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most of those who trust to their luck； he put off till the last
moment the payment of debts that among the bourgeoisie are
regarded as sacred engagements； acting on the plan of Mirabeau；
who never settled his baker's bill until it underwent a
formidable transformation into a bill of exchange。
It was about this time when Rastignac was down on his luck and
fell into debt； that it became clear to the law student's mind
that he must have some more certain source of income if he meant
to live as he had been doing。 But while he groaned over the
thorny problems of his precarious situation； he felt that he
could not bring himself to renounce the pleasures of this
extravagant life； and decided that he must continue it at all
costs。 His dreams of obtaining a fortune appeared more and more
chimerical； and the real obstacles grew more formidable。 His
initiation into the secrets of the Nucingen household had
revealed to him that if he were to attempt to use this love
affair as a means of mending his fortunes； he must swallow down
all sense of decency； and renounce all the generous ideas which
redeem the sins of youth。 He had chosen this life of apparent
splendor； but secretly gnawed by the canker worm of remorse； a
life of fleeting pleasure dearly paid for by persistent pain；
like Le Distrait of La Bruyere； he had descended so far as to
make his bed in a ditch； but （also like Le Distrait） he himself
was uncontaminated as yet by the mire that stained his garments。
〃So we have killed our mandarin； have we？〃 said Bianchon one day
as they left the dinner table。
〃Not yet；〃 he answered； 〃but he is at his last gasp。〃
The medical student took this for a joke； but it was not a jest。
Eugene had dined in the house that night for the first time for a
long while； and had looked thoughtful during the meal。 He had
taken his place beside Mlle。 Taillefer； and stayed through the
dessert； giving his neighbor an expressive glance from time to
time。 A few of the boarders discussed the walnuts at the table；
and others walked about the room； still taking part in the
conversation which had begun among them。 People usually went when
they chose； the amount of time that they lingered being
determined by the amount of interest that the conversation
possessed for them； or by the difficulty of the process of
digestion。 In winter…time the room was seldom empty before eight
o'clock； when the four women had it all to themselves； and made
up for the silence previously imposed upon them by the
preponderating masculine element。 This evening Vautrin had
noticed Eugene's abstractedness； and stayed in the room； though
he had seemed to be in a hurry to finish his dinner and go。 All
through the talk afterwards he had kept out of the sight of the
law student； who quite believed that Vautrin had left the room。
He now took up his position cunningly in the sitting…room instead
of going when the last boarders went。 He had fathomed the young
man's thoughts； and felt that a crisis was at hand。 Rastignac
was； in fact； in a dilemma； which many another young man must
have known。
Mme。 de Nucingen might love him； or might merely be playing with
him； but in either case Rastignac had been made to experience all
the alternations of hope and despair of genuine passion； and all
the diplomatic arts of a Parisienne had been employed on him。
After compromising herself by continually appearing in public
with Mme。 de Beauseant's cousin she still hesitated； and would
not give him the lover's privileges which he appeared to enjoy。
For a whole month she had so wrought on his senses； that at last
she had made an impression on his heart。 If in the earliest days
the student had fancied himself to be master； Mme。 de Nucingen
had since become the stronger of the two； for she had skilfully
roused and played upon every instinct； good or bad； in the two or
three men comprised in a young student in Paris。 This was not the
result of deep design on her part； nor was she playing a part；
for women are in a manner true to themselves even through their
grossest deceit； because their actions are prompted by a natural
impulse。 It may have been that Delphine； who had allowed this
young man to gain such an ascendency over her； conscious that she
had been too demonstrative； was obeying a sentiment of dignity；
and either repented of her concessions； or it pleased her to
suspend them。 It is so natural to a Parisienne； even when passion
has almost mastered her； to hesitate and pause before taking the
plunge； to probe the heart of him to whom she intrusts her
future。 And once already Mme。 de Nucingen's hopes had been
betrayed； and her loyalty to a selfish young lover had been
despised。 She had good reason to be suspicious。 Or it may have
been that something in Eugene's manner （for his rapid success was
making a coxcomb of him） had warned her that the grotesque nature
of their position had lowered her somewhat in his eyes。 She
doubtless wished to assert her dignity； he was young； and she
would be great in his eyes； for the lover who had forsaken her
had held her so cheap that she was determined that Eugene should
not think her an easy conquest； and for this very reasonhe knew
that de Marsay had been his predecessor。 Finally； after the
degradation of submission to the pleasure of a heartless young
rake； it was so sweet to her to wander in the flower…strewn
realms of love； that it was not wonderful that she should wish to
dwell a while on the prospect； to tremble with the vibrations of
love； to feel the freshness of the breath of its dawn。 The true
lover was suffering for the sins of the false。 This inconsistency
is unfortunately only to be expected so long as men do not know
how many flowers are mown down in a young woman's soul by the
first stroke of treachery。
Whatever her reasons may have been； Delphine was playing with
Rastignac； and took pleasure in playing with him； doubtless
because she felt sure of his love； and confident that she could
put an end to the torture as soon as it was her royal pleasure to
do so。 Eugene's self…love was engaged； he could not suffer his
first passage of love to end in a defeat； and persisted in his
suit like a sportsman determined to bring down at least one
partridge to celebrate his first Feast of Saint…Hubert。 The
pressure of anxiety； his wounded self…love； his despair； real or
feigned； drew him nearer and nearer to this woman。 All Paris
credited him with this conquest； and yet he was conscious that he
had made no progress since the day when he saw Mme。 de Nucingen
for the first time。 He did not know as yet that a woman's
coquetry is sometimes more delightful than the pleasure of secure
possession of her love； and was possessed with helpless rage。 If；
at this time； while she denied herself to love； Eugene gathered
the springtide spoils of his life； the fruit； somewhat sharp and
green； and dearly bought； was no less delicious to the taste。
There