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carriage。 All three laughed at the combination of an eclectic under…
secretary of State； a ferocious republican； and a political atheist。
〃Suppose we sup at the expense of the present order of things？〃 said
Blondet； who would fain recall suppers to fashion。
Rastignac took them to Very's； sent away his carriage； and all three
sat down to table to analyze society with Rabelaisian laughs。 During
the supper； Rastignac and Blondet advised their provisional enemy not
to neglect such a capital chance of advancement as the one now offered
to him。 The two 〃roues〃 gave him； in fine satirical style； the history
of Madame Felix de Vandenesse； they drove the scalpel of epigram and
the sharp points of much good wit into that innocent girlhood and
happy marriage。 Blondet congratulated Raoul on encountering a woman
guilty of nothing worse so far than horrible drawings in red chalk；
attenuated water…colors； slippers embroidered for a husband； sonatas
executed with the best intentions；a girl tied to her mother's apron…
strings till she was eighteen； trussed for religious practices；
seasoned by Vandenesse； and cooked to a point by marriage。 At the
third bottle of champagne； Raoul unbosomed himself as he had never
done before in his life。
〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃you know my relations with Florine； you also
know my life； and you will not be surprised to hear me say that I am
absolutely ignorant of what a countess's love may be like。 I have
often felt mortified that I； a poet； could not give myself a Beatrice；
a Laura； except in poetry。 A pure and noble woman is like an unstained
conscience；she represents us to ourselves under a noble form。
Elsewhere we may soil ourselves； but with her we are always proud；
lofty； and immaculate。 Elsewhere we lead ill…regulated lives； with her
we breathe the calm； the freshness； the verdure of an oasis〃
〃Go on； go on； my dear fellow！〃 cried Rastignac； 〃twang that fourth
string with the prayer in 'Moses' like Paganini。〃
Raoul remained silent； with fixed eyes； apparently musing。
〃This wretched ministerial apprentice does not understand me；〃 he
said； after a moment's silence。
So； while the poor Eve in the rue du Rocher went to bed in the sheets
of shame； frightened at the pleasure with which she had listened to
that sham great poet； these three bold minds were trampling with jests
over the tender flowers of her dawning love。 Ah！ if women only knew
the cynical tone that such men； so humble； so fawning in their
presence； take behind their backs！ how they sneer at what they say
they adore！ Fresh； pure； gracious being； how the scoffing jester
disrobes and analyzes her！ but； even so； the more she loses veils； the
more her beauty shines。
Marie was at this moment comparing Raoul and Felix； without imagining
the danger there might be for her in such comparisons。 Nothing could
present a greater contrast than the disorderly； vigorous Raoul to
Felix de Vandenesse； who cared for his person like a dainty woman；
wore well…fitting clothes； had a charming 〃desinvoltura；〃 and was a
votary of English nicety； to which； in earlier days； Lady Dudley had
trained him。 Marie； as a good and pious woman； soon forbade herself
even to think of Raoul； and considered that she was a monster of
ingratitude for making the comparison。
〃What do you think of Raoul Nathan？〃 she asked her husband the next
day at breakfast。
〃He is something of a charlatan；〃 replied Felix； 〃one of those
volcanoes who are easily calmed down with a little gold…dust。 Madame
de Montcornet makes a mistake in admitting him。〃
This answer annoyed Marie； all the more because Felix supported his
opinion with certain facts； relating what he knew of Raoul Nathan's
life；a precarious existence mixed up with a popular actress。
〃If the man has genius；〃 he said in conclusion； 〃he certainly has
neither the constancy nor the patience which sanctifies it； and makes
it a thing divine。 He endeavors to impose on the world by placing
himself on a level which he does nothing to maintain。 True talent；
pains…taking and honorable talent does not act thus。 Men who possess
such talent follow their path courageously； they accept its pains and
penalties； and don't cover them with tinsel。〃
A woman's thought is endowed with incredible elasticity。 When she
receives a knockdown blow； she bends； seems crushed； and then renews
her natural shape in a given time。
〃Felix is no doubt right；〃 thought she。
But three days later she was once more thinking of the serpent；
recalled to him by that singular emotion； painful and yet sweet； which
the first sight of Raoul had given her。 The count and countess went to
Lady Dudley's grand ball； where； by the bye； de Marsay appeared in
society for the last time。 He died about two months later； leaving the
reputation of a great statesman； because； as Blondet remarked； he was
incomprehensible。
Vandenesse and his wife again met Raoul Nathan at this ball； which was
remarkable for the meeting of several personages of the political
drama； who were not a little astonished to find themselves together。
It was one of the first solemnities of the great world。 The salons
presented a magnificent spectacle to the eye；flowers； diamonds； and
brilliant head…dresses； all jewel…boxes emptied； all resources of the
toilet put under contribution。 The ball…room might be compared to one
of those choice conservatories where rich horticulturists collect the
most superb rarities；same brilliancy； same delicacy of texture。 On
all sides white or tinted gauzes like the wings of the airiest dragon…
fly； crepes； laces； blondes； and tulles； varied as the fantasies of
entomological nature； dentelled； waved； and scalloped； spider's webs
of gold and silver； mists of silk embroidered by fairy fingers； plumes
colored by the fire of the tropics drooping from haughty heads； pearls
twined in braided hair； shot or ribbed or brocaded silks； as though
the genius of arabesque had presided over French manufactures；all
this luxury was in harmony with the beauties collected there as if to
realize a 〃Keepsake。〃 The eye received there an impression of the
whitest shoulders； some amber…tinted； others so polished as to seem
colandered； some dewy； some plump and satiny； as though Rubens had
prepared their flesh； in short； all shades known to man in white。 Here
were eyes sparkling like onyx or turquoise fringed with dark lashes；
faces of varied outline presenting the most graceful types of many
lands； foreheads noble and majestic； or softly rounded； as if thought
ruled； or flat； as if resistant will reigned there unconquered；
beautiful bosoms swelling； as George IV。 admired them； or widely
parted after the fashion of the eighteenth century； or pressed
together； as Louis XV。 required； some shown boldly； without veils；
others covered by those charming pleated chemisettes which Raffaelle
painted。 The prettiest feet pointed for the dance； the slimmest waists
encircled in the waltz； stimulated the gaze of the most indifferent
person present。 The murmur of sweet voices； the rustle of gowns； the
cadence of the dance； the whir of the waltz harmoniously accompanied
the music。 A fairy's wand seemed to have commanded this dazzling
revelry； this melody of perfumes； these iridescent lights glittering
from crystal chandeliers or sparkling in candelabra。 This assemblage
of the prettiest women in their prettiest dresses stood out upon a
gloomy background of men in black coats； among whom the eye remarked
the elegant； delicate； and correctly drawn profile of nobles； the
ruddy beards and grave faces of Englishmen； and the more gracious
faces of the French aristocracy。 All the orders of Europe glittered on
the breasts or hung from the necks of these men。
Examining this society carefully； it was seen to present not only the
brilliant tones and colors and outward adornment； but to have a soul；
it lived； it felt； it thought。 Hidden passions gave it a
physiognomy； mischievous or malignant looks were exchanged； fair and
giddy girls betrayed desires； jealous women told each other scandals
behind their fans； or paid exaggerated compliments。 Society； anointed；
curled； and perfumed； gave itself up to social gaiety which went to
the brain like a heady liquor。 It seemed as if from all foreheads； as
well as from all hearts； ideas and sentiments were exhaling； which
presently condensed and reacted in a volume on the coldest persons
present； and excited them。 At the most animated moment of this
intoxicating party； in a corner of a gilded salon where certain
bankers； ambassadors； and the immoral old English earl； Lord Dudley；
were playing cards； Madame Felix de Vandenesse was irresistibly drawn
to converse with Raoul Nathan。 Possibly she yielded to that ball…
intoxication which sometimes wrings avowals from the most discreet。
At sight of such a fete； and the splendors of a world in which he had
never befor