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your heart for him； madame； he will need it。
〃Permit me； madame； to convey to you the expression of the sincere
respect of a man to whom your rare qualities are known； a man who
honors your mother's fears so much； that he desires to style
himself your devoted servant；
〃D'ARTHEZ。〃
Two days after the letter came； Eve was obliged to find a wet…nurse；
her milk had dried up。 She had made a god of her brother； now； in her
eyes； he was depraved through the exercise of his noblest faculties；
he was wallowing in the mire。 She； noble creature that she was； was
incapable of swerving from honesty and scrupulous delicacy； from all
the pious traditions of the hearth； which still burns so clearly and
sheds its light abroad in quiet country homes。 Then David had been
right in his forecasts！ The leaden hues of grief overspread Eve's
white brow。 She told her husband her secret in one of the pellucid
talks in which married lovers tell everything to each other。 The tones
of David's voice brought comfort。 Though the tears stood in his eyes
when he knew that grief had dried his wife's fair breast； and knew
Eve's despair that she could not fulfil a mother's duties； he held out
reassuring hopes。
〃Your brother's imagination has let him astray； you see； child。 It is
so natural that a poet should wish for blue and purple robes； and
hurry as eagerly after festivals as he does。 It is a bird that loves
glitter and luxury with such simple sincerity； that God forgives him
if man condemns him for it。〃
〃But he is draining our lives！〃 exclaimed poor Eve。
〃He is draining our lives just now； but only a few months ago he saved
us by sending us the first fruits of his earnings；〃 said the good
David。 He had the sense to see that his wife was in despair； was going
beyond the limit； and that love for Lucien would very soon come back。
〃Fifty years ago； or thereabouts； Mercier said in his Tableau de Paris
that a man cannot live by literature； poetry； letters； or science； by
the creatures of his brain； in short； and Lucien； poet that he is；
would not believe the experience of five centuries。 The harvests that
are watered with ink are only reaped ten or twelve years after the
sowing； if indeed there is any harvest after all。 Lucien has taken the
green wheat for the sheaves。 He will have learned something of life；
at any rate。 He was the dupe of a woman at the outset； he was sure to
be duped afterwards by the world and false friends。 He has bought his
experience dear； that is all。 Our ancestors used to say； 'If the son
of the house brings back his two ears and his honor safe； all is
well' 〃
〃Honor！〃 poor Eve broke in。 〃Oh； but Lucien has fallen in so many
ways！ Writing against his conscience！ Attacking his best friend！
Living upon an actress！ Showing himself in public with her。 Bringing
us to lie on straw〃
〃Oh； that is nothing！〃 cried David； and suddenly stopped short。
The secret of Lucien's forgery had nearly escaped him； and； unluckily；
his start left a vague； uneasy impression on Eve。
〃What do you mean by nothing？〃 she answered。 〃And where shall we find
the money to meet bills for three thousand francs？〃
〃We shall be obliged to renew the lease with Cerizet； to begin with；〃
said David。 〃The Cointets have been allowing him fifteen per cent on
the work done for them； and in that way alone he has made six hundred
francs； besides contriving to make five hundred francs by job
printing。〃
〃If the Cointets know that； perhaps they will not renew the lease。
They will be afraid of him； for Cerizet is a dangerous man。〃
〃Eh！ what is that to me！〃 cried David； 〃we shall be rich in a very
little while。 When Lucien is rich； dear angel； he will have nothing
but good qualities。〃
〃Oh！ David； my dear； my dear； what is this that you have said
unthinkingly？ Then Lucien fallen into the clutches of poverty would
not have the force of character to resist evil？ And you think just as
M。 d'Arthez thinks！ No one is great unless he has strength of
character； and Lucien is weak。 An angel must not be temptedwhat is
that？〃
〃What but a nature that is noble only in its own region； its own
sphere； its heaven？ I will spare him the struggle； Lucien is not meant
for it。 Look here！ I am so near the end now that I can talk to you
about the means。〃
He drew several sheets of white paper from his pocket； brandished them
in triumph； and laid them on his wife's lap。
〃A ream of this paper； royal size； would cost five francs at the
most；〃 he added； while Eve handled the specimens with almost childish
surprise。
〃Why； how did you make these sample bits？〃 she asked。
〃With an old kitchen sieve of Marion's。〃
〃And are you not satisfied yet？〃 asked Eve。
〃The problem does not lie in the manufacturing process； it is a
question of the first cost of the pulp。 Alas； child； I am only a late
comer in a difficult path。 As long ago as 1794； Mme。 Masson tried to
use printed paper a second time； she succeeded； but what a price it
cost！ The Marquis of Salisbury tried to use straw as a material in
1800； and the same idea occurred to Seguin in France in 1801。 Those
sheets in your hand are made from the common rush； the arundo
phragmites； but I shall try nettles and thistles； for if the material
is to continue to be cheap； one must look for something that will grow
in marshes and waste lands where nothing else can be grown。 The whole
secret lies in the preparation of the stems。 At present my method is
not quite simple enough。 Still； in spite of this difficulty； I feel
sure that I can give the French paper trade the privilege of our
literature； papermaking will be for France what coal and iron and
coarse potter's clay are for Englanda monopoly。 I mean to be the
Jacquart of the trade。〃
Eve rose to her feet。 David's simple…mindedness had roused her to
enthusiasm； to admiration； she held out her arms to him and held him
tightly to her； while she laid her head upon his shoulder。
〃You give me my reward as if I had succeeded already；〃 he said。
For all answer； Eve held up her sweet face； wet with tears； to his；
and for a moment she could not speak。
〃The kiss was not for the man of genius；〃 she said； 〃but for my
comforter。 Here is a rising glory for the glory that has set； and； in
the midst of my grief for the brother that has fallen so low； my
husband's greatness is revealed to me。Yes； you will be great； great
like the Graindorges； the Rouvets； and Van Robais； and the Persian who
discovered madder； like all the men you have told me about； great men
whom nobody remembers； because their good deeds were obscure
industrial triumphs。〃
〃What are they doing just now？〃
It was Boniface Cointet who spoke。 He was walking up and down outside
in the Place du Murier with Cerizet watching the silhouettes of the
husband and wife on the blinds。 He always came at midnight for a chat
with Cerizet； for the latter played the spy upon his former master's
every movement。
〃He is showing her the paper he made this morning； no doubt；〃 said
Cerizet。
〃What is it made of？〃 asked the paper manufacturer。
〃Impossible to guess；〃 answered