my whole life as if I were a boy just
leaving school! At first I employed to myself all the arguments against
this political vocation which you and my other friends have since
addressed to me. Nevertheless curiosity impelled me to go the
Mongenods'; and finding there, sure enough, in actual, living money,
the two hundred and fifty thousand francs announced to me, I was led to
reason in another way.

I reflected that a will which began by making such an outlay must have
something serious in it. And inasmuch as this mysterious father knew all
and I nothing, it seemed to me that to enter on a struggle with him was
neither reasonable nor opportune. In fact, had I any real repugnance to
the career suggested to me? No. Political interests have always roused
me to a certain degree; and if my electoral attempt should come to
nothing, I could always return to my art without being more ridiculous
than the other still-born ambitions which each new legislature produces.

Accordingly, I have bought the necessary piece of property, and
made myself a shareholder in the "National." I have also made the
Saint-Ursula, and am now awaiting instructions, which seem to me rather
long in coming, as to her actual destination. Moreover, I have made
known my parliamentary ambition, and the fact that I intend to stand in
the coming elections.

I need not ask you to preserve the utmost secrecy about my present
confidence. Discretion is a virtue which you practise, to my knowledge,
in too signal a manner to need any exhorting thereto from me. But I am
wrong, dear friend, in making these unkind allusions to the past, for at
this moment I am, more perhaps than you know, the obliged party. Partly
out of interest in me, but more because of the general aversion your
brother-in-law's extreme haughtiness inspires, the democratic party has
flocked to my door to make inquiries about my wound, and the talk and
excitement about this duel have served me well; there is no doubt that
my candidacy has gained much ground. Therefore, I say, a truce to your
gratitude; do you not see how much I owe to you?

X. DORLANGE TO MARIE-GASTON

Paris, April, 1839.

Dear Friend,--For better or for worse, I continue my candidacy without a
constituency to elect me. This surprises my friends and worries me, for
it is only a few weeks now to the general election; and if it happens
that all this mysterious "preparation" comes to nought, a pretty figure
I shall cut in