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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 before appeared； Nathan was stirred to the soul by fresh
ambition。 Seeing Rastignac； whose younger brother had just been made
bishop at twenty…seven years of age； and whose brother…in…law； Martial
de la Roche…Hugon； was a minister； and who himself was under…secretary
of State； and about to marry； rumor said； the only daughter of the
Baron de Nucingen；a girl with an illimitable 〃dot〃； seeing；
moreover； in the diplomatic body an obscure writer whom he had
formerly known translating articles in foreign journals for a
newspaper turned dynastic since 1830； also professors now made peers
of France；he felt with anguish that he was left behind on a bad road
by advocating the overthrow of this new aristocracy of lucky talent；
of cleverness crowned by success； and of real merit。 Even Blondet； so
unfortunate； so used by others in journalism； but so welcomed here；
who could； if he liked； enter a career of public service through the
influence of Madame de Montcornet； seemed to Nathan's eyes a striking
example of the power of social relations。 Secretly； in his heart； he
resolved to play the game of political opinions； like de Marsay；
Rastignac； Blondet； Talleyrand； the leader of this set of men； to rely
on facts only； turn them to his own profit； regard his system as a
weapon； and not interfere with a society so well constituted； so
shrewd； so natural。
〃My influence；〃 he thought； 〃will depend on the influence of some
woman belonging to this class of society。〃
With this thought in his mind； conceived by the flame of this frenzied
desire； he fell upon the Comtesse de Vandenesse like a hawk on its
prey。 That charming young woman in her head…dress of marabouts； which
produced the delightful 〃flou〃 of the paintings of Lawrence and
harmonized well with her gentle nature； was penetrated through and
through by the foaming vigor of this poet wild with ambition。 Lady
Dudley； whom nothing escaped； aided this tete…a…tete by throwing the
Comte de Vandenesse with Madame de Manerville。 Strong in her former
ascendancy over him； Natalie de Manerville amused herself by leading
Felix into the mazes of a quarrel of witty teasing； blushing half…
confidences； regrets coyly flung like flowers at his feet；
recriminations in which she excused herself for the sole purpose of
being put in the wrong。
These former lovers were speaking to each other for the first time
since their rupture； and while her husband's former love was stirring
the embers to see if a spark were yet alive； Madame Felix de
Vandenesse was undergoing those violent palpitations which a woman
feels at the certainty of doing wrong； and stepping on forbidden
ground；emotions that are not without charm； and which awaken various
dormant faculties。 Women are fond of using Bluebeard's bloody key；
that fine mythological idea for which we are indebted to Perrault。
The dramatistwho knew his Shakespearedisplayed his wretchedness；
related his struggle with men and things； made his hearer aware of his
baseless grandeur； his unrecognized political genius； his life without
noble affections。 Without saying a single definite word； he contrived
to suggest to this charming woman that she should play the noble part
of Rebecca in Ivanhoe； and love and protect him。 It was all； of
course； in the ethereal regions of sentiment。 Forget…me…nots are not
more blue； lilies not more white than the images； thoughts； and
radiantly illumined brow of this accomplished artist； who was likely
to send his conversation to a publisher。 He played his part of reptile
to this poor Eve so cleverly； he made the fatal bloom of the apple so
dazzling to her eyes； that Marie left the ball…room filled with that
species of remorse which resembles hope； flattered in all her
vanities； stirred to every corner of her heart； caught by her own
virtues； allured by her native pity for misfortune。
Perhaps Madame de Manerville had taken Vandenesse into the salon where
his wife was talking with Nathan； perhaps he had come there himself to
fetch Marie； and take her home； perhaps his conversation with his
former flame had awakened slumbering griefs； certain it is that when
his wife took his arm to leave the ball…room； she saw that his face
was sad and his look serious。 The countess wondered if he was
displeased with her。 No sooner were they seated in the carriage than
she turned to Felix and said； with a mischievous smile；
〃Did not I see you talking half the evening with Madame de
Manerville？〃
Felix was not out of the tangled paths into which his wife had led him
by this charming little quarrel； when the carriage turned into their
court…yard。 This was Marie's first artifice dictated by her new
emotion； and she even took pleasure in triumphing over a man who；
until then； had seemed to her so superior。
CHAPTER V
FLORINE
Between the rue Basse…du…Rempart and the rue Neuve…des…Mathurins；
Raoul had； on the third floor of an ugly and narrow house； in the
Passage Sandrie； a poor enough lodging； cold and bare； where he lived
ostensibly for the general public； for literary neophytes； and for his
creditors； duns； and other annoying persons whom he kept on the
threshold of private life。 His real home； his fine existence； his
presentation of himself before his friends； was in the house of
Mademoiselle Florine； a second…class comedy actress； where； for ten
years； the said friends； journalists； certain authors； and writers in
general disported themselves in the society of equally illustrious
actresses。 For ten years Raoul had attached himself so closely to this
woman that he passed more than half his life with her； he took all his
meals at her house unless he had some friend to invite； or an
invitation to dinner elsewhere。
To consummate corruption； Florine added a lively wit； which
intercourse with artists had developed and practice sharpened day by
day。 Wit is thought to be a quality rare in comedians。 It is so
natural to suppose that persons who spend their lives in showing
things on the outside have nothing within。 But if we reflect on the
small number of actors and actresses who live in each century； and
also on how many dramatic authors and fascinating women this
population has supplied relatively to its numbers； it is allowable to
refute that opinion； which rests； and apparently will rest forever； on
a criticism made against dramatic artists；namely； that their
personal sentiments are destroyed by the plastic presentation of
passions； whereas； in fact； they put into their art only their gifts
of mind； memory； and imagination。 Great artists are beings who； to
quote Napoleon； can cut off at will the connection which Nature has
put between the senses and thought。 Moliere and Talma； in their old
age； were more in love than ordinary men in all their lives。
Accustomed to listen to journalists； who guess at most things； putting
two and two together； to writers； who foresee and tell all that they
see； accustomed also to the ways of certain political personages； who
watched one another in her house； and profited by all admissions；
Florine presented in her own person a mixture of devil and angel；
which made her peculiarly fitted to receive these roues。 They
delighted in her cool self…possession； her anomalies of mind and heart
entertained them prodigiously。 Her house； enriched by gallant
tributes； displayed the exaggerated magnificence of women who； caring
little about the cost of things； care only for the things themselves；
and give them the value of their own caprices；women who will break a
fan or a smelling…bottle fit for queens in a moment of passion； and
scream with rage if a servant breaks a ten…franc saucer from which
their poodle drinks。
Florine's dining…room； filled with her most distinguished offerings；
will give a fair idea of this pell…mell of regal and fantastic luxury。
Throughout； even on the ceilings； it was panelled in oak； picked out；
here and there； by dead…gold lines。 These panels were framed in relief
with figures of children playing with fantastic animals； among which
the light danced and floated； touching here a sketch by Bixiou； that
maker of caricatures； there the cast of an angel holding a vessel of
holy water （presented by Francois Souchet）； farther on a coquettish
painting of Joseph Bridau； a gloomy picture of a Spanish alchemist by
Hippolyte Schinner； an autograph of Lord Byron to Lady Caroline Lamb；
framed in carved ebony； while； hanging opposite as a species of
pendant； was a letter from Napoleon to Josephine。 All these things
were placed about without the slightest symmetry； but with almost
imperceptible art。 On the chimney…piece； of exquisitely carved oak；
there was nothing except a strange； evidently Florentine； ivory
statuette attributed to Michael Ang