"She will take offence if we don't go; and you are very glad of her
when you have a bill to discount."
"This wife of mine, my dear boy, can never be made to understand that
a supper engagement for twelve o'clock does not prevent you from going
to an evening party that comes to an end at eleven. She is always with
me while I work," he added.
"You have so much imagination!" said Lucien, and thereby made a mortal
enemy of Vernou.
"Well," continued Lousteau, "you are coming; but that is not all. M.
de Rubempre is about to be one of us, so you must push him in your
paper. Give him out for a chap that will make a name for himself in
literature, so that he can put in at least a couple of articles every
month."
"Yes, if he means to be one of us, and will attack our enemies, as we
will attack his, I will say a word for him at the Opera to-night,"
replied Vernou.
"Very well--good-bye till to-morrow, my boy," said Lousteau, shaking
hands with every sign of cordiality. "When is your book coming out?"
"That depends on Dauriat; it is ready," said Vernou _pater-familias_.
"Are you satisfied?"
"Yes and no----"
"We will get up a success," said Lousteau, and he rose with a bow to
his colleague's wife.
The abrupt departure was necessary indeed; for the two infants,
engaged in a noisy quarrel, were fighting with their spoons, and
flinging the pap in each other's faces.
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