mentioned my modesty。 I was brought in contact with scholars； men of
letters； ex…ministers； and peers of France。 The conversation；
interrupted a while by my coming； was resumed。 I took courage； feeling
that I had a reputation to maintain； and without abusing my privilege；
I spoke when it fell to me to speak； trying to state the questions at
issue in words more or less profound； witty or trenchant； and I made a
certain sensation。 Rastignac was a prophet for the thousandth time in
his life。 As soon as the gathering was large enough to restore freedom
to individuals； he took my arm； and we went round the rooms。
〃 'Don't look as if you were too much struck by the princess；' he
said； 'or she will guess your object in coming to visit her。'
〃The rooms were furnished in excellent taste。 Each apartment had a
character of its own； as in wealthy English houses； and the silken
hangings； the style of the furniture； and the ornaments； even the most
trifling； were all subordinated to the original idea。 In a gothic
boudoir the doors were concealed by tapestried curtains； and the
paneling by hangings； the clock and the pattern of the carpet were
made to harmonize with the gothic surroundings。 The ceiling； with its
carved cross…beams of brown wood； was full of charm and originality；
the panels were beautifully wrought； nothing disturbed the general
harmony of the scheme of decoration； not even the windows with their
rich colored glass。 I was surprised by the extensive knowledge of
decoration that some artist had brought to bear on a little modern
room； it was so pleasant and fresh； and not heavy； but subdued with
its dead gold hues。 It had all the vague sentiment of a German ballad；
it was a retreat fit for some romance of 1827； perfumed by the exotic
flowers set in their stands。 Another apartment in the suite was a
gilded reproduction of the Louis Quatorze period； with modern
paintings on the walls in odd but pleasant contrast。
〃 'You would not be so badly lodged；' was Rastignac's slightly
sarcastic comment。 'It is captivating； isn't it？' he added； smiling as
he sat down。 Then suddenly he rose； and led me by the hand into a
bedroom； where the softened light fell upon the bed under its canopy
of muslin and white watered silka couch for a young fairy betrothed
to one of the genii。
〃 'Isn't it wantonly bad taste； insolent and unbounded coquetry；' he
said； lowering his voice； 'that allows us to see this throne of love？
She gives herself to no one； and anybody may leave his card here。 If I
were not committed； I should like to see her at my feet all tears and
submission。'
〃 'Are you so certain of her virtue？'
〃 'The boldest and even the cleverest adventurers among us；
acknowledge themselves defeated； and continue to be her lovers and
devoted friends。 Isn't that woman a puzzle？'
〃His words seemed to intoxicate me； I had jealous fears already of the
past。 I leapt for joy； and hurried back to the countess； whom I had
seen in the gothic boudoir。 She stopped me by a smile； made me sit
beside her； and talked about my work； seeming to take the greatest
interest in it； and all the more when I set forth my theories
amusingly； instead of adopting the formal language of a professor for
their explanation。 It seemed to divert her to be told that the human
will was a material force like steam； that in the moral world nothing
could resist its power if a man taught himself to concentrate it； to
economize it； and to project continually its fluid mass in given
directions upon other souls。 Such a man； I said； could modify all
things relatively to man； even the peremptory laws of nature。 The
questions Foedora raised showed a certain keenness of intellect。 I
took a pleasure in deciding some of them in her favor； in order to
flatter her； then I confuted her feminine reasoning with a word； and
roused her curiosity by drawing her attention to an everyday matter
to sleep； a thing so apparently commonplace； that in reality is an
insoluble problem for science。 The countess sat in silence for a
moment when I told her that our ideas were complete organic beings；
existing in an invisible world； and influencing our destinies； and for
witnesses I cited the opinions of Descartes； Diderot； and Napoleon；
who had directed； and still directed； all the currents of the age。
〃So I had the honor of amusing this woman； who asked me to come to see
her when she left me； giving me les grande entrees； in the language of
the court。 Whether it was by dint of substituting polite formulas for
genuine expressions of feeling； a commendable habit of mine； or
because Foedora hailed in me a coming celebrity； an addition to her
learned menagerie； for some reason I thought that I had pleased her。 I
called all my previous physiological studies and knowledge of woman to
my aid； and minutely scrutinized this singular person and her ways all
evening。 I concealed myself in the embrasure of a window； and sought
to discover her thoughts from her bearing。 I studied the tactics of
the mistress of the house； as she came and went； sat and chatted；
beckoned to this one or that； asked questions； listened to the
answers； as she leaned against the frame of the door； I detected a
languid charm in her movements； a grace in the flutterings of her
dress； remarked the nature of the feelings she so powerfully excited；
and became very incredulous as to her virtue。 If Foedora would none of
love to…day； she had had strong passions at some time； past experience
of pleasure showed itself in the attitudes she chose in conversation；
in her coquettish way of leaning against the panel behind her； she
seemed scarcely able to stand alone； and yet ready for flight from too
bold a glance。 There was a kind of eloquence about her lightly folded
arms； which； even for benevolent eyes； breathed sentiment。 Her fresh
red lips sharply contrasted with her brilliantly pale complexion。 Her
brown hair brought out all the golden color in her eyes； in which blue
streaks mingled as in Florentine marble； their expression seemed to
increase the significance of her words。 A studied grace lay in the
charms of her bodice。 Perhaps a rival might have found the lines of
the thick eyebrows； which almost met； a little hard； or found a fault
in the almost invisible down that covered her features。 I saw the
signs of passion everywhere； written on those Italian eyelids； on the
splendid shoulders worthy of the Venus of Milo； on her features； in
the darker shade of down above a somewhat thick under…lip。 She was not
merely a woman； but a romance。 The whole blended harmony of lines； the
feminine luxuriance of her frame； and its passionate promise； were
subdued by a constant inexplicable reserve and modesty at variance
with everything else about her。 It needed an observation as keen as my
own to detect such signs as these in her character。 To explain myself
more clearly； there were two women in Foedora； divided perhaps by the
line between head and body： the one； the head alone； seemed to be
susceptible； and the other phlegmatic。 She prepared her glance before
she looked at you； something unspeakably mysterious； some inward
convulsion seemed revealed by her glittering eyes。
〃So； to be brief； either my imperfect moral science had left me a good
deal to learn in the moral world； or a lofty soul dwelt in the
countess； lent to her face those charms that fascinated and subdued
us； and gave her an ascendency only the more complete because it
comprehended a sympathy of desire。
〃I went away completely enraptured with this woman； dazzled by the
luxury around her； gratified in every faculty of my soulnoble and
base； good and evil。 When I felt myself so excited； eager； and elated；
I thought I understood the attraction that drew thither those artists；
diplomatists； men in office； those stock…jobbers encased in triple
brass。 They came； no doubt； to find in her society the delirious
emotion that now thrilled through every fibre in me； throbbing through
my brain； setting the blood a…tingle in every vein； fretting even the
tiniest nerve。 And she had given herself to none； so as to keep them
all。 A woman is a coquette so long as she knows not love。
〃 'Well；' I said to Rastignac； 'they married her； or sold her perhaps；
to some old man； and recollections of her first marriage have caused
her aversion for love。'
〃I walked home from the Faubourg St。 Honore； where Foedora lived。
Almost all the breadth of Paris lies between her mansion and the Rue
des Cordiers； but the distance seemed short； in spite of the cold。 And
I was to lay siege to Foedora's heart； in winter； and a bitter winter；
with only thirty francs in my possession； and such a distance as that
lay between us！ Only a poor man knows what such a passion costs in
cab…hire； gloves； linen； tailor's bills； and the like。 If the Platonic
stage lasts a little too long； the affair grows ruinous。 As a matter
of fact； there is many a Lauzun among students of law； who finds it
impossible to approach a ladylove living on a first floor。 And I；
sickly； thin； poorly dressed； wan and pale as any artist convalescent
after a work； how could I compete with other young men； curled；
handsome； smart； outcravat