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were all fatalists； men of nerve and poesy； weary of leading flat and
empty lives； driven toward Asiatic enjoyments by forces all the more
excessive because； long dormant； they awoke furious。 One of them；
after re…reading 〃Venice Preserved；〃 and admiring the sublime union of
Pierre and Jaffier； began to reflect on the virtues shown by men who
are outlawed by society； on the honesty of galley…slaves； the
faithfulness of thieves among each other； the privileges of exorbitant
power which such men know how to win by concentrating all ideas into a
single will。 He saw that Man is greater than men。 He concluded that
society ought to belong wholly to those distinguished beings who； to
natural intelligence； acquired wisdom； and fortune； add a fanaticism
hot enough to fuse into one casting these different forces。 That done；
their occult power； vast in action and in intensity； against which the
social order would be helpless； would cast down all obstacles； blast
all other wills； and give to each the devilish power of all。 This
world apart within the world； hostile to the world； admitting none of
the world's ideas； not recognizing any law； not submitting to any
conscience but that of necessity； obedient to a devotion only； acting
with every faculty for a single associate when one of their number
asked for the assistance of all；this life of filibusters in lemon
kid gloves and cabriolets； this intimate union of superior beings；
cold and sarcastic； smiling and cursing in the midst of a false and
puerile society； this certainty of forcing all things to serve an end；
of plotting a vengeance that could not fail of living in thirteen
hearts； this happiness of nurturing a secret hatred in the face of
men； and of being always in arms against this； this ability to
withdraw to the sanctuary of self with one idea more than even the
most remarkable of men could have；this religion of pleasure and
egotism cast so strong a spell over Thirteen men that they revived the
society of Jesuits to the profit of the devil。
It was horrible and stupendous； but the compact was made； and it
lasted precisely because it appeared to be so impossible。
There was； therefore； in Paris a brotherhood of THIRTEEN； who belonged
to each other absolutely； but ignored themselves as absolutely before
the world。 At night they met； like conspirators； hiding no thought；
disposing each and all of a common fortune； like that of the Old Man
of the Mountain； having their feet in all salons； their hands in all
money…boxes； and making all things serve their purpose or their fancy
without scruple。 No chief commanded them； no one member could arrogate
to himself that power。 The most eager passion； the most exacting
circumstance； alone had the right to pass first。 They were Thirteen
unknown kings；but true kings； more than ordinary kings and judges
and executioners；men who； having made themselves wings to roam
through society from depth to height； disdained to be anything in the
social sphere because they could be all。 If the present writer ever
learns the reasons of their abdication of this power； he will take
occasion to tell them。＇*＇
＇*＇ See Theophile Gautier's account of the society of the 〃Cheval
Rouge。〃 Memoir of Balzac。 Roberts Brothers； Boston。
Now； with this brief explanation； he may be allowed to begin the tale
of certain episodes in the history of the THIRTEEN； which have more
particularly attracted him by the Parisian flavor of their details and
the whimsicality of their contrasts。
FERRAGUS；
CHIEF OF THE DEVORANTS
CHAPTER I
MADAME JULES
Certain streets in Paris are as degraded as a man covered with infamy；
also； there are noble streets； streets simply respectable； young
streets on the morality of which the public has not yet formed an
opinion； also cut…throat streets； streets older than the age of the
oldest dowagers； estimable streets； streets always clean； streets
always dirty； working； laboring； and mercantile streets。 In short； the
streets of Paris have every human quality； and impress us； by what we
must call their physiognomy； with certain ideas against which we are
defenceless。 There are； for instance； streets of a bad neighborhood in
which you could not be induced to live； and streets where you would
willingly take up your abode。 Some streets； like the rue Montmartre；
have a charming head； and end in a fish's tail。 The rue de la Paix is
a wide street； a fine street； yet it wakens none of those gracefully
noble thoughts which come to an impressible mind in the middle of the
rue Royale； and it certainly lacks the majesty which reigns in the
Place Vendome。
If you walk the streets of the Ile Saint…Louis； do not seek the reason
of the nervous sadness that lays hold upon you save in the solitude of
the spot； the gloomy look of the houses； and the great deserted
mansions。 This island； the ghost of /fermiers…generaux/； is the Venice
of Paris。 The Place de la Bourse is voluble； busy； degraded； it is
never fine except by moonlight at two in the morning。 By day it is
Paris epitomized； by night it is a dream of Greece。 The rue
Traversiere…Saint…Honoreis not that a villainous street？ Look at the
wretched little houses with two windows on a floor； where vice； crime；
and misery abound。 The narrow streets exposed to the north； where the
sun never comes more than three or four times a year； are the
cut…throat streets which murder with impunity； the authorities of the
present day do not meddle with them； but in former times the
Parliament might perhaps have summoned the lieutenant of police and
reprimanded him for the state of things； and it would； at least； have
issued some decree against such streets； as it once did against the
wigs of the Chapter of Beauvais。 And yet Monsieur Benoiston de
Chateauneuf has proved that the mortality of these streets is double
that of others！ To sum up such theories by a single example： is not
the rue Fromentin both murderous and profligate！
These observations； incomprehensible out of Paris； will doubtless be
understood by musing men of thought and poesy and pleasure； who know；
while rambling about Paris； how to harvest the mass of floating
interests which may be gathered at all hours within her walls； to them
Paris is the most delightful and varied of monsters： here； a pretty
woman； farther on； a haggard pauper； here； new as the coinage of a new
reign； there； in this corner； elegant as a fashionable woman。 A
monster； moreover； complete！ Its garrets； as it were； a head full of
knowledge and genius； its first storeys stomachs repleted； its shops；
actual feet； where the busy ambulating crowds are moving。 Ah！ what an
ever…active life the monster leads！ Hardly has the last vibration of
the last carriage coming from a ball ceased at its heart before its
arms are moving at the barriers and it shakes itself slowly into
motion。 Doors open； turning on their hinges like the membrane of some
huge lobster； invisibly manipulated by thirty thousand men or women；
of whom each individual occupies a space of six square feet； but has a
kitchen； a workshop； a bed； children； a garden； little light to see
by； but must see all。 Imperceptibly； the articulations begin to crack；
motion communicates itself； the street speaks。 By mid…day； all is
alive； the chimneys smoke； the monster eats； then he roars； and his
thousand paws begin to ramp。 Splendid spectacle！ But； O Paris！ he who
has not admired your gloomy passages； your gleams and flashes of
light； your deep and silent /cul…de…sacs/； who has not listened to
your murmurings between midnight and two in the morning； knows nothing
as yet of your true poesy； nor of your broad and fantastic contrasts。
There are a few amateurs who never go their way heedlessly； who savor
their Paris； so to speak； who know its physiognomy so well that they
see every wart； and pimple； and redness。 To others； Paris is always
that monstrous marvel； that amazing assemblage of activities； of
schemes； of thoughts； the city of a hundred thousand tales； the head
of the universe。 But to those few； Paris is sad or gay； ugly or
beautiful； living or dead； to them Paris is a creature； every man；
every fraction of a house is a lobe of the cellular tissue of that
great courtesan whose head and heart and fantastic customs they know
so well。 These men are lovers of Paris； they lift their noses at such
or such a corner of a street； certain that they can see the face of a
clock； they tell a friend whose tobacco…pouch is empty； 〃Go down that
passage and turn to the left； there's a tobacconist next door to a
confectioner； where there's a pretty girl。〃 Rambling about Paris is；
to these poets； a costly luxury。 How can they help spending precious
minutes before the dramas； disasters； faces； and picturesque events
which meet us everywhere amid this heaving queen of cities； clothed in
posters；who has； nevertheless； not a single clean corner； so
complying is she to the vices of the French nation！ Who has not
chanced to leave his home early in the morning； intending to go to
some extremity of Paris； and found himself unable to get away from the
centre of it by the dinner…hour？ Such a man will know how to excuse
this vagabo