byHonoredeBalzacTranslatedbyClaraBellandothersDEDICATION
ToHisHighnessCountWilliamofWurtemberg，asatokenoftheAuthor’srespectfulgratitude。
DEBALZAC。
Z。MARCAS
Ineversawanybody，notevenamongthemostremarkablemenoftheday，whoseappearancewassostrikingasthisman’s；thestudyofhiscountenanceatfirstgavemeafeelingofgreatmelancholy，andatlastproducedanalmostpainfulimpression。
Therewasacertainharmonybetweenthemanandhisname。TheZ。
precedingMarcas，whichwasseenontheaddressesofhisletters，andwhichheneveromittedfromhissignature，asthelastletterofthealphabet，suggestedsomemysteriousfatality。
MARCAS！saythistwo—syllablednameagainandagain；doyounotfeelasifithadsomesinistermeaning？Doesitnotseemtoyouthatitsownermustbedoomedtomartyrdom？Thoughforeign，savage，thenamehasarighttobehandeddowntoposterity；itiswellconstructed，easilypronounced，andhasthebrevitythatbeseemsafamousname。Isitnotpleasantaswellasodd？Butdoesitnotsoundunfinished？
Iwillnottakeituponmyselftoassertthatnameshavenoinfluenceonthedestinyofmen。Thereisacertainsecretandinexplicableconcordoravisiblediscordbetweentheeventsofaman’slifeandhisnamewhichistrulysurprising；oftensomeremotebutveryrealcorrelationisrevealed。Ourglobeisround；everythingislinkedtoeverythingelse。Somedayperhapsweshallreverttotheoccultsciences。
DoyounotdiscerninthatletterZanadverseinfluence？Doesitnotprefigurethewaywardandfantasticprogressofastorm—tossedlife？
Whatwindblewonthatletter，which，whateverlanguagewefinditin，beginsscarcelyfiftywords？Marcas’namewasZephirin；SaintZephirinishighlyveneratedinBrittany，andMarcaswasaBreton。
Studythenameoncemore:ZMarcas！Theman’swholelifeliesinthisfantasticjuxtapositionofsevenletters；seven！themostsignificantofallthecabalisticnumbers。Andhediedatfive—and—thirty，sohislifeextendedoversevenlustres。
Marcas！Doesitnothintofsomepreciousobjectthatisbrokenwithafall，withorwithoutacrash？
IhadfinishedstudyingthelawinParisin1836。IlivedatthattimeintheRueCorneilleinahousewherenonebutstudentscametolodge，oneofthoselargehouseswherethereisawindingstaircasequiteatthebacklightedbelowfromthestreet，higherupbyborrowedlights，andatthetopbyaskylight。Therewerefortyfurnishedrooms——
furnishedasstudents’roomsare！Whatdoesyouthdemandmorethanwasheresupplied？Abed，afewchairs，achestofdrawers，alooking—
glass，andatable。Assoonastheskyisbluethestudentopenshiswindow。
Butinthisstreettherearenofairneighborstoflirtwith。InfrontistheOdeon，longsinceclosed，presentingawallthatisbeginningtogoblack，itstinygallerywindowsanditsvastexpanseofslateroof。Iwasnotrichenoughtohaveagoodroom；Iwasnotevenrichenoughtohavearoomtomyself。JusteandIsharedadouble—beddedroomonthefifthfloor。
Onoursideofthelandingtherewerebuttworooms——oursandasmallerone，occupiedbyZ。Marcas，ourneighbor。ForsixmonthsJusteandIremainedinperfectignoranceofthefact。Theoldwomanwhomanagedthehousehadindeedtoldusthattheroomwasinhabited，butshehadaddedthatweshouldnotbedisturbed，thattheoccupantwasexceedinglyquiet。Infact，forthosesixmonths，wenevermetourfellow—lodger，andweneverheardasoundinhisroom，inspiteofthethinnessofthepartitionthatdividedus——oneofthosewallsoflathandplasterwhicharecommoninParishouses。
Ourroom，alittleoversevenfeethigh，washungwithavilecheappaperspriggedwithblue。Thefloorwaspainted，andknewnothingofthepolishgivenbythe/frotteur’s/brush。Byourbedstherewasonlyascrapofthincarpet。Thechimneyopenedimmediatelytotheroof，andsmokedsoabominablythatwewereobligedtoprovideastoveatourownexpense。Ourbedsweremerepaintedwoodencribslikethoseinschools；onthechimneyshelftherewerebuttwobrasscandlesticks，withorwithouttallowcandlesinthem，andourtwopipeswithsometobaccoinapouchorstrewnabroad，alsothelittlepilesofcigar—
ashlefttherebyourvisitorsorourselves。
Apairofcalicocurtainshungfromthebrasswindowrods，andoneachsideofthewindowwasasmallbookcaseincherry—wood，suchaseveryoneknowswhohasstaredintotheshopwindowsoftheQuartierLatin，andinwhichwekeptthefewbooksnecessaryforourstudies。
Theinkintheinkstandwasalwaysinthestateoflavacongealedinthecraterofavolcano。MaynotanyinkstandnowadaysbecomeaVesuvius？Thepens，alltwisted，servedtocleanthestemsofourpipes；and，inoppositiontoallthelawsofcredit，paperwasevenscarcerthancoin。
Howcanyoungmenbeexpectedtostayathomeinsuchfurnishedlodgings？Thestudentsstudiedinthecafes，thetheatre，theLuxembourggardens，in/grisettes’/rooms，eveninthelawschools——
anywhereratherthanintheirhorriblerooms——horribleforpurposesofstudy，delightfulassoonastheywereusedforgossipingandsmokingin。Putaclothonthetable，andtheimpromptudinnersentinfromthebesteating—houseintheneighborhood——placesforfour——twooftheminpetticoats——showalithographofthis"Interior"totheveriestbigot，andshewillbeboundtosmile。
Wethoughtonlyofamusingourselves。Thereasonforourdissipationlayinthemostseriousfactsofthepoliticsofthetime。JusteandI
couldnotseeanyroomforusinthetwoprofessionsourparentswishedustotakeup。Thereareahundreddoctors，ahundredlawyers，foronethatiswanted。Thecrowdischokingthesetwopathswhicharesupposedtoleadtofortune，butwhicharemerelytwoarenas；menkilleachotherthere，fighting，notindeedwithswordsorfire—arms，butwithintrigueandcalumny，withtremendoustoil，campaignsinthesphereoftheintellectasmurderousasthoseinItalyweretothesoldiersoftheRepublic。Inthesedays，wheneverythingisanintellectualcompetition，amanmustbeabletositforty—eighthoursonendinhischairbeforeatable，asaGeneralcouldremainfortwodaysonhorsebackandinhissaddle。
ThethrongofaspirantshasnecessitatedadivisionoftheFacultyofMedicineintocategories。Thereisthephysicianwhowritesandthephysicianwhopractises，thepoliticalphysician，andthephysicianmilitant——fourdifferentwaysofbeingaphysician，fourclassesalreadyfilledup。Astothefifthclass，thatofphysicianswhosellremedies，thereissuchacompetitionthattheyfighteachotherwithdisgustingadvertisementsonthewallsofParis。
Inallthelawcourtstherearealmostasmanylawyersastherearecases。Thepleaderisthrownbackonjournalism，onpolitics，onliterature。Infact，theState，besiegedforthesmallestappointmentsunderthelaw，hasendedbyrequiringthattheapplicantsshouldhavesomelittlefortune。Thepear—shapedheadofthegrocer’ssonisselectedinpreferencetothesquareskullofamanoftalentwhohasnotasou。Workashewill，withallhisenergy，ayoungman，startingfromzero，mayattheendoftenyearsfindhimselfbelowthepointhesetoutfrom。Inthesedays，talentmusthavethegoodluckwhichsecuressuccesstothemostincapable；nay，more，ifitscornsthebasecompromiseswhichinsureadvancementtocrawlingmediocrity，itwillnevergeton。
Ifwethoroughlyknewourtime，wealsoknewourselves，andwepreferredtheindolenceofdreamerstoaimlessstir，easy—goingpleasuretotheuselesstoilwhichwouldhaveexhaustedourcourageandwornouttheedgeofourintelligence。Wehadanalyzedsociallifewhilesmoking，laughing，andloafing。But，thoughelaboratedbysuchmeansasthese，ourreflectionswerenonethelessjudiciousandprofound。
Whilewewerefullyconsciousoftheslaverytowhichyouthiscondemned，wewereamazedatthebrutalindifferenceoftheauthoritiestoeverythingconnectedwithintellect，thought，andpoetry。HowoftenhaveJusteandIexchangedglanceswhenreadingthepapersaswestudiedpoliticalevents，orthedebatesintheChamber，anddiscussedtheproceedingsofaCourtwhosewilfulignorancecouldfindnoparallelbutintheplatitudeofthecourtiers，themediocrityofthemenformingthehedgeroundthenewly—restoredthrone，allalikedevoidoftalentorbreadthofview，ofdistinctionorlearning，ofinfluenceordignity！
CouldtherebeahighertributetotheCourtofCharlesX。thanthepresentCourt，ifCourtitmaybecalled？Whatahatredofthecountrymaybeseeninthenaturalizationofvulgarforeigners，devoidoftalent，whoareenthronedintheChamberofPeers！Whataperversionofjustice！Whataninsulttothedistinguishedyouth，theambitionsnativetothesoilofFrance！Welookeduponthesethingsasuponaspectacle，andgroanedoverthem，withouttakinguponourselvestoact。
Juste，whomnooneeversought，andwhoneversoughtanyone，was，atfive—and—twenty，agreatpolitician，amanwithawonderfulaptitudeforapprehendingthecorrelationbetweenremotehistoryandthefactsofthepresentandofthefuture。In1831，hetoldmeexactlywhatwouldanddidhappen——themurders，theconspiracies，theascendencyoftheJews，thedifficultyofdoinganythinginFrance，thescarcityoftalentinthehighercircles，andtheabundanceofintellectinthelowestranks，wherethefinestcourageissmotheredundercigarashes。
Whatwastobecomeofhim？Hisparentswishedhimtobeadoctor。Butifhewereadoctor，musthenotwaittwentyyearsforapractice？Youknowwhathedid？No？Well，heisadoctor；butheleftFrance，heisinAsia。Atthismomentheisperhapssinkingunderfatigueinadesert，ordyingofthelashesofabarbaroushorde——orperhapsheissomeIndianprince’sprimeminister。
Actionismyvocation。Leavingacivilcollegeattheageoftwenty，theonlywayformetoenterthearmywasbyenlistingasacommonsoldier；so，wearyofthedismaloutlookthatlaybeforealawyer，I
acquiredtheknowledgeneededforasailor。IimitateJuste，andkeepoutofFrance，wheremenwaste，inthestruggletomakeway，theenergyneededforthenoblestworks。Followmyexample，friends；Iamgoingwhereamansteershisdestinyashepleases。
Thesegreatresolutionswereformedinthelittleroominthelodging—
houseintheRueCorneille，inspiteofourhauntingtheBalMusard，flirtingwithgirlsofthetown，andleadingacarelessandapparentlyrecklesslife。Ourplansandargumentslongfloatedintheair。
Marcas，ourneighbor，wasinsomedegreetheguidewholedustothemarginoftheprecipiceorthetorrent，whomadeussoundit，andshowedusbeforehandwhatourfatewouldbeifweletourselvesfallintoit。Itwashewhoputusonourguardagainstthetime—bargainsamanmakeswithpovertyunderthesanctionofhope，byacceptingprecarioussituationswhencehefightsthebattle，carriedalongbythedevioustideofParis——thatgreatharlotwhotakesyouuporleavesyoustranded，smilesorturnsherbackonyouwithequalreadiness，wearsoutthestrongestwillinvexatiouswaiting，andmakesmisfortunewaitonchance。
Atourfirstmeeting，Marcas，asitwere，dazzledus。Onourreturnfromtheschools，alittlebeforethedinner—hour，wewereaccustomedtogouptoourroomandremainthereawhile，eitherwaitingfortheother，tolearnwhethertherewereanychangeinourplansfortheevening。Oneday，atfouro’clock，JustemetMarcasonthestairs，andIsawhiminthestreet。ItwasinthemonthofNovember，andMarcashadnocloak；heworeshoeswithheavysoles，corduroytrousers，andabluedouble—breastedcoatbuttonedtothethroat，whichgaveamilitaryairtohisbroadchest，allthemoresobecauseheworeablackstock。Thecostumewasnotinitselfextraordinary，butitagreedwellwiththeman’smienandcountenance。
Myfirstimpressiononseeinghimwasneithersurprise，nordistress，norinterest，norpity，butcuriositymingledwithallthesefeelings。
Hewalkedslowly，withastepthatbetrayeddeepmelancholy，hisheadforwardwithastoop，butnotbentlikethatofaconscience—strickenman。Thathead，largeandpowerful，whichmightcontainthetreasuresnecessaryforamanofthehighestambition，lookedasifitwereloadedwiththought；itwasweightedwithgriefofmind，buttherewasnotouchofremorseinhisexpression。Astohisface，itmaybesummedupinaword。Acommonsuperstitionhasitthateveryhumancountenanceresemblessomeanimal。TheanimalforMarcaswasthelion。
Hishairwaslikeamane，hisnosewassortandflat；broadanddentedatthetiplikealion’s；hisbrow，likealion’s，wasstronglymarkedwithadeepmedianfurrow，dividingtwopowerfulbosses。Hishigh，hairycheek—bones，allthemoreprominentbecausehischeeksweresothin，hisenormousmouthandhollowjaws，wereaccentuatedbylinesoftawnyshadows。Thisalmostterriblecountenanceseemedilluminatedbytwolamps——twoeyes，blackindeed，butinfinitelysweet，calmanddeep，fullofthought。IfImaysayso，thoseeyeshadahumiliatedexpression。
Marcaswasafraidoflookingdirectlyatothers，notforhimself，butforthoseonwhomhisfascinatinggazemightrest；hehadapower，andheshunnedusingit；hewouldsparethosehemet，andhefearednotice。Thiswasnotfrommodesty，butfromresignationfoundedonreason，whichhaddemonstratedtheimmediateinutilityofhisgifts，theimpossibilityofenteringandlivinginthesphereforwhichhewasfitted。Thoseeyescouldattimesflashlightnings。Fromthoselipsavoiceofthundermustsurelyproceed；itwasamouthlikeMirabeau’s。
"Ihaveseensuchagrandfellowinthestreet，"saidItoJusteoncomingin。
"Itmustbeourneighbor，"repliedJuste，whodescribed，infact，themanIhadjustmet。"Amanwholiveslikeawood—lousewouldbesuretolooklikethat，"headded。
"Whatdejectionandwhatdignity！"
"Oneistheconsequenceoftheother。"
"Whatruinedhopes！Whatschemesandfailures！"
"Sevenleaguesofruins！Obelisks——palaces——towers！——TheruinsofPalmyrainthedesert！"saidJuste，laughing。
SowecalledhimtheRuinsofPalmyra。
Aswewentouttodineatthewretchedeating—houseintheRuedelaHarpetowhichwesubscribed，weaskedthenameofNumber37，andthenheardtheweirdnameZ。Marcas。Likeboys，aswewere，werepeateditmorethanahundredtimeswithallsortsofcomments，absurdormelancholy，andthenamelentitselftoajest。JustewouldfireofftheZlikearocketrising，/z—z—z—z—zed/；andafterpronouncingthefirstsyllableofthenamewithgreatimportance，depictedafallbythedullbrevityofthesecond。
"Now，howandwheredoesthemanlive？"
Fromthisquery，totheinnocentespionageofcuriositytherewasnopausebutthatrequiredforcarryingoutourplan。Insteadofloiteringaboutthestreets，webothcamein，eacharmedwithanovel。
Wereadwithourearsopen。Andintheperfectsilenceofouratticrooms，weheardtheeven，dullsoundofasleepingmanbreathing。
"Heisasleep，"saidItoJuste，noticingthisfact。
"Atseveno’clock！"repliedtheDoctor。
ThiswasthenamebywhichIcalledJuste，andhecalledmetheKeeperoftheSeals。
"Amanmustbewretchedindeedtosleepasmuchasourneighbor！"
criedI，jumpingontothechestofdrawerswithaknifeinmyhand，towhichacorkscrewwasattached。
Imadearoundholeatthetopofthepartition，aboutasbigasafive—soupiece。Ihadforgottenthattherewouldbenolightintheroom，andonputtingmyeyetothehole，Isawonlydarkness。Ataboutoneinthemorning，whenwehadfinishedourbooksandwereabouttoundress，weheardanoiseinourneighbor’sroom。Hegotup，struckamatch，andlightedhisdip。Igotontothedrawersagain，andIthensawMarcasseatedathistableandcopyinglaw—papers。
Hisroomwasabouthalfthesizeofours；thebedstoodinarecessbythedoor，forthepassageendedthere，anditsbreadthwasaddedtohisgarret；butthegroundonwhichthehousewasbuiltwasevidentlyirregular，fortheparty—wallformedanobtuseangle，andtheroomwasnotsquare。Therewasnofireplace，onlyasmallearthenwarestove，whiteblotchedwithgreen，ofwhichthepipewentupthroughtheroof。
Thewindow，intheskewsideoftheroom，hadshabbyredcurtains。Thefurnitureconsistedofanarmchair，atable，achair，andawretchedbed—table。Acupboardinthewallheldhisclothes。Thewall—paperwashorrible；evidentlyonlyaservanthadeverbeenlodgedtherebeforeMarcas。
"Whatistobeseen？"askedtheDoctorasIgotdown。
"Lookforyourself，"saidI。
Atninenextmorning，Marcaswasinbed。Hehadbreakfastedoffasaveloy；wesawonaplate，withsomecrumbsofbread，theremainsofthattoofamiliardelicacy。Hewasasleep；hedidnotwaketilleleven。Hethensettoworkagainonthecopyhehadbegunthenightbefore，whichwaslyingonthetable。
Ongoingdownstairsweaskedthepriceofthatroom，andweretoldfifteenfrancsamonth。
Inthecourseofafewdays，wewerefullyinformedastothemodeoflifeofZ。Marcas。Hedidcopying，atsomuchasheetnodoubt，foralaw—writerwholivedinthecourtyardoftheSainte—Chapelle。Heworkedhalfthenight；aftersleepingfromsixtillten，hebeganagainandwrotetillthree。Thenhewentouttotakethecopyhomebeforedinner，whichheateatMizerai’sintheRueMichel—le—Comte，atacostofninesous，andcameintobedatsixo’clock。ItbecameknowntousthatMarcasdidnotutterfifteensentencesinamonth；henevertalkedtoanybody，norsaidawordtohimselfinhisdreadfulgarret。
"TheRuinsofPalmyraareterriblysilent！"saidJuste。
Thistaciturnityinamanwhoseappearancewassoimposingwasstrangelysignificant。Sometimeswhenwemethim，weexchangedglancesfullofmeaningonbothsides，buttheyneverledtoanyadvances。
Insensiblythismanbecametheobjectofoursecretadmiration，thoughweknewnoreasonforit。Diditlieinhissecretlysimplehabits，hismonasticregularity，hishermit—likefrugality，hisidioticallymechanicallabor，allowinghismindtoremainneuterortoworkonhisownlines，seemingtoustohintatanexpectationofsomestrokeofgoodluck，oratsomeforegoneconclusionastohislife？
AfterwanderingforalongtimeamongtheRuinsofPalmyra，weforgotthem——wewereyoung！ThencametheCarnival，theParisCarnival，which，henceforth，willeclipsetheoldCarnivalofVenice，unlesssomeill—advisedPrefectofPoliceisantagonistic。
GamblingoughttobeallowedduringtheCarnival；butthestupidmoralistswhohavehadgamblingsuppressedareinertfinanciers，andthisindispensableevilwillbere—establishedamonguswhenitisprovedthatFranceleavesmillionsattheGermantables。
ThissplendidCarnivalbroughtustoutterpenury，asitdoeseverystudent。Wegotridofeveryobjectofluxury；wesoldoursecondcoats，oursecondboots，oursecondwaistcoats——everythingofwhichwehadaduplicate，exceptourfriend。Weatebreadandcoldsausages；welookedwherewewalked；wehadsettoworkinearnest。Weowedtwomonths’rent，andweresureofhavingabillfromtheporterforsixtyoreightyitemseach，andamountingtofortyorfiftyfrancs。Wemadenonoise，anddidnotlaughaswecrossedthelittlehallatthebottomofthestairs；wecommonlytookitataflyingleapfromtheloweststepintothestreet。Onthedaywhenwefirstfoundourselvesbereftoftobaccoforourpipes，itstruckusthatforsomedayswehadbeeneatingbreadwithoutanykindofbutter。
Greatwasourdistress。
"Notobacco！"saidtheDoctor。
"Nocloak！"saidtheKeeperoftheSeals。
"Ah，yourascals，youwoulddressasthepostilliondeLongjumeau，youwouldappearasDebardeurs，supinthemorning，andbreakfastatnightatVery’s——sometimesevenatthe/RocherdeCancale/。——Drybreadforyou，myboys！Why，"saidI，inabigbassvoice，"youdeservetosleepunderthebed，youarenotworthytolieinit——"
"Yes，yes；but，KeeperoftheSeals，thereisnomoretobacco！"saidJuste。
"Itishightimetowritehome，toouraunts，ourmothers，andoursisters，totellthemwehavenounderlinenleft，thatthewearandtearofPariswouldruingarmentsofwire。Thenwewillsolveanelegantchemicalproblembytransmutinglinenintosilver。"
"Butwemustlivetillwegettheanswer。"
"Well，Iwillgoandbringoutaloanamongsuchofourfriendsasmaystillhavesomecapitaltoinvest。"
"Andhowmuchwillyoufind？"
"Saytenfrancs！"repliedIwithpride。
Itwasmidnight。Marcashadheardeverything。Heknockedatourdoor。
"Messieurs，"saidhe，"hereissometobacco；youcanrepaymeonthefirstopportunity。"
Wewerestruck，notbytheoffer，whichweaccepted，butbytherich，deep，fullvoiceinwhichitwasmade；atoneonlycomparabletotheloweststringofPaganini’sviolin。Marcasvanishedwithoutwaitingforourthanks。
JusteandIlookedateachotherwithoutaword。Toberescuedbyamanevidentlypoorerthanourselves！Justesatdowntowritetoeverymemberofhisfamily，andIwentofftoeffectaloan。Ibroughtintwentyfrancslentmebyafellow—provincial。Inthatevilbuthappydaygamblingwasstilltolerated，andinitslodes，ashardastherockyoreofBrazil，youngmen，byriskingasmallsum，hadachanceofwinningafewgoldpieces。Myfriend，too，hadsomeTurkishtobaccobroughthomefromConstantinoplebyasailor，andhegavemequiteasmuchaswehadtakenfromZ。Marcas。Iconveyedthesplendidcargointoport，andwewentintriumphtorepayourneighborwithatawnywigofTurkishtobaccoforhisdark/Caporal/。
"Youaredeterminednottobemydebtors，"saidhe。"Youaregivingmegoldforcopper。——Youareboys——goodboys————"
Thesentences，spokeninvaryingtones，werevariouslyemphasized。Thewordswerenothing，buttheexpression！——Thatmadeusfriendsoftenyears’standingatonce。
Marcas，onhearinguscoming，hadcovereduphispapers；weunderstoodthatitwouldbetakingalibertytoalludetohismeansofsubsistence，andfeltashamedofhavingwatchedhim。Hiscupboardstoodopen；initthereweretwoshirts，awhitenecktieandarazor。
Therazormademeshudder。Alooking—glass，worthfivefrancsperhaps，hungnearthewindow。
Theman’sfewandsimplemovementshadasortofsavagegrandeur。TheDoctorandIlookedateachother，wonderingwhatwecouldsayinreply。Juste，seeingthatIwasspeechless，askedMarcasjestingly:
"Youcultivateliterature，monsieur？"
"Farfromit！"repliedMarcas。"Ishouldnotbesowealthy。"
"Ifancied，"saidI，"thatpoetryalone，inthesedays，wasamplysufficienttoprovideamanwithlodgingsasbadasours。"
MyremarkmadeMarcassmile，andthesmilegaveacharmtohisyellowface。
"Ambitionisnotalessseveretaskmastertothosewhofail，"saidhe。
"You，whoarebeginninglife，walkinthebeatenpaths。Neverdreamofrisingsuperior，youwillberuined！"
"Youadviseustostayjustasweare？"saidtheDoctor，smiling。
Thereissomethingsoinfectiousandchildlikeinthepleasantriesofyouth，thatMarcassmiledagaininreply。
"Whatincidentscanhavegivenyouthisdetestablephilosophy？"askedI。
"Iforgotoncemorethatchanceistheresultofanimmenseequationofwhichweknownotallthefactors。Whenwestartfromzerotoworkuptotheunit，thechancesareincalculable。ToambitiousmenParisisanimmenseroulettetable，andeveryyoungmanfancieshecanhitonasuccessfulprogressionofnumbers。"
HeofferedusthetobaccoIhadbroughtthatwemightsmokewithhim；
theDoctorwenttofetchourpipes；Marcasfilledhis，andthenhecametositinourroom，bringingthetobaccowithhim，sincetherewerebuttwochairsinhis。Juste，asbriskasasquirrel，ranout，andreturnedwithaboycarryingthreebottlesofBordeaux，someBriecheese，andaloaf。
"Hah！"saidItomyself，"fifteenfrancs，"andIwasrighttoasou。
Justegravelylaidfivefrancsonthechimney—shelf。
Thereareimmeasurabledifferencesbetweenthegregariousmanandthemanwholivesclosesttonature。ToussaintLouverture，afterhewascaught，diedwithoutspeakingaword。Napoleon，transplantedtoarock，talkedlikeamagpie——hewantedtoaccountforhimself。Z。
Marcaserredinthesameway，butforourbenefitonly。Silenceinallitsmajestyistobefoundonlyinthesavage。Thereisneveracriminalwho，thoughhemightlethissecretsfallwithhisheadintothebasketofsawdustdoesnotfeelthepurelysocialimpulsetotellthemtosomebody。
Nay，Iamwrong。WehaveseenoneIroquoisoftheFaubourgSaint—
MarceauwhoraisedtheParisiantothelevelofthenaturalsavage——arepublican，aconspirator，aFrenchman，anoldman，whooutdidallwehaveheardofNegrodetermination，andallthatCoopertellsusofthetenacityandcoolnessoftheRedskinsunderdefeat。Morey，theGuatimozinofthe"Mountain，"preservedanattitudeunparalleledintheannalsofEuropeanjustice。
ThisiswhatMarcastoldusduringthesmallhours，sandwichinghisdiscoursewithslicesofbreadspreadwithcheeseandwasheddownwithwine。Allthetobaccowasburnedout。NowandthenthehackneycoachesclatteringacrossthePlacedel’Odeon，ortheomnibusestoilingpast，sentuptheirdullrumbling，asiftoremindusthatPariswasstillclosetous。
HisfamilylivedatVitre；hisfatherandmotherhadfifteenhundredfrancsayearinthefunds。HehadreceivedaneducationgratisinaSeminary，buthadrefusedtoenterthepriesthood。Hefeltinhimselfthefiresofimmenseambition，andhadcometoParisonfootattheageoftwenty，thepossessoroftwohundredfrancs。Hehadstudiedthelaw，workinginanattorney’soffice，wherehehadrisentobesuperiorclerk。Hehadtakenhisdoctor’sdegreeinlaw，hadmasteredtheoldandmoderncodes，andcouldholdhisownwiththemostfamouspleaders。Hehadstudiedthelawofnations，andwasfamiliarwithEuropeantreatiesandinternationalpractice。Hehadstudiedmenandthingsinfivecapitals——London，Berlin，Vienna，Petersburg，andConstantinople。
NomanwasbetterinformedthanheastotherulesoftheChamber。Forfiveyearshehadbeenreporterofthedebatesforadailypaper。Hespokeextemporeandadmirably，andcouldgoonforalongtimeinthatdeep，appealingvoicewhichhadstruckustothesoul。Indeed，heprovedbythenarrativeofhislifethathewasagreatorator，aconciseorator，seriousandyetfullofpiercingeloquence；heresembledBerryerinhisfervorandintheimpetuswhichcommandsthesympathyofthemasses，andwaslikeThiersinrefinementandskill；
buthewouldhavebeenlessdiffuse，lessindifficultiesforaconclusion。Hehadintendedtoriserapidlytopowerwithoutburdeninghimselffirstwiththedoctrinesnecessarytobeginwith，foramaninopposition，butanincubuslatertothestatesman。