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kindly； so graceful in its easy 〃sans…souci；〃 which absorbs into its
own Bohemian life all who allow themselves to be caught in the frantic
whirl of its gay spirits； its eager abandonment； and its contemptuous
indifference to the future。
Though this Bohemian life displayed itself in her house in tumultuous
disorder； amid the laughter of artists of every description； the queen
of the revels had ten fingers on which she knew better how to count
than any of her guests。 In that house secret saturnalias of literature
and art； politics and finance were carried on； there； desire reigned a
sovereign； there； caprice and fancy were as sacred as honor and virtue
to a bourgeoise； thither came Blondet； Finot； Etienne Lousteau； Vernou
the feuilletonist； Couture； Bixiou； Rastignac in his earlier days；
Claude Vignon the critic； Nucingen the banker； du Tillet； Conti the
composer；in short； that whole devil…may…care legion of selfish
materialists of all kinds； friends of Florine and of the singers；
actresses and 〃danseuses〃 collected about her。 They all hated or liked
one another according to circumstances。
This Bohemian resort； to which celebrity was the only ticket of
admission； was a Hades of the mind； the galleys of the intellect。 No
one could enter there without having legally conquered fortune； done
ten years of misery； strangled two or three passions； acquired some
celebrity； either by books or waistcoats； by dramas or fine equipages；
plots were hatched there； means of making fortune scrutinized； all
things were discussed and weighed。 But every man； on leaving it；
resumed the livery of his own opinions； there he could； without
compromising himself； criticise his own party； admit the knowledge and
good play of his adversaries； formulate thoughts that no one admits
thinking；in short； say all； as if ready to do all。 Paris is the only
place in the world where such eclectic houses exist； where all tastes；
all vices； all opinions are received under decent guise。 Therefore it
is not yet certain that Florine will remain to the end of her career a
second…class actress。
Florine's life was by no means an idle one； or a life to be envied。
Many persons； misled by the magnificent pedestal that the stage gives
to a woman； suppose her in the midst of a perpetual carnival。 In the
dark recesses of a porter's lodge； beneath the tiles of an attic roof；
many a poor girl dreams； on returning from the theatre； of pearls and
diamonds； gold…embroidered gowns and sumptuous girdles； she fancies
herself adored； applauded； courted； but little she knows of that
treadmill life； in which the actress is forced to rehearsals under
pain of fines； to the reading of new pieces； to the constant study of
new roles。 At each representation Florine changes her dress at least
two or three times； often she comes home exhausted and half…dead； but
before she can rest； she must wash off with various cosmetics the
white and the red she has applied； and clean all the powder from her
hair； if she has played a part from the eighteenth century。 She
scarcely has time for food。 When she plays； an actress can live no
life of her own； she can neither dress； nor eat； nor talk。 Florine
often has no time to sup。 On returning from a play； which lasts； in
these days； till after midnight； she does not get to bed before two in
the morning； but she must rise early to study her part； order her
dresses； try them on； breakfast； read her love…letters； answer them；
discuss with the leader of the 〃claque〃 the place for the plaudits；
pay for the triumphs of the last month in solid cash； and bespeak
those of the month ahead。 In the days of Saint…Genest； the canonized
comedian who fulfilled his duties in a pious manner and wore a hair
shirt； we must suppose that an actor's life did not demand this
incessant activity。 Sometimes Florine； seized with a bourgeois desire
to get out into the country and gather flowers； pretends to the
manager that she is ill。
But even these mechanical operations are nothing in comparison with
the intrigues to be carried on； the pains of wounded vanity to be
endured；preferences shown by authors； parts taken away or given to
others； exactions of the male actors； spite of rivals； naggings of the
stage manager； struggles with journalists； all of which require
another twelve hours to the day。 But even so far； nothing has been
said of the art of acting； the expression of passion； the practice of
positions and gesture； the minute care and watchfulness required on
the stage； where a thousand opera…glasses are ready to detect a flaw；
labors which consumed the life and thought of Talma； Lekain； Baron；
Contat； Clairon； Champmesle。 In these infernal 〃coulisses〃 self…love
has no sex； the artist who triumphs； be it man or woman； has all the
other men and women against him or her。 Then； as to money； however
many engagements Florine may have； her salary does not cover the costs
of her stage toilet； which； in addition to its costumes； requires an
immense variety of long gloves； shoes； and frippery； and all this
exclusive of her personal clothing。 The first third of such a life is
spent in struggling and imploring； the next third； in getting a
foothold； the last third； in defending it。 If happiness is frantically
grasped； it is because it is so rare； so long desired； and found at
last only amid the odious fictitious pleasures and smiles of such a
life。
As for Florine； Raoul's power in the press was like a protecting
sceptre； he spared her many cares and anxieties； she clung to him less
as a lover than a prop； she took care of him like a father； she
deceived him like a husband； but she would readily have sacrificed all
she had to him。 Raoul could； and did do everything for her vanity as
an actress； for the peace of her self…love； and for her future on the
stage。 Without the intervention of a successful author； there is no
successful actress； Champmesle was due to Racine； like Mars to Monvel
and Andrieux。 Florine could do nothing in return for Raoul； though she
would gladly have been useful and necessary to him。 She reckoned on
the charms of habit to keep him by her； she was always ready to open
her salons and display the luxury of her dinners and suppers for his
friends； and to further his projects。 She desired to be for him what
Madame de Pompadour was to Louis XV。 All actresses envied Florine's
position； and some journalists envied that of Raoul。
Those to whom the inclination of the human mind towards chance；
opposition； and contrasts is known； will readily understand that after
ten years of this lawless Bohemian life； full of ups and downs； of
fetes and sheriffs； of orgies and forced sobrieties； Raoul was
attracted to the idea of another love；to the gentle； harmonious
house and presence of a great lady； just as the Comtesse Felix
instinctively desired to introduce the torture of great emotions into
a life made monotonous by happiness。 This law of life is the law of
all arts； which exist only by contrasts。 A work done without this
incentive is the loftiest expression of genius； just as the cloister
is the highest expression of the Christian life。
On returning to his lodging from Lady Dudley's ball； Raoul found a
note from Florine； brought by her maid； which an invincible sleepiness
prevented him from reading at that moment。 He fell asleep； dreaming of
a gentle love that his life had so far lacked。 Some hours later he
opened the note； and found in it important news； which neither
Rastignac nor de Marsay had allowed to transpire。 The indiscretion of
a member of the government had revealed to the actress the coming
dissolution of the Chamber after the present session。 Raoul instantly
went to Florine's house and sent for Blondet。 In the actress's
boudoir； with their feet on the fender； Emile and Raoul analyzed the
political situation of France in 1834。 On which side lay the best
chance of fortune？ They reviewed all parties and all shades of party；
pure republicans； presiding republicans； republicans without a
republic； constitutionals without a dynasty； ministerial
conservatives； ministerial absolutists； also the Right； the
aristocratic Right； the legitimist； henriquinquist Right； and the
carlest Right。 Between the party of resistance and that of action
there was no discussion； they might as well have hesitated between
life and death。
At this period a flock of newspapers； created to represent all shades
of opinion； produced a fearful pell…mell of political principles。
Blondet； the most judicious mind of the day；judicious for others；
never for himself； like some great lawyers unable to manage their own
affairs；was magnificent in such a discussion。 The upshot was that he
advised Nathan not to apostatize too suddenly。
〃Napoleon said it； you can't make young republics of old monarchies。
Therefore； my dear fellow； become the hero； the support； the creator
of the Left Centre in the new