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by¡¡Honore¡¡de¡¡Balzac

Translated¡¡by¡¡Ellen¡¡Marriage



DEDICATION

¡¡¡¡To¡¡Monsieur¡¡Victor¡¡Hugo£»

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At¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡this¡¡story¡¡opens£»¡¡the¡¡Stanhope¡¡press¡¡and¡¡the¡¡ink¡­¡¡distributing¡¡roller¡¡were¡¡not¡¡as¡¡yet¡¡in¡¡general¡¡use¡¡in¡¡small¡¡provincial¡¡printing¡¡establishments¡£¡¡Even¡¡at¡¡Angouleme£»¡¡so¡¡closely¡¡connected¡¡through¡¡its¡¡paper¡­mills¡¡with¡¡the¡¡art¡¡of¡¡typography¡¡in¡¡Paris£»¡¡the¡¡only¡¡machinery¡¡in¡¡use¡¡was¡¡the¡¡primitive¡¡wooden¡¡invention¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the¡¡language¡¡owes¡¡a¡¡figure¡¡of¡¡speech¡¨the¡¡press¡¡groans¡¨¡¡was¡¡no¡¡mere¡¡rhetorical¡¡expression¡¡in¡¡those¡¡days¡£¡¡Leather¡¡ink¡­balls¡¡were¡¡still¡¡used¡¡in¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡printing¡¡houses£»¡¡the¡¡pressman¡¡dabbed¡¡the¡¡ink¡¡by¡¡hand¡¡on¡¡the¡¡characters£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡movable¡¡table¡¡on¡¡which¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡type¡¡was¡¡placed¡¡in¡¡readiness¡¡for¡¡the¡¡sheet¡¡of¡¡paper£»¡¡being¡¡made¡¡of¡¡marble£»¡¡literally¡¡deserved¡¡its¡¡name¡¡of¡¡¡¨impression¡­stone¡£¡¨¡¡Modern¡¡machinery¡¡has¡¡swept¡¡all¡¡this¡¡old¡­world¡¡mechanism¡¡into¡¡oblivion£»¡¡the¡¡wooden¡¡press¡¡which£»¡¡with¡¡all¡¡its¡¡imperfections£»¡¡turned¡¡out¡¡such¡¡beautiful¡¡work¡¡for¡¡the¡¡Elzevirs£»¡¡Plantin£»¡¡Aldus£»¡¡and¡¡Didot¡¡is¡¡so¡¡completely¡¡forgotten£»¡¡that¡¡something¡¡must¡¡be¡¡said¡¡as¡¡to¡¡the¡¡obsolete¡¡gear¡¡on¡¡which¡¡Jerome¡­¡¡Nicolas¡¡Sechard¡¡set¡¡an¡¡almost¡¡superstitious¡¡affection£»¡¡for¡¡it¡¡plays¡¡a¡¡part¡¡in¡¡this¡¡chronicle¡¡of¡¡great¡¡small¡¡things¡£

Sechard¡¡had¡¡been¡¡in¡¡his¡¡time¡¡a¡¡journeyman¡¡pressman£»¡¡a¡¡¡¨bear¡¨¡¡in¡¡compositors'¡¡slang¡£¡¡The¡¡continued¡¡pacing¡¡to¡¡and¡¡fro¡¡of¡¡the¡¡pressman¡¡from¡¡ink¡­table¡¡to¡¡press£»¡¡from¡¡press¡¡to¡¡ink¡­table£»¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡suggested¡¡the¡¡nickname¡£¡¡The¡¡¡¨bears£»¡¨¡¡however£»¡¡make¡¡matters¡¡even¡¡by¡¡calling¡¡the¡¡compositors¡¡monkeys£»¡¡on¡¡account¡¡of¡¡the¡¡nimble¡¡industry¡¡displayed¡¡by¡¡those¡¡gentlemen¡¡in¡¡picking¡¡out¡¡the¡¡type¡¡from¡¡the¡¡hundred¡¡and¡¡fifty¡­two¡¡compartments¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cases¡£

In¡¡the¡¡disastrous¡¡year¡¡1793£»¡¡Sechard£»¡¡being¡¡fifty¡¡years¡¡old¡¡and¡¡a¡¡married¡¡man£»¡¡escaped¡¡the¡¡great¡¡Requisition¡¡which¡¡swept¡¡the¡¡bulk¡¡of¡¡French¡¡workmen¡¡into¡¡the¡¡army¡£¡¡The¡¡old¡¡pressman¡¡was¡¡the¡¡only¡¡hand¡¡left¡¡in¡¡the¡¡printing¡­house£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡the¡¡master¡¡£¨otherwise¡¡the¡¡¡¨gaffer¡¨£©¡¡died£»¡¡leaving¡¡a¡¡widow£»¡¡but¡¡no¡¡children£»¡¡the¡¡business¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡on¡¡the¡¡verge¡¡of¡¡extinction£»¡¡for¡¡the¡¡solitary¡¡¡¨bear¡¨¡¡was¡¡quite¡¡incapable¡¡of¡¡the¡¡feat¡¡of¡¡transformation¡¡into¡¡a¡¡¡¨monkey£»¡¨¡¡and¡¡in¡¡his¡¡quality¡¡of¡¡pressman¡¡had¡¡never¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡read¡¡or¡¡write¡£¡¡Just¡¡then£»¡¡however£»¡¡a¡¡Representative¡¡of¡¡the¡¡People¡¡being¡¡in¡¡a¡¡mighty¡¡hurry¡¡to¡¡publish¡¡the¡¡Decrees¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Convention£»¡¡bestowed¡¡a¡¡master¡¡printer's¡¡license¡¡on¡¡Sechard£»¡¡and¡¡requisitioned¡¡the¡¡establishment¡£¡¡Citizen¡¡Sechard¡¡accepted¡¡the¡¡dangerous¡¡patent£»¡¡bought¡¡the¡¡business¡¡of¡¡his¡¡master's¡¡widow¡¡with¡¡his¡¡wife's¡¡savings£»¡¡and¡¡took¡¡over¡¡the¡¡plant¡¡at¡¡half¡¡its¡¡value¡£¡¡But¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡even¡¡at¡¡the¡¡beginning¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡bound¡¡to¡¡print¡¡the¡¡Decrees¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Republic¡¡without¡¡mistakes¡¡and¡¡without¡¡delay¡£

In¡¡this¡¡strait¡¡Jerome¡­Nicolas¡¡Sechard¡¡had¡¡the¡¡luck¡¡to¡¡discover¡¡a¡¡noble¡¡Marseillais¡¡who¡¡had¡¡no¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡emigrate¡¡and¡¡lose¡¡his¡¡lands£»¡¡nor¡¡yet¡¡to¡¡show¡¡himself¡¡openly¡¡and¡¡lose¡¡his¡¡head£»¡¡and¡¡consequently¡¡was¡¡fain¡¡to¡¡earn¡¡a¡¡living¡¡by¡¡some¡¡lawful¡¡industry¡£¡¡A¡¡bargain¡¡was¡¡struck¡£¡¡M¡£¡¡le¡¡Comte¡¡de¡¡Maucombe£»¡¡disguised¡¡in¡¡a¡¡provincial¡¡printer's¡¡jacket£»¡¡set¡¡up£»¡¡read£»¡¡and¡¡corrected¡¡the¡¡decrees¡¡which¡¡forbade¡¡citizens¡¡to¡¡harbor¡¡aristocrats¡¡under¡¡pain¡¡of¡¡death£»¡¡while¡¡the¡¡¡¨bear£»¡¨¡¡now¡¡a¡¡¡¨gaffer£»¡¨¡¡printed¡¡the¡¡copies¡¡and¡¡duly¡¡posted¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡pair¡¡remained¡¡safe¡¡and¡¡sound¡£

In¡¡1795£»¡¡when¡¡the¡¡squall¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Terror¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡over£»¡¡Nicolas¡¡Sechard¡¡was¡¡obliged¡¡to¡¡look¡¡out¡¡for¡¡another¡¡jack¡­of¡­all¡­trades¡¡to¡¡be¡¡compositor£»¡¡reader£»¡¡and¡¡foreman¡¡in¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡an¡¡Abbe¡¡who¡¡declined¡¡the¡¡oath¡¡succeeded¡¡the¡¡Comte¡¡de¡¡Maucombe¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Consul¡¡restored¡¡public¡¡worship¡£¡¡The¡¡Abbe¡¡became¡¡a¡¡Bishop¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Restoration£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡after¡¡days¡¡the¡¡Count¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Abbe¡¡met¡¡and¡¡sat¡¡together¡¡on¡¡the¡¡same¡¡bench¡¡of¡¡the¡¡House¡¡of¡¡Peers¡£

In¡¡1795¡¡Jerome¡­Nicolas¡¡had¡¡not¡¡known¡¡how¡¡to¡¡read¡¡or¡¡write£»¡¡in¡¡1802¡¡he¡¡had¡¡made¡¡no¡¡progress¡¡in¡¡either¡¡art£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡allowing¡¡a¡¡handsome¡¡margin¡¡for¡¡¡¨wear¡¡and¡¡tear¡¨¡¡in¡¡his¡¡estimates£»¡¡he¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡pay¡¡a¡¡foreman's¡¡wages¡£¡¡The¡¡once¡¡easy¡­going¡¡journeyman¡¡was¡¡a¡¡terror¡¡to¡¡his¡¡¡¨bears¡¨¡¡and¡¡¡¨monkeys¡£¡¨¡¡Where¡¡poverty¡¡ceases£»¡¡avarice¡¡begins¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡day¡¡when¡¡Sechard¡¡first¡¡caught¡¡a¡¡glimpse¡¡of¡¡the¡¡possibility¡¡of¡¡making¡¡a¡¡fortune£»¡¡a¡¡growing¡¡covetousness¡¡developed¡¡and¡¡sharpened¡¡in¡¡him¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡practical¡¡faculty¡¡for¡¡businessgreedy£»¡¡suspicious£»¡¡and¡¡keen¡­eyed¡£¡¡He¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡his¡¡craft¡¡in¡¡disdain¡¡of¡¡theory¡£¡¡In¡¡course¡¡of¡¡time¡¡he¡¡had¡¡learned¡¡to¡¡estimate¡¡at¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡the¡¡cost¡¡of¡¡printing¡¡per¡¡page¡¡or¡¡per¡¡sheet¡¡in¡¡every¡¡kind¡¡of¡¡type¡£¡¡He¡¡proved¡¡to¡¡unlettered¡¡customers¡¡that¡¡large¡¡type¡¡costs¡¡more¡¡to¡¡move£»¡¡or£»¡¡if¡¡small¡¡type¡¡was¡¡under¡¡discussion£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡was¡¡more¡¡difficult¡¡to¡¡handle¡£¡¡The¡¡setting¡­up¡¡of¡¡the¡¡type¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡part¡¡of¡¡his¡¡craft¡¡of¡¡which¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡nothing£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡great¡¡was¡¡his¡¡terror¡¡lest¡¡he¡¡should¡¡not¡¡charge¡¡enough£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡always¡¡made¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡profit¡£¡¡He¡¡never¡¡took¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡off¡¡his¡¡compositors¡¡while¡¡they¡¡were¡¡paid¡¡by¡¡the¡¡hour¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡a¡¡paper¡¡manufacturer¡¡was¡¡in¡¡difficulties£»¡¡he¡¡would¡¡buy¡¡up¡¡his¡¡stock¡¡at¡¡a¡¡cheap¡¡rate¡¡and¡¡warehouse¡¡the¡¡paper¡£¡¡So¡¡from¡¡this¡¡time¡¡forward¡¡he¡¡was¡¡his¡¡own¡¡landlord£»¡¡and¡¡owned¡¡the¡¡old¡¡house¡¡which¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡printing¡¡office¡¡from¡¡time¡¡immemorial¡£

He¡¡had¡¡every¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡luck¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡left¡¡a¡¡widower¡¡with¡¡but¡¡one¡¡son¡£¡¡The¡¡boy¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡to¡¡the¡¡grammar¡¡school£»¡¡he¡¡must¡¡be¡¡educated£»¡¡not¡¡so¡¡much¡¡for¡¡his¡¡own¡¡sake¡¡as¡¡to¡¡train¡¡a¡¡successor¡¡to¡¡the¡¡business£»¡¡and¡¡Sechard¡¡treated¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡harshly¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡prolong¡¡the¡¡time¡¡of¡¡parental¡¡rule£»¡¡making¡¡him¡¡work¡¡at¡¡case¡¡on¡¡holidays£»¡¡telling¡¡him¡¡that¡¡he¡¡must¡¡learn¡¡to¡¡earn¡¡his¡¡own¡¡living£»¡¡so¡¡as¡¡to¡¡recompense¡¡his¡¡poor¡¡old¡¡father£»¡¡who¡¡was¡¡slaving¡¡his¡¡life¡¡out¡¡to¡¡give¡¡him¡¡an¡¡education¡£

Then¡¡the¡¡Abbe¡¡went£»¡¡and¡¡Sechard¡¡promoted¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡four¡¡compositors¡¡to¡¡be¡¡foreman£»¡¡making¡¡his¡¡choice¡¡on¡¡the¡¡future¡¡bishop's¡¡recommendation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡man¡¡as¡¡an¡¡honest¡¡and¡¡intelligent¡¡workman¡£¡¡In¡¡these¡¡ways¡¡the¡¡worthy¡¡printer¡¡thought¡¡to¡¡tide¡¡over¡¡the¡¡time¡¡until¡¡his¡¡son¡¡could¡¡take¡¡a¡¡business¡¡which¡¡was¡¡sure¡¡to¡¡extend¡¡in¡¡young¡¡and¡¡clever¡¡hands¡£

David¡¡Sechard's¡¡school¡¡career¡¡was¡¡a¡¡brilliant¡¡one¡£¡¡Old¡¡Sechard£»¡¡as¡¡a¡¡¡¨bear¡¨¡¡who¡¡had¡¡succeeded¡¡in¡¡life¡¡without¡¡any¡¡education£»¡¡entertained¡¡a¡¡very¡¡considerable¡¡contempt¡¡for¡¡attainments¡¡in¡¡book¡¡learning£»¡¡and¡¡when¡¡he¡¡sent¡¡his¡¡son¡¡to¡¡Paris¡¡to¡¡study¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡typography£»¡¡he¡¡recommended¡¡the¡¡lad¡¡so¡¡earnestly¡¡to¡¡save¡¡a¡¡good¡¡round¡¡sum¡¡in¡¡the¡¡¡¨working¡¡man's¡¡paradise¡¨¡¡£¨as¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pleased¡¡to¡¡call¡¡the¡¡city£©£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡distinctly¡¡gave¡¡the¡¡boy¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡draw¡¡upon¡¡the¡¡paternal¡¡purse£»¡¡that¡¡it¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡if¡¡old¡¡Sechard¡¡saw¡¡some¡¡way¡¡of¡¡gaining¡¡private¡¡ends¡¡of¡¡his¡¡own¡¡by¡¡that¡¡sojourn¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Land¡¡of¡¡Sapience¡£¡¡So¡¡David¡¡learned¡¡his¡¡trade£»¡¡and¡¡completed¡¡his¡¡education¡¡at¡¡the¡¡same¡¡time£»¡¡and¡¡Didot's¡¡foreman¡¡became¡¡a¡¡scholar£»¡¡and¡¡yet¡¡when¡¡he¡¡left¡¡Paris¡¡at¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡1819£»¡¡summoned¡¡home¡¡by¡¡his¡¡father¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡helm¡¡of¡¡business£»¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡cost¡¡his¡¡parent¡¡a¡¡farthing¡£

Now¡¡Nicolas¡¡Sechard's¡¡establishment¡¡hitherto¡¡had¡¡enjoyed¡¡a¡¡monopoly¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡official¡¡printing¡¡in¡¡the¡¡department£»¡¡besides¡¡the¡¡work¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prefecture¡¡and¡¡the¡¡diocesethree¡¡connections¡¡which¡¡should¡¡prove¡¡mighty¡¡profitable¡¡to¡¡an¡¡active¡¡young¡¡printer£»¡¡but¡¡precisely¡¡at¡¡this¡¡juncture¡¡the¡¡firm¡¡of¡¡Cointet¡¡Brothers£»¡¡paper¡¡manufacturers£»¡¡applied¡¡to¡¡the¡¡authorities¡¡for¡¡the¡¡second¡¡printer's¡¡license¡¡in¡¡Angouleme¡£¡¡Hitherto¡¡old¡¡Sechard¡¡had¡¡contrived¡¡to¡¡reduce¡¡this¡¡license¡¡to¡¡a¡¡dead¡¡letter£»¡¡thanks¡¡to¡¡the¡¡war¡¡crisis¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Empire£»¡¡and¡¡consequent¡¡atrophy¡¡of¡¡commercial¡¡enterprise£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡neglected¡¡to¡¡buy¡¡up¡¡the¡¡right¡¡himself£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡parsimony¡¡was¡¡the¡¡ruin¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡¡business¡£¡¡Sechard¡¡thought¡¡joyfully¡¡when¡¡he¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡news¡¡that¡¡the¡¡coming¡¡struggle¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Cointets¡¡would¡¡be¡¡fought¡¡out¡¡by¡¡his¡¡son¡¡and¡¡not¡¡by¡¡himself¡£

¡¨I¡¡should¡¡have¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¨¡¡he¡¡thought£»¡¡¡¨but¡¡a¡¡young¡¡fellow¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Didots¡¡will¡¡pull¡¡through¡£¡¨

The¡¡septuagenarian¡¡sighed¡¡for¡¡the¡¡time¡¡when¡¡he¡¡could¡¡live¡¡at¡¡ease¡¡in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡fashion¡£¡¡If¡¡his¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡the¡¡higher¡¡branches¡¡of¡¡the¡¡craft¡¡of¡¡printing¡¡was¡¡scanty£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡other¡¡hand£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡past¡¡master¡¡of¡¡an¡¡art¡¡which¡¡workmen¡¡pleasantly¡¡call¡¡¡¨tipple¡­ography£»¡¨¡¡an¡¡art¡¡held¡¡in¡¡high¡¡esteem¡¡by¡¡the¡¡divine¡¡author¡¡of¡¡Pantagruel£»¡¡though¡¡of¡¡late£»¡¡by¡¡reason¡¡of¡¡the¡¡persecution¡¡of¡¡societies¡¡yclept¡¡of¡¡Temperance£»¡¡the¡¡cult¡¡has¡¡fallen£»¡¡day¡¡by¡¡day£»¡¡into¡¡disuse¡£

Jerome¡­Nicolas¡¡Sechard£»¡¡bound¡¡by¡¡the¡¡laws¡¡of¡¡etymology¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡dry¡¡subject£»¡¡suffered¡¡from¡¡an¡¡inextinguishable¡¡thirst¡£¡¡His¡¡wife£»¡¡during¡¡her¡¡lifetime£»¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡control¡¡within¡¡reasonable¡¡bounds¡¡the¡¡passion¡¡for¡¡the¡¡juice¡¡of¡¡the¡¡grape£»¡¡a¡¡taste¡¡so¡¡natural¡¡to¡¡the¡¡bear¡¡that¡¡M¡£¡¡de¡¡Chateaubriand¡¡remarked¡¡it¡¡among¡¡the¡¡ursine¡¡tribes¡¡of¡¡the¡¡New¡¡World¡£¡¡But¡¡philosophers¡¡inform¡¡us¡¡that¡¡old¡¡age¡¡is¡¡apt¡¡to¡¡revert¡¡to¡¡the¡¡habits¡¡of¡¡youth£»¡¡and¡¡Sechard¡¡senior¡¡is¡¡a¡¡case¡¡in¡¡pointthe¡¡older¡¡he¡¡grew£»¡¡the¡¡better¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡to¡¡drink¡£¡¡The¡¡master¡­passion¡¡had¡¡given¡¡a¡¡stamp¡¡of¡¡originality¡¡to¡¡an¡¡ursine¡¡physiognomy£»¡¡his¡¡nose¡¡had¡¡developed¡¡till¡¡it¡¡reached¡¡the¡¡proportions¡¡of¡¡a¡¡double¡¡great¡­canon¡¡A£»¡¡his¡¡veined¡¡cheeks¡¡looked¡¡like¡¡vine¡­leaves£»¡¡covered£»¡¡as¡¡they¡¡were£»¡¡with¡¡bloated¡¡patches¡¡of¡¡purple£»¡¡madder¡¡red£»¡¡and¡¡often¡¡mottled¡¡hues£»¡¡till¡¡altogether£»¡¡the¡¡countenance¡¡suggested¡¡a¡¡huge¡¡truffle¡¡clasped¡¡about¡¡by¡¡autumn¡¡vine¡¡tendrils¡£¡¡The¡¡little¡¡gray¡¡eyes£»¡¡peering¡¡out¡¡from¡¡beneath¡¡thick¡¡eyebrows¡¡like¡¡bushes¡¡covered¡¡with¡¡snow£»¡¡were¡¡agleam¡¡with¡¡the¡¡cunning¡¡of¡¡avarice¡¡that¡¡had¡¡extinguished¡¡everything¡¡else¡¡in¡¡the¡¡man£»¡¡down¡¡to¡¡the¡¡very¡¡instinct¡¡of¡¡fatherhood¡£¡¡Those¡¡eyes¡¡never¡¡lost¡¡their¡¡cunning¡¡even¡¡when¡¡disguised¡¡in¡¡drink¡£¡¡Sechard¡¡put¡¡you¡¡in¡¡mind¡¡of¡¡one¡¡of¡¡La¡¡Fontaine's¡¡Franciscan¡¡friars£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fringe¡¡of¡¡grizzled¡¡hair¡¡still¡¡curling¡¡about¡¡his¡¡bald¡¡pate¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡short¡¡and¡¡corpulent£»¡¡like¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡lamps¡¡for¡¡illumination£»¡¡that¡¡burn¡¡a¡¡vast¡¡deal¡¡of¡¡oil¡¡to¡¡a¡¡very¡¡small¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡wick£»¡¡for¡¡excess¡¡of¡¡any¡¡sort¡¡confirms¡¡the¡¡habit¡¡of¡¡body£»¡¡and¡¡drunkenness£»¡¡like¡¡much¡¡study£»¡¡makes¡¡the¡¡fat¡¡man¡¡stouter£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡lean¡¡man¡¡leaner¡¡still¡£

For¡¡thirty¡¡years¡¡Jerome¡­Nicolas¡­Sechard¡¡had¡¡worn¡¡the¡¡famous¡¡municipal¡¡three¡­cornered¡¡hat£»¡¡which¡¡you¡¡may¡¡still¡¡see¡¡here¡¡and¡¡there¡¡on¡¡the¡¡head¡¡of¡¡the¡¡towncrier¡¡in¡¡out¡­of¡­the¡­way¡¡places¡£¡¡His¡¡breeches¡¡and¡¡waistcoat¡¡were¡¡of¡¡greenish¡¡velveteen£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wore¡¡an¡¡old¡­fashioned¡¡brown¡¡greatcoat£»¡¡gray¡¡cotton¡¡stockings£»¡¡and¡¡shoes¡¡with¡¡silver¡¡buckles¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡This¡¡costume£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡the¡¡workman¡¡shone¡¡through¡¡the¡¡burgess£»¡¡was¡¡so¡¡thoroughly¡¡in¡¡keeping¡¡with¡¡the¡¡man's¡¡character£»¡¡defects£»¡¡and¡¡way¡¡of¡¡life£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡might¡¡have¡¡come¡¡ready¡¡dressed¡¡into¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡Yo

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