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celebrated man。 Such curiosities are to certain women what magic
lanterns are to children；a pleasure to the eyes； but rather shallow
and full of disappointments。 The more sentiments a man of talent
excites at a distance； the less he responds to them on nearer view；
the more brilliant fancy has pictured him； the duller he will seem in
reality。 Consequently； disenchanted curiosity is often unjust。
Neither Blondet nor Rastignac could deceive d'Arthez； but they told
him； laughing； that they now offered him a most seductive opportunity
to polish up his heart and know the supreme fascinations which love
conferred on a Parisian great lady。 The princess was evidently in love
with him； he had nothing to fear but everything to gain by accepting
the interview； it was quite impossible he could descend from the
pedestal on which madame de Cadignan had placed him。 Neither Blondet
nor Rastignac saw any impropriety in attributing this love to the
princess； she whose past had given rise to so many anecdotes could
very well stand that lesser calumny。 Together they began to relate to
d'Arthez the adventures of the Duchesse de Maufrigneuse： her first
affair with de Marsay； her second with d'Ajuda； whom she had； they
said； distracted from his wife； thus avenging Madame de Beausant； also
her later connection with young d'Esgrignon； who had travelled with
her in Italy； and had horribly compromised himself on her account；
after that they told him how unhappy she had been with a certain
celebrated ambassador； how happy with a Russian general； besides
becoming the Egeria of two ministers of Foreign affairs； and various
other anecdotes。 D'Arthez replied that he knew a great deal more than
they could tell him about her through their poor friend； Michel
Chrestien； who adored her secretly for four years； and had well…nigh
gone mad about her。
〃I have often accompanied him；〃 said Daniel； 〃to the opera。 He would
make me run through the streets as far as her horses that he might see
the princess through the window of her coupe。〃
〃Well； there you have a topic all ready for you；〃 said Blondet；
smiling。 〃This is the very woman you need； she'll initiate you most
gracefully into the mysteries of elegance； but take care！ she has
wasted many fortunes。 The beautiful Diane is one of those spendthrifts
who don't cost a penny； but for whom a man spends millions。 Give
yourself up to her； body and soul； if you choose； but keep your money
in your hand； like the old fellow in Girodet's 'Deluge。'〃
From the tenor of these remarks it was to be inferred that the
princess had the depth of a precipice； the grace of a queen； the
corruption of diplomatists； the mystery of a first initiation； and the
dangerous qualities of a siren。 The two clever men of the world；
incapable of foreseeing the denouement of their joke； succeeded in
presenting Diane d'Uxelles as a consummate specimen of the Parisian
woman； the cleverest of coquettes； the most enchanting mistress in the
world。 Right or wrong； the woman whom they thus treated so lightly was
sacred to d'Arthez； his desire to meet her needed no spur； he
consented to do so at the first word； which was all the two friends
wanted of him。
Madame d'Espard went to see the princess as soon as she had received
this answer。
〃My dear； do you feel yourself in full beauty and coquetry？〃 she said。
〃If so； come and dine with me a few days hence； and I'll serve up
d'Arthez。 Our man of genius is by nature； it seems； a savage； he fears
women； and has never loved！ Make your plans on that。 He is all
intellect； and so simple that he'll mislead you into feeling no
distrust。 But his penetration； which is wholly retrospective； acts
later； and frustrates calculation。 You may hoodwink him to…day； but
to…morrow nothing can dupe him。〃
〃Ah！〃 cried the princess； 〃if I were only thirty years old what
amusement I might have with him！ The one enjoyment I have lacked up to
the present is a man of intellect to fool。 I have had only partners；
never adversaries。 Love was a mere game instead of being a battle。〃
〃Dear princess； admit that I am very generous； for； after all； you
know！charity begins at home。〃
The two women looked at each other； laughing； and clasped hands in a
friendly way。 Assuredly they both knew each other's secrets； and this
was not the first man nor the first service that one had given to the
other； for sincere and lasting friendships between women of the world
need to be cemented by a few little crimes。 When two friends are
liable to kill each other reciprocally； and see a poisoned dagger in
each other's hand； they present a touching spectacle of harmony； which
is never troubled； unless； by chance； one of them is careless enough
to drop her weapon。
So； eight days later； a little dinner such as are given to intimates
by verbal invitation only； during which the doors are closed to all
other visitors； took place at Madame d'Espard's house。 Five persons
were invited；Emile Blondet and Madame de Montcornet； Daniel
d'Arthez； Rastignac； and the Princesse de Cadignan。 Counting the
mistress of the house； there were as many men as women。
Chance never exerted itself to make wiser preparations than those
which opened the way to a meeting between d'Arthez and Madame de
Cadignan。 The princess is still considered one of the chief
authorities on dress； which； to women； is the first of arts。 On this
occasion she wore a gown of blue velvet with flowing white sleeves；
and a tulle guimpe； slightly frilled and edged with blue； covering the
shoulders； and rising nearly to the throat； as we see in several of
Raffaele's portraits。 Her maid had dressed her hair with white
heather； adroitly placed among its blond cascades； which were one of
the great beauties to which she owed her celebrity。
Certainly Diane did not look to be more than twenty…five years old。
Four years of solitude and repose had restored the freshness of her
complexion。 Besides； there are moments when the desire to please gives
an increase of beauty to women。 The will is not without influence on
the variations of the face。 If violent emotions have the power to
yellow the white tones of persons of bilious and melancholy
temperament； and to green lymphatic faces； shall we not grant to
desire； hope； and joy； the faculty of clearing the skin； giving
brilliancy to the eye； and brightening the glow of beauty with a light
as jocund as that of a lovely morning？ The celebrated faintness of the
princess had taken on a ripeness which now made her seem more august。
At this moment of her life； impressed by her many vicissitudes and by
serious reflections； her noble； dreamy brow harmonized delightfully
with the slow； majestic glance of her blue eyes。 It was impossible for
the ablest physiognomist to imagine calculation or self…will beneath
that unspeakable delicacy of feature。 There were faces of women which
deceive knowledge； and mislead observation by their calmness and
delicacy； it is necessary to examine such faces when passions speak；
and that is difficult； or after they have spoken； which is no longer
of any use； for then the woman is old and has ceased to dissimulate。
The princess is one of those impenetrable women； she can make herself
what she pleases to be： playful； childlike； distractingly innocent； or
reflective； serious； and profound enough to excite anxiety。 She came
to Madame d'Espard's dinner with the intention of being a gentle；
simple woman； to whom life was known only through its deceptions： a
woman full of soul； and calumniated； but resigned；in short； a
wounded angel。
She arrived early； so as to pose on a sofa near the fire beside Madame
d'Espard； as she wished to be first seen： that is； in one of those
attitudes in which science is concealed beneath an exquisite
naturalness； a studied attitude； putting in relief the beautiful
serpentine outline which； starting from the foot； rises gracefully to
the hip； and continues with adorable curves to the shoulder；
presenting； in fact； a profile of the whole body。 With a subtlety
which few women would have dreamed of； Diane； to the great amazement
of the marquise； had brought her son with her。 After a moment's
reflection； Madame d'Espard pressed the princess's hand； with a look
of intelligence that seemed to say：
〃I understand you！ By making d'Arthez accept all the difficulties at
once you will not have to conquer them later。〃
Rastignac brought d'Arthez。 The princess made none of those
compliments to the celebrated author with which vulgar persons
overwhelmed him； but she treated him with a kindness full of graceful
respect； which； with her； was the utmost extent of her concessions。
Her manner was doubtless the same with the King of France and the
royal princes。 She seemed happy to see this great man； and glad that
she had sought him。 Persons of taste； like the princess； are
especially distinguished for their manne