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clearly； had seen Nathan's true position。 He explained to his wife
that Fieschi's attempt had resulted in attaching to the interests
threatened by this attack on Louis…Philippe a large body of hitherto
lukewarm persons。 The newspapers which were non…committal； and did not
show their colors； would lose subscribers； for journalism； like
politics； was about to be simplified by falling into regular lines。 If
Nathan had put his whole fortune into that newspaper he would lose it。
This judgment； so apparently just and clear…cut； though brief and
given by a man who fathomed a matter in which he had no interest；
alarmed Madame de Vandenesse。
〃Do you take an interest in him？〃 asked her husband。
〃Only as a man whose mind interests me and whose conversation I like。〃
This reply was made so naturally that the count suspected nothing。
The next day at four o'clock； Marie and Raoul had a long conversation
together； in a low voice； in Madame d'Espard's salon。 The countess
expressed fears which Raoul dissipated； only too happy to destroy by
epigrams the conjugal judgment。 Nathan had a revenge to take。 He
characterized the count as narrow…minded； behind the age； a man who
judged the revolution of July with the eyes of the Restoration； who
would never be willing to admit the triumph of the middle…classesthe
new force of all societies； whether temporary or lasting； but a real
force。 Instead of turning his mind to the study of an opinion given
impartially and incidentally by a man well…versed in politics； Raoul
mounted his stilts and stalked about in the purple of his own glory。
Where is the woman who would not have believed his glowing talk sooner
than the cold logic of her husband？ Madame de Vandenesse； completely
reassured； returned to her life of little enjoyments； clandestine
pressures of the hand； occasional quarrels；in short； to her
nourishment of the year before； harmless in itself； but likely to drag
a woman over the border if the man she favors is resolute and
impatient of obstacles。 Happily for her； Nathan was not dangerous。
Besides； he was too full of his immediate self…interests to think at
this time of profiting by his love。
But toward the end of December； when the second notes fell due； du
Tillet demanded payment。 The rich banker； who said he was embarrassed；
advised Raoul to borrow the money for a short time from a usurer； from
Gigonnet； the providence of all young men who were pressed for money。
In January； he remarked； the renewal of subscriptions to the paper
would be coming in； there would be plenty of money in hand； and they
could then see what had best be done。 Besides； couldn't Nathan write a
play？ As a matter of pride Raoul determined to pay off the notes at
once。 Du Tillet gave Raoul a letter to Gigonnet； who counted out the
money on a note of Nathan's at twenty days' sight。 Instead of asking
himself the reason of such unusual facility； Raoul felt vexed at his
folly in not having asked for more。 That is how men who are truly
remarkable for the power of thought are apt to behave in practical
business； they seem to reserve the power of their mind for their
writings； and are fearful of lessening it by putting it to use in the
daily affairs of life。
Raoul related his morning to Florine and Blondet。 He gave them an
inimitable sketch of Gigonnet； his fireplace without fire； his shabby
wall…paper； his stairway； his asthmatic bell； his aged straw mattress；
his den without warmth； like his eye。 He made them laugh about this
new uncle； they neither troubled themselves about du Tillet and his
pretended want of money； nor about an old usurer so ready to disburse。
What was there to worry about in that？
〃He has only asked you fifteen per cent；〃 said Blondet； 〃you ought to
be grateful to him。 At twenty…five per cent you don't bow to those old
fellows。 This is money…lending； usury doesn't begin till fifty per
cent； and then you despise the usurer。〃
〃Despise him！〃 cried Florine； 〃if any of your friends lent you money
at that price they'd pose as your benefactors。〃
〃She is right； and I am glad I don't owe anything now to du Tillet；〃
said Raoul。
Why this lack of penetration as to their personal affairs in men whose
business it is to penetrate all things？ Perhaps the mind cannot be
complete at all points； perhaps artists of every kind live too much in
the present moment to study the future； perhaps they are too observant
of the ridiculous to notice snares； or they may believe that none
would dare to lay a snare for such as they。 However this may be； the
future arrived in due time。 Twenty days later Raoul's notes were
protested； but Florine obtained from the Court of commerce an
extension of twenty…five days in which to meet them。 Thus pressed；
Raoul looked into his affairs and asked for the accounts； and it then
appeared that the receipts of the newspaper covered only two…thirds of
the expenses； while the subscriptions were rapidly dwindling。 The
great man now grew anxious and gloomy； but to Florine only； in whom he
confided。 She advised him to borrow money on unwritten plays； and
write than at once； giving a lien on his work。 Nathan followed this
advice and obtained thereby twenty thousand francs； which reduced his
debt to forty thousand。
On the 10th of February the twenty…five days expired。 Du Tillet； who
did not want Nathan as a rival before the electoral college； where he
meant to appear himself； instigated Gigonnet to sue Nathan without
compromise。 A man locked up for debt could not present himself as a
candidate for election。 Florine was herself in communication with the
sheriff on the subject of her personal debts； and no resource was left
to her but the 〃I〃 of Medea； for her new furniture and belongings were
now attached。 The ambitious Raoul heard the cracking in all directions
of his prosperous edifice； built； alas！ without foundations。 His nerve
failed him； too weak already to sustain so vast an enterprise； he felt
himself incapable of attempting to build it up again； he was fated to
perish in its ashes。 Love for the countess gave him still a few
thrills of life； his mask brightened for a moment； but behind it hope
was dead。 He did not suspect the hand of du Tillet； and laid the blame
of his misfortune on the usurer。 Rastignac； Blondet； Lousteau； Vernou；
Finot； and Massol took care not to enlighten him。 Rastignac； who
wanted to return to power； made common cause with Nucingen and du
Tillet。 The others felt a satisfaction in the catastrophe of an equal
who had attempted to make himself their master。 None of them； however；
would have said a word to Florine； on the contrary； they praised Raoul
to her。
〃Nathan；〃 they said； 〃has the shoulders of an Atlas； he'll pull
himself through； all will come right。〃
〃There were two new subscribers yesterday；〃 said Blondet； gravely。
〃Raoul will certainly be elected deputy。 As soon as the budget is
voted the dissolution is sure to take place。〃
But Nathan； sued； could no longer obtain even usury； Florine； with all
her personal property attached； could count on nothing but inspiring a
passion in some fool who might not appear at the right moment。
Nathan's friends were all men without money and without credit。 An
arrest for debt would destroy his hopes of a political career； and
besides all this； he had bound himself to do an immense amount of
dramatic work for which he had already received payment。 He could see
no bottom to the gulf of misery that lay before him； into which he was
about to roll。 In presence of such threatened evil his boldness
deserted him。 Would the Comtesse de Vandenesse stand by him？ Would she
fly with him？ Women are never led into a gulf of that kind except by
an absolute love； and the love of Raoul and Marie had not bound them
together by the mysterious and inalienable ties of happiness。 But
supposing that the countess did follow him to some foreign country；
she would come without fortune； despoiled of everything； and then；
alas！ she would merely be one more embarrassment to him。 A mind of a
second order； and a proud mind like that of Nathan； would be likely to
see； under these circumstances； and did see； in suicide the sword to
cut the Gordian knots。 The idea of failure in the face of the world
and that society he had so lately entered and meant to rule； of
leaving the chariot of the countess and becoming once more a muddied
pedestrian； was more than he could bear。 Madness began to dance and
whirl and shake her bells at the gates of the fantastic palace in
which the poet had been dreaming。 In this extremity； Nathan waited for
some lucky accident； determined not to kill himself until the final
moment。
During the last days employed by the legal formalities required before
proceeding to arrest for debt； Raoul went about； in spite of himself；
with that coldly sullen and morose expression of face which may be
noticed in persons who ar