the muse of the department-第27章
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defend either side of any case。 And conscience counts for so little；
these /bravi/ have so little value for their own words； that they will
loudly praise in the greenroom the work they tear to tatters in print。
Nay； men have been known to transfer their services from one paper to
another without being at the pains to consider that the opinions of
the new sheet must be diametrically antagonistic to those of the old。
Madame de la Baudraye could smile to see Lousteau with one article on
the Legitimist side and one on the side of the new dynasty； both on
the same occasion。 She admired the maxim he preached：
〃We are the attorneys of public opinion。〃
The other kind of criticism is a science。 It necessitates a thorough
comprehension of each work； a lucid insight into the tendencies of the
age； the adoption of a system； and faith in fixed principlesthat is
to say； a scheme of jurisprudence； a summing…up； and a verdict。 The
critic is then a magistrate of ideas； the censor of his time； he
fulfils a sacred function； while in the former case he is but an
acrobat who turns somersaults for a living so long as he had a leg to
stand on。 Between Claude Vignon and Lousteau lay the gulf that divides
mere dexterity from art。
Dinah； whose mind was soon freed from rust； and whose intellect was by
no means narrow； had ere long taken literary measure of her idol。 She
saw Lousteau working up to the last minute under the most
discreditable compulsion； and scamping his work； as painters say of a
picture from which sound technique is absent； but she would excuse him
by saying； 〃He is a poet！〃 so anxious was she to justify him in her
own eyes。 When she thus guessed the secret of many a writer's
existence； she also guessed that Lousteau's pen could never be trusted
to as a resource。
Then her love for him led her to take a step she would never had
thought of for her own sake。 Through her mother she tried to negotiate
with her husband for an allowance； but without Etienne's knowledge；
for； as she thought； it would be an offence to his delicate feelings；
which must be considered。 A few days before the end of July； Dinah
crumbled up in her wrath the letter from her mother containing
Monsieur de la Baudraye's ultimatum：
〃Madame de la Baudraye cannot need an allowance in Paris when she can
live in perfect luxury at her Chateau of Anzy： she may return。〃
Lousteau picked up this letter and read it。
〃I will avenge you！〃 said he to Dinah in the ominous tone that
delights a woman when her antipathies are flattered。
Five days after this Bianchon and Duriau； the famous ladies' doctor；
were engaged at Lousteau's； for he； ever since little La Baudraye's
reply； had been making a great display of his joy and importance over
the advent of the infant。 Monsieur de Clagny and Madame Piedefersent
for in all haste were to be the godparents； for the cautious
magistrate feared lest Lousteau should commit some compromising
blunder。 Madame de la Baudraye gave birth to a boy that might have
filled a queen with envy who hoped for an heir…presumptive。
Bianchon and Monsieur de Clagny went off to register the child at the
Mayor's office as the son of Monsieur and Madame de la Baudraye；
unknown to Etienne； who； on his part； rushed off to a printer's to
have this circular set up：
/〃Madame la Baronne de la Baudraye is happily delivered of a son。
〃Monsieur Etienne Lousteau has the pleasure of informing you of
the fact。
〃The mother and child are doing well。〃/
Lousteau had already sent out sixty of these announcements when
Monsieur de Clagny； on coming to make inquiries； happened to see the
list of persons at Sancerre to whom Lousteau proposed to send this
amazing notice； written below the names of the persons in Paris to
whom it was already gone。 The lawyer confiscated the list and the
remainder of the circulars； showed them to Madame Piedefer； begging
her on no account to allow Lousteau to carry on this atrocious jest；
and jumped into a cab。 The devoted friend then ordered from the same
printer another announcement in the following words：
/〃Madame la Baronne de la Baudraye is happily delivered of a son。
〃Monsieur le Baron de la Baudraye has the honor of informing you
of the fact。
〃Mother and child are doing well。〃/
After seeing the proofs destroyed； the form of type； everything that
could bear witness to the existence of the former document； Monsieur
de Clagny set to work to intercept those that had been sent； in many
cases he changed them at the porter's lodge； he got back thirty into
his own hands； and at last； after three days of hard work； only one of
the original notes existed； that； namely sent to Nathan。
Five times had the lawyer called on the great man without finding him。
By the time Monsieur de Clagny was admitted； after requesting an
interview； the story of the announcement was known to all Paris。 Some
persons regarded it as one of those waggish calumnies； a sort of stab
to which every reputation； even the most ephemeral； is exposed； others
said they had read the paper and returned it to some friend of the La
Baudraye family； a great many declaimed against the immorality of
journalists； in short； this last remaining specimen was regarded as a
curiosity。 Florine； with whom Nathan was living； had shown it about；
stamped in the post as paid； and addressed in Etienne's hand。 So； as
soon as the judge spoke of the announcement； Nathan began to smile。
〃Give up that monument of recklessness and folly？〃 cried he。 〃That
autograph is one of those weapons which an athlete in the circus
cannot afford to lay down。 That note proves that Lousteau has no
heart； no taste； no dignity； that he knows nothing of the world nor of
public morality； that he insults himself when he can find no one else
to insult。None but the son of a provincial citizen imported from
Sancerre to become a poet； but who is only the /bravo/ of some
contemptible magazine； could ever have sent out such a circular
letter； as you must allow； monsieur。 This is a document indispensable
to the archives of the age。To…day Lousteau flatters me； to…morrow he
may ask for my head。Excuse me； I forgot you were a judge。
〃I have gone through a passion for a lady； a great lady； as far
superior to Madame de la Baudraye as your fine feeling； monsieur； is
superior to Lousteau's vulgar retaliation； but I would have died
rather than utter her name。 A few months of her airs and graces cost
me a hundred thousand francs and my prospects for life； but I do not
think the price too high！And I have never murmured！If a woman
betrays the secret of her passion； it is the supreme offering of her
love； but a man！He must be a Lousteau！
〃No； I would not give up that paper for a thousand crowns。〃
〃Monsieur；〃 said the lawyer at last； after an eloquent battle lasting
half an hour； 〃I have called on fifteen or sixteen men of letters
about this affair； and can it be that you are the only one immovable
by an appeal of honor？ It is not for Etienne Lousteau that I plead；
but for a woman and child； both equally ignorant of the damage done to
their fortune； their prospects； and their honor。Who knows； monsieur；
whether you might not some day be compelled to plead for some favor of
justice for a friend； for some person whose honor was dearer to you
than your own。It might be remembered against you that you had been
ruthless。Can such a man as you are hesitate？〃 added Monsieur de
Clagny。
〃I only wished you to understand the extent of the sacrifice；〃 replied
Nathan； giving up the letter； as he reflected on the judge's influence
and accepted this implied bargain。
When the journalist's stupid jest had been counteracted； Monsieur de
Clagny went to give him a rating in the presence of Madame Piedefer；
but he found Lousteau fuming with irritation。
〃What I did monsieur； I did with a purpose！〃 replied Etienne。
〃Monsieur de la Baudraye has sixty thousand francs a year and refuses
to make his wife an allowance； I wished to make him feel that the
child is in my power。〃
〃Yes； monsieur； I quite suspected it；〃 replied the lawyer。 〃For that
reason I readily agreed to be little Polydore's godfather； and he is
registered as the son of the Baron and Baronne de la Baudraye； if you
have the feelings of a father； you ought to rejoice in knowing that
the child is heir to one of the finest entailed estates in France。〃
〃And pray； sir； is the mother to die of hunger？〃
〃Be quite easy；〃 said the lawyer bitterly； having dragged from
Lousteau the expression of feeling he had so long been expecting。 〃I
will undertake to transact the matter with Monsieur de la Baudraye。〃
Monsieur de Clagny left the house with a chill at his heart。
Dinah； his idol； was loved for her money。 Would she not； when too
late； have her eyes opened？
〃Poor woman！〃 said the lawyer； as he walked away。 And this justice we
will do himfor to whom should justice be done unless to a Judge？he
loved Dinah too sincerely to regard her degradation as a means of
triumph one day； he was all pity and devotion； he really loved her。
The care and nursing of the infant； its cries； the quiet needed for
the mother during the first few days； and the ubiquity of Madame
Piedefer； were so entirely adverse to literary labors； that Lousteau
moved up to the three rooms taken on the first floor for the old
bigot。 The journalist； obliged to go to the first performances without
Dinah； and living apart from her； found an indescribable charm in the
use of his liberty。 More than once he submitted to be taken by the arm
and dragged off to some jollification； more than once he found himself
at the house of a friend's mistress in the heart of bohemia。 He again
saw women brilliantly young and splendidly dressed； in whom economy
seemed treason to their youth and power。 Dinah； in spite of her
striking beauty； after nursing her baby for three months； could not
stand comparison with these perishable blossoms； so soon faded； but so
showy as long as they live rooted in opulence。
Home life had； nevertheless； a strong attraction for Etienne。 In three
months the mother and daughter； with the help of the cook from
Sancerre and of little Pamela； had given the apartment a quite changed
appearance。 The journalist found his breakfast and his dinner served
with a sort of luxury。 Dinah； handsome and nicely dressed； was careful
to anticipate her dear Etienne's wishes； and he felt himself the king
of his home； where everything； even the baby； was subject to his
selfishness。 Dinah's affection was to be seen in every trifle；
Lousteau could not possibly cease the entrancing deceptions of his
unreal passion。
Dinah； meanwhile； was aware of a source of ruin； both to her love and
to the household； in the kind of life into which Lousteau had allowed
himself to drift。 At the end of ten months she weaned her baby；
installed her mother in the upstairs rooms； and restored the family
intimacy which indissolubly links a man and woman when the woman is
loving and clever。 One of the most striking circumstances in Benjamin
Constant's novel； one of the explanations of Ellenore's desertion； is
the want of dailyor； if you will； of nightlyintercourse between
her and Adolph
