“If you could ever forget this sight,” David said in Lucien’s ear, “you would be the basest of men.” David, no doubt, thought that these brave words were needed; Mme. de Bargeton’s influence seemed to him less to be feared than his friend’s unlucky instability of character, Lucien was so easily led for good or evil. Eve soon packed Lucien’s clothes; the Fernando Cortez of literature carried but little baggage. He was wearing his best overcoat, his best waistcoat, and one of the two fine shirts. The whole of his linen, the celebrated coat, and his manuscript made up so small a package that to hide it from Mme. de Bargeton, David proposed to send it by coach to a paper merchant with whom he had dealings, and wrote and advised him to that effect, and asked him to keep the parcel until Lucien sent for it. In spite of Mme. de Bargeton’s precautions, Châtelet found out that she was leaving Angoulême; and with a view to discovering whether she was traveling alone or with Lucien, he sent his man to Ruffec with instructions to watch every carriage that changed horses at that stage. “If she is taking her poet with her,” thought he, “I have her now.” Lucien set out before daybreak the next morning. David went with him. David had hired a cabriolet, pretending that he was going to Marsac on business, a little piece of deception which seemed probable under the circumstances. The two friends went to Marsac, and spent part of the day with the old “bear.” As evening came on they set out again, and in the beginning of the dawn they waited in the road, on the further side of Mansle, for Mme. de Bargeton. When the seventy-year old traveling carriage, which he had many a time seen in the coach-house, appeared in sight, Lucien felt more deeply moved than he had ever been in his life before; he sprang into David’s arms. “God grant that this may be for your good!” said David, and he climbed into the shabby cabriolet and drove away with a feeling of dread clutching at his heart; he had terrible presentiments of the fate awaiting Lucien in Paris. ADDENDUM Note: Two Poets is part one of a trilogy. The second part is A Distinguished Provincial at Paris and details the further adventures of Lucien. Part three is titled Eve and David and continues their story. In other addendum references parts one and three are combined under the title of Lost Illusions. The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy. Bargeton, Madame de (see Châtelet, Baronne du) Cérizet Eve and David A Man of Business Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life The Middle Classes Chardon, Madame (nee Rubempré) Eve and David Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life Châtelet, Sixte, Baron du A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life The Thirteen Châtelet, Marie-Louise-Anaïs de Nègrepelisse, Baronne du A Distinguished Provincial at Paris The Government Clerks