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reason was a conspicuous figure； he caught the envious glances of
other young men； and experienced the earliest pleasures of
coxcombry。 People wondered at his luck； and scraps of these
conversations came to his ears as he went from room to room； all
the women prophesied his success； and Delphine； in her dread of
losing him； promised that this evening she would not refuse the
kiss that all his entreaties could scarcely win yesterday。
Rastignac received several invitations。 His cousin presented him
to other women who were present； women who could claim to be of
the highest fashion； whose houses were looked upon as pleasant；
and this was the loftiest and most fashionable society in Paris
into which he was launched。 So this evening had all the charm of
a brilliant debut； it was an evening that he was to remember even
in old age； as a woman looks back upon her first ball and the
memories of her girlish triumphs。
The next morning； at breakfast； he related the story of his
success for the benefit of Father Goriot and the lodgers。 Vautrin
began to smile in a diabolical fashion。
〃And do you suppose；〃 cried that cold…blooded logician； 〃that a
young man of fashion can live here in the Rue Neuve…Sainte…
Genevieve； in the Maison Vauqueran exceedingly respectable
boarding…house in every way； I grant you； but an establishment
that； none the less； falls short of being fashionable？ The house
is comfortable； it is lordly in its abundance； it is proud to be
the temporary abode of a Rastignac； but； after all； it is in the
Rue Neuve…Sainte…Genevieve； and luxury would be out of place
here； where we only aim at the purely patriarchalorama。 If you
mean to cut a figure in Paris； my young friend；〃 Vautrin
continued； with half…paternal jocularity； 〃you must have three
horses； a tilbury for the mornings； and a closed carriage for the
evening； you should spend altogether about nine thousand francs
on your stables。 You would show yourself unworthy of your destiny
if you spent no more than three thousand francs with your tailor；
six hundred in perfumery； a hundred crowns to your shoemaker； and
a hundred more to your hatter。 As for your laundress； there goes
another thousand francs； a young man of fashion must of necessity
make a great point of his linen； if your linen comes up to the
required standard； people often do not look any further。 Love and
the Church demand a fair altar…cloth。 That is fourteen thousand
francs。 I am saying nothing of losses at play； bets； and
presents； it is impossible to allow less than two thousand francs
for pocket money。 I have led that sort of life； and I know all
about these expenses。 Add the cost of necessaries next； three
hundred louis for provender； a thousand francs for a place to
roost in。 Well； my boy； for all these little wants of ours we had
need to have twenty…five thousand francs every year in our purse；
or we shall find ourselves in the kennel； and people laughing at
us； and our career is cut short； good…bye to success； and good…
bye to your mistress！ I am forgetting your valet and your groom！
Is Christophe going to carry your billets…doux for you？ Do you
mean to employ the stationery you use at present？ Suicidal
policy！ Hearken to the wisdom of your elders！〃 he went on； his
bass voice growing louder at each syllable。 〃Either take up your
quarters in a garret； live virtuously； and wed your work； or set
about the thing in a different way。〃
Vautrin winked and leered in the direction of Mlle。 Taillefer to
enforce his remarks by a look which recalled the late tempting
proposals by which he had sought to corrupt the student's mind。
Several days went by； and Rastignac lived in a whirl of gaiety。
He dined almost every day with Mme。 de Nucingen； and went
wherever she went； only returning to the Rue Neuve…Sainte…
Genevieve in the small hours。 He rose at mid…day； and dressed to
go into the Bois with Delphine if the day was fine； squandering
in this way time that was worth far more than he knew。 He turned
as eagerly to learn the lessons of luxury； and was as quick to
feel its fascination； as the flowers of the date palm to receive
the fertilizing pollen。 He played high； lost and won large sums
of money； and at last became accustomed to the extravagant life
that young men lead in Paris。 He sent fifteen hundred francs out
of his first winnings to his mother and sisters； sending handsome
presents as well as the money。 He had given out that he meant to
leave the Maison Vauquer； but January came and went； and he was
still there； still unprepared to go。
One rule holds good of most young menwhether rich or poor。 They
never have money for the necessaries of life； but they have
always money to spare for their capricesan anomaly which finds
its explanation in their youth and in the almost frantic
eagerness with which youth grasps at pleasure。 They are reckless
with anything obtained on credit； while everything for which they
must pay in ready money is made to last as long as possible； if
they cannot have all that they want； they make up for it； it
would seem； by squandering what they have。 To state the matter
simplya student is far more careful of his hat than of his
coat； because the latter being a comparatively costly article of
dress； it is in the nature of things that a tailor should be a
creditor； but it is otherwise with the hatter； the sums of money
spent with him are so modest； that he is the most independent and
unmanageable of his tribe； and it is almost impossible to bring
him to terms。 The young man in the balcony of a theatre who
displays a gorgeous waistcoat for the benefit of the fair owners
of opera glasses； has very probably no socks in his wardrobe； for
the hosier is another of the genus of weevils that nibble at the
purse。 This was Rastignac's condition。 His purse was always empty
for Mme。 Vauquer； always full at the demand of vanity； there was
a periodical ebb and flow in his fortunes； which was seldom
favorable to the payment of just debts。 If he was to leave that
unsavory and mean abode； where from time to time his pretensions
met with humiliation； the first step was to pay his hostess for a
month's board and lodging； and the second to purchase furniture
worthy of the new lodgings he must take in his quality of dandy；
a course that remained impossible。 Rastignac； out of his winnings
at cards； would pay his jeweler exorbitant prices for gold
watches and chains； and then； to meet the exigencies of play；
would carry them to the pawnbroker； that discreet and forbidding…
looking friend of youth； but when it was a question of paying for
board or lodging； or for the necessary implements for the
cultivation of his Elysian fields； his imagination and pluck
alike deserted him。 There was no inspiration to be found in
vulgar necessity； in debts contracted for past requirements。 Like
most of those who trust to their luck； he put off till the last
moment the payment of debts that among the bourgeoisie are
regarded as sacred engagements； acting on the plan of Mirabeau；
who never settled his baker's bill until it underwent a
formidable transformation into a bill of exchange。
It was about this time when Rastignac was down on his luck and
fell into debt； that it became clear to the law student's mind
that he must have some more certain source of income if he meant
to live as he had been doing。 But while he groaned over the
thorny problems of his precarious situation； he felt that he
could not bring himself to renounce the pleasures of this
extravagant life； and decided that he must continue it at all
costs。 His dreams of obtaining a fortune appeared more and more
chimerical； and the real obstacles grew more formidable。 His
initiation into the secrets of the Nucingen household had
revealed to him that if he were to attempt to use this love
affair as a means of mending his fortunes； he must swallow down
all sense of decency； and renounce all the generous ideas which
redeem the sins of youth。 He had chosen this life of apparent
splendor； but secretly gnawed by the canker worm of remorse； a
life of fleeting pleasure dearly paid for by persistent pain；
like Le Distrait of La Bruyere； he had descended so far as to
make his bed in a ditch； but （also like Le Distrait） he himself
was uncontaminated as yet by the mire that stained his garments。
〃So we have killed our mandarin； have we？〃 said Bianchon one day
as they left the dinner table。
〃Not yet；〃 he answered； 〃but he is at his last gasp。〃
The medical student took this for a joke； but it was not a jest。
Eugene had dined in the house that night for the first time for a
long while； and had looked thoughtful during the meal。 He had
taken his place beside Mlle。 Taillefer； and stayed through the
dessert； giving his neighbor an expressive glance from time to
time。 A few of the boarders discussed the walnuts at the table；
and others walked about the