Union and oblivion。
The anxious jocularity of a man who is expending two thousand crowns
sat on their host。 His eyes turned impatiently towards the door from
time to time； seeking one of his guests who kept him waiting。 Very
soon a stout little person appeared； who was greeted by a
complimentary murmur； it was the notary who had invented the newspaper
that very morning。 A valet…de…chambre in black opened the doors of a
vast dining…room； whither every one went without ceremony； and took
his place at an enormous table。
Raphael took a last look round the room before he left it。 His wish
had been realized to the full。 The rooms were adorned with silk and
gold。 Countless wax tapers set in handsome candelabra lit up the
slightest details of gilded friezes； the delicate bronze sculpture；
and the splendid colors of the furniture。 The sweet scent of rare
flowers； set in stands tastefully made of bamboo； filled the air。
Everything； even the curtains； was pervaded by elegance without
pretension； and there was a certain imaginative charm about it all
which acted like a spell on the mind of a needy man。
〃An income of a hundred thousand livres a year is a very nice
beginning of the catechism； and a wonderful assistance to putting
morality into our actions；〃 he said； sighing。 〃Truly my sort of virtue
can scarcely go afoot； and vice means； to my thinking； a garret； a
threadbare coat； a gray hat in winter time； and sums owing to the
porter。 。 。 。 I should like to live in the lap of luxury a year； or
six months； no matter！ And then afterwards； die。 I should have known；
exhausted； and consumed a thousand lives； at any rate。〃
〃Why； you are taking the tone of a stockbroker in good luck；〃 said
Emile； who overheard him。 〃Pooh！ your riches would be a burden to you
as soon as you found that they would spoil your chances of coming out
above the rest of us。 Hasn't the artist always kept the balance true
between the poverty of riches and the riches of poverty？ And isn't
struggle a necessity to some of us？ Look out for your digestion； and
only look；〃 he added； with a mock…heroic gesture； 〃at the majestic；
thrice holy； and edifying appearance of this amiable capitalist's
dining…room。 That man has in reality only made his money for our
benefit。 Isn't he a kind of sponge of the polyp order； overlooked by
naturalists； which should be carefully squeezed before he is left for
his heirs to feed upon？ There is style； isn't there； about those bas…
reliefs that adorn the walls？ And the lustres； and the pictures； what
luxury well carried out！ If one may believe those who envy him； or who
know； or think they know； the origins of his life； then this man got
rid of a German and some othershis best friend for one； and the
mother of that friend； during the Revolution。 Could you house crimes
under the venerable Taillefer's silvering locks？ He looks to me a very
worthy man。 Only see how the silver sparkles； and is every glittering
ray like a stab of a dagger to him？ 。 。 。 Let us go in； one might as
well believe in Mahomet。 If common report speak truth； here are thirty
men of talent； and good fellows too； prepared to dine off the flesh
and blood of a whole family； 。 。 。 and here are we ourselves； a pair
of youngsters full of open…hearted enthusiasm； and we shall be
partakers in his guilt。 I have a mind to ask our capitalist whether he
is a respectable character。 。 。 。〃
〃No； not now；〃 cried Raphael； 〃but when he is dead drunk； we shall
have had our dinner then。〃
The two friends sat down laughing。 First of all； by a glance more
rapid than a word； each paid his tribute of admiration to the splendid
general effect of the long table； white as a bank of freshly…fallen
snow； with its symmetrical line of covers； crowned with their pale
golden rolls of bread。 Rainbow colors gleamed in the starry rays of
light reflected by the glass； the lights of the tapers crossed and
recrossed each other indefinitely； the dishes covered with their
silver domes whetted both appetite and curiosity。
Few words were spoken。 Neighbors exchanged glances as the Maderia
circulated。 Then the first course appeared in all its glory； it would
have done honor to the late Cambaceres； Brillat…Savarin would have
celebrated it。 The wines of Bordeaux and Burgundy； white and red； were
royally lavished。 This first part of the banquet might been compared
in every way to a rendering of some classical tragedy。 The second act
grew a trifle noisier。 Every guest had had a fair amount to drink； and
had tried various crus at this pleasure； so that as the remains of the
magnificent first course were removed； tumultuous discussions began； a
pale brow here and there began to flush； sundry noses took a purpler
hue； faces lit up； and eyes sparkled。
While intoxication was only dawning； the conversation did not overstep
the bounds of civility； but banter and bon mots slipped by degrees
from every tongue； and then slander began to rear its little snake's
heard； and spoke in dulcet tones； a few shrewd ones here and there
gave heed to it； hoping to keep their heads。 So the second course
found their minds somewhat heated。 Every one ate as he spoke； spoke
while he ate； and drank without heeding the quantity of the liquor；
the wine was so biting； the bouquet so fragrant； the example around so
infectious。 Taillefer made a point of stimulating his guests； and
plied them with the formidable wines of the Rhone； with fierce Tokay；
and heady old Roussillon。
The champagne； impatiently expected and lavishly poured out； was a
scourge of fiery sparks to these men； released like post…horses from
some mail…coach by a relay； they let their spirits gallop away into
the wilds of argument to which no one listened； began to tell stories
which had no auditors； and repeatedly asked questions to which no
answer was made。 Only the loud voice of wassail could be heard； a
voice made up of a hundred confused clamors； which rose and grew like
a crescendo of Rossini's。 Insidious toasts； swagger； and challenges
followed。
Each renounced any pride in his own intellectual capacity； in order to
vindicate that of hogsheads； casks； and vats； and each made noise
enough for two。 A time came when the footmen smiled； while their
masters all talked at once。 A philosopher would have been interested；
doubtless； by the singularity of the thoughts expressed； a politician
would have been amazed by the incongruity of the methods discussed in
the melee of words or doubtfully luminous paradoxes； where truths；
grotesquely caparisoned； met in conflict across the uproar of brawling
judgments； of arbitrary decisions and folly； much as bullets； shells；
and grapeshot are hurled across a battlefield。
It was at once a volume and a picture。 Every philosophy； religion； and
moral code differing so greatly in every latitude； every government；
every great achievement of the human intellect； fell before a scythe
as long as Time's own； and you might have found it hard to decide
whether it was wielded by Gravity intoxicated； or by Inebriation grown
sober and clear…sighted。 Borne away by a kind of tempest； their minds；
like the sea raging against the cliffs； seemed ready to shake the laws
which confine the ebb and flow of civilization； unconsciously
fulfilling the will of God； who has suffered evil and good to abide in
nature； and reserved the secret of their continual strife to Himself。
A frantic travesty of debate ensued； a Walpurgis…revel of intellects。
Between the dreary jests of these children of the Revolution over the
inauguration of a newspaper； and the talk of the joyous gossips at
Gargantua's birth； stretched the gulf that divides the nineteenth
century from the sixteenth。 Laughingly they had begun the work of
destruction； and our journalists laughed amid the ruins。
〃What is the name of that young man over there？〃 said the notary；
indicating Raphael。 〃I thought I heard some one call him Valentin。〃
〃What stuff is this？〃 said Emile； laughing； 〃plain Valentin； say you？
Raphael DE Valentin； if you please。 We bear an eagle or； on a field
sable； with a silver crown； beak and claws gules； and a fine motto：
NON CECIDIT ANIMUS。 We are no foundling child； but a descendant of the
Emperor Valens； of the stock of the Valentinois； founders of the
cities of Valence in France； and Valencia in Spain； rightful heirs to
the Empire of the East。 If we suffer Mahmoud on the throne of
Byzantium； it is out of pure condescension； and for lack of funds and
soldiers。〃
With a fork flourished above Raphael's head； Emile outlined a crown
upon it。 The notary bethought himself a moment； but soon fell to
drinking again； with a gesture peculiar to himself； it was quite
impossible； it seemed to say to secure in his clientele the cities of
Valence and Byzantium； the Emperor Valens； Mahmoud； and the house of
Valentinois。
〃Should not the destruction of those ant…hills； Babylon； Tyre；
Carthage； and Venice； each crushed beneath the foot of a passing
giant； serve as a warning to man； vouchsafed by some mocking power？〃
said Claude Vignon； who must play the Bossuet； as a sort of purchased
slave； at the rate of fivepence a line。
〃Perhaps Moses； Sylla； Louis XI。； Richelieu； Ro