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groanings； to feel themselves over in every stiffened limb； and to
experience the infinite varieties of weariness that weighed upon them。
A servant came in to throw back the shutters and open the windows。
There they all stood； brought back to consciousness by the warm rays
of sunlight that shone upon the sleepers' heads。 Their movements
during slumber had disordered the elaborately arranged hair and
toilettes of the women。 They presented a ghastly spectacle in the
bright daylight。 Their hair fell ungracefully about them； their eyes；
lately so brilliant； were heavy and dim； the expression of their faces
was entirely changed。 The sickly hues； which daylight brings out so
strongly； were frightful。 An olive tint had crept over the lymphatic
faces； so fair and soft when in repose； the dainty red lips were grown
pale and dry； and bore tokens of the degradation of excess。 Each
disowned his mistress of the night before； the women looked wan and
discolored； like flowers trampled under foot by a passing procession。
The men who scorned them looked even more horrible。 Those human faces
would have made you shudder。 The hollow eyes with the dark circles
round them seemed to see nothing； they were dull with wine and
stupefied with heavy slumbers that had been exhausting rather than
refreshing。 There was an indescribable ferocious and stolid bestiality
about these haggard faces； where bare physical appetite appeared shorn
of all the poetical illusion with which the intellect invests it。 Even
these fearless champions； accustomed to measure themselves with
excess； were struck with horror at this awakening of vice； stripped of
its disguises； at being confronted thus with sin； the skeleton in
rags； lifeless and hollow； bereft of the sophistries of the intellect
and the enchantments of luxury。 Artists and courtesans scrutinized in
silence and with haggard glances the surrounding disorder； the rooms
where everything had been laid waste； at the havoc wrought by heated
passions。
Demoniac laughter broke out when Taillefer； catching the smothered
murmurs of his guests； tried to greet them with a grin。 His darkly
flushed； perspiring countenance loomed upon this pandemonium； like the
image of a crime that knows no remorse （see L'Auberge Rouge）。 The
picture was complete。 A picture of a foul life in the midst of luxury；
a hideous mixture of the pomp and squalor of humanity； an awakening
after the frenzy of Debauch has crushed and squeezed all the fruits of
life in her strong hands； till nothing but unsightly refuse is left to
her； and lies in which she believes no longer。 You might have thought
of Death gloating over a family stricken with the plague。
The sweet scents and dazzling lights； the mirth and the excitement
were all no more； disgust with its nauseous sensations and searching
philosophy was there instead。 The sun shone in like truth； the pure
outer air was like virtue； in contrast with the heated atmosphere；
heavy with the fumes of the previous night of revelry。
Accustomed as they were to their life； many of the girls thought of
other days and other wakings； pure and innocent days when they looked
out and saw the roses and honeysuckle about the casement； and the
fresh countryside without enraptured by the glad music of the skylark；
while earth lay in mists； lighted by the dawn； and in all the
glittering radiance of dew。 Others imagined the family breakfast； the
father and children round the table； the innocent laughter； the
unspeakable charm that pervaded it all； the simple hearts and their
meal as simple。
An artist mused upon his quiet studio； on his statue in its severe
beauty； and the graceful model who was waiting for him。 A young man
recollected a lawsuit on which the fortunes of a family hung； and an
important transaction that needed his presence。 The scholar regretted
his study and that noble work that called for him。 Emile appeared just
then as smiling； blooming； and fresh as the smartest assistant in a
fashionable shop。
〃You are all as ugly as bailiffs。 You won't be fit for anything
to…day； so this day is lost； and I vote for breakfast。〃
At this Taillefer went out to give some orders。 The women went
languidly up to the mirrors to set their toilettes in order。 Each one
shook herself。 The wilder sort lectured the steadier ones。 The
courtesans made fun of those who looked unable to continue the
boisterous festivity； but these wan forms revived all at once； stood
in groups； and talked and smiled。 Some servants quickly and adroitly
set the furniture and everything else in its place； and a magnificent
breakfast was got ready。
The guests hurried into the dining…room。 Everything there bore
indelible marks of yesterday's excess； it is true； but there were at
any rate some traces of ordinary； rational existence； such traces as
may be found in a sick man's dying struggles。 And so the revelry was
laid away and buried； like carnival of a Shrove Tuesday； by masks
wearied out with dancing； drunk with drunkenness； and quite ready to
be persuaded of the pleasures of lassitude； lest they should be forced
to admit their exhaustion。
As soon as these bold spirits surrounded the capitalist's breakfast…
table； Cardot appeared。 He had left the rest to make a night of it
after the dinner； and finished the evening after his own fashion in
the retirement of domestic life。 Just now a sweet smile wandered over
his features。 He seemed to have a presentiment that there would be
some inheritance to sample and divide； involving inventories and
engrossing； an inheritance rich in fees and deeds to draw up； and
something as juicy as the trembling fillet of beef in which their host
had just plunged his knife。
〃Oh； ho！ we are to have breakfast in the presence of a notary；〃 cried
Cursy。
〃You have come here just at the right time；〃 said the banker；
indicating the breakfast； 〃you can jot down the numbers； and initial
off all the dishes。〃
〃There is no will to make here； but contracts of marriage there may
be； perhaps；〃 said the scholar； who had made a satisfactory
arrangement for the first time in twelve months。
〃Oh！ Oh！〃
〃Ah！ Ah！〃
〃One moment；〃 cried Cardot； fairly deafened by a chorus of wretched
jokes。 〃I came here on serious business。 I am bringing six millions
for one of you。〃 （Dead silence。） 〃Monsieur；〃 he went on； turning to
Raphael； who at the moment was unceremoniously wiping his eyes on a
corner of the table…napkin； 〃was not your mother a Mlle。 O'Flaharty？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Raphael mechanically enough； 〃Barbara Marie。〃
〃Have you your certificate of birth about you；〃 Cardot went on； 〃and
Mme。 de Valentin's as well？〃
〃I believe so。〃
〃Very well then； monsieur； you are the sole heir of Major O'Flaharty；
who died in August 1828 at Calcutta。〃
〃An incalcuttable fortune；〃 said the critic。
〃The Major having bequeathed several amounts to public institutions in
his will； the French Government sent in a claim for the remainder to
the East India Company；〃 the notary continued。 〃The estate is clear
and ready to be transferred at this moment。 I have been looking in
vain for the heirs and assigns of Mlle。 Barbara Marie O'Flaharty for a
fortnight past； when yesterday at dinner〃
Just then Raphael suddenly staggered to his feet； he looked like a man
who has just received a blow。 Acclamation took the form of silence；
for stifled envy had been the first feeling in every breast； and all
eyes devoured him like flames。 Then a murmur rose； and grew like the
voice of a discontented audience； or the first mutterings of a riot；
as everybody made some comment on this news of great wealth brought by
the notary。
This abrupt subservience of fate brought Raphael thoroughly to his
senses。 He immediately spread out the table…napkin with which he had
lately taken the measure of the piece of shagreen。 He heeded nothing
as he laid the talisman upon it； and shuddered involuntarily at the
sight of a slight difference between the present size of the skin and
the outline traced upon the linen。
〃Why； what is the matter with him？' Taillefer cried。 〃He comes by his
fortune very cheaply。〃
〃Soutiens…le Chatillon！〃 said Bixiou to Emile。 〃The joy will kill
him。〃
A ghastly white hue overspread every line of the wan features of the
heir…at…law。 His face was drawn； every outline grew haggard； the
hollows in his livid countenance grew deeper； and his eyes were fixed
and staring。 He was facing Death。
The opulent banker； surrounded by faded women； and faces with satiety
written on them； the enjoyment that had reached the pitch of agony；
was a living illustration of his own life。
Raphael looked thrice at the talisman； which lay passively within the
merciless outlines on the table…napkin； he tried not to believe it；
but his incredulity vanished utterly before the light of an inner
presentiment。 The whole world was his； he could have all things； but
the will to possess them was utterly extinct。 Like a traveler in the
midst of the desert； with but a little water left to quench his
thirst； he must measure his life by the draughts he took of it。 He saw
what every desire of his must cost him in the days of his life。 He
believed in the powers of