"DauriatwillbedumfoundedbythearticleonNathan,"saidLousteau.
　　"Doyouseenowwhatjournalismis,Lucien?Yourrevengeisbeginningtotell.TheBaronChateletcameherethismorningforyouraddress.
　　Therewasacuttingarticleuponhiminthismorning'sissue;heisaweakling,thatbuckoftheEmpire,andhehaslosthishead.Haveyouseenthepaper?Itisafunnyarticle.Look,'FuneraloftheHeron,andtheCuttlefish-bone'slament.'Mme.deBargetoniscalledtheCuttlefish-bonenow,andnomistake,andChateletisknowneverywhereasBaronHeron."
　　Lucientookupthepaper,andcouldnothelplaughingatVernou'sextremelycleverskit.
　　"Theywillcapitulatesoon,"saidHectorMerlin.
　　Lucienmerrilyassistedatthemanufactureofepigramsandjokesattheendofthepaper;andtheassociatessmokedandchattedovertheday'sadventures,overthefoiblesofsomeamongtheirnumber,orsomenewbitofpersonalgossip.Fromtheirwitty,malicious,banteringtalk,Luciengainedaknowledgeoftheinnerlifeofliterature,andofthemannersandcustomsofthecraft.
　　"Whiletheyaresettingupthepaper,Iwillgoroundwithyouandintroduceyoutothemanagersofyourtheatres,andtakeyoubehindthescenes,"saidLousteau."AndthenwewillgotothePanorama-
　　Dramatique,andhaveafrolicintheirdressing-rooms."
　　Arm-in-arm,theywentfromtheatretotheatre.Lucienwasintroducedtothisoneandthat,andenthronedasadramaticcritic.Managerscomplimentedhim,actressesflunghimsideglances;foreveryoneofthemknewthatthiswasthecriticwho,byasinglearticle,hadgainedanengagementattheGymnase,withtwelvethousandfrancsayear,forCoralie,andanotherforFlorineatthePanorama-Dramatiquewitheightthousandfrancs.Lucienwasamanofimportance.ThelittleovationsraisedLucieninhisowneyes,andtaughthimtoknowhispower.Ateleveno'clockthepairarrivedatthePanorama-Dramatique;
　　Lucienwithacarelessairthatworkedwonders.Nathanwasthere.
　　Nathanheldoutahand,whichLuciensqueezed.
　　"Ah!mymasters,soyouhaveamindtofloorme,haveyou?"saidNathan,lookingfromonetotheother.
　　"Justyouwaittillto-morrow,mydearfellow,andyoushallseehowLucienhastakenyouinhand.Uponmyword,youwillbepleased.A
　　pieceofseriouscriticismlikethatissuretodoabookgood."
　　Lucienreddenedwithconfusion.
　　"Isitsevere?"inquiredNathan.
　　"Itisserious,"saidLousteau.
　　"Thenthereisnoharmdone,"Nathanrejoined."HectorMerlininthegreenroomoftheVaudevillewassayingthatIhadbeencutup."
　　"Lethimtalk,andwait,"criedLucien,andtookrefugeinCoralie'sdressing-room.Coralie,inheralluringcostume,hadjustcomeoffthestage.
　　Nextmorning,asLucienandCoraliesatatbreakfast,acarriagedrovealongtheRuedeVendome.Thestreetwasquietenough,sothattheycouldhearthelightsoundmadebyanelegantcabriolet;andtherewasthatinthepaceofthehorse,andthemannerofpullingupatthedoor,whichtellsunmistakablyofathoroughbred.Lucienwenttothewindow,andthere,infact,beheldasplendidEnglishhorse,andnolessapersonthanDauriatflingingthereinstohismanashesteppeddown.
　　"'Tisthepublisher,Coralie,"saidLucien.
　　"Lethimwait,Berenice,"Coraliesaidatonce.
　　Luciensmiledatherpresenceofmind,andkissedherwithagreatrushoftenderness.Thismeregirlhadmadehisinterestshersinawonderfulway;shewasquick-wittedwherehewasconcerned.Theapparitionoftheinsolentpublisher,thesuddenandcompletecollapseofthatprinceofcharlatans,wasduetocircumstancesalmostentirelyforgotten,soutterlyhasthebooktradechangedduringthelastfifteenyears.
　　From1816to1827,whennewspaperreading-roomswereonlyjustbeginningtolendnewbooks,thefiscallawpressedmoreheavilythaneveruponperiodicalpublications,andnecessitycreatedtheinventionofadvertisements.Paragraphsandarticlesinthenewspapersweretheonlymeansofadvertisementknowninthosedays;andFrenchnewspapersbeforetheyear1822weresosmall,thatthelargestsheetofthosetimeswasnotsolargeasthesmallestdailypaperofours.DauriatandLadvocat,thefirstpublisherstomakeastandagainstthetyrannyofjournalists,werealsothefirsttousetheplacardswhichcaughttheattentionofParisbystrangetype,strikingcolors,vignettes,andatalatertimebylithographillustrations,tillaplacardbecameafairy-talefortheeyes,andnotunfrequentlyasnareforthepurseoftheamateur.SomuchoriginalityindeedwasexpendedonplacardsinParis,thatoneofthatpeculiarkindofmaniacs,knownasacollector,possessesacompleteseries.
　　Atfirsttheplacardwasconfinedtotheshop-windowsandstallsupontheBoulevardsinParis;afterwardsitspreadalloverFrance,tillitwassupplantedtosomeextentbyareturntoadvertisementsinthenewspapers.Buttheplacard,nevertheless,whichcontinuestostriketheeye,aftertheadvertisementandthebookwhichisadvertisedarebothforgotten,willalwaysbeamongus;ittookanewleaseoflifewhenwallswereplasteredwithposters.
　　Newspaperadvertising,theoffspringofheavystampduties,ahighrateofpostage,andtheheavydepositsofcaution-moneyrequiredbythegovernmentassecurityforgoodbehavior,iswithinthereachofallwhocaretopayforit,andhasturnedthefourthpageofeveryjournalintoaharvestfieldalikeforthespeculatorandtheInlandRevenueDepartment.ThepressrestrictionswereinventedinthetimeofM.deVillele,whohadachance,ifhehadbutknownit,ofdestroyingthepowerofjournalismbyallowingnewspaperstomultiplytillnoonetookanynoticeofthem;buthemissedhisopportunity,andasortofprivilegewascreated,asitwere,bythealmostinsuperabledifficultiesputinthewayofstartinganewventure.So,in1821,theperiodicalpressmightbesaidtohavepoweroflifeanddeathoverthecreationsofthebrainandthepublishingtrade.Afewlinesamongtheitemsofnewscostafearfulamount.Intriguesweremultipliedinnewspaperoffices;andofanightwhenthecolumnsweredividedup,andthisorthatarticlewasputinorleftouttosuitthespace,theprinting-roombecameasortofbattlefield;somuchso,thatthelargestpublishingfirmshadwritersintheirpaytoinsertshortarticlesinwhichmanyideasareputinlittlespace.Obscurejournalistsofthisstampwereonlypaidaftertheinsertionoftheitems,andnotunfrequentlyspentthenightintheprinting-officetomakesurethattheircontributionswerenotomitted;sometimesputtinginalongarticle,obtainedheavenknowshow,sometimesafewlinesofapuff.
　　Themannersandcustomsofjournalismandofthepublishinghouseshavesincechangedsomuch,thatmanypeoplenowadayswillnotbelievewhatimmenseeffortsweremadebywritersandpublishersofbookstosecureanewspaperpuff;themartyrsofglory,andallthosewhoarecondemnedtothepenalservitudeofalife-longsuccess,werereducedtosuchshifts,andstoopedtodepthsofbriberyandcorruptionasseemfabulousto-day.Everykindofpersuasionwasbroughttobearonjournalists——dinners,flattery,andpresents.Thefollowingstorywillthrowmorelightonthecloseconnectionbetweenthecriticandthepublisherthananyquantityofflatassertions.
　　Therewasonceuponatimeaneditorofanimportantpaper,acleverwriterwithaprospectofbecomingastatesman;hewasyounginthosedays,andfondofpleasure,andhebecamethefavoriteofawell-knownpublishinghouse.OneSundaythewealthyheadofthefirmwasentertainingseveraloftheforemostjournalistsofthetimeinthecountry,andthemistressofthehouse,thenayoungandprettywoman,wenttowalkinherparkwiththeillustriousvisitor.Thehead-clerkofthefirm,acool,steady,methodicalGermanwithnothingbutbusinessinhishead,wasdiscussingaprojectwithoneofthejournalists,andastheychattedtheywalkedonintothewoodsbeyondthepark.InamongthethicketstheGermanthoughthecaughtaglimpseofhishostess,putuphiseyeglass,madeasigntohisyoungcompaniontobesilent,andturnedback,steppingsoftly——"Whatdidyousee?"askedthejournalist——"Nothingparticular,"saidtheclerk.
　　"Ouraffairofthelongarticleissettled.To-morrowweshallhaveatleastthreecolumnsintheDebats."
　　Anotheranecdotewillshowtheinfluenceofasinglearticle.
　　AbookofM.deChateaubriand'sonthelastoftheStuartswasforsometimea"nightingale"onthebookseller'sshelves.AsinglearticleintheJournaldesDebatssoldtheworkinaweek.Inthosedays,whentherewerenolendinglibraries,apublisherwouldsellaneditionoftenthousandcopiesofabookbyaLiberalifitwaswellreviewedbytheOppositionpapers;butthentheBelgianpiratededitionswerenotasyet.
　　ThepreparatoryattacksmadebyLucien'sfriends,followedupbyhisarticleonNathan,provedefficacious;theystoppedthesaleofhisbook.Nathanescapedwiththemortification;hehadbeenpaid;hehadnothingtolose;butDauriatwasliketolosethirtythousandfrancs.
　　Thetradeinnewbooksmay,infact,besummedupmuchonthiswise.A
　　reamofblankpapercostsfifteenfrancs,areamofprintedpaperisworthanythingbetweenahundredsousandahundredcrowns,accordingtoitssuccess;afavorableorunfavorablereviewatacriticaltimeoftendecidesthequestion;andDauriathavingfivehundredreamsofprintedpaperonhand,hurriedtomaketermswithLucien.Thesultanwasnowtheslave.
　　Afterwaitingforsometime,fidgetingandmakingasmuchnoiseashecouldwhileparleyingwithBerenice,heatlastobtainedspeechofLucien;and,arrogantpublisherthoughhewas,hecameinwiththeradiantairofacourtierintheroyalpresence,mingled,however,withacertainself-sufficiencyandeasygoodhumor.
　　"Don'tdisturbyourselves,mylittledears!Hownicetheylook,justlikeapairofturtle-doves!Whowouldthinknow,mademoiselle,thathe,withthatgirl'sfaceofhis,couldbeatigerwithclawsofsteel,readytotearareputationtorags,justashetearsyourwrappers,I'llbebound,whenyouarenotquickenoughtounfastenthem,"andhelaughedbeforehehadfinishedhisjest.
　　"Mydearboy——"hebegan,sittingdownbesideLucien——
　　"Mademoiselle,IamDauriat,"hesaid,interruptinghimself.Hejudgeditexpedienttofirehisnameatherlikeapistolshot,forheconsideredthatCoraliewaslesscordialthansheshouldhavebeen.
　　"Haveyoubreakfasted,monsieur;willyoukeepuscompany?"askedCoralie.
　　"Why,yes;itiseasiertotalkattable,"saidDauriat."Besides,byacceptingyourinvitationIshallhavearighttoexpectyoutodinewithmyfriendLucienhere,forwemustbeclosefriendsnow,handandglove!"
　　"Berenice!Bringoysters,lemons,freshbutter,andchampagne,"saidCoralie.
　　"Youaretooclevernottoknowwhathasbroughtmehere,"saidDauriat,fixinghiseyesonLucien.
　　"Youhavecometobuymysonnets."
　　"Precisely.Firstofall,letuslaydownourarmsonbothsides."Ashespokehetookoutaneatpocketbook,drewfromitthreebillsforathousandfrancseach,andlaidthembeforeLucienwithasuppliantair."Ismonsieurcontent?"askedhe.
　　"Yes,"saidthepoet.Asenseofbeatitude,forwhichnowordsexist,floodedhissoulatthesightofthatunhopedwealth.Hecontrolledhimself,buthelongedtosingaloud,tojumpforjoy;hewasreadytobelieveinAladdin'slampandinenchantment;hebelievedinhisowngenius,inshort.
　　"ThentheMargueritesaremine,"continuedDauriat;"butyouwillundertakenottoattackmypublications,won'tyou?"
　　"TheMargueritesareyours,butIcannotpledgemypen;itisattheserviceofmyfriends,astheirsaremine."
　　"Butyouareoneofmyauthorsnow.Allmyauthorsaremyfriends.Soyouwon'tspoilmybusinesswithoutwarningmebeforehand,sothatI
　　amprepared,willyou?"
　　"Iagreetothat."
　　"Toyourfame!"andDauriatraisedhisglass.
　　"IseethatyouhavereadtheMarguerites,"saidLucien.
　　Dauriatwasnotdisconcerted.
　　"Myboy,apublishercannotpayagreatercomplimentthanbybuyingyourMargueritesunread.Insixmonths'timeyouwillbeagreatpoet.
　　Youwillbewrittenup;peopleareafraidofyou;Ishallhavenodifficultyinsellingyourbook.IamthesamemanofbusinessthatI
　　wasfourdaysago.ItisnotIwhohavechanged;itisYOU.Lastweekyoursonnetsweresomanycabbageleavesforme;to-dayyourpositionhasrankedthembesideDelavigne."
　　"Ahwell,"saidLucien,"ifyouhavenotreadmysonnets,youhavereadmyarticle."Withthesultan'spleasureofpossessingafairmistress,andthecertaintyofsuccess,hehadgrownsatiricalandadorablyimpertinentoflate.
　　"Yes,myfriend;doyouthinkIshouldhavecomehereinsuchahurrybutforthat?Thatterriblearticleofyoursisverywellwritten,worseluck.Oh!youhaveaverygreatgift,myboy.Takemyadviceandmakethemostofyourvogue,"headded,withgoodhumor,whichmaskedtheextremeinsolenceofthespeech."Buthaveyouyourselfacopyofthepaper?Haveyouseenyourarticleinprint?"
　　"Notyet,"saidLucien,"thoughthisisthefirstlongpieceofprosewhichIhavepublished;butHectorwillhavesentacopytomyaddressintheRueCharlot."
　　"Here——read!"criedDauriat,copyingTalma'sgestureinManlius.
　　LucientookthepaperbutCoraliesnatcheditfromhim.
　　"Thefirst-fruitsofyourpenbelongtome,asyouwellknow,"shelaughed.
　　Dauriatwasunwontedlycourtier-likeandcomplimentary.HewasafraidofLucien,andthereforeheaskedhimtoagreatdinnerwhichhewasgivingtoapartyofjournaliststowardstheendoftheweek,andCoraliewasincludedintheinvitation.HetooktheMargueritesawaywithhimwhenhewent,askingHISpoettolookinwhenhepleasedintheWoodenGalleries,andtheagreementshouldbereadyforhissignature.Dauriatneverforgottheroyalairswithwhichheendeavoredtooverawesuperficialobservers,andtoimpressthemwiththenotionthathewasaMaecenasratherthanapublisher;atthismomentheleftthethreethousandfrancs,wavingawayinlordlyfashionthereceiptwhichLucienoffered,kissedCoralie'shand,andtookhisdeparture.
　　"Well,dearlove,wouldyouhaveseenmanyofthesebitsofpaperifyouhadstoppedinyourholeintheRuedeCluny,prowlingaboutamongthemustyoldbooksintheBibliothequedeSainte-Genevieve?"askedCoralie,forsheknewthewholestoryofLucien'slifebythistime.
　　"ThoselittlefriendsofyoursintheRuedesQuatre-Ventsaregreatninnies,itseemstome."
　　Hisbrothersofthecenacle!AndLuciencouldheartheverdictandlaugh.
　　Hehadseenhimselfinprint;hehadjustexperiencedtheineffablejoyoftheauthor,thatfirstpleasurablethrillofgratifiedvanitywhichcomesbutonce.Thefullimportandbearingofhisarticlebecameapparenttohimashereadandre-readit.Thegarbofprintistomanuscriptasthestageistowomen;itbringsbeautiesanddefectstolight,killingandgivinglife;thefinethoughtsandthefaultsalikestareyouintheface.
　　Lucien,inhisexcitementandrapture,gavenotanotherthoughttoNathan.Nathanwasastepping-stoneforhim——thatwasall;andheLucienwashappyexceedingly——hethoughthimselfrich.ThemoneybroughtbyDauriatwasaveryPotosifortheladwhousedtogoaboutunnoticedthroughthestreetsofAngoulemeanddownthesteeppathintoL'HoumeautoPostel'sgarret,wherehiswholefamilyhadliveduponanincomeoftwelvehundredfrancs.ThepleasuresofhislifeinParismustinevitablydimthememoriesofthosedays;butsokeenwerethey,that,asyet,heseemedtobebackagaininthePlaceduMurier.
　　HethoughtofEve,hisbeautiful,noblesister,ofDavidhisfriend,andofhispoormother,andhesentBereniceouttochangeoneofthenotes.Whileshewenthewroteafewlinestohisfamily,andonthemaid'sreturnhesenthertothecoach-officewithapacketoffivehundredfrancsaddressedtohismother.Hecouldnottrusthimself;hewantedtosentthemoneyatonce;laterhemightnotbeabletodoit.
　　BothLucienandCoralielookeduponthisrestitutionasameritoriousaction.Coralieputherarmsaboutherloverandkissedhim,andthoughthimamodelsonandbrother;shecouldnotmakeenoughofhim,forgenerosityisatraitofcharacterwhichdelightsthesekindlycreatures,whoalwayscarrytheirheartsintheirhands.
　　"Wehaveadinnernoweverydayforaweek,"shesaid;"wewillmakealittlecarnival;youhaveworkedquitehardenough."
　　Coralie,faintodelightinthebeautyofamanwhomallotherwomenshouldenvyher,tookLucienbacktoStaub.Hewasnotdressedfinelyenoughforher.ThencetheloverswenttodriveintheBoisdeBoulogne,andcamebacktodineatMme.duVal-Noble's.Rastignac,Bixiou,desLupeaulx,Finot,Blondet,Vignon,theBarondeNucingen,Beaudenord,PhilippeBridau,Conti,thegreatmusician,alltheartistsandspeculators,allthemenwhoseekforviolentsensationsasarelieffromimmenselabors,gaveLucienawelcomeamongthem.AndLucienhadgainedconfidence;hegavehimselfoutintalkasthoughhehadnottolivebyhiswit,andwaspronouncedtobea"cleverfellow"
　　intheslangofthecoterieofsemi-comrades.
　　"Oh!wemustwaitandseewhathehasinhim,"saidTheodoreGaillard,apoetpatronizedbytheCourt,whothoughtofstartingaRoyalistpapertobeentitledtheReveilatalaterday.
　　Afterdinner,MerlinandLucien,CoralieandMme.duVal-Noble,wenttotheOpera,whereMerlinhadabox.Thewholepartyadjournedthither,andLucientriumphantreappeareduponthesceneofhisfirstseriouscheck.
　　Hewalkedinthelobby,arminarmwithMerlinandBlondet,lookingthedandieswhohadoncemademerryathisexpensebetweentheeyes.
　　Chateletwasunderhisfeet.HeclashedglanceswithdeMarsay,Vandenesse,andManerville,thebucksofthatday.AndindeedLucien,beautifulandelegantlyarrayed,hadcausedadiscussionintheMarquised'Espard'sbox;Rastignachadpaidalongvisit,andtheMarquiseandMme.deBargetonputuptheiropera-glassesatCoralie.
　　DidthesightofLuciensendapangofregretthroughMme.deBargeton'sheart?Thisthoughtwasuppermostinthepoet'smind.ThelongingforrevengearousedinhimbythesightoftheCorinneofAngoulemewasasfierceasonthatdaywhentheladyandhercousinhadcuthimintheChamps-Elysees.
　　"Didyoubringanamuletwithyoufromtheprovinces?"——ItwasBlondetwhomadethisinquirysomefewdayslater,whenhecalledateleveno'clockinthemorningandfoundthatLucienwasnotyetrisen——"Hisgoodlooksaremakingravagesfromcellartogarret,highandlow,"
　　continuedBlondet,kissingCoralieontheforehead."Ihavecometoenlistyou,dearfellow,"hecontinued,graspingLucienbythehand.
　　"Yesterday,attheItaliens,theComtessedeMontcornetaskedmetobringyoutoherhouse.Youwillnotgivearefusaltoacharmingwoman?Youmeetpeopleofthefirstfashionthere."
　　"IfLucienisnice,hewillnotgotoseeyourCountess,"putinCoralie."Whatcallisthereforhimtoshowhisfaceinfinesociety?
　　Hewouldonlybeboredthere."
　　"Haveyouavestedinterestinhim?Areyoujealousoffineladies?"
　　"Yes,"criedCoralie."Theyareworsethanweare."
　　"Howdoyouknowthat,mypet?"askedBlondet.
　　"Fromtheirhusbands,"retortedshe."YouareforgettingthatIoncehadsixmonthsofdeMarsay."
　　"Doyousuppose,child,that_I_amparticularlyanxioustotakesuchahandsomefellowasyourpoettoMme.deMontcornet'shouse?Ifyouobject,letusconsiderthatnothinghasbeensaid.ButIdon'tfancythatthewomenaresomuchinquestionasapoordevilthatLucienpilloriedinhisnewspaper;heisbeggingformercyandpeace.TheBaronduChateletisimbecileenoughtotakethethingseriously.TheMarquised'Espard,Mme.deBargeton,andMme.deMontcornet'ssethavetakenuptheHeron'scause;andIhaveundertakentoreconcilePetrarchandhisLaura——Mme.deBargetonandLucien."
　　"Aha!"criedLucien,theglowoftheintoxicationofrevengethrobbingfull-pulsedthrougheveryvein."Aha!somyfootisontheirnecks!
　　Youmakemeadoremypen,worshipmyfriends,bowdowntothefate-
　　dispensingpowerofthepress.IhavenotwrittenasinglesentenceasyetupontheHeronandtheCuttlefish-bone——Iwillgowithyou,myboy,"hecried,catchingBlondetbythewaist;"yes,Iwillgo;butfirst,thecoupleshallfeeltheweightofTHIS,forsolightasitis."HeflourishedthepenwhichhadwrittenthearticleuponNathan.
　　"To-morrow,"hecried,"Iwillhurlacoupleofcolumnsattheirheads.Then,weshallsee.Don'tbefrightened,Coralie,itisnotlovebutrevenge;revenge!AndIwillhaveittothefull!"
　　"Whatamanitis!"saidBlondet."Ifyoubutknew,Lucien,howraresuchexplosionsareinthisjadedParis,youmightappreciateyourself.Youwillbeapreciousscamp"theactualexpressionwasatriflestronger;"youareinafairwaytobeapowerintheland."
　　"Hewillgeton,"saidCoralie.
　　"Well,hehascomeagoodwayalreadyinsixweeks."
　　"Andifheshouldclimbsohighthathecanreachasceptrebytreadingoveracorpse,heshallhaveCoralie'sbodyforastepping-
　　stone,"saidthegirl.
　　"YouareapairofloversoftheGoldenAge,"saidBlondet——"I
　　congratulateyouonyourbigarticle,"headded,turningtoLucien.
　　"Therewerealotofnewthingsinit.Youarepastmaster!"
　　LousteaucalledwithHectorMerlinandVernou.Lucienwasimmenselyflatteredbythisattention.FelicienVernoubroughtahundredfrancsforLucien'sarticle;itwasfeltthatsuchacontributormustbewellpaidtoattachhimtothepaper.
　　Coralie,lookingroundatthechapterofjournalists,orderedinabreakfastfromtheCadranbleu,thenearestrestaurant,andaskedhervisitorstoadjourntoherhandsomelyfurnisheddining-roomwhenBereniceannouncedthatthemealwasready.Inthemiddleoftherepast,whenthechampagnehadgonetoallheads,themotiveofthevisitcameout.
　　"YoudonotmeantomakeanenemyofNathan,doyou?"askedLousteau.
　　"Nathanisajournalist,andhehasfriends;hemightplayyouanuglytrickwithyourfirstbook.YouhaveyourArcherofCharlesIX.tosell,haveyounot?WewentroundtoNathanthismorning;heisinaterribleway.Butyouwillsetaboutanotherarticle,andpuffpraiseinhisface."
　　"What!Aftermyarticleagainsthisbook,wouldyouhavemesay——"
　　beganLucien.
　　Thewholepartycuthimshortwithashoutoflaughter.
　　"Didyouaskhimtosupperherethedayafterto-morrow?"askedBlondet.
　　"Youarticlewasnotsigned,"addedLousteau."Felicien,notbeingquitesuchanewhandasyouare,wascarefultoputaninitialCatthebottom.Youcandothatnowwithallyourarticlesinhispaper,whichispureunadulteratedLeft.WeareallofusintheOpposition.
　　Felicienwastactfulenoughnottocompromiseyourfutureopinions.
　　Hector'sshopisRightCentre;youmightsignyourworkonitwithanL.Ifyoucutamanup,youdoitanonymously;ifyoupraisehim,itisjustaswelltoputyournametoyourarticle."
　　"Itisnotthesignaturesthattroubleme,"returnedLucien,"butI
　　cannotseeanythingtobesaidinfavorofthebook."
　　"Thendidyoureallythinkasyouwrote?"askedHector.
　　"Yes."
　　"Oh!Ithoughtyouwereclevererthanthat,youngster,"saidBlondet.
　　"No.Uponmyword,asIlookedatthatforeheadofyours,Icreditedyouwiththeomnipotenceofthegreatmind——thepowerofseeingbothsidesofeverything.Inliterature,myboy,everyideaisreversible,andnomancantakeuponhimselftodecidewhichistherightorwrongside.Everythingisbi-lateralinthedomainofthought.Ideasarebinary.JanusisafablesignifyingcriticismandthesymbolofGenius.TheAlmightyaloneistriform.WhatraisesMoliereandCorneilleabovetherestofusbutthefacultyofsayingonethingwithanAlcesteoranOctave,andanotherwithaPhilinteoraCinna?
　　RousseauwrotealetteragainstduelingintheNouvelleHeloise,andanotherinfavorofit.Whichofthetworepresentedhisownopinion?
　　willyouventuretotakeituponyourselftodecide?WhichofuscouldgivejudgementforClarissaorLovelace,HectororAchilles?WhowasHomer'shero?WhatdidRichardsonhimselfthink?Itisthefunctionofcriticismtolookataman'sworkinallitsaspects.Wedrawupourcase,inshort."
　　"Doyoureallysticktoyourwrittenopinions?"askedVernou,withasatiricalexpression."Why,weareretailersofphrases;thatishowwemakealivelihood.Whenyoutrytodoagoodpieceofwork——towriteabook,inshort——youcanputyourthoughts,yourselfintoit,andclingtoit,andfightforit;butasfornewspaperarticles,readto-dayandforgottento-morrow,theyareworthnothinginmyeyesbutthemoneythatispaidforthem.Ifyouattachanyimportancetosuchdrivel,youmightaswellmakethesignoftheCrossandinvokeheavenwhenyousitdowntowriteatradesman'scircular."
　　EveryoneapparentlywasastonishedatLucien'sscruples.Thelastragsoftheboyishconscienceweretornaway,andhewasinvestedwiththetogavirilisofjournalism.
　　"DoyouknowwhatNathansaidbywayofcomfortinghimselfafteryourcriticism?"askedLousteau.
　　"HowshouldIknow?"
　　"Nathanexclaimed,'Paragraphspassaway;butagreatworklives!'Hewillbeheretosupperintwodays,andhewillbesuretofallflatatyourfeet,andkissyourclaws,andswearthatyouareagreatman."
　　"Thatwouldbeafunnything,"wasLucien'scomment.
　　"FUNNY!"repeatedBlondet."Hecan'thelphimself."
　　"Iamquitewilling,myfriends,"saidLucien,onwhomthewinehadbeguntotakeeffect."ButwhatamItosay?"
　　"Ohwell,refuteyourselfinthreegoodcolumnsinMerlin'spaper.WehavebeenenjoyingthesightofNathan'swrath;wehavejustbeentellinghimthatheowesusnolittlegratitudeforgettingupahotcontroversythatwillsellhissecondeditioninaweek.Inhiseyesatthispresentmomentyouareaspy,ascoundrel,acaitiffwretch;
　　thedayafterto-morrowyouwillbeagenius,anuncommonlycleverfellow,oneofPlutarch'smen.Nathanwillhugyouandcallyouhisbestfriend.Dauriathasbeentoseeyou;youhaveyourthreethousandfrancs;youhaveworkedthetrick!NowyouwantNathan'srespectandesteem.Nobodyoughttobeletinexceptthepublisher.Wemustnotimmolateanyonebutanenemy.Weshouldnottalklikethisifitwereaquestionofsomeoutsider,someinconvenientpersonwhohadmadeanameforhimselfwithoutusandwasnotwanted;butNathanisoneofus.BlondetgotsomeonetoattackhimintheMercureforthepleasureofreplyingintheDebats.Forwhichreasonthefirsteditionwentoffatonce."
　　"Myfriends,uponmywordandhonor,Icannotwritetwowordsinpraiseofthatbook——"
　　"Youwillhaveanotherhundredfrancs,"interruptedMerlin."Nathanwillhavebroughtyouintenlouisd'or,tosaynothingofanarticlethatyoumightputinFinot'spaper;youwouldgetahundredfrancsforwritingthat,andanotherhundredfrancsfromDauriat——total,twentylouis."
　　"ButwhatamItosay?"
　　"Hereisyourwayoutofthedifficulty,"saidBlondet,aftersomethought."Saythattheenvythatfastensonallgoodwork,likewaspsonripefruit,hasattemptedtosetitsfangsinthisproduction.Thecaptiouscritic,tryinghisbesttofindfault,hasbeenobligedtoinventtheoriesforthatpurpose,andhasdrawnadistinctionbetweentwokindsofliterature——'theliteratureofideasandtheliteratureofimagery,'ashecallsthem.Ontheheadsofthat,youngster,saythattogiveexpressiontoideasthroughimageryisthehighestformofart.Trytoshowthatallpoetryissummedupinthat,andlamentthatthereissolittlepoetryinFrench;quoteforeigncriticismsontheunimaginativeprecisionofourstyle,andthenextolM.deCanalisandNathanfortheservicestheyhavedoneFrancebyinfusingalessprosaicspiritintothelanguage.Knockyourpreviousargumenttopiecesbycallingattentiontothefactthatwehavemadeprogresssincetheeighteenthcentury.Discoverthe'progress,'abeautifulwordtomystifythebourgeoispublic.Saythatthenewmethodsinliteratureconcentrateallstyles,comedyandtragedy,description,character-drawinganddialogues,inaseriesofpicturessetinthebrilliantframeofaplotwhichholdsthereader'sinterest.TheNovel,whichdemandssentiment,style,andimagery,isthegreatestcreationofmoderndays;itisthesuccessorofstagecomedygrownobsoletewithitsrestrictions.Factsandideasareallwithintheprovinceoffiction.Theintellectofanincisivemoralist,likeLaBruyere,thepoweroftreatingcharacterasMolierecouldtreatit,thegrandmachineryofaShakespeare,togetherwiththeportrayalofthemostsubtleshadesofpassiontheonetreasuryleftuntouchedbyourpredecessors——forallthisthemodernnovelaffordsfreescope.
　　Howfarsuperiorisallthistothecut-and-driedlogic-chopping,thecoldanalysistotheeighteenthcentury!——'TheNovel,'saysententiously,'istheEpicgrownamusing.'InstanceCorinne,bringMme.deStaeluptosupportyourargument.Theeighteenthcenturycalledallthingsinquestion;itisthetaskofthenineteenthtoconcludeandspeakthelastword;andthelastwordofthenineteenthcenturyhasbeenforrealities——realitieswhichlivehoweverandmove.
　　Passion,inshort,anelementunknowninVoltaire'sphilosophy,hasbeenbroughtintoplay.HereadiatribeagainstVoltaire,andasforRousseau,hischaractersarepolemicsandsystemsmasquerading.JulieandClaireareentelechies——informingspiritawaitingfleshandbones.
　　"Youmightslipoffonasideissueatthis,andsaythatweoweanewandoriginalliteraturetothePeaceandtheRestorationoftheBourbons,foryouarewritingforaRightCentrepaper.
　　"ScoffatFoundersofSystems.Andcrywithaglowoffineenthusiasm,'Hereareerrorsandmisleadingstatementsinabundanceinourcontemporary'swork,andtowhatend?Todepreciateafinework,todeceivethepublic,andtoarriveatthisconclusion——"Abookthatsells,doesnotsell."'Prohpudor!MindyouputProhpudor!'tisaharmlessexpletivethatstimulatesthereader'sinterest.Foreseetheapproachingdecadenceofcriticism,infact.Moral——'Thereisbutonekindofliterature,theliteraturewhichaimstoplease.Nathanhasstarteduponanewway;heunderstandshisepochandfulfilstherequirementsofhisage——thedemandfordrama,thenaturaldemandofacenturyinwhichthepoliticalstagehasbecomeapermanentpuppetshow.Havewenotseenfourdramasinascoreofyears——theRevolution,theDirectory,theEmpire,andtheRestoration?'Withthat,wallowindithyrambandeulogy,andthesecondeditionshallvanishlikesmoke.Thisisthewaytodoit.NextSaturdayputareviewinourmagazine,andsignit'deRubempre,'outinfull.
　　"Inthatfinalarticlesaythat'fineworkalwaysbringsaboutabundantcontroversy.ThisweeksuchandsuchapapercontainedsuchandsuchanarticleonNathan'sbook,andsuchanotherpapermadeavigorousreply.'Thenyoucriticisethecritics'C'and'L';paymeapassingcomplimentonthefirstarticleintheDebats,andendbyaverringthatNathan'sworkisthegreatbookoftheepoch;whichisallasifyousaidnothingatall;theysaythesameofeverythingthatcomesout.
　　"Andso,"continuedBlondet,"youwillhavemadefourhundredfrancsinaweek,tosaynothingofthepleasureofnowandagainsayingwhatyoureallythink.AdiscerningpublicwillmaintainthateitherCorL
　　orRubempreisintherightofit,ormayhapallthethree.Mythology,beyonddoubtoneofthegrandestinventionsofthehumanbrain,placesTruthatthebottomofawell;andwhatarewetodowithoutbuckets?
　　Youwillhavesuppliedthepublicwiththreeforone.Thereyouare,myboy,Goahead!"
　　Lucien'sheadwasswimmingwithbewilderment.Blondetkissedhimonbothcheeks.
　　"Iamgoingtomyshop,"saidhe.Andeverymanlikewisedepartedtohisshop.Forthese"hommesforts,"anewspaperofficewasnothingbutashop.
　　TheyweretomeetagainintheeveningattheWoodenGalleries,andLucienwouldsignhistreatyofpeacewithDauriat.FlorineandLousteau,LucienandCoralie,BlondetandFinot,weretodineatthePalais-Royal;duBruelwasgivingthemanagerofthePanorama-
　　Dramatiqueadinner.
　　"Theyareright,"exclaimedLucien,whenhewasalonewithCoralie.
　　"Menaremadetobetoolsinthehandsofstrongerspirits.Fourhundredfrancsforthreearticles!Doguereauwouldscarcelygivemeasmuchforabookwhichcostmetwoyearsofwork."
　　"Writecriticism,"saidCoralie,"haveagoodtime!Lookatme,IamanAndalusiangirlto-night,to-morrowImaybeagypsy,andamanthenightafter.DoasIdo,givethemgrimacesfortheirmoney,andletuslivehappily."
　　Lucien,smittenwithloveofParadox,sethimselftomountandridethatunrulyhybridproductofPegasusandBalaam'sass;startedoutatagallopoverthefieldsofthoughtwhilehetookaturnintheBois,anddiscoverednewpossibilitiesinBlondet'soutline.
　　Hedinedashappypeopledine,andsignedawayallhisrightsintheMarguerites.Itneveroccurredtohimthatanytroublemightarisefromthattransactioninthefuture.Hetookaturnofworkattheoffice,wroteoffacoupleofcolumns,andcamebacktotheRuedeVendome.Nextmorninghefoundthegermsofyesterday'sideashadsprungupanddevelopedinhisbrain,asideasdevelopwhiletheintellectisyetunjadedandthesapisrising;andthoroughlydidheenjoytheprojectionofthisnewarticle.Hethrewhimselfintoitwithenthusiasm.Atthesummonsofthespiritofcontradiction,newcharmsmetbeneathhispen.Hewaswittyandsatirical,herosetoyetnewviewsofsentiment,ofideasandimageryinliterature.Withsubtleingenuity,hewentbacktohisownfirstimpressionsofNathan'swork,whenhereaditinthenewsroomoftheCourduCommerce;andtheruthless,bloodthirstycritic,thelivelymocker,becameapoetinthefinalphraseswhichroseandfellwithmajesticrhythmliketheswayingcenserbeforethealtar.
　　"Onehundredfrancs,Coralie!"criedhe,holdingupeightsheetsofpapercoveredwithwritingwhileshedressed.
　　Themoodwasuponhim;hewentontoindite,strokebystroke,thepromisedterriblearticleonChateletandMme.deBargeton.Thatmorningheexperiencedoneofthekeenestpersonalpleasuresofjournalism;heknewwhatitwastoforgetheepigram,towhetandpolishthecoldbladetobesheathedinavictim'sheart,tomakeofthehiltacunningpieceofworkmanshipforthereadertoadmire.Forthepublicadmiresthehandle,thedelicateworkofthebrain,whilethecrueltyisnotapparent;howshouldthepublicknowthatthesteeloftheepigram,temperedinthefireofrevenge,hasbeenplungeddeftly,torankleintheveryquickofavictim'svanity,andisreekingfromwoundsinnumerablewhichithasinflicted?Itisahideousjoy,thatgrim,solitarypleasure,relishedwithoutwitnesses;
　　itislikeaduelwithanabsentenemy,slainatadistancebyaquill;ajournalistmightreallypossessthemagicalpoweroftalismansinEasterntales.Epigramisdistilledrancor,thequintessenceofahatederivedfromalltheworstpassionsofman,evenasloveconcentratesallthatisbestinhumannature.Themandoesnotexistwhocannotbewittytoavengehimself;and,bythesamerule,thereisnotonetowhomlovedoesnotbringdelight.CheapandeasyasthiskindofwitmaybeinFrance,itisalwaysrelished.
　　Lucien'sarticlewasdestinedtoraisethepreviousreputationofthepaperforvenomousspiteandevil-speaking.Hisarticleprobedtwoheartstothedepths;itdealtagrievouswoundtoMme.deBargeton,hisLauraofolddays,aswellastohisrival,theBaronduChatelet.
　　"Well,letusgoforadriveintheBois,"saidCoralie,"thehorsesarefidgeting.Thereisnoneedtokillyourself."
　　"WewilltakethearticleonNathantoHector.JournalismisreallyverymuchlikeAchilles'lance,itsalvesthewoundsthatitmakes,"
　　saidLucien,correctingaphrasehereandthere.
　　TheloversstartedforthinsplendortoshowthemselvestothePariswhichhadbutlatelygivenLucienthecoldshoulder,andnowwasbeginningtotalkabouthim.TohaveParistalkingofyou!andthisafteryouhavelearnedhowlargethegreatcityis,howharditistobeanybodythere——itwasthisthoughtthatturnedLucien'sheadwithexultation.
　　"Letusgobywayofyourtailor's,dearboy,andtellhimtobequickwithyourclothes,ortrythemoniftheyareready.Ifyouaregoingtoyourfineladies'houses,youshalleclipsethatmonsterofadeMarsayandyoungRastignacandanyAjuda-PintoorMaximedeTraillesorVandenesseofthemall.RememberthatyourmistressisCoralie!Butyouwillnotplaymeanytricks,eh?"
　　Twodaysafterwards,ontheeveofthesupper-partyatCoralie'shouse,therewasanewplayattheAmbigu,anditfelltoLucientowritethedramaticcriticism.LucienandCoraliewalkedtogetherafterdinnerfromtheRuedeVendometothePanorama-Dramatique,goingalongtheCafeTurcsideoftheBoulevardduTemple,aloungemuchfrequentedatthattime.Peoplewonderedathisluck,andpraisedCoralie'sbeauty.Chanceremarksreachedhisears;somesaidthatCoraliewasthefinestwomaninParis,othersthatLucienwasamatchforher.Theromanticyouthfeltthathewasinhisatmosphere.Thiswasthelifeforhim.Thebrotherhoodwassofarawaythatitwasalmostoutofsight.Onlytwomonthsago,howhehadlookeduptothoseloftygreatnatures;nowheaskedhimselfiftheywerenotjustatrifleridiculouswiththeirnotionsandtheirPuritanism.Coralie'scarelesswordshadlodgedinLucien'smind,andbegunalreadytobearfruit.HetookCoralietoherdressing-room,andstrolledaboutlikeasultanbehindthescenes;theactressesgavehimburningglancesandflatteringspeeches.
　　"ImustgototheAmbiguandattendtobusiness,"saidhe.