that pure brow is a dreadful drama。 But there are other souls to whom
the sight is saddening； and many of those who laugh in public； when
withdrawn into themselves and alone with their conscience； curse the
world while they despise the woman。 Such was the case with Auguste de
Maulincour； as he stood there in presence of Madame Jules。 Singular
situation！ There was no other relation between them than that which
social life establishes between persons who exchange a few words seven
or eight times in the course of a winter； and yet he was calling her
to account on behalf of a happiness unknown to her； he was judging
her； without letting her know of his accusation。
Many young men find themselves thus in despair at having broken
forever with a woman adored in secret； condemned and despised in
secret。 There are many hidden monologues told to the walls of some
solitary lodging； storms roused and calmed without ever leaving the
depths of hearts； amazing scenes of the moral world； for which a
painter is wanted。 Madame Jules sat down； leaving her husband to make
a turn around the salon。 After she was seated she seemed uneasy； and；
while talking with her neighbor； she kept a furtive eye on Monsieur
Jules Desmarets； her husband； a broker chiefly employed by the Baron
de Nucingen。 The following is the history of their home life。
Monsieur Desmarets was； five years before his marriage； in a broker's
office； with no other means than the meagre salary of a clerk。 But he
was a man to whom misfortune had early taught the truths of life； and
he followed the strait path with the tenacity of an insect making for
its nest； he was one of those dogged young men who feign death before
an obstacle and wear out everybody's patience with their own beetle…
like perseverance。 Thus； young as he was； he had all the republican
virtue of poor peoples； he was sober； saving of his time； an enemy to
pleasure。 He waited。 Nature had given him the immense advantage of an
agreeable exterior。 His calm； pure brow； the shape of his placid； but
expressive face； his simple manners；all revealed in him a laborious
and resigned existence； that lofty personal dignity which is imposing
to others； and the secret nobility of heart which can meet all events。
His modesty inspired a sort of respect in those who knew him。 Solitary
in the midst of Paris； he knew the social world only by glimpses
during the brief moments which he spent in his patron's salon on
holidays。
There were passions in this young man； as in most of the men who live
in that way； of amazing profundity；passions too vast to be drawn
into petty incidents。 His want of means compelled him to lead an
ascetic life； and he conquered his fancies by hard work。 After paling
all day over figures； he found his recreation in striving obstinately
to acquire that wide general knowledge so necessary in these days to
every man who wants to make his mark； whether in society； or in
commerce； at the bar； or in politics or literature。 The only peril
these fine souls have to fear comes from their own uprightness。 They
see some poor girl； they love her； they marry her； and wear out their
lives in a struggle between poverty and love。 The noblest ambition is
quenched perforce by the household account…book。 Jules Desmarets went
headlong into this peril。
He met one evening at his patron's house a girl of the rarest beauty。
Unfortunate men who are deprived of affection； and who consume the
finest hours of youth in work and study； alone know the rapid ravages
that passion makes in their lonely； misconceived hearts。 They are so
certain of loving truly； all their forces are concentrated so quickly
on the object of their love； that they receive； while beside her； the
most delightful sensations； when； as often happens； they inspire none
at all。 Nothing is more flattering to a woman's egotism than to divine
this passion； apparently immovable； and these emotions so deep that
they have needed a great length of time to reach the human surface。
These poor men； anchorites in the midst of Paris； have all the
enjoyments of anchorites； and may sometimes succumb to temptations。
But； more often deceived； betrayed； and misunderstood； they are rarely
able to gather the sweet fruits of a love which； to them； is like a
flower dropped from heaven。
One smile from his wife； a single inflection of her voice sufficed to
make Jules Desmarets conceive a passion which was boundless。 Happily；
the concentrated fire of that secret passion revealed itself artlessly
to the woman who inspired it。 These two beings then loved each other
religiously。 To express all in a word； they clasped hands without
shame before the eyes of the world and went their way like two
children； brother and sister； passing serenely through a crowd where
all made way for them and admired them。
The young girl was in one of those unfortunate positions which human
selfishness entails upon children。 She had no civil status； her name
of 〃Clemence〃 and her age were recorded only by a notary public。 As
for her fortune； that was small indeed。 Jules Desmarets was a happy
man on hearing these particulars。 If Clemence had belonged to an
opulent family； he might have despaired of obtaining her； but she was
only the poor child of love； the fruit of some terrible adulterous
passion； and they were married。 Then began for Jules Desmarets a
series of fortunate events。 Every one envied his happiness； and
henceforth talked only of his luck； without recalling either his
virtues or his courage。
Some days after their marriage； the mother of Clemence； who passed in
society for her godmother； told Jules Desmarets to buy the office and
good…will of a broker； promising to provide him with the necessary
capital。 In those days； such offices could still be bought at a modest
price。 That evening； in the salon as it happened of his patron； a
wealthy capitalist proposed； on the recommendation of the mother； a
very advantageous transaction for Jules Desmarets； and the next day
the happy clerk was able to buy out his patron。 In four years
Desmarets became one of the most prosperous men in his business； new
clients increased the number his predecessor had left to him； he
inspired confidence in all； and it was impossible for him not to feel；
by the way business came to him； that some hidden influence； due to
his mother…in…law； or to Providence； was secretly protecting him。
At the end of the third year Clemence lost her godmother。 By that time
Monsieur Jules （so called to distinguish him from an elder brother；
whom he had set up as a notary in Paris） possessed an income from
invested property of two hundred thousand francs。 There was not in all
Paris another instance of the domestic happiness enjoyed by this
couple。 For five years their exceptional love had been troubled by
only one event；a calumny for which Monsieur Jules exacted vengeance。
One of his former comrades attributed to Madame Jules the fortune of
her husband； explaining that it came from a high protection dearly
paid for。 The man who uttered the calumny was killed in the duel that
followed it。
The profound passion of this couple； which survived marriage； obtained
a great success in society； though some women were annoyed by it。 The
charming household was respected； everybody feted it。 Monsieur and
Madame Jules were sincerely liked； perhaps because there is nothing
more delightful to see than happy people； but they never stayed long
at any festivity。 They slipped away early； as impatient to regain
their nest as wandering pigeons。 This nest was a large and beautiful
mansion in the rue de Menars； where a true feeling for art tempered
the luxury which the financial world continues； traditionally； to
display。 Here the happy pair received their society magnificently；
although the obligations of social life suited them but little。
Nevertheless； Jules submitted to the demands of the world； knowing
that； sooner or later； a family has need of it； but he and his wife
felt themselves； in its midst； like green…house plants in a tempest。
With a delicacy that was very natural； Jules had concealed from his
wife the calumny and the death of the calumniator。 Madame Jules；
herself； was inclined； through her sensitive and artistic nature； to
desire luxury。 In spite of the terrible lesson of the duel； some
imprudent women whispered to each other that Madame Jules must
sometimes be pressed for money。 They often found her more elegantly
dressed in her own home than when she went into society。 She loved to
adorn herself to please her husband； wishing to show him that to her
he was more than any social life。 A true love； a pure love； above all；
a happy love！ Jules； always a lover； and more in love as time went by；
was happy in all things beside his wife； even in her caprices； in
fact； he would have been uneasy if she had none； thinking it a symptom
of some illness。
Auguste de Maulincour had the personal misfortune of running against
this passion； and falling in love with the wife beyond recovery。
Nevertheless； though he carried in his heart so intense a love； he was
not ridiculous； he complied with all the demands of society； and of
military manners and customs。 And yet his face wore constantly； even
though he might be drinking a glass of champagne； that dreamy look；
that air of silently despising life； that nebulous expression which
belongs； though for other reasons； to /blases/ men；men dissatisfied
with hollow lives。 To love without hope； to be disgusted with life；
constitute； in these days； a social position。 The enterprise of
winning the heart of a sovereign might give； perhaps； more hope than a
love rashly conceived for a happy woman。 Therefore Maulincour had
sufficient reason to be grave and gloomy。 A queen has the vanity of
her power； the height of her elevation protects her。 But a pious
/bourgeoise/ is like a hedgehog； or an oyster； in its rough wrappings。
At this moment the young officer was beside his unconscious mistress；
who certainly was unaware that she was doubly faithless。 Madame Jules
was seated； in a naive attitude； like the least artful woman in
existence； soft and gentle； full of a majestic serenity。 What an abyss
is huma