waited for him to pass again； and engraved him in their minds that
they might remember in due season that fragrant face； which would not
have disadorned the body of the fairest among themselves。
〃What are you doing here on Sunday？〃 said the Marquis de Ronquerolles
to Henri； as he passed。
〃There's a fish in the net；〃 answered the young man。
This exchange of thoughts was accomplished by means of two significant
glances； without it appearing that either De Ronquerolles or De Marsay
had any knowledge of the other。 The young man was taking note of the
passers…by with that promptitude of eye and ear which is peculiar to
the Parisian who seems； at first； to see and hear nothing； but who
sees and hears all。
At that moment a young man came up to him and took him familiarly by
the arm； saying to him： 〃How are you； my dear De Marsay？〃
〃Extremely well；〃 De Marsay answered； with that air of apparent
affection which amongst the young men of Paris proves nothing； either
for the present or the future。
In effect； the youth of Paris resemble the youth of no other town。
They may be divided into two classes： the young man who has something；
and the young man who has nothing； or the young man who thinks and he
who spends。 But； be it well understood this applies only to those
natives of the soil who maintain in Paris the delicious course of the
elegant life。 There exist； as well； plenty of other young men； but
they are children who are late in conceiving Parisian life； and who
remain its dupes。 They do not speculate； they study； they /fag/； as
the others say。 Finally there are to be found； besides； certain young
people； rich or poor； who embrace careers and follow them with a
single heart； they are somewhat like the Emile of Rousseau； of the
flesh of citizens； and they never appear in society。 The diplomatic
impolitely dub them fools。 Be they that or no； they augment the number
of those mediocrities beneath the yoke of which France is bowed down。
They are always there； always ready to bungle public or private
concerns with the dull trowel of their mediocrity； bragging of their
impotence； which they count for conduct and integrity。 This sort of
social /prizemen/ infests the administration； the army； the
magistracy； the chambers； the courts。 They diminish and level down the
country and constitute； in some manner； in the body politic； a lymph
which infects it and renders it flabby。 These honest folk call men of
talent immoral or rogues。 If such rogues require to be paid for their
services； at least their services are there； whereas the other sort do
harm and are respected by the mob； but； happily for France； elegant
youth stigmatizes them ceaselessly under the name of louts。
At the first glance； then； it is natural to consider as very distinct
the two sorts of young men who lead the life of elegance； the amiable
corporation to which Henri de Marsay belonged。 But the observer； who
goes beyond the superficial aspect of things； is soon convinced that
the difference is purely moral； and that nothing is so deceptive as
this pretty outside。 Nevertheless； all alike take precedence over
everybody else； speak rightly or wrongly of things； of men；
literature； and the fine arts； have ever in their mouth the Pitt and
Coburg of each year； interrupt a conversation with a pun； turn into
ridicule science and the /savant/； despise all things which they do
not know or which they fear； set themselves above all by constituting
themselves the supreme judges of all。 They would all hoax their
fathers； and be ready to shed crocodile tears upon their mothers'
breasts； but generally they believe in nothing； blaspheme women； or
play at modesty； and in reality are led by some old woman or an evil
courtesan。 They are all equally eaten to the bone with calculation；
with depravity； with a brutal lust to succeed； and if you plumbed for
their hearts you would find in all a stone。 In their normal state they
have the prettiest exterior； stake their friendship at every turn； are
captivating alike。 The same badinage dominates their ever…changing
jargon； they seek for oddity in their toilette； glory in repeating the
stupidities of such and such actor who is in fashion； and commence
operations； it matters not with whom； with contempt and impertinence；
in order to have； as it were； the first move in the game； but； woe
betide him who does not know how to take a blow on one cheek for the
sake of rendering two。 They resemble； in fine； that pretty white spray
which crests the stormy waves。 They dress and dance； dine and take
their pleasure； on the day of Waterloo； in the time of cholera or
revolution。 Finally； their expenses are all the same； but here the
contrast comes in。 Of this fluctuating fortune； so agreeably flung
away； some possess the capital for which the others wait； they have
the same tailors； but the bills of the latter are still to pay。 Next；
if the first； like sieves； take in ideas of all kinds without
retaining any； the latter compare them and assimilate all the good。 If
the first believe they know something； know nothing and understand
everything； lend all to those who need nothing and offer nothing to
those who are in need； the latter study secretly others' thoughts and
place out their money； like their follies； at big interest。 The one
class have no more faithful impressions； because their soul； like a
mirror； worn from use； no longer reflects any image； the others
economize their senses and life； even while they seem； like the first；
to be flinging them away broadcast。 The first； on the faith of a hope；
devote themselves without conviction to a system which has wind and
tide against it； but they leap upon another political craft when the
first goes adrift； the second take the measure of the future； sound
it； and see in political fidelity what the English see in commercial
integrity； an element of success。 Where the young man of possessions
makes a pun or an epigram upon the restoration of the throne； he who
has nothing makes a public calculation or a secret reservation； and
obtains everything by giving a handshake to his friends。 The one deny
every faculty to others； look upon all their ideas as new； as though
the world had been made yesterday； they have unlimited confidence in
themselves； and no crueler enemy than those same selves。 But the
others are armed with an incessant distrust of men； whom they estimate
at their value； and are sufficiently profound to have one thought
beyond their friends； whom they exploit； then of evenings； when they
lay their heads on their pillows； they weigh men as a miser weighs his
gold pieces。 The one are vexed at an aimless impertinence； and allow
themselves to be ridiculed by the diplomatic； who make them dance for
them by pulling what is the main string of these puppetstheir
vanity。 Thus； a day comes when those who had nothing have something；
and those who had something have nothing。 The latter look at their
comrades who have achieved positions as cunning fellows； their hearts
may be bad； but their heads are strong。 〃He is very strong！〃 is the
supreme praise accorded to those who have attained /quibuscumque
viis/； political rank； a woman； or a fortune。 Amongst them are to be
found certain young men who play this /role/ by commencing with having
debts。 Naturally； these are more dangerous than those who play it
without a farthing。
The young man who called himself a friend of Henri de Marsay was a
rattle…head who had come from the provinces； and whom the young men
then in fashion were teaching the art of running through an
inheritance； but he had one last leg to stand on in his province； in
the shape of a secure establishment。 He was simply an heir who had
passed without any transition from his pittance of a hundred francs a
month to the entire paternal fortune； and who； if he had not wit
enough to perceive that he was laughed at； was sufficiently cautious
to stop short at two…thirds of his capital。 He had learned at Paris；
for a consideration of some thousands of francs； the exact value of
harness； the art of not being too respectful to his gloves； learned to
make skilful meditations upon the right wages to give people； and to
seek out what bargain was the best to close with them。 He set store on
his capacity to speak in good terms of his horses； of his Pyrenean
hound； to tell by her dress； her walk； her shoes； to what class a
woman belonged； to study /ecarte/； remember a few fashionable
catchwords； and win by his sojourn in Parisian society the necessary
authority to import later into his province a taste for tea and silver
of an English fashion； and to obtain the right of despising everything
around him for the rest of his days。
De Marsay had admitted him to his society in order to make use of him
in the world； just as a bold speculator employs a confidential clerk。
The friendship； real or feigned； of De Marsay was a social position
for Paul de Manerville； who； on his side； thought himself astute in
exploiting； after his fashion； his intimate friend。 He lived in the
reflecting lustre of his friend； walked constantly under his umbrella；
wore his boots； gilded himself with his rays。 When he posed in H