large gathering。 There were present some of the most distinguished
artists of the day： Leon de Lora； Joseph Bridau； Stidmann； and
Bixiou； the magnates of the War Office； of the Council of State；
and many members of the two Chambers； also the most distinguished
of the Polish exiles living in Paris： Counts Paz； Laginski； and
others。
〃Monsieur le Comte Wenceslas Steinbock is grandnephew to the
famous general who served under Charles XII。； King of Sweden。 The
young Count； having taken part in the Polish rebellion； found a
refuge in France； where his well…earned fame as a sculptor has
procured him a patent of naturalization。〃
And so； in spite of the Baron's cruel lack of money； nothing was
lacking that public opinion could require； not even the trumpeting of
the newspapers over his daughter's marriage； which was solemnized in
the same way； in every particular； as his son's had been to
Mademoiselle Crevel。 This display moderated the reports current as to
the Baron's financial position； while the fortune assigned to his
daughter explained the need for having borrowed money。
Here ends what is； in a way； the introduction to this story。 It is to
the drama that follows that the premise is to a syllogism； what the
prologue is to a classical tragedy。
In Paris； when a woman determines to make a business； a trade； of her
beauty； it does not follow that she will make a fortune。 Lovely
creatures may be found there； and full of wit； who are in wretched
circumstances； ending in misery a life begun in pleasure。 And this is
why。 It is not enough merely to accept the shameful life of a
courtesan with a view to earning its profits； and at the same time to
bear the simple garb of a respectable middle…class wife。 Vice does not
triumph so easily； it resembles genius in so far that they both need a
concurrence of favorable conditions to develop the coalition of
fortune and gifts。 Eliminate the strange prologue of the Revolution；
and the Emperor would never have existed； he would have been no more
than a second edition of Fabert。 Venal beauty； if it finds no
amateurs； no celebrity； no cross of dishonor earned by squandering
men's fortunes； is Correggio in a hay…loft； is genius starving in a
garret。 Lais； in Paris； must first and foremost find a rich man mad
enough to pay her price。 She must keep up a very elegant style； for
this is her shop…sign； she must be sufficiently well bred to flatter
the vanity of her lovers； she must have the brilliant wit of a Sophie
Arnould； which diverts the apathy of rich men； finally； she must
arouse the passions of libertines by appearing to be mistress to one
man only who is envied by the rest。
These conditions； which a woman of that class calls being in luck； are
difficult to combine in Paris； although it is a city of millionaires；
of idlers； of used…up and capricious men。
Providence has； no doubt； vouchsafed protection to clerks and middle…
class citizens； for whom obstacles of this kind are at least double in
the sphere in which they move。 At the same time； there are enough
Madame Marneffes in Paris to allow of our taking Valerie to figure as
a type in this picture of manners。 Some of these women yield to the
double pressure of a genuine passion and of hard necessity； like
Madame Colleville； who was for long attached to one of the famous
orators of the left； Keller the banker。 Others are spurred by vanity；
like Madame de la Baudraye； who remained almost respectable in spite
of her elopement with Lousteau。 Some； again； are led astray by the
love of fine clothes； and some by the impossibility of keeping a house
going on obviously too narrow means。 The stinginess of the Stateor
of Parliamentleads to many disasters and to much corruption。
At the present moment the laboring classes are the fashionable object
of compassion； they are being murderedit is saidby the
manufacturing capitalist； but the Government is a hundred times harder
than the meanest tradesman； it carries its economy in the article of
salaries to absolute folly。 If you work harder； the merchant will pay
you more in proportion； but what does the State do for its crowd of
obscure and devoted toilers？
In a married woman it is an inexcusable crime when she wanders from
the path of honor； still； there are degrees even in such a case。 Some
women； far from being depraved； conceal their fall and remain to all
appearances quite respectable； like those two just referred to； while
others add to their fault the disgrace of speculation。 Thus Madame
Marneffe is； as it were； the type of those ambitious married
courtesans who from the first accept depravity with all its
consequences； and determine to make a fortune while taking their
pleasure； perfectly unscrupulous as to the means。 But almost always a
woman like Madame Marneffe has a husband who is her confederate and
accomplice。 These Machiavellis in petticoats are the most dangerous of
the sisterhood； of every evil class of Parisian woman； they are the
worst。
A mere courtesana Josepha； a Malaga； a Madame Schontz； a Jenny
Cadinecarries in her frank dishonor a warning signal as conspicuous
as the red lamp of a house of ill…fame or the flaring lights of a
gambling hell。 A man knows that they light him to his ruin。
But mealy…mouthed propriety； the semblance of virtue； the hypocritical
ways of a married woman who never allows anything to be seen but the
vulgar needs of the household； and affects to refuse every kind of
extravagance； leads to silent ruin； dumb disaster； which is all the
more startling because； though condoned； it remains unaccounted for。
It is the ignoble bill of daily expenses and not gay dissipation that
devours the largest fortune。 The father of a family ruins himself
ingloriously； and the great consolation of gratified vanity is wanting
in his misery。
This little sermon will go like a javelin to the heart of many a home。
Madame Marneffes are to be seen in every sphere of social life； even
at Court； for Valerie is a melancholy fact； modeled from the life in
the smallest details。 And； alas！ the portrait will not cure any man of
the folly of loving these sweetly…smiling angels； with pensive looks
and candid faces； whose heart is a cash…box。
About three years after Hortense's marriage； in 1841； Baron Hulot
d'Ervy was supposed to have sown his wild oats； to have 〃put up his
horses；〃 to quote the expression used by Louis XV。's head surgeon； and
yet Madame Marneffe was costing him twice as much as Josepha had ever
cost him。 Still； Valerie； though always nicely dressed； affected the
simplicity of a subordinate official's wife； she kept her luxury for
her dressing…gowns； her home wear。 She thus sacrificed her Parisian
vanity to her dear Hector。 At the theatre； however； she always
appeared in a pretty bonnet and a dress of extreme elegance； and the
Baron took her in a carriage to a private box。
Her rooms； the whole of the second floor of a modern house in the Rue
Vanneau； between a fore…court and a garden； was redolent of
respectability。 All its luxury was in good chintz hangings and
handsome convenient furniture。
Her bedroom； indeed； was the exception； and rich with such profusion
as Jenny Cadine or Madame Schontz might have displayed。 There were
lace curtains； cashmere hangings； brocade portieres； a set of chimney
ornaments modeled by Stidmann； a glass cabinet filled with dainty
nicknacks。 Hulot could not bear to see his Valerie in a bower of
inferior magnificence to the dunghill of gold and pearls owned by a
Josepha。 The drawing…room was furnished with red damask； and the
dining…room had carved oak panels。 But the Baron； carried away by his
wish to have everything in keeping； had at the end of six months；
added solid luxury to mere fashion； and had given her handsome
portable property； as； for instance； a service of plate that was to
cost more than twenty…four thousand francs。
Madame Marneffe's house had in a couple of years achieved a reputation
for being a very pleasant one。 Gambling went on there。 Valerie herself
was soon spoken of as an agreeable and witty woman。 To account for her
change of style； a rumor was set going of an immense legacy bequeathed
to her by her 〃natural father；〃 Marshal Montcornet； and left in trust。
With an eye to the future； Valerie had added religious to social
hypocrisy。 Punctual at the Sunday services； she enjoyed all the honors
due to the pious。 She carried the bag for the offertory； she was a
member of a charitable association； presented bread for the sacrament；
and did some good among the poor； all at Hector's expense。 Thus
everything about the house was extremely seemly。 And a great many
persons maintained that her friendship with the Baron was entirely
innocent； supporting the view by the gentleman's mature age； and
ascribing to him a Platonic liking for Madame Marneffe's pleasant wit；
charming manners； and conversationsuch a liking as that of the late
lamented Louis XVIII。 for a well…turned note。
The Baron always withdrew with the other company at about midnight；
and came back a quarter of an hour later。
The secret of this secrecy was as follows。 The lodge…keepers of the
house were a Mo