the girl with the golden eyes-第7章

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nonsense。　As　for　the　servants；　don't　hope　to　get　aught　out　of　them；　I
think　they　are　mutes；　no　one　in　the　neighborhood　knows　the　color　of
their　speech；　I　don't　know　what　wages　they　can　pay　them　to　keep　them
from　talk　and　drink；　the　fact　is；　they　are　not　to　be　got　at；　whether
because　they　are　afraid　of　being　shot；　or　that　they　have　some　enormous
sum　to　lose　in　the　case　of　an　indiscretion。　If　your　master　is　fond
enough　of　Mademoiselle　Paquita　Valdes　to　surmount　all　these　obstacles；
he　certainly　won't　triumph　over　Dona　Concha　Marialva；　the　duenna　who
accompanies　her　and　would　put　her　under　her　petticoats　sooner　than
leave　her。　The　two　women　look　as　if　they　were　sewn　to　one　another。〃

〃All　that　you　say；　worthy　postman；〃　went　on　Laurent；　after　having
drunk　off　his　wine；　〃confirms　me　in　what　I　have　learned　before。　Upon
my　word；　I　thought　they　were　making　fun　of　me！　The　fruiterer　opposite
told　me　that　of　nights　they　let　loose　dogs　whose　food　is　hung　up　on
stakes　just　out　of　their　reach。　These　cursed　animals　think；　therefore；
that　any　one　likely　to　come　in　has　designs　on　their　victuals；　and
would　tear　one　to　pieces。　You　will　tell　me　one　might　throw　them　down
pieces；　but　it　seems　they　have　been　trained　to　touch　nothing　except
from　the　hand　of　the　porter。〃

〃The　porter　of　the　Baron　de　Nucingen；　whose　garden　joins　at　the　top
that　of　the　Hotel　San…Real；　told　me　the　same　thing；〃　replied　the
postman。

〃Good！　my　master　knows　him；〃　said　Laurent；　to　himself。　〃Do　you　know；〃
he　went　on；　leering　at　the　postman；　〃I　serve　a　master　who　is　a　rare
man；　and　if　he　took　it　into　his　head　to　kiss　the　sole　of　the　foot　of
an　empress；　she　would　have　to　give　in　to　him。　If　he　had　need　of　you；
which　is　what　I　wish　for　you；　for　he　is　generous；　could　one　count　on
you？〃

〃Lord；　Monsieur　Laurent；　my　name　is　Moinot。　My　name　is　written　exactly
like　/Moineau/；　magpie：　M…o…i…n…o…t；　Moinot。〃

〃Exactly；〃　said　Laurent。

〃I　live　at　No。　11；　Rue　des　Trois　Freres；　on　the　fifth　floor；〃　went　on
Moinot；　〃I　have　a　wife　and　four　children。　If　what　you　want　of　me
doesn't　transgress　the　limits　of　my　conscience　and　my　official　duties；
you　understand！　I　am　your　man。〃

〃You　are　an　honest　fellow；〃　said　Laurent；　shaking　his　hand。　。　。　。

〃Paquita　Valdes　is；　no　doubt；　the　mistress　of　the　Marquis　de　San…Real；
the　friend　of　King　Ferdinand。　Only　an　old　Spanish　mummy　of　eighty
years　is　capable　of　taking　such　precautions；〃　said　Henri；　when　his
/valet　de　chambre/　had　related　the　result　of　his　researches。

〃Monsieur；〃　said　Laurent；　〃unless　he　takes　a　balloon　no　one　can　get
into　that　hotel。〃

〃You　are　a　fool！　Is　it　necessary　to　get　into　the　hotel　to　have
Paquita；　when　Paquita　can　get　out　of　it？〃

〃But；　sir；　the　duenna？〃

〃We　will　shut　her　up　for　a　day　or　two；　your　duenna。〃

〃So；　we　shall　have　Paquita！〃　said　Laurent；　rubbing　his　hands。

〃Rascal！〃　answered　Henri；　〃I　shall　condemn　you　to　the　Concha；　if　you
carry　your　impudence　so　far　as　to　speak　so　of　a　woman　before　she　has
become　mine。　。　。　。　Turn　your　thoughts　to　dressing　me；　I　am　going　out。〃

Henri　remained　for　a　moment　plunged　in　joyous　reflections。　Let　us　say
it　to　the　praise　of　women；　he　obtained　all　those　whom　he　deigned　to
desire。　And　what　could　one　think　of　a　woman；　having　no　lover；　who
should　have　known　how　to　resist　a　young　man　armed　with　beauty　which　is
the　intelligence　of　the　body；　with　intelligence　which　is　a　grace　of
the　soul；　armed　with　moral　force　and　fortune；　which　are　the　only　two
real　powers？　Yet；　in　triumphing　with　such　ease；　De　Marsay　was　bound　to
grow　weary　of　his　triumphs；　thus；　for　about　two　years　he　had　grown
very　weary　indeed。　And　diving　deep　into　the　sea　of　pleasures　he
brought　back　more　grit　than　pearls。　Thus　had　he　come；　like　potentates；
to　implore　of　Chance　some　obstacle　to　surmount；　some　enterprise　which
should　ask　the　employment　of　his　dormant　moral　and　physical　strength。
Although　Paquita　Valdes　presented　him　with　a　marvelous　concentration
of　perfections　which　he　had　only　yet　enjoyed　in　detail；　the　attraction
of　passion　was　almost　/nil/　with　him。　Constant　satiety　had　weakened　in
his　heart　the　sentiment　of　love。　Like　old　men　and　people
disillusioned；　he　had　no　longer　anything　but　extravagant　caprices；
ruinous　tastes；　fantasies；　which；　once　satisfied；　left　no　pleasant
memory　in　his　heart。　Amongst　young　people　love　is　the　finest　of　the
emotions；　it　makes　the　life　of　the　soul　blossom；　it　nourishes　by　its
solar　power　the　finest　inspirations　and　their　great　thoughts；　the
first　fruits　in　all　things　have　a　delicious　savor。　Amongst　men　love
becomes　a　passion；　strength　leads　to　abuse。　Amongst　old　men　it　turns
to　vice；　impotence　tends　to　extremes。　Henri　was　at　once　an　old　man；　a
man；　and　a　youth。　To　afford　him　the　feelings　of　a　real　love；　he　needed
like　Lovelace；　a　Clarissa　Harlowe。　Without　the　magic　lustre　of　that
unattainable　pearl　he　could　only　have　either　passions　rendered　acute
by　some　Parisian　vanity；　or　set　determinations　with　himself　to　bring
such　and　such　a　woman　to　such　and　such　a　point　of　corruption；　or　else
adventures　which　stimulated　his　curiosity。

The　report　of　Laurent；　his　/valet　de　chambre/　had　just　given　an
enormous　value　to　the　girl　with　the　golden　eyes。　It　was　a　question　of
doing　battle　with　some　secret　enemy　who　seemed　as　dangerous　as　he　was
cunning；　and　to　carry　off　the　victory；　all　the　forces　which　Henri
could　dispose　of　would　be　useful。　He　was　about　to　play　in　that　eternal
old　comedy　which　will　be　always　fresh；　and　the　characters　in　which　are
an　old　man；　a　young　girl；　and　a　lover：　Don　Hijos；　Paquita；　De　Marsay。
If　Laurent　was　the　equal　of　Figaro；　the　duenna　seemed　incorruptible。
Thus；　the　living　play　was　supplied　by　Chance　with　a　stronger　plot　than
it　had　ever　been　by　dramatic　author！　But　then　is　not　Chance　too；　a　man
of　genius？

〃It　must　be　a　cautious　game；〃　said　Henri；　to　himself。

〃Well；〃　said　Paul　de　Manerville；　as　he　entered　the　room。　〃How　are　we
getting　on？　I　have　come　to　breakfast　with　you。〃

〃So　be　it；〃　said　Henri。　〃You　won't　be　shocked　if　I　make　my　toilette
before　you？〃

〃How　absurd！〃

〃We　take　so　many　things　from　the　English　just　now　that　we　might　well
become　as　great　prudes　and　hypocrites　as　themselves；〃　said　Henri。

Laurent　had　set　before　his　master　such　a　quantity　of　utensils；　so　many
different　articles　of　such　elegance；　that　Paul　could　not　refrain　from
saying：

〃But　you　will　take　a　couple　of　hours　over　that？〃

〃No！〃　said　Henri；　〃two　hours　and　a　half。〃

〃Well；　then；　since　we　are　by　ourselves；　and　can　say　what　we　like；
explain　to　me　why　a　man　as　superior　as　yourselffor　you　are　superior
should　affect　to　exaggerate　a　foppery　which　cannot　be　natural。　Why
spend　two　hours　and　a　half　in　adorning　yourself；　when　it　is　sufficient
to　spend　a　quarter　of　an　hour　in　your　bath；　to　do　your　hair　in　two
minutes；　and　to　dress！　There；　tell　me　your　system。〃

〃I　must　be　very　fond　of　you；　my　good　dunce；　to　confide　such　high
thoughts　to　you；〃　said　the　young　man；　who　was　at　that　moment　having
his　feet　rubbed　with　a　soft　brush　lathered　with　English　soap。

〃Have　I　not　the　most　devoted　attachment　to　you；〃　replied　Paul　de
Manerville；　〃and　do　I　not　like　you　because　I　know　your
superiority？　。　。　。〃

〃You　must　have　noticed；　if　you　are　in　the　least　capable　of　observing
any　moral　fact；　that　women　love　fops；〃　went　on　De　Marsay；　without
replying　in　any　way　to　Paul's　declaration　except　by　a　look。　〃Do　you
know　why　women　love　fops？　My　friend；　fops　are　the　only　men　who　take
care　of　themselves。　Now；　to　take　excessive　care　of　oneself；　does　it
not　imply　that　one　takes　care　in　oneself　of　what　belongs　to　another？
The　man　who　does　not　belong　to　himself　is　precisely　the　man　on　whom
women　are　keen。　Love　is　essentially　a　thief。　I　say　nothing　about　that
excess　of　niceness　to　which　they　are　so　devoted。　Do　you　know　of　any
woman　who　has　had　a　passion　for　a　sloven；　even　if　he　were　a　remarkable
man？　If　such　a　fact　has　occurred；　we　must　put　it　to　the　account　of
those　morbid　affections　of　the　breeding　woman；　mad　fancies　which　float
through　the　minds　of　everybody。　On　the　other　hand；　I　have　seen　most
remarkable　people　left　in　the　lurch　because　of　their　carelessness。　A
fop；　who　is　concerned　about　his　person；　is　concerned　with　folly；　with
petty　things。　And　what　is　a　woman？　A　petty　thing；　a　bundle　of　follies。
With　two　words　said　to　the　winds；　can　you　not　make　her　busy　for　four
hours？　She　is　sure　that　the　fop　will　be　occupied　with　her；　seeing　that
he　has　no　mind　for　great　things。　She　will　never　be　neglected　for
glory；　ambition；　politics；　artthose　prostitutes　who　for　her　are
rivals。　Then　fops　have　the　courage　to　cover　themselves　with　ridicule
in　order　to　please　a　woman；　and　her　heart　is　full　of　gratitude　towards
the　man　who　is　ridiculous　for　love。　In　fine；　a　fop　can　be　no　fop
unless　he　is　right　in　being　one。　It　is　women　who　bestow　that　rank。　The
fop　is　love's　colonel；　he　has　his　victories；　his　regiment　of　women　at
his　command。　My　dear　fellow；　in　Paris　everything　is　known；　and　a　man
cannot　be　a　fop　there　/gratis/。　You；　who　have　only　one　woman；　and　who；
perhaps；　are　right　to　have　but　one；　try　to　act　the　fop！　。　。　。　You　will
not　even　become　ridiculous；　you　will　be　dead。　You　will　become　a
foregone　conclusion；　one　of　those　men　condemned　inevitably　to　do　one
and　the　same　thing。　You　will　come　to　signify　/folly/　as　inseparably　as
M。　de　La　Fayette　signifies　/America/；　M。　de　Talleyrand；　/diplomacy/；
Desaugiers；　/song/；　M。　de　Segur；　/romance/。　If　they　once　forsake　their
own　line　people　no　longer　attach　any　value　to　what　they　do。　So；
foppery；　my　friend　Paul；　is　the　sign　of　an　incontestable　power　over
the　female　folk。　A　man　who　is　loved　by　many　women　passes　for　having
superior　qualities；　and　then；　poor　fellow；　it　is　a　question　who　shall
have　him！　But　do　you　think　it　is　nothing　to　have　the　right　of　going
into　a　drawing…room；　of　looking　down　at　people　from　over　your　cravat；
or　through　your　eye…glass；　and　of　despising　the　most　superior　of　men
should　he　wear　an　old…fashioned　waistcoat？　。　。　。　Laurent；　you　are
hurting　me！　After　breakfast；　Paul；　we　will　go　to　the　Tuileries　and　see
the　adorable　girl　with　the　golden　eyes。〃

When；　after　making　an　excellent　meal；　the　two　young　men　had　traversed
the　Terrasse　de　Feuillants　and　the　broad　walk　of　the　Tuileries；　they
nowhere　discovered　the　sublime　Paquita　Valdes；　on　whose　account　some
fifty　of　the　most　elegant　young　men　in　Paris　where　to　be　seen；　all
scented；　with　their　high　scarfs；　spurred　and　booted；　riding；　walking；
talking；　laughing；　and　damning　themselves　mightily。

〃It's　a　white　Mass；〃　said　Henri；　〃but　I　have　the　most　excellent　idea
in　the　world。　This　girl　receives　letters　from　London。　The　postman　must
be　bought　or　made　drunk；　a　letter　opened；　read　of　course；　and　a　love…
letter　slipped　in　before　it　is　sealed　up　again。　The　old　tyrant；
/crudel　tirano/；　is　certain　to　know　the　person　who　writes　the　letters
from　London；　and　has　ceased　to　be　suspicious　of　them。〃

The　day　after；　De　Marsay　came　again　to　walk　on　the　Terrasse　des
Feuillants；　and　saw　Paquita　Valdes；　already　passion　had　embellished
her　for　him。　Seriously；　he　was　wild　for　those　eyes；　whose　rays　seemed
akin　to　those　which　the　sun　emits；　and　whose　ardor　set　the　seal　upon
that　of　her　perfect　body；　i