.\"
Andyet,thetacitapproval,thepraisesspokenandunspokenonwhichhehadcounted,werenotforthcoming.Henoticedthefirststirringsofjealousyamongagroup,lesscurious,perhaps,thananxioustoknowtheplacewhichthisnewcomermighttake,andtheexactportionofthesum-totalofprofitswhichhewouldprobablysecureandswallow.
Lucienonlysawsmilesontwofaces——Finot,whoregardedhimasaminetobeexploited,andLousteau,whoconsideredthathehadproprietaryrightsinthepoet,lookedgladtoseehim.Lousteauhadbegunalreadytoassumetheairsofaneditor;hetappedsharplyonthewindow-panesofDauriat\'sprivateoffice.
\"Onemoment,myfriend,\"criedavoicewithinasthepublisher\'sfaceappearedabovethegreencurtains.
Themomentlastedanhour,andfinallyLucienandEtiennewereadmittedintothesanctum.
\"Well,haveyouthoughtoverourfriend\'sproposal?\"askedEtienneLousteau,nowaneditor.
\"Tobesure,\"saidDauriat,lollinglikeasultaninhischair.\"I
havereadthevolume.AndIsubmittedittoamanoftaste,agoodjudge;forIdon\'tpretendtounderstandthesethingsmyself.I
myself,myfriend,buyreputationsready-made,astheEnglishmanboughthisloveaffairs——Youareasgreatasapoetasyouarehandsomeasaman,myboy,\"pronouncedDauriat.\"Uponmywordandhonor(Idon\'ttellyouthatasapublisher,mind),yoursonnetsaremagnificent;nosignofeffortaboutthem,asisnaturalwhenamanwriteswithinspirationandverve.Youknowyourcraft,infact,oneofthegoodpointsofthenewschool.YourvolumeofMargueritesisafinebook,butthereisnobusinessinit,anditisnotworthmywhiletomeddlewithanythingbutaverybigaffair.Inconscience,I
won\'ttakeyoursonnets.Itwouldbeimpossibletopushthem;thereisnotenoughinthethingtopaytheexpensesofabigsuccess.Youwillnotkeeptopoetrybesides;thisbookofyourswillbeyourfirstandlastattemptofthekind.Youareyoung;youbringmetheeverlastingvolumeofearlyversewhicheverymanofletterswriteswhenheleavesschool,hethinksalotofitatthetime,andlaughsatitlateron.
Lousteau,yourfriend,hasapoemputawaysomewhereamonghisoldsocks,I\'llwarrant.Haven\'tyouapoemthatyouthoughtagooddealofonce,Lousteau?\"inquiredDauriat,withaknowingglanceattheother.
\"HowshouldIbewritingproseotherwise,eh?\"askedLousteau.
\"There,yousee!Hehasneversaidawordtomeaboutit,forourfriendunderstandsbusinessandthetrade,\"continuedDauriat.\"Formethequestionisnotwhetheryouareagreatpoet,Iknowthat,\"headded,strokingdownLucien\'spride;\"youhaveagreatdeal,averygreatdealofmerit;ifIwereonlyjuststartinginbusiness,I
shouldmakethemistakeofpublishingyourbook.Butinthefirstplace,mysleepingpartnersandthoseatthebackofmearecuttingoffmysupplies;Idroppedtwentythousandfrancsoverpoetrylastyear,andthatisenoughforthem;theywillnothearofanymorejustnow,andtheyaremymasters.Nevertheless,thatisnotthequestion.
Iadmitthatyoumaybeagreatpoet,butwillyoubeaprolificwriter?Willyouhatchsonnetsregularly?Willyourunintotenvolumes?Istherebusinessinit?Ofcoursenot.Youwillbeadelightfulprosewriter;youhavetoomuchsensetospoilyourstylewithtaggingrhymestogether.Youhaveachancetomakethirtythousandfrancsperannumbywritingforthepapers,andyouwillnotexchangethatchanceforthreethousandfrancsmadewithdifficultybyyourhemistichesandstrophesandtomfoolery——\"
\"Youknowthatheisonthepaper,Dauriat?\"putinLousteau.
\"Yes,\"Dauriatanswered.\"Yes,Isawhisarticle,andinhisowninterestsIdeclinetheMarguerites.Yes,sir,insixmonths\'timeI
shallhavepaidyoumoremoneyforthearticlesthatIshallaskyoutowritethanforyourpoetrythatwillnotsell.\"
\"Andfame?\"saidLucien.
DauriatandLousteaulaughed.
\"Ohdear!\"saidLousteau,\"therebeillusionsleft.\"
\"Famemeanstenyearsofstickingtowork,andahundredthousandfrancslostormadeinthepublishingtrade.Ifyoufindanybodymadenoughtoprintyourpoetryforyou,youwillfeelsomerespectformeinanothertwelvemonth,whenyouhavehadtimetoseetheoutcomeofthetransaction\"
\"Haveyouthemanuscripthere?\"Lucienaskedcoldly.
\"Hereitis,myfriend,\"saidDauriat.Thepublisher\'smannertowardsLucienhadsweetenedsingularly.
Lucientookuptherollwithoutlookingatthestring,sosurehefeltthatDauriathadreadhisMarguerites.HewentoutwithLousteau,seeminglyneitherdisconcertednordissatisfied.Dauriatwentwiththemintotheshop,talkingofhisnewspaperandLousteau\'sdaily,whileLucienplayedwiththemanuscriptoftheMarguerites.
\"DoyousupposethatDauriathasreadyoursonnetsorsentthemtoanyoneelse?\"EtienneLousteausnatchedanopportunitytowhisper.
\"Yes,\"saidLucien.
\"Lookatthestring.\"Lucienlookeddownattheblotofink,andsawthatthemarkonthestringstillcoincided;heturnedwhitewithrage.
\"Whichofthesonnetswasitthatyouparticularlyliked?\"heasked,turningtothepublisher.
\"Theyareallofthemremarkable,myfriend;butthesonnetontheMargueriteisdelightful,theclosingthoughtisfine,andexquisitelyexpressed.Ifeltsurefromthatsonnetthatyourproseworkwouldcommandasuccess,andIspoketoFinotaboutyouatonce.Writearticlesforus,andwewillpayyouwellforthem.Fameisaveryfinething,yousee,butdon\'tforgetthepracticalandsolid,andtakeeverychancethatturnsup.Whenyouhavemademoney,youcanwritepoetry.\"
Thepoetdashedoutoftheshoptoavoidanexplosion.Hewasfurious.
Lousteaufollowed.
\"Well,myboy,praykeepcool.Takemenastheyare——formeanstoanend.Doyouwishforrevenge?\"
\"Atanyprice,\"mutteredthepoet.
\"HereisacopyofNathan\'sbook.Dauriathasjustgivenittome.Thesecondeditioniscomingoutto-morrow;readthebookagain,andknockoffanarticledemolishingit.FelicienVernoucannotendureNathan,forhethinksthatNathan\'ssuccesswillinjurehisownforthcomingbook.Itisacrazewiththeselittlemindstofancythatthereisnotroomfortwosuccessesunderthesun;sohewillseethatyourarticlefindsaplaceinthebigpaperforwhichhewrites.\"
\"Butwhatistheretobesaidagainstthebook;itisgoodwork!\"
criedLucien.
\"Oh,Isay!youmustlearnyourtrade,\"saidLousteau,laughing.
\"Giventhatthebookwasamasterpiece,underthestrokeofyourpenitmustturntodulltrash,dangerousandunwholesomestuff.\"
\"Buthow?\"
\"Youturnallthegoodpointsintobadones.\"
\"Iamincapableofsuchajuggler\'sfeat.\"
\"Mydearboy,ajournalistisajuggler;amanmustmakeuphismindtothedrawbacksofthecalling.Lookhere!Iamnotabadfellow;
thisistheway_I_shouldsettoworkmyself.Attention!Youmightbeginbypraisingthebook,andamuseyourselfawhilebysayingwhatyoureallythink.\'Good,\'saysthereader,\'thiscriticisnotjealous;hewillbeimpartial,nodoubt,\'andfromthatpointyourpublicwillthinkthatyourcriticismisapieceofconscientiouswork.Then,whenyouhavewonyourreader\'sconfidence,youwillregretthatyoumustblamethetendencyandinfluenceofsuchworkuponFrenchliterature.\'DoesnotFrance,\'youwillsay,\'swaythewholeintellectualworld?FrenchwritershavekeptEuropeinthepathofanalysisandphilosophicalcriticismfromagetoagebytheirpowerfulstyleandtheoriginalturngivenbythemtoideas.\'Here,forthebenefitofthephilistine,insertapanegyriconVoltaire,Rousseau,Diderot,Montesquieu,andBuffon.HoldforthupontheinexorableFrenchlanguage;showhowitspreadsavarnish,asitwere,overthought.Letfallafewaphorisms,suchas——\'AgreatwriterinFranceisinvariablyagreatman;hewritesinalanguagewhichcompelshimtothink;itisotherwiseinothercountries\'——andsoon,andsoon.Then,toproveyourcase,drawacomparisonbetweenRabener,theGermansatiricalmoralist,andLaBruyere.Nothinggivesacriticsuchanairasanapparentfamiliaritywithforeignliterature.KantisCousin\'spedestal.
\"OnceonthatgroundyoubringoutawordwhichsumsuptheFrenchmenofgeniusoftheeighteenthcenturyforthebenefitofsimpletons——youcallthatliteraturethe\'literatureofideas.\'Armedwiththisexpression,youflingallthemightydeadattheheadsoftheillustriousliving.Youexplainthatinthepresentdayanewformofliteraturehassprungup;thatdialogue(theeasiestformofwriting)
isoverdone,anddescriptiondispenseswithanyneedforthinkingonthepartoftheauthororreader.YoubringupthefictionofVoltaire,Diderot,Sterne,andLeSage,sotrenchant,socompactofthestuffoflife;andturnfromthemtothemodernnovel,composedofsceneryandword-picturesandmetaphorandthedramaticsituations,ofwhichScottisfull.Inventionmaybedisplayedinsuchwork,butthereisnoroomforanythingelse.\'TheromanceafterthemannerofScottisamerepassingfashioninliterature,\'youwillsay,andfulminateagainstthefatalwayinwhichideasaredilutedandbeatenthin;cryoutagainstastylewithinthereachofanyintellect,foranyonecancommenceauthoratsmallexpenseinawayofliterature,whichyoucannicknamethe\'literatureofimagery.\'
\"ThenyoufalluponNathanwithyourargument,andestablishitbeyoundcavilthatheisamereimitatorwithanappearanceofgenius.
Theconcisegrandstyleoftheeighteenthcenturyislacking;youshowthattheauthorsubstituteseventsforsentiments.Actionandstirisnotlife;hegivesyoupictures,butnoideas.
\"Comeoutwithsuchphrases,andpeoplewilltakethemup——Inspiteofthemeritsofthework,itseemstoyoutobeadangerous,nay,afatalprecedent.ItthrowsopenthegatesofthetempleofFametothecrowd;andinthedistanceyoudescryalegionofpettyauthorshasteningtoimitatethisnovelandeasystyleofwriting.
\"Hereyoulaunchoutintoresoundinglamentationsoverthedecadenceanddeclineoftaste,andslipineulogiesofMessieursEtienneJouy,Tissot,Gosse,Duval,Jay,BenjaminConstant,Aignan,Baour-Lormian,Villemain,andthewholeLiberal-BonapartistchoruswhopatronizeVernou\'spaper.NextyoudrawapictureofthatgloriousphalanxofwritersrepellingtheinvasionoftheRomantics;thesearetheupholdersofideasandstyleasagainstmetaphorandbalderdash;themodernrepresentativesoftheschoolofVoltaireasopposedtotheEnglishandGermanschools,evenastheseventeenheroicdeputiesoftheLeftfoughtthebattleforthenationagainsttheUltrasoftheRight.
\"Andthen,undercoverofnamesrespectedbytheimmensemajorityofFrenchmen(whowillalwaysbeagainsttheGovernment),youcancrushNathan;foralthoughhisworkisfarabovetheaverage,itconfirmsthebourgeoistasteforliteraturewithoutideas.Andafterthat,youunderstand,itisnolongeraquestionofNathanandhisbook,butofFranceandthegloryofFrance.Itisthedutyofallhonestandcourageouspenstomakestrenuousoppositiontotheseforeignimportations.Andwiththatyouflatteryourreaders.ShrewdFrenchmother-witisnoteasilycaughtnapping.Ifpublishers,bywayswhichyoudonotchoosetospecify,havestolenasuccess,thereadingpublicverysoonjudgesforitself,andcorrectsthemistakesmadebysomefivehundredfools,whoalwaysrushtothefore.
\"Saythatthepublisherwhosoldafirsteditionofthebookisaudaciousindeedtoissueasecond,andexpressregretthatsocleveramandoesnotknowthetasteofthecountrybetter.Thereisthegistofit.Justasprinkleofthesaltofwitandadashofvinegartobringouttheflavor,andDauriatwillbedonetoaturn.ButmindthatyouendwithseemingtopityNathanforamistake,andspeakofhimasofamanfromwhomcontemporaryliteraturemaylookforgreatthingsifherenouncestheseways.\"
LucienwasamazedatthistalkfromLousteau.Asthejournalistspoke,thescalesfellfromhiseyes;hebeheldnewtruthsofwhichhehadneverbeforecaughtsomuchasaglimpse.
\"Butallthisthatyouaresayingisquitetrueandjust,\"saidhe.
\"Ifitwerenot,howcouldyoumakeittellagainstNathan\'sbook?\"
askedLousteau.\"Thatisthefirstmannerofdemolishingabook,myboy;itisthepickaxestyleofcriticism.Butthereareplentyofotherways.Youreducationwillcompleteitselfintime.Whenyouareabsolutelyobligedtospeakofamanwhomyoudonotlike,forproprietorsandeditorsaresometimesundercompulsion,youbringoutaneutralspecialarticle.Youputthetitleofthebookattheheadofit,andbeginwithgeneralremarks,ontheGreeksandtheRomansifyoulike,andwindupwith——\'andthisbringsustoMr.So-and-so\'sbook,whichwillformthesubjectofasecondarticle.\'Thesecondarticleneverappears,andinthiswayyousnuffoutthebookbetweentwopromises.Butinthiscaseyouarewritingdown,notNathan,butDauriat;heneedsthepickaxestyle.Ifthebookisreallygood,thepickaxedoesnoharm;butitgoestothecoreofitifitisbad.Inthefirstcase,noonebutthepublisherisanytheworse;inthesecond,youdothepublicaservice.Bothmethods,moreover,areequallyserviceableinpoliticalcriticism.\"
EtienneLousteau\'scruellessonopeneduppossibilitiesforLucien\'simagination.Heunderstoodthiscrafttoadmiration.
\"Letusgototheoffice,\"saidLousteau;\"weshallfindourfriendsthere,andwewillagreeamongourselvestochargeatNathan;theywilllaugh,youwillsee.\"
ArrivedintheRueSaint-Fiacre,theywentuptotheroomintheroofwherethepaperwasmadeup,andLucienwassurprisedandgratifiednolesstoseethealacritywithwhichhiscomradesproceededtodemolishNathan\'sbook.HectorMerlintookupapieceofpaperandwroteafewlinesforhisownnewspaper——
\"AsecondeditionofM.Nathan\'sbookisannounced.Wehadintendedtokeepsilencewithregardtothatwork,butitsapparentsuccessobligesustopublishanarticle,notsomuchuponthebookitselfasuponcertaintendenciesofthenewschoolofliterature.\"
Attheheadofthe\"Facetiae\"inthemorning\'spaper,Lousteauinsertedthefollowingnote:——
\"M.DauriatisbringingoutasecondeditionofM.Nathan\'sbook.
Evidentlyhedoesnotknowthelegalmaxim,Nonbisinidem.Allhonortorashcourage.\"
Lousteau\'swordshadbeenlikeatorchforburning;Lucien\'shotdesiretoberevengedonDauriattooktheplaceofconscienceandinspiration.ForthreedaysheneverleftCoralie\'sroom;hesatatworkbythefire,waiteduponbyBerenice;petted,inmomentsofweariness,bythesilentandattentiveCoralie;till,attheendofthattime,hehadmadeafaircopyofaboutthreecolumnsofcriticism,andanastonishinglygoodpieceofwork.
Itwasnineo\'clockintheeveningwhenheranroundtotheoffice,foundhisassociates,andreadoverhisworktoanattentiveaudience.
Feliciensaidnotasyllable.Hetookupthemanuscript,andmadeoffwithitpell-melldownthestaircase.
\"Whathascometohim?\"criedLucien.
\"Hehastakenyourarticlestraighttotheprinter,\"saidHectorMerlin.\"\'Tisamasterpiece;notalinetoadd,norawordtotakeout.\"
\"Therewasnoneedtodomorethanshowyoutheway,\"saidLousteau.
\"IshouldliketoseeNathan\'sfacewhenhereadsthisto-morrow,\"
saidanothercontributor,beamingwithgentlesatisfaction.
\"Itisaswelltohaveyouforafriend,\"remarkedHectorMerlin.
\"Thenitwilldo?\"Lucienaskedquickly.
\"BlondetandVignonwillfeelbad,\"saidLousteau.
\"HereisashortarticlewhichIhaveknockedtogetherforyou,\"beganLucien;\"ifittakes,Icouldwriteyouaseries.\"
\"Readitover,\"saidLousteau,andLucienreadthefirstofthedelightfulshortpaperswhichmadethefortuneofthelittlenewspaper;aseriesofsketchesofParislife,aportrait,atype,anordinaryevent,orsomeoftheodditiesofthegreatcity.Thisspecimen——\"TheManintheStreet\"——waswritteninawaythatwasfreshandoriginal;thethoughtswerestruckoutbytheshockofthewords,thesoundingringoftheadverbsandadjectivescaughtthereader\'sear.ThepaperwasasdifferentfromtheseriousandprofoundarticleonNathanastheLettrespersanesfromtheEspritdeslois.
\"Youareabornjournalist,\"saidLousteau.\"Itshallgointo-morrow.
Doasmuchofthissortofthingasyoulike.\"
\"Ah,bytheby,\"saidMerlin,\"Dauriatisfuriousaboutthosetwobombshellshurledintohismagazine.Ihavejustcomefromhim.Hewashurlingimprecations,andinsucharagewithFinot,whotoldhimthathehadsoldhispapertoyou.Asforme,Itookhimasideandjustsaidawordinhisear.\'TheMargueriteswillcostyoudear,\'Itoldhim.\'Amanoftalentcomestoyou,youturnthecoldshoulderonhim,andsendhimintothearmsofthenewspapers.\'\"
