rosette in her hair with a diamond in the centre； and she attracts
every eye for a whole evening； another revives the hair…net； or sticks
a dagger through the twist to suggest a garter； this one wears velvet
bands round her wrists； that one appears in lace lippets。 These
valiant efforts； an Austerlitz of vanity or of love； then set the
fashion for lower spheres by the time the inventive creatress has
originated something new。 This evening； which Valerie meant to be a
success for her； she had placed three patches。 She had washed her hair
with some lye； which changed its hue for a few days from a gold color
to a duller shade。 Madame Steinbock's was almost red； and she would be
in every point unlike her。 This new effect gave her a piquant and
strange appearance； which puzzled her followers so much； that Montes
asked her：
〃What have you done to yourself this evening？〃Then she put on a
rather wide black velvet neck…ribbon； which showed off the whiteness
of her skin。 One patch took the place of the /assassine/ of our
grandmothers。 And Valerie pinned the sweetest rosebud into her bodice；
just in the middle above the stay…busk； and in the daintiest little
hollow！ It was enough to make every man under thirty drop his eyelids。
〃I am as sweet as a sugar…plum；〃 said she to herself； going through
her attitudes before the glass； exactly as a dancer practises her
curtesies。
Lisbeth had been to market； and the dinner was to be one of those
superfine meals which Mathurine had been wont to cook for her Bishop
when he entertained the prelate of the adjoining diocese。
Stidmann； Claude Vignon； and Count Steinbock arrived almost together；
just at six。 An ordinary； or； if you will； a natural woman would have
hastened at the announcement of a name so eagerly longed for； but
Valerie； though ready since five o'clock； remained in her room；
leaving her three guests together； certain that she was the subject of
their conversation or of their secret thoughts。 She herself had
arranged the drawing…room； laying out the pretty trifles produced in
Paris and nowhere else； which reveal the woman and announce her
presence： albums bound in enamel or embroidered with beads； saucers
full of pretty rings； marvels of Sevres or Dresden mounted exquisitely
by Florent and Chanor； statues； books； all the frivolities which cost
insane sums； and which passion orders of the makers in its first
deliriumor to patch up its last quarrel。
Besides； Valerie was in the state of intoxication that comes of
triumph。 She had promised to marry Crevel if Marneffe should die； and
the amorous Crevel had transferred to the name of Valerie Fortin bonds
bearing ten thousand francs a year； the sum…total of what he had made
in railway speculations during the past three years； the returns on
the capital of a hundred thousand crowns which he had at first offered
to the Baronne Hulot。 So Valerie now had an income of thirty…two
thousand francs。
Crevel had just committed himself to a promise of far greater
magnitude than this gift of his surplus。 In the paroxysm of rapture
which /his Duchess/ had given him from two to fourhe gave this fine
title to Madame /de/ Marneffe to complete the illusionfor Valerie
had surpassed herself in the Rue du Dauphin that afternoon； he had
thought well to encourage her in her promised fidelity by giving her
the prospect of a certain little mansion； built in the Rue Barbette by
an imprudent contractor； who now wanted to sell it。 Valerie could
already see herself in this delightful residence； with a fore…court
and a garden； and keeping a carriage！
〃What respectable life can ever procure so much in so short a time； or
so easily？〃 said she to Lisbeth as she finished dressing。 Lisbeth was
to dine with Valerie that evening； to tell Steinbock those things
about the lady which nobody can say about herself。
Madame Marneffe； radiant with satisfaction； came into the drawing…room
with modest grace； followed by Lisbeth dressed in black and yellow to
set her off。
〃Good…evening； Claude；〃 said she； giving her hand to the famous old
critic。
Claude Vignon； like many another； had become a political personagea
word describing an ambitious man at the first stage of his career。 The
/political personage/ of 1840 represents； in some degree； the /Abbe/
of the eighteenth century。 No drawing…room circle is complete without
one。
〃My dear； this is my cousin； Count Steinbock；〃 said Lisbeth；
introducing Wenceslas； whom Valerie seemed to have overlooked。
〃Oh yes； I recognized Monsieur le Comte；〃 replied Valerie with a
gracious bow to the artist。 〃I often saw you in the Rue du Doyenne；
and I had the pleasure of being present at your wedding。It would be
difficult； my dear；〃 said she to Lisbeth； 〃to forget your adopted son
after once seeing him。It is most kind of you； Monsieur Stidmann；〃
she went on； 〃to have accepted my invitation at such short notice； but
necessity knows no law。 I knew you to be the friend of both these
gentlemen。 Nothing is more dreary； more sulky； than a dinner where all
the guests are strangers； so it was for their sake that I hailed you
inbut you will come another time for mine； I hope？Say that you
will。〃
And for a few minutes she moved about the room with Stidmann； wholly
occupied with him。
Crevel and Hulot were announced separately； and then a deputy named
Beauvisage。
This individual； a provincial Crevel； one of the men created to make
up the crowd in the world； voted under the banner of Giraud； a State
Councillor； and Victorin Hulot。 These two politicians were trying to
form a nucleus of progressives in the loose array of the Conservative
Party。 Giraud himself occasionally spent the evening at Madame
Marneffe's； and she flattered herself that she should also capture
Victorin Hulot； but the puritanical lawyer had hitherto found excuses
for refusing to accompany his father and father…in…law。 It seemed to
him criminal to be seen in the house of the woman who cost his mother
so many tears。 Victorin Hulot was to the puritans of political life
what a pious woman is among bigots。
Beauvisage； formerly a stocking manufacturer at Arcis； was anxious to
/pick up the Paris style/。 This man； one of the outer stones of the
Chamber； was forming himself under the auspices of this delicious and
fascinating Madame Marneffe。 Introduced here by Crevel； he had
accepted him； at her instigation； as his model and master。 He
consulted him on every point； took the address of his tailor； imitated
him； and tried to strike the same attitudes。 In short； Crevel was his
Great Man。
Valerie； surrounded by these bigwigs and the three artists； and
supported by Lisbeth； struck Wenceslas as a really superior woman； all
the more so because Claude Vignon spoke of her like a man in love。
〃She is Madame de Maintenon in Ninon's petticoats！〃 said the veteran
critic。 〃You may please her in an evening if you have the wit； but as
for making her love youthat would be a triumph to crown a man's
ambition and fill up his life。〃
Valerie； while seeming cold and heedless of her former neighbor；
piqued his vanity； quite unconsciously indeed； for she knew nothing of
the Polish character。 There is in the Slav a childish element； as
there is in all these primitively wild nations which have overflowed
into civilization rather than that they have become civilized。 The
race has spread like an inundation； and has covered a large portion of
the globe。 It inhabits deserts whose extent is so vast that it expands
at its ease； there is no jostling there； as there is in Europe； and
civilization is impossible without the constant friction of minds and
interests。 The Ukraine； Russia； the plains by the Danube； in short；
the Slav nations； are a connecting link between Europe and Asia；
between civilization and barbarism。 Thus the Pole； the wealthiest
member of the Slav family； has in his character all the childishness
and inconsistency of a beardless race。 He has courage； spirit； and
strength； but； cursed with instability； that courage； strength； and
energy have neither method nor guidance； for the Pole displays a
variability resembling that of the winds which blow across that vast
plain broken with swamps； and though he has the impetuosity of the
snow squalls that wrench and sweep away buildings； like those aerial
avalanches he is lost in the first pool and melts into water。 Man
always assimilates something from the surroundings in which he lives。
Perpetually at strife with the Turk； the Pole has imbibed a taste for
Oriental splendor； he often sacrifices what is needful for the sake of
display。 The men dress themselves out like women； yet the climate has
given them the tough constitution of Arabs。
The Pole； sublime in suffering； has tired his oppressors' arms by
sheer endurance of beating； and； in the nineteenth century； has
reproduced the spectacle presented by the early Christians。 Infuse
only ten per cent of English cautiousness into the frank and open
Polish nature； and the magnanimous white eagle would at this day be
supreme wherever the two…headed eagle has sneaked in。 A little
Machiavelism would have hindered Poland from helping to save Austria；
who has taken a share of it； from borrowing from Prussia； the usurer
who had undermined it； and from breaking up as soon as a division was
first made。
At the christening of Poland； no doubt； the Fairy Carabosse；
overlooked by the genii who endowed that attractive people with the
most brilliant gifts； came in to say：
〃Keep all the gifts that my sisters have bestowed on you； but you
shall never know what you wish for！〃
If； in its heroic duel with Russia； Poland had won the day； the Poles
would now be fighting among themselves； as they formerly fought in
their Diets to hinder each other from being chosen King。 When that
nation； composed entirely of hot…headed dare…devils； has good sense
enough to seek a Louis XI。 among her own offspring； to accept his
despotism and a dynasty； she will be saved。
What Poland has been politically； almost every Pole is in private
life； especially under the stress of disaster。 Thus Wenceslas
Steinbock； after worshiping his wife for three years and knowing that
he was a god to her； was so