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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 conclusions from that fact？ never seen that if France
had accepted the Angevin dynasty of the Plantagenets； the two peoples
thus reunited would be ruling the world to…day； and the islands that
now brew political storms for the continent would be French provinces？
。 。 。 Why； have you so much as studied the means by which simple
merchants like the Medicis became Grand Dukes of Tuscany？〃
〃A poet in France is not bound to be 'as learned as a Benedictine；' 〃
said Lucien。
〃Well； they became Grand…Dukes as Richelieu became a minister。 If you
had looked into history for the causes of events instead of getting
the headings by heart； you would have found precepts for your guidance
in this life。 These real facts taken at random from among so many
supply you with the axiom'Look upon men； and on women most of all；
as your instruments； but never let them see this。' If some one higher
in place can be useful to you； worship him as your god； and never
leave him until he has paid the price of your servility to the last
farthing。 In your intercourse with men； in short； be grasping and mean
as a Jew； all that the Jew does for money； you must do for power。 And
besides all this； when a man has fallen from power； care no more for
him than if he had ceased to exist。 And do you ask why you must do
these things？ You mean to rule the world； do you not？ You must begin
by obeying and studying it。 Scholars study books； politicians study
men； and their interests and the springs of action。 Society and
mankind in masses are fatalists； they bow down and worship the
accomplished fact。 Do you know why I am giving you this little history
lesson？ It seems to me that your ambition is boundless〃
〃Yes； father。〃
〃I saw that myself；〃 said the priest。 〃But at this moment you are
thinking； 'Here is this Spanish canon inventing anecdotes and
straining history to prove to me that I have too much virtue' 〃
Lucien began to smile； his thoughts had been read so clearly。
〃Very well； let us take facts that every schoolboy knows。 One day
France is almost entirely overrun by the English； the King has only a
single province left。 Two figures arise from among the peoplea poor
herd girl； that very Jeanne Darc of whom we were speaking； and a
burgher named Jacques Coeur。 The girl brings the power of virginity；
the strength of her arm； the burgher gives his gold； and the kingdom
is saved。 The maid is taken prisoner； and the King； who could have
ransomed her； leaves her to be burned alive。 The King allows his
courtier to accuse the great burgher of capital crime； and they rob
him and divide all his wealth among themselves。 The spoils of an
innocent man； hunted down； brought to bay； and driven into exile by
the Law； went to enrich five noble houses； and the father of the
Archbishop of Bourges left the kingdom for ever without one sou of all
his possessions in France； and no resource but moneys remitted to
Arabs and Saracens in Egypt。 It is open to you to say that these
examples are out of date； that three centuries of public education
have since elapsed； and that the outlines of those ages are more or
less dim figures。 Well； young man； do you believe in the last demi…god
of France； in Napoleon？ One of his generals was in disgrace all
through his career； Napoleon made him a marshal grudgingly； and never
sent him on service if he could help it。 That marshal was Kellermann。
Do you know the reason of the grudge？ 。 。 。 Kellermann saved France
and the First Consul at Marengo by a brilliant charge； the ranks
applauded under fire and in the thick of the carnage。 That heroic
charge was not even mentioned in the bulletin。 Napoleon's coolness
toward Kellermann； Fouche's fall； and Talleyrand's disgrace were all
attributable to the same cause； it is the ingratitude of a Charles
VII。； or a Richelieu； or 〃
〃But； father；〃 said Lucien； 〃suppose that you should save my life and
make my fortune； you are making the ties of gratitude somewhat
slight。〃
〃Little rogue；〃 said the Abbe； smiling as he pinched Lucien's ear with
an almost royal familiarity。 〃If you are ungrateful to me； it will be
because you are a strong man； and I shall bend before you。 But you are
not that just yet； as a simple 'prentice you have tried to be master
too soon； the common fault of Frenchmen of your generation。 Napoleon's
example has spoiled them all。 You send in your resignation because you
have not the pair of epaulettes that you fancied。 But have you
attempted to bring the full force of your will and every action of
your life to bear upon your one idea？〃
〃Alas！ no。〃
〃You have been inconsistent； as the English say；〃 smiled the canon。
〃What I have been matters nothing now；〃 said Lucien； 〃if I can be
nothing in the future。〃
〃If at the back of all your good qualities there is power semper
virens；〃 continued the priest； not averse to show that he had a little
Latin； 〃nothing in this world can resist you。 I have taken enough of a
liking for you already〃
Lucien smiled incredulously。
〃Yes；〃 said the priest； in answer to the smile； 〃you interest me as
much as if you had been my son； and I am strong enough to afford to
talk to you as openly as you have just done to me。 Do you know what it
is that I like about you？This： you have made a sort of tabula rasa
within yourself； and are ready to hear a sermon on morality that you
will hear nowhere else； for mankind in the mass are even more
consummate hypocrites than any one individual can be when his
interests demand a piece of acting。 Most of us spend a good part of
our lives in clearing our minds of the notions that sprang up
unchecked during our nonage。 This is called 'getting our
experience。' 〃
Lucien； listening； thought within himself； 〃Here is some old intriguer
delighted with a chance of amusing himself on a journey。 He is pleased
with the idea of bringing about a change of opinion in a poor wretch
on the brink of suicide； and when he is tired of his amusement； he
will drop me。 Still he understands paradox； and seems to be quite a
match for Blondet or Lousteau。〃
But in spite of these sage reflections； the diplomate's poison had
sunk deeply into Lucien's soul； the ground was ready to receive it；
and the havoc wrought was the greater because such famous examples
were cited。 Lucien fell under the charm of his companion's cynical
talk； and clung the more willingly to life because he felt that this
arm which drew him up from the depths was a strong one。
In this respect the ecclesiastic had evidently won the day； and；
indeed； from time to time a malicious smile bore his cynical anecdotes
company。
〃If your system of morality at all resembles your manner of regarding
history；〃 said Lucien； 〃I should dearly like to know the motive of
your present act of charity； for such it seems to be。〃
〃There； young man； I have come to the last head of my sermon； you will
permit me to reserve it； for in that case we shall not part company
to…day；〃 said the canon； with the tact of the priest who sees that his
guile has s