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akin to those which the sun emits； and whose ardor set the seal upon
that of her perfect body； in which all was delight。 De Marsay was on
fire to brush the dress of this enchanting girl as they passed one
another in their walk； but his attempts were always vain。 But at one
moment； when he had repassed Paquita and the duenna； in order to find
himself on the same side as the girl of the golden eyes； when he
returned； Paquita； no less impatient； came forward hurriedly； and De
Marsay felt his hand pressed by her in a fashion at once so swift and
so passionately significant that it was as though he had received the
emotions surged up in his heart。 When the two lovers glanced at one
another； Paquita seemed ashamed； she dropped her eyes lest she should
meet the eyes of Henri； but her gaze sank lower to fasten on the feet
and form of him whom women； before the Revolution； called /their
conqueror/。
〃I am determined to make this girl my mistress；〃 said Henri to
himself。
As he followed her along the terrace； in the direction of the Place
Louis XV。； he caught sight of the aged Marquis de San…Real； who was
walking on the arm of his valet； stepping with all the precautions due
to gout and decrepitude。 Dona Concha； who distrusted Henri； made
Paquita pass between herself and the old man。
〃Oh； for you；〃 said De Marsay to himself； casting a glance of disdain
upon the duenna； 〃if one cannot make you capitulate； with a little
opium one can make you sleep。 We know mythology and the fable of
Argus。〃
Before entering the carriage； the golden…eyed girl exchanged certain
glances with her lover； of which the meaning was unmistakable and
which enchanted Henri； but one of them was surprised by the duenna；
she said a few rapid words to Paquita； who threw herself into the
/coupe/ with an air of desperation。 For some days Paquita did not
appear in the Tuileries。 Laurent； who by his master's orders was on
watch by the hotel； learned from the neighbors that neither the two
women nor the aged marquis had been abroad since the day upon which
the duenna had surprised a glance between the young girl in her charge
and Henri。 The bond； so flimsy withal； which united the two lovers was
already severed。
Some days later； none knew by what means； De Marsay had attained his
end； he had a seal and wax； exactly resembling the seal and wax
affixed to the letters sent to Mademoiselle Valdes from London； paper
similar to that which her correspondent used； moreover； all the
implements and stamps necessary to affix the French and English
postmarks。
He wrote the following letter； to which he gave all the appearances of
a letter sent from London：
〃MY DEAR PAQUITA；I shall not try to paint to you in words the
passion with which you have inspired me。 If； to my happiness； you
reciprocate it； understand that I have found a means of
corresponding with you。 My name is Adolphe de Gouges； and I live
at No。 54 Rue de l'Universite。 If you are too closely watched to
be able to write to me； if you have neither pen nor paper； I shall
understand it by your silence。 If then； to…morrow； you have not；
between eight o'clock in the morning and ten o'clock in the
evening； thrown a letter over the wall of your garden into that of
the Baron de Nucingen； where it will be waited for during the
whole of the day； a man； who is entirely devoted to me； will let
down two flasks by a string over your wall at ten o'clock the next
morning。 Be walking there at that hour。 One of the two flasks will
contain opium to send your Argus to sleep； it will be sufficient
to employ six drops； the other will contain ink。 The flask of ink
is of cut glass； the other is plain。 Both are of such a size as
can easily be concealed within your bosom。 All that I have already
done； in order to be able to correspond with you； should tell you
how greatly I love you。 Should you have any doubt of it； I will
confess to you； that to obtain an interview of one hour with you I
would give my life。〃
〃At least they believe that； poor creatures！〃 said De Marsay； 〃but
they are right。 What should we think of a woman who refused to be
beguiled by a love…letter accompanied by such convincing accessories？〃
This letter was delivered by Master Moinot； postman； on the following
day； about eight o'clock in the morning； to the porter of the Hotel
San…Real。
In order to be nearer to the field of action； De Marsay went and
breakfasted with Paul； who lived in the Rue de la Pepiniere。 At two
o'clock； just as the two friends were laughingly discussing the
discomfiture of a young man who had attempted to lead the life of
fashion without a settled income； and were devising an end for him；
Henri's coachman came to seek his master at Paul's house； and
presented to him a mysterious personage who insisted on speaking
himself with his master。
This individual was a mulatto； who would assuredly have given Talma a
model for the part of Othello； if he had come across him。 Never did
any African face better express the grand vengefulness； the ready
suspicion； the promptitude in the execution of a thought； the strength
of the Moor； and his childish lack of reflection。 His black eyes had
the fixity of the eyes of a bird of prey； and they were framed； like a
vulture's； by a bluish membrane devoid of lashes。 His forehead； low
and narrow； had something menacing。 Evidently； this man was under the
yoke of some single and unique thought。 His sinewy arm did not belong
to him。
He was followed by a man whom the imaginations of all folk； from those
who shiver in Greenland to those who sweat in the tropics； would paint
in the single phrase： /He was an unfortunate man/。 From this phrase；
everybody will conceive him according to the special ideas of each
country。 But who can best imagine his facewhite and wrinkled； red at
the extremities； and his long beard。 Who will see his lean and yellow
scarf； his greasy shirt…collar； his battered hat； his green frock
coat； his deplorable trousers； his dilapidated waistcoat； his
imitation gold pin； and battered shoes； the strings of which were
plastered in mud？ Who will see all that but the Parisian？ The
unfortunate man of Paris is the unfortunate man /in toto/； for he has
still enough mirth to know the extent of his misfortune。 The mulatto
was like an executioner of Louis XI。 leading a man to the gallows。
〃Who has hunted us out these two extraordinary creatures？〃 said Henri。
〃Faith！ there is one of them who makes me shudder；〃 replied Paul。
〃Who are youyou fellow who look the most like a Christian of the
two？〃 said Henri； looking at the unfortunate man。
The mulatto stood with his eyes fixed upon the two young men； like a
man who understood nothing； and who sought no less to divine something
from the gestures and movements of the lips。
〃I am a public scribe and interpreter； I live at the Palais de
Justice； and am named Poincet。〃
〃Good！ 。 。 。 and this one？〃 said Henri to Poincet； looking towards the
mulatto。
〃I do not know； he only speaks a sort of Spanish /patois/； and he has
brought me here to make himself understood by you。〃
The mulatto drew from his pocket the