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As a matter of calculation； de Marsay maintained Comte Maxime de Trailles in the highest society； he described him as a man ripened by passions； taught by experience； who knew men and things； to whom travel and a certain faculty for observation had imparted an understanding of European interests； of foreign cabinets； and of all the ramifications of the great continental families。 De Marsay convinced Maxime of the necessity of doing himself credit； he taught him discretion； less as a virtue than a speculation； he proved to him that the governing powers would never abandon a solid； safe； elegant； and polished instrument。
〃In politics；〃 he said； blaming Maxime for having uttered a threat； 〃we should never /blackmail/ but once。〃
Maxime was a man who could sound the depths of that saying。
De Marsay dead； Comte Maxime de Trailles had fallen back into his former state of existence。 He went to the baths every year and gambled； he returned to Paris for the winter； but； though he received some large sums from the depths of certain niggardly coffers； that sort of half…pay to a daring man kept for use at any moment and possessing many secrets of the art of diplomacy； was insufficient for the dissipations of a life as splendid as that of the king of dandies； the tyrant of several Parisian clubs。 Consequently Comte Maxime was often uneasy about matters financial。 Possessing no property； he had never been able to consolidate his position by being made a deputy； also； having no ostensible functions； it was impossible for him to hold a knife at the throat of any minister to compel his nomination as peer of France。 At the present moment he saw that Time was getting the better of him； for his lavish dissipations were beginning to wear upon his person； as they had already worn out his divers fortunes。 In spite of his splendid exterior； he knew himself； and could not be deceived about that self。 He intended to 〃make an end〃to marry。
A man of acute mind； he was under no illusion as to the apparent consideration in which he was held； he well knew it was false。 No women were truly on his side； either in the great world of Paris or among the bourgeoisie。 Much secret malignity； much apparent good… humor； and many services rendered were necessary to maintain him in his present position； for every one desired his fall； and a run of ill…luck might at any time ruin him。 Once sent to Clichy or forced to leave the country by notes no longer renewable； he would sink into the gulf where so many political carcasses may be seen；carcasses of men who find no consolation in one another's company。 Even this very evening he was in dread of a collapse of that threatening arch which debt erects over the head of many a Parisian。 He had allowed his anxieties to appear upon his face； he had refused to play cards at Madame d'Espard's； he had talked with the women in an absent…minded manner； and finally he had sunk down silent and absorbed in the arm… chair from which he had just risen like Banquo's ghost。
Comte Maxime de Trailles now found himself the object of all glances； direct and indirect； standing as he did before the fireplace and illumined by the cross…lights of two candelabra。 The few words said about him compelled him； in a way； to bear himself proudly； and he did so； like a man of sense； without arrogance； and yet with the intention of showing himself to be above suspicion。 A painter could scarcely have found a better moment in which to seize the portrait of a man who； in his way； was truly extraordinary。 Does it not require rare faculties to play such a part；to enable one through thirty years to seduce women； to constrain one to employ great gifts in an underhand sphere only；inciting a people to rebel； tracking the secrets of austere politicians； and triumphing nowhere but in boudoirs and on the back…stairs of cabinets？
Is there not something； difficult to say what； of greatness in being able to rise to the highest calculations of statesmen and then to fall coldly back into the void of a frivolous life？ Where is the man of iron who can withstand the alternating luck of gambling； the rapid missions of diplomacy； the warfare of fashion and society； the dissipations of gallantry；the man who makes his memory a library of lies and craft； who envelops such diverse thoughts； such conflicting manoeuvres； in one impenetrable cloak of perfect manners？ If the wind of favor had blown steadily upon those sails forever set； if the luck of circumstances had attended Maxime； he could have been Mazarin； the Marechal de Richelieu； Potemkin； orperhaps more trulyLauzun； without Pignerol。
The count； though rather tall and constitutionally slender； had of late acquired some protuberance of stomach； but he 〃restrained it to the majestic；〃 as Brillat…Savarin once said。 His clothes were always so well made； that he kept about his whole person an air of youth； something active and agile； due no doubt to his habits of exercise； fencing； riding； and hunting。 Maxime possessed all the physical graces and elegances of aristocracy； still further increased by his personally superior bearing。 His long； Bourbonine face was framed by whiskers and a beard； carefully kept； elegantly cut； and black as jet。 This color； the same as that of his abundant hair； he now obtained by an Indian cosmetic； very costly and used in Persia； the secret of which he kept to himself。 He deceived the most practised eye as to the white threads which for some time past had invaded his hair。 The remarkable property of this dye； used by Persians for their beards only； is that it does not render the features hard； it can be shaded by indigo to harmonize well with the individual character of the skin。 It was this operation that Madame Mollot may have seen；though people in Arcis； by way of a jest； still ask themselves what it was that Madame Mollot saw。
Maxime had a very handsome forehead； blue eyes； a Greek nose； a pleasant mouth； and a well…cut chin； but the circle of his eyes was now marked with numberless lines； so fine that they might have been traced by a razor and not visible at a little distance。 His temples had similar lines。 The face was also slightly wrinkled。 His eyes； like those of gamblers who have sat up innumerable nights； were covered with a glaze； but the glance； though it was thus weakened； was none the less terrible；in fact； it terrified； a hidden heat was felt beneath it； a lava of passions not yet extinct。 The mouth； once so fresh and rosy； now had colder tints； it was straight no longer； but inclined to the right；a sinuosity that seemed to indicate falsehood。 Vice had twisted the lips； but the teeth were white and handsome。
These blemishes disappeared on a general view of his face and person。 His figure was so attractive that no young man could compete with Maxime when on horseback in the Bois； where he seemed younger and more graceful than the youngest and most graceful among them。 The privilege of eternal youth has been possessed by several men in our day。
The count was all the more dangerous because he seemed to be easy and indolent； never showing the iron determination which he had about all things。 This apparent indifference； which enabled him to abet a popular sedition