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imprudent to make any changes in it。 So when Madame du Chatelet was
announced； Zephirine went up to her with〃Look； dear Louise； you are
still in your old home！〃 indicating； as she spoke； the little
chandelier； the paneled wainscot； and the furniture； which once had
dazzled Lucien。
〃I wish least of all to remember it； dear；〃 Madame la Prefete answered
graciously； looking round on the assemblage。
Every one admitted that Louise de Negrepelisse was not like the same
woman。 If the provincial had undergone a change； the woman herself had
been transformed by those eighteen months in Paris； by the first
happiness of a still recent second marriage； and the kind of dignity
that power confers。 The Comtesse du Chatelet bore the same resemblance
to Mme。 de Bargeton that a girl of twenty bears to her mother。
She wore a charming cap of lace and flowers； fastened by a diamond…
headed pin； the ringlets that half hid the contours of her face added
to her look of youth； and suited her style of beauty。 Her foulard
gown； designed by the celebrated Victorine； with a pointed bodice；
exquisitely fringed； set off her figure to advantage； and a silken
lace scarf； adroitly thrown about a too long neck； partly concealed
her shoulders。 She played with the dainty scent…bottle； hung by a
chain from her bracelet； she carried her fan and her handkerchief with
easepretty trifles； as dangerous as a sunken reef for the provincial
dame。 The refined taste shown in the least details； the carriage and
manner modeled upon Mme。 d'Espard； revealed a profound study of the
Faubourg Saint…Germain。
As for the elderly beau of the Empire； he seemed since his marriage to
have followed the example of the species of melon that turns from
green to yellow in a night。 All the youth that Sixte had lost seemed
to appear in his wife's radiant countenance； provincial pleasantries
passed from ear to ear； circulating the more readily because the women
were furious at the new superiority of the sometime queen of
Angouleme； and the persistent intruder paid the penalty of his wife's
offence。
The rooms were almost as full as on that memorable evening of Lucien's
readings from Chenier。 Some faces were missing： M。 de Chandour and
Amelie； M。 de Pimental and the Rastignacsand M。 de Bargeton was no
longer there； but the Bishop came； as before； with his vicars…general
in his train。 Petit…Claud was much impressed by the sight of the great
world of Angouleme。 Four months ago he had no hope of entering the
circle； to…day he felt his detestation of 〃the classes〃 sensibly
diminished。 He thought the Comtesse du Chatelet a most fascinating
woman。 〃It is she who can procure me the appointment of deputy public
prosecutor；〃 he said to himself。
Louise chatted for an equal length of time with each of the women； her
tone varied with the importance of the person addressed and the
position taken up by the latter with regard to her journey to Paris
with Lucien。 The evening was half over when she withdrew to the
boudoir with the Bishop。 Zephirine came over to Petit…Claud； and laid
her hand on his arm。 His heart beat fast as his hostess brought him to
the room where Lucien's troubles first began； and were now about to
come to a crisis。
〃This is M。 Petit…Claud； dear； I recommend him to you the more warmly
because anything that you may do for him will doubtless benefit my
ward。〃
〃You are an attorney； are you not； monsieur？〃 said the august
Negrepelisse； scanning Petit…Claud。
〃Alas！ yes； MADAME LA COMTESSE。〃 （The son of the tailor in L'Houmeau
had never once had occasion to use those three words in his life
before； and his mouth was full of them。） 〃But it rests with you；
Madame la Comtesse； whether or no I shall act for the Crown。 M。 Milaud
is going to Nevers； it is said〃
〃But a man is usually second deputy and then first deputy； is he not？〃
broke in the Countess。 〃I should like to see you in the first deputy's
place at once。 But I should like first to have some assurance of your
devotion to the cause of our legitimate sovereigns； to religion； and
more especially to M。 de Villele； if I am to interest myself on your
behalf to obtain the favor。〃
Petit…Claud came nearer。 〃Madame；〃 he said in her ear； 〃I am the man
to yield the King absolute obedience。〃
〃That is just what WE want to…day；〃 said the Countess； drawing back a
little to make him understand that she had no wish for promises given
under his breath。 〃So long as you satisfy Mme。 de Senonches； you can
count upon me；〃 she added； with a royal movement of her fan。
Petit…Claud looked toward the door of the boudoir； and saw Cointet
standing there。 〃Madame；〃 he said； 〃Lucien is here； in Angouleme。〃
〃Well； sir？〃 asked the Countess； in tones that would have put an end
to all power of speech in an ordinary man。
〃Mme。 la Comtesse does not understand；〃 returned Petit…Claud； bringing
out that most respectful formula again。 〃How does Mme。 la Comtesse
wish that the great man of her making should be received in Angouleme？
There is no middle course； he must be received or despised here。〃
This was a dilemma to which Louise de Negrepelisse had never given a
thought； it touched her closely； yet rather for the sake of the past
than of the future。 And as for Petit…Claud； his plan for arresting
David Sechard depended upon the lady's actual feelings towards Lucien。
He waited。
〃M。 Petit…Claud；〃 said the Countess； with haughty dignity； 〃you mean
to be on the side of the Government。 Learn that the first principle of
government is thisnever to have been in the wrong； and that the
instinct of power and the sense of dignity is even stronger in women
than in governments。〃
〃That is just what I thought； madame；〃 he answered quickly； observing
the Countess meanwhile with attention the more profound because it was
scarcely visible。 〃Lucien came here in the depths of misery。 But if he
must receive an ovation； I can compel him to leave Angouleme by the
means of the ovation itself。 His sister and brother…in…law； David
Sechard； are hard pressed for debts。〃
In the Countess' haughty face there was a swift； barely perceptible
change； it was not satisfaction； but the repression of satisfaction。
Surprised that Petit…Claud should have guessed her wishes； she gave
him a glance as she opened her fan； and Francoise de la Haye's
entrance at that moment gave her time to find an answer。
〃It will not be long before you are public prosecutor； monsieur；〃 she
said； with a significant smile。 That speech did not commit her in any
way； but it was explicit enough。 Francoise had come in to thank the
Countess。
〃Oh！ madame； then I shall owe the happiness of my life to you；〃 she
exclaimed； bending girlishly to add in the Countess' ear； 〃To marry a
petty provincial attorney would be like being burned by slow fires。〃
It was Francis； with his knowledge of officialdom； who had prompted
Zephirine to make this set upon Louise。
〃In the very earliest days after promotion；〃 so the ex…consul…general
told his fair friend； 〃everybody； prefect； or monarch； or man of
business； is burning to exert his influence for his friends； but a
patron soon finds out the inconveniences of patronage