Every one, thereupon, began to explain his character for the benefit of his neighbor; and when a clever man feels a pressing need of explaining himself, and of unlocking his heart, it is pretty clear that wine has got the upper hand.  An hour later, all the men in the company were the best friends in the world, addressing each other as great men and bold spirits, who held the future in their hands.  Lucien, in his quality of host, was sufficiently clearheaded to apprehend the meaning of the sophistries which impressed him and completed his demoralization.

“The Liberal party,” announced Finot, “is compelled to stir up discussion somehow.  There is no fault to find with the action of the Government, and you may imagine what a fix the Opposition is in.  Which of you now cares to write a pamphlet in favor of the system of primogeniture, and raise a cry against the secret designs of the Court?  The pamphlet will be paid for handsomely.”

“I will write it,” said Hector Merlin.  “It is my own point of view.”

“Your party will complain that you are compromising them,” said Finot.  “Felicien, you must undertake it; Dauriat will bring it out, and we will keep the secret.”

“How much shall I get?”

“Six hundred francs.  Sign it ‘Le Comte C, three stars.’”

“It’s a bargain,” said Felicien Vernou.

“So you are introducing the canard to the political world,” remarked Lousteau.

“It is simply the Chabot affair carried into the region of abstract ideas,” said Finot.  “Fasten intentions on the Government, and then let loose public opinion.”

“How a Government can leave the control of ideas to such a pack of scamps as we are, is matter for perpetual and profound astonishment to me,” said Claude Vignon.

“If the Ministry blunders so far as to come down into the arena, we can give them a drubbing.  If they are nettled by it, the thing will rankle in people’s minds, and the Government will lose its hold on the masses.  The newspaper risks nothing, and the authorities have everything to lose.”

“France will be a cipher until newspapers are abolished by law,” said Claude Vignon.  “You are making progress hourly,” he added, addressing Finot.  “You are a modern order of Jesuits, lacking the creed, the fixed idea, the discipline, and the union.”

They went back to the card-tables; and before long the light of the candles grew feeble in the dawn.

“Lucien, your friends from the Rue des Quatre-Vents looked as dismal as criminals going to be hanged,” said Coralie.

“They were the judges, not the criminals,” replied the poet.

“Judges are more amusing than that,” said Coralie.