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Every one prepared to listen； with all the greater readiness because
they had all talked enough； and this is the moment to be chosen for
telling a story。 This； then； is the Consul…General's tale：
〃When I was two…and…twenty； and had taken my degree in law； my old
uncle； the Abbe Loraux； then seventy…two years old； felt it necessary
to provide me with a protector； and to start me in some career。 This
excellent man； if not indeed a saint； regarded each year of his life
as a fresh gift from God。 I need not tell you that the father
confessor of a Royal Highness had no difficulty in finding a place for
a young man brought up by himself； his sister's only child。 So one
day； towards the end of the year 1824； this venerable old man； who for
five years had been Cure of the White Friars at Paris； came up to the
room I had in his house； and said：
〃 'Get yourself dressed； my dear boy； I am going to introduce you to
some one who is willing to engage you as secretary。 If I am not
mistaken； he may fill my place in the event of God's taking me to
Himself。 I shall have finished mass at nine o'clock； you have three…
quarters of an hour before you。 Be ready。'
〃 'What； uncle！ must I say good…bye to this room； where for four years
I have been so happy？'
〃 'I have no fortune to leave you；' said he。
〃 'Have you not the reputation of your name to leave me； the memory of
your good works？'
〃 'We need say nothing of that inheritance；' he replied； smiling。 'You
do not yet know enough of the world to be aware that a legacy of that
kind is hardly likely to be paid； whereas by taking you this morning
to M。 le Comte'Allow me；〃 said the Consul； interrupting himself； 〃to
speak of my protector by his Christian name only； and to call him
Comte Octave。'By taking you this morning to M。 le Comte Octave； I
hope to secure you his patronage； which； if you are so fortunate as to
please that virtuous statesmanas I make no doubt you canwill be
worth； at least； as much as the fortune I might have accumulated for
you； if my brother…in…law's ruin and my sister's death had not fallen
on me like a thunder…bolt from a clear sky。'
〃 'Are you the Count's director？'
〃 'If I were； could I place you with him？ What priest could be capable
of taking advantage of the secrets which he learns at the tribunal of
repentance？ No； you owe this position to his Highness； the Keeper of
the Seals。 My dear Maurice； you will be as much at home there as in
your father's house。 The Count will give you a salary of two thousand
four hundred francs； rooms in his house； and an allowance of twelve
hundred francs in lieu of feeding you。 He will not admit you to his
table； nor give you a separate table； for fear of leaving you to the
care of servants。 I did not accept the offer when it was made to me
till I was perfectly certain that Comte Octave's secretary was never
to be a mere upper servant。 You will have an immense amount of work；
for the Count is a great worker； but when you leave him； you will be
qualified to fill the highest posts。 I need not warn you to be
discreet； that is the first virtue of any man who hopes to hold public
appointments。'
〃You may conceive of my curiosity。 Comte Octave； at that time； held
one of the highest legal appointments； he was in the confidence of
Madame the Dauphiness； who had just got him made a State Minister； he
led such a life as the Comte de Serizy； whom you all know； I think；
but even more quietly； for his house was in the Marais； Rue Payenne；
and he hardly ever entertained。 His private life escaped public
comment by its hermit…like simplicity and by constant hard work。
〃Let me describe my position to you in a few words。 Having found in
the solemn headmaster of the College Saint…Louis a tutor to whom my
uncle delegated his authority； at the age of eighteen I had gone
through all the classes； I left school as innocent as a seminarist；
full of faith； on quitting Saint…Sulpice。 My mother； on her deathbed；
had made my uncle promise that I should not become a priest； but I was
as pious as though I had to take orders。 On leaving college； the Abbe
Loraux took me into his house and made me study law。 During the four
years of study requisite for passing all the examinations； I worked
hard； but chiefly at things outside the arid fields of jurisprudence。
Weaned from literature as I had been at college； where I lived in the
headmaster's house； I had a thirst to quench。 As soon as I had read a
few modern masterpieces； the works of all the preceding ages were
greedily swallowed。 I became crazy about the theatre； and for a long
time I went every night to the play； though my uncle gave me only a
hundred francs a month。 This parsimony； to which the good old man was
compelled by his regard for the poor； had the effect of keeping a
young man's desires within reasonable limits。
〃When I went to live with Comte Octave I was not indeed an innocent；
but I thought of my rare escapades as crimes。 My uncle was so truly
angelic； and I was so much afraid of grieving him； that in all those
four years I had never spent a night out。 The good man would wait till
I came in to go to bed。 This maternal care had more power to keep me
within bounds than the sermons and reproaches with which the life of a
young man is diversified in a puritanical home。 I was a stranger to
the various circles which make up the world of Paris society； I only
knew some women of the better sort； and none of the inferior class but
those I saw as I walked about； or in the boxes at the play； and then
only from the depths of the pit where I sat。 If； at that period； any
one had said to me； 'You will see Canalis； or Camille Maupin；' I
should have felt hot coals in my head and in my bowels。 Famous people
were to me as gods； who neither spoke； nor walked； nor ate like other
mortals。
〃How many tales of the Thousand…and…one Nights are comprehended in the
ripening of a youth！ How many wonderful lamps must we have rubbed
before we understand that the True Wonderful Lamp is either luck； or
work； or genius。 In some men this dream of the aroused spirit is but
brief； mine has lasted until now！ In those days I always went to sleep
as Grand Duke of Tuscany；as a millionaire；as beloved by a
princess；or famous！ So to enter the service of Comte Octave； and
have a hundred louis a year； was entering on independent life。 I had
glimpses of some chance of getting into society； and seeking for what
my heart desired most； a protectress； who would rescue me from the
paths of danger； which a young man of two…and…twenty can hardly help
treading； however prudent and well brought up he may be。 I began to be
afraid of myself。
〃The persistent study of other people's rights into which I had
plunged was not always enough to repress painful imaginings。 Yes；
sometimes in fancy I threw myself into theatrical life； I thought I
could be a great actor； I dreamed of endless triumphs and loves；
knowing nothing of the disillusion hidden behind the curtain； as
everywhere elsefor every stage has its reverse behind the scenes。 I
have gone out sometimes； my heart boiling； carried away by an impulse
to rush hunting through Paris； to attach mys