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breaking in a spirited horse； at another； a girl； who gives herself up
to her toilette and breaks her lovers' hearts； or again； a false lover
driving a timid and gentle maid to despair。 Unable to analyze Foedora
by any other process； I told her this fanciful story； but no hint of
her resemblance to this poetry of the impossible crossed herit
simply diverted her； she was like a child over a story from the
Arabian Nights。
〃 'Foedora must be shielded by some talisman；' I thought to myself as
I went back； 'or she could not resist the love of a man of my age； the
infectious fever of that splendid malady of the soul。 Is Foedora； like
Lady Delacour； a prey to a cancer？ Her life is certainly an unnatural
one。'
〃I shuddered at the thought。 Then I decided on a plan； at once the
wildest and the most rational that lover ever dreamed of。 I would
study this woman from a physical point of view； as I had already
studied her intellectually； and to this end I made up my mind to spend
a night in her room without her knowledge。 This project preyed upon me
as a thirst for revenge gnaws at the heart of a Corsican monk。 This is
how I carried it out。 On the days when Foedora received； her rooms
were far too crowded for the hall…porter to keep the balance even
between goers and comers； I could remain in the house； I felt sure；
without causing a scandal in it； and I waited the countess' coming
soiree with impatience。 As I dressed I put a little English penknife
into my waistcoat pocket； instead of a poniard。 That literary
implement； if found upon me； could awaken no suspicion； but I knew not
whither my romantic resolution might lead； and I wished to be
prepared。
〃As soon as the rooms began to fill； I entered the bedroom and
examined the arrangements。 The inner and outer shutters were closed；
this was a good beginning； and as the waiting…maid might come to draw
back the curtains that hung over the windows； I pulled them together。
I was running great risks in venturing to manoeuvre beforehand in this
way； but I had accepted the situation； and had deliberately reckoned
with its dangers。
〃About midnight I hid myself in the embrasure of the window。 I tried
to scramble on to a ledge of the wainscoting； hanging on by the
fastening of the shutters with my back against the wall； in such a
position that my feet could not be visible。 When I had carefully
considered my points of support； and the space between me and the
curtains； I had become sufficiently acquainted with all the
difficulties of my position to stay in it without fear of detection if
undisturbed by cramp； coughs； or sneezings。 To avoid useless fatigue；
I remained standing until the critical moment； when I must hang
suspended like a spider in its web。 The white…watered silk and muslin
of the curtains spread before me in great pleats like organ…pipes。
With my penknife I cut loopholes in them； through which I could see。
〃I heard vague murmurs from the salons； the laughter and the louder
tones of the speakers。 The smothered commotion and vague uproar
lessened by slow degrees。 One man and another came for his hat from
the countess' chest of drawers； close to where I stood。 I shivered； if
the curtains were disturbed； at the thought of the mischances
consequent on the confused and hasty investigations made by the men in
a hurry to depart； who were rummaging everywhere。 When I experienced
no misfortunes of this kind； I augured well of my enterprise。 An old
wooer of Foedora's came for the last hat； he thought himself quite
alone； looked at the bed； and heaved a great sigh； accompanied by some
inaudible exclamation； into which he threw sufficient energy。 In the
boudoir close by； the countess； finding only some five or six intimate
acquaintances about her； proposed tea。 The scandals for which existing
society has reserved the little faculty of belief that it retains；
mingled with epigrams and trenchant witticisms； and the clatter of
cups and spoons。 Rastignac drew roars of laughter by merciless
sarcasms at the expense of my rivals。
〃 'M。 de Rastignac is a man with whom it is better not to quarrel；'
said the countess； laughing。
〃 'I am quite of that opinion；' was his candid reply。 'I have always
been right about my aversionsand my friendships as well；' he added。
'Perhaps my enemies are quite as useful to me as my friends。 I have
made a particular study of modern phraseology； and of the natural
craft that is used in all attack or defence。 Official eloquence is one
of our perfect social products。
〃 'One of your friends is not clever； so you speak of his integrity
and his candor。 Another's work is heavy； you introduce it as a piece
of conscientious labor； and if the book is ill written； you extol the
ideas it contains。 Such an one is treacherous and fickle； slips
through your fingers every moment； bah！ he is attractive； bewitching；
he is delightful！ Suppose they are enemies； you fling every one； dead
or alive； in their teeth。 You reverse your phraseology for their
benefit； and you are as keen in detecting their faults as you were
before adroit in bringing out the virtues of your friends。 This way of
using the mental lorgnette is the secret of conversation nowadays； and
the whole art of the complete courtier。 If you neglect it； you might
as well go out as an unarmed knight…banneret to fight against men in
armor。 And I make use of it； and even abuse it at times。 So we are
respectedI and my friends； and； moreover； my sword is quite as sharp
as my tongue。'
〃One of Foedora's most fervid worshipers； whose presumption was
notorious； and who even made it contribute to his success； took up the
glove thrown down so scornfully by Rastignac。 He began an unmeasured
eulogy of me； my performances； and my character。 Rastignac had
overlooked this method of detraction。 His sarcastic encomiums misled
the countess； who sacrificed without mercy； she betrayed my secrets；
and derided my pretensions and my hopes； to divert her friends。
〃 'There is a future before him；' said Rastignac。 'Some day he may be
in a position to take a cruel revenge； his talents are at least equal
to his courage； and I should consider those who attack him very rash；
for he has a good memory'
〃 'And writes Memoirs；' put in the countess； who seemed to object to
the deep silence that prevailed。
〃 'Memoirs of a sham countess； madame；' replied Rastignac。 'Another
sort of courage is needed to write that sort of thing。'
〃 'I give him credit for plenty of courage；' she answered； 'he is
faithful to me。'
〃I was greatly tempted to show myself suddenly among the railers； like
the shade of Banquo in Macbeth。 I should have lost a mistress； but I
had a friend！ But love inspired me all at once； with one of those
treacherous and fallacious subtleties that it can use to soothe all
our pangs。
〃If Foedora loved me； I thought； she would be sure to disguise her
feelings by some mocking jest。 How often the heart protests against a
lie on the lips！
〃Well； very soon my audacious rival； left alone with the countess；
rose to go。
〃 'What！ already？' asked she in a coaxing voice that set my heart
beating。 'Will you not give me a few more minutes？ Have you nothing
more to say to me？ will you never sacrifice any of your pleasures for
me？'
〃He went away。
〃 'Ah！' she yawned； 'how very tiresome they all are！'
〃She pulled a cord energetically till the sound of a bell rang through
the place； then； humming a few notes of Pria che spunti； the countess
entered her room。 No one had ever heard her sing； her muteness had
called forth the wildest explanations。 She had promised her first
lover； so it was said； who had been held captive by her talent； and
whose jealousy over her stretched beyond his grave； that she would
never allow others to experience a happiness that he wished to be his
and his alone。
〃I exerted every power of my soul to catch the sounds。 Higher and
higher rose the notes； Foedora's life seemed to dilate within her； her
throat poured forth all its richest tones； something well…nigh divine
entered into the melody。 There was a bright purity and clearness of
tone in the countess' voice； a thrilling harmony which reached the
heart and stirred its pulses。 Musicians are seldom unemotional； a
woman who could sing like that must know how to love indeed。 Her
beautiful voice made one more puzzle in a woman mysterious enough
before。 I beheld her then； as plainly as I see you at this moment。 She
seemed to listen to herself； to experience a secret rapture of her
own； she felt； as it were； an ecstasy like that of love。
〃She stood before the hearth during the execution of the principal
theme of the rondo； and when she ceased her face changed。 She looked
tired； her features seemed to alter。 She had laid the mask aside； her
part as an actress was over。 Yet the faded look that came over her
beautiful face； a result either of this performance or of the
evening's fatigues； had its charms； too。
〃 'This is her real self；' I thought。
〃She set her foot on a bronze bar of the fender as if to warm it； took
off her gloves； and drew over her head the gold chain from which her
bejeweled scent…bottle hung。 It gave me a quite indescribable