"My dear fellow,Dauriat has passed his word;I am proprietor of one-third of his weekly paper.I have agreed to give thirty thousand francs in cash,on condition that I am to be editor and director.'Tis a splendid thing.Blondet told me that the Government intends to take restrictive measures against the press;there will be no new papers allowed;in six months'time it will cost a million francs to start a new journal,so I struck a bargain though I have only ten thousand francs in hand.Listen to me.If you can sell one-half of my share,that is one-sixth of the paper,to Matifat for thirty thousand francs,you shall be editor of my little paper with a salary of two hundred and fifty francs per month.I want in any case to have the control of my old paper,and to keep my hold upon it;but nobody need know that,and your name will appear as editor.You will be paid at the rate of five francs per column;you need not pay contributors more than three francs,and you keep the difference.That means another four hundred and fifty francs per month.But,at the same time,I reserve the right to use the paper to attack or defend men or causes,as I please;and you may indulge your own likes and dislikes so long as you do not interfere with my schemes.Perhaps I may be a Ministerialist,perhaps Ultra,I do not know yet;but I mean to keep up my connections with the Liberal party (below the surface).I can speak out with you;you are a good fellow.I might,perhaps,give you the Chambers to do for another paper on which I work;I am afraid I can scarcely keep on with it now.So let Florine do this bit of jockeying;tell her to put the screw on her druggist.If I can't find the money within forty-eight hours,I must cry off my bargain.Dauriat sold another third to his printer and paper-dealer for thirty thousand francs;so he has his own third gratis,and ten thousand francs to the good,for he only gave fifty thousand for the whole affair.And in another year's time the magazine will be worth two hundred thousand francs,if the Court buys it up;if the Court has the good sense to suppress newspapers,as they say.""You are lucky,"said Lousteau.
"If you had gone through all that I have endured,you would not say that of me.I had my fill of misery in those days,you see,and there was no help for it.My father is a hatter;he still keeps a shop in the Rue du Coq.Nothing but millions of money or a social cataclysm can open out the way to my goal;and of the two alternatives,I don't know now that the revolution is not the easier.If I bore your friend's name,I should have a chance to get on.Hush,here comes the manager.Good-bye,"and Finot rose to his feet,"I am going to the Opera.I shall very likely have a duel on my hands to-morrow,for Ihave put my initials to a terrific attack on a couple of dancers under the protection of two Generals.I am giving it them hot and strong at the Opera.""Aha?"said the manager.
"Yes.They are stingy with me,"returned Finot,"now cutting off a box,and now declining to take fifty subions.I have sent in my ultimatum;I mean to have a hundred subions out of them and a box four times a month.If they take my terms,I shall have eight hundred readers and a thousand paying subscribers,so we shall have twelve hundred with the New Year.""You will end by ruining us,"said the manager.
"YOU are not much hurt with your ten subions.I had two good notices put into the Constitutionnel.""Oh!I am not complaining of you,"cried the manager.
"Good-bye till to-morrow evening,Lousteau,"said Finot."You can give me your answer at the Francais;there is a new piece on there;and as I shall not be able to write the notice,you can take my box.I will give you preference;you have worked yourself to death for me,and Iam grateful.Felicien Vernou offered twenty thousand francs for a third share of my little paper,and to work without a salary for a twelvemonth;but I want to be absolute master.Good-bye.""He is not named Finot"(finaud,slyboots)"for nothing,"said Lucien.
"He is a gallows-bird that will get on in the world,"said Etienne,careless whether the wily schemer overheard the remark or not,as he shut the door of the box.
"HE!"said the manager."He will be a millionaire;he will enjoy the respect of all who know him;he may perhaps have friends some day----""Good heavens!what a den!"said Lucien."And are you going to drag that excellent creature into such a business?"he continued,looking at Florine,who gave them side glances from the stage.
"She will carry it through too.You do not know the devotion and the wiles of these beloved beings,"said Lousteau.
"They redeem their failings and expiate all their sins by boundless love,when they love,"said the manager."A great love is all the grander in an actress by reason of its violent contrast with her surroundings.""And he who finds it,finds a diamond worthy of the proudest crown lying in the mud,"returned Lousteau.
"But Coralie is not attending to her part,"remarked the manager.
"Coralie is smitten with our friend here,all unsuspicious of his conquest,and Coralie will make a fiasco;she is missing her cues,this is the second time she had not heard the prompter.Pray,go into the corner,monsieur,"he continued."If Coralie is smitten with you,I will go and tell her that you have left the house.""No!no!"cried Lousteau;"tell Coralie that this gentleman is coming to supper,and that she can do as she likes with him,and she will play like Mlle.Mars."The manager went,and Lucien turned to Etienne."What!do you mean to say that you will ask that druggist,through Mlle.Florine,to pay thirty thousand francs for one-half a share,when Finot gave no more for the whole of it?And ask without the slightest scruple?----"Lousteau interrupted Lucien before he had time to finish his expostulation."My dear boy,what country can you come from?The druggist is not a man;he is a strong box delivered into our hands by his fancy for an actress.""How about your conscience?"
