He will, therefore, give himself over once more, with a preface, to the wrath of the _feuilletonists.

Che sara, sara_.

He has never given much thought to the fortune of his works, and he is but little appalled by dread of the literary _what will people say_.

In the discussion now raging, in which the theatre and the schools, the public and the academies, are at daggers drawn, one will hear, perhaps, not without some interest, the voice of a solitary _apprentice_ of nature and truth, who has withdrawn betimes from the literary world, for pure love of letters, and who offers good faith in default of good taste, sincere conviction in default of talent, study in default of learning.
He will confine himself, however, to general considerations concerning the art, without the slightest attempt to smooth the path of his own work, without pretending to write an indictment or a plea, against or for any person whomsoever.

An attack upon or defence of his book is of less importance to him than to anybody else.