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to…day；〃 said the canon； with the tact of the priest who sees that his
guile has succeeded。
〃Very well； talk morality；〃 said Lucien。 To himself he said； 〃I will
draw him out。〃
〃Morality begins with the law；〃 said the priest。 〃If it were simply a
question of religion； laws would be superfluous； religious peoples
have few laws。 The laws of statecraft are above civil law。 Well； do
you care to know the inscription which a politician can read； written
at large over your nineteenth century？ In 1793 the French invented the
idea of the sovereignty of the peopleand the sovereignty of the
people came to an end under the absolute ruler in the Emperor。 So much
for your history as a nation。 Now for your private manners。 Mme。
Tallien and Mme。 Beauharnais both acted alike。 Napoleon married the
one； and made her your Empress； the other he would never receive at
court； princess though she was。 The sans…culotte of 1793 takes the
Iron Crown in 1804。 The fanatical lovers of Equality or Death conspire
fourteen years afterwards with a Legitimist aristocracy to bring back
Louis XVIII。 And that same aristocracy； lording it to…day in the
Faubourg Saint…Germain； has done worsehas been merchant； usurer；
pastry…cook； farmer； and shepherd。 So in France systems political and
moral have started from one point and reached another diametrically
opposed； and men have expressed one kind of opinion and acted on
another。 There has been no consistency in national policy； nor in the
conduct of individuals。 You cannot be said to have any morality left。
Success is the supreme justification of all actions whatsoever。 The
fact in itself is nothing； the impression that it makes upon others is
everything。 Hence； please observe a second precept： Present a fair
exterior to the world； keep the seamy side of life to yourself； and
turn a resplendent countenance upon others。 Discretion； the motto of
every ambitious man； is the watchword of our Order； take it for your
own。 Great men are guilty of almost as many base deeds as poor
outcasts； but they are careful to do these things in shadow and to
parade their virtues in the light； or they would not be great men。
Your insignificant man leaves his virtues in the shade； he publicly
displays his pitiable side； and is despised accordingly。 You； for
instance； have hidden your titles to greatness and made a display of
your worst failings。 You openly took an actress for your mistress；
lived with her and upon her； you were by no means to blame for this；
everybody admitted that both of you were perfectly free to do as you
liked； but you ran full tilt against the ideas of the world； and the
world has not shown you the consideration that is shown to those who
obey the rules of the game。 If you had left Coralie to this M。
Camusot； if you had hidden your relations with her； you might have
married Mme。 de Bargeton； you would now be prefect of Angouleme and
Marquis de Rubempre。
〃Change your tactics； bring your good looks； your charm； your wit；
your poetry to the front。 If you indulge in small discreditable
courses； let it be within four walls； and you will never again be
guilty of a blot on the decorations of this great theatrical scene
called society。 Napoleon called this 'washing dirty linen at home。'
The corollary follows naturally on this second preceptForm is
everything。 Be careful to grasp the meaning of that word 'form。' There
are people who； for want of knowing better； will help themselves to
money under pressure of want； and take it by force。 These people are
called criminals； and； perforce； they square accounts with Justice。 A
poor man of genius discovers some secret； some invention as good as a
treasure； you lend him three thousand francs （for that； practically；
the Cointets have done； they hold your bills； and they are about to
rob your brother…in…law）； you torment him until he reveals or partly
reveals his secret； you settle your accounts with your own conscience；
and your conscience does not drag you into the assize court。
〃The enemies of social order； beholding this contrast； take occasion
to yap at justice； and wax wroth in the name of the people； because；
forsooth； burglars and fowl…stealers are sent to the hulks； while a
man who brings whole families to ruin by a fraudulent bankruptcy is
let off with a few months' imprisonment。 But these hypocrites know
quite well that the judge who passes sentence on the thief is
maintaining the barrier set between the poor and the rich； and that if
that barrier were overturned； social chaos would ensue； while； in the
case of the bankrupt； the man who steals an inheritance cleverly； and
the banker who slaughters a business for his own benefit； money merely
changes hands； that is all。
〃Society； my son； is bound to draw those distinctions which I have
pointed out for your benefit。 The one great point is thisyou must be
a match for society。 Napoleon； Richelieu； and the Medicis were a match
for their generations。 And as for you； you value yourself at twelve
thousand francs！ You of this generation in France worship the golden
calf； what else is the religion of your Charter that will not
recognize a man politically unless he owns property？ What is this but
the command； 'Strive to be rich？' Some day； when you shall have made a
fortune without breaking the law； you will be rich； you will be the
Marquis de Rubempre； and you can indulge in the luxury of honor。 You
will be so extremely sensitive on the point of honor that no one will
dare to accuse you of past shortcomings if in the process of making
your way you should happen to smirch it now and again； which I myself
should never advise；〃 he added； patting Lucien's hand。
〃So what must you put in that comely head of yours？ Simply this and
nothing morepropose to yourself a brilliant and conspicuous goal；
and go towards it secretly； let no one see your methods or your
progress。 You have behaved like a child； be a man； be a hunter； lie in
wait for your quarry in the world of Paris； wait for your chance and
your game； you need not be particular nor mindful of your dignity； as
it is called； we are all of us slaves to something； to some failing of
our own or to necessity； but keep that law of lawssecrecy。〃
〃Father； you frighten me；〃 said Lucien； 〃this seems to me to be a
highwayman's theory。〃
〃And you are right；〃 said the canon； 〃but it is no invention of mine。
All parvenus reason in this waythe house of Austria and the house of
France alike。 You have nothing； you say？ The Medicis； Richelieu； and
Napoleon started from precisely your standpoint； but THEY； my child；
considered that their prospects were worth ingratitude； treachery； and
the most glaring inconsistencies。 You must dare all things to gain all
things。 Let us discuss it。 Suppose that you sit down to a game of
bouillotte； do you begin to argue over the rules of the game？ There
they are； you accept them。〃
〃Come； now；〃 thought Lucien； 〃he can play bouillotte。〃
〃And what do you do？〃 continued the priest； 〃do you practise openness；
that fairest of virtues？ Not merely do you hide your tactics； but you
do your best to make others believe that you are on the brink of ruin
as soon as y