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These three friendly exclamations quickly followed the insults； as the
light of a street lamp； flickering in the wind； fell upon the
astonished faces of the group。
〃My dear fellow； you must come with us！〃 said the young man that
Raphael had all but knocked down。
〃What is all this about？〃
〃Come along； and I will tell you the history of it as we go。〃
By fair means or foul； Raphael must go along with his friends towards
the Pont des Arts； they surrounded him； and linked him by the arm
among their merry band。
〃We have been after you for about a week；〃 the speaker went on。 〃At
your respectable hotel de Saint Quentin； where； by the way； the sign
with the alternate black and red letters cannot be removed； and hangs
out just as it did in the time of Jean Jacques； that Leonarda of yours
told us that you were off into the country。 For all that； we certainly
did not look like duns； creditors； sheriff's officers； or the like。
But no matter！ Rastignac had seen you the evening before at the
Bouffons； we took courage again； and made it a point of honor to find
out whether you were roosting in a tree in the Champs…Elysees； or in
one of those philanthropic abodes where the beggars sleep on a
twopenny rope； or if； more luckily； you were bivouacking in some
boudoir or other。 We could not find you anywhere。 Your name was not in
the jailers' registers at the St。 Pelagie nor at La Force！ Government
departments； cafes； libraries； lists of prefects' names； newspaper
offices； restaurants； greenroomsto cut it short； every lurking place
in Paris； good or bad； has been explored in the most expert manner。 We
bewailed the loss of a man endowed with such genius； that one might
look to find him at Court or in the common jails。 We talked of
canonizing you as a hero of July； and； upon my word； we regretted
you！〃
As he spoke； the friends were crossing the Pont des Arts。 Without
listening to them； Raphael looked at the Seine； at the clamoring waves
that reflected the lights of Paris。 Above that river； in which but now
he had thought to fling himself； the old man's prediction had been
fulfilled； the hour of his death had been already put back by fate。
〃We really regretted you；〃 said his friend； still pursuing his theme。
〃It was a question of a plan in which we included you as a superior
person； that is to say； somebody who can put himself above other
people。 The constitutional thimble…rig is carried on to…day； dear boy；
more seriously than ever。 The infamous monarchy； displaced by the
heroism of the people； was a sort of drab； you could laugh and revel
with her； but La Patrie is a shrewish and virtuous wife； and willy…
nilly you must take her prescribed endearments。 Then besides； as you
know； authority passed over from the Tuileries to the journalists； at
the time when the Budget changed its quarters and went from the
Faubourg Saint…Germain to the Chaussee de Antin。 But this you may not
know perhaps。 The Government； that is； the aristocracy of lawyers and
bankers who represent the country to…day； just as the priests used to
do in the time of the monarchy； has felt the necessity of mystifying
the worthy people of France with a few new words and old ideas； like
philosophers of every school； and all strong intellects ever since
time began。 So now Royalist…national ideas must be inculcated； by
proving to us that it is far better to pay twelve million francs；
thirty…three centimes to La Patrie； represented by Messieurs Such…and…
Such； than to pay eleven hundred million francs； nine centimes to a
king who used to say _I_ instead of WE。 In a word； a journal； with two
or three hundred thousand francs； good； at the back of it； has just
been started； with a view to making an opposition paper to content the
discontented； without prejudice to the national government of the
citizen…king。 We scoff at liberty as at despotism now； and at religion
or incredulity quite impartially。 And since； for us； 'our country'
means a capital where ideas circulate and are sold at so much a line；
a succulent dinner every day； and the play at frequent intervals；
where profligate women swarm； where suppers last on into the next day；
and light loves are hired by the hour like cabs； and since Paris will
always be the most adorable of all countries； the country of joy；
liberty； wit； pretty women； mauvais sujets； and good wine； where the
truncheon of authority never makes itself disagreeably felt； because
one is so close to those who wield it；we； therefore； sectaries of
the god Mephistopheles； have engaged to whitewash the public mind； to
give fresh costumes to the actors； to put a new plank or two in the
government booth； to doctor doctrinaires； and warm up old Republicans；
to touch up the Bonapartists a bit； and revictual the Centre； provided
that we are allowed to laugh in petto at both kings and peoples； to
think one thing in the morning and another at night； and to lead a
merry life a la Panurge； or to recline upon soft cushions； more
orientali。
〃The sceptre of this burlesque and macaronic kingdom；〃 he went on； 〃we
have reserved for you； so we are taking you straightway to a dinner
given by the founder of the said newspaper； a retired banker； who； at
a loss to know what to do with his money； is going to buy some brains
with it。 You will be welcomed as a brother； we shall hail you as king
of these free lances who will undertake anything； whose perspicacity
discovers the intentions of Austria； England； or Russia before either
Russia； Austria or England have formed any。 Yes； we will invest you
with the sovereignty of those puissant intellects which give to the
world its Mirabeaus； Talleyrands； Pitts； and Metternichsall the
clever Crispins who treat the destinies of a kingdom as gamblers'
stakes； just as ordinary men play dominoes for Kirschenwasser。 We have
given you out to be the most undaunted champion who ever wrestled in a
drinking…bout at close quarters with the monster called Carousal； whom
all bold spirits wish to try a fall with； we have gone so far as to
say that you have never yet been worsted。 I hope you will not make
liars of us。 Taillefer； our amphitryon； has undertaken to surpass the
circumscribed saturnalias of the petty modern Lucullus。 He is rich
enough to infuse pomp into trifles； and style and charm into
dissipation 。 。 。 Are you listening； Raphael？〃 asked the orator；
interrupting himself。
〃Yes；〃 answered the young man； less surprised by the accomplishment of
his wishes than by the natural manner in which the events had come
about。
He could not bring himself to believe in magic； but he marveled at the
accidents of human fate。
〃Yes； you say； just as if you were thinking of your grandfather's
demise；〃 remarked one of his neighbors。
〃Ah！〃 cried Raphael； 〃I was thinking； my friends； that we are in a
fair way to become very great scoundrels；〃 and there was an
ingenuousness in his tones that set these writers； the hope of