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But he opened his heart to Blondet； to him he talked of his Laura and
his Beatrice； apropos of Madame de Vandenesse。 He even made a
paraphrase of the following beautiful passage from the pen of
Theophile Gautier； one of the most remarkable poets of our day：
〃'Ideala； flower of heaven's own blue； with heart of gold； whose
fibrous roots； softer； a thousandfold； than fairy tresses； strike to
our souls and drink their purest essence； flower most sweet and
bitter！ thou canst not be torn away without the heart's blood flowing；
without thy bruised stems sweating with scarlet tears。 Ah！ cursed
flower； why didst thou grow within my soul？'〃
〃My dear fellow；〃 said Blondet； 〃you are raving。 I'll grant it was a
pretty flower； but it wasn't a bit ideal； and instead of singing like
a blind man before an empty niche； you had much better wash your hands
and make submission to the powers。 You are too much of an artist ever
to be a good politician； you have been fooled by men of not one…half
your value。 Think about being fooled againbut elsewhere。〃
〃Marie cannot prevent my loving her；〃 said Nathan； 〃she shall be my
Beatrice。〃
〃Beatrice； my good Raoul； was a little girl twelve years of age when
Dante last saw her； otherwise； she would not have been Beatrice。 To
make a divinity； it won't do to see her one day wrapped in a mantle；
and the next with a low dress； and the third on the boulevard；
cheapening toys for her last baby。 When a man has Florine； who is in
turn duchess； bourgeoise； Negress； marquise； colonel； Swiss peasant；
virgin of the sun in Peru （only way she can play the part）； I don't
see why he should go rambling after fashionable women。〃
Du Tillet； to use a Bourse term； EXECUTED Nathan； who； for lack of
money； gave up his place on the newspaper； and the celebrated man
received but five votes in the electoral college where the banker was
elected。
When； after a long and happy journey in Italy； the Comtesse de
Vandenesse returned to Paris late in the following winter； all her
husband's predictions about Nathan were justified。 He had taken
Blondet's advice and negotiated with the government； which employed
his pen。 His personal affairs were in such disorder that one day； on
the Champs…Elysees； Marie saw her former adorer on foot； in shabby
clothes； giving his arm to Florine。 When a man becomes indifferent to
the heart of a woman who has once loved him； he often seems to her
very ugly； even horrible； especially when he resembles Nathan。 Madame
de Vandenesse had a sense of personal humiliation in the thought that
she had once cared for him。 If she had not already been cured of all
extra…conjugal passion； the contrast then presented by the count to
this man； grown less and less worthy of public favor； would have
sufficed her。
To…day the ambitious Nathan； rich in ink and poor in will； has ended
by capitulating entirely； and has settled down into a sinecure； like
any other commonplace man。 After lending his pen to all disorganizing
efforts； he now lives in peace under the protecting shade of a
ministerial organ。 The cross of the Legion of honor； formerly the
fruitful text of his satire； adorns his button…hole。 〃Peace at any
price；〃 ridicule of which was the stock…in…trade of his revolutionary
editorship； is now the topic of his laudatory articles。 Heredity；
attacked by him in Saint…Simonian phrases； he now defends with solid
arguments。 This illogical conduct has its origin and its explanation
in the change of front performed by many men besides Raoul during our
recent political evolutions。
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy。
Bidault （known as Gigonnet）
The Government Clerks
Gobseck
The Vendetta
Cesar Birotteau
The Firm of Nucingen
Blondet； Emile
Jealousies of a Country Town
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Modeste Mignon
Another Study of Woman
The Secrets of a Princess
The Firm of Nucingen
The Peasantry
Blondet； Virginie
Jealousies of a Country Town
The Secrets of a Princess
The Peasantry
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Another Study of Woman
The Member for Arcis
Bruel； Jean Francois du
A Bachelor's Establishment
The Government Clerks
A Start in Life
A Prince of Bohemia
The Middle Classes
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Camps； Madame Octave de
Madame Firmiani
The Government Clerks
A Woman of Thirty
The Member for Arcis
Dudley； Lord
The Lily of the Valley
The Thirteen
A Man of Business
Another Study of Woman
Dudley； Lady Arabella
The Lily of the Valley
The Ball at Sceaux
The Magic Skin
The Secrets of a Princess
Letters of Two Brides
Espard； Jeanne…Clementine…Athenais de Blamont…Chauvry； Marquise d'
The Commission in Lunacy
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Letters of Two Brides
Another Study of Woman
The Gondreville Mystery
The Secrets of a Princess
Beatrix
Galathionne； Prince and Princess （both not in each story）
The Secrets of a Princess
The Middle Classes
Father Goriot
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Beatrix
Grandlieu； Duchesse Ferdinand de
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Beatrix
Grandlieu； Vicomtesse Juste de
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Gobseck
Granville； Vicomte de
The Gondreville Mystery
A Second Home
Farewell （Adieu）
Cesar Birotteau
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Cousin Pons
Granville； Comtesse Angelique de
A Second Home
The Thirteen
Granville； Vicomte de
A Second Home
The Country Parson
La Roche…Hugon； Martial de
Domestic Peace
The Peasantry
The Member for Arcis
The Middle Classes
Cousin Betty
Listomere； Marquise de
The Lily of the Valley
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
A Daughter of Eve
Lousteau； Etienne
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
A Bachelor's Establishment
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
Beatrix
The Muse of the Department
Cousin Betty
A Prince of Bohemia
A Man of Business
The Middle Classes
The Unconscious Humorists
Manerville； Comtesse Paul de
A Marriage Settlement
The Lily of the Valley
Marsay； Henri de
The Thirteen
The Unconscious Humorists
Another Study of Woman
The Lily of the Valley
Father Goriot
Jealousies of a Country Town
Ursule Mirouet
A Marriage Settlement
Lost Illusions
A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Letters of Two Brides
The Ball at Sceaux
Modeste Mignon
The Secrets of a Princess
The Gondreville Mystery
Massol
Scenes from a Courtesan's Life
The Magic Skin
Cousin Betty
The Unconscious Humorists