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Providential； was it not？ like all those strange insensibilities which
prepare us for death〃 （she made a gesture full of pious unction）。 〃All
things served me then；〃 she continued； 〃the disasters of the monarchy
and its ruin helped me to bury myself。 My son consoles me for much。
Maternal love takes the place of all frustrated feelings。 The world is
surprised at my retirement； but to me it has brought peace。 Ah！ if you
knew how happy the poor creature before you is in this little place。
In sacrificing all to my son I forget to think of joys of which I am
and ever must be ignorant。 Yes； hope has flown； I now fear everything；
no doubt I should repulse the truest sentiment； the purest and most
veritable love； in memory of the deceptions and the miseries of my
life。 It is all horrible； is it not？ and yet； what I have told you is
the history of many women。〃
The last few words were said in a tone of easy pleasantry which
recalled the presence of the woman of the world。 D'Arthez was
dumbfounded。 In his eyes convicts sent to the galleys for murder； or
aggravated robbery； or for putting a wrong name to checks； were saints
compared to the men and women of society。 This atrocious elegy； forged
in the arsenal of lies； and steeped in the waters of the Parisian
Styx； had been poured into his ears with the inimitable accent of
truth。 The grave author contemplated for a moment that adorable woman
lying back in her easy…chair； her two hands pendant from its arms like
dewdrops from a rose…leaf； overcome by her own revelation； living over
again the sorrows of her life as she told themin short an angel of
melancholy。
〃And judge；〃 she cried； suddenly lifting herself with a spring and
raising her hand； while lightning flashed from eyes where twenty
chaste years shone〃judge of the impression the love of a man like
Michel must have made upon me。 But by some irony of fateor was it
the hand of God？well； he died； died in saving the life of； whom do
you suppose？ of Monsieur de Cadignan。 Are you now surprised to find me
thoughtful？〃
This was the last drop； poor d'Arthez could bear no more。 He fell upon
his knees； and laid his head on Diane's hand； weeping soft tears such
as the angels shed；if angels weep。 As Daniel was in that bent
posture； Madame de Cadignan could safely let a malicious smile of
triumph flicker on her lips； a smile such as the monkeys wear after
playing a sly trickif monkeys smile。
〃Ah！ I have him；〃 thought she； and； indeed； she had him fast。
〃But you are〃 he said； raising his fine head and looking at her with
eyes of love。
〃Virgin and martyr；〃 she replied； smiling at the commonness of that
hackneyed expression； but giving it a freshness of meaning by her
smile； so full of painful gayety。 〃If I laugh；〃 she continued； 〃it is
that I am thinking of that princess whom the world thinks it knows；
that Duchesse de Maufrigneuse to whom it gives as lovers de Marsay；
that infamous de Trailles （a political cutthroat）； and that little
fool of a d'Esgrignon； and Rastignac； Rubempre； ambassadors；
ministers； Russian generals； heaven knows who！ all Europe！ They have
gossiped about that album which I ordered made； believing that those
who admired me were my friends。 Ah！ it is frightful！ I wonder that I
allow a man at my feet！ Despise them all； THAT should be my religion。〃
She rose and went to the window with a gait and bearing magnificent in
motifs。
D'Arthez remained on the low seat to which he had returned not daring
to follow the princess； but he looked at her； he heard her blowing her
nose。 Was there ever a princess who blew her nose？ but Diane attempted
the impossible to convey an idea of her sensibility。 D'Arthez believed
his angel was in tears； he rushed to her side； took her round the
waist； and pressed her to his heart。
〃No； no； leave me！〃 she murmured in a feeble voice。 〃I have too many
doubts to be good for anything。 To reconcile me with life is a task
beyond the powers of any man。〃
〃Diane！ I will love you for your whole lost life。〃
〃No； don't speak to me thus；〃 she answered。 〃At this moment I tremble；
I am ashamed as though I had committed the greatest sins。〃
She was now entirely restored to the innocence of little girls； and
yet her bearing was august； grand； noble as that of a queen。 It is
impossible to describe the effect of these manoeuvres； so clever that
they acted like the purest truth on a soul as fresh and honest as that
of d'Arthez。 The great author remained dumb with admiration； passive
beside her in the recess of that window awaiting a word； while the
princess awaited a kiss； but she was far too sacred to him for that。
Feeling cold； the princess returned to her easy…chair； her feet were
frozen。
〃It will take a long time；〃 she said to herself； looking at Daniel's
noble brow and head。
〃Is this a woman？〃 thought that profound observer of human nature。
〃How ought I to treat her？〃
Until two o'clock in the morning they spent their time in saying to
each other the silly things that women of genius； like the princess；
know how to make adorable。 Diane pretended to be too worn； too old；
too faded； D'Arthez proved to her （facts of which she was well
convinced） that her skin was the most delicate； the softest to the
touch； the whitest to the eye； the most fragrant； she was young and in
her bloom； how could she think otherwise？ Thus they disputed； beauty
by beauty； detail by detail with many： 〃Oh！ do you think so？〃〃You
are beside yourself！〃〃It is hope； it is fancy！〃〃You will soon see
me as I am。I am almost forty years of age。 Can a man love so old a
woman？〃
D'Arthez responded with impetuous and school…boy eloquence； larded
with exaggerated epithets。 When the princess heard this wise and witty
writer talking the nonsense of an amorous sub…lieutenant she listened
with an absorbed air and much sensibility； but she laughed in her
sleeve。
When d'Arthez was in the street； he asked himself whether he might not
have been rather less respectful。 He went over in memory those strange
confidenceswhich have； naturally； been much abridged here； for they
needed a volume to convey their mellifluous abundance and the graces
which accompanied them。 The retrospective perspicacity of this man； so
natural； so profound； was baffled by the candor of that tale and its
poignancy； and by the tones of the princess。
〃It is true；〃 he said to himself； being unable to sleep； 〃there are
such dramas as that in society。 Society covers great horrors with the
flowers of its elegance； the embroidery of its gossip； the wit of its
lies。 We writers invent no more than the truth。 Poor Diane！ Michel had
penetrated that enigma； he said that beneath her covering of ice there
lay volcanoes！ Bianchon and Rastignac were right； when a man can join
the grandeurs of the ideal and the enjoyments of human passion in
loving a woman of perfect manners； of intellect； of delicacy； it must
be happiness beyond