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Felix de Vandenesse； who cared for his person like a dainty woman；
wore well…fitting clothes； had a charming 〃desinvoltura；〃 and was a
votary of English nicety； to which； in earlier days； Lady Dudley had
trained him。 Marie； as a good and pious woman； soon forbade herself
even to think of Raoul； and considered that she was a monster of
ingratitude for making the comparison。
〃What do you think of Raoul Nathan？〃 she asked her husband the next
day at breakfast。
〃He is something of a charlatan；〃 replied Felix； 〃one of those
volcanoes who are easily calmed down with a little gold…dust。 Madame
de Montcornet makes a mistake in admitting him。〃
This answer annoyed Marie； all the more because Felix supported his
opinion with certain facts； relating what he knew of Raoul Nathan's
life；a precarious existence mixed up with a popular actress。
〃If the man has genius；〃 he said in conclusion； 〃he certainly has
neither the constancy nor the patience which sanctifies it； and makes
it a thing divine。 He endeavors to impose on the world by placing
himself on a level which he does nothing to maintain。 True talent；
pains…taking and honorable talent does not act thus。 Men who possess
such talent follow their path courageously； they accept its pains and
penalties； and don't cover them with tinsel。〃
A woman's thought is endowed with incredible elasticity。 When she
receives a knockdown blow； she bends； seems crushed； and then renews
her natural shape in a given time。
〃Felix is no doubt right；〃 thought she。
But three days later she was once more thinking of the serpent；
recalled to him by that singular emotion； painful and yet sweet； which
the first sight of Raoul had given her。 The count and countess went to
Lady Dudley's grand ball； where； by the bye； de Marsay appeared in
society for the last time。 He died about two months later； leaving the
reputation of a great statesman； because； as Blondet remarked； he was
incomprehensible。
Vandenesse and his wife again met Raoul Nathan at this ball； which was
remarkable for the meeting of several personages of the political
drama； who were not a little astonished to find themselves together。
It was one of the first solemnities of the great world。 The salons
presented a magnificent spectacle to the eye；flowers； diamonds； and
brilliant head…dresses； all jewel…boxes emptied； all resources of the
toilet put under contribution。 The ball…room might be compared to one
of those choice conservatories where rich horticulturists collect the
most superb rarities；same brilliancy； same delicacy of texture。 On
all sides white or tinted gauzes like the wings of the airiest dragon…
fly； crepes； laces； blondes； and tulles； varied as the fantasies of
entomological nature； dentelled； waved； and scalloped； spider's webs
of gold and silver； mists of silk embroidered by fairy fingers； plumes
colored by the fire of the tropics drooping from haughty heads； pearls
twined in braided hair； shot or ribbed or brocaded silks； as though
the genius of arabesque had presided over French manufactures；all
this luxury was in harmony with the beauties collected there as if to
realize a 〃Keepsake。〃 The eye received there an impression of the
whitest shoulders； some amber…tinted； others so polished as to seem
colandered； some dewy； some plump and satiny； as though Rubens had
prepared their flesh； in short； all shades known to man in white。 Here
were eyes sparkling like onyx or turquoise fringed with dark lashes；
faces of varied outline presenting the most graceful types of many
lands； foreheads noble and majestic； or softly rounded； as if thought
ruled； or flat； as if resistant will reigned there unconquered；
beautiful bosoms swelling； as George IV。 admired them； or widely
parted after the fashion of the eighteenth century； or pressed
together； as Louis XV。 required； some shown boldly； without veils；
others covered by those charming pleated chemisettes which Raffaelle
painted。 The prettiest feet pointed for the dance； the slimmest waists
encircled in the waltz； stimulated the gaze of the most indifferent
person present。 The murmur of sweet voices； the rustle of gowns； the
cadence of the dance； the whir of the waltz harmoniously accompanied
the music。 A fairy's wand seemed to have commanded this dazzling
revelry； this melody of perfumes； these iridescent lights glittering
from crystal chandeliers or sparkling in candelabra。 This assemblage
of the prettiest women in their prettiest dresses stood out upon a
gloomy background of men in black coats； among whom the eye remarked
the elegant； delicate； and correctly drawn profile of nobles； the
ruddy beards and grave faces of Englishmen； and the more gracious
faces of the French aristocracy。 All the orders of Europe glittered on
the breasts or hung from the necks of these men。
Examining this society carefully； it was seen to present not only the
brilliant tones and colors and outward adornment； but to have a soul；
it lived； it felt； it thought。 Hidden passions gave it a
physiognomy； mischievous or malignant looks were exchanged； fair and
giddy girls betrayed desires； jealous women told each other scandals
behind their fans； or paid exaggerated compliments。 Society； anointed；
curled； and perfumed； gave itself up to social gaiety which went to
the brain like a heady liquor。 It seemed as if from all foreheads； as
well as from all hearts； ideas and sentiments were exhaling； which
presently condensed and reacted in a volume on the coldest persons
present； and excited them。 At the most animated moment of this
intoxicating party； in a corner of a gilded salon where certain
bankers； ambassadors； and the immoral old English earl； Lord Dudley；
were playing cards； Madame Felix de Vandenesse was irresistibly drawn
to converse with Raoul Nathan。 Possibly she yielded to that ball…
intoxication which sometimes wrings avowals from the most discreet。
At sight of such a fete； and the splendors of a world in which he had
never before appeared； Nathan was stirred to the soul by fresh
ambition。 Seeing Rastignac； whose younger brother had just been made
bishop at twenty…seven years of age； and whose brother…in…law； Martial
de la Roche…Hugon； was a minister； and who himself was under…secretary
of State； and about to marry； rumor said； the only daughter of the
Baron de Nucingen；a girl with an illimitable 〃dot〃； seeing；
moreover； in the diplomatic body an obscure writer whom he had
formerly known translating articles in foreign journals for a
newspaper turned dynastic since 1830； also professors now made peers
of France；he felt with anguish that he was left behind on a bad road
by advocating the overthrow of this new aristocracy of lucky talent；
of cleverness crowned by success； and of real merit。 Even Blondet； so
unfortunate； so used by others in journalism； but so welcomed here；
who could； if he liked； enter a career of public service through the
influence of Madame de Montcornet； seemed