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put in jail for life instead of that poor dear〃
Eugene and Goriot rang the door…bell at that moment。
〃Ah！ here are my two faithful lodgers；〃 said the widow； sighing。
But the two faithful lodgers； who retained but shadowy
recollections of the misfortunes of their lodging…house；
announced to their hostess without more ado that they were about
to remove to the Chaussee d'Antin。
〃Sylvie！〃 cried the widow； 〃this is the last straw。Gentlemen；
this will be the death of me！ It has quite upset me！ There's a
weight on my chest！ I am ten years older for this day！ Upon my
word； I shall go out of my senses！ And what is to be done with
the haricots！Oh； well； if I am to be left here all by myself；
you shall go to…morrow； Christophe。Good…night； gentlemen；〃 and
she went。
〃What is the matter now？〃 Eugene inquired of Sylvie。
〃Lord！ everybody is going about his business； and that has addled
her wits。 There！ she is crying upstairs。 It will do her good to
snivel a bit。 It's the first time she has cried since I've been
with her。〃
By the morning； Mme。 Vauquer； to use her own expression； had
〃made up her mind to it。〃 True； she still wore a doleful
countenance； as might be expected of a woman who had lost all her
lodgers； and whose manner of life had been suddenly
revolutionized； but she had all her wits about her。 Her grief was
genuine and profound； it was real pain of mind； for her purse had
suffered； the routine of her existence had been broken。 A lover's
farewell glance at his lady…love's window is not more mournful
than Mme。 Vauquer's survey of the empty places round her table。
Eugene administered comfort； telling the widow that Bianchon；
whose term of residence at the hospital was about to expire；
would doubtless take his （Rastignac's） place； that the official
from the Museum had often expressed a desire to have Mme。
Couture's rooms； and that in a very few days her household would
be on the old footing。
〃God send it may； my dear sir！ but bad luck has come to lodge
here。 There'll be a death in the house before ten days are out；
you'll see；〃 and she gave a lugubrious look round the dining…
room。 〃Whose turn will it be； I wonder？〃
〃It is just as well that we are moving out；〃 said Eugene to
Father Goriot in a low voice。
〃Madame；〃 said Sylvie； running in with a scared face； 〃I have not
seen Mistigris these three days。〃
〃Ah！ well； if my cat is dead； if HE has gone and left us； I〃
The poor woman could not finish her sentence； she clasped her
hands and hid her face on the back of her armchair； quite
overcome by this dreadful portent。
By twelve o'clock； when the postman reaches that quarter； Eugene
received a letter。 The dainty envelope bore the Beauseant arms on
the seal； and contained an invitation to the Vicomtesse's great
ball； which had been talked of in Paris for a month。 A little
note for Eugene was slipped in with the card。
〃I think； monsieur； that you will undertake with pleasure to
interpret my sentiments to Mme。 de Nucingen； so I am sending the
card for which you asked me to you。 I shall be delighted to make
the acquaintance of Mme。 de Restaud's sister。 Pray introduce that
charming lady to me； and do not let her monopolize all your
affection； for you owe me not a little in return for mine。
〃VICOMTESSE DE BEAUSEANT。〃
〃Well；〃 said Eugene to himself； as he read the note a second
time； 〃Mme。 de Beauseant says pretty plainly that she does not
want the Baron de Nucingen。〃
He went to Delphine at once in his joy。 He had procured this
pleasure for her； and doubtless he would receive the price of it。
Mme。 de Nucingen was dressing。 Rastignac waited in her boudoir；
enduring as best he might the natural impatience of an eager
temperament for the reward desired and withheld for a year。 Such
sensations are only known once in a life。 The first woman to whom
a man is drawn； if she is really a womanthat is to say； if she
appears to him amid the splendid accessories that form a
necessary background to life in the world of Pariswill never
have a rival。
Love in Paris is a thing distinct and apart； for in Paris neither
men nor women are the dupes of the commonplaces by which people
seek to throw a veil over their motives； or to parade a fine
affectation of disinterestedness in their sentiments。 In this
country within a country； it is not merely required of a woman
that she should satisfy the senses and the soul； she knows
perfectly well that she has still greater obligations to
discharge； that she must fulfil the countless demands of a vanity
that enters into every fibre of that living organism called
society。 Love； for her； is above all things； and by its very
nature； a vainglorious； brazen…fronted； ostentatious； thriftless
charlatan。 If at the Court of Louis XIV。 there was not a woman
but envied Mlle。 de la Valliere the reckless devotion of passion
that led the grand monarch to tear the priceless ruffles at his
wrists in order to assist the entry of a Duc de Vermandois into
the worldwhat can you expect of the rest of society？ You must
have youth and wealth and rank； nay； you must； if possible； have
more than these； for the more incense you bring with you to burn
at the shrine of the god； the more favorably will he regard the
worshiper。 Love is a religion； and his cult must in the nature of
things be more costly than those of all other deities； Love the
Spoiler stays for a moment； and then passes on； like the urchin
of the streets； his course may be traced by the ravages that he
has made。 The wealth of feeling and imagination is the poetry of
the garret； how should love exist there without that wealth？
If there are exceptions who do not subscribe to these Draconian
laws of the Parisian code； they are solitary examples。 Such souls
live so far out of the main current that they are not borne away
by the doctrines of society； they dwell beside some clear spring
of everflowing water； without seeking to leave the green shade；
happy to listen to the echoes of the infinite in everything
around them and in their own souls； waiting in patience to take
their flight for heaven； while they look with pity upon those of
earth。
Rastignac； like most young men who have been early impressed by
the circumstances of power and grandeur； meant to enter the lists
fully armed； the burning ambition of conquest possessed him
already； perhaps he was conscious of his powers； but as yet he
knew neither the end to which his ambition was to be directed；
nor the means of attaining it。 In default of the pure and sacred
love that fills a life； ambition may become something very noble；
subduing to itself every thought of personal interest； and
setting as the endthe greatness； not of one man； but of a whole
nation。
But the student had not yet reached the time of life when a man
surveys the whole course of existence and judges it soberly。
Hitherto he had scarcely so mu