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