the collection of antiquities-第13章
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current of the life of the time； for the life of a provincial town is certainly not in the main current of the age； Victurnien's true destiny lifted him above it。 He had learned to think of an action； not as it affected others； nor relatively； but absolutely from his own point of view。 Like despots； he made the law to suit the circumstance； a system which works in the lives of prodigal sons the same confusion which fancy brings into art。
Victurnien was quick…sighted； he saw clearly and without illusion； but he acted on impulse； and unwisely。 An indefinable flaw of character； often seen in young men； but impossible to explain； led him to will one thing and do another。 In spite of an active mind； which showed itself in unexpected ways； the senses had but to assert themselves； and the darkened brain seemed to exist no longer。 He might have astonished wise men； he was capable of setting fools agape。 His desires； like a sudden squall of bad weather； overclouded all the clear and lucid spaces of his brain in a moment； and then； after the dissipations which he could not resist； he sank； utterly exhausted in body； heart； and mind； into a collapsed condition bordering upon imbecility。 Such a character will drag a man down into the mire if he is left to himself； or bring him to the highest heights of political power if he has some stern friend to keep him in hand。 Neither Chesnel； nor the lad's father； nor Aunt Armande had fathomed the depths of a nature so nearly akin on many sides to the poetic temperament； yet smitten with a terrible weakness at its core。
By the time the old town lay several miles away； Victurnien felt not the slightest regret； he thought no more about the father； who had loved ten generations in his son； nor of the aunt； and her almost insane devotion。 He was looking forward to Paris with vehement ill… starred longings； in thought he had lived in that fairyland； it had been the background of his brightest dreams。 He imagined that he would be first in Paris； as he had been in the town and the department where his father's name was potent； but it was vanity； not pride； that filled his soul； and in his dreams his pleasures were to be magnified by all the greatness of Paris。 The distance was soon crossed。 The traveling coach； like his own thoughts； left the narrow horizon of the province for the vast world of the great city； without a break in the journey。 He stayed in the Rue de Richelieu； in a handsome hotel close to the boulevard； and hastened to take possession of Paris as a famished horse rushes into a meadow。
He was not long in finding out the difference between country and town； and was rather surprised than abashed by the change。 His mental quickness soon discovered how small an entity he was in the midst of this all…comprehending Babylon； how insane it would be to attempt to stem the torrent of new ideas and new ways。 A single incident was enough。 He delivered his father's letter of introduction to the Duc de Lenoncourt； a noble who stood high in favor with the King。 He saw the duke in his splendid mansion； among surroundings befitting his rank。 Next day he met him again。 This time the Peer of France was lounging on foot along the boulevard； just like any ordinary mortal； with an umbrella in his hand； he did not even wear the Blue Ribbon； without which no knight of the order could have appeared in public in other times。 And； duke and peer and first gentleman of the bedchamber though he was； M。 de Lenoncourt； in spite of his high courtesy； could not repress a smile as he read his relative's letter； and that smile told Victurnien that the Collection of Antiquities and the Tuileries were separated by more than sixty leagues of road； the distance of several centuries lay between them。
The names of the families grouped about the throne are quite different in each successive reign； and the characters change with the names。 It would seem that； in the sphere of court； the same thing happens over and over again in each generation； but each time there is a quite different set of personages。 If history did not prove that this is so； it would seem incredible。 The prominent men at the court of Louis XVIII。； for instance； had scarcely any connection with the Rivieres； Blacas； d'Avarays； Vitrolles； d'Autichamps； Pasquiers； Larochejaqueleins； Decazes； Dambrays； Laines； de Villeles； La Bourdonnayes； and others who shone at the court of Louis XV。 Compare the courtiers of Henri IV。 with those of Louis XIV。； you will hardly find five great families of the former time still in existence。 The nephew of the great Richelieu was a very insignificant person at the court of Louis XIV。； while His Majesty's favorite； Villeroi； was the grandson of a secretary ennobled by Charles IX。 And so it befell that the d'Esgrignons； all but princes under the Valois； and all…powerful in the time of Henri IV。； had no fortune whatever at the court of Louis XVIII。； which gave them not so much as a thought。 At this day there are names as famous as those of royal housesthe Foix…Graillys； for instance； or the d'Herouvillesleft to obscurity tantamount to extinction for want of money； the one power of the time。
All which things Victurnien beheld entirely from his own point of view； he felt the equality that he saw in Paris as a personal wrong。 The monster Equality was swallowing down the last fragments of social distinction in the Restoration。 Having made up his mind on this head； he immediately proceeded to try to win back his place with such dangerous； if blunted weapons； as the age left to the noblesse。 It is an expensive matter to gain the attention of Paris。 To this end； Victurnien adopted some of the ways then in vogue。 He felt that it was a necessity to have horses and fine carriages； and all the accessories of modern luxury； he felt； in short； 〃that a man must keep abreast of the times；〃 as de Marsay saidde Marsay； the first dandy that he came across in the first drawing…room to which he was introduced。 For his misfortune； he fell in with a set of roues； with de Marsay； de Ronquerolles； Maxime de Trailles； des Lupeaulx； Rastignac； Ajuda… Pinto； Beaudenord； de la Roche…Hugon； de Manerville； and the Vandenesses； whom he met wherever he went； and a great many houses were open to a young man with his ancient name and reputation for wealth。 He went to the Marquise d'Espard's； to the Duchesses de Grandlieu； de Carigliano； and de Chaulieu； to the Marquises d'Aiglemont and de Listomere； to Mme。 de Serizy's； to the Opera； to the embassies and elsewhere。 The Faubourg Saint…Germain has its provincial genealogies at its fingers' ends； a great name once recognized and adopted therein is a passport which opens many a door that will scarcely turn on its hinges for unknown names or the lions of a lower rank。
Victurnien found his relatives both amiable and ready to welcome him so long as he did not appear as a suppliant； he saw at once that the surest way of obtaining nothing was to ask for something。 At Paris； if the first impulse moves people to protect； second thoughts （which last a good deal longer） impel them to despise the protege。 Independence； vanity； and pride； all the young Count's better and worse feelings combined； led him； on the contrary； to assume an aggressive attitude。 And therefore the Ducs de Verneuil； de Lenoncourt； de Chaulieu； de Navarreins； d'Herouville； de Grandlieu； and de Maufrigneuse； the Princes de Cadignan and de Blamont…Chauvry； were delighted to present the charming survivor of the wreck of an ancient family at court。
Victurnien went to the Tuileries in a splendid carriage with his armorial bearings on the panels； but his presentation to His Majesty made it abundantly clear to him that the people occupied the royal mind so much that his nobility was like to be forgotten。 The restored dynasty； moreover； was surrounded by triple ranks of eligible old men and gray…headed courtiers； the young noblesse was reduced to a cipher； and this Victurnien guessed at once。 He saw that there was no suitable place for him at court； nor in the government； nor the army； nor； indeed； anywhere else。 So he launched out into the world of pleasure。 Introduced at the Elyess…Bourbon； at the Duchesse d'Angouleme's； at the Pavillon Marsan； he met on
