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for her fortune； that was small indeed。 Jules Desmarets was a happy
man on hearing these particulars。 If Clemence had belonged to an
opulent family； he might have despaired of obtaining her； but she was
only the poor child of love； the fruit of some terrible adulterous
passion； and they were married。 Then began for Jules Desmarets a
series of fortunate events。 Every one envied his happiness； and
henceforth talked only of his luck； without recalling either his
virtues or his courage。
Some days after their marriage； the mother of Clemence； who passed in
society for her godmother； told Jules Desmarets to buy the office and
good…will of a broker； promising to provide him with the necessary
capital。 In those days； such offices could still be bought at a modest
price。 That evening； in the salon as it happened of his patron； a
wealthy capitalist proposed； on the recommendation of the mother； a
very advantageous transaction for Jules Desmarets； and the next day
the happy clerk was able to buy out his patron。 In four years
Desmarets became one of the most prosperous men in his business； new
clients increased the number his predecessor had left to him； he
inspired confidence in all； and it was impossible for him not to feel；
by the way business came to him； that some hidden influence； due to
his mother…in…law； or to Providence； was secretly protecting him。
At the end of the third year Clemence lost her godmother。 By that time
Monsieur Jules （so called to distinguish him from an elder brother；
whom he had set up as a notary in Paris） possessed an income from
invested property of two hundred thousand francs。 There was not in all
Paris another instance of the domestic happiness enjoyed by this
couple。 For five years their exceptional love had been troubled by
only one event；a calumny for which Monsieur Jules exacted vengeance。
One of his former comrades attributed to Madame Jules the fortune of
her husband； explaining that it came from a high protection dearly
paid for。 The man who uttered the calumny was killed in the duel that
followed it。
The profound passion of this couple； which survived marriage； obtained
a great success in society； though some women were annoyed by it。 The
charming household was respected； everybody feted it。 Monsieur and
Madame Jules were sincerely liked； perhaps because there is nothing
more delightful to see than happy people； but they never stayed long
at any festivity。 They slipped away early； as impatient to regain
their nest as wandering pigeons。 This nest was a large and beautiful
mansion in the rue de Menars； where a true feeling for art tempered
the luxury which the financial world continues； traditionally； to
display。 Here the happy pair received their society magnificently；
although the obligations of social life suited them but little。
Nevertheless； Jules submitted to the demands of the world； knowing
that； sooner or later； a family has need of it； but he and his wife
felt themselves； in its midst； like green…house plants in a tempest。
With a delicacy that was very natural； Jules had concealed from his
wife the calumny and the death of the calumniator。 Madame Jules；
herself； was inclined； through her sensitive and artistic nature； to
desire luxury。 In spite of the terrible lesson of the duel； some
imprudent women whispered to each other that Madame Jules must
sometimes be pressed for money。 They often found her more elegantly
dressed in her own home than when she went into society。 She loved to
adorn herself to please her husband； wishing to show him that to her
he was more than any social life。 A true love； a pure love； above all；
a happy love！ Jules； always a lover； and more in love as time went by；
was happy in all things beside his wife； even in her caprices； in
fact； he would have been uneasy if she had none； thinking it a symptom
of some illness。
Auguste de Maulincour had the personal misfortune of running against
this passion； and falling in love with the wife beyond recovery。
Nevertheless； though he carried in his heart so intense a love； he was
not ridiculous； he complied with all the demands of society； and of
military manners and customs。 And yet his face wore constantly； even
though he might be drinking a glass of champagne； that dreamy look；
that air of silently despising life； that nebulous expression which
belongs； though for other reasons； to /blases/ men；men dissatisfied
with hollow lives。 To love without hope； to be disgusted with life；
constitute； in these days； a social position。 The enterprise of
winning the heart of a sovereign might give； perhaps； more hope than a
love rashly conceived for a happy woman。 Therefore Maulincour had
sufficient reason to be grave and gloomy。 A queen has the vanity of
her power； the height of her elevation protects her。 But a pious
/bourgeoise/ is like a hedgehog； or an oyster； in its rough wrappings。
At this moment the young officer was beside his unconscious mistress；
who certainly was unaware that she was doubly faithless。 Madame Jules
was seated； in a naive attitude； like the least artful woman in
existence； soft and gentle； full of a majestic serenity。 What an abyss
is human nature！ Before beginning a conversation； the baron looked
alternately at the wife and at the husband。 How many were the
reflections he made！ He recomposed the 〃Night Thoughts〃 of Young in a
second。 And yet the music was sounding through the salons； the light
was pouring from a thousand candles。 It was a banker's ball；one of
those insolent festivals by means of which the world of solid gold
endeavored to sneer at the gold…embossed salons where the faubourg
Saint…Germain met and laughed； not foreseeing the day when the bank
would invade the Luxembourg and take its seat upon the throne。 The
conspirators were now dancing； indifferent to coming bankruptcies；
whether of Power or of the Bank。 The gilded salons of the Baron de
Nucingen were gay with that peculiar animation that the world of
Paris； apparently joyous at any rate； gives to its fetes。 There； men
of talent communicate their wit to fools； and fools communicate that
air of enjoyment that characterizes them。 By means of this exchange
all is liveliness。 But a ball in Paris always resembles fireworks to a
certain extent； wit； coquetry； and pleasure sparkle and go out like
rockets。 The next day all present have forgotten their wit； their
coquetry； their pleasure。
〃Ah！〃 thought Auguste； by way of conclusion； 〃women are what the
vidame says they are。 Certainly all those dancing here are less
irreproachable actually than Madame Jules appears to be； and yet
Madame Jules went to the rue Soly！〃
The rue Soly was like an illness to him； the very word shrivelled his
heart。
〃Madame； do you ever dance？〃 he said to her。
〃This is the third time you have asked me that question this winter；〃
she answered； smiling。
〃But perhaps you have never answered it。〃
〃That is true。〃
〃I knew very well that you were false； like other women。〃
Madame Jules continued to smile。
〃Listen； monsieur；〃 she said； 〃if I told you the real reason； you
would think it ridiculous。 I do not think it false to abstain from
telling things that the world would laugh at。〃
〃All secrets demand； in order to be told； a friendship of which I am
no doubt unworthy； madame。 But you cannot have any but noble secrets；
do you think me capable of jesting on noble things？〃
〃Yes；〃 she said； 〃you； like all the rest； laugh at our purest
sentiments； you calumniate them。 Besides； I have no secrets。 I have
the right to love my husband in the face of all the world； and I say
so；I am proud of it； and if you laugh at me when I tell you that I
dance only with him； I shall have a bad opinion of your heart。〃
〃Have you never danced since your marriage with any one but your
husband？〃
〃Never。 His arm is the only one on which I have leaned； I have never
felt the touch of another man。〃
〃Has your physician never felt your pulse？〃
〃Now you are laughing at me。〃
〃No； madame； I admire you； because I comprehend you。 But you let a man
hear your voice； you let yourself be seen； youin short； you permit
our eyes to admire you〃
〃Ah！〃 she said； interrupting him； 〃that is one of my griefs。 Yes； I
wish it were possible for a married woman to live secluded with her
husband； as a mistress lives with her lover； for then〃
〃Then why were you； two hours ago； on foot； disguised； in the rue
Soly？〃
〃The rue Soly； where is that？〃
And her pure voice gave no sign of any emotion； no feature of her face
quivered； she did not blush； she remained calm。
〃What！ you did not go up to the second floor of a house in the rue des
Vieux…Augustins at the corner of the rue Soly？ You did not have a
hackney…coach waiting near by？ You did not return in it to the flower…
shop in the rue Richelieu； where you bought the feathers that are now
in your hair？〃
〃I did not leave my house this evening。〃
As she uttered that lie she was smiling and imperturbable； she played
with her fan； but if any one had passed a hand down her back they
would； perhaps； have found it moist。 At that instant Auguste
remembered the instructions of the vidame。
〃Then it was some one who stran