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that； she is in Madame de Serizy's set； and visits Mesdames de
Nucingen and de Restaud。 There is no cloud over her here in France；
the Duchesse de Carigliano； the most…strait…laced marechale in the
whole Bonapartist coterie； often goes to spend the summer with her at
her country house。 Plenty of young fops； sons of peers of France； have
offered her a title in exchange for her fortune； and she has politely
declined them all。 Her susceptibilities； maybe； are not to be touched
by anything less than a count。 Aren't you a marquis？ Go ahead if you
fancy her。 This is what you may call receiving your instructions。'
〃His raillery made me think that Rastignac wished to joke and excite
my curiosity； so that I was in a paroxysm of my extemporized passion
by the time that we stopped before a peristyle full of flowers。 My
heart beat and my color rose as we went up the great carpeted
staircase； and I noticed about me all the studied refinements of
English comfort； I was infatuatedly bourgeois； I forgot my origin and
all my personal and family pride。 Alas！ I had but just left a garret；
after three years of poverty； and I could not just then set the
treasures there acquired above such trifles as these。 Nor could I
rightly estimate the worth of the vast intellectual capital which
turns to riches at the moment when opportunity comes within our reach；
opportunity that does not overwhelm； because study has prepared us for
the struggles of public life。
〃I found a woman of about twenty…two years of age； she was of average
height； was dressed in white； and held a feather fire…screen in her
hand； a group of men stood around her。 She rose at the sight of
Rastignac； and came towards us with a gracious smile and a musically…
uttered compliment； prepared no doubt beforehand； for me。 Our friend
had spoken of me as a rising man； and his clever way of making the
most of me had procured me this flattering reception。 I was confused
by the attention that every one paid to me； but Rastignac had luckily
mentioned my modesty。 I was brought in contact with scholars； men of
letters； ex…ministers； and peers of France。 The conversation；
interrupted a while by my coming； was resumed。 I took courage； feeling
that I had a reputation to maintain； and without abusing my privilege；
I spoke when it fell to me to speak； trying to state the questions at
issue in words more or less profound； witty or trenchant； and I made a
certain sensation。 Rastignac was a prophet for the thousandth time in
his life。 As soon as the gathering was large enough to restore freedom
to individuals； he took my arm； and we went round the rooms。
〃 'Don't look as if you were too much struck by the princess；' he
said； 'or she will guess your object in coming to visit her。'
〃The rooms were furnished in excellent taste。 Each apartment had a
character of its own； as in wealthy English houses； and the silken
hangings； the style of the furniture； and the ornaments； even the most
trifling； were all subordinated to the original idea。 In a gothic
boudoir the doors were concealed by tapestried curtains； and the
paneling by hangings； the clock and the pattern of the carpet were
made to harmonize with the gothic surroundings。 The ceiling； with its
carved cross…beams of brown wood； was full of charm and originality；
the panels were beautifully wrought； nothing disturbed the general
harmony of the scheme of decoration； not even the windows with their
rich colored glass。 I was surprised by the extensive knowledge of
decoration that some artist had brought to bear on a little modern
room； it was so pleasant and fresh； and not heavy； but subdued with
its dead gold hues。 It had all the vague sentiment of a German ballad；
it was a retreat fit for some romance of 1827； perfumed by the exotic
flowers set in their stands。 Another apartment in the suite was a
gilded reproduction of the Louis Quatorze period； with modern
paintings on the walls in odd but pleasant contrast。
〃 'You would not be so badly lodged；' was Rastignac's slightly
sarcastic comment。 'It is captivating； isn't it？' he added； smiling as
he sat down。 Then suddenly he rose； and led me by the hand into a
bedroom； where the softened light fell upon the bed under its canopy
of muslin and white watered silka couch for a young fairy betrothed
to one of the genii。
〃 'Isn't it wantonly bad taste； insolent and unbounded coquetry；' he
said； lowering his voice； 'that allows us to see this throne of love？
She gives herself to no one； and anybody may leave his card here。 If I
were not committed； I should like to see her at my feet all tears and
submission。'
〃 'Are you so certain of her virtue？'
〃 'The boldest and even the cleverest adventurers among us；
acknowledge themselves defeated； and continue to be her lovers and
devoted friends。 Isn't that woman a puzzle？'
〃His words seemed to intoxicate me； I had jealous fears already of the
past。 I leapt for joy； and hurried back to the countess； whom I had
seen in the gothic boudoir。 She stopped me by a smile； made me sit
beside her； and talked about my work； seeming to take the greatest
interest in it； and all the more when I set forth my theories
amusingly； instead of adopting the formal language of a professor for
their explanation。 It seemed to divert her to be told that the human
will was a material force like steam； that in the moral world nothing
could resist its power if a man taught himself to concentrate it； to
economize it； and to project continually its fluid mass in given
directions upon other souls。 Such a man； I said； could modify all
things relatively to man； even the peremptory laws of nature。 The
questions Foedora raised showed a certain keenness of intellect。 I
took a pleasure in deciding some of them in her favor； in order to
flatter her； then I confuted her feminine reasoning with a word； and
roused her curiosity by drawing her attention to an everyday matter
to sleep； a thing so apparently commonplace； that in reality is an
insoluble problem for science。 The countess sat in silence for a
moment when I told her that our ideas were complete organic beings；
existing in an invisible world； and influencing our destinies； and for
witnesses I cited the opinions of Descartes； Diderot； and Napoleon；
who had directed； and still directed； all the currents of the age。
〃So I had the honor of amusing this woman； who asked me to come to see
her when she left me； giving me les grande entrees； in the language of
the court。 Whether it was by dint of substituting polite formulas for
genuine expressions of feeling； a commendable habit of mine； or
because Foedora hailed in me a coming celebrity； an addition to her
learned menagerie； for some reason I thought that I had pleased her。 I
called all my previous physiological studies and knowledge of woman to
my aid； and minutely scrutinized this singular person and her ways all
evening。 I concealed myself in the embrasure of a window； and sought
to discover her thoughts from her bearing。 I studied the tactics of
the mistress of the house； as she came and went； sat and chatted；
beckoned to this one or that； asked questions； listened to the
answers； as she leaned