Gabriel disdainfully puffed a stream of cigar smoke from his mouth, his remarkably large belly thrust forward as he responded to Director Gigo:
"Come on, Gigo, my old friend, you know as well as I do what Le Petit Parisien pays for submissions.
How many sous per line can they give this poor lad?"
Director Gigo didn't want to dwell on the issue.
He pushed Le Petit Parisien aside, then pulled a thick, plainly bound booklet from his drawer and threw it in front of Gabriel:
"Let's talk about this, Gab."
Gabriel unhurriedly picked up the thick booklet from the table, glanced through it, then put it back, spreading his hands.
"Aha, The Decadent City.
What a splendid title."
Director Gigo was clearly displeased with his attitude; even if the man sent him at least ten thousand francs in "sponsorship fees" annually, he couldn't be so perfunctory.
He abruptly stood up, leaning close to Gabriel's face, warning him word by word:
"Mr. Mareuil, this book has now attracted significant attention from Bishop Giber.
He is already preparing to address the assembly about this matter.
Do you still think you can escape with money or other means?
I expect a full explanation!"
Gabriel only then grew a little serious, though he remained nonchalant — he donated far more annually to the 'Paris Book Benevolence Association' — he straightened up slightly:
"Yes, I published this book.
And I have already registered the copyright with the 'Bureau of Books and Libraries,' it is protected by the 1793 'Law on Literary and Artistic Works'."
Director Gigo hadn't expected him to not only admit it so readily but also state that The Decadent City was already copyrighted, which surprised him somewhat.
He sat back in his chair, crossed his arms over his chest, and after a moment of thought, spoke again:
"Don't you know publishing such a novel is a major taboo?
Bishop Giber demands we immediately arrest the publisher and the author."
Since the 1810 Napoleonic Penal Code included articles prohibiting "obscene" and "immoral" works, the Paris police department had a special section responsible for 'Morality and Discipline.'
In 1857, Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary was accused of "insulting morals and religion," and even though he was eventually acquitted, the process deeply shocked the literary world.
Times had changed, and after the establishment of the Republican government in 1871, censorship of obscene books had relaxed considerably, but Gabriel, an openly active publisher and newspaper owner, was the first to dare to act in such a manner.
Gabriel chuckled:
"What crime has it committed to warrant such a fuss from you and Bishop Giber?"
Director Gigo angrily poked the cover of The Decadent City with his finger:
"I thought this was printed by those rats who only dare to hide underground, using your name as a pretense, but I never imagined you'd admit it!
Mr. Mareuil, I've been very lenient when you published jokes and scandals in The Boisterous Gazette – but this book, the obscene descriptions within it have crossed the line.
If you're willing to disclose the author, well, 'An Honest Parisian,' perhaps your culpability could be lessened!"
Gabriel's smile didn't diminish; instead, it grew brighter.
With full confidence, he reopened The Decadent City on the table:
"Obscene?
My goodness, my dear Gigo, what are you talking about?
Can you find a single obscene word in here?
Organs, actions, postures...
Look closer!"
Director Gigo was stunned.
He stared at the glaring "□□□□□□□□□□□□ (15 lines omitted here)" on the open page and was momentarily at a loss for words.
Gabriel now wore a serious expression, speaking with righteous indignation:
"Esteemed Director Gigo, it is precisely out of responsibility for the morals and minds of the people of Paris, of France, that those passages have been deleted, and will never poison anyone!
Although The Decadent City may be debatable in some of its descriptions, it is itself an excellent naturalist novel! Just like those written by Monsieur Zola.
If it truly were a novel promoting obscenity, how could the 'Bureau of Books and Libraries' have agreed to let me register its copyright?"
Director Gigo, his face grim, pulled a thin pamphlet from his drawer and slammed it onto the table:
"Deleted?
Then what is this about?"
Gabriel feigned surprise, took it, flipped through it, then immediately threw it onto the table as if burned:
"God!
The devil!
Only the devil would write such blasphemous words!"
Director Gigo thought, Your acting is terrible, and showed a look of disdain:
"What?
Wasn't this pamphlet released in conjunction with The Decadent City?
You've printed all the deleted content in it!
Damn it, a single glance at the words in here is enough to corrupt someone!"
Gabriel made the sign of the cross over his chest, then cried out in false indignation:
"God!
I, Gabriel Mareuil, have been a law-abiding merchant all my life, never engaging in such legal loopholes!
You see, this pamphlet has no title, no author, and no publisher on its cover.
It must be some underground rat, jealous of our The Decadent City, who hired some shameless, vulgar hack to write it.
I implore you to bring them to justice!"
Director Gigo was dumbfounded.
He then picked up the pamphlet and flipped through it, finding indeed no information about the publisher or author.
Both booklets had been presented to him simultaneously by his subordinates, who had assumed they were a set; but it was only after Gabriel's reminder that he realized, theoretically, the thick and thin booklets were entirely independent.
Director Gigo gave Gabriel, who was sitting opposite him with a half-smile, a long, searching look, then sighed helplessly:
"I hope you can use this line of argument to convince Bishop Giber!
But, who is 'An Honest Parisian'?
You can tell me that, can't you?"
Gabriel shrugged:
"I don't know either.
He always submits anonymously, and we only communicate via mail."
Director Gigo flashed a sarcastic smile:
"Oh?
Our omnipotent Gabriel Mareuil wouldn't know who to pay a substantial sum in royalties to?
Well, I hope Bishop Giber believes that as well."
He then waved his hand, signaling Gabriel to leave.
Gabriel didn't linger.
He stood up, took his cane, bowed to Director Gigo, and departed gracefully.
Watching Gabriel's broad back disappear into the police station, Director Gigo suddenly remembered something and called out,
"Claude, Claude!"
Shortly after, a man who appeared very shrewd and capable entered his office:
"Your Excellency, Director, please instruct me!"
Director Gigo asked:
"A while ago, how's that case going, the one where the Sorbonne student accused the manager of 'Orby Trading Company' of marriage fraud, swindling his family in the Alps out of 5,000 francs?"
Detective Claude scratched his head:
"After all, that case happened in the Alps, and we can't even confirm that the person truly is the manager of 'Orby Trading Company'..."
Director Gigo knew his subordinate had buried this case somewhere under a stack of files, so he handed Le Petit Parisien back to Detective Claude:
"I recall the person who reported the crime was named Lionel Sorel, wasn't he?"
Detective Claude was somewhat bewildered:
"Yes..."
Then he saw the name in the newspaper:
"Is it... him?"
Director Gigo nodded:
"He's gained some influence now.
You need to pay attention to that case. If he tells the reporters at Le Petit Parisien..."
Detective Claude immediately understood the implication and bowed promptly:
"I'll solve the case as quickly as possible!"
————
Downstairs at the Paris police station, Gabriel Mareuil boarded his waiting carriage, only then truly letting out a sigh of relief.
He then recalled the letter from 'An Honest Parisian' that had arrived with the novel:
"...I believe The Decadent City should be sold in at least two versions..."
A goddamn genius!
At this moment, the coachman asked:
"Master, home now?"
Gabriel Mareuil first hummed, then said:
"To Notre Dame.
I need to meet with Bishop Giber!"
(End of Chapter)
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