a daughter of eve-第22章
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〃That fellow is off to the Bois in fine style to…day； but he is just
as likely； six months hence； to be in a debtor's prison。〃
〃He？ never！〃 cried Lousteau。 〃He has Florine。〃
〃How do you know that he'll keep her？ As for you； who are worth a
dozen of him； I predict that you will be our editor…in…chief within
six months。〃
In October Nathan's notes to du Tillet fell due； and the banker
graciously renewed them； but for two months only； with the discount
added and a fresh loan。 Sure of victory； Raoul was not afraid of
continuing to put his hand in the bag。 Madame Felix de Vandenesse was
to return in a few days； a month earlier than usual； brought back； of
course； by her unconquerable desire to see Nathan； who felt that he
could not be short of money at a time when he renewed that assiduous
life。
Correspondence； in which the pen is always bolder than speech； and
thought； wreathing itself with flowers； allows itself to be seen
without disguise； and brought the countess to the highest pitch of
enthusiasm。 She believed she saw in Raoul one of the noblest spirits
of the epoch； a delicate but misjudged heart without a stain and
worthy of adoration； she saw him advancing with a brave hand to grasp
the sceptre of power。 Soon that speech so beautiful in love would echo
from the tribune。 Marie now lived only in this life of a world outside
her own。 Her taste was lost for the tranquil joys of home； and she
gave herself up to the agitations of this whirlwind life communicated
by a clever and adoring pen。 She kissed Raoul's letters； written in
the midst of the ceaseless battles of the press； with time taken from
necessary studies； she felt their value； she was certain of being
loved； and loved only； with no rival but the fame and ambition he
adored。 She found enough in her country solitude to fill her soul and
employ her faculties；happy； indeed； to have been so chosen by such a
man； who to her was an angel。
During the last days of autumn Marie and Raoul again met and renewed
their walks in the Bois； where alone they could see each other until
the salons reopened。 But when the winter fairly began； Raoul appeared
in social life at his apogee。 He was almost a personage。 Rastignac；
now out of power with the ministry； which went to pieces on the death
of de Marsay； leaned upon Nathan； and gave him in return the warmest
praise。 Madame de Vandenesse； feeling this change in public opinion；
was desirous of knowing if her husband's judgment had altered also。
She questioned him again； perhaps with the hope of obtaining one of
those brilliant revenges which please all women； even the noblest and
least worldly；for may we not believe that even the angels retain
some portion of their self…love as they gather in serried ranks before
the Holy of Holies？
〃Nothing was wanting to Raoul Nathan but to be the dupe he now is to a
parcel of intriguing sharpers；〃 replied the count。
Felix； whose knowledge of the world and politics enabled him to judge
clearly； had seen Nathan's true position。 He explained to his wife
that Fieschi's attempt had resulted in attaching to the interests
threatened by this attack on Louis…Philippe a large body of hitherto
lukewarm persons。 The newspapers which were non…committal； and did not
show their colors； would lose subscribers； for journalism； like
politics； was about to be simplified by falling into regular lines。 If
Nathan had put his whole fortune into that newspaper he would lose it。
This judgment； so apparently just and clear…cut； though brief and
given by a man who fathomed a matter in which he had no interest；
alarmed Madame de Vandenesse。
〃Do you take an interest in him？〃 asked her husband。
〃Only as a man whose mind interests me and whose conversation I like。〃
This reply was made so naturally that the count suspected nothing。
The next day at four o'clock； Marie and Raoul had a long conversation
together； in a low voice； in Madame d'Espard's salon。 The countess
expressed fears which Raoul dissipated； only too happy to destroy by
epigrams the conjugal judgment。 Nathan had a revenge to take。 He
characterized the count as narrow…minded； behind the age； a man who
judged the revolution of July with the eyes of the Restoration； who
would never be willing to admit the triumph of the middle…classesthe
new force of all societies； whether temporary or lasting； but a real
force。 Instead of turning his mind to the study of an opinion given
impartially and incidentally by a man well…versed in politics； Raoul
mounted his stilts and stalked about in the purple of his own glory。
Where is the woman who would not have believed his glowing talk sooner
than the cold logic of her husband？ Madame de Vandenesse； completely
reassured； returned to her life of little enjoyments； clandestine
pressures of the hand； occasional quarrels；in short； to her
nourishment of the year before； harmless in itself； but likely to drag
a woman over the border if the man she favors is resolute and
impatient of obstacles。 Happily for her； Nathan was not dangerous。
Besides； he was too full of his immediate self…interests to think at
this time of profiting by his love。
But toward the end of December； when the second notes fell due； du
Tillet demanded payment。 The rich banker； who said he was embarrassed；
advised Raoul to borrow the money for a short time from a usurer； from
Gigonnet； the providence of all young men who were pressed for money。
In January； he remarked； the renewal of subscriptions to the paper
would be coming in； there would be plenty of money in hand； and they
could then see what had best be done。 Besides； couldn't Nathan write a
play？ As a matter of pride Raoul determined to pay off the notes at
once。 Du Tillet gave Raoul a letter to Gigonnet； who counted out the
money on a note of Nathan's at twenty days' sight。 Instead of asking
himself the reason of such unusual facility； Raoul felt vexed at his
folly in not having asked for more。 That is how men who are truly
remarkable for the power of thought are apt to behave in practical
business； they seem to reserve the power of their mind for their
writings； and are fearful of lessening it by putting it to use in the
daily affairs of life。
Raoul related his morning to Florine and Blondet。 He gave them an
inimitable sketch of Gigonnet； his fireplace without fire； his shabby
wall…paper； his stairway； his asthmatic bell； his aged straw mattress；
his den without warmth； like his eye。 He made them laugh about this
new uncle； they neither troubled themselves about du Tillet and his
pretended want of money； nor about an old usurer so ready to disburse。
What was there to worry about in that？
〃He has only asked you fifteen per cent；〃 said Blondet； 〃you ought to
be grateful to him。 At twenty…five per cent you don't bow to those old
fellows。 This is money…lending； usury doesn't begin till fifty per
cent； and then you despise the usurer。〃
〃Despise him！〃 cried Florine； 〃if any of your friends lent you money
at that price they'd pose as your benefactors。〃
〃She is right； and I am glad I don't owe anything now to du Tillet；〃
said Raoul。
Why this lack of penetration as to their personal affairs in men whose
business it is to penetrate all things？ Perhaps the mind cannot be
complete at all points； perhaps artists of every kind live too much in
the present moment to study the future； perhaps they are too observant
of the ridiculous to notice snares； or they may believe that none
would dare to lay a snare for such as they。 However this may be； the
future arrived in due time。 Twenty days later Raoul's notes were
protested； but Florine obtained from the Court of commerce an
extension of twenty…five days in which to meet them。 Thus pressed；
Raoul looked into his affairs and asked for the accounts； and it then
appeared that the receipts of the newspaper covered only two…thirds of
the expenses； while the subscript
