"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,"ashecallsithavenotsearedakindheart.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,andassureyouthatyouaremoreinmythoughtsandinmyprayersalas!thanthosewhomIseedaily;
　　forsomehearts,theabsentarealwaysintheright,andsoitiswiththeheartofyourmother."
　　Sotwodaysaftertheloanwasofferedsograciously,Lucienrepaidit.Perhapslifehadneverseemedsobrighttohimasatthatmoment;
　　butthetouchofself-loveinhisjoydidnotescapethedelicatesensibilityandsearchingeyesofhisfriends.
　　"Anyonemightthinkthatyouwereafraidtooweusanything,"
　　exclaimedFulgence.
　　"Oh!thepleasurethathetakesinreturningthemoneyisaveryserioussymptomtomymind,"saidMichelChrestien."Itconfirmssomeobservationsofmyown.ThereisaspiceofvanityinLucien."
　　"Heisapoet,"saidd'Arthez.