the muse of the department-第31章

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of　/Madame　la　Comtesse　de　la　Baudraye/。〃

〃It　is　true；　then；　that　our　insect　is　a　peer　of　France？〃

〃The　nomination　is　to　be　gazetted　in　this　evening's　/Moniteur/；　as　I
am　told　by　Monsieur　de　Clagny；　who　is　promoted　to　the　Court　of
Appeal。〃

〃Well；　it　is　quite　right；〃　said　the　journalist。　〃The　entomology　of
society　ought　to　be　represented　in　the　Upper　House。〃

〃My　friend；　we　are　parting　for　ever；〃　said　Madame　de　la　Baudraye；
trying　to　control　the　trembling　of　her　voice。　〃I　have　dismissed　the
two　servants。　When　you　go　in；　you　will　find　the　house　in　order；　and　no
debts。　I　shall　always　feel　a　mother's　affection　for　you；　but　in
secret。　Let　us　part　calmly；　without　a　fuss；　like　decent　people。

〃Have　you　had　a　fault　to　find　with　my　conduct　during　the　past　six
years？〃

〃None；　but　that　you　have　spoiled　my　life；　and　wrecked　my　prospects；〃
said　he　in　a　hard　tone。　〃You　have　read　Benjamin　Constant's　book　very
diligently；　you　have　even　studied　the　last　critique　on　it；　but　you
have　read　with　a　woman's　eyes。　Though　you　have　one　of　those　superior
intellects　which　would　make　a　fortune　of　a　poet；　you　have　never　dared
to　take　the　man's　point　of　view。

〃That　book；　my　dear；　is　of　both　sexes。We　agreed　that　books　were　male
or　female；　dark　or　fair。　In　/Adolphe/　women　see　nothing　but　Ellenore；
young　men　see　only　Adolphe；　men　of　experience　see　Ellenore　and
Adolphe；　political　men　see　the　whole　of　social　existence。　You　did　not
think　it　necessary　to　read　the　soul　of　Adolpheany　more　than　your
critic　indeed；　who　saw　only　Ellenore。　What　kills　that　poor　fellow；　my
dear；　is　that　he　has　sacrificed　his　future　for　a　woman；　that　he　never
can　be　what　he　might　have　beenan　ambassador；　a　minister；　a
chamberlain；　a　poetand　rich。　He　gives　up　six　years　of　his　energy　at
that　stage　of　his　life　when　a　man　is　ready　to　submit　to　the　hardships
of　any　apprenticeshipto　a　petticoat；　which　he　outstrips　in　the
career　of　ingratitude；　for　the　woman　who　has　thrown　over　her　first
lover　is　certain　sooner　or　later　to　desert　the　second。　Adolphe　is；　in
fact；　a　tow…haired　German；　who　has　not　spirit　enough　to　be　false　to
Ellenore。　There　are　Adolphes　who　spare　their　Ellenores　all　ignominious
quarreling　and　reproaches；　who　say　to　themselves；　'I　will　not　talk　of
what　I　have　sacrificed；　I　will　not　for　ever　be　showing　the　stump　of　my
wrist　to　let　that　incarnate　selfishness　I　have　made　my　queen；'　as
Ramorny　does　in　/The　Fair　Maid　of　Perth/。　But　men　like　that；　my　dear；
get　cast　aside。

〃Adolphe　is　a　man　of　birth；　an　aristocratic　nature；　who　wants　to　get
back　into　the　highroad　to　honors　and　recover　his　social　birthright；
his　blighted　position。You；　at　this　moment；　are　playing　both　parts。
You　are　suffering　from　the　pangs　of　having　lost　your　position；　and
think　yourself　justified　in　throwing　over　a　hapless　lover　whose
misfortune　it　has　been　that　he　fancied　you　so　far　superior　as　to
understand　that；　though　a　man's　heart　ought　to　be　true；　his　sex　may　be
allowed　to　indulge　its　caprices。〃

〃And　do　you　suppose　that　I　shall　not　make　it　my　business　to　restore　to
you　all　you　have　lost　by　me？　Be　quite　easy；〃　said　Madame　de　la
Baudraye；　astounded　by　this　attack。　〃Your　Ellenore　is　not　dying；　and
if　God　gives　her　life；　if　you　amend　your　ways；　if　you　give　up
courtesans　and　actresses；　we　will　find　you　a　better　match　than　a
Felicie　Cardot。〃

The　two　lovers　were　sullen。　Lousteau　affected　dejection；　he　aimed　at
appearing　hard　and　cold；　while　Dinah；　really　distressed；　listened　to
the　reproaches　of　her　heart。

〃Why；〃　said　Lousteau　presently；　〃why　not　end　as　we　ought　to　have　begun
hide　our　love　from　all　eyes；　and　see　each　other　in　secret？〃

〃Never！〃　cried　the　new…made　Countess；　with　an　icy　look。　〃Do　you　not
comprehend　that　we　are；　after　all；　but　finite　creatures？　Our　feelings
seem　infinite　by　reason　of　our　anticipation　of　heaven；　but　here　on
earth　they　are　limited　by　the　strength　of　our　physical　being。　There
are　some　feeble；　mean　natures　which　may　receive　an　endless　number　of
wounds　and　live　on；　but　there　are　some　more　highly…tempered　souls
which　snap　at　last　under　repeated　blows。　You　have〃

〃Oh！　enough！〃　cried　he。　〃No　more　copy！　Your　dissertation　is
unnecessary；　since　you　can　justify　yourself　by　merely　saying'I　have
ceased　to　love！'　〃

〃What！〃　she　exclaimed　in　bewilderment。　〃Is　it　I　who　have　ceased　to
love？〃

〃Certainly。　You　have　calculated　that　I　gave　you　more　trouble；　more
vexation　than　pleasure；　and　you　desert　your　partner〃

〃I　desert！〃　cried　she；　clasping　her　hands。

〃Have　not　you　yourself　just　said　'Never'？〃

〃Well；　then；　yes！　/Never/；〃　she　repeated　vehemently。

This　final　/Never/；　spoken　in　the　fear　of　falling　once　more　under
Lousteau's　influence；　was　interpreted　by　him　as　the　death…warrant　of
his　power；　since　Dinah　remained　insensible　to　his　sarcastic　scorn。

The　journalist　could　not　suppress　a　tear。　He　was　losing　a　sincere　and
unbounded　affection。　He　had　found　in　Dinah　the　gentlest　La　Valliere；
the　most　delightful　Pompadour　that　any　egoist　short　of　a　king　could
hope　for；　and；　like　a　boy　who　has　discovered　that　by　dint　of
tormenting　a　cockchafer　he　has　killed　it；　Lousteau　shed　a　tear。

Madame　de　la　Baudraye　rushed　out　of　the　private　room　where　they　had
been　dining；　paid　the　bill；　and　fled　home　to　the　Rue　de　l'Arcade；
scolding　herself　and　thinking　herself　a　brute。



Dinah；　who　had　made　her　house　a　model　of　comfort；　now　metamorphosed
herself。　This　double　metamorphosis　cost　thirty　thousand　francs　more
than　her　husband　had　anticipated。

The　fatal　accident　which　in　1842　deprived　the　House　of　Orleans　of　the
heir…presumptive　having　necessitated　a　meeting　of　the　Chambers　in
August　of　that　year；　little　La　Baudraye　came　to　present　his　titles　to
the　Upper　House　sooner　than　he　had　expected；　and　then　saw　what　his
wife　had　done。　He　was　so　much　delighted；　that　he　paid　the　thirty
thousand　francs　without　a　word；　just　as　he　had　formerly　paid　eight
thousand　for　decorating　La　Baudraye。

On　his　return　from　the　Luxembourg；　where　he　had　been　presented
according　to　custom　by　two　of　his　peersthe　Baron　de　Nucingen　and　the
Marquis　de　Montriveauthe　new　Count　met　the　old　Duc　de　Chaulieu；　a
former　creditor；　walking　along；　umbrella　in　hand；　while　he　himself　sat
perched　in　a　low　chaise　on　which　his　coat…of…arms　was　resplendent；
with　the　motto；　/Deo　sic　patet　fides　et　hominibus/。　This　contrast
filled　his　heart　with　a　large　draught　of　the　balm　on　which　the　middle
class　has　been　getting　drunk　ever　since　1840。

Madame　de　la　Baudraye　was　shocked　to　see　her　husband　improved　and
looking　better　than　on　the　day　of　his　marriage。　The　little　dwarf；　full
of　rapturous　delight；　at　sixty…four　triumphed　in　the　life　which　had　so
long　been　denied　him；　in　the　family；　which　his　handsome　cousin　Milaud
of　Nevers　had　declared　he　would　never　have；　and　in　his　wifewho　had
asked　Monsieur　and　Madame　de　Clagny　to　dinner　to　meet　the　cure　of　the
parish　and　his　two　sponsors　to　the　Chamber　of　Peers。　He　petted　the
children　with　fatuous　delight。

The　handsome　display　on　the　table　met　with　his　approval。

〃These　are　the　fleeces　of　the　Berry　sheep；〃　said　he；　showing　Monsieur
de　Nucingen　the　dish…covers　surmounted　by　his　newly…won　coronet。　〃They
are　of　silver；　you　see！〃

Though　consumed　by　melancholy；　which　she　concealed　with　the
determination　of　a　really　superior　woman；　Dinah　was　charming；　witty；
and　above　all；　young　again　in　her　court　mourning。

〃You　might　declare；〃　cried　La　Baudraye　to　Monsieur　de　Nucingen　with　a
wave　of　his　hand　to　his　wife；　〃that　the　Countess　was　not　yet　thirty。〃

〃Ah；　ha！　Matame　is　a　voman　of　dirty！〃　replied　the　baron；　who　was　prone
to　time…honored　remarks；　which　he　took　to　be　the　small　change　of
conversation。

〃In　every　sense　of　the　words；〃　replied　the　Countess。　〃I　am；　in　fact；
five…and…thirty；　and　mean　to　set　up　a　little　passion〃

〃Oh；　yes；　my　wife　ruins　me　in　curiosities　and　china　images〃

〃She　started　that　mania　at　an　early　age；〃　said　the　Marquis　de
Montriveau　with　a　smile。

〃Yes；〃　said　La　Baudraye；　with　a　cold　stare　at　the　Marquis；　whom　he　had
known　at　Bourges；　〃you　know　that　in　'25；　'26；　and　'27；　she　picked　a
million　francs'　worth　of　treasures。　Anzy　is　a　perfect　museum。〃

〃What　a　cool　hand！〃　thought　Monsieur　de　Clagny；　as　he　saw　this　little
country　miser　quite　on　the　level　of　his　new　position。

But　misers　have　savings　of　all　kinds　ready　for　use。

On　the　day　after　the　vote　on　the　Regency　had　passed　the　Chambers；　the
little　Count　went　back　to　Sancerre　for　the　vintage　and　resumed　his　old
habits。

In　the　course　of　that　winter；　the　Comtesse　de　la　Baudraye；　with　the
support　of　the　Attorney…General　to　the　Court　of　Appeals；　tried　to　form
a　little　circle。　Of　course；　she　had　an　〃at　home〃　day；　she　made　a
selection　among　men　of　mark；　receiving　none　but　those　of　serious
purpose　and　ripe　years。　She　tried　to　amuse　herself　by　going　to　the
Opera；　French　and　Italian。　Twice　a　week　she　appeared　there　with　her
mother　and　Madame　de　Clagny；　who　was　made　by　her　husband　to　visit
Dinah。　Still；　in　spite　of　her　cleverness；　her　charming　manners；　her
fashionable　stylishness；　she　was　never　really　happy　but　with　her
children；　on　whom　she　lavished　all　her　disappointed　affection。

Worthy　Monsieur　de　Clagny　tried　to　recruit　women　for　the　Countess'
circle；　and　he　succeeded；　but　he　was　more　successful　among　the
advocates　of　piety　than　the　women　of　fashion。

〃And　they　bore　her！〃　said　he　to　himself　with　horror；　as　he　saw　his
idol　matured　by　grief；　pale　from　remorse；　and　then；　in　all　the
splendor　of　recovered　beauty；　restored　by　a　life　of　luxury　and　care
for　her　boys。　This　devoted　friend；　encouraged　in　his　efforts　by　her
mother　and　by　the　cure　was　full　of　expedient。　Every　Wednesday　he
introduced　some　celebrity　from　Germany；　England；　Italy；　or　Prussia　to
his　dear　Countess；　he　spoke　of　her　as　a　quite　exceptional　woman　to
people　to　whom　she　hardly　addressed　two　words；　but　she　listened　to
them　with　such　deep　attention　that　they　went　away　fully　convinced　of
her　superiority。　In　Paris；　Dinah　conquered　by　silence；　as　at　Sancerre
she　had　conquered　by　loquacity。　Now　and　then；　some　smart　saying　about
affairs；　or　sarcasm　on　an　absurdity；　betrayed　a　woman　accustomed　to
deal　with　ideasthe　woman　who；　four　years　since；　had　given　new　life
to　Lousteau's　articles。

This　phase　was　to　the　poor　lawyer's　hapless　passion　like　the　late
season　known　as　the　Indian　summer　after　a　sunless　year。　He　affected　to
be　older　than　he　was；　to　have　the　right　to　befriend　Dinah　without
doing　her　an　injury；　and　kept　himself　at　a　distance　as　though　he　were
young；　handsome；　and　compromising；　like　a　man　who　has　happiness　to
conceal。　He　tried　to　keep　his　little　attentions　a　profound　secret；　and
the　trifling　gifts　which　Dinah　showed　to　every　one；　he　endeavored　to
suggest　a　dangerous　meaning　for　his　little　services。

〃He　plays　at　passion；〃　said　the　Countess；　laughing。　She　made　fun　of
Monsieur　de　Clagny　to　his　face；　and　the　lawyer　said；　〃She　notices　me。〃

〃I　impress　that　poor　man　so　deeply；〃　said　she　to　her　mother；　laughing；
〃that　if　I　would　say　Yes；　I　believe　he　would　say　No。〃

One　evening　Monsieur　de　Clagny　and　his　wife　were　taking　his　dear
Countess　home　from　the　theatre；　and　she　was　deeply　pensive。　They　had
been　to　the　first　performance　o