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footmen to each other。
Once in the street； the two usurers looked at each other under a
street lamp and laughed。
〃He will owe us nine thousand francs interest a year；〃 said Gigonnet；
〃that property doesn't bring him in five。〃
〃He is under our thumb for a long time；〃 said Gobseck。
〃He'll build； he'll commit extravagancies；〃 continued Gigonnet；
〃Falleix will get his land。〃
〃His interest is only to be made deputy； the old fox laughs at the
rest；〃 said Gobseck。
〃Hey！ hey！〃
〃Hi！ hi！〃
These dry little exclamations served as a laugh to the two old men；
who took their way back （always on foot） to the Cafe Themis。
Des Lupeaulx returned to the salon and found Madame Rabourdin sailing
with the wind of success； and very charming； while his Excellency；
usually so gloomy； showed a smooth and gracious countenance。
〃She performs miracles；〃 thought des Lupeaulx。 〃What a wonderfully
clever woman！ I must get to the bottom of her heart。〃
〃Your little lady is decidedly handsome；〃 said the Marquise to the
secretary； 〃now if she only had your name。〃
〃Yes； her defect is that she is the daughter of an auctioneer。 She
will fail for want of birth；〃 replied des Lupeaulx； with a cold manner
that contrasted strangely with the ardor of his remarks about Madame
Rabourdin not half an hour earlier。
The marquise looked at him fixedly。
〃The glance you gave them did not escape me；〃 she said； motioning
towards the minister and Madame Rabourdin； 〃it pierced the mask of
your spectacles。 How amusing you both are； to quarrel over that bone！〃
As the marquise turned to leave the room the minister joined her and
escorted her to the door。
〃Well；〃 said des Lupeaulx to Madame Rabourdin； 〃what do you think of
his Excellency？〃
〃He is charming。 We must know these poor ministers to appreciate
them；〃 she added； slightly raising her voice so as to be heard by his
Excellency's wife。 〃The newspapers and the opposition calumnies are so
misleading about men in politics that we are all more or less
influenced by them； but such prejudices turn to the advantage of
statesmen when we come to know them personally。〃
〃He is very good…looking；〃 said des Lupeaulx。
〃Yes； and I assure you he is quite lovable；〃 she said； heartily。
〃Dear child；〃 said des Lupeaulx； with a genial； caressing manner； 〃you
have actually done the impossible。〃
〃What is that？〃
〃Resuscitated the dead。 I did not think that man had a heart； ask his
wife。 But he may have just enough for a passing fancy。 Therefore
profit by it。 Come this way； and don't be surprised。〃 He led Madame
Rabourdin into the boudoir； placed her on a sofa； and sat down beside
her。 〃You are very sly；〃 he said； 〃and I like you the better for it。
Between ourselves； you are a clever woman。 Des Lupeaulx served to
bring you into this house； and that is all you wanted of him； isn't
it？ Now when a woman decides to love a man for what she can get out of
him it is better to take a sexagenarian Excellency than a
quadragenarian secretary； there's more profit and less annoyance。 I'm
a man with spectacles； grizzled hair； worn out with dissipation；a
fine lover； truly！ I tell myself all this again and again。 It must be
admitted； of course； that I can sometimes be useful； but never
agreeable。 Isn't that so？ A man must be a fool if he cannot reason
about himself。 You can safely admit the truth and let me see to the
depths of your heart； we are partners； not lovers。 If I show some
tenderness at times； you are too superior a woman to pay any attention
to such follies； you will forgive me；you are not a school…girl； or a
bourgeoise of the rue Saint…Denis。 Bah！ you and I are too well brought
up for that。 There's the Marquise d'Espard who has just left the room；
this is precisely what she thinks and does。 She and I came to an
understanding two years ago ＇the coxcomb！＇； and now she has only to
write me a line and say； 'My dear des Lupeaulx； you will oblige me by
doing such and such a thing；' and it is done at once。 We are engaged
at this very moment in getting a commission of lunacy on her husband。
Ah！ you women； you can get what you want by the bestowal of a few
favors。 Well； then； my dear child； bewitch the minister。 I'll help
you； it is my interest to do so。 Yes； I wish he had a woman who could
influence him； he wouldn't escape me；for he does escape me quite
often； and the reason is that I hold him only through his intellect。
Now if I were one with a pretty woman who was also intimate with him；
I should hold him by his weaknesses； and that is much the firmest
grip。 Therefore； let us be friends； you and I； and share the
advantages of the conquest you are making。〃
Madame Rabourdin listened in amazement to this singular profession of
rascality。 The apparent artlessness of this political swindler
prevented her from suspecting a trick。
〃Do you believe he really thinks of me？〃 she asked； falling into the
trap。
〃I know it； I am certain of it。〃
〃Is it true that Rabourdin's appointment is signed？〃
〃I gave him the papers this morning。 But it is not enough that your
husband should be made director； he must be Master of petitions。〃
〃Yes；〃 she said。
〃Well； then； go back to the salon and coquette a little more with his
Excellency。〃
〃It is true；〃 she said； 〃that I never fully understood you till
to…night。 There is nothing commonplace about YOU。〃
〃We will be two old friends；〃 said des Lupeaulx； 〃and suppress all
tender nonsense and tormenting love； we will take things as they did
under the Regency。 Ah！ they had plenty of wit and wisdom in those
days！〃
〃You are really strong； you deserve my admiration；〃 she said； smiling；
and holding out her hand to him； 〃one does more for one's friend； you
know； than for one's〃
She left him without finishing her sentence。
〃Dear creature！〃 thought des Lupeaulx； as he saw her approach the
minister； 〃des Lupeaulx has no longer the slightest remorse in turning
against you。 To…morrow evening when you offer me a cup of tea； you
will be offering me a thing I no longer care for。 All is over。 Ah！
when a man is forty years of age women may take pains to catch him；
but they won't love him。〃
He looked himself over in a mirror； admitting honestly that though he
did very well as a politician he was a wreck on the shores of Cythera。
At the same moment Madame Rabourdin was gathering herself together for
a becoming exit。 She wished to make a last graceful impression on the
minds of all； and she succeeded。 Contrary to the usual custom in
society； every one cried out as soon as she was gone； 〃What a charming
woman！〃 and the minister himself took her to the outer door。
〃I am quite sure you will think of me to…morrow；〃 he said； alluding to
the appointment。
〃There are so few high functionaries who have agreeable wives；〃
remarked his Excellency on re…entering the room； 〃that I am very well
sa