Lousteau had already sent out sixty of these announcements when Monsieur de Clagny, on coming to make inquiries, happened to see the list of persons at Sancerre to whom Lousteau proposed to send this amazing notice, written below the names of the persons in Paris to whom it was already gone.  The lawyer confiscated the list and the remainder of the circulars, showed them to Madame Piedefer, begging her on no account to allow Lousteau to carry on this atrocious jest, and jumped into a cab.  The devoted friend then ordered from the same printer another announcement in the following words: 

  "Madame la Baronne de la Baudraye is happily delivered of a son.

  “Monsieur le Baron de la Baudraye has the honor of informing you
  of the fact.

  “Mother and child are doing well."_

After seeing the proofs destroyed, the form of type, everything that could bear witness to the existence of the former document, Monsieur de Clagny set to work to intercept those that had been sent; in many cases he changed them at the porter’s lodge, he got back thirty into his own hands, and at last, after three days of hard work, only one of the original notes existed, that, namely sent to Nathan.

Five times had the lawyer called on the great man without finding him.  By the time Monsieur de Clagny was admitted, after requesting an interview, the story of the announcement was known to all Paris.  Some persons regarded it as one of those waggish calumnies, a sort of stab to which every reputation, even the most ephemeral, is exposed; others said they had read the paper and returned it to some friend of the La Baudraye family; a great many declaimed against the immorality of journalists; in short, this last remaining specimen was regarded as a curiosity.  Florine, with whom Nathan was living, had shown it about, stamped in the post as paid, and addressed in Etienne’s hand.  So, as soon as the judge spoke of the announcement, Nathan began to smile.

“Give up that monument of recklessness and folly?” cried he.  “That autograph is one of those weapons which an athlete in the circus cannot afford to lay down.  That note proves that Lousteau has no heart, no taste, no dignity; that he knows nothing of the world nor of public morality; that he insults himself when he can find no one else to insult.—­None but the son of a provincial citizen imported from Sancerre to become a poet, but who is only the bravo of some contemptible magazine, could ever have sent out such a circular letter, as you must allow, monsieur.  This is a document indispensable to the archives of the age.—­To-day Lousteau flatters me, to-morrow he may ask for my head.—­Excuse me, I forgot you were a judge.

“I have gone through a passion for a lady, a great lady, as far superior to Madame de la Baudraye as your fine feeling, monsieur, is superior to Lousteau’s vulgar retaliation; but I would have died rather than utter her name.  A few months of her airs and graces cost me a hundred thousand francs and my prospects for life; but I do not think the price too high!—­And I have never murmured!—­If a woman betrays the secret of her passion, it is the supreme offering of her love, but a man!—­He must be a Lousteau!