llows in the world. He thought he managed
them! Men of imagination, to whom hope is the basis of existence, never
allow themselves to know that the most perilous moment in their affairs
is that when all seems going well according to their wishes.

This was a period of triumph by which Nathan profited. He appeared as a
personage in the world, political and financial. Du Tillet presented him
to the Nucingens. Madame de Nucingen received him cordially, less for
himself than for Madame de Vandenesse; but when she ventured a few
words about the countess he thought himself marvellously clever in using
Florine as a shield; he alluded to his relations with the actress in a
tone of generous self-conceit. How could he desert a great devotion, for
the coquetries of the faubourg Saint-Germain?

Nathan, manipulated by Nucingen and Rastignac, by du Tillet and Blondet,
gave his support ostentatiously to the "doctrinaires" of their new and
ephemeral cabinet. But in order to show himself pure of all bribery he
refused to take advantage of certain profitable enterprises which
were started by means of his paper,--he! who had no reluctance in
compromising friends or in behaving with little decency to mechanics
under certain circumstances. Such meannesses, the result of vanity
and of ambition, are found in many lives like his. The mantle must be
splendid before the eyes of the world, and we steal our friend's or a
poor man's cloth to patch it.

Nevertheless, two months after the departure of the countess, Raoul had
a certain Rabelaisian "quart d'heure" which caused him some anxiety in
the midst of these triumphs. Du Tillet had advanced a hundred thousand
francs, Florine's money had gone in the costs of the first establishment
of the paper, which were enormous. It was necessary to provide for the
future. The banker agreed to let the editor have fifty thousand francs
on notes for four months. Du Tillet thus held Raoul by the halter of an
IOU. By means of this relief the funds of the paper were secured for six
months. In the eyes of some writers six months is an eternity.
Besides, by dint of advertising and by offering illusory advantages to
subscribers two thousand had been secured; an influx of travellers added
to this semi-success, which was enough, perhaps, to excuse the throwing
of more bank-bills after the rest. A little more display of talent, a
timely political trial or crisis, an apparent persecution, and Raoul
felt certain of becom