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character of bullock…driver in Mme。 de Beauseant's drawing…room。
But if Mme。 de Restaud and M。 de Trailles had found him horribly
in the way； M。 d'Ajuda hailed his coming with relief。
〃Good…bye；〃 said the Portuguese； hurrying to the door； as Eugene
made his entrance into a dainty little pink…and…gray drawing…
room； where luxury seemed nothing more than good taste。
〃Until this evening；〃 said Mme。 de Beauseant； turning her head to
give the Marquis a glance。 〃We are going to the Bouffons； are we
not？〃
〃I cannot go；〃 he said； with his fingers on the door handle。
Mme。 de Beauseant rose and beckoned to him to return。 She did not
pay the slightest attention to Eugene； who stood there dazzled by
the sparkling marvels around him； he began to think that this was
some story out of the Arabian Nights made real； and did not know
where to hide himself； when the woman before him seemed to be
unconscious of his existence。 The Vicomtesse had raised the
forefinger of her right hand； and gracefully signed to the
Marquis to seat himself beside her。 The Marquis felt the
imperious sway of passion in her gesture； he came back towards
her。 Eugene watched him； not without a feeling of envy。
〃That is the owner of the brougham！〃 he said to himself。 〃But is
it necessary to have a pair of spirited horses； servants in
livery； and torrents of gold to draw a glance from a woman here
in Paris？〃
The demon of luxury gnawed at his heart； greed burned in his
veins； his throat was parched with the thirst of gold。
He had a hundred and thirty francs every quarter。 His father；
mother； brothers； sisters； and aunt did not spend two hundred
francs a month among them。 This swift comparison between his
present condition and the aims he had in view helped to benumb
his faculties。
〃Why not？〃 the Vicomtesse was saying； as she smiled at the
Portuguese。 〃Why cannot you come to the Italiens？〃
〃Affairs！ I am to dine with the English Ambassador。〃
〃Throw him over。〃
When a man once enters on a course of deception； he is compelled
to add lie to lie。 M。 d'Ajuda therefore said； smiling； 〃Do you
lay your commands on me？〃
〃Yes； certainly。〃
〃That was what I wanted to have you say to me；〃 he answered；
dissembling his feelings in a glance which would have reassured
any other woman。
He took the Vicomtesse's hand； kissed it； and went。
Eugene ran his fingers through his hair； and constrained himself
to bow。 He thought that now Mme。 de Beauseant would give him her
attention； but suddenly she sprang forward； rushed to a window in
the gallery； and watched M。 d'Ajuda step into his carriage； she
listened to the order that he gave； and heard the Swiss repeat it
to the coachman：
〃To M。 de Rochefide's house。〃
Those words； and the way in which M。 d'Ajuda flung himself back
in the carriage； were like a lightning flash and a thunderbolt
for her； she walked back again with a deadly fear gnawing at her
heart。 The most terrible catastrophes only happen among the
heights。 The Vicomtesse went to her own room； sat down at a
table； and took up a sheet of dainty notepaper。
〃When； instead of dining with the English Ambassador；〃
she wrote； 〃you go to the Rochefides； you owe me an
explanation； which I am waiting to hear。〃
She retraced several of the letters； for her hand was trembling
so that they were indistinct； then she signed the note with an
initial C for 〃Claire de Bourgogne；〃 and rang the bell。
〃Jacques；〃 she said to the servant； who appeared immediately；
〃take this note to M。 de Rochefide's house at half…past seven and
ask for the Marquis d'Ajuda。 If M。 d'Ajuda is there； leave the
note without waiting for an answer； if he is not there； bring the
note back to me。〃
〃Madame la Vicomtess； there is a visitor in the drawing…room。〃
〃Ah！ yes； of course；〃 she said； opening the door。
Eugene was beginning to feel very uncomfortable； but at last the
Vicomtesse appeared； she spoke to him； and the tremulous tones of
her voice vibrated through his heart。
〃Pardon me； monsieur；〃 she said； 〃I had a letter to write。 Now I
am quite at liberty。〃
She scarcely knew what she was saying； for even as she spoke she
thought； 〃Ah！ he means to marry Mlle。 de Rochefide？ But is he
still free？ This evening the marriage shall be broken off； or
else 。 。 。 But before to…morrow I shall know。〃
〃Cousin 。 。 。〃 the student replied。
〃Eh？〃 said the Countess； with an insolent glance that sent a cold
shudder through Eugene； he understood what that 〃Eh？〃 meant； he
had learned a great deal in three hours； and his wits were on the
alert。 He reddened：
〃Madame 。 。 。〃 he began； he hesitated a moment； and then went on。
〃Pardon me； I am in such need of protection that the nearest
scrap of relationship could do me no harm。〃
Mme。 de Beauseant smiled but there was sadness in her smile； even
now she felt forebodings of the coming pain； the air she breathed
was heavy with the storm that was about to burst。
〃If you knew how my family are situated；〃 he went on； 〃you would
love to play the part of a beneficent fairy godmother who
graciously clears the obstacles from the path of her protege。〃
〃Well； cousin；〃 she said； laughing； 〃and how can I be of service
to you？〃
〃But do I know even that？ I am distantly related to you； and this
obscure and remote relationship is even now a perfect godsend to
me。 You have confused my ideas； I cannot remember the things that
I meant to say to you。 I know no one else here in Paris。 。 。 。
Ah！ if I could only ask you to counsel me； ask you to look upon
me as a poor child who would fain cling to the hem of your dress；
who would lay down his life for you。〃
〃Would you kill a man for me？〃
〃Two；〃 said Eugene。
〃You； child。 Yes； you are a child；〃 she said； keeping back the
tears that came to her eyes； 〃you would love sincerely。〃
〃Oh！〃 he cried； flinging up his head。
The audacity of the student's answer interested the Vicomtesse in
him。 The southern brain was beginning to scheme for the first
time。 Between Mme。 de Restaud's blue boudoir and Mme。 de
Beauseant's rose…colored drawing…room he had made a three years'
advance in a kind of law which is not a recognized study in
Paris； although it is a sort of higher jurisprudence； and； when
well understood； is a highroad to success of every kind。
〃Ah！ that is what I meant to say！〃 said Eugene。 〃I met Mme。 de
Restaud at your ball； and this morning I went to see her。
〃You must have been very much in the way；〃 said Mme。 de
Beauseant； smiling as she spoke。
〃Yes； indeed。 I am a novice； and my blunders will set every one
against me； if you do not give me your counsel。 I believe that in
Paris it is very difficult to meet with a young； beautiful； and
wealthy woman of fashion who would be willing to teach me； what
you women can explain so welllife。 I shall find a M。 de
Trailles everywhere。