plots of all these dramas are quite apart from the structure of the
_Comedie Humaine_. Vautrin and his "pals" are the only characters
borrowed from that series, but his part in the titular play is new
beyond the initial situation.

The _Premiere Edition_ of the _Theatre Complet_ was published in a
single duodecimo volume from the press of Giraud & Dagneau in 1853. It
contained: _Vautrin_, _Les Ressources de Quinola_, _Pamela Giraud_,
and _La Maratre_. All prefaces were omitted. _Mercadet_ was not given
with them in this printing, but appeared in a separate duodecimo,
under the title of _Le Faiseur_, from the press of Cadot, in 1853. The
next edition of the _Theatre Complet_, in 1855, reinstated the
prefaces. It was not until 1865 that _Mercadet_ joined the other four
in a single volume published by Mme. Houssiaux.

_Vautrin_, a drama in five acts, was presented for the first time in
the Porte-Saint-Martin theatre, March 14, 1840. The preface, dated
May 1, 1840, was not ready in time for the printing of the first
edition, which was a small octavo volume published by Delloye &
Tresse. It appeared in the second edition, two months later. The
dedication was to Laurent-Jan. [See "Jan" in Repertory.] The play was
a distinct failure, but its construction and temper combine to explain
this. At the same time it makes interesting reading; and it will prove
especially entertaining to readers of the _Comedie Humaine_ who have
dreaded and half-admired the redoubtable law-breaker, who makes his
initial entrance in _Le Pere Goriot_ and plays so important a part in
_Illusions Perdues_, and _Splendeurs et Miseres des Courtisanes_. Here
we find Vautrin in a favorite situation. He becomes the powerful
protector of an unknown young man--much as he picked up Lucien de
Rubempre in _Illusions Perdues_, and attempted to aid Rastignac in _Le