第1章

CONTENTS

I。TheInitiationofSavalII。BougivalandLoveIII。EnlightenmentIV。FromEmotiontoPhilosophyCHAPTERI。

TheInitiationofSavalAstheywereleavingtheCafeRiche，JeandeServignysaidtoLeonSaval:"Ifyoudon"tobject，letuswalk。Theweatheristoofinetotakeacab。"

Hisfriendanswered:"Iwouldlikenothingbetter。"

Jeanreplied:"Itishardlyeleveno"clock。Weshallarrivemuchbeforemidnight，soletusgoslowly。"

Arestlesscrowdwasmovingalongtheboulevard，thatthrongpeculiartosummernights，drinking，chatting，andflowinglikeariver，filledwithasenseofcomfortandjoy。Hereandthereacafethrewafloodoflightuponaknotofpatronsdrinkingatlittletablesonthesidewalk，whichwerecoveredwithbottlesandglasses，hinderingthepassingofthehurryingmultitude。Onthepavementthecabswiththeirred，blue，orgreenlightsdashedby，showingforasecond，intheglimmer，thethinshadowofthehorse，theraisedprofileofthecoachman，andthedarkboxofthecarriage。ThecabsoftheUrbaineCompanymadeclearandrapidspotswhentheiryellowpanelswerestruckbythelight。

Thetwofriendswalkedwithslowsteps，cigarsintheirmouths，ineveningdressandovercoatsontheirarms，withaflowerintheirbuttonholes，andtheirhatsatrifleononeside，asmenwillcarelesslywearthemsometimes，aftertheyhavedinedwellandtheairismild。

Theyhadbeenlinkedtogethersincetheircollegedaysbyaclose，devoted，andfirmaffection。JeandeServigny，small，slender，atriflebald，ratherfrail，witheleganceofmien，curledmustache，brighteyes，andfinelips，wasamanwhoseemedbornandbredupontheboulevard。Hewastirelessinspiteofhislanguidair，stronginspiteofhispallor，oneofthoseslightParisianstowhomgymnasticexercise，fencing，coldshowerandhotbathsgiveanervous，artificialstrength。Hewasknownbyhismarriageaswellasbyhiswit，hisfortune，hisconnections，andbythatsociability，amiability，andfashionablegallantrypeculiartocertainmen。

AtrueParisian，furthermore，light，sceptical，changeable，captivating，energetic，andirresolute，capableofeverythingandofnothing；selfishbyprincipleandgenerousonoccasion，helivedmoderatelyuponhisincome，andamusedhimselfwithhygiene。

Indifferentandpassionate，hegavehimselfreinanddrewbackconstantly，impelledbyconflictinginstincts，yieldingtoall，andthenobeying，intheend，hisownshrewdman-about-townjudgment，whoseweather-vanelogicconsistedinfollowingthewindanddrawingprofitfromcircumstanceswithouttakingthetroubletooriginatethem。

Hiscompanion，LeonSaval，richalso，wasoneofthosesuperbandcolossalfigureswhomakewomenturnaroundinthestreetstolookatthem。Hegavetheideaofastatueturnedintoaman，atypeofarace，likethosesculpturedformswhicharesenttotheSalons。Toohandsome，tootall，toobig，toostrong，hesinnedalittlefromtheexcessofeverything，theexcessofhisqualities。Hehadonhandcountlessaffairsofpassion。

AstheyreachedtheVaudevilletheater，heasked:"Haveyouwarnedthatladythatyouaregoingtotakemetoherhousetoseeher？"

Servignybegantolaugh:"ForewarntheMarquiseObardi！Doyouwarnanomnibusdriverthatyoushallenterhisstageatthecorneroftheboulevard？"

Saval，alittleperplexed，inquired:"Whatsortofpersonisthislady？"

Hisfriendreplied:"Anupstart，acharminghussy，whocamefromnooneknowswhere，whomadeherappearanceoneday，nobodyknowshow，amongtheadventuressesofParis，knowingperfectlywellhowtotakecareofherself。Besides，whatdifferencedoesitmaketous？Theysaythatherrealname，hermaidenname——forshestillhaseveryclaimtothetitleofmaidenexceptthatofinnocence——isOctaviaBardin，fromwhichsheconstructsthenameObardibyprefixingthefirstletterofherfirstnameanddroppingthelastletterofthelastname。"

"Moreover，sheisalovablewoman，andyou，fromyourphysique，areinevitablyboundtobecomeherlover。HerculesisnotintroducedintoMessalina"shomewithoutmakingsomedisturbance。NeverthelessImakeboldtoaddthatifthereisfreeentrancetothishouse，justasthereisinbazaars，youarenotexactlycompelledtobuywhatisforsale。Loveandcardsareontheprogramme，butnobodycompelsyoutotakeupwitheither。Andtheexitisasfreeastheentrance。"

"ShesettleddownintheEtoiledistrict，asuspiciousneighborhood，threeyearsago，andopenedherdrawing-roomtothatfrothofthecontinentswhichcomestoParistopracticeitsvariousformidableandcriminaltalents。"

"Idon"trememberjusthowIwenttoherhouse。Iwentasweallgo，becausethereiscardplaying，becausethewomenarecompliant，andthemendishonest。Ilovethatsocialmobofbuccaneerswithdecorationsofallsortsoforders，alltitled，andallentirelyunknownattheirembassies，excepttothespies。Theyarealwaysdragginginthesubjectofhonor，quotingthelistoftheirancestorsontheslightestprovocation，andtellingthestoryoftheirlifeateveryopportunity，braggarts，liars，sharpers，dangerousastheircards，falseastheirnames，bravebecausetheyhavetobe，liketheassassinswhocannotplucktheirvictimsexceptbyexposingtheirownlives。Inaword，itisthearistocracyofthebagnio。"

"Ilikethem。Theyareinterestingtofathomandtoknow，amusingtolistento，oftenwitty，nevercommonplaceastheordinaryFrenchguests。Theirwomenarealwayspretty，withalittleflavorofforeignknavery，withthemysteryoftheirpastexistence，halfofwhich，perhaps，spentinaHouseofCorrection。Theygenerallyhavefineeyesandglorioushair，thetruephysiqueoftheprofession，anintoxicatinggrace，aseductivenesswhichdrivesmentofolly，anunwholesome，irresistiblecharm！Theyconquerlikethehighwaymenofold。Theyarerapaciouscreatures；truebirdsofprey。Ilikethem，too。"

"TheMarquiseObardiisoneofthetypeoftheseelegantgood-for-

nothings。Ripeandpretty，withafelinecharm，youcanseethatsheisvicioustothemarrow。Everybodyhasagoodtimeatherhouse，withcards，dancing，andsuppers；infactthereiseverythingwhichgoestomakeupthepleasuresoffashionablesocietylife。"

"Haveyoueverbeenorareyounowherlover？"LeonSavalasked。

"Ihavenotbeenherlover，Iamnotnow，andInevershallbe。I

onlygotothehousetoseeherdaughter。"

"Ah！Shehasadaughter，then？"

"Adaughter！Amarvel，mydearman。Sheistheprincipalattractionofthedento-day。Tall，magnificent，justripe，eighteenyearsold，asfairashermotherisdark，alwaysmerry，alwaysreadyforanentertainment，alwayslaughing，andreadytodancelikemad。Whowillbetheluckyman，tocaptureher，orwhohasalreadydoneso？

Nobodycantellthat。Shehastenofusinhertrain，allhoping。"

"SuchadaughterinthehandsofawomanliketheMarquiseisafortune。Andtheyplaythegametogether，thetwocharmers。Nooneknowsjustwhattheyareplanning。PerhapstheyarewaitingforabetterbargainthanIshouldprove。ButItellyouthatIshallclosethebargainifIevergetachance。"

"ThatgirlYvetteabsolutelybafflesme，moreover。Sheisamystery。

IfsheisnotthemostcompletemonsterofastutenessandperversitythatIhaveeverseen，shecertainlyisthemostmarvelousphenomenonofinnocencethatcanbeimagined。Shelivesinthatatmosphereofinfamywithacalmandtriumphingeasewhichiseitherwonderfullyprofligateorentirelyartless。Strangescionofanadventuress，castuponthemuck-heapofthatset，likeamagnificentplantnurtureduponcorruption，orratherlikethedaughterofsomenoblerace，ofsomegreatartist，orofsomegrandlord，ofsomeprinceordethronedking，tossedsomeeveningintohermother"sarms，nobodycanmakeoutwhatsheisnorwhatshethinks。Butyouaregoingtoseeher。"

Savalbegantolaughandsaid:"Youareinlovewithher。"

"No。Iamonthelist，whichisnotpreciselythesamething。Iwillintroduceyoutomymostseriousrivals。Butthechancesareinmyfavor。Iaminthelead，andsomelittledistinctionisshowntome。"

"Youareinlove，"Savalrepeated。

"No。Shedisquietsme，seducesanddisturbsme，attractsandfrightensmeaway。ImistrustherasIwouldatrap，andIlongforherasIlongforasherbetwhenIamthirsty。Iyieldtohercharm，andIonlyapproachherwiththeapprehensionthatIwouldfeelconcerningamanwhowasknowntobeaskillfulthief。toherpresenceIhaveanirrationalimpulsetowardbeliefinherpossiblepurityandaveryreasonablemistrustofhernotlessprobabletrickery。Ifeelmyselfincontactwithanabnormalbeing，beyondthepaleofnaturallaws，anexquisiteordetestablecreature——I

don"tknowwhich。"

ForthethirdtimeSavalsaid:"Itellyouthatyouareinlove。Youspeakofherwiththemagniloquenceofapoetandthefeelingofatroubadour。Come，searchyourheart，andconfess。"

Servignywalkedafewstepswithoutanswering。Thenhereplied:

"Thatispossible，afterall。Inanycase，shefillsmymindalmostcontinually。yes，perhapsIaminlove。Idreamabouthertoomuch。

IthinkofherwhenIamasleepandwhenIawake——thatissurelyagraveindication。Herfacefollowsme，accompaniesmeceaselessly，everbeforeme，aroundme，withme。Isthislove，thisphysicalinfatuation？HerfeaturesaresostampeduponmyvisionthatIseeherthemomentIshutmyeyes。MyheartbeatsquicklyeverytimeI

lookather，Idon"tdenyit。"

"SoIaminlovewithher，butinaqueerfashion。Ihavethestrongestdesireforher，andyettheideaofmakinghermywifewouldseemtomeafolly，apieceofstupidity，amonstrousthing:

AndIhavealittlefearofher，aswell，thefearwhichabirdfeelsoverwhichahawkishovering。"

"AndagainIamjealousofher，jealousofallofwhichIamignorantinherincomprehensibleheart。Iamalwayswondering:"Issheacharmingyoungsterorawretchedjade？"Shesaysthingsthatwouldmakeanarmyshudder；butsodoesaparrot。SheisattimessoindiscreetandyetmodestthatIamforcedtobelieveinherspotlesspurity，andagainsoincrediblyartlessthatImustsuspectthatshehasneverbeenchaste。Shealluresme，excitesme，likeawomanofacertaincategory，andatthesametimeactslikeanimpeccablevirgin。Sheseemstolovemeandyetmakesfunofme；shedeportsherselfinpublicasifsheweremymistressandtreatsmeinprivateasifIwereherbrotherorfootman。"

"TherearetimeswhenIfancythatshehasasmanyloversashermother。AndatothertimesIimaginethatshesuspectsabsolutelynothingofthatsortoflife，youunderstand。Furthermore，sheisagreatnovelreader。Iamatpresent，whileawaitingsomethingbetter，herbookpurveyor。Shecallsmeher"librarian。"EveryweektheNewBookStoresendsher，onmyorders，everythingnewthathasappeared，andIbelievethatshereadseverythingatrandom。Itmustmakeastrangesortofmixtureinherhead。"

"Thatkindofliteraryhasty-puddingaccountsperhapsforsomeofthegirl"speculiarways。Whenayoungwomanlooksatexistencethroughthemediumoffifteenthousandnovels，shemustseeitinastrangelight，andconstructqueerideasaboutmattersandthingsingeneral。Asforme，Iamwaiting。ItiscertainatanyratethatI

neverhavehadforanyotherwomanthedevotionwhichIhavehadforher。AndstillitisquitecertainthatIshallnevermarryher。Soifshehashadnumbers，Ishallswellthenumber。Andifshehasnot，Ishalltakethefirstticket，justasIwoulddoforastreetcar。"

"Thecaseisverysimple。Ofcourse，shewillnevermarry。WhointheworldwouldmarrytheMarquiseObardi"sdaughter，thechildofOctaviaBardin？Nobody，forathousandreasons。Wherewouldtheyeverfindahusbandforher？Insociety？Never。Themother"shouseisasortofliberty-hallwhosepatronageisattractedbythedaughter。Girlsdon"tgetmarriedunderthoseconditions。"

"Wouldshefindahusbandamongthetrades-people？Stilllesswouldthatbepossible。AndbesidestheMarquiseisnotthewomantomakeabadbargain；shewillgiveYvetteonlytoamanofhighposition，andthatmanshewillneverdiscover。"

"Thenperhapsshewilllookamongthecommonpeople。Stilllesslikely。Thereisnosolutionoftheproblem，then。Thisyoungladybelongsneithertosociety，nortothetradesmen"sclass，nortothecommonpeople，andshecanneverenteranyoftheseranksbymarriage。"

"Shebelongsthroughhermother，herbirth，hereducation，herinheritance，hermanners，andhercustoms，tothevortexofthemostrapidlifeofParis。Shecanneverescapeit，savebybecominganun，whichisnotatallprobablewithhermannersandtastes。Shehasonlyonepossiblecareer，alifeofpleasure。Shewillcometoitsoonerorlater，ifindeedshehasnotalreadybeguntotreaditsprimrosepath。Shecannotescapeherfate。Frombeingayounggirlshewilltaketheinevitablestep，quitesimply。AndIwouldliketobethepivotofthistransformation。"

"Iamwaiting。Therearemanylovers。YouwillseeamongthemaFrenchman，MonsieurdeBelvigne；aRussian，calledPrinceKravalow，andanItalian，ChevalierValreali，whohaveallannouncedtheircandidaciesandwhoareconsequentlymaneuveringtothebestoftheirability。Inadditiontothesethereareseveralfreebootersoflessimportance。TheMarquisewaitsandwatches。ButIthinkthatshehasviewsaboutme。SheknowsthatIamveryrich，andshemakeslessoftheothers。"

"Herdrawing-roomis，moreover，themostastoundingthatIknowof，insuch，exhibitions。Youevenmeetverydecentmenthere，likeourselves。Asforthewomen，shehasculledthebestthereisfromthebasketofpickpockets。Nobodyknowswhereshefoundthem。ItisasetapartfromBohemia，apartfromeverything。Shehashadoneinspirationshowinggenius，andthatistheknackofselectingespeciallythoseadventuresseswhohavechildren，generallygirls。

Sothatafoolmightbelievethatinherhousehewasamongrespectablewomen！"TheyhadreachedtheavenueoftheChamps-

Elysees。Agentlebreezesoftlystirredtheleavesandtouchedthefacesofpassers-by，likethebreathsofagiantfan，wavingsomewhereinthesky。Silentshadowswanderedbeneaththetrees；

others，onbenches，madeadarkspot。Andtheseshadowsspokeverylow，asiftheyweretellingeachotherimportantorshamefulsecrets。

"Youcan"timaginewhatacollectionoffictitioustitlesaremetinthislair，"saidServigny，"Bytheway，IshallpresentyoubythenameofCountSaval；plainSavalwouldnotdoatall。"

"Oh，no，indeed！"criedhisfriend；"Iwouldnothaveanyonethinkmecapableofborrowingatitle，evenforanevening，evenamongthosepeople。Ah，no！"

Servignybegantolaugh。

"Howstupidyouare！Why，inthatsettheycallmetheDukedeServigny。Idon"tknowhownorwhy。ButatanyratetheDukedeServignyIamandshallremain，withoutcomplainingorprotesting。

Itdoesnotworryme。Ishouldhavenofootingtherewhateverwithoutatitle。"

ButSavalwouldnotbeconvinced。

"Well，youareofrank，andsoyoumayremain。But，asforme，no。I

shallbetheonlycommonpersoninthedrawing-room。Somuchtheworse，or，somuchthebetter。Itwillbemymarkofdistinctionandsuperiority。"

Servignywasobstinate。

"Itellyouthatitisnotpossible。Why，itwouldalmostseemmonstrous。Youwouldhavetheeffectofaragmanatameetingofemperors。LetmedoasIlike。IshallintroduceyouastheVice-Roidu"Haut-Mississippi，"andnoonewillbeatallastonished。Whenamantakesongreatness，hecan"ttaketoomuch。"

"Oncemore，no，Idonotwishit。"

"Verywell，haveyourway。But，infact，Iamveryfoolishtotrytoconvinceyou。Idefyyoutogetinwithoutsomeonegivingyouatitle，justastheygiveabunchofvioletstotheladiesattheentrancetocertainstores。"

TheyturnedtotherightintheRuedeBarrie，mountedoneflightofstairsinafinemodernhouse，andgavetheirovercoatsandcanesintothehandsoffourservantsinknee-breeches。Awarmodor，asofafestivalassembly，filledtheair，anodorofflowers，perfumes，andwomen；andacomposedandcontinuousmurmurcamefromtheadjoiningrooms，whichwerefilledwithpeople。

Akindofmasterofceremonies，tall，erect，wideofgirth，serious，hisfaceframedinwhitewhiskers，approachedthenewcomers，askingwithashortandhaughtybow:"WhomshallIannounce？"

"MonsieurSaval，"Servignyreplied。

Thenwithaloudvoice，themanopeningthedoorcriedouttothecrowdofguests:

"MonsieurtheDukedeServigny。"

"MonsieurtheBaronSaval。"

Thefirstdrawing-roomwasfilledwithwomen。Thefirstthingwhichattractedattentionwasthedisplayofbareshoulders，aboveafloodofbrilliantgowns。

Themistressofthehousewhostoodtalkingwiththreefriends，turnedandcameforwardwithamajesticstep，withgraceinhermienandasmileonherlips。Herforeheadwasnarrowandverylow，andwascoveredwithamassofglossyblackhair，encroachingalittleuponthetemples。

Shewastall，atrifletoolarge，alittletoostout，overripe，butverypretty，withaheavy，warm，potentbeauty。Beneaththatmassofhair，fullofdreamsandsmiles，renderinghermysteriouslycaptivating，wereenormousblackeyes。Hernosewasalittlenarrow，hermouthlargeandinfinitelyseductive，madetospeakandtoconquer。

Hergreatestcharmwasinhervoice。Itcamefromthatmouthaswaterfromaspring，sonatural，solight，sowellmodulated，soclear，thattherewasaphysicalpleasureinlisteningtoit。Itwasajoyfortheeartoheartheflexiblewordsflowwiththegraceofababblingbrook，anditwasajoyfortheeyestoseethoseprettylips，atrifletoored，openasthewordsrippledforth。

ShegaveonehandtoServigny，whokissedit，anddroppingherfanonitslittlegoldchain，shegavetheothertoSaval，sayingtohim:"Youarewelcome，Baron，alltheDuke"sfriendsareathomehere。"

ThenshefixedherbrillianteyesupontheColossuswhohadjustbeenintroducedtoher。Shehadjusttheslightestdownonherupperlip，asuspicionofamustache，whichseemeddarkerwhenshespoke。

Therewasapleasantodorabouther，pervading，intoxicating，someperfumeofAmericaoroftheIndies。Otherpeoplecamein，marquesses，countsorprinces。ShesaidtoServigny，withthegraciousnessofamother:"Youwillfindmydaughterintheotherparlor。Haveagoodtime，gentlemen，thehouseisyours。"

Andsheleftthemtogotothosewhohadcomelater，throwingatSavalthatsmilingandfleetingglancewhichwomenusetoshowthattheyarepleased。Servignygraspedhisfriend"sarm。