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then at the head of the government； who had no consideration whatever
for authors； among whom he did not find what Richelieu called a
consecutive mind； or more correctly； continuity of ideas； he counted
as any minister would have done on the constant embarrassment of
Raoul's business affairs。 Sooner or later； necessity would bring him
to accept conditions instead of imposing them。
The real； but carefully concealed character of Raoul Nathan is of a
piece with his public career。 He is a comedian in good faith； selfish
as if the State were himself； and a very clever orator。 No one knows
better how to play off sentiments； glory in false grandeurs； deck
himself with moral beauty； do honor to his nature in language； and
pose like Alceste while behaving like Philinte。 His egotism trots
along protected by this cardboard armor； and often almost reaches the
end he seeks。 Lazy to a superlative degree； he does nothing； however；
until he is prodded by the bayonets of need。 He is incapable of
continued labor applied to the creation of a work； but； in a paroxysm
of rage caused by wounded vanity； or in a crisis brought on by
creditors； he leaps the Eurotas and attains to some great triumph of
his intellect。 After which； weary； and surprised at having created
anything； he drops back into the marasmus of Parisian dissipation；
wants become formidable； he has no strength to face them； and then he
comes down from his pedestal and compromises。
Influenced by a false idea of his grandeur and of his future；the
measure of which he reckons on the noble success of one of his former
comrades； one of the few great talents brought to light by the
revolution of July；he allows himself； in order to get out of his
embarrassments； certain laxities of principle with persons who are
friendly to him；laxities which never come to the surface； but are
buried in private life； where no one ever mentions or complains of
them。 The shallowness of his heart； the impurity of his hand； which
clasps that of all vices； all evils； all treacheries； all opinions；
have made him as inviolable as a constitutional king。 Venial sins；
which excite a hue and cry against a man of high character； are
thought nothing of in him； the world hastens to excuse them。 Men who
might otherwise be inclined to despise him shake hands with him；
fearing that the day may come when they will need him。 He has； in
fact； so many friends that he wishes for enemies。
Judged from a literary point of view； Nathan lacks style and
cultivation。 Like most young men； ambitious of literary fame； he
disgorges to…day what he acquired yesterday。 He has neither the time
nor the patience to write carefully； he does not observe； but he
listens。 Incapable of constructing a vigorously framed plot； he
sometimes makes up for it by the impetuous ardor of his drawing。 He
〃does passion；〃 to use a term of the literary argot； but instead of
awaking ideas； his heroes are simply enlarged individualities； who
excite only fugitive sympathies； they are not connected with any of
the great interests of life； and consequently they represent nothing。
Nevertheless； Nathan maintains his ground by the quickness of his
mind； by those lucky hits which billiard…players call a 〃good stroke。〃
He is the cleverest shot at ideas on the fly in all Paris。 His
fecundity is not his own； but that of his epoch； he lives on chance
events； and to control them he distorts their meaning。 In short； he is
not TRUE； his presentation is false； in him； as Comte Felix said； is
the born juggler。 Moreover； his pen gets its ink in the boudoir of an
actress。
Raoul Nathan is a fair type of the Parisian literary youth of the day；
with its false grandeurs and its real misery。 He represents that youth
by his incomplete beauties and his headlong falls； by the turbulent
torrent of his existence； with its sudden reverses and its unhoped…for
triumphs。 He is truly the child of a century consumed with envy；a
century with a thousand rivalries lurking under many a system； which
nourish to their own profit that hydra of anarchy which wants wealth
without toil； fame without talent； success without effort； but whose
vices force it； after much rebellion and many skirmishes； to accept
the budget under the powers that be。 When so many young ambitions；
starting on foot； give one another rendezvous at the same point； there
is always contention of wills； extreme wretchedness； bitter struggles。
In this dreadful battle； selfishness； the most overbearing or the most
adroit selfishness； gains the victory； and it is envied and applauded
in spite； as Moliere said； of outcries； and we all know it。
When； in his capacity as enemy to the new dynasty； Raoul was
introduced in the salon of Madame de Montcornet； his apparent
grandeurs were flourishing。 He was accepted as the political critic of
the de Marsays； the Rastignacs； and the Roche…Hugons； who had stepped
into power。 Emile Blondet； the victim of incurable hesitation and of
his innate repugnance to any action that concerned only himself；
continued his trade of scoffer； took sides with no one； and kept well
with all。 He was friendly with Raoul； friendly with Rastignac；
friendly with Montcornet。
〃You are a political triangle；〃 said de Marsay； laughing； when they
met at the Opera。 〃That geometric form； my dear fellow； belongs only
to the Deity； who has nothing to do； ambitious men ought to follow
curved lines； the shortest road in politics。〃
Seen from a distance； Raoul Nathan was a very fine meteor。 Fashion
accepted his ways and his appearance。 His borrowed republicanism gave
him； for the time being； that Jansenist harshness assumed by the
defenders of the popular cause； while they inwardly scoff at it；a
quality not without charm in the eyes of women。 Women like to perform
prodigies； break rocks； and soften natures which seem of iron。
Raoul's moral costume was therefore in keeping with his clothes。 He
was fitted to be what he became to the Eve who was bored in her
paradise in the rue du Rocher；the fascinating serpent； the fine
talker with magnetic eyes and harmonious motions who tempted the first
woman。 No sooner had the Comtesse Marie laid eyes on Raoul than she
felt an inward emotion； the violence of which caused her a species of
terror。 The glance of that fraudulent great man exercised a physical
influence upon her； which quivered in her very heart； and troubled it。
But the trouble was pleasure。 The purple mantle which celebrity had
draped for a moment round Nathan's shoulders dazzled the ingenuous
young woman。 When tea was served； she rose from her seat among a knot
of talking women； where she had been striving to see and hear that
extraordinary being。 Her silence and absorption were noticed by her
false friends。
The countess approached the divan in the centre of the room； where
Raoul was perorating。 She stood there with her arm in that of Madame
Octave de Camp； an excellent woman； who kept the secret of the
involuntary trembling by which these violent emotions betrayed
themselves。 Though the eyes of a captivated woman are apt to shed
wonderful sweetness； Raoul was too occupied at that moment in letting
off fireworks； too absorbed in his epigrams going up like rockets （in
the midst of which were flaming portraits drawn in lines of fire） to
notice the naive admiration of one little Eve concealed in a group of
women。 Marie's curiositylike that which would undoubtedly
precipitate all Paris into the Jardin des Plantes to see a unicorn； if
such an animal could be found in those mountains of the moon； still
virgin of the tread of Europeansintoxicates a secondary mind as much
as it saddens great ones； but Raoul was enchanted by it； although he
was then too anxious to secure all women to care very much for one
alone。
〃Take care； my dear；〃 said Marie's kind and gracious companion in her
ear； 〃and go home。〃
The countess looked at her husband to ask for his arm with one of
those glances which husbands do not always understand。 Felix did so；
and took her home。
〃My dear friend；〃 said Madame d'Espard in Raoul's ear； 〃you are a
lucky fellow。 You have made more than one conquest to…night； and among
them that of the charming woman who has just left us so abruptly。〃
〃Do you know what the Marquise d'Espard meant by that？〃 said Raoul to
Rastignac； when they happened to be comparatively alone between one
and two o'clock in the morning。
〃I am told that the Comtesse de Vandenesse has taken a violent fancy
to you。 You are not to be pitied！〃 said Rastignac。
〃I did not see her；〃 said Raoul。
〃Oh！ but you will see her； you scamp！〃 cried Emile Blondet； who was
standing by。 〃Lady Dudley is going to ask you to her grand ball； that
you may meet the pretty countess。〃
Raoul and Blondet went off with Rastignac； who offered them his
carriage。 All three laughed at the combination of an eclectic under…
secretary of State； a