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cleverly； had so carefully fitted the pegs； and oiled the wheels
so thoroughly； that nothing jarred； then； when she saw I did not
make a very wry face； she set the springs in motion； and the woman
spoke。 Finally； my mother uttered the decisive words； 〃Miss Dinah
Stevens spends no more than thirty thousand francs a year； and has
been traveling for seven years in order to economize。〃So there
is another image； and that one is silver。
Matters are so far advanced that the banns are to be published。 We
have got as far as 〃My dear love。〃 Miss makes eyes at me that
might floor a porter。 The settlements are prepared。 My fortune is
not inquired into； Miss Stevens devotes a portion of hers to
creating an entail in landed estate； bearing an income of two
hundred and forty thousand francs； and to the purchase of a house；
likewise entailed。 The settlement credited to me is of a million
francs。 She has nothing to complain of。 I leave her uncle's money
untouched。
The worthy brewer； who has helped to found the entail； was near
bursting with joy when he heard that his niece was to be a
marquise。 He would be capable of doing something handsome for my
eldest boy。
I shall sell out of the funds as soon as they are up to eighty；
and invest in land。 Thus； in two years I may look to get six
hundred thousand francs a year out of real estate。 So； you see；
Paul； I do not give my friends advice that I am not ready to act
upon。
If you had but listened to me； you would have an English wife；
some Nabob's daughter； who would leave you the freedom of a
bachelor and the independence necessary for playing the whist of
ambition。 I would concede my future wife to you if you were not
married already。 But that cannot be helped； and I am not the man
to bid you chew the cud of the past。
All this preamble was needful to explain to you that for the
future my position in life will be such as a man needs if he wants
to play the great game of pitch…and…toss。 I cannot do without you；
my friend。 Now； then； my dear Paul； instead of setting sail for
India you would do a much wiser thing to navigate with me the
waters of the Seine。 Believe me； Paris is still the place where
fortune； abundant fortune； can be won。 Potosi is in the rue
Vivienne； the rue de la Paix； the Place Vendome； the rue de
Rivoli。 In all other places and countries material works and
labors； marches and counter…marches； and sweatings of the brow are
necessary to the building up of fortune； but in Paris THOUGHT
suffices。 Here； every man even mentally mediocre； can see a mine
of wealth as he puts on his slippers； or picks his teeth after
dinner； in his down…sitting and his up…rising。 Find me another
place on the globe where a good round stupid idea brings in more
money； or is sooner understood than it is here。
If I reach the top of the ladder； as I shall； am I the man to
refuse you a helping hand； an influence； a signature？ We shall
want； we young roues； a faithful friend on whom to count； if only
to compromise him and make him a scape…goat； or send him to die
like a common soldier to save his general。 Government is
impossible without a man of honor at one's side； in whom to
confide and with whom we can do and say everything。
Here is what I propose。 Let the 〃Belle…Amelie〃 sail without you；
come back here like a thunderbolt； I'll arrange a duel for you
with Vandenesse in which you shall have the first shot； and you
can wing him like a pigeon。 In France the husband who shoots his
rival becomes at once respectable and respected。 No one ever
cavils at him again。 Fear； my dear fellow； is a valuable social
element； a means of success for those who lower their eyes before
the gaze of no man living。 I who care as little to live as to
drink a glass of milk； and who have never felt the emotion of
fear； I have remarked the strange effects produced by that
sentiment upon our modern manners。 Some men tremble to lose the
enjoyments to which they are attached； others dread to leave a
woman。 The old adventurous habits of other days when life was
flung away like a garment exist no longer。 The bravery of a great
many men is nothing more than a clever calculation on the fear of
their adversary。 The Poles are the only men in Europe who fight
for the pleasure of fighting； they cultivate the art for the art's
sake； and not for speculation。
Now hear me： kill Vandenesse； and your wife trembles； your mother…
in…law trembles； the public trembles； and you recover your
position； you prove your grand passion for your wife； you subdue
society； you subdue your wife； you become a hero。 Such is France。
As for your embarrassments； I hold a hundred thousand francs for
you； you can pay your principal debts； and sell what property you
have left with a power of redemption； for you will soon obtain an
office which will enable you by degrees to pay off your creditors。
Then； as for your wife； once enlightened as to her character you
can rule her。 When you loved her you had no power to manage her；
not loving her； you will have an unconquerable force。 I will
undertake； myself； to make your mother…in…law as supple as a
glove； for you must recover the use of the hundred and fifty
thousand francs a year those two women have squeezed out of you。
Therefore； I say； renounce this expatriation which seems to me no
better than a pan of charcoal or a pistol to your head。 To go away
is to justify all calumnies。 The gambler who leaves the table to
get his money loses it when he returns； we must have our gold in
our pockets。 Let us now； you and I； be two gamblers on the green
baize of politics； between us loans are in order。 Therefore take
post…horses； come back instantly； and renew the game。 You'll win
it with Henri de Marsay for your partner； for Henri de Marsay
knows how to will； and how to strike。
See how we stand politically。 My father is in the British
ministry； we shall have close relations with Spain through the
Evangelistas； for； as soon as your mother…in…law and I have
measured claws she will find there is nothing to gain by fighting
the devil。 Montriveau is our lieutenant…general； he will certainly
be minister of war before long； and his eloquence will give him
great ascendancy in the Chamber。 Ronquerolles will be minister of
State and privy…councillor； Martial de la Roche…Hugon is minister
to Germany and peer of France； Serisy leads the Council of State；
to which he is indispensable； Granville holds the magistracy； to
which his sons belong； the Grandlieus stand well at court； Ferraud
is the soul of the Gondreville coterie；low intriguers who are
always on the surface of things； I'm sure I don't know why。 Thus
supported； what have we to fear？ The money question is a mere
nothing whe