signs of admiration, I raise my eyes to heaven, I kiss the louis
before him, and to make him understand still better the importance
of the sacred coin, I point to him with my finger all that he can
get with it, a fine frock, a pretty cap, a rich cake; then I thrust
the louis into my pocket, I walk proudly up and down, I raise the
lappet of my waistcoat, I strike my fob; and in that way I make him
see that it is the louis in it that gives me all this assurance.

_I._--Nothing could be better. But suppose it were to come to pass
that, being so profoundly penetrated by the value of the louis, he
were one day....

_He._--I understand you. One must close one's eyes to that; there
is no moral principle without its own inconvenience. At the worst
'tis a bad quarter of an hour, and then all is over.

_I._--Even after hearing views so wise and so bold, I persist in
thinking that it would be good to make a musician of him. I know no
other means of getting so rapidly near great people, of serving
their vices better, or turning your own to more advantage.

_He._--That is true; but I have plans for a speedier and surer
success. Ah, if it were only a girl! But as we cannot do all that
we should like, we must take what comes, and make the best of it,
and not be such idiots as most fathers, who could literally do
nothing worse, supposing them to have deliberately planned the
misery of their children--namely, give the education of Lacedaemon
to a child who is destined to live in Paris. If the education is
bad, the morals of my country are to blame for that, not I. Answer
for it who may; I wish my son to be happy, or what is the same
thing, rich, honoured, and powerful. I know something about the
easiest ways of reaching this end, and I will teach them to him
betimes. If you blame me, you sages, the multitude and success
will acquit me. He will put money in his purse, I can tell you. If
he has plenty of that, he will lack nothing else, not even your
esteem and respect.

_I._--You may be mistaken.

_He._--Then perhaps he will do very well without it, like many
other people.

* * * * *

[There was in all this a good deal of what passes through many
people's minds, and much of the principle according to which they