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time。 A few of the boarders discussed the walnuts at the table；
and others walked about the room； still taking part in the
conversation which had begun among them。 People usually went when
they chose； the amount of time that they lingered being
determined by the amount of interest that the conversation
possessed for them； or by the difficulty of the process of
digestion。 In winter…time the room was seldom empty before eight
o'clock； when the four women had it all to themselves； and made
up for the silence previously imposed upon them by the
preponderating masculine element。 This evening Vautrin had
noticed Eugene's abstractedness； and stayed in the room； though
he had seemed to be in a hurry to finish his dinner and go。 All
through the talk afterwards he had kept out of the sight of the
law student； who quite believed that Vautrin had left the room。
He now took up his position cunningly in the sitting…room instead
of going when the last boarders went。 He had fathomed the young
man's thoughts； and felt that a crisis was at hand。 Rastignac
was； in fact； in a dilemma； which many another young man must
have known。
Mme。 de Nucingen might love him； or might merely be playing with
him； but in either case Rastignac had been made to experience all
the alternations of hope and despair of genuine passion； and all
the diplomatic arts of a Parisienne had been employed on him。
After compromising herself by continually appearing in public
with Mme。 de Beauseant's cousin she still hesitated； and would
not give him the lover's privileges which he appeared to enjoy。
For a whole month she had so wrought on his senses； that at last
she had made an impression on his heart。 If in the earliest days
the student had fancied himself to be master； Mme。 de Nucingen
had since become the stronger of the two； for she had skilfully
roused and played upon every instinct； good or bad； in the two or
three men comprised in a young student in Paris。 This was not the
result of deep design on her part； nor was she playing a part；
for women are in a manner true to themselves even through their
grossest deceit； because their actions are prompted by a natural
impulse。 It may have been that Delphine； who had allowed this
young man to gain such an ascendency over her； conscious that she
had been too demonstrative； was obeying a sentiment of dignity；
and either repented of her concessions； or it pleased her to
suspend them。 It is so natural to a Parisienne； even when passion
has almost mastered her； to hesitate and pause before taking the
plunge； to probe the heart of him to whom she intrusts her
future。 And once already Mme。 de Nucingen's hopes had been
betrayed； and her loyalty to a selfish young lover had been
despised。 She had good reason to be suspicious。 Or it may have
been that something in Eugene's manner （for his rapid success was
making a coxcomb of him） had warned her that the grotesque nature
of their position had lowered her somewhat in his eyes。 She
doubtless wished to assert her dignity； he was young； and she
would be great in his eyes； for the lover who had forsaken her
had held her so cheap that she was determined that Eugene should
not think her an easy conquest； and for this very reasonhe knew
that de Marsay had been his predecessor。 Finally； after the
degradation of submission to the pleasure of a heartless young
rake； it was so sweet to her to wander in the flower…strewn
realms of love； that it was not wonderful that she should wish to
dwell a while on the prospect； to tremble with the vibrations of
love； to feel the freshness of the breath of its dawn。 The true
lover was suffering for the sins of the false。 This inconsistency
is unfortunately only to be expected so long as men do not know
how many flowers are mown down in a young woman's soul by the
first stroke of treachery。
Whatever her reasons may have been； Delphine was playing with
Rastignac； and took pleasure in playing with him； doubtless
because she felt sure of his love； and confident that she could
put an end to the torture as soon as it was her royal pleasure to
do so。 Eugene's self…love was engaged； he could not suffer his
first passage of love to end in a defeat； and persisted in his
suit like a sportsman determined to bring down at least one
partridge to celebrate his first Feast of Saint…Hubert。 The
pressure of anxiety； his wounded self…love； his despair； real or
feigned； drew him nearer and nearer to this woman。 All Paris
credited him with this conquest； and yet he was conscious that he
had made no progress since the day when he saw Mme。 de Nucingen
for the first time。 He did not know as yet that a woman's
coquetry is sometimes more delightful than the pleasure of secure
possession of her love； and was possessed with helpless rage。 If；
at this time； while she denied herself to love； Eugene gathered
the springtide spoils of his life； the fruit； somewhat sharp and
green； and dearly bought； was no less delicious to the taste。
There were moments when he had not a sou in his pockets； and at
such times he thought in spite of his conscience of Vautrin's
offer and the possibility of fortune by a marriage with Mlle。
Taillefer。 Poverty would clamor so loudly that more than once he
was on the point of yielding to the cunning temptations of the
terrible sphinx； whose glance had so often exerted a strange
spell over him。
Poiret and Mlle。 Michonneau went up to their rooms； and
Rastignac； thinking that he was alone with the women in the
dining…room； sat between Mme。 Vauquer and Mme。 Couture； who was
nodding over the woolen cuffs that she was knitting by the stove；
and looked at Mlle。 Taillefer so tenderly that she lowered her
eyes。
〃Can you be in trouble； M。 Eugene？〃 Victorine said after a pause。
〃Who has not his troubles？〃 answered Rastignac。 〃If we men were
sure of being loved； sure of a devotion which would be our reward
for the sacrifices which we are always ready to make； then
perhaps we should have no troubles。〃
For answer Mlle。 Taillefer only gave him a glance but it was
impossible to mistake its meaning。
〃You； for instance； mademoiselle； you feel sure of your heart to…
day； but are you sure that it will never change？〃
A smile flitted over the poor girl's lips； it seemed as if a ray
of light from her soul had lighted up her face。 Eugene was
dismayed at the sudden explosion of feeling caused by his words。
〃Ah！ but suppose；〃 he said； 〃that you should be rich and happy
to…morrow； suppose that a vast fortune dropped down from the
clouds for you； would you still love the man whom you loved in
your days of poverty？〃
A charming movement of the head was her only answer。
〃Even if he were very poor？〃
Again the same mute answer。
〃What nonsense are you talking； you two？〃 exclaimed Mme。 Vauquer。
〃Never mind；〃 answered Eugene； 〃we understand each other。〃
〃So there is to be an engagement of marriage between M。 le
Chevalier Eugene de Rastignac and Mlle。 Victorine Taillefer； is
there？〃 The words were uttered in Vautrin's deep voice； and
Vautrin appeared at the door as he spoke。
〃Oh！ how you startled me！〃 Mme。 Couture and Mme。 Vauquer
exclaimed together。
〃I might make a worse choice；〃 said Rastignac； laughing。
Vautrin's voice had thrown him into the most painful agitation
that he had yet known。
〃No bad jokes； gentlemen！〃 said Mme。 Couture。 〃My dear； let us go
upstairs。〃
Mme。 Vauquer followed the two ladies； meaning to pass the evening
in their room； an arrangement that economized fire and
candlelight。 Eugene and Vautrin were left alone。
〃I felt sure you would come round to it；〃 said the elder man with
the coolness that nothing seemed to shake。 〃But stay a moment！ I
have as much delicacy as anybody else。 Don't make up your mind on
the spur of the moment； you are a little thrown off your balance
just now。 You are in debt； and I want you to come over to my way
of thinking after sober reflection； and not in a fit of passion
or desperation。 Perhaps you want a thousand crowns。 There； you
can have them if you like。〃
The tempter took out a pocketbook； and drew thence three
banknotes； which he fluttered before the student's eyes。 Eugene
was in a most painful dilemma。 He had debts； debts of honor。 He
owed a hundred louis to the Marquis d'Ajuda and to the Count de
Trailles； he had not the money； and for this reason had not dared
to go to Mme。 de Restaud's house； where he was expected that
evening。 It was one of those informal gatherings where tea and
little cakes are handed round； but where it is possible to lose
six thousand francs at whist in the course of a night。
〃You must see；〃 said Eugene； struggling to hide a convulsive
tremor； 〃that after what has passed between us； I cannot possibly
lay myself under any obligation to you。〃
〃Quite right； I should be sorry to hear you speak otherwise；〃
answered