Page:Novels of Honoré de Balzac Volume 23.djvu/177

 “You have hit upon the right expression,” said Maxime de Trailles.

“And the right idea too,” rejoined Rastignac.

“My dear fellow,” said De Marsay gravely, to Savinien, “debts are the silent partners of experience. A good University education with masters for accomplishments and for uninviting utilities, who teach you nothing, costs sixty thousand francs. If the world’s education costs double that, it teaches you life, business, politics, men, and sometimes, women.”

Blondet concluded this lesson with this translation of a verse from La Fontaine:

Instead of pondering over the sense of what was told him by the most skilful pilots of the Parisian archipelago, Savinien merely took it as a joke.

“Take care, my dear fellow,” said De Marsay, “you have a good name, and if you do not get the good luck required by your name, you may end your days in the garb of a quarter-master in a cavalry regiment—

he added, spouting this verse by Corneille and taking Savinien’s arm—“Nearly six years ago,” he resumed, “a young Comte d’Esgrignon came amongst us, who did not live more than two years in the paradise of high life! Alas! he lived the life