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Therefore； my dear fellow； become the hero； the support； the creator
of the Left Centre in the new Chamber； and you'll succeed。 Once
admitted into political ranks； once in the government； you can be what
you like；of any opinion that triumphs。〃
Nathan was bent on creating a daily political journal and becoming the
absolute master of an enterprise which should absorb into it the
countless little papers then swarming from the press； and establish
ramifications with a review。 He had seen so many fortunes made all
around him by the press that he would not listen to Blondet； who
warned him not to trust to such a venture； declaring that the plan was
unsound； so great was the present number of newspapers； all fighting
for subscribers。 Raoul； relying on his so…called friends and his own
courage； was all for daring it； he sprang up eagerly and said； with a
proud gesture；
〃I shall succeed。〃
〃But you haven't a sou。〃
〃I will write a play。〃
〃It will fail。〃
〃Let it fail！〃 replied Nathan。
He rushed through the various rooms of Florine's apartment； followed
by Blondet； who thought him crazy； looking with a greedy eye upon the
wealth displayed there。 Blondet understood that look。
〃There's a hundred and more thousand francs in them；〃 he remarked。
〃Yes；〃 said Raoul； sighing； as he looked at Florine's sumptuous
bedstead； 〃but I'd rather be a pedler all my life on the boulevard；
and live on fried potatoes； than sell one item of this apartment。〃
〃Not one item；〃 said Blondet； 〃sell all。 Ambition is like death； it
takes all or nothing。〃
〃No； a hundred times no！ I would take anything from my new countess；
but rob Florine of her shell？ no。〃
〃Upset our money…box； break one's balance…pole； smash our refuge；
yes； that would be serious；〃 said Blondet with a tragic air。
〃It seems to me from what I hear that you want to play politics
instead of comedies；〃 said Florine； suddenly appearing。
〃Yes； my dear； yes；〃 said Raoul； affectionately taking her by the neck
and kissing her forehead。 〃Don't make faces at that； you won't lose
anything。 A minister can do better than a journalist for the queen of
the boards。 What parts and what holidays you shall have！〃
〃Where will you get the money？〃 she said。
〃From my uncle；〃 replied Raoul。
Florine knew Raoul's 〃uncle。〃 The word meant usury； as in popular
parlance 〃aunt〃 means pawn。
〃Don't worry yourself； my little darling；〃 said Blondet to Florine；
tapping her shoulder。 〃I'll get him the assistance of Massol； a lawyer
who wants to be deputy； also Finot； who has never yet got beyond his
'petit…journal；' and Pantin； who wants to be master of petitions； and
who dabbles in reviews。 Yes； I'll save him from himself； we'll convoke
here to supper Etienne Lousteau； who can do the feuilleton； Claude
Vignon for criticisms； Felicien Vernou as general care…taker； the
lawyer will work； and du Tillet may take charge of the Bourse； the
money article； and all industrial questions。 We'll see where these
various talents and slaves united will land the enterprise。〃
〃In a hospital or a ministry；where all men ruined in body or mind
are apt to go；〃 said Raoul； laughing。
〃Where and when shall we invite them？〃
〃Here； five days hence。〃
〃Tell me the sum you want；〃 said Florine； simply。
〃Well； the lawyer； du Tillet； and Raoul will each have to put up a
hundred thousand francs before they embark on the affair；〃 replied
Blondet。 〃Then the paper can run eighteen months； about long enough
for a rise and fall in Paris。〃
Florine gave a little grimace of approval。 The two friends jumped into
a cabriolet to go about collecting guests and pens； ideas and self…
interests。
Florine meantime sent for certain dealers in old furniture； bric…a…
brac； pictures； and jewels。 These men entered her sanctuary and took
an inventory of every article； precisely as if Florine were dead。 She
declared she would sell everything at public auction if they did not
offer her a proper price。 She had had the luck to please； she said； an
English lord； and she wanted to get rid of all her property and look
poor； so that he might give her a fine house and furniture； fit to
rival the Rothschilds。 But in spite of these persuasions and
subterfuges； all the dealers would offer her for a mass of belongings
worth a hundred and fifty thousand was seventy thousand。 Florine
thereupon offered to deliver over everything in eight days for eighty
thousand；〃To take or leave；〃 she said；and the bargain was
concluded。 After the men had departed she skipped for joy； like the
hills of King David； and performed all manner of follies； not having
thought herself so rich。
When Raoul came back she made him a little scene； pretending to be
hurt； she declared that he abandoned her； that she had reflected； men
did not pass from one party to another； from the stage to the Chamber；
without some reason； there was a woman at the bottom； she had a rival！
In short； she made him swear eternal fidelity。 Five days later she
gave a splendid feast。 The new journal was baptized in floods of wine
and wit； with oaths of loyalty； fidelity； and good…fellowship。 The
name； forgotten now like those of the Liberal； Communal； Departmental；
Garde National； Federal； Impartial； was something in 〃al〃 that was
equally imposing and evanescent。 At three in the morning Florine could
undress and go to bed as if alone； though no one had left the house；
these lights of the epoch were sleeping the sleep of brutes。 And when；
early in the morning； the packers and vans arrived to remove Florine's
treasures she laughed to see the porters moving the bodies of the
celebrated men like pieces of furniture that lay in their way。 〃Sic
transit〃 all her fine things！ all her presents and souvenirs went to
the shops of the various dealers； where no one on seeing them would
know how those flowers of luxury had been originally paid for。 It was
agreed that a few little necessary articles should be left； for
Florine's personal convenience until evening；her bed； a table； a few
chairs； and china enough to give her guests their breakfast。
Having gone to sleep beneath the draperies of wealth and luxury； these
distinguished men awoke to find themselves within bare walls； full of
nail…holes； degraded into abject poverty。
〃Why； Florine！The poor girl has been seized for debt！〃 cried Bixiou；
who was one of the guests。 〃Quick！ a subscription for her！〃
On this they all roused up。 Every pocket was emptied and produced a
total of thirty…seven francs； which Raoul carried in jest to Florine's
bedside。 She burst out laughing and lifted her pillow； beneath which
lay a mass of bank…notes to which she pointed。
Raoul called to Blondet。
〃Ah！ I see！〃 cried Blondet。 〃The little cheat has sold herself out
without a word to us。 Well done； you little angel！〃
Thereupon； the actress was borne in triumph into the dining…room where
most of the party still remained。 The lawyer and du Tillet had
departed。
That evening Florine had an ovation at the theatre； the story of her
sacrifice had circulated among the audience。
〃I'd rather be applauded for my talent；〃 said her rival in the green…
room。
〃A natural desire in an actress who has never been applauded at all；〃
remarked Florine。
During the evening Florine's maid installed her in Raoul's apartment
in the Passage Sandrie。 Raoul himself was to encamp in the house where
the office of the new journal was established。
Such was the rival of the innocent Madame de Vandenesse。 Raoul was the
connecting link between the actress and the countess；a knot severed
by a duchess in the days of Louis XV。 by the poisoning of Adrienne
Lecouvreur； a not inconceivable vengeance； considering the offence。
Florine； however； was not in the way of Raoul's dawning passion。 She
foresaw the lack of money in the difficult enterprise he had
undertaken； and she asked for leave of absence from the theatre。 Raoul
conducted the negotiation in a way to make himself more than ever
valuable to her。 With the good sense of the peasant in La Fontaine's
fable； who makes sure of a dinner while the patricians talk； the
actress went into the provinces to cut faggots for her celebrated man
while he was employed in hunting power。
CHAPTER VI
ROMANTIC LOVE
On the morrow of the ball given by Lady Dudley； Marie； without having
received the slightest declaration； believed that she was loved by
Raoul according to the programme of her dreams； and Raoul was aware
that the countess had chosen him for her lover。 Though neither had
reached the incline of such emotions where preliminaries are abridged；
both were on the road to it。 Raoul； wearied with the dissipations of
life； longed for an ideal world； while Marie； from whom the thought of
wrong…doing was far； indeed； never imagined the possibility of going
out of such a