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in marriage； repulsion is almost certain and irreparable。 It may be
possible for a lover to make a woman reverse an unfavorable decision；
but such a change； my dear Paul； is the Waterloo of husbands。 Like
Napoleon； the husband is thenceforth condemned to victories which； in
spite of their number； do not prevent the first defeat from crushing
him。 The woman； so flattered by the perseverance； so delighted with
the ardor of a lover； calls the same things brutality in a husband。
You； who talk of marrying； and who will marry； have you ever meditated
on the Civil Code？ I myself have never muddied my feet in that hovel
of commentators； that garret of gossip； called the Law…school。 I have
never so much as opened the Code； but I see its application on the
vitals of society。 The Code； my dear Paul； makes woman a ward； it
considers her a child； a minor。 Now how must we govern children？ By
fear。 In that one word； Paul； is the curb of the beast。 Now； feel your
own pulse！ Have you the strength to play the tyrant；you； so gentle；
so kind a friend； so confiding； you； at whom I have laughed； but whom
I love； and love enough to reveal to you my science？ For this is
science。 Yes； it proceeds from a science which the Germans are already
calling Anthropology。 Ah！ if I had not already solved the mystery of
life by pleasure； if I had not a profound antipathy for those who
think instead of act； if I did not despise the ninnies who are silly
enough to believe in the truth of a book； when the sands of the
African deserts are made of the ashes of I know not how many unknown
and pulverized Londons； Romes； Venices； and Parises； I would write a
book on modern marriages made under the influence of the Christian
system； and I'd stick a lantern on that heap of sharp stones among
which lie the votaries of the social 'multiplicamini。' But the
question is； Does humanity require even an hour of my time？ And
besides； isn't the more reasonable use of ink that of snaring hearts
by writing love…letters？Well； shall you bring the Comtesse de
Manerville here； and let us see her？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said Paul。
〃We shall still be friends；〃 said de Marsay。
〃If〃 replied Paul。
〃Don't be uneasy； we will treat you politely； as Maison…Rouge treated
the English at Fontenoy。〃
CHAPTER II
THE PINK OF FASHION
Though the foregoing conversation affected the Comte de Manerville
somewhat； he made it a point of duty to carry out his intentions； and
he returned to Bordeaux during the winter of the year 1821。
The expenses he incurred in restoring and furnishing his family
mansion sustained the reputation for elegance which had preceded him。
Introduced through his former connections to the royalist society of
Bordeaux； to which he belonged as much by his personal opinions as by
his name and fortune； he soon obtained a fashionable pre…eminence。 His
knowledge of life； his manners； his Parisian acquirements enchanted
the Faubourg Saint…Germain of Bordeaux。 An old marquise made use of a
term formerly in vogue at court to express the flowery beauty of the
fops and beaux of the olden time； whose language and demeanor were
social laws： she called him 〃the pink of fashion。〃 The liberal clique
caught up the word and used it satirically as a nickname； while the
royalist party continued to employ it in good faith。
Paul de Manerville acquitted himself gloriously of the obligations
imposed by his flowery title。 It happened to him； as to many a
mediocre actor； that the day when the public granted him their full
attention he became； one may almost say； superior。 Feeling at his
ease； he displayed the fine qualities which accompanied his defects。
His wit had nothing sharp or bitter in it； his manners were not
supercilious； his intercourse with women expressed the respect they
like；it was neither too deferential； nor too familiar； his foppery
went no farther than a care for his personal appearance which made him
agreeable； he showed consideration for rank； he allowed young men a
certain freedom； to which his Parisian experience assigned due limits；
though skilful with sword and pistol； he was noted for a feminine
gentleness for which others were grateful。 His medium height and
plumpness （which had not yet increased into obesity； an obstacle to
personal elegance） did not prevent his outer man from playing the part
of a Bordelais Brummell。 A white skin tinged with the hues of health；
handsome hands and feet； blue eyes with long lashes； black hair；
graceful motions； a chest voice which kept to its middle tones and
vibrated in the listener's heart； harmonized well with his sobriquet。
Paul was indeed that delicate flower which needs such careful culture；
the qualities of which display themselves only in a moist and suitable
soil；a flower which rough treatment dwarfs； which the hot sun burns；
and a frost lays low。 He was one of those men made to receive
happiness； rather than to give it； who have something of the woman in
their nature； wishing to be divined； understood； encouraged； in short；
a man to whom conjugal love ought to come as a providence。
If such a character creates difficulties in private life； it is
gracious and full of attraction for the world。 Consequently； Paul had
great success in the narrow social circle of the provinces； where his
mind； always； so to speak； in half…tints； was better appreciated than
in Paris。
The arrangement of his house and the restoration of the chateau de
Lanstrac； where he introduced the comfort and luxury of an English
country…house； absorbed the capital saved by the notary during the
preceding six years。 Reduced now to his strict income of forty…odd
thousand a year； he thought himself wise and prudent in so regulating
his household as not to exceed it。
After publicly exhibiting his equipages； entertaining the most
distinguished young men of the place； and giving various hunting
parties on the estate at Lanstrac； Paul saw very plainly that
provincial life would never do without marriage。 Too young to employ
his time in miserly occupations； or in trying to interest himself in
the speculative improvements in which provincials sooner or later
engage （compelled thereto by the necessity of establishing their
children）； he soon felt the need of that variety of distractions a
habit of which becomes at last the very life of a Parisian。 A name to
preserve； property to transmit to heirs； social relations to be
created by a household where the principal families of the
neighborhood could assemble； and a weariness of all irregular
connections； were not； however； the determining reasons of his
matrimonial desires。 From the time he first returned to the provinces
he had been secretly in love with the queen of Bordeaux； the great
beauty； Mademoiselle Evangelista。
About the beginning of the century； a rich Spaniard； named
Evangelista； established himself in Bordeaux； where his letters of
recommendation； as well as his large