Lost Illusions (Penguin Classics) by Honoré de Balzac Read Free Book Online Page B

could scent misfortune in the wind, for misfortune was indeed hovering over the Séchard firm. But there is a divinity that looks after misers and, through a combination of unforeseen circumstances, this divinity was about to pour the proceeds of his usurious sale into the drunkard’s lap.
    The reason for the Séchard printing-office being on the decline in spite of factors making for prosperity was David’s indifference to the religious reaction which set in under the Restoration government, equalled by his unconcern about the Liberal movement. He maintained in political and religious matters a neutrality which was most injurious to his interests. He was living in a period when provincial tradespeople had to line up with a party in order to get customers: in fact they had to choose between the patronage either of the Liberals or the Royalists. David had fallen in love; this, together with his scientific preoccupations and his inherent good nature, prevented his having that avidity for gain which goes to the making of a genuine business man and which might have induced him to study the differences existing between provincial and Parisian industry. Shades of opinion, which stand out so clearly in the
départements,
are obliterated in the great swirl of Parisian activity. The brothers Cointet adopted the views of the monarchist party, made an open show of keeping fast-days, haunted the Cathedral, cultivated the society of priests and brought out reprints of books of devotion as soon as they came into demand. Thus they took the lead in a lucrative side-line, and slandered David by accusing him of liberalism and atheism. How, they asked, could one give work to a man whose father had sided with the Terrorists, who was a drunkard, a Bonapartist, an old miser who sooner or later would surely leave piles of gold to his heir? They themselveswere poor men with large families, whereas David was a bachelor and would be rolling in wealth; that was why he was taking things easy. And so forth. Influenced by the accusations thus launched against David, the prefectoral and episcopal officials at length transferred their custom to the Cointets. Soon these greedy opponents, emboldened by their rival’s indifference, founded a second advertising journal. All that the older press had left was jobbing-work from the townspeople; the profits from its advertising journal were reduced by half. Soon the Cointet firm, considerably enriched by the sale of prayer-books and works of piety, offered to buy the Séchard journal in order to monopolize the printing of departmental notices and judicial announcements. The moment David passed on the news to his father, the old vine-grower, appalled by the progress the Cointet firm was making, swooped down from Marsac to the Place du Mûrier with the swiftness of a crow scenting corpses on the battle-field.
    ‘Leave me to deal with the Cointets,’ he said to his son. ‘You keep out of this.’
    The old man was quick to see through the Cointet’s intentions, and they were alarmed by his shrewd appraisal of the situation. His son, he said, was making a blunder, and he was going to prevent it. Where would their custom come from if the journal were handed over? Every solicitor, notary and tradesman in L’Houmeau was a Liberal. Well, the Cointets had tried to ruin the Séchards by making out they were Liberals. But this was as good as throwing out a life-line, for it meant that
Séchard and Son
would keep all the Liberal advertisements. Sell the journal? Just as well sell out completely, stock and printer’s licence!
    Thereupon he demanded sixty thousand francs of the Cointets for the printing-works, to save his son from ruin. He loved his son; he was protecting his son. The vine-grower made use of his son as peasants make use of their wives: his son wanted this, or he didn’t want that, according to the propositions he extorted one by one from the Cointets. By this means he persuaded them, not without great