Professor Gaston Boissier's distress did not come from the journal's circulation, but from the theme of "The Old Guard."
In previous years, the March issue of "Sorbonne Academy of Letters Bulletin" was mainly a showcase for Sorbonne talents, publishing mostly aesthetic, romantic, or light comedy-style short stories.
The influential figures who intended to fund the academy came to the "Poetry Gathering" primarily to demonstrate their generosity while also feigning cultural sophistication.
After all, anyone could offer comments after hearing young, handsome university students recite stories about lost shepherds falling in love with fairies in the forest at the "Poetry Gathering."
But "The Old Guard" was simply too heavy, its critical spearhead pointing both at the autocratic government and the republican government.
Mr. Hugo's "historical debt" and "we all owe debts" made anyone who heard it uncomfortable—people came to the "Poetry Gathering" to donate to the Sorbonne, not to repay debts to it.
The "Old Guard" was a very special existence in 19th-century French history.
Their fearless courage and loyalty to Emperor Napoleon pointed both to an unforgettable glorious period in modern French history and to a symbol of stubborn, ignorant, uncivilized, and crude personality.
In Paris, political journalists would use "Guard" to refer to the long-term close followers of politicians, a term with a certain derogatory connotation.
Therefore, the publication of "The Old Guard" was likely to reawaken the French people's memory of this already defunct group—whether the result would be good or bad was beyond anyone's control.
So Dean Henri Patin felt it necessary to add a commentary before "The Old Guard" to prevent readers from overreacting to the story—the biggest problem was, how should this commentary be written?
On the one hand, it had to highlight that "The Old Guard" was a rare masterpiece, even praised by Victor Hugo:
On the other hand, it couldn't be too sharp, hurting the feelings of too many influential figures who had taboos about it—such as staunch Bourbon loyalists like Ernest Renan.
A significant reason for his hostility towards Lionel that day was that Louis XVIII, who had granted their family status and wealth, was the one who ordered the disbandment and surveillance of the "Old Guard" back then.
Professor Gaston Boissier pondered repeatedly, finally pulling his quill from the inkwell, first draining the excess ink, then writing on the draft paper:
[As this issue of the "Bulletin" goes to press, it is with immense enthusiasm and caution that we introduce to you a student work destined to resonate within the academy and the broader literary sphere—Mr. Lionel Sorel's short story "The Old Guard"...
Mr. Sorel's "The Old Guard," however, with its distinctive temperament, profound power, and impeccable artistic integrity, presents us with a completely different yet shocking picture... it has received personal appreciation and high praise from our most esteemed literary giant—Mr. Victor Hugo.
However, precisely because the artistic power of "The Old Guard" is so immense, and its profound theme and unique perspective are so striking, as editors, we feel a deep responsibility to guide readers to appreciate its literary value with a clearer perspective, transcending political context...]
As he was writing, the office door burst open, and Hippolyte Taine stormed in with an angry face, shouting at Gaston Boissier:
"What exactly happened the day Mr. Hugo came?"
Gaston Boissier looked bewildered:
"What happened... haven't you read the meeting minutes?"
Hippolyte Taine sat down panting in the chair opposite him, clutching his chest until his breathing finally calmed down, then said in a voice suppressed with anger:
"Armand attended Madame Adèle's salon last night, and Madame Adèle asked him if Mr. Hugo had recovered my medical expenses!"
Gaston Boissier: "..."
Hippolyte Taine continued:
"Now everyone is spreading the rumor that 'poor Lionel kicked Professor Taine, owes medical expenses, and Mr. Hugo personally came to the Sorbonne to collect the debt, declaring that a student's debt is the Sorbonne's debt'!
Good heavens, is this still the Paris I know?
Is this still the France I grew up in?
Now wherever I go to a gathering, everyone looks at me with strange eyes..."
Gaston Boissier: "..."
After a long while, he quietly reminded his hot-tempered old colleague:
"I think you might be misunderstanding Lionel?
This kind of rumor doesn't seem like something Lionel would concoct, what good would it do him?
Last night, the version I heard from Madame Célestine was 'Professor Taine feels he owes Lionel a debt and wants to marry his daughter to poor Lionel to repay it.'"
Hippolyte Taine:
"My daughter?
Madeleine has been married for ten years!
...Wait, is it really not Lionel?"
Gaston Boissier looked at him meaningfully, took a transcribed copy of "The Old Guard" from his drawer, and handed it to Taine:
"You should read his novel first—I don't believe a young man like him would seek fame in such a shameless way.
His talent rivals any genius I've seen at the Sorbonne!"
Hippolyte Taine took the manuscript, half-believing, half-doubting...
————————
Apartment 502, 12 Rue Antoine, two young men and a little girl welcomed a warm gathering.
The rectangular dining table was covered with a pristine white linen tablecloth, the silver-plated cutlery was polished to a shine, and in front of each seat was a patterned porcelain plate and a tall crystal glass; the fireplace crackled, and candlelight refracted into tiny glimmers on the crystal glasses.
In the center of the table was a large soup bowl containing a tenderly stewed old hen, golden chicken broth, and mushrooms and turnip pieces floating in the broth.
Around the soup pot were roasted duck breast, potatoes au gratin with cream, butter-roasted vegetables, and in the bread basket were both traditional baguettes and soft "brioche."
A bottle of ordinary sparkling wine was prepared for the meal.
Lionel raised his glass:
"Let's toast to Miss Petty's healthy return! Cheers!"
Alice and Petty also raised their glasses high: "Cheers!"—though Petty's glass contained lemonade.
Alice had stayed hidden in Lionel's apartment for two weeks, not even daring to open the curtains; during the day, Lionel went to the Sorbonne for classes, at night he wrote until late, and on weekends he often mysteriously disappeared for an entire day.
She had no entertainment here except reading newspapers—until this day, Lionel brought back a little girl named Petty, saying she was his maid.
Alice had grown accustomed to the magical things happening to Lionel—suddenly becoming a writer, earning a considerable manuscript fee, living in an apartment she couldn't even dream of—and no longer questioned them, especially with the sudden addition of a 10-year-old maid.
She was only glad to have a companion.
After the celebratory dinner, Alice finally mustered the courage to ask Lionel:
"I...
I want to find a job, I can't keep living and eating here for free with you...
Do you have any connections you could introduce me to?"
Lionel was not surprised.
Alice, accustomed to labor on her father's farm, staying indoors for two weeks without going out was already a rare feat.
However, her likeness had appeared on several newspaper wanted ads; now, if she showed herself in public, she would likely be "apprehended and brought to justice" by the Church.
He thought for a moment, then suddenly asked:
"How is your handwriting?"
Alice paused, then nodded:
"I copied the 'Bible' at Notre-Dame de Lourdes; the sisters said I wrote well."
Lionel smiled: "That makes things easy!"
————————
On March 1, 1879, the current issue of the "Sorbonne Academy of Letters Bulletin" was officially published.
As the most anticipated issue of the journal each year, every Sorbonne student soon received a copy.
Then they were shocked to discover that the most important position on the front page of this issue of the "Sorbonne Academy of Letters Bulletin" was not a learned discourse by some scholar or professor, but an introduction to a student's work.
(End of this chapter)
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