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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 ferocious republican； and a political atheist。
〃Suppose we sup at the expense of the present order of things？〃 said
Blondet； who would fain recall suppers to fashion。
Rastignac took them to Very's； sent away his carriage； and all three
sat down to table to analyze society with Rabelaisian laughs。 During
the supper； Rastignac and Blondet advised their provisional enemy not
to neglect such a capital chance of advancement as the one now offered
to him。 The two 〃roues〃 gave him； in fine satirical style； the history
of Madame Felix de Vandenesse； they drove the scalpel of epigram and
the sharp points of much good wit into that innocent girlhood and
happy marriage。 Blondet congratulated Raoul on encountering a woman
guilty of nothing worse so far than horrible drawings in red chalk；
attenuated water…colors； slippers embroidered for a husband； sonatas
executed with the best intentions；a girl tied to her mother's apron…
strings till she was eighteen； trussed for religious practices；
seasoned by Vandenesse； and cooked to a point by marriage。 At the
third bottle of champagne； Raoul unbosomed himself as he had never
done before in his life。
〃My friends；〃 he said； 〃you know my relations with Florine； you also
know my life； and you will not be surprised to hear me say that I am
absolutely ignorant of what a countess's love may be like。 I have
often felt mortified that I； a poet； could not give myself a Beatrice；
a Laura； except in poetry。 A pure and noble woman is like an unstained
conscience；she represents us to ourselves under a noble form。
Elsewhere we may soil ourselves； but with her we are always proud；
lofty； and immaculate。 Elsewhere we lead ill…regulated lives； with her
we breathe the calm； the freshness； the verdure of an oasis〃
〃Go on； go on； my dear fellow！〃 cried Rastignac； 〃twang that fourth
string with the prayer in 'Moses' like Paganini。〃
Raoul remained silent； with fixed eyes； apparently musing。
〃This wretched ministerial apprentice does not understand me；〃 he
said； after a moment's silence。
So； while the poor Eve in the rue du Rocher went to bed in the sheets
of shame； frightened at the pleasure with which she had listened to
that sham great poet； these three bold minds were trampling with jests
over the tender flowers of her dawning love。 Ah！ if women only knew
the cynical tone that such men； so humble； so fawning in their
presence； take behind their backs！ how they sneer at what they say
they adore！ Fresh； pure； gracious being； how the scoffing jester
disrobes and analyzes her！ but； even so； the more she loses veils； the
more her beauty shines。
Marie was at this moment comparing Raoul and Felix； without imagining
the danger there might be for her in such comparisons。 Nothing could
present a greater contrast than the disorderly； vigorous Raoul to
Felix de Vandenesse； who cared for his person like a dainty woman；
wore well…fitting clothes； had