table，whereheriskedsometriflingstakeandwonenoughtopayforhisdissipations。Apparentlyveryeconomical，thebettertodeceivehismotherandMadameDescoings，heworeahatthatwasgreasy，withthenaprubbedoffattheedges，patchedboots，ashabbyovercoat，onwhichtheredribbonscarcelyshowedsodiscoloredanddirtywasitbylongserviceatthebuttonholeandbythespatteringsofcoffeeandliquors。Hisbuckskingloves，ofagreenishtinge，lastedhimalongwhile；andheonlygaveuphissatinneckclothwhenitwasraggedenoughtolooklikewadding。Mariettewasthesoleobjectofthefellow’slove，andhertreacheryhadgreatlyhardenedhisheart。Whenhehappenedtowinmorethanusual，orifhesuppedwithhisoldcomrade，Giroudeau，hefollowedsomeVenusoftheslums，withbrutalcontemptforthewholesex。Otherwiseregularinhishabits，hebreakfastedanddinedathomeandcameineverynightaboutoneo’clock。ThreemonthsofthishorribleliferestoredAgathetosomedegreeofconfidence。
AsforJoseph，whowasworkingatthesplendidpicturetowhichheafterwardsowedhisreputation，helivedinhisatelier。OnthepredictionofhergrandsonBixiou，MadameDescoingsbelievedinJoseph’sfutureglory，andsheshowedhimeverysortofmotherlykindness；shetookhisbreakfasttohim，shedidhiserrands，sheblackedhisboots。Thepainterwasneverseentilldinner-time，andhiseveningswerespentattheCenacleamonghisfriends。Hereadagreatdeal，andgavehimselfthatdeepandseriouseducationwhichonlycomesthroughtheminditself，andwhichallmenoftalentstriveafterbetweentheagesoftwentyandthirty。Agathe，seeingverylittleofJoseph，andfeelingnouneasinessabouthim，livedonlyforPhilippe，whogaveherthealternationsoffearsexcitedandterrorsallayed，whichseemthelife，asitwere，ofsentiment，andtobeasnecessarytomaternityastolove。Desroches，whocameonceaweektoseethewidowofhispatronandfriend，gaveherhopes。TheDucdeMaufrigneusehadaskedtohavePhilippeinhisregiment；theministerofwarhadorderedaninquiry；andasthenameofBridaudidnotappearonanypolicelist，norananyrecordatthePalaisdeJustice，Philippewouldbereinstatedinthearmyearlyinthecomingyear。
Toarriveatthisresult，Desrochessetallthepowersthathecouldinfluenceinmotion。AttheprefectureofpolicehelearnedthatPhilippespenthiseveningsinthegambling-house；andhethoughtitbesttotellthisfactprivatelytoMadameDescoings，exhortingherkeepaneyeonthelieutenant-colonel，foroneoutbreakwouldimperilall；asitwas，theministerofwarwasnotlikelytoinquirewhetherPhilippegambled。Oncerestoredtohisrankundertheflagofhiscountry，hewouldperhapsabandonaviceonlytakenupfromidleness。
Agathe，whonolongerreceivedherfriendsintheevening，satinthechimney-cornerreadingherprayers，whileMadameDescoingsconsultedthecards，interpretedherdreams，andappliedtherulesofthe“cabala“toherlotteryventures。Thisjovialfanaticnevermissedasingledrawing；shestillpursuedhertrey，——whichneverturnedup。Itwasnearlytwenty-oneyearsold，justapproachingitsmajority；onthisridiculousideatheoldwomannowpinnedherfaith。Oneofitsthreenumbershadstayedatthebottomofallthewheelseversincetheinstitutionofthelottery。Accordingly，MadameDescoingslaidheavystakesonthatparticularnumber，aswellasonallthecombinationsofthethreenumbers。Thelastmattressremainingtoherbedwastheplacewhereshestoredhersavings；sheunsewedtheticking，putinfromtimetotimethebitofgoldsavedfromherneeds，wrappedcarefullyinwool，andthensewedthemattressupagain。Sheintended，atthelastdrawing，toriskallhersavingsonthedifferentcombinationsofhertreasuredtrey。
Thispassion，souniversallycondemned，hasneverbeenfairlystudied。
Noonehasunderstoodthisopiumofpoverty。Thelottery，all-powerfulfairyofthepoor，bestowedthegiftofmagichopes。Theturnofthewheelwhichopenstothegambleravistaofgoldandhappiness，lastsnolongerthanaflashoflightning，butthelotterygavefivedays’
existencetothatmagnificentflash。Whatsocialpowercanto-day，forthesumoffivesous，giveusfivedays’happinessandlaunchusideallyintoallthejoysofcivilization？Tobacco，acravingfarmoreimmoralthanplay，destroysthebody，attacksthemind，andstupefiesanation；whilethelotterydidnothingofthekind。Thispassion，moreover，wasforcedtokeepwithinlimitsbythelongperiodsthatoccurredbetweenthedrawings，andbythechoiceofwheelswhicheachinvestorindividuallyclungto。MadameDescoingsneverstakedonanybutthe“wheelofParis。“Fullofconfidencethatthetreycherishedfortwenty-oneyearswasabouttotriumph，shenowimposeduponherselfenormousprivations，thatshemightstakealargeamountofsavingsuponthelastdrawingoftheyear。Whenshedreamedhercabalisticvisions(foralldreamsdidnotcorrespondwiththenumbersofthelottery)，shewentandtoldthemtoJoseph，whowasthesolebeingwhowouldlisten，andnotonlynotscoldher，butgiveherthekindlywordswithwhichanartistknowshowtosoothethefolliesofthemind。Allgreattalentsrespectandunderstandarealpassion；
theyexplainittothemselvesbyfindingtherootsofitintheirownheartsorminds。Joseph’sideaswas，thathisbrotherlovedtobaccoandliquors，MamanDescoingslovedhertrey，hismotherlovedGod，Desrochestheyoungerlovedlawsuits，Desrochestheelderlovedangling，——inshort，alltheworld，hesaid，lovedsomething。Hehimselflovedthe“beauideal“inallthings；helovedthepoetryofLordByron，thepaintingofGericault，themusicofRossini，thenovelsofWalterScott。“Everyonetohistaste，maman，“hewouldsay；
“butyourtreydoeshangfireterribly。“
“Itwillturnup，andyouwillberich，andmylittleBixiouaswell。“
“Giveitalltoyourgrandson，“criedJoseph；“atanyrate，dowhatyoulikebestwithit。“
“Hey！whenitturnsupIshallhaveenoughforeverybody。Inthefirstplace，youshallhaveafineatelier；yousha’n’tdepriveyourselfofgoingtotheoperasoastopayforyourmodelsandyourcolors。Doyouknow，mydearboy，youmakemeplayaprettyshabbypartinthatpictureofyours？“
Bywayofeconomy，JosephhadmadetheDescoingsposeforhismagnificentpaintingofayoungcourtesantakenbyanoldwomantoaDogeofVenice。Thispicture，oneofthemasterpiecesofmodernpainting，wasmistakenbyGroshimselfforaTitian，anditpavedthewayfortherecognitionwhichtheyoungerartistsgavetoJoseph’stalentintheSalonof1823。
“Thosewhoknowyouknowverywellwhatyouare，“heansweredgayly。
“Whyneedyoutroubleyourselfaboutthosewhodon’tknowyou？“
ForthelasttenyearsMadameDescoingshadtakenontheripetintsofarussetappleatEaster。Wrinkleshadformedinhersuperabundantflesh，nowgrownpallidandflabby。Hereyes，fulloflife，werebrightwiththoughtsthatwerestillyoungandvivacious，andmightbeconsideredgrasping；forthereisalwayssomethingofthatspiritinagambler。Herfatfaceboretracesofdissimulationandofthementalreservationshiddeninthedepthsofherheart。Hervicenecessitatedsecrecy。Therewerealsoindicationsofgluttonyinthemotionofherlips。Andthus，althoughshewas，aswehaveseen，anexcellentanduprightwoman，theeyemightbemisledbyherappearance。ShewasanadmirablemodelfortheoldwomanJosephwishedtopaint。Coralie，ayoungactressofexquisitebeautywhodiedintheflowerofheryouth，themistressofLuciendeRubempre，oneofJoseph’sfriends，hadgivenhimtheideaofthepicture。Thisnoblepaintinghasbeencalledaplagiarismofotherpictures，whileinfactitwasasplendidarrangementofthreeportraits。MichelChrestien，oneofhiscompanionsattheCenacle，lenthisrepublicanheadforthesenator，towhichJosephaddedafewmaturetints，justasheexaggeratedtheexpressionofMadameDescoings’sfeatures。Thisfinepicture，whichwasdestinedtomakeagreatnoiseandbringtheartistmuchhatred，jealousy，andadmiration，wasjustsketchedout；but，compelledashewastoworkforaliving，helaiditasidetomakecopiesoftheoldmastersforthedealers；thushepenetratedthesecretsoftheirprocesses，andhisbrushisthereforeoneofthebesttrainedofthemodernschool。TheshrewdsenseofanartistledhimtoconcealtheprofitshewasbeginningtolaybyfromhismotherandMadameDescoings，awarethateachhadherroadtoruin，——theoneinPhilippe，theotherinthelottery。Thisastutenessisseldomwantingamongpainters；busyfordaystogetherinthesolitudeoftheirstudios，engagedinworkwhich，uptoacertainpoint，leavesthemindfree，theyareinsomerespectslikewomen，——theirthoughtsturnaboutthelittleeventsoflife，andtheycontrivetogetattheirhiddenmeaning。
Josephhadboughtoneofthosemagnificentchestsorcoffersofapastage，thenignoredbyfashion，withwhichhedecoratedacornerofhisstudio，wherethelightdanceduponthebas-reliefsandgavefulllustretoamasterpieceofthesixteenthcenturyartisans。Hesawthenecessityforahiding-place，andinthiscofferhehadbeguntoaccumulatealittlestoreofmoney。Withanartist’scarelessness，hewasinthehabitofputtingthesumheallowedforhismonthlyexpensesinaskull，whichstoodononeofthecompartmentsofthecoffer。Sincehisbrotherhadreturnedtoliveathome，hefoundaconstantdiscrepancybetweentheamounthespentandthesuminthisreceptacle。Thehundredfrancsamonthdisappearedwithincrediblecelerity。Findingnothingoneday，whenhehadonlyspentfortyorfiftyfrancs，heremarkedforthefirsttime:“Mymoneymusthavegotwings。“Thenextmonthhepaidmoreattentiontohisaccounts；butaddashemight，likeRobertMacaire，sixteenandfivearetwenty-three，hecouldmakenothingofthem。When，forthethirdtime，hefoundastillmoreimportantdiscrepancy，hecommunicatedthepainfulfacttoMadameDescoings，wholovedhim，heknew，withthatmaternal，tender，confiding，credulous，enthusiasticlovethathehadneverhadfromhisownmother，goodasshewas，——aloveasnecessarytotheearlylifeofanartistasthecareofthehenistoherunfledgedchickens。Toheralonecouldheconfidehishorriblesuspicions。Hewasassureofhisfriendsashewasofhimself；andtheDescoings，heknew，wouldtakenothingtoputinherlottery。Attheideawhichthensuggesteditselfthepoorwomanwrungherhands。Philippealonecouldhavecommittedthisdomestictheft。
“Whydidn’theaskme，ifhewantedit？“criedJoseph，takingadabofcoloronhispaletteandstirringitintotheothercolorswithoutseeingwhathedid。“IsitlikelyIshouldrefusehim？“
“Itisrobbingachild！“criedtheDescoings，herfaceexpressingthedeepestdisgust。
“No，“repliedJoseph，“heismybrother；mypurseishis:butheoughttohaveaskedme。“
“Putinaspecialsum，insilver，thismorning，anddon’ttakeanythingout，“saidMadameDescoings。“Ishallknowwhogoesintothestudio；andifheistheonlyone，youwillbecertainitishe。“
ThenextdayJosephhadproofofhisbrother’sforcedloansuponhim。
Philippecametothestudiowhenhisbrotherwasoutandtookthelittlesumhewanted。Theartisttrembledforhissavings。
“I’llcatchhimatit，thescamp！“hesaid，laughing，toMadameDescoings。
“Andyou’lldoright:weoughttobreakhimofit。I，too，Ihavemissedlittlesumsoutofmypurse。Poorboy！hewantstobacco；he’saccustomedtoit。“
“Poorboy！poorboy！“criedtheartist。“I’mratherofFulgenceandBixiou’sopinion:Philippeisadead-weightonus。HerunshisheadintoriotsandhastobeshippedtoAmerica，andthatcoststhemothertwelvethousandfrancs；hecan’tfindanythingtodointheforestsoftheNewWorld，andsohecomesbackagain，andthatcoststwelvethousandmore。UnderpretenceofhavingcarriedtwowordsofNapoleontoageneral，hethinkshimselfagreatsoldierandmakesfacesattheBourbons；meantime，whatdoeshedo？amusehimself，travelabout，seeforeigncountries！Asforme，I’mnotdupedbyhismisfortunes；hedoesn’tlooklikeamanwhofailstogetthebestofthings！Somebodyfindshimagoodplace，andthereheis，leadingthelifeofaSardanapaluswithaballet-girl，andguzzlingthefundsofhisjournal；thatcoststhemotheranothertwelvethousandfrancs！Idon’tcaretwostrawsformyself，butPhilippewillbringthatpoorwomantobeggary。HethinksI’mofnoaccountbecauseIwasneverinthedragoonsoftheGuard；butperhapsIshallbetheonetosupportthatpoordearmotherinheroldage，whilehe，ifhegoesonashedoes，willendIdon’tknowhow。Bixiouoftensaystome，’Heisadownrightrogue，thatbrotherofyours。’Yourgrandsonisright。Philippewillbeuptosomemischiefthatwillcompromisethehonorofthefamily，andthenweshallhavetoscrapeupanothertenortwelvethousandfrancs！Hegambleseverynight；whenhecomeshome，drunkasatemplar，hedropsonthestaircasetheprickedcardsonwhichhemarkstheturnsoftheredandblack。OldDesrochesistryingtogethimbackintothearmy，and，onmywordonhonor，Ibelievehewouldhatetoserveagain。WouldyoueverhavebelievedthataboywithsuchheavenlyblueeyesandthelookofBayardcouldturnoutsuchascoundrel？“
