Anddoyouknowwhatthenationwillconcludefromthedebate?ThepeoplewillbelievetheinsinuationsoftheLiberalpress;theywillthinkthattheBourbonsmeantoattacktherightsofpropertyacquiredbytheRevolution,andsomefinedaytheywillriseandshakeofftheBourbons.Youarenotonlysoilingyourlife,Lucien,youaregoingovertothelosingside.Youaretooyoung,toolatelyajournalist,toolittleinitiatedintothesecretspringsofmotiveandthetricksofthecraft,youhavearousedtoomuchjealousy,nottofallavictimtothegeneralhueandcrythatwillberaisedagainstyouintheLiberalnewspapers.Youwillbedrawnintothefraybypartyspiritnowstillatfever-heat;thoughthefever,whichspentitselfinviolencein1815and1816,nowappearsindebatesintheChamberandpolemicsinthepapers.\"
\"Iamnotquiteafeatherhead,myfriends,\"saidLucien,\"thoughyoumaychoosetoseeapoetinme.Whatevermayhappen,IshallgainonesolidadvantagewhichnoLiberalvictorycangiveme.Bythetimeyourvictoryiswon,Ishallhavegainedmyend.\"
\"Wewillcutoff——yourhair,\"saidMichelChrestien,withalaugh.
\"Ishallhavemychildrenbythattime,\"saidLucien;\"andifyoucutoffmyhead,itwillnotmatter.\"
ThethreecouldmakenothingofLucien.Intercoursewiththegreatworldhaddevelopedinhimtheprideofcaste,thevanitiesofthearistocrat.Thepoetthought,andnotwithoutreason,thattherewasafortuneinhisgoodlooksandintellect,accompaniedbythenameandtitleofRubempre.Mme.d\'EspardandMme.deBargetonheldhimfastbythisclue,asachildholdsacockchaferbyastring.Lucien\'sflightwascircumscribed.Thewords,\"Heisoneofus,heissound,\"