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monarchy could have been saved by their retirement and the accession
of this Young France； which the old doctrinaires； the /emigres/ of the
Restoration； still speak of slightingly。 Auguste de Maulincour was a
victim to the ideas which weighed in those days upon French youth； and
we must here explain why。
The Vidame de Pamiers was still； at sixty…seven years of age； a very
brilliant man； having seen much and lived much； a good talker； a man
of honor and a gallant man； but who held as to women the most
detestable opinions； he loved them； and he despised them。 /Their/
honor！ /their/ feelings！ Ta…ra…ra； rubbish and shams！ When he was with
them； he believed in them； the ci…devant 〃monstre〃； he never
contradicted them； and he made them shine。 But among his male friends；
when the topic of the sex came up； he laid down the principle that to
deceive women； and to carry on several intrigues at once； should be
the occupation of those young men who were so misguided as to wish to
meddle in the affairs of the State。 It is sad to have to sketch so
hackneyed a portrait； for has it not figured everywhere and become；
literally； as threadbare as that of a grenadier of the Empire？ But the
vidame had an influence on Monsieur de Maulincour's destiny which
obliges us to preserve his portrait； he lectured the young man after
his fashion； and did his best to convert him to the doctrines of the
great age of gallantry。
The dowager； a tender…hearted； pious woman； sitting between God and
her vidame； a model of grace and sweetness； but gifted with that
well…bred persistency which triumphs in the long run； had longed to
preserve for her grandson the beautiful illusions of life； and had
therefore brought him up in the highest principles； she instilled into
him her own delicacy of feeling and made him； to outward appearance； a
timid man； if not a fool。 The sensibilities of the young fellow；
preserved pure； were not worn by contact without； he remained so
chaste； so scrupulous； that he was keenly offended by actions and
maxims to which the world attached no consequence。 Ashamed of this
susceptibility； he forced himself to conceal it under a false
hardihood； but he suffered in secret； all the while scoffing with
others at the things he reverenced。
It came to pass that he was deceived； because； in accordance with a
not uncommon whim of destiny； he； a man of gentle melancholy； and
spiritual in love； encountered in the object of his first passion a
woman who held in horror all German sentimentalism。 The young man； in
consequence； distrusted himself； became dreamy； absorbed in his
griefs； complaining of not being understood。 Then； as we desire all
the more violently the things we find difficult to obtain； he
continued to adore women with that ingenuous tenderness and feline
delicacy the secret of which belongs to women themselves； who may；
perhaps； prefer to keep the monopoly of it。 In point of fact； though
women of the world complain of the way men love them； they have little
liking themselves for those whose soul is half feminine。 Their own
superiority consists in making men believe they are their inferiors in
love； therefore they will readily leave a lover if he is inexperienced
enough to rob them of those fears with which they seek to deck
themselves； those delightful tortures of feigned jealousy； those
troubles of hope betrayed； those futile expectations；in short； the
whole procession of their feminine miseries。 They hold Sir Charles
Grandison in horror。 What can be more contrary to their nature than a
tranquil； perfect love？ They want emotions； happiness without storms
is not happiness to them。 Women with souls that are strong enough to
bring infinitude into love are angelic exceptions； they are among
women what noble geniuses are among men。 Their great passions are rare
as masterpieces。 Below the level of such love come compromises；
conventions； passing and contemptible irritations； as in all things
petty and perishable。
Amid the hidden disasters of his heart； and while he was still seeking
the woman who could comprehend him （a search which； let us remark in
passing； is one of the amorous follies of our epoch）； Auguste met； in
the rank of society that was farthest from his own； in the secondary
sphere of money； where banking holds the first place； a perfect being；
one of those women who have I know not what about them that is saintly
and sacred；women who inspire such reverence that love has need of
the help of a long familiarity to declare itself。
Auguste then gave himself up wholly to the delights of the deepest and
most moving of passions； to a love that was purely adoring。
Innumerable repressed desires there were； shadows of passion so vague
yet so profound； so fugitive and yet so actual； that one scarcely
knows to what we may compare them。 They are like perfumes； or clouds；
or rays of the sun； or shadows； or whatever there is in nature that
shines for a moment and disappears； that springs to life and dies；
leaving in the heart long echoes of emotion。 When the soul is young
enough to nurture melancholy and far…off hope； to find in woman more
than a woman； is it not the greatest happiness that can befall a man
when he loves enough to feel more joy in touching a gloved hand； or a
lock of hair； in listening to a word； in casting a single look； than
in all the ardor of possession given by happy love？ Thus it is that
rejected persons； those rebuffed by fate； the ugly and unfortunate；
lovers unrevealed； women and timid men； alone know the treasures
contained in the voice of the beloved。 Taking their source and their
element from the soul itself； the vibrations of the air； charged with
passion； put our hearts so powerfully into communion； carrying thought
between them so lucidly； and being； above all； so incapable of
falsehood； that a single inflection of a voice is often a revelation。
What enchantments the intonations of a tender voice can bestow upon
the heart of a poet！ What ideas they awaken！ What freshness they shed
there！ Love is in the voice before the glance avows it。 Auguste； poet
after the manner of lovers （there are poets who feel； and poets who
express； the first are the happiest）； Auguste had tasted all these
early joys； so vast； so fecund。 SHE possessed the most winning organ
that the most artful woman of the world could have desired in order to
deceive at her ease； /she/ had that silvery voice which is soft to the
ear； and ringing only for the heart which it stirs and troubles；
caresses and subjugates。
And this woman went by night to the rue Soly through the rue Pagevin！
and her furtive apparition in an infamous house had just destroyed the
grandest of passions！ The vidame's logic triumphed。
〃If she is betraying her husband we will avenge ourselves；〃 said
Auguste。
There was still faith in that 〃if。〃 The philosophic doubt of Descartes
is a politeness with which we should always honor virtue。 Ten o'clock
sounded。 The Baron de Maulincour remembered that this woman was going
to a ball that evening at a house to which he had access。 He dressed；
went there； and searched for her through all the salons。 The mistress
of the house； Madame de Nucingen； seeing him thus occupied； said：
〃You are looking for Madame Jules； but she has not yet come。〃
〃Good evening； dear；〃 said a voice。
Auguste and Madame de Nucingen turned round。 Madame Jules had arrived；
dressed in white； looking simple and noble； wearing in her hair the
marabouts the young baron had seen her choose in the flower…shop。 That
voice of love now pierced his heart。 Had he won the slightest right to
be jealous of her he would have petrified her then and there by saying
the words； 〃Rue Soly！〃 But if he； an alien to her life； had said those
words in her ear a thousand times； Madame Jules would have asked him
in astonishment what he meant。 He looked at her stupidly。
For those sarcastic persons who scoff at all things it may be a great
amusement to detect the secret of a woman； to know that her chastity
is a lie； that her calm face hides some anxious thought； that under
that pure brow is a dreadful drama。 But there are other souls to whom
the sight is saddening； and m