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see this place in the hands of an energetic； pushing； ambitious
competitor；〃 he continued； 〃and perhaps it might be possible to arrive
at an understanding。 Suppose； for instance； that you consented for a
consideration to allow us to put in one of our own men to work your
presses for our benefit； but nominally for you； the thing is sometimes
done in Paris。 We would find the fellow work enough to enable him to
rent your place and pay you well； and yet make a profit for himself。〃
〃It depends on the amount；〃 said Eve Sechard。 〃What is your offer？〃
she added； looking at Boniface to let him see that she understood his
scheme perfectly well。
〃What is your own idea？〃 Jean Cointet put in briskly。
〃Three thousand francs for six months；〃 said she。
〃Why； my dear young lady； you were proposing to sell the place
outright for twenty thousand francs；〃 said Boniface with much suavity。
〃The interest on twenty thousand francs is only twelve hundred francs
per annum at six per cent。〃
For a moment Eve was thrown into confusion； she saw the need for
discretion in matters of business。
〃You wish to use our presses and our name as well；〃 she said； 〃and； as
I have already shown you； I can still do a little business。 And then
we pay rent to M。 Sechard senior； who does not load us with presents。〃
After two hours of debate； Eve obtained two thousand francs for six
months； one thousand to be paid in advance。 When everything was
concluded； the brothers informed her that they meant to put in Cerizet
as lessee of the premises。 In spite of herself； Eve started with
surprise。
〃Isn't it better to have somebody who knows the workshop？〃 asked the
fat Cointet。
Eve made no reply； she took leave of the brothers； vowing inwardly to
look after Cerizet。
〃Well； here are our enemies in the place！〃 laughed David； when Eve
brought out the papers for his signature at dinner…time。
〃Pshaw！〃 said she； 〃I will answer for Kolb and Marion； they alone
would look after things。 Besides； we shall be making an income of four
thousand francs from the workshop； which only costs us money as it is；
and looking forward； I see a year in which you may realize your
hopes。〃
〃You were born to be the wife of a scientific worker； as you said by
the weir；〃 said David； grasping her hand tenderly。
But though the Sechard household had money sufficient that winter；
they were none the less subjected to Cerizet's espionage； and all
unconsciously became dependent upon Boniface Cointet。
〃We have them now！〃 the manager of the paper…mill had exclaimed as he
left the house with his brother the printer。 〃They will begin to
regard the rent as regular income； they will count upon it and run
themselves into debt。 In six months' time we will decline to renew the
agreement； and then we shall see what this man of genius has at the
bottom of his mind； we will offer to help him out of his difficulty by
taking him into partnership and exploiting his discovery。〃
Any shrewd man of business who should have seen tall Cointet's face as
he uttered those words； 〃taking him into partnership；〃 would have
known that it behooves a man to be even more careful in the selection
of the partner whom he takes before the Tribunal of Commerce than in
the choice of the wife whom he weds at the Mayor's office。 Was it not
enough already； and more than enough； that the ruthless hunters were
on the track of the quarry？ How should David and his wife； with Kolb
and Marion to help them； escape the toils of a Boniface Cointet？
A draft for five hundred francs came from Lucien； and this； with
Cerizet's second payment； enabled them to meet all the expenses of
Mme。 Sechard's confinement。 Eve and the mother and David had thought
that Lucien had forgotten them； and rejoiced over this token of
remembrance as they rejoiced over his success； for his first exploits
in journalism made even more noise in Angouleme than in Paris。
But David； thus lulled into a false security； was to receive a
staggering blow； a cruel letter from Lucien：
Lucien to David。
〃MY DEAR DAVID；I have drawn three bills on you； and negotiated
them with Metivier； they fall due in one； two； and three months'
time。 I took this hateful course； which I know will burden you
heavily； because the one alternative was suicide。 I will explain
my necessity some time； and I will try besides to send the amounts
as the bills fall due。
〃Burn this letter； say nothing to my mother and sister； for； I
confess it； I have counted upon you； upon the heroism known so
well to your despairing brother；
〃LUCIEN DE RUBEMPRE。〃
By this time Eve had recovered from her confinement。
〃Your brother； poor fellow； is in desperate straits；〃 David told her。
〃I have sent him three bills for a thousand francs at one； two； and
three months； just make a note of them；〃 and he went out into the
fields to escape his wife's questionings。
But Eve had felt very uneasy already。 It was six months since Lucien
had written to them。 She talked over the news with her mother till her
forebodings grew so dark that she made up her mind to dissipate them。
She would take a bold step in her despair。
Young M。 de Rastignac had come to spend a few days with his family。 He
had spoken of Lucien in terms that set Paris gossip circulating in
Angouleme； till at last it reached the journalist's mother and sister。
Eve went to Mme。 de Rastignac； asked the favor of an interview with
her son； spoke of all her fears； and asked him for the truth。 In a
moment Eve heard of her brother's connection with the actress Coralie；
of his duel with Michel Chrestien； arising out of his own treacherous
behavior to Daniel d'Arthez； she received； in short； a version of
Lucien's history； colored by the personal feeling of a clever and
envious dandy。 Rastignac expressed sincere admiration for the
abilities so terribly compromised； and a patriotic fear for the future
of a native genius； spite and jealousy masqueraded as pity and
friendliness。 He spoke of Lucien's blunders。 It seemed that Lucien had
forfeited the favor of a very great person； and that a patent
conferring the right to bear the name and arms of Rubempre had
actually been made out and subsequently torn up。
〃If your brother； madame； had been well advised； he would have been on
the way to honors； and Mme。 de Bargeton's husband by this time； but
what can you expect？ He deserted her and insulted her。 She is now Mme。
la Comtesse Sixte du Chatelet； to her own great regret； for she loved
Lucien。〃
〃Is it possible！〃 exclaimed Mme。 Sechard。
〃Your brother is like a young eagle； blinded by the first rays of
glory and luxury。 When an eagle falls； who can tell how far he may
sink before he drops to the bottom of some precipice？ The fall of a
great man is always proportionately great。〃
Eve came away with a great dread in her heart； those last words
pierced her like an arrow。 She had been wounded to the quick。 She said
not a word to anybody； but again and again a tear rolled down her
cheeks； and fell upon the child at her breast。 So hard is it to give
up illusions sanctioned by family feeling； illusion