the collection of antiquities-第16章
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scern through a pane of glass in a little street in Genoa。
A more chaste…eyed madonna than Piola's does not exist but compared with Mme。 de Maufrigneuse； that heavenly creature was a Messalina。 Women wondered among themselves how such a giddy young thing had been transformed by a change of dress into the fair veiled seraph who seemed （to use an expression now in vogue） to have a soul as white as new fallen snow on the highest Alpine crests。 How had she solved in such short space the Jesuitical problem how to display a bosom whiter than her soul by hiding it in gauze？ How could she look so ethereal while her eyes drooped so murderously？ Those almost wanton glances seemed to give promise of untold languorous delight； while by an ascetic's sigh of aspiration after a better life the mouth appeared to add that none of those promises would be fulfilled。 Ingenuous youths （for there were a few to be found in the Guards of that day） privately wondered whether； in the most intimate moments； it were possible to speak familiarly to this White Lady； this starry vapor slidden down from the Milky Way。 This system； which answered completely for some years at a stretch； was turned to good account by women of fashion； whose breasts were lined with a stout philosophy； for they could cloak no inconsiderable exactions with these little airs from the sacristy。 Not one of the celestial creatures but was quite well aware of the possibilities of less ethereal love which lay in the longing of every well…conditioned male to recall such beings to earth。 It was a fashion which permitted them to abide in a semi…religious； semi…Ossianic empyrean； they could； and did； ignore all the practical details of daily life； a short and easy method of disposing of many questions。 De Marsay； foreseeing the future developments of the system； added a last word； for he saw that Rastignac was jealous of Victurnien。
〃My boy；〃 said he； 〃stay as you are。 Our Nucingen will make your fortune； whereas the Duchess would ruin you。 She is too expensive。〃
Rastignac allowed de Marsay to go without asking further questions。 He knew Paris。 He knew that the most refined and noble and disinterested of womena woman who cannot be induced to accept anything but a bouquetcan be as dangerous an acquaintance for a young man as any opera girl of former days。 As a matter of fact； the opera girl is an almost mythical being。 As things are now at the theatres； dancers and actresses are about as amusing as a declaration of the rights of woman； they are puppets that go abroad in the morning in the character of respected and respectable mothers of families； and act men's parts in tight…fitting garments at night。
Worthy M。 Chesnel； in his country notary's office； was right； he had foreseen one of the reefs on which the Count might shipwreck。 Victurnien was dazzled by the poetic aureole which Mme。 de Maufrigneuse chose to assume； he was chained and padlocked from the first hour in her company； bound captive by that girlish sash； and caught by the curls twined round fairy fingers。 Far corrupted the boy was already； but he really believed in that farrago of maidenliness and muslin； in sweet looks as much studied as an Act of Parliament。 And if the one man； who is in duty bound to believe in feminine fibs； is deceived by them； is not that enough？
For a pair of lovers； the rest of their species are about as much alive as figures on the tapestry。 The Duchess； flattery apart； was avowedly and admittedly one of the ten handsomest women in society。 〃The loveliest woman in Paris〃 is； as you know； as often met with in the world of love…making as 〃the finest book that has appeared in this generation；〃 in the world of letters。
The converse which Victurnien held with the Duchess can be kept up at his age without too great a strain。 He was young enough and ignorant enough of life in Paris to feel no necessity to be upon his guard； no need to keep a watch over his lightest words and glances。 The religious sentimentalism； which finds a broadly humorous commentary in the after…thoughts of either speaker； puts the old…world French chat of men and women； with its pleasant familiarity； its lively ease； quite out of the question； they make love in a mist nowadays。
Victurnien was just sufficient of an unsophisticated provincial to remain suspended in a highly appropriate and unfeigned rapture which pleased the Duchess； for women are no more to be deceived by the comedies which men play than by their own。 Mme。 de Maufrigneuse calculated； not without dismay； that the young Count's infatuation was likely to hold good for six whole months of disinterested love。 She looked so lovely in this dove's mood； quenching the light in her eyes by the golden fringe of their lashes； that when the Marquise d'Espard bade her friend good…night； she whispered； 〃Good！ very good； dear！〃 And with those farewell words； the fair Marquise left her rival to make the tour of the modern Pays du Tendre； which； by the way； is not so absurd a conception as some appear to think。 New maps of the country are engraved for each generation； and if the names of the routes are different； they still lead to the same capital city。
In the course of an hour's tete…a…tete； on a corner sofa； under the eyes of the world； the Duchess brought young d'Esgrignon as far as Scipio's Generosity； the Devotion of Amadis； and Chivalrous Self… abnegation （for the Middle Ages were just coming into fashion； with their daggers； machicolations； hauberks； chain…mail； peaked shoes； and romantic painted card…board properties）。 She had an admirable turn； moreover； for leaving things unsaid； for leaving ideas in a discreet； seeming careless way； to work their way down； one by one； into Victurnien's heart； like needles into a cushion。 She possessed a marvelous skill in reticence； she was charming in hypocrisy； lavish of subtle promises； which revived hope and then melted away like ice in the sun if you looked at them closely； and most treacherous in the desire which she felt and inspired。 At the close of this charming encounter she produced the running noose of an invitation to call； and flung it over him with a dainty demureness which the printed page can never set forth。
〃You will forget me；〃 she said。 〃You will find so many women eager to pay court to you instead of enlightening you。 。 。 。 But you will come back to me undeceived。 Are you coming to me first？ 。 。 。 No。 As you will。For my own part； I tell you frankly that your visits will be a great pleasure to me。 People of soul are so rare； and I think that you are one of them。Come； good…bye； people will begin to talk about us if we talk together any longer。〃
She made good her words and took flight。 Victurnien went soon afterwards； but not before others had guessed his ecstatic condition； his face wore the expression peculiar to happy men； something between an Inquisitor's calm discretion and the self…contained beatitude of a devotee； fresh from the confessional and absolution。
〃Mme。 de Maufrigneuse went pretty briskly to the point this evening；〃 said the Duchesse de Grandlieu； when only half…a…dozen persons were left in Mlle。 des Touches' little drawing…roomto wit； des Lupeaulx； a Master of Requests； who at that time stood very well at court； Vandenesse； the Vicomtesse de Grandlieu； Canalis； and Mme。 de Serizy。
〃D'Esgrignon and Maufrigneuse are two names that are sure to cling together；〃 said Mme。 de Serizy； who aspired to epigram。
〃For some days past she has been out at grass on Platonism；〃 said des Lupeaulx。
〃She will ruin that poor innocent；〃 added Charles de Vandenesse。
〃What do you mean？〃 asked Mlle。 des Touches。
〃Oh； morally and financially； beyond all doubt；〃 said the Vicomtesse； rising。
The cruel words were cruelly true for young d'Esgrignon。
Next morning he wrote to his aunt describing his introduction into the high world of the Faubourg Saint…Germain in bright colors flung by the prism of love； explaining the reception which met him everywhere in a way which gratified his father's family pride。 The Marquis would have the whole long letter read to him twice； he rubbed his hands when he heard of the Vidame de Pamiers' dinnerthe Vidame was an old acquaintanceand of the subsequent introd
