Lucien,followinghisfriend,wentsuddenlyoutofthelightedcorridorintotheblackdarknessofthepassagebetweenthehouseandthewings.Ashortflightofdampstepssurmounted,oneofthestrangestofallspectaclesopenedoutbeforetheprovincialpoet'seyes.Theheightoftheroof,theslendernessoftheprops,theladdershungwithArgandlamps,theatrociousuglinessofscenerybeheldatclosequarters,thethickpaintontheactors'faces,andtheiroutlandishcostumes,madeofsuchcoarsematerials,thestagecarpentersingreasyjackets,thefiremen,thestagemanagerstruttingaboutwithhishatonhishead,thesupernumerariessittingamongthehangingback-scenes,theropesandpulleys,theheterogeneouscollectionofabsurdities,shabby,dirty,hideous,andgaudy,wassomethingsoaltogetherdifferentfromthestageseenoverthefootlights,thatLucien'sastonishmentknewnobounds.Thecurtainwasjustabouttofallonagoodold-fashionedmelodramaentitledBertram,aplayadaptedfromatragedybyMaturinwhichCharlesNodier,togetherwithByronandSirWalterScott,heldinthehighestesteem,thoughtheplaywasafailureonthestageinParis.
　　"Keepatightholdofmyarm,unlessyouhaveamindtofallthroughatrap-door,orbringdownaforestonyourhead;youwillpulldownapalace,orcarryoffacottage,ifyouarenotcareful,"saidEtienne——
　　"IsFlorineinherdressing-room,mypet?"headded,addressinganactresswhostoodwaitingforhercue.
　　"Yes,love.Thankyouforthethingsyousaidaboutme.YouaresomuchnicersinceFlorinehascomehere."
　　"Come,don'tspoilyourentry,littleone.Quickwithyou,looksharp,andsay,'Stop,wretchedman!'nicely,fortherearetwothousandfrancsoftakings."
　　Lucienwasstruckwithamazementwhenthegirl'swholefacesuddenlychanged,andsheshrieked,"Stop,wretchedman!"acrythatfrozethebloodinyourveins.Shewasnolongerthesamecreature.
　　"Sothisisthestage,"hesaidtoLousteau.
　　"Itislikethebookseller'sshopintheWoodenGalleries,oraliterarypaper,"saidEtienneLousteau;"itisakitchen,neithermorenorless."
　　Nathanappearedatthismoment.
　　"Whatbringsyouhere?"inquiredLousteau.
　　"Why,IamdoingtheminortheatresfortheGazetteuntilsomethingbetterturnsup."
　　"Oh!cometosupperwithusthisevening;speakwellofFlorine,andI
　　willdoasmuchforyou."
　　"Verymuchatyourservice,"returnedNathan.
　　"Youknow;sheislivingintheRueduBondynow."
　　"Lousteau,dearboy,whoisthehandsomeyoungmanthatyouhavebroughtwithyou?"askedtheactress,nowreturnedtothewings.
　　"Agreatpoet,dear,thatwillhaveafamousnameoneofthesedays——
　　M.Nathan,ImustintroduceM.LuciendeRubempretoyou,asyouaretomeetagainatsupper."
　　"Youhaveagoodname,monsieur,"saidNathan.
　　"Lucien,M.RaoulNathan,"continuedEtienne.
　　"Ireadyourbooktwodaysago;and,uponmyword,Icannotunderstandhowyou,whohavewrittensuchabook,andsuchpoetry,canbesohumbletoajournalist."
　　"Waittillyourfirstbookcomesout,"saidNathan,andashrewdsmileflittedoverhisface.
　　"Isay!Isay!hereareUltrasandLiberalsactuallyshakinghands!"
　　criedVernou,spyingthetrio.
　　"InthemorningIholdtheviewsofmypaper,"saidNathan,"intheeveningIthinkasIplease;alljournalistsseedoubleatnight."
　　FelicienVernouturnedtoLousteau.
　　"Finotislookingforyou,Etienne;hecamewithme,and——hereheis!"
　　"Ah,bytheby,thereisnotaplaceinthehouse,isthere?"askedFinot.
　　"Youwillalwaysfindaplaceinourhearts,"saidtheactress,withthesweetestsmileimaginable.
　　"Isay,mylittleFlorville,areyoucuredalreadyofyourfancy?TheytoldmethataRussianprincehadcarriedyouoff."
　　"Whocarriesoffwomeninthesedays"saidFlorvilleshewhohadcried,"Stop,wretchedman!"."WestayedatSaint-Mandefortendays,andmyprincegotoffwithpayingtheforfeitmoneytothemanagement.
　　ThemanagerwillgodownonhiskneestoprayforsomemoreRussianprinces,"Florvillecontinued,laughing;"theforfeitmoneywassomuchcleargain."
　　"Andasforyou,child,"saidFinot,turningtoaprettygirlinapeasant'scostume,"wheredidyoustealthesediamondear-drops?HaveyouhookedanIndianprince?"
　　"No,ablackingmanufacturer,anEnglishman,whohasgoneoffalready.
　　Itisnoteverybodywhocanfindmillionaireshopkeepers,tiredofdomesticlife,whenevertheylike,asFlorinedoesandCoralie.Aren'ttheyjustlucky?"
　　"Florville,youwillmakeabadentry,"saidLousteau;"theblackinghasgonetoyourhead!"
　　"Ifyouwantasuccess,"saidNathan,"insteadofscreaming,'Heissaved!'likeaFury,walkonquitequietly,gotothestaircase,andsay,'Heissaved,'inachestvoice,likePasta's'Opatria,'inTancreda——There,goalong!"andhepushedhertowardsthestage.
　　"Itistoolate,"saidVernou,"theeffecthashungfire."
　　"Whatdidshedo?thehouseisapplaudinglikemad,"askedLousteau.
　　"Wentdownonherkneesandshowedherbosom;thatishergreatresource,"saidtheblacking-maker'swidow.
　　"Themanagerisgivingupthestageboxtous;youwillfindmetherewhenyoucome,"saidFinot,asLousteauwalkedoffwithLucien.
　　Atthebackofthestage,throughalabyrinthofsceneryandcorridors,thepairclimbedseveralflightsofstairsandreachedalittleroomonathirdfloor,NathanandFelicienVernoufollowingthem.
　　"Good-dayorgood-night,gentlemen,"saidFlorine.Then,turningtoashort,stoutmanstandinginacorner,"Thesegentlemenaretherulersofmydestiny,"shesaid,myfutureisintheirhands;buttheywillbeunderourtableto-morrowmorning,Ihope,ifM.Lousteauhasforgottennothing——"
　　"Forgotten!YouaregoingtohaveBlondetoftheDebats,"saidEtienne,"thegenuineBlondet,theveryBlondet——Blondethimself,inshort."
　　"Oh!Lousteau,youdearboy!stop,Imustgiveyouakiss,"andsheflungherarmsaboutthejournalist'sneck.Matifat,thestoutpersoninthecorner,lookedseriousatthis.
　　Florinewasthin;herbeauty,likeabud,gavepromiseoftheflowertocome;thegirlofsixteencouldonlydelighttheeyesofartistswhopreferthesketchtothepicture.Allthequicksubtletyofhercharacterwasvisibleinthefeaturesofthecharmingactress,whoatthattimemighthavesatforGoethe'sMignon.Matifat,awealthydruggistoftheRuedesLombards,hadimaginedthatalittleBoulevardactresswouldhavenoveryexpensivetastes,butinelevenmonthsFlorinehadcosthimsixtythousandfrancs.NothingseemedmoreextraordinarytoLucienthanthesightofanhonestandworthymerchantstandinglikeastatueofthegodTerminusintheactress'
　　narrowdressing-room,atinyplacesometenfeetsquare,hungwithaprettywall-paper,andadornedwithafull-lengthmirror,asofa,andtwochairs.Therewasafireplaceinthedressing-closet,acarpetonthefloor,andcupboardsallroundtheroom.AdresserwasputtingthefinishingtouchestoaSpanishcostume;forFlorinewastotakethepartofacountessinanimbroglio.
　　"ThatgirlwillbethehandsomestactressinParisinfiveyears'
　　time,"saidNathan,turningtoFelicienVernou.
　　"Bytheby,darlings,youwilltakecareofmeto-morrow,won'tyou?"
　　saidFlorine,turningtothethreejournalists."Ihaveengagedcabsforto-night,forIamgoingtosendyouhomeastipsyasShroveTuesday.Matifathassentinwines——oh!winesworthyofLouisXVIII.,andengagedthePrussianambassador'scook."
　　"Weexpectsomethingenormousfromthelookofthegentleman,"
　　remarkedNathan.
　　"AndheisquiteawarethatheistreatingthemostdangerousmeninParis,"addedFlorine.
　　MatifatwaslookinguneasilyatLucien;hefeltjealousoftheyoungman'sgoodlooks.
　　"ButhereissomeonethatIdonotknow,"Florinecontinued,confrontingLucien."WhichofyouhasimportedtheApolloBelvederefromFlorence?HeisascharmingasoneofGirodet'sfigures."
　　"Heisapoet,mademoiselle,fromtheprovinces.Iforgottopresenthimtoyou;youaresobeautifulto-nightthatyouputtheCompleteGuidetoEtiquetteoutofaman'shead——"
　　"Ishesorichthathecanaffordtowritepoetry?"askedFlorine.
　　"PoorasJob,"saidLucien.
　　"Itisagreattemptationforsomeofus,"saidtheactress.
　　Justthentheauthoroftheplaysuddenlyentered,andLucienbeheldM.duBruel,ashort,attenuatedyoungmaninanovercoat,acompositehumanblendofthejack-in-office,theownerofhouse-property,andthestockbroker.
　　"Florine,child,"saidthispersonage,"areyousureofyourpart,eh?
　　Noslipsofmemory,youknow.Andmindthatsceneinthesecondact,maketheironytell,bringoutthatsubtletouch;say,'Idonotloveyou,'justasweagreed."
　　"Whydoyoutakepartsinwhichyouhavetosaysuchthings?"askedMatifat.
　　Thedruggist'sremarkwasreceivedwithageneralshoutoflaughter.
　　"Whatdoesitmattertoyou,"saidFlorine,"solongasIdon'tsaysuchthingstoyou,greatstupid?——Oh!hisstupidityisthepleasureofmylife,"shecontinued,glancingatthejournalist."Uponmyword,Iwouldpayhimsomuchforeveryblunder,ifitwouldnotbetheruinofme."
　　"Yes,butyouwilllookatmewhenyousayit,asyoudowhenyouarerehearsing,anditgivesmeaturn,"remonstratedthedruggist.
　　"Verywell,then,IwilllookatmyfriendLousteauhere."
　　Abellrangoutsideinthepassage.
　　"Goout,allofyou!"criedFlorine;"letmereadmypartoveragainandtrytounderstandit."
　　LucienandLousteauwerethelasttogo.LousteausetakissonFlorine'sshoulder,andLucienheardhersay,"Notto-night.
　　Impossible.Thatstupidoldanimaltoldhiswifethathewasgoingoutintothecountry."
　　"Isn'tshecharming?"saidEtienne,astheycameaway.
　　"But——butthatMatifat,mydearfellow——"
　　"Oh!youknownothingofParisianlife,myboy.Somethingscannotbehelped.Supposethatyoufellinlovewithamarriedwoman,itcomestothesamething.Italldependsonthewaythatyoulookatit."
　　EtienneandLucienenteredthestage-box,andfoundthemanagertherewithFinot.Matifatwasintheground-floorboxexactlyoppositewithafriendofhis,asilk-mercernamedCamusotCoralie'sprotector,andaworthylittleoldsoul,hisfather-in-law.Allthreeofthesecitymenwerepolishingtheiropera-glasses,andanxiouslyscanningthehouse;certainsymptomsinthepitappearedtodisturbthem.Theusualheterogeneousfirst-nightelementsfilledtheboxes——journalistsandtheirmistresses,lorettesandtheirlovers,asprinklingofthedeterminedplaygoerswhonevermissafirstnightiftheycanhelpit,andaveryfewpeopleoffashionwhocareforthissortofsensation.
　　Thefirstboxwasoccupiedbytheheadofadepartment,towhomduBruel,makerofvaudevilles,owedasnuglittlesinecureintheTreasury.
　　LucienhadgonefromsurprisetosurprisesincethedinneratFlicoteaux's.FortwomonthsLiteraturehadmeantalifeofpovertyandwant;inLousteau'sroomhehadseenitatitscynicalworst;intheWoodenGallerieshehadmetLiteratureabjectandLiteratureinsolent.Thesharpcontrastsofheightsanddepths;ofcompromisewithconscience;ofsupremepowerandwantofprinciple;oftreacheryandpleasure;ofmentalelevationandbondage——allthismadehisheadswim,heseemedtobewatchingsomestrangeunheard-ofdrama.
　　Finotwastalkingwiththemanager."DoyouthinkduBruel'spiecewillpay?"heasked.
　　"DuBruelhastriedtodosomethinginBeaumarchais'style.Boulevardaudiencesdon'tcareforthatkindofthing;theylikeharrowingsensations;witisnotmuchappreciatedhere.EverythingdependsonFlorineandCoralieto-night;theyarebewitchinglyprettyandgraceful,wearveryshortskirts,anddanceaSpanishdance,andpossiblytheymaycarryoffthepiecewiththepublic.Thewholeaffairisagamblingspeculation.Afewclevernoticesinthepapers,andImaymakeahundredthousandcrowns,iftheplaytakes."
　　"Oh!come,itwillonlybeamoderatesuccess,Icansee,"saidFinot.
　　"Threeofthetheatreshavegotupaplot,"continuedthemanager;
　　"theywillevenhissthepiece,butIhavemadearrangementstodefeattheirkindintentions.Ihavesquaredthemenintheirpay;theywillmakeamuddleofit.AcoupleofcitymenyonderhavetakenahundredticketsapiecetosecureatriumphforFlorineandCoralie,andgiventhemtoacquaintancesableandreadytoactaschuckersout.Thefellows,havingbeenpaidtwice,willgoquietly,andasceneofthatsortalwaysmakesagoodimpressiononthehouse."
　　"Twohundredtickets!Whatinvaluablemen!"exclaimedFinot.
　　"Yes.WithtwomoreactressesashandsomelykeptasFlorineandCoralie,Ishouldmakesomethingoutofthebusiness."
　　ForthepasttwohoursthewordmoneyhadbeensoundinginLucien'searsasthesolutionofeverydifficulty.Inthetheatreasinthepublishingtrade,andinthepublishingtradeasinthenewspaper-
　　office——itwaseverywherethesame;therewasnotawordofartorofglory.Thesteadybeatofthegreatpendulum,Money,seemedtofalllikehammer-strokesonhisheartandbrain.Andyetwhiletheorchestraplayedtheoverture,whilethepitwasfullofnoisytumultofapplauseandhisses,unconsciouslyhedrewacomparisonbetweenthissceneandothersthatcameupinhismind.VisionsarosebeforehimofDavidandtheprinting-office,ofthepoetrythathecametoknowinthatatmosphereofpurepeace,whentogethertheybeheldthewondersofArt,thehighsuccessesofgenius,andvisionsofgloryborneonstainlesswings.Hethoughtoftheeveningsspentwithd'Arthezandhisfriends,andtearsglitteredinhiseyes.
　　"Whatisthematterwithyou?"askedEtienneLousteau.
　　"Iseepoetryfallenintothemire."
　　"Ah!youhavestillsomeillusionsleft,mydearfellow."
　　"IstherenothingforitbuttocringeandsubmittothickheadslikeMatifatandCamusot,asactressesbowdowntojournalists,andweourselvestothebooksellers?"
　　"Myboy,doyouseethatdull-brainedfellow?"saidEtienne,loweringhisvoice,andglancingatFinot."Hehasneithergeniusnorcleverness,butheiscovetous;hemeanstomakeafortuneatallcosts,andheisakeenmanofbusiness.Didn'tyouseehowhemadefortypercentoutofmeatDauriat's,andtalkedasifheweredoingmeafavor?——Well,hegetslettersfromnotafewunknownmenofgeniuswhogodownontheirkneestohimforahundredfrancs."
　　Thewordsrecalledthepen-and-inksketchthatlayonthetableintheeditor'sofficeandthewords,"Finot,myhundredfrancs!"Lucien'sinmostsoulshrankfromthemanindisgust.
　　"Iwouldsoonerdie,"hesaid.
　　"Soonerlive,"retortedEtienne.
　　Thecurtainrose,andthestage-managerwentofftothewingstogiveorders.FinotturnedtoEtienne.
　　"Mydearfellow,Dauriathaspassedhisword;Iamproprietorofone-
　　thirdofhisweeklypaper.Ihaveagreedtogivethirtythousandfrancsincash,onconditionthatIamtobeeditoranddirector.'Tisasplendidthing.BlondettoldmethattheGovernmentintendstotakerestrictivemeasuresagainstthepress;therewillbenonewpapersallowed;insixmonths'timeitwillcostamillionfrancstostartanewjournal,soIstruckabargainthoughIhaveonlytenthousandfrancsinhand.Listentome.Ifyoucansellone-halfofmyshare,thatisone-sixthofthepaper,toMatifatforthirtythousandfrancs,youshallbeeditorofmylittlepaperwithasalaryoftwohundredandfiftyfrancspermonth.Iwantinanycasetohavethecontrolofmyoldpaper,andtokeepmyholduponit;butnobodyneedknowthat,andyournamewillappearaseditor.Youwillbepaidattherateoffivefrancspercolumn;youneednotpaycontributorsmorethanthreefrancs,andyoukeepthedifference.Thatmeansanotherfourhundredandfiftyfrancspermonth.But,atthesametime,Ireservetherighttousethepapertoattackordefendmenorcauses,asIplease;andyoumayindulgeyourownlikesanddislikessolongasyoudonotinterferewithmyschemes.PerhapsImaybeaMinisterialist,perhapsUltra,Idonotknowyet;butImeantokeepupmyconnectionswiththeLiberalpartybelowthesurface.Icanspeakoutwithyou;youareagoodfellow.Imight,perhaps,giveyoutheChamberstodoforanotherpaperonwhichIwork;IamafraidIcanscarcelykeeponwithitnow.SoletFlorinedothisbitofjockeying;tellhertoputthescrewonherdruggist.IfIcan'tfindthemoneywithinforty-eighthours,Imustcryoffmybargain.Dauriatsoldanotherthirdtohisprinterandpaper-dealerforthirtythousandfrancs;sohehashisownthirdgratis,andtenthousandfrancstothegood,forheonlygavefiftythousandforthewholeaffair.Andinanotheryear'stimethemagazinewillbeworthtwohundredthousandfrancs,iftheCourtbuysitup;iftheCourthasthegoodsensetosuppressnewspapers,astheysay."
　　"Youarelucky,"saidLousteau.
　　"IfyouhadgonethroughallthatIhaveendured,youwouldnotsaythatofme.Ihadmyfillofmiseryinthosedays,yousee,andtherewasnohelpforit.Myfatherisahatter;hestillkeepsashopintheRueduCoq.Nothingbutmillionsofmoneyorasocialcataclysmcanopenoutthewaytomygoal;andofthetwoalternatives,Idon'tknownowthattherevolutionisnottheeasier.IfIboreyourfriend'sname,Ishouldhaveachancetogeton.Hush,herecomesthemanager.Good-bye,"andFinotrosetohisfeet,"IamgoingtotheOpera.Ishallverylikelyhaveaduelonmyhandsto-morrow,forI
　　haveputmyinitialstoaterrificattackonacoupleofdancersundertheprotectionoftwoGenerals.IamgivingitthemhotandstrongattheOpera."
　　"Aha?"saidthemanager.
　　"Yes.Theyarestingywithme,"returnedFinot,"nowcuttingoffabox,andnowdecliningtotakefiftysubscriptions.Ihavesentinmyultimatum;Imeantohaveahundredsubscriptionsoutofthemandaboxfourtimesamonth.Iftheytakemyterms,Ishallhaveeighthundredreadersandathousandpayingsubscribers,soweshallhavetwelvehundredwiththeNewYear."
　　"Youwillendbyruiningus,"saidthemanager.
　　"YOUarenotmuchhurtwithyourtensubscriptions.IhadtwogoodnoticesputintotheConstitutionnel."
　　"Oh!Iamnotcomplainingofyou,"criedthemanager.
　　"Good-byetillto-morrowevening,Lousteau,"saidFinot."YoucangivemeyouranswerattheFrancais;thereisanewpieceonthere;andasIshallnotbeabletowritethenotice,youcantakemybox.Iwillgiveyoupreference;youhaveworkedyourselftodeathforme,andI
　　amgrateful.FelicienVernouofferedtwentythousandfrancsforathirdshareofmylittlepaper,andtoworkwithoutasalaryforatwelvemonth;butIwanttobeabsolutemaster.Good-bye."
　　"HeisnotnamedFinot"finaud,slyboots"fornothing,"saidLucien.
　　"Heisagallows-birdthatwillgetonintheworld,"saidEtienne,carelesswhetherthewilyschemeroverheardtheremarkornot,asheshutthedoorofthebox.
　　"HE!"saidthemanager."Hewillbeamillionaire;hewillenjoytherespectofallwhoknowhim;hemayperhapshavefriendssomeday——"
　　"Goodheavens!whataden!"saidLucien."Andareyougoingtodragthatexcellentcreatureintosuchabusiness?"hecontinued,lookingatFlorine,whogavethemsideglancesfromthestage.
　　"Shewillcarryitthroughtoo.Youdonotknowthedevotionandthewilesofthesebelovedbeings,"saidLousteau.
　　"Theyredeemtheirfailingsandexpiatealltheirsinsbyboundlesslove,whentheylove,"saidthemanager."Agreatloveisallthegranderinanactressbyreasonofitsviolentcontrastwithhersurroundings."
　　"Andhewhofindsit,findsadiamondworthyoftheproudestcrownlyinginthemud,"returnedLousteau.
　　"ButCoralieisnotattendingtoherpart,"remarkedthemanager.
　　"Coralieissmittenwithourfriendhere,allunsuspiciousofhisconquest,andCoraliewillmakeafiasco;sheismissinghercues,thisisthesecondtimeshehadnotheardtheprompter.Pray,gointothecorner,monsieur,"hecontinued."IfCoralieissmittenwithyou,Iwillgoandtellherthatyouhaveleftthehouse."
　　"No!no!"criedLousteau;"tellCoraliethatthisgentlemaniscomingtosupper,andthatshecandoasshelikeswithhim,andshewillplaylikeMlle.Mars."
　　Themanagerwent,andLucienturnedtoEtienne."What!doyoumeantosaythatyouwillaskthatdruggist,throughMlle.Florine,topaythirtythousandfrancsforone-halfashare,whenFinotgavenomoreforthewholeofit?Andaskwithouttheslightestscruple?——"
　　LousteauinterruptedLucienbeforehehadtimetofinishhisexpostulation."Mydearboy,whatcountrycanyoucomefrom?Thedruggistisnotaman;heisastrongboxdeliveredintoourhandsbyhisfancyforanactress."
　　"Howaboutyourconscience?"
　　"Conscience,mydearfellow,isastickwhicheveryonetakesuptobeathisneighborandnotforapplicationtohisownback.Come,now!
　　whothedevilareyouangrywith?Inonedaychancehasworkedamiracleforyou,amiracleforwhichIhavebeenwaitingthesetwoyears,andyoumustneedsamuseyourselfbyfindingfaultwiththemeans?What!youappeartometopossessintelligence;youseemtobeinafairwaytoreachthatfreedomfromprejudicewhichisafirstnecessitytointellectualadventurersintheworldwelivein;andareyouwallowinginscruplesworthyofanunwhoaccusesherselfofeatinganeggwithconcupiscence?IfFlorinesucceeds,Ishallbeeditorofanewspaperwithafixedsalaryoftwohundredandfiftyfrancspermonth;IshalltaketheimportantplaysandleavethevaudevillestoVernou,andyoucantakemyplaceanddotheBoulevardtheatres,andsogetafootinthestirrup.Youwillmakethreefrancspercolumnandwriteacolumnaday——thirtycolumnsamonthmeansninetyfrancs;youwillhavesomesixtyfrancsworthofbookstoselltoBarbet;andlastly,youcandemandtenticketsamonthofeachofyourtheatres——thatis,fortyticketsinall——andsellthemforfortyfrancstoaBarbetwhodealsinthemIwillintroduceyoutotheman,soyouwillhavetwohundredfrancscomingineverymonth.ThenifyoumakeyourselfusefultoFinot,youmightgetahundredfrancsforanarticleinthisnewweeklyreviewofhis,inwhichcaseyouwouldshowuncommontalent,forallthearticlesaresigned,andyoucannotputinslip-shodworkasyoucanonasmallpaper.Inthatcaseyouwouldbemakingahundredcrownsamonth.Now,mydearboy,therearemenofability,likethatpoord'Arthez,whodinesatFlicoteaux'severyday,whomaywaitfortenyearsbeforetheywillmakeahundredcrowns;andyouwillbemakingfourthousandfrancsayearbyyourpen,tosaynothingofthebooksyouwillwriteforthetrade,ifyoudoworkofthatkind.
　　"Now,asub-prefect'ssalaryonlyamountstoathousandcrowns,andtherehestopsinhisarrondissement,wearingawaytimeliketherungofachair.Isaynothingofthepleasureofgoingtothetheatrewithoutpayingforyourseat,forthatisadelightwhichquicklypalls;butyoucangobehindthescenesinfourtheatres.Behardandsarcasticforamonthortwo,andyouwillbesimplyoverwhelmedwithinvitationsfromactresses,andtheiradorerswillpaycourttoyou;
　　youwillonlydineatFlicoteaux'swhenyouhappentohavelessthanthirtysousinyourpocketandnodinnerengagement.AttheLuxembourg,atfiveo'clock,youdidnotknowwhichwaytoturn;now,youareontheeveofenteringaprivilegedclass,youwillbeoneofthehundredpersonswhotellFrancewhattothink.Inthreedays'
　　time,ifallgoeswell,youcan,ifyouchoose,makeaman'slifeacursetohimbyputtingthirtyjokesathisexpenseinprintattherateofthreeaday;youcan,ifyouchoose,drawarevenueofpleasurefromtheactressesatyourtheatres;youcanwreckagoodplayandsendallParisrunningafterabadone.IfDauriatdeclinestopayyouforyourMarguerites,youcanmakehimcometoyou,andmeeklyandhumblyimploreyoutotaketwothousandfrancsforthem.Ifyouhavetheability,andknockofftwoorthreearticlesthatthreatentospoilsomeofDauriat'sspeculations,ortoruinabookonwhichhecounts,youwillseehimcomeclimbingupyourstairslikeaclematis,andalwaysatthedoorofyourdwelling.Asforyournovel,thebooksellerswhowouldshowyoumoreorlesspolitelytothedooratthismomentwillbestandingoutsideyouratticinastring,andthevalueofthemanuscript,whicholdDoguereauvaluedatfourhundredfrancswillrisetofourthousand.Thesearetheadvantagesofthejournalist'sprofession.Soletusdoourbesttokeepallnewcomersoutofit.Itneedsanimmenseamountofbrainstomakeyourway,andastillgreateramountofluck.Andhereareyouquibblingoveryourgoodfortune!Ifwehadnotmetto-day,yousee,atFlicoteaux's,youmighthavedancedattendanceonthebooksellersforanotherthreeyears,orstarvedliked'Arthezinagarret.Bythetimethatd'ArthezisaslearnedasBayleandasgreatawriterofproseasRousseau,weshallhavemadeourfortunes,youandI,andweshallholdhisinourhands——wealthandfametogiveortohold.Finotwillbeadeputyandproprietorofagreatnewspaper,andweshallbewhateverwemeanttobe——peersofFrance,orprisonerfordebtinSainte-Pelagie."
　　"SoFinotwillsellhispapertothehighestbidderamongtheMinisters,justashesellsfavorablenoticestoMme.BastienneandrunsdownMlle.Virginie,sayingthatMme.Bastienne'sbonnetsaresuperiortothemillinerywhichtheypraisedatfirst!"saidLucien,recollectingthatsceneintheoffice.
　　"Mydearfellow,youareasimpleton,"Lousteauremarkeddrily."ThreeyearsagoFinotwaswalkingontheuppersofhisboots,diningforeighteensousatTabar's,andknockingoffatradesman'sprospectuswhenhecouldgetitfortenfrancs.HisclotheshungtogetherbysomemiracleasmysteriousastheImmaculateConception.NOW,Finothasapaperofhisown,worthaboutahundredthousandfrancs.Whatwithsubscriberswhopayandtakenocopies,genuinesubscriptions,andindirecttaxesleviedbyhisuncle,heismakingtwentythousandfrancsayear.Hedinesmostsumptuouslyeveryday;hehassetupacabrioletwithinthelastmonth;andnow,atlast,beholdhimtheeditorofaweeklyreviewwithasixthshare,forwhichhewillnotpayapenny,asalaryoffivehundredfrancspermonth,andanotherthousandfrancsforsupplyingmatterwhichcostshimnothing,andforwhichthefirmpays.Youyourself,tobeginwith,ifFinotconsentstopayyoufiftyfrancspersheet,willbeonlytoogladtolethimhavetwoorthreearticlesfornothing.Whenyouareinhisposition,youcanjudgeFinot;amancanonlybetriedbyhispeers.Andforyou,istherenotanimmensefutureopeningoutbeforeyou,ifyouwillblindlyministertohisenmity,attackatFinot'sbidding,andpraisewhenhegivestheword?Supposethatyouyourselfwishtoberevengeduponsomebody,youcanbreakafoeorfriendonthewheel.Youhaveonlytosaytome,'Lousteau,letusputanendtoSo-and-so,'andwewillkillhimbyaphraseputinthepapermorningbymorning;andafterwardsyoucanslaytheslainwithasolemnarticleinFinot'sweekly.Indeed,ifitisamatterofcapitalimportancetoyou,Finotwouldallowyoutobludgeonyourmaninabigpaperwithtenortwelvethousandsubscribers,IFyoumakeyourselfindispensabletoFinot."
　　"ThenareyousurethatFlorinecanbringherdruggisttomakethebargain?"askedLucien,dazzledbytheseprospects.
　　"Quitesure.Nowcomestheinterval,Iwillgoandtellhereverythingatonceinawordortwo;itwillbesettledto-night.IfFlorineoncehasherlessonbyheart,shewillhaveallmywitandherownbesides."
　　"Andtheresitsthathonesttradesman,gapingwithopen-mouthedadmirationatFlorine,littlesuspectingthatyouareabouttogetthirtythousandfrancsoutofhim!——"
　　"Moretwaddle!Anybodymightthinkthatthemanwasgoingtoberobbed!"criedLousteau."Why,mydearboy,iftheministerbuysthenewspaper,thedruggistmaymaketwentythousandfrancsinsixmonthsonaninvestmentofthirtythousand.Matifatisnotlookingatthenewspaper,butatFlorine'sprospects.AssoonasitisknownthatMatifatandCamusot——fortheywillgoshares——thatMatifatandCamusotareproprietorsofareview,thenewspaperswillbefulloffriendlynoticesofFlorineandCoralie.Florine'snamewillbemade;
　　shewillperhapsobtainanengagementinanothertheatrewithasalaryoftwelvethousandfrancs.Infact,Matifatwillsaveathousandfrancseverymonthindinnersandpresentstojournalists.Youknownothingofmen,norofthewaythingsaremanaged."
　　"Poorman!"saidLucien,"heislookingforwardtoanevening'spleasure."
　　"AndhewillbesawnintwowithargumentsuntilFlorineseesFinot'sreceiptforasixthshareofthepaper.Andto-morrowIshallbeeditorofFinot'spaper,andmakingathousandfrancsamonth.Theendofmytroublesisinsight!"criedFlorine'slover.
　　Lousteauwentout,andLuciensatlikeonebewildered,lostintheinfiniteofthought,soaringabovethiseverydayworld.IntheWoodenGallerieshehadseenthewiresbywhichthetradeinbooksismoved;
　　hehasseensomethingofthekitchenwheregreatreputationsaremade;
　　hehadbeenbehindthescenes;hehadseentheseamysideoflife,theconsciencesofmeninvolvedinthemachineryofParis,themechanismofitall.AshewatchedFlorineonthestagehealmostenviedLousteauhisgoodfortune;already,forafewmomentshehadforgottenMatifatinthebackground.Hewasnotleftaloneforlong,perhapsfornotmorethanfiveminutes,butthoseminutesseemedaneternity.
　　Thoughtsrosewithinhimthatsethissoulonfire,asthespectacleonthestagehadheatedhissenses.Helookedatthewomenwiththeirwantoneyes,allthebrighterfortheredpaintontheircheeks,atthegleamingbarenecks,theluxuriantformsoutlinedbythelasciviousfoldsofthebasquina,theveryshortskirts,thatdisplayedasmuchaspossibleoflimbsencasedinscarletstockingswithgreenclockstothem——adisquietingvisionforthepit.
　　Adoubleprocessofcorruptionwasworkingwithinhiminparallellines,liketwochannelsthatwillspreadsoonerorlaterinfloodtimeandmakeone.ThatcorruptionwaseatingintoLucien'ssoul,asheleanedbackinhiscorner,staringvacantlyatthecurtain,onearmrestingonthecrimsonvelvetcushion,andhishanddroopingovertheedge.Hefeltthefascinationofthelifethatwasofferedtohim,ofthegleamsoflightamongitsclouds;andthissomuchthemorekeenlybecauseitshoneoutlikeablazeoffireworksagainsttheblankdarknessofhisownobscure,monotonousdaysoftoil.
　　Suddenlyhislistlesseyesbecameawareofaburningglancethatreachedhimthrougharentinthecurtain,androusedhimfromhislethargy.ThosewereCoralie'seyesthatgloweduponhim.HeloweredhisheadandlookedacrossatCamusot,whojustthenenteredtheoppositebox.
　　Thatamateurwasaworthysilk-merceroftheRuedesBourdonnais,stoutandsubstantial,ajudgeinthecommercialcourt,afatheroffourchildren,andthehusbandofasecondwife.Attheageoffifty-
　　six,withacapofgrayhaironhishead,hehadthesmugappearanceofamanwhohashiseightythousandfrancsofincome;andhavingbeenforcedtoputupwithagooddealthathedidnotlikeinthewayofbusiness,hasfullymadeuphismindtoenjoytherestofhislife,andnottoquitthisearthuntilhehashadhisshareofcakesandale.Abrowthecoloroffreshbutterandfloridcheekslikeamonk'sjowlseemedscarcelybigenoughtocontainhisexuberantjubilation.
　　Camusothadlefthiswifeathome,andtheywereapplaudingCoralietotheskies.Alltherichman'scitizenvanitywassummedupandgratifiedinCoralie;inCoralie'slodginghegavehimselftheairsofagreatlordofabygoneday;now,atthismoment,hefeltthathalfofhersuccesswashis;theknowledgethathehadpaidforitconfirmedhiminthisidea.Camusot'sconductwassanctionedbythepresenceofhisfather-in-law,alittleoldfogywithpowderedhairandleeringeyes,highlyrespectednevertheless.
　　AgainLucienfeltdisgustrisingwithinhim.HethoughtoftheyearwhenhelovedMme.deBargetonwithanexaltedanddisinterestedlove;
　　andatthatthoughtlove,asapoetunderstandsit,spreaditswhitewingsabouthim;countlessmemoriesdrewacircleofdistantbluehorizonaboutthegreatmanofAngouleme,andagainhefelltodreaming.
　　Upwentthecurtain,andtherestoodCoralieandFlorineuponthestage.
　　"HeisthinkingaboutasmuchofyouasoftheGrandTurk,mydeargirl,"FlorinesaidinanasidewhileCoraliewasfinishingherspeech.
　　Luciencouldnothelplaughing.HelookedatCoralie.ShewasoneofthemostcharmingandcaptivatingactressesinParis,rivalingMme.
　　PerrinandMlle.Fleuriet,anddestinedlikewisetosharetheirfate.