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impetuosity of his ideas； to lay immediate claim to this woman； he
found himself restrained by society； also by the barrier which the
manners and； let us say the word； the majesty of the princess placed
between them。 The conversation； which remained upon the topic of
Michel Chrestien until the dessert； was an excellent pretext for both
to speak in a low voice： love； sympathy； comprehension！ she could pose
as a maligned and misunderstood woman； he could slip his feet into the
shoes of the dead republican。 Perhaps his candid mind detected itself
in regretting his dead friend less。 The princess； at the moment when
the dessert appeared upon the table； and the guests were separated by
a brilliant hedge of fruits and sweetmeats； thought best to put an end
to this flow of confidences by a charming little speech； in which she
delicately expressed the idea that Daniel and Michel were twin souls。
After this d'Arthez threw himself into the general conversation with
the gayety of a child； and a self…conceited air that was worthy of a
schoolboy。 When they left the dining…room； the princess took
d'Arthez's arm； in the simplest manner； to return to Madame d'Espard's
little salon。 As they crossed the grand salon she walked slowly； and
when sufficiently separated from the marquise； who was on Blondet's
arm； she stopped。
〃I do not wish to be inaccessible to the friend of that poor man；〃 she
said to d'Arthez； 〃and though I have made it a rule to receive no
visitors； you will always be welcome in my house。 Do not think this a
favor。 A favor is only for strangers； and to my mind you and I seem
old friends； I see in you the brother of Michel。〃
D'Arthez could only press her arm； unable to make other reply。
After coffee was served； Diane de Cadignan wrapped herself； with
coquettish motions； in a large shawl； and rose。 Blondet and Rastignac
were too much men of the world； and too polite to make the least
remonstrance； or try to detain her； but Madame d'Espard compelled her
friend to sit down again； whispering in her ear：
〃Wait till the servants have had their dinner； the carriage is not
ready yet。〃
So saying； the marquise made a sign to the footman； who was taking
away the coffee…tray。 Madame de Montcornet perceived that the princess
and Madame d'Espard had a word to say to each other； and she drew
around her d'Arthez； Rastignac； and Blondet； amusing them with one of
those clever paradoxical attacks which Parisian women understand so
thoroughly。
〃Well；〃 said the marquise to Diane； 〃what do you think of him？〃
〃He is an adorable child； just out of swaddling…clothes！ This time；
like all other times； it will only be a triumph without a struggle。〃
〃Well； it is disappointing；〃 said Madame d'Espard。 〃But we might evade
it。〃
〃How？〃
〃Let me be your rival。〃
〃Just as you please；〃 replied the princess。 〃I've decided on my
course。 Genius is a condition of the brain； I don't know what the
heart gets out of it； we'll talk about that later。〃
Hearing the last few words； which were wholly incomprehensible to her；
Madame d'Espard returned to the general conversation； showing neither
offence at that indifferent 〃As you please；〃 nor curiosity as to the
outcome of the interview。 The princess stayed an hour longer； seated
on the sofa near the fire； in the careless； nonchalant attitude of
Guerin's Dido； listening with the attention of an absorbed mind； and
looking at Daniel now and then； without disguising her admiration；
which never went； however； beyond due limits。 She slipped away when
the carriage was announced； with a pressure of the hand to the
marquise； and an inclination of the head to Madame de Montcornet。
The evening concluded without any allusion to the princess。 The other
guests profited by the sort of exaltation which d'Arthez had reached；
for he put forth the treasures of his mind。 In Blondet and Rastignac
he certainly had two acolytes of the first quality to bring forth the
delicacy of his wit and the breadth of his intellect。 As for the two
women； they had long been counted among the cleverest in society。 This
evening was like a halt in the oasis of a desert；a rare enjoyment；
and well appreciated by these four persons； habitually victimized to
the endless caution entailed by the world of salons and politics。
There are beings who have the privilege of passing among men like
beneficent stars； whose light illumines the mind； while its rays send
a glow to the heart。 D'Arthez was one of those beings。 A writer who
rises to his level； accustoms himself to free thought； and forgets
that in society all things cannot be said； it is impossible for such a
man to observe the restraint of persons who live in the world
perpetually； but as his eccentricities of thought bore the mark of
originality； no one felt inclined to complain。 This zest； this
piquancy； rare in mere talent； this youthfulness and simplicity of
soul which made d'Arthez so nobly original； gave a delightful charm to
this evening。 He left the house with Rastignac； who； as they drove
home； asked him how he liked the princess。
〃Michel did well to love her；〃 replied d'Arthez； 〃she is； indeed； an
extraordinary woman。〃
〃Very extraordinary；〃 replied Rastignac； dryly。 〃By the tone of your
voice I should judge you were in love with her already。 You will be in
her house within three days； and I am too old a denizen of Paris not
to know what will be the upshot of that。 Well； my dear Daniel； I do
entreat you not to allow yourself to be drawn into any confusion of
interests； so to speak。 Love the princess if you feel any love for her
in your heart； but keep an eye on your fortune。 She has never taken or
asked a penny from any man on earth； she is far too much of a
d'Uxelles and a Cadignan for that； but； to my knowledge； she has not
only spent her own fortune； which was very considerable； but she has
made others waste millions。 How？ why？ by what means？ No one knows； she
doesn't know herself。 I myself saw her swallow up； some thirteen years
ago； the entire fortune of a charming young fellow； and that of an old
notary； in twenty months。〃
〃Thirteen years ago！〃 exclaimed d'Arthez；〃why； how old is she now？〃
〃Didn't you see； at dinner；〃 replied Rastignac； laughing； 〃her son；
the Duc de Maufrigneuse。 That young man is nineteen years old；
nineteen and seventeen make〃
〃Thirty…six！〃 cried the amazed author。 〃I gave her twenty。〃
〃She'll accept them；〃 said Rastignac； 〃but don't be uneasy； she will
always be twenty to you。 You are about to enter the most fantastic of
worlds。 Good…night； here you are at home；〃 said the baron； as they
entered the rue de Bellefond； where d'Arthez lived in a pretty little
house of his own。 〃We shall meet at Mademoiselle des Touches's in the
course of the week。〃
CHAPTER III
THE PRINCESS GOES TO WORK
D'Arthez allowed love to enter his heart after the manner of my Uncle
Toby； without making the slightest resistance； he proceeded by
adoration without criticism； and by exclusive admiration。 The
princess； that noble creature； one of the most remarkable creations of
our monstrous Paris； where all things are possible； good as well as
evil； becamewhatever vulgarity the course of time may have given to
the expressionthe angel of his dreams。 To fully understand the
sudden transformation of this illustrious author； it is necessary to
realize the simplicity that constant work and solitude leave in the
heart； all that lovereduced to a mere need； and now repugnant；
beside an ignoble womanexcites of regret and longings for diviner
sentiments in the higher regions of the soul。 D'Arthez was； indeed；
the child； the boy that Madame de Cadignan had recognized。 An
illumination something like his own had taken place in the beautiful
Diane。 At last she had met that superior man whom all women desire and
seek； if only to make a plaything of him；that power which they
consent to obey； if only for the pleasure of subduing it； at last she
had found the grandeurs of the intellect united with the simplicity of
a heart all new to love； and she saw； with untold happiness； that
these merits were contained in a form that pleased her。 She thought
d'Arthez handsome； and perhaps he was。 Though he had reached the age
of gravity （for he was now thirty…eight）； he still preserved a flower
of youth； due to the sober and ascetic life which he had led。 Like all
men of sedentary habits； and statesmen； he had acquired a certainly
reasonable embonpoint。 When very young； he bore some resemblance to
Bonaparte； and the likeness still continued； as much as a man with
black eyes and thick； dark hair could resemble a sovereign with blue
eyes and scanty； chestnut hair。 But whatever there once was of ardent
and noble ambition in the great author's eyes had been somewhat
quenched by successes。 The thoughts with which that brow once teemed
had flowered； the lines o