[17] This was perhaps due to the circumstance that Glais-Bizoin, the _enfant terrible_ of the Republican opposition in the Corps Législatif, played the chief part in the directorship of the paper, the latter's better features being imparted to it by his co-editor, the scholarly Eugène Pelletan. It was run chiefly in view of the 1869 elections and Zola subsequently remarked that excepting himself and the office boy every member of its staff was a parliamentary candidate. [18] "Journal des Goncourt," Vol V, p. 150 (November 13, 1874). [19] "Papiers et Correspondance de la Famille Impériale," Paris, Imprimerie Nationale, 1870. [20] See _ante_, p. 100. [21] "L'Œuvre," p. 208. [22] "L'Œuvre," p. 251. Alexis, p. 91. [23] "Le Gaulois," March 26, 1869. [24] The "Blowitz Memoirs" (London, 1903) give an erroneous version of this story, transferring the scene to the Quai d'Orsay, in Paris, and making Cavalié secretary to Paschal Grousset, "Delegate for Foreign Affairs" of the Commune of 1871. As Lord Lyons was not then in Paris, that version is obviously wrong. The incident, which the ambassador himself narrated more than once in after years, really occurred at Tours late in 1870, Cavalie's words being: "Dites donc, mon vieux, il ne faut pas se faire de bile, au sujet du patron. Allons plutôt prendre in bon bock!" Cavalié was a notorious bohemian, worthy of Murger; he had been one of the leaders of the cabal against the Goncourts' play, "Henriette Maréchal." [25] Alexis, _l. c._, p. 173. [26] This was a crisis provoked by Thiers' Presidential Message of November 13, 1872, by which he asked for the definite constitution of a Republic, a proposal which led to a great outcry on the part of those who wished to place the Count de Chambord or the Count de Paris on the throne. [27] See "Souvenirs; XIV," in the "Nouveaux Contes à Ninon." [28] "La Fortune des Rougon," Librairie Internationale. 1st and 2d editions: 1871, 389 pages, 18mo, 3 francs; 3d edition, Charpentier, 1872, 385 pages, 18mo, 3 francs 50 centimes. Thirty-eighth thousand on sale in 1903. [29] "La Curée," Librairie Internationale; 1st edition: covers dated 1872, title-pages, 1871, 360 pages, 18mo, 3 francs; 2d edition, Charpentier, 1872, 354 pages, 18mo, 3 francs 50 centimes; 5th edition, 360 pages, 1876; fiftieth thousand on sale in 1903. [30] M. Adolphe Brisson in "Le Temps," October 3, 1902. [31] All that the author retained was the dramatic rights. [32] About $1,200. [33] The books sold at 3 francs 50 centimes each; so the above would represent a royalty of about 11 per cent. VI THE PATH OF SUCCESS 1872-1877