\"Thechildhasakeepsakeinhishands,somethingwhichmightbetraythewrongsdonebyyourbeneficence,yourkindnessindesertinghim.Youmighthavetoblushifyousawhimstrugglingforlife,andchancedtorecollectthatonceyouclaspedhimtoyourbreast.Whenyoureadthesewordsthekeepsakewillbeinyourownsafekeeping;youarefreetoforgeteverything.
\"Onceyoupointedoutfairhopestomeintheskies,IawaketofindrealityinthesqualidpovertyofParis.Whileyoupass,andothersbowbeforeyou,onyourbrilliantpathinthegreatworld,I,Iwhomyoudesertedonthethreshold,shallbeshiveringinthewretchedgarrettowhichyouconsignedme.Yetsomepangmayperhapstroubleyourmindamidfestivalsandpleasures;youmaythinksometimesofthechildwhomyouthrustintothedepths.Ifso,madame,thinkofhimwithoutremorse.Outofthedepthsofhismiserythechildoffersyoutheonethinglefttohim——hisforgivenessinalastlook.Yes,madame,thankstoyou,Ihavenothingleft.Nothing!wasnottheworldcreatedfromnothing?
GeniusshouldfollowtheDivineexample;IbeginwithGod-likeforgiveness,butasyetIknownotwhetherIpossesstheGod-likepower.YouneedonlytremblelestIshouldgoastray;foryouwouldbeanswerableformysins.Alas!Ipityyou,foryouwillhavenopartinthefuturetowardswhichIgo,withworkasmyguide.\"
Afterpenningthisrhetoricaleffusion,fullofthesombredignitywhichanartistofone-and-twentyisratherapttooverdo,Lucien\'sthoughtswentbacktothemathome.HesawtheprettyroomswhichDavidhadfurnishedforhim,atthecostofpartofhislittlestore,andavisionrosebeforehimofquiet,simplepleasuresinthepast.
Shadowyfigurescameabouthim;hesawhismotherandEveandDavid,andheardtheirsobsoverhisleave-taking,andatthathebegantocryhimself,forhefeltverylonelyinParis,andfriendlessandforlorn.