The upshot was that he advised Nathan not to apostatize too suddenly.
"Napoleon said it; you can't make young republics of old monarchies.
Therefore, my dear fellow, become the hero, the support, the creator of the Left Centre in the new Chamber, and you'll succeed.

Once admitted into political ranks, once in the government, you can be what you like,--of any opinion that triumphs." Nathan was bent on creating a daily political journal and becoming the absolute master of an enterprise which should absorb into it the countless little papers then swarming from the press, and establish ramifications with a review.

He had seen so many fortunes made all around him by the press that he would not listen to Blondet, who warned him not to trust to such a venture, declaring that the plan was unsound, so great was the present number of newspapers, all fighting for subscribers.

Raoul, relying on his so-called friends and his own courage, was all for daring it; he sprang up eagerly and said, with a proud gesture,-- "I shall succeed." "But you haven't a sou." "I will write a play." "It will fail." "Let it fail!" replied Nathan.
He rushed through the various rooms of Florine's apartment, followed by Blondet, who thought him crazy, looking with a greedy eye upon the wealth displayed there.

Blondet understood that look.
"There's a hundred and more thousand francs in them," he remarked.
"Yes," said Raoul, sighing, as he looked at Florine's sumptuous bedstead; "but I'd rather be a pedler all my life on the boulevard, and live on fried potatoes, than sell one item of this apartment." "Not one item," said Blondet; "sell all.