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come to that yet； so take a cigar and smoke till we reach the
caleche。〃
Lucien took a cigar and lit it； Spanish fashion； at the priest's
cigar。 〃He is right；〃 he thought； 〃I can take my life at any time。〃
〃It often happens that a young man's fortunes take a turn when despair
is darkest；〃 the Spaniard continued。 〃That is what I wished to tell
you； but I preferred to prove it by a case in point。 Here was the
handsome young secretary lying under sentence of death； and his case
the more desperate because； as he had been condemned by the States…
General； the King could not pardon him； but he connived at his escape。
The secretary stole away in a fishing…boat with a few crowns in his
pocket； and reached the court of Courland with a letter of
introduction from Goertz； explaining his secretary's adventures and
his craze for paper。 The Duke of Courland was a spendthrift； he had a
steward and a pretty wifethree several causes of ruin。 He placed the
charming young stranger with his steward。
〃If you can imagine that the sometime secretary had been cured of his
depraved taste by a sentence of death； you do not know the grip that a
man's failings have upon him； let a man discover some satisfaction for
himself； and the headsman will not keep him from it。How is it that
the vice has this power？ Is it inherent strength in the vice； or
inherent weakness in human nature？ Are there certain tastes that
should be regarded as verging on insanity？ For myself； I cannot help
laughing at the moralists who try to expel such diseases by fine
phrases。Well； it so fell out that the steward refused a demand for
money； and the Duke taking fright at this； called for an audit。 Sheer
imbecility！ Nothing easier than to make out a balance…sheet； the
difficulty never lies there。 The steward gave his secretary all the
necessary documents for compiling a schedule of the civil list of
Courland。 He had nearly finished it when； in the dead of night； the
unhappy paper…eater discovered that he was chewing up one of the
Duke's discharges for a considerable sum。 He had eaten half the
signature！ Horror seized upon him； he fled to the Duchess； flung
himself at her feet； told her of his craze； and implored the aid of
his sovereign lady； implored her in the middle of the night。 The
handsome young face made such an impression on the Duchess that she
married him as soon as she was left a widow。 And so in the mid…
eighteenth century； in a land where the king…at…arms is king； the
goldsmith's son became a prince； and something more。 On the death of
Catherine I。 he was regent； he ruled the Empress Anne； and tried to be
the Richelieu of Russia。 Very well； young man； now know thisif you
are handsomer than Biron； I； simple canon that I am； am worth more
than a Baron Goertz。 So get in； we will find a duchy of Courland for
you in Paris； or failing the duchy； we shall certainly find the
duchess。〃
The Spanish priest laid a hand on Lucien's arm； and literally forced
him into the traveling carriage。 The postilion shut the door。
〃Now speak； I am listening；〃 said the canon of Toledo； to Lucien's
bewilderment。 〃I am an old priest； you can tell me everything； there
is nothing to fear。 So far we have only run through our patrimony or
squandered mamma's money。 We have made a flitting from our creditors；
and we are honor personified down to the tips of our elegant little
boots。 。 。 。 Come； confess； boldly； it will be just as if you were
talking to yourself。〃
Lucien felt like that hero of an Eastern tale； the fisher who tried to
drown himself in mid…ocean； and sank down to find himself a king of
countries under the sea。 The Spanish priest seemed so really
affectionate； that the poet hesitated no longer； between Angouleme and
Ruffec he told the story of his whole life； omitting none of his
misdeeds； and ended with the final catastrophe which he had brought
about。 The tale only gained in poetic charm because this was the third
time he had told it in the past fortnight。 Just as he made an end they
passed the house of the Rastignac family。
〃Young Rastignac left that place for Paris；〃 said Lucien； 〃he is
certainly not my equal； but he has had better luck。〃
The Spaniard started at the name。 〃Oh！〃 he said。
〃Yes。 That shy little place belongs to his father。 As I was telling
you just now； he was the lover of Mme。 de Nucingen； the famous
banker's wife。 I drifted into poetry； he was cleverer； he took the
practical side。〃
The priest stopped the caleche； and was so far curious as to walk down
the little avenue that led to the house； showing more interest in the
place than Lucien expected from a Spanish ecclesiastic。
〃Then； do you know the Rastignacs？〃 asked Lucien。
〃I know every one in Paris；〃 said the Spaniard； taking his place again
in the carriage。 〃And so for want of ten or twelve thousand francs；
you were about to take your life； you are a child； you know neither
men nor things。 A man's future is worth the value that he chooses to
set upon it； and you value yours at twelve thousand francs！ Well； I
will give more than that for you any time。 As for your brother…in…
law's imprisonment； it is the merest trifle。 If this dear M。 Sechard
has made a discovery； he will be a rich man some day； and a rich man
has never been imprisoned for debt。 You do not seem to me to be strong
in history。 History is of two kindsthere is the official history
taught in schools； a lying compilation ad usum delphini； and there is
the secret history which deals with the real causes of eventsa
scandalous chronicle。 Let me tell you briefly a little story which you
have not heard。 There was； once upon a time； a man； young and
ambitious； and a priest to boot。 He wanted to enter upon a political
career； so he fawned on the Queen's favorite； the favorite took an
interest in him； gave him the rank of minister； and a seat at the
council board。 One evening somebody wrote to the young aspirant；
thinking to do him a service （never do a service； by the by； unless
you are asked）； and told him that his benefactor's life was in danger。
The King's wrath was kindled against his rival； to…morrow； if the
favorite went to the palace； he would certainly be stabbed； so said
the letter。 Well； now； young man； what would you have done？〃
〃I should have gone at once to warn my benefactor；〃 Lucien exclaimed
quickly。
〃You are indeed the child which your story reveals！〃 said the priest。
〃Our man said to himself； 'If the King is resolved to go to such
lengths； it is all over with my benefactor； I must receive this letter
too late；' so he slept on till the favorite was stabbed〃
〃He was a monster！〃 said Lucien； suspecting that the priest meant to
sound him。
〃So are all great men； this one was the Cardinal de Richelieu； and his
benefactor was the Marechal d'Ancre。 You really do not know your
history of France； you see。 Was I not right when I told you that
history as taught in schools is simply a collection of facts and
dates； more than doubtful in the first place； and with no bearing
whatever on the gist of the matter。 You are told that such a person as
Jeanne Darc once existed； where is the use of that？ Have you never
drawn your own con