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and to see my cousin's heart from very near； I have divined the inexhaustible treasures of passion； and； like Cherubino； I am the lover of all women； until the day comes when I find THE woman to whom I may devote myself。 As soon as I saw you； as soon as I came into the theatre this evening； I felt myself borne towards you as if by the current of a stream。 I had so often thought of you already； but I had never dreamed that you would be so beautiful！ Mme。 de Beauseant told me that I must not look so much at you。 She does not know the charm of your red lips； your fair face； nor see how soft your eyes are。 。 。 。 I also am beginning to talk nonsense； but let me talk。〃
Nothing pleases a woman better than to listen to such whispered words as these； the most puritanical among them listens even when she ought not to reply to them； and Rastignac； having once begun； continued to pour out his story； dropping his voice； that she might lean and listen； and Mme。 de Nucingen； smiling； glanced from time to time at de Marsay； who still sat in the Princesse Galathionne's box。
Rastignac did not leave Mme。 de Nucingen till her husband came to take her home。
〃Madame；〃 Eugene said； 〃I shall have the pleasure of calling upon you before the Duchesse de Carigliano's ball。〃
〃If Matame infites you to come；〃 said the Baron； a thickset Alsatian； with indications of a sinister cunning in his full…moon countenance； 〃you are quide sure of being well receifed。〃
〃My affairs seem to be in a promising way；〃 said Eugene to himself。〃 'Can you love me？' I asked her； and she did not resent it。 The bit is in the horse's mouth； and I have only to mount and ride；〃 and with that he went to pay his respects to Mme。 de Beauseant； who was leaving the theatre on d'Ajuda's arm。
The student did not know that the Baroness' thoughts had been wandering； that she was even then expecting a letter from de Marsay； one of those letters that bring about a rupture that rends the soul； so； happy in his delusion； Eugene went with the Vicomtesse to the peristyle； where people were waiting till their carriages were announced。
〃That cousin of yours is hardly recognizable for the same man；〃 said the Portuguese laughingly to the Vicomtesse； when Eugene had taken leave of them。 〃He will break the bank。 He is as supple as an eel； he will go a long way； of that I am sure。 Who else could have picked out a woman for him； as you did； just when she needed consolation？〃
〃But it is not certain that she does not still love the faithless lover；〃 said Mme。 de Beauseant。
The student meanwhile walked back from the Theatre…Italien to the Rue Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve； making the most delightful plans as he went。 He had noticed how closely Mme。 de Restaud had scrutinized him when he sat beside Mme。 de Nucingen； and inferred that the Countess' doors would not be closed in the future。 Four important houses were now open to himfor he meant to stand well with the Marechale； he had four supporters in the inmost circle of society in Paris。 Even now it was clear to him that； once involved in this intricate social machinery； he must attach himself to a spoke of the wheel that was to turn and raise his fortunes； he would not examine himself too curiously as to the methods； but he was certain of the end； and conscious of the power to gain and keep his hold。
〃If Mme。 de Nucingen takes an interest in me； I will teach her how to manage her husband。 That husband of hers is a great speculator； he might put me in the way of making a fortune by a single stroke。〃
He did not say this bluntly in so many words； as yet； indeed； he was not sufficient of a diplomatist to sum up a situation； to see its possibilities at a glance； and calculate the chances in his favor。 These were nothing but hazy ideas that floated over his mental horizon； they were less cynical than Vautrin's notions； but if they had been tried in the crucible of conscience； no very pure result would have issued from the test。 It is by a succession of such like transactions that men sink at last to the level of the relaxed morality of this epoch； when there have never been so few of those who square their courses with their theories； so few of those noble characters who do not yield to temptation； for whom the slightest deviation from the line of rectitude is a crime。 To these magnificent types of uncompromising Right we owe two masterpiecesthe Alceste of Moliere； and； in our own day； the characters of Jeanie Deans and her father in Sir Walter Scott's novel。 Perhaps a work which should chronicle the opposite course； which should trace out all the devious courses through which a man of the world； a man of ambitions； drags his conscience； just steering clear of crime that he may gain his end and yet save appearances； such a chronicle would be no less edifying and no less dramatic。
Rastignac went home。 He was fascinated by Mme。 de Nucingen； he seemed to see her before him； slender and graceful as a swallow。 He recalled the intoxicating sweetness of her eyes； her fair hair； the delicate silken tissue of the skin； beneath which it almost seemed to him that he could see the blood coursing； the tones of her voice still exerted a spell over him； he had forgotten nothing； his walk perhaps heated his imagination by sending a glow of warmth through his veins。 He knocked unceremoniously at Goriot's door。
〃I have seen Mme。 Delphine； neighbor；〃 said he。
〃Where？〃
〃At the Italiens。〃
〃Did she enjoy it？。 。 。 。 Just come inside；〃 and the old man left his bed； unlocked the door； and promptly returned again。
It was the first time that Eugene had been in Father Goriot's room； and he could not control his feeling of amazement at the contrast between the den in which the father lived and the costume of the daughter whom he had just beheld。 The window was curtainless； the walls were damp； in places the varnished wall… paper had come away and gave glimpses of the grimy yellow plaster beneath。 The wretched bed on which the old man lay boasted but one thin blanket； and a wadded quilt made out of large pieces of Mme。 Vauquer's old dresses。 The floor was damp and gritty。 Opposite the window stood a chest of drawers made of rosewood； one of the old…fashioned kind with a curving front and brass handles； shaped like rings of twisted vine stems covered with flowers and leaves。 On a venerable piece of furniture with a wooden shelf stood a ewer and basin and shaving apparatus。 A pair of shoes stood in one corner； a night…table by the bed had neither a door nor marble slab。 There was not a trace of a fire in the empty grate； the square walnut table with the crossbar against which Father Goriot had crushed and twisted his posset… dish stood near the hearth。 The old man's hat was lying on a broken…down bureau。 An armchair stuffed with straw and a couple of chairs completed the list of ramshackle furniture。 From the tester of the bed； tied to the ceiling by a piece of rag； hung a strip of some cheap material in large red and black checks。 No poor drudge in a garret could be worse lodged than Father Goriot in Mme。 Vauquer's lodging…house。 The mere sight of the room sent a chill through you and a sense of oppression； it was like the worst cell in a prison。 Luckily； Goriot could not see the effect that his surroundings produced on Eugene as the latter deposited his candle on the night…table。 The old man turned round； keeping the bedclothes huddled up to his chin。
〃Well；〃 he said； 〃and which do you like the best； Mme。 de Restaud or Mme。 de Nucingen？〃
〃I like Mme。 Delphine the best；〃 said the law student； 〃because she loves you the best。〃
At the words so heartily spoken the old man's hand slipped out from under the bedclothes and grasped Eugene's。
〃Thank you； thank you；〃 he said； gratefully。 〃Then what did she say about me？〃
The student repeated the Baroness' remarks with some embellishments of his own； the old man listening the while as though he heard a voice from Heaven。
〃Dear child！〃 he said。 〃Yes； yes； she is very fond of me。 But you must not believe all that she tells you about Anastasie。 The two sisters are jealous of each other； you see； another proof of their affection。 Mme。 de Restaud is very fond of me too。 I know she is。 A father sees his children as God sees all of us； he looks into the very depths of their hearts； he knows their intentions； and both of them are so loving。 Oh！ if I only had good sons…in…law； I should be too happy； and I dare say there is no perfect happiness here below。 If I might live with them simply hear their voices； know that they are there； see them go and come as I used to do at home when they were still with me； why； my heart bounds at the thought。 。 。 。 Were they nicely dressed？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Eugene。 〃But； M。 Goriot； how is it that your daughters have such fine houses； while you live in such a den as this？〃
〃Dear me； why should I want anything better？〃 he replied； with seeming carelessness。 〃I can't quite explain to you how it is； I am not used to stringing words together properly； but it all lies there〃 he said； tapping his heart。 〃My real life is in my two girls； you see； and so long as they are happy； and smartly dressed； and have soft carpets under their feet； what does it matter what clothes I wear or where I