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for me； and incapable of comprehending him。〃
Here the princess shook her head； swaying the beautiful blond curls；
full of heather； with a touching gesture。 This plaintive expression of
grievous doubts and hidden sorrows is indescribable。 Daniel understood
them all； and he looked at the princess with keen emotion。
〃And yet； the night on which I last saw him； after the revolution of
July； I was on the point of giving way to the desire I felt to take
his hand and press it before all the world； under the peristyle of the
opera…house。 But the thought came to me that such a proof of gratitude
might be misinterpreted； like so many other little things done from
noble motives which are called to…day the follies of Madame de
Maufrigneusethings which I can never explain； for none but my son
and God have understood me。〃
These words； breathed into the ear of the listener； in tones inaudible
to the other guests； and with accents worthy of the cleverest actress；
were calculated to reach the heart； and they did reach that of
d'Arthez。 There was no question of himself in the matter； this woman
was seeking to rehabilitate herself in favor of the dead。 She had been
calumniated； and she evidently wanted to know if anything had
tarnished her in the eyes of him who had loved her； had he died with
all his illusions？
〃Michel；〃 replied d'Arthez； 〃was one of those men who love absolutely；
and who； if they choose ill； can suffer without renouncing the woman
they have once elected。〃
〃Was I loved thus？〃 she said； with an air of exalted beatitude。
〃Yes； madame。〃
〃I made his happiness？〃
〃For four years。〃
〃A woman never hears of such a thing without a sentiment of proud
satisfaction；〃 she said； turning her sweet and noble face to d'Arthez
with a movement full of modest confusion。
One of the most skilful manoeuvres of these actresses is to veil their
manner when words are too expressive； and speak with their eyes when
language is restrained。 These clever discords； slipped into the music
of their love； be it false or true； produce irresistible attractions。
〃Is it not；〃 she said； lowering her voice and her eyes； after feeling
well assured they had produced her effect；〃is it not fulfilling
one's destiny to have rendered a great man happy？〃
〃Did he not write that to you？〃
〃Yes； but I wanted to be sure； quite sure； for； believe me； monsieur；
in putting me so high he was not mistaken。〃
Women know how to give a peculiar sacredness to their words； they
communicate something vibrant to them； which extends the meaning of
their ideas； and gives them depth； though later their fascinated
listener may not remember precisely what they said； their end has been
completely attained；which is the object of all eloquence。 The
princess might at that moment have been wearing the diadem of France；
and her brow could not have seemed more imposing than it was beneath
that crown of golden hair； braided like a coronet； and adorned with
heather。 She was simple and calm； nothing betrayed a sense of any
necessity to appear so； nor any desire to seem grand or loving。
D'Arthez； the solitary toiler； to whom the ways of the world were
unknown； whom study had wrapped in its protecting veils； was the dupe
of her tones and words。 He was under the spell of those exquisite
manners； he admired that perfect beauty； ripened by misfortune； placid
in retirement； he adored the union of so rare a mind and so noble a
soul； and he longed to become； himself； the heir of Michel Chrestien。
The beginning of this passion was； as in the case of almost all deep
thinkers； an idea。 Looking at the princess； studying the shape of her
head； the arrangement of those sweet features； her figure； her hand；
so finely modelled； closer than when he accompanied his friend in
their wild rush through the streets； he was struck by the surprising
phenomenon of the moral second…sight which a man exalted by love
invariably finds within him。 With what lucidity had Michel Chrestien
read into that soul； that heart； illumined by the fires of love！ Thus
the princess acquired； in d'Arthez's eyes； another charm； a halo of
poesy surrounded her。
As the dinner proceeded； Daniel called to mind the various confidences
of his friend； his despair； his hopes； the noble poems of a true
sentiment sung to his ear alone； in honor of this woman。 It is rare
that a man passes without remorse from the position of confidant to
that of rival； and d'Arthez was free to do so without dishonor。 He had
suddenly； in a moment； perceived the enormous differences existing
between a well…bred woman； that flower of the great world； and common
women； though of the latter he did not know beyond one specimen。 He
was thus captured on the most accessible and sensitive sides of his
soul and of his genius。 Impelled by his simplicity； and by the
impetuosity of his ideas； to lay immediate claim to this woman； he
found himself restrained by society； also by the barrier which the
manners and； let us say the word； the majesty of the princess placed
between them。 The conversation； which remained upon the topic of
Michel Chrestien until the dessert； was an excellent pretext for both
to speak in a low voice： love； sympathy； comprehension！ she could pose
as a maligned and misunderstood woman； he could slip his feet into the
shoes of the dead republican。 Perhaps his candid mind detected itself
in regretting his dead friend less。 The princess； at the moment when
the dessert appeared upon the table； and the guests were separated by
a brilliant hedge of fruits and sweetmeats； thought best to put an end
to this flow of confidences by a charming little speech； in which she
delicately expressed the idea that Daniel and Michel were twin souls。
After this d'Arthez threw himself into the general conversation with
the gayety of a child； and a self…conceited air that was worthy of a
schoolboy。 When they left the dining…room； the princess took
d'Arthez's arm； in the simplest manner； to return to Madame d'Espard's
little salon。 As they crossed the grand salon she walked slowly； and
when sufficiently separated from the marquise； who was on Blondet's
arm； she stopped。
〃I do not wish to be inaccessible to the friend of that poor man；〃 she
said to d'Arthez； 〃and though I have made it a rule to receive no
visitors； you will always be welcome in my house。 Do not think this a
favor。 A favor is only for strangers； and to my mind you and I seem
old friends； I see in you the brother of Michel。〃
D'Arthez could only press her arm； unable to make other reply。
After coffee was served； Diane de Cadignan wrapped herself； with
coquettish motions； in a large shawl； and rose。 Blondet and Rastignac
were too much men of the world； and too polite to make the least
remonstrance； or try to detain her； but Madame d'Espard compelled her
friend to sit down again； whispering in her ear：
〃Wait till the servants have had their d