"Wehavejustheardnewsofadreadfulcatastrophe;thegreatestthinkeroftheage,ourmostlovedfriend,whowaslikealightamongusfortwoyears——"
　　"LouisLambert!"
　　"Hasfallenavictimtocatalepsy.Thereisnohopeforhim,"saidBianchon.
　　"Hewilldie,hissoulwanderingintheskies,hisbodyunconsciousonearth,"saidMichelChrestiensolemnly.
　　"Hewilldieashelived,"saidd'Arthez.
　　"Lovefelllikeafirebrandinthevastempireofhisbrainandburnedhimaway,"saidLeonGiraud.
　　"Yes,"saidJosephBridau,"hehasreachedaheightthatwecannotsomuchassee."
　　"WEaretobepitied,notLouis,"saidFulgenceRidal.
　　"Perhapshewillrecover,"exclaimedLucien.
　　"FromwhatMeyrauxhasbeentellingus,recoveryseemsimpossible,"
　　answeredBianchon."Medicinehasnopoweroverthechangethatisworkinginhisbrain."
　　"Yettherearephysicalmeans,"saidd'Arthez.
　　"Yes,"saidBianchon;"wemightproduceimbecilityinsteadofcatalepsy."
　　"Istherenowayofofferinganotherheadtothespiritofevil?I
　　wouldgiveminetosavehim!"criedMichelChrestien.
　　"AndwhatwouldbecomeofEuropeanfederation?"askedd'Arthez.
　　"Ah!true,"repliedMichelChrestien."OurdutytoHumanitycomesfirst;toonemanafterwards."
　　"Icameherewithaheartfullofgratitudetoyouall,"saidLucien.
　　"Youhavechangedmyalloyintogoldencoin."
　　"Gratitude!Forwhatdoyoutakeus?"askedBianchon.
　　"Wehadthepleasure,"addedFulgence.
　　"Well,soyouareajournalist,areyou?"askedLeonGiraud."ThefameofyourfirstappearancehasreachedeventheLatinQuarter."
　　"Iamnotajournalistyet,"returnedLucien.
　　"Aha!Somuchthebetter,"saidMichelChrestien.
　　"Itoldyouso!"saidd'Arthez."Lucienknowsthevalueofacleanconscience.Whenyoucansaytoyourselfasyoulayyourheadonthepillowatnight,'Ihavenotsatinjudgmentonanotherman'swork;I
　　havegivenpaintonoone;Ihavenotusedtheedgeofmywittodealastabtosomeharmlesssoul;Ihavesacrificednoone'ssuccesstoajest;Ihavenoteventroubledthehappinessofimbecility;Ihavenotaddedtotheburdensofgenius;Ihavescornedtheeasytriumphsofepigram;inshort,Ihavenotactedagainstmyconvictions,'isnotthisaviaticumthatgivesonedailystrength?"
　　"Butonecansayallthis,surely,andyetworkonanewspaper,"saidLucien."IfIhadabsolutelynootherwayofearningaliving,I
　　shouldcertainlycometothis."
　　"Oh!oh!oh!"criedFulgence,hisvoicerisinganoteeachtime;"wearecapitulating,arewe?"
　　"Hewillturnjournalist,"LeonGiraudsaidgravely."Oh,Lucien,ifyouwouldonlystayandworkwithus!Weareabouttobringoutaperiodicalinwhichjusticeandtruthshallneverbeviolated;wewillspreaddoctrinesthat,perhaps,willbeofrealservicetomankind——"
　　"Youwillnothaveasinglesubscriber,"LucienbrokeinwithMachiavellianwisdom.
　　"Therewillbefivehundredofthem,"assertedMichelChrestien,"buttheywillbeworthfivehundredthousand."
　　"Youwillneedalotofcapital,"continuedLucien.
　　"No,onlydevotion,"saidd'Arthez.
　　"Anybodymighttakehimforaperfumer'sassistant,"burstoutMichelChrestien,lookingatLucien'shead,andsniffingcomically."Youwereseendrivingaboutinaverysmartturnoutwithapairofthoroughbreds,andamistressforaprince,Coralieherself."
　　"Well,andisthereanyharminit?"
　　"Youwouldnotsaythatifyouthoughtthattherewasnoharminit,"
　　saidBianchon.
　　"IcouldhavewishedLucienaBeatrice,"saidd'Arthez,"anoblewoman,whowouldhavebeenahelptohiminlife——"
　　"But,Daniel,"askedLucien,"loveislovewhereveryoufindit,isitnot?"
　　"Ah!"saidtherepublicanmember,"onthatonepointIamanaristocrat.Icouldnotbringmyselftoloveawomanwhomustrubshoulderswithallsortsofpeopleinthegreen-room;whomanactorkissesonstage;shemustlowerherselfbeforethepublic,smileoneveryone,liftherskirtsasshedances,anddresslikeaman,thatalltheworldmayseewhatnoneshouldseesaveIalone.OrifIlovedsuchawoman,sheshouldleavethestage,andmyloveshouldcleanseherfromthestainofit."
　　"Andifshewouldnotleavethestage?"
　　"Ishoulddieofmortification,jealousy,andallsortsofpain.Youcannotpluckloveoutofyourheartasyoudrawatooth."
　　Lucien'sfacegrewdarkandthoughtful.
　　"WhentheyfindoutthatIamtoleratingCamusot,howtheywilldespiseme,"hethought.
　　"Lookhere,"saidthefiercerepublican,withhumorousfierceness,"youcanbeagreatwriter,butalittleplay-actoryoushallneverbe,"andhetookuphishatandwentout.
　　"Heishard,isMichelChrestien,"commentedLucien.
　　"Hardandsalutary,likethedentist'spincers,"saidBianchon.
　　"Michelforeseesyourfuture;perhapsinthestreet,atthismoment,heisthinkingofyouwithtearsinhiseyes."
　　D'Arthezwaskind,andtalkedcomfortingly,andtriedtocheerLucien.
　　Thepoetspentanhourwithhisfriends,thenhewent,buthisconsciencetreatedhimhardly,cryingtohim,"Youwillbeajournalist——ajournalist!"asthewitchcriedtoMacbeththatheshouldbekinghereafter!
　　Outinthestreet,helookedupatd'Arthez'swindows,andsawafaintlightshininginthem,andhisheartsank.Adimforebodingtoldhimthathehadbiddenhisfriendsgood-byeforthelasttime.
　　AsheturnedoutofthePlacedelaSorbonneintotheRuedeCluny,hesawacarriageatthedoorofhislodging.CoraliehaddrivenallthewayfromtheBoulevardduTempleforthesakeofamomentwithherloveranda"good-night."Lucienfoundhersobbinginhisgarret.Shewouldbeaswretchedlypoorasherpoet,shewept,asshearrangedhisshirtsandglovesandhandkerchiefsinthecrazychestofdrawers.Herdistresswassorealandsogreat,thatLucien,butevennowchiddenforhisconnectionwithanactress,sawCoralieasasaintreadytoassumethehair-shirtofpoverty.Theadorablegirl'sexcuseforhervisitwasanannouncementthatthefirmofCamusot,Coralie,andLucienmeanttoinviteMatifat,Florine,andLousteauthesecondtriotosupper;hadLucienanyinvitationstoissuetopeoplewhomightbeusefultohim?LuciensaidthathewouldtakecounselofLousteau.
　　Afewmomentswerespenttogether,andCoraliehurriedaway.ShesparedLucientheknowledgethatCamusotwaswaitingforherbelow.
　　Nextmorning,ateighto'clock,LucienwenttoEtienneLousteau'sroom,founditempty,andhurriedawaytoFlorine.LousteauandFlorine,settledintopossessionoftheirnewquarterslikeamarriedcouple,receivedtheirfriendintheprettybedroom,andallthreebreakfastedsumptuouslytogether.
　　"Why,Ishouldadviseyou,myboy,tocomewithmetoseeFelicienVernou,"saidLousteau,whentheysatattable,andLucienhadmentionedCoralie'sprojectedsupper;"askhimtobeoftheparty,andkeepwellwithhim,ifyoucankeepwellwithsucharascal.FelicienVernoudoesafeuilletonforapoliticalpaper;hemightperhapsintroduceyou,andyoucouldblossomoutintoleadersinitatyourease.ItisaLiberalpaper,likeours;youwillbeaLiberal,thatisthepopularparty;andbesides,ifyoumeantogoovertotheMinisterialists,youwoulddobetterforyourselfiftheyhadreasontobeafraidofyou.ThenthereisHectorMerlinandhisMme.duVal-
　　Noble;youmeetgreatpeopleattheirhouse——dukesanddandiesandmillionaires;didn'ttheyaskyouandCoralietodinewiththem?"
　　"Yes,"repliedLucien;"youaregoingtoo,andsoisFlorine."LucienandEtiennewerenowonfamiliartermsafterFriday'sdebauchandthedinnerattheRocherdeCancale.
　　"Verywell,Merlinisonthepaper;weshallcomeacrosshimprettyoften;heisthechaptofollowcloseonFinot'sheels.Youwoulddowelltopayhimattention;askhimandMme.duVal-Nobletosupper.Hemaybeusefultoyoubeforelong;forrancorouspeoplearealwaysinneedofothers,andhemaydoyouagoodturnifhecanreckononyourpen."
　　"Yourbeginninghasmadeenoughsensationtosmoothyourway,"saidFlorine;"takeadvantageofitatonce,oryouwillsoonbeforgotten."
　　"Thebargain,thegreatbusiness,isconcluded,"Lousteaucontinued.
　　"ThatFinot,withoutasparkoftalentinhim,istobeeditorofDauriat'sweeklypaper,withasalaryofsixhundredfrancspermonth,andownerofasixthshare,forwhichhehasnotpaidonepenny.AndI,mydearfellow,amnoweditorofourlittlepaper.EverythingwentoffasIexpected;Florinemanagedsuperbly,shecouldgivepointstoTallyrandhimself."
　　"Wehaveaholdonmenthroughtheirpleasures,"saidFlorine,"whileadiplomatistonlyworksontheirself-love.Adiplomatistseesamanmadeupfortheoccasion;weknowhiminhismomentsoffolly,soourpowerisgreater."
　　"Andwhenthethingwassettled,Matifatmadethefirstandlastjokeofhiswholedruggist'scareer,"putinLousteau."Hesaid,'Thisaffairisquiteinmyline;Iamsupplyingdrugstothepublic.'"
　　"IsuspectthatFlorineputhimuptoit,"criedLucien.
　　"Andbythesemeans,mylittledear,yourfootisinthestirrup,"
　　continuedLousteau.
　　"Youwerebornwithasilverspooninyourmouth,"remarkedFlorine.
　　"Whatlotsofyoungfellowswaitforyears,waittilltheyaresickofwaiting,forachancetogetanarticleintoapaper!YouwilldolikeEmileBlondet.Insixmonths'timeyouwillbegivingyourselfhighandmightyairs,"sheadded,withamockingsmile,inthelanguageofherclass.
　　"Haven'tIbeeninParisforthreeyears?"saidLousteau,"andonlyyesterdayFinotbegantopaymeafixedmonthlysalaryofthreehundredfrancs,andahundredfrancspersheetforhispaper."
　　"Well;youaresayingnothing!"exclaimedFlorine,withhereyesturnedonLucien.
　　"Weshallsee,saidLucien.
　　"Mydearboy,ifyouhadbeenmybrother,Icouldnothavedonemoreforyou,"retortedLousteau,somewhatnettled,"butIwon'tanswerforFinot.ScoresofsharpfellowswillbesiegeFinotforthenexttwodayswithofferstoworkforlowpay.Ihavepromisedforyou,butyoucandrawbackifyoulike——Youlittleknowhowluckyyouare,"headdedafterapause."Allthoseinoursetcombinetoattackanenemyinvariouspapers,andlendeachotherahelpinghandallround."
　　"LetusgointhefirstplacetoFelicienVernou,"saidLucien.Hewaseagertoconcludeanalliancewithsuchformidablebirdsofprey.
　　Lousteausentforacab,andthepairoffriendsdrovetoVernou'shouseonthesecondfloorupanalleyintheRueMandar.ToLucien'sgreatastonishment,theharsh,fastidious,andseverecritic'ssurroundingswerevulgartothelastdegree.Amarbledpaper,cheapandshabby,withameaninglesspatternrepeatedatregularintervals,coveredthewalls,andaseriesofaquatintsingiltframesdecoratedtheapartment,whereVernousatattablewithawomansoplainthatshecouldonlybethelegitimatemistressofthehouse,andtwoverysmallchildrenperchedonhighchairswithabarinfronttopreventtheinfantsfromtumblingout.FelicienVernou,inacottondressing-
　　gowncontrivedoutoftheremainsofoneofhiswife'sdresses,wasnotoverwellpleasedbythisinvasion.
　　"Haveyoubreakfasted,Lousteau?"heasked,placingachairforLucien.
　　"WehavejustleftFlorine;wehavebeenbreakfastingwithher."
　　LuciencouldnottakehiseyesoffMme.Vernou.Shelookedlikeastout,homelycook,withatolerablyfaircomplexion,butcommonplacetothelastdegree.Theladyworeabandanatiedoverhernight-cap,thestringsofthelatterarticleofdressbeingtiedsotightlyunderthechinthatherpuffycheeksstoodoutoneitherside.Ashapeless,beltlessgarment,fastenedbyasinglebuttonatthethroat,envelopedherfromheadtofootinsuchafashionthatacomparisontoamilestoneatoncesuggesteditself.Herhealthleftnoroomforhope;
　　hercheekswerealmostpurple;herfingerslookedlikesausages.InamomentitdawneduponLucienhowitwasthatVernouwasalwayssoillateaseinsociety;herewasthelivingexplanationofhismisanthropy.Sickofhismarriage,unabletobringhimselftoabandonhiswifeandfamily,hehadyetsufficientoftheartistictempertosuffercontinuallyfromtheirpresence;Vernouwasanactorbynatureboundnevertopardonthesuccessofanother,condemnedtochronicdiscontentbecausehewasnevercontentwithhimself.LucienbegantounderstandthesourlookwhichseemedtoaddtothebleakexpressionofenvyonVernou'sface;theacerbityoftheepigramswithwhichhisconversationwassown,thejournalist'spungentphrases,keenandelaboratelywroughtasastiletto,wereatonceexplained.
　　"Letusgointomystudy,"Vernousaid,risingfromthetable;"youhavecomeonbusiness,nodoubt."
　　"Yesandno,"repliedEtienneLousteau."Itisasupper,oldchap."
　　"IhavebroughtamessagefromCoralie,"saidLucienMme.Vernoulookedupatonceatthename,"toaskyoutosupper
　　"Shewilltakeoffenceifwedon'tgo;andyouareverygladofherwhenyouhaveabilltodiscount."
　　"Thiswifeofmine,mydearboy,canneverbemadetounderstandthatasupperengagementfortwelveo'clockdoesnotpreventyoufromgoingtoaneveningpartythatcomestoanendateleven.SheisalwayswithmewhileIwork,"headded.
　　"Youhavesomuchimagination!"saidLucien,andtherebymadeamortalenemyofVernou.
　　"Well,"continuedLousteau,"youarecoming;butthatisnotall.M.
　　deRubempreisabouttobeoneofus,soyoumustpushhiminyourpaper.Givehimoutforachapthatwillmakeanameforhimselfinliterature,sothathecanputinatleastacoupleofarticleseverymonth."
　　"Yes,ifhemeanstobeoneofus,andwillattackourenemies,aswewillattackhis,IwillsayawordforhimattheOperato-night,"
　　repliedVernou.
　　"Verywell——good-byetillto-morrow,myboy,"saidLousteau,shakinghandswitheverysignofcordiality."Whenisyourbookcomingout?"
　　"ThatdependsonDauriat;itisready,"saidVernoupater-familias.
　　"Areyousatisfied?"
　　"Yesandno——"
　　"Wewillgetupasuccess,"saidLousteau,andherosewithabowtohiscolleague'swife.
　　Theabruptdeparturewasnecessaryindeed;forthetwoinfants,engagedinanoisyquarrel,werefightingwiththeirspoons,andflingingthepapineachother'sfaces.
　　"That,myboy,isawomanwhoallunconsciouslywillworkgreathavocincontemporaryliterature,"saidEtienne,whentheycameaway."PoorVernoucannotforgiveusforhiswife.Heoughttoberelievedofherintheinterestsofthepublic;andadelugeofblood-thirstyreviewsandstingingsarcasmsagainstsuccessfulmenofeverysortwouldbeaverted.Whatistobecomeofamanwithsuchawifeandthatpairofabominablebrats?HaveyouseenRigaudininPicard'sLaMaisonenLoterie?Youhave?Well,likeRigaudin,Vernouwillnotfighthimself,buthewillsetothersfighting;hewouldgiveaneyetoputoutbotheyesintheheadofthebestfriendhehas.Youwillseehimusingthebodiesoftheslainforastepping-stone,rejoicingovereveryone'smisfortunes,attackingprinces,dukes,marquises,andnobles,becausehehimselfisacommoner;revilingtheworkofunmarriedmenbecauseheforsoothhasawife;andeverlastinglypreachingmorality,thejoysofdomesticlife,andthedutiesofthecitizen.Inshort,thisverymoralcriticwillsparenoone,noteveninfantsoftenderage.HelivesintheRueMandarwithawifewhomightbetheMamamouchioftheBourgeoisgentilhommeandacoupleoflittleVernousasuglyassin.
　　HetriestosneerattheFaubourgSaint-Germain,wherehewillneversetfoot,andmakeshisduchessestalklikehiswife.ThatisthesortofmantoraiseahowlattheJesuits,insulttheCourt,andcredittheCourtpartywiththedesignofrestoringfeudalrightsandtherightofprimogeniture——justtheonetopreachacrusadeforEquality,hethatthinkshimselftheequalofnoone.Ifhewereabachelor,hewouldgointosociety;ifhewereinafairwaytobeaRoyalistpoetwithapensionandtheCrossoftheLegionofHonor,hewouldbeanoptimist,andjournalismoffersstarting-pointsbythehundred.
　　Journalismisthegiantcatapultsetinmotionbypigmyhatreds.Haveyouanywishtomarryafterthis?Vernouhasnoneofthemilkofhumankindnessinhim,itisallturnedtogall;andheisemphaticallytheJournalist,atigerwithtwohandsthattearseverythingtopieces,asifhispenhadthehydrophobia."
　　"Itisacaseofgunophobia,"saidLucien."Hasheability?"
　　"Heiswitty,heisawriterofarticles.Heincubatesarticles;hedoesthatallhislifeandnothingelse.Themostdoggedindustrywouldfailtograftabookonhisprose.Felicienisincapableofconceivingaworkonalargescale,ofbroadeffects,offittingcharactersharmoniouslyinaplotwhichdevelopstillitreachesaclimax.Hehasideas,buthehasnoknowledgeoffacts;hisheroesareutopiancreatures,philosophicalorLiberalnotionsmasquerading.Heisatpainstowriteanoriginalstyle,buthisinflatedperiodswouldcollapseatapin-prickfromacritic;andthereforehegoesinterrorofreviews,likeeveryoneelsewhocanonlykeephisheadabovewaterwiththebladdersofnewspaperpuffs."
　　"Whatanarticleyouaremakingoutofhim!"
　　"Thatparticularkind,myboy,mustbespoken,andneverwritten."
　　"Youareturningeditor,"saidLucien.
　　"WhereshallIputyoudown?"
　　"AtCoralie's."
　　"Ah!weareinfatuated,"saidLousteau."Whatamistake!DoasIdowithFlorine,letCoraliebeyourhousekeeper,andtakeyourfling."
　　"Youwouldsendasainttoperdition,"laughedLucien.
　　"Well,thereisnodamningadevil,"retortedLousteau.
　　Theflippanttone,thebrillianttalkofthisnewfriend,hisviewsoflife,hisparadoxes,theaxiomsofParisianMachiavelism,——allthesethingsimpressedLucienunawares.Theoreticallythepoetknewthatsuchthoughtswereperilous;buthebelievedthempracticallyuseful.
　　ArrivedintheBoulevardduTemple,thefriendsagreedtomeetattheofficebetweenfourandfiveo'clock.HectorMerlinwoulddoubtlessbethere.Lousteauwasright.TheinfatuationofdesirewasuponLucien;
　　forthecourtesanwholovesknowshowtograppleherlovertoherbyeveryweaknessinhisnature,fashioningherselfwithincredibleflexibilitytohiseverywish,encouragingthesoft,effeminatehabitswhichstrengthenherhold.Lucienwasthirstingalreadyforenjoyment;
　　hewasinlovewiththeeasy,luxurious,andexpensivelifewhichtheactressled.
　　HefoundCoralieandCamusotintoxicatedwithjoy.TheGymnaseofferedCoralieanengagementafterEasterontermsforwhichshehadneverdaredtohope.
　　"Andthisgreatsuccessisowingtoyou,"saidCamusot.
　　"Yes,surely.TheAlcaldewouldhavefallenflatbutforhim,"criedCoralie;"iftherehadbeennoarticle,IshouldhavebeeninforanothersixyearsoftheBoulevardtheatres."
　　ShedanceduptoLucienandflungherarmsroundhim,puttinganindescribablesilkensoftnessandsweetnessintoherenthusiasm.LovehadcometoCoralie.AndCamusot?hiseyesfell.Lookingdownafterthewontofmankindinmomentsofsharppain,hesawtheseamofLucien'sboots,adeepyellowthreadusedbythebestbootmakersofthattime,instrongcontrastwiththeglisteningleather.Thecolorofthatseamhadtingedhisthoughtsduringapreviousconversationwithhimself,ashesoughttoexplainthepresenceofamysteriouspairofhessiansinCoralie'sfender.Herememberednowthathehadseenthenameof"Gay,RuedelaMichodiere,"printedinblacklettersonthesoftwhitekidlining.
　　"Youhaveahandsomepairofboots,sir,"hesaid.
　　"Likeeverythingelseabouthim,"saidCoralie.
　　"Ishouldbeverygladofyourbootmaker'saddress."
　　"Oh,howliketheRuedesBourdonnaistoaskforatradesman'saddress,"criedCoralie."DoYOUintendtopatronizeayoungman'sbootmaker?Aniceyoungmanyouwouldmake!Dokeeptoyourowntop-
　　boots;theyarethekindforasteady-goingmanwithawifeandfamilyandamistress."
　　"Indeed,ifyouwouldtakeoffoneofyourboots,sir,Ishouldbeverymuchobliged,"persistedCamusot.
　　"Icouldnotgetitonagainwithoutabutton-hook,"saidLucien,flushingup.
　　"Berenicewillfetchyouone;wecandowithsomehere,"jeeredCamusot.
　　"PapaCamusot!"saidCoralie,lookingathimwithcruelscorn,"havethecourageofyourpitifulbaseness.Come,speakout!Youthinkthatthisgentleman'sbootsareverylikemine,doyounot?——Iforbidyoutotakeoffyourboots,"sheadded,turningtoLucien——"Yes,M.
　　Camusot.Yes,yousawsomebootslyingaboutinthefenderheretheotherday,andthatistheidenticalpair,andthisgentlemanwashidinginmydressing-roomatthetime,waitingforthem;andhehadpassedthenighthere.Thatwaswhatyouwerethinking,hein?Thinkso;Iwouldratheryoudid.Itisthesimpletruth.Iamdeceivingyou.AndifIam?Idoittopleasemyself."
　　Shesatdown.Therewasnoangerinherface,noembarrassment;shelookedfromCamusottoLucien.Thetwomenavoidedeachother'seyes.
　　"Iwillbelievenothingthatyoudonotwishmetobelieve,"saidCamusot."Don'tplaywithme,Coralie;Iwaswrong——"
　　"Iameitherashamelessbaggagethathastakenasuddenfancy;orapoor,unhappygirlwhofeelswhatlovereallyisforthefirsttime,thelovethatallwomenlongfor.Andwhicheverwayitis,youmustleavemeortakemeasIam,"shesaid,withaqueenlygesturethatcrushedCamusot.
　　"Isitreallytrue?"heasked,seeingfromtheirfacesthatthiswasnojest,yetbeggingtobedeceived.
　　"Ilovemademoiselle,"Lucienfalteredout.
　　Atthatword,Coraliesprangtoherpoetandheldhimtightlytoher;
　　then,withherarmsstillabouthim,sheturnedtothesilk-mercer,asiftobidhimseethebeautifulpicturemadebytwoyounglovers.
　　"PoorMusot,takeallthatyougavetomebackagain;Idonotwanttokeepanythingofyours;forIlovethisboyheremadly,notforhisintellect,butforhisbeauty.Iwouldratherstarvewithhimthanhavemillionswithyou."
　　Camusotsankintoalowchair,hidhisfaceinhishands,andsaidnotaword.
　　"Wouldyoulikeustogoaway?"sheasked.Therewasanoteofferocityinhervoicewhichnowordscandescribe.
　　ColdchillsrandownLucien'sspine;hebeheldhimselfburdenedwithawoman,anactress,andahousehold.
　　"Stayhere,Coralie;keepitall,"theoldtradesmansaidatlast,inafaint,unsteadyvoicethatcamefromhisheart;"Idon'twantanythingback.Thereistheworthofsixtythousandfrancshereinthefurniture;butIcouldnotbeartothinkofmyCoralieinwant.Andyet,itwillnotbelongbeforeyoucometowant.Howevergreatthisgentleman'stalentmaybe,hecan'taffordtokeepyou.Weoldfellowsmustexpectthissortofthing.Coralie,letmecomeandseeyousometimes;Imaybeofusetoyou.And——Iconfessit;Icannotlivewithoutyou."
　　Thepoorman'sgentleness,strippedashewasofhishappinessjustashappinesshadreacheditsheight,touchedLuciendeeply.Coraliewasquiteunsoftenedbyit.
　　"Comeasoftenasyouwish,poorMusot,"shesaid;"IshalllikeyouallthebetterwhenIdon'tpretendtoloveyou."
　　Camusotseemedtoberesignedtohisfatesolongashewasnotdrivenoutoftheearthlyparadise,inwhichhislifecouldnothavebeenalljoy;hetrustedtothechancesoflifeinParisandtothetemptationsthatwouldbesetLucien'spath;hewouldwaitawhile,andallthathadbeenhisshouldbehisagain.Soonerorlater,thoughtthewilytradesman,thishandsomeyoungfellowwouldbeunfaithful;hewouldkeepawatchonhim;andthebettertodothisandusehisopportunitywithCoralie,hewouldbetheirfriend.ThepersistentpassionthatcouldconsenttosuchhumiliationterrifiedLucien.Camusot'sproposalofadinneratVery'sinthePalaisRoyalwasaccepted.
　　"Whatjoy!"criedCoralie,assoonasCamusothaddeparted."YouwillnotgobacknowtoyourgarretintheLatinQuarter;youwilllivehere.Weshallalwaysbetogether.YoucantakearoomintheRueCharlotforthesakeofappearances,andvoguelegalere!"
　　ShebegantodanceherSpanishdance,withanexcitedeagernessthatrevealedthestrengthofthepassioninherheart.
　　"IfIworkhardImaymakefivehundredfrancsamonth,"Luciensaid.
　　"AndIshallmakeasmuchagainatthetheatre,withoutcountingextras.Camusotwillpayformydressesasbefore.Heisfondofme!
　　WecanlivelikeCroesusonfifteenhundredfrancsamonth."
　　"Andthehorses?andthecoachman?andthefootman?"inquiredBerenice.
　　"Iwillgetintodebt,"saidCoralie.AndshebegantodancewithLucien.
　　"ImustclosewithFinotafterthis,"Lucienexclaimed.
　　"There!"saidCoralie,"Iwilldressandtakeyoutoyouroffice.I
　　willwaitoutsideintheboulevardforyouwiththecarriage."
　　LuciensatdownonthesofaandmadesomeverysoberreflectionsashewatchedCoralieathertoilet.ItwouldhavebeenwisertoleaveCoraliefreethantostartallatoncewithsuchanestablishment;butCoraliewastherebeforehiseyes,andCoraliewassolovely,sograceful,sobewitching,thatthemorepicturesqueaspectsofbohemiawereinevidence;andheflungdownthegauntlettofortune.
　　BerenicewasorderedtosuperintendLucien'sremovalandinstallation;
　　andCoralie,triumphant,radiant,andhappy,carriedoffherlove,herpoet,andmustneedsgoalloverParisonthewaytotheRueSaint-
　　Fiacre.Lucienspranglightlyupthestaircase,andenteredtheofficewithanairofbeingquiteathome.Coloquintewastherewiththestampedpaperstillonhishead;andoldGiroudeautoldhimagain,hypocriticallyenough,thatnoonehadyetcomein.
　　"ButtheeditorandcontributorsMUSTmeetsomewhereorothertoarrangeaboutthejournal,"saidLucien.
　　"Verylikely;butIhavenothingtodowiththewritingofthepaper,"
　　saidtheEmperor'scaptain,resuminghisoccupationofcheckingoffwrapperswithhiseternalbroum!broum!
　　Wasitluckyorunlucky?FinotchancedtocomeinatthatverymomenttoannouncehisshamabdicationandtobidGiroudeauwatchoverhisinterests.
　　"Noshilly-shallywiththisgentleman;heisonthestaff,"Finotaddedforhisuncle'sbenefit,ashegraspedLucienbythehand.
　　"Oh!isheonthepaper?"exclaimedGiroudeau,muchsurprisedatthisfriendliness."Well,sir,youcameonwithoutmuchdifficulty."
　　"Iwanttomakethingssnugforyouhere,lestEtienneshouldbamboozleyou,"continuedFinot,lookingknowinglyatLucien."Thisgentlemanwillbepaidthreefrancspercolumnallround,includingtheatres."
　　"Youhavenevertakenanyoneonsuchtermsbefore,"saidGiroudeau,openinghiseyes.
　　"AndhewilltakethefourBoulevardtheatres.Seethatnobodysneakshisboxes,andthathegetshisshareoftickets——Ishouldadviseyou,nevertheless,tohavethemsenttoyouraddress,"headded,turningtoLucien——"Andheagreestowritebesidestenmiscellaneousarticlesoftwocolumnseach,forfiftyfrancspermonth,foroneyear.Doesthatsuityou?"
　　"Yes,"saidLucien.Circumstanceshadforcedhishand.
　　"Drawuptheagreement,uncle,andwewillsignitwhenwecomedownstairs."
　　"Whoisthegentleman?"inquiredGiroudeau,risingandtakingoffhisblacksilkskull-cap.
　　"M.LuciendeRubempre,whowrotethearticleonTheAlcalde."
　　"Youngman,youhaveagoldmineTHERE,"saidtheoldsoldier,tappingLucienontheforehead."Iamnotliterarymyself,butIreadthatarticleofyours,andIlikedit.Thatisthekindofthing!There'sgaietyforyou!'Thatwillbringusnewsubscribers,'saysItomyself.Andsoitdid.Wesoldfiftymorenumbers."
　　"IsmyagreementwithLousteaumadeoutinduplicateandreadytosign?"askedFinot,speakingaside.
　　"Yes."
　　"Thenante-datethisgentleman'sagreementbyoneday,sothatLousteauwillbeboundbythepreviouscontract."
　　Finottookhisnewcontributor'sarmwithafriendlinessthatcharmedLucien,anddrewhimoutonthelandingtosay:——
　　"Yourpositionismadeforyou.IwillintroduceyoutoMYstaffmyself,andto-nightLousteauwillgoroundwithyoutothetheatres.
　　YoucanmakeahundredandfiftyfrancspermonthonthislittlepaperofourswithLousteauasitseditor,sotrytokeepwellwithhim.Theroguebearsagrudgeagainstmeasitis,fortyinghishandssofarasyouareconcerned;butyouhaveability,andIdon'tchoosethatyoushallbesubjectedtothewhimsoftheeditor.Youmightletmehaveacoupleofsheetseverymonthformyreview,andIwillpayyoutwohundredfrancs.Thisisbetweenourselves,don'tmentionittoanybodyelse;Ishouldbelaidopentothespiteofeveryonewhosevanityismortifiedbyyourgoodfortune.Writefourarticles,fillyourtwosheets,signtwowithyourownname,andtwowithapseudonym,sothatyoumaynotseemtobetakingthebreadoutofanybodyelse'smouth.YouoweyourpositiontoBlondetandVignon;
　　theythinkthatyouhaveafuturebeforeyou.Sokeepoutofscrapes,and,aboveallthings,beonyourguardagainstyourfriends.Asforme,weshallalwaysgetonwelltogether,youandI.Helpme,andI