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Eve and David
by Honore de Balzac
Translated by Ellen Marriage
EVE AND DAVID
Lucien had gone to Paris； and David Sechard； with the courage and
intelligence of the ox which painters give the Evangelist for
accompanying symbol； set himself to make the large fortune for which
he had wished that evening down by the Charente； when he sat with Eve
by the weir； and she gave him her hand and her heart。 He wanted to
make the money quickly； and less for himself than for Eve's sake and
Lucien's。 He would place his wife amid the elegant and comfortable
surroundings that were hers by right； and his strong arm should
sustain her brother's ambitionsthis was the programme that he saw
before his eyes in letters of fire。
Journalism and politics； the immense development of the book trade； of
literature and of the sciences； the increase of public interest in
matters touching the various industries in the country； in fact； the
whole social tendency of the epoch following the establishment of the
Restoration produced an enormous increase in the demand for paper。 The
supply required was almost ten times as large as the quantity in which
the celebrated Ouvrard speculated at the outset of the Revolution。
Then Ouvrard could buy up first the entire stock of paper and then the
manufacturers； but in the year 1821 there were so many paper…mills in
France； that no one could hope to repeat his success； and David had
neither audacity enough nor capital enough for such speculation。
Machinery for producing paper in any length was just coming into use
in England。 It was one of the most urgent needs of the time；
therefore； that the paper trade should keep pace with the requirements
of the French system of civil government； a system by which the right
of discussion was to be extended to every man； and the whole fabric
based upon continual expression of individual opinion； a grave
misfortune； for the nation that deliberates is but little wont to act。
So； strange coincidence！ while Lucien was drawn into the great
machinery of journalism； where he was like to leave his honor and his
intelligence torn to shreds； David Sechard； at the back of his
printing…house； foresaw all the practical consequences of the
increased activity of the periodical press。 He saw the direction in
which the spirit of the age was tending； and sought to find means to
the required end。 He saw also that there was a fortune awaiting the
discoverer of cheap paper； and the event has justified his
clearsightedness。 Within the last fifteen years； the Patent Office has
received more than a hundred applications from persons claiming to
have discovered cheap substances to be employed in the manufacture of
paper。 David felt more than ever convinced that this would be no
brilliant triumph； it is true； but a useful and immensely profitable
discovery； and after his brother…in…law went to Paris； he became more
and more absorbed in the problem which he had set himself to solve。
The expenses of his marriage and of Lucien's journey to Paris had
exhausted all his resources； he confronted the extreme of poverty at
the very outset of married life。 He had kept one thousand francs for
the working expenses of the business； and owed a like sum； for which
he had given a bill to Postel the druggist。 So here was a double
problem for this deep thinker； he must invent a method of making cheap
paper； and that quickly； he must make the discovery； in fact； in order
to apply the proceeds to the needs of the household and of the
business。 What words can describe the brain that can forget the cruel
preoccupations caused by hidden want； by the daily needs of a family
and the daily drudgery of a printer's business； which requires such
minute； painstaking care； and soar； with the enthusiasm and
intoxication of the man of science； into the regions of the unknown in
quest of a secret which daily eludes the most subtle experiment？ And
the inventor； alas！ as will shortly be seen； has plenty of woes to
endure； besides the ingratitude of the many； idle folk that can do
nothing themselves tell them； 〃Such a one is a born inventor； he could
not do otherwise。 He no more deserves credit for his invention than a
prince for being born to rule！ He is simply exercising his natural
faculties； and his work is its own reward；〃 and the people believe
them。
Marriage brings profound mental and physical perturbations into a
girl's life； and if she marries under the ordinary conditions of lower
middle…class life； she must moreover begin to study totally new
interests and initiate herself in the intricacies of business。 With
marriage； therefore； she enters upon a phase of her existence when she
is necessarily on the watch before she can act。 Unfortunately； David's
love for his wife retarded this training； he dared not tell her the
real state of affairs on the day after their wedding； nor for some
time afterwards。 His father's avarice condemned him to the most
grinding poverty； but he could not bring himself to spoil the
honeymoon by beginning his wife's commercial education and prosaic
apprenticeship to his laborious craft。 So it came to pass that
housekeeping； no less than working expenses； ate up the thousand
francs； his whole fortune。 For four months David gave no thought to
the future； and his wife remained in ignorance。 The awakening was
terrible！ Postel's bill fell due； there was no money to meet it； and
Eve knew enough of the debt and its cause to give up her bridal
trinkets and silver。
That evening Eve tried to induce David to talk of their affairs； for
she had noticed that he was giving less attention to the business and
more to the problem of which he had once spoken to her。 Since the
first few weeks of married life； in fact； David spent most of his time
in the shed in the backyard； in the little room where he was wont to
mould his ink…rollers。 Three months after his return to Angouleme； he
had replaced the old fashioned round ink…balls by rollers made of
strong glue and treacle； and an ink…table； on which the ink was evenly
distributed； an improvement so obvious that Cointet Brothers no sooner
saw it than they adopted the plan themselves。
By the partition wall of this kitchen； as it were； David had set up a
little furnace with a copper pan； ostensibly to save the cost of fuel
over the recasting of his rollers； though the moulds had not been used
twice； and hung there rusting upon the wall。 Nor was this all； a solid
oak door had been put in by his orders； and the walls were lined with
sheet…iron； he even replaced the dirty window sash by panes of ribbed
glass； so that no one without could watch him at his work。
When Eve began to speak about the future； he looked uneasily at her；
and cut her short at the first word by saying； 〃I know all that you
must think； child； when you see that the workshop is left to itself；
and that I am dead； as it were； to all business interests； but see；〃
he continued； bringing her to the window； and pointing to the
mysterious shed； 〃there lies our fortune。 For some months yet we must
endure our lot； but let us bear it patiently； leave me to solve the
problem of which I told