my Paste or my Lotion.
But I don't intend to work it myself. I think of retiring from business.
It is you, my boy, who are to launch my Oil Comagene,--from the latin
word _coma_, which signifies 'hair,' as Monsieur Alibert, the King's
physician, says. The word is found in the tragedy of Berenice, where
Racine introduces a king of Comagene, lover of the queen so celebrated
for the beauty of her hair; the king--no doubt as a delicate
flattery--gave the name to his country. What wit and intellect there is
in genius! it condescends to the minutest details."

Little Popinot kept his countenance as he listened to this absurd
flourish, evidently said for his benefit as an educated young man.

"Anselme, I have cast my eyes upon you as the one to found a commercial
house in the high-class druggist line, Rue des Lombards. I will be
your secret partner, and supply the funds to start with. After the
Oil Comagene, we will try an essence of vanilla and the spirit of
peppermint. We'll tackle the drug-trade by revolutionizing it, by
selling its products concentrated instead of selling them raw. Ambitious
young man, are you satisfied?"

Anselme could not answer, his heart was full; but his eyes, filled
with tears, answered for him. The offer seemed prompted by indulgent
fatherhood, saying to him: "Deserve Cesarine by becoming rich and
respected."

"Monsieur," he answered at last, "I will succeed!"

"That's what I said at your age," cried the perfumer; "that was my
motto. If you don't win my daughter, at least you will win your fortune.
Eh, boy! what is it?"

"Let me hope that in acquiring the one I may obtain the other."

"I can't prevent you from hoping, my friend," said Birotteau, touched by
Anselme's tone.

"Well, then, monsieur, can I begin to-day to look for a shop, so as to
start at once?"

"Yes, my son. To-morrow we will shut ourselves up in the workshop, you
and I. Before you go to the Rue des Lombards, call at Livingston's
and see if my hydraulic press will be ready to use to-morrow morning.
To-night we will go, about dinner-time, to the good and illustrious
Monsieur Vauquelin and consult him. He has lately been employed in
studying the composition of hair; he has discovered the nature of the
coloring matter and whence it comes; also the structure of the hair
itself. The secret is just there, Popinot, and you shall know it; all
we have to do is to work it out cleverly. Before you go to Livingston's,
just stop at Pi