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July； 1830； supervened； society was dissolved for two years； the rich
evaded the turmoil and left Paris either for foreign travel or for
their estates in the country； and none of the salons reopened until
1833。 When that time came； the faubourg Saint…Germain still sulked；
but it held intercourse with a few houses； regarding them as neutral
ground；among others that of the Austrian ambassador； where the
legitimist society and the new social world met together in the
persons of their best representatives。
Attached by many ties of the heart and by gratitude to the exiled
family； and strong in his personal convictions； Vandenesse did not
consider himself obliged to imitate the silly behavior of his party。
In times of danger； he had done his duty at the risk of his life； his
fidelity had never been compromised； and he determined to take his
wife into general society without fear of its becoming so。 His former
mistresses could scarcely recognize the bride they had thought so
childish in the elegant； witty； and gentle countess； who now appeared
in society with the exquisite manners of the highest female
aristocracy。 Mesdames d'Espard； de Manerville； and Lady Dudley； with
others less known； felt the serpent waking up in the depths of their
hearts； they heard the low hissings of angry pride； they were jealous
of Felix's happiness； and would gladly have given their prettiest
jewel to do him some harm； but instead of being hostile to the
countess； these kind； ill…natured women surrounded her； showed her the
utmost friendship； and praised her to me。 Sufficiently aware of their
intentions； Felix watched their relations with Marie； and warned her
to distrust them。 They all suspected the uneasiness of the count at
their intimacy with his wife； and they redoubled their attentions and
flatteries； so that they gave her an enormous vogue in society； to the
great displeasure of her sister…in…law； the Marquise de Listomere； who
could not understand it。 The Comtesse Felix de Vandenesse was cited as
the most charming and the cleverest woman in Paris。 Marie's other
sister…in…law； the Marquise Charles de Vandenesse； was consumed with
vexation at the confusion of names and the comparisons it sometimes
brought about。 Though the marquise was a handsome and clever woman；
her rivals took delight in comparing her with her sister…in…law； with
all the more point because the countess was a dozen years younger。
These women knew very well what bitterness Marie's social vogue would
bring into her intercourse with both of her sisters…in…law； who； in
fact； became cold and disobliging in proportion to her triumph in
society。 She was thus surrounded by dangerous relations and intimate
enemies。
Every one knows that French literature at that particular period was
endeavoring to defend itself against an apathetic indifference （the
result of the political drama） by producing works more or less
Byronian； in which the only topics really discussed were conjugal
delinquencies。 Infringements of the marriage tie formed the staple of
reviews； books； and dramas。 This eternal subject grew more and more
the fashion。 The lover； that nightmare of husbands； was everywhere；
except perhaps in homes； where； in point of fact； under the bourgeois
regime； he was less seen than formerly。 It is not when every one
rushes to their window and cries 〃Thief！〃 and lights the streets； that
robbers abound。 It is true that during those years so fruitful of
turmoilurban； political； and morala few matrimonial catastrophes
took place； but these were exceptional； and less observed than they
would have been under the Restoration。 Nevertheless； women talked a
great deal together about books and the stage； then the two chief
forms of poesy。 The lover thus became one of their leading topics；a
being rare in point of act and much desired。 The few affairs which
were known gave rise to discussions； and these discussions were； as
usually happens； carried on by immaculate women。
A fact worthy of remark is the aversion shown to such conversations by
women who are enjoying some illicit happiness； they maintain before
the eyes of the world a reserved； prudish； and even timid countenance；
they seem to ask silence on the subject； or some condonation of their
pleasure from society。 When； on the contrary； a woman talks freely of
such catastrophes； and seems to take pleasure in doing so； allowing
herself to explain the emotions that justify the guilty parties； we
may be sure that she herself is at the crossways of indecision； and
does not know what road she might take。
During this winter； the Comtesse de Vandenesse heard the great voice
of the social world roaring in her ears； and the wind of its stormy
gusts blew round her。 Her pretended friends； who maintained their
reputations at the height of their rank and their positions； often
produced in her presence the seductive idea of the lover； they cast
into her soul certain ardent talk of love； the 〃mot d'enigme〃 which
life propounds to woman； the grand passion； as Madame de Stael called
it；preaching by example。 When the countess asked naively； in a small
and select circle of these friends； what difference there was between
a lover and a husband； all those who wished evil to Felix took care to
reply in a way to pique her curiosity； or fire her imagination； or
touch her heart； or interest her mind。
〃Oh！ my dear； we vegetate with a husband； but we live with a lover；〃
said her sister…in…law； the marquise。
〃Marriage； my dear； is our purgatory； love is paradise；〃 said Lady
Dudley。
〃Don't believe her；〃 cried Mademoiselle des Touches； 〃it is hell。〃
〃But a hell we like；〃 remarked Madame de Rochefide。 〃There is often
more pleasure in suffering than in happiness； look at the martyrs！〃
〃With a husband； my dear innocent； we live； as it were； in our own
life； but to love； is to live in the life of another；〃 said the
Marquise d'Espard。
〃A lover is forbidden fruit； and that to me； says all！〃 cried the
pretty Moina de Saint…Heren； laughing。
When she was not at some diplomatic rout； or at a ball given by rich
foreigners； like Lady Dudley or the Princesse Galathionne； the
Comtesse de Vandenesse might be seen； after the Opera； at the houses
of Madame d'Espard； the Marquise de Listomere； Mademoiselle des
Touches； the Comtesse de Montcornet； or the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu；
the only aristocratic houses then open； and never did she leave any
one of them without some evil seed of the world being sown in her
heart。 She heard talk of completing her life；a saying much in
fashion in those days； of being comprehended；another word to which
women gave strange meanings。 She often returned home uneasy； excited；
curious； and thoughtful。 She began to find something less； she hardly
knew what； in her life； but she did not yet go so far as to think it
lonely。
CHAPTER IV
A CELEBRATED MAN
The most amusing society； but also the most mixed； which Madame Felix
de Vandenesse frequented； was that of the Comtesse de Montcornet； a
charming little woman； who received illustrious artists； leading
financial personages； distinguished writers； but only after subjecting
them to so rigid an examination that the most exclusive aristocrat had
nothing to fear in coming in contact with this second…class society。
The loftiest pretensions were there respected。
During the winter of 1833； when society rallied after the revolution
of July； some salons； notably those of Mesdames d'Espard and de
Listomere； Mademoiselle des Touches； and the Duchesse de Grandlieu；
had selected certain of the celebrities in art； science； literature；
and politics； and received them。 Society can lose nothing of its
rights； and it must be amused。 At a concert given by Madame de
Montcornet toward the close of the winter of 1833； a man of rising
fame in literature and politics appeared in her salon； brought there
by one of the wittiest； but also one of the laziest writers of that
epoch； Emile Blondet； celebrated behind closed doors； highly praised
by journalists； but unknown beyond the barriers。 Blondet himself was
well aware of this； he indulged in no illusions； and； among his other
witty and contemptuous sayings； he was wont to remark that fame is a
poison good to take in little doses。
From the moment when the man we speak of； Raoul Nathan； after a long
struggle； forced his way to the public gaze； he had put to profit the
sudden infatuation for form manifested by those elegant descendants of
the middle ages； jestingly called Young France。 He assumed the
singularities of a man of genius and enrolled himself among those
adorers of art； whose intentions； let us say； were excellent； for
surely nothing could be more ridiculous than the costume of Frenchmen
in the nineteenth century； and nothing more courageous than an attempt
to reform it。 Raoul； let us do him this justice； presents in his
person s