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somewhat taken aback by the turn of a phrase by which Lucien
deliberately tried to wound her pride。
〃Ah！ Madame la Comtesse； I cannot bring you the guest if the man is in
disgrace；〃 said Lucien； and； without waiting for an answer； he turned
and greeted the Bishop with stately grace。
〃Your lordship's prophecy has been partially fulfilled；〃 he said； and
there was a winning charm in his tones； 〃I will endeavor to fulfil it
to the letter。 I consider myself very fortunate since this evening
brings me an opportunity of paying my respects to you。〃
Lucien drew the Bishop into a conversation that lasted for ten
minutes。 The women looked on Lucien as a phenomenon。 His unexpected
insolence had struck Mme。 du Chatelet dumb； she could not find an
answer。 Looking round the room； she saw that every woman admired
Lucien； she watched group after group repeating the phrases by which
Lucien crushed her with seeming disdain； and her heart contracted with
a spasm of mortification。
〃Suppose that he should not come to the Prefecture after this； what
talk there would be！〃 she thought。 〃Where did he learn this pride？ Can
Mlle。 des Touches have taken a fancy for him？ 。 。 。 He is so handsome。
They say that she hurried to see him in Paris the day after that
actress died。 。 。 。 Perhaps he has come to the rescue of his
brother…in…law； and happened to be behind our caleche at Mansle by
accident。 Lucien looked at us very strangely that morning。〃
A crowd of thoughts crossed Louise's brain； and unluckily for her； she
continued to ponder visibly as she watched Lucien。 He was talking with
the Bishop as if he were the king of the room； making no effort to
find any one out； waiting till others came to him； looking round about
him with varying expression； and as much at his ease as his model de
Marsay。 M。 de Senonches appeared at no great distance； but Lucien
still stood beside the prelate。
At the end of ten minutes Louise could contain herself no longer。 She
rose and went over to the Bishop and said：
〃What is being said； my lord； that you smile so often？〃
Lucien drew back discreetly； and left Mme。 du Chatelet with his
lordship。
〃Ah！ Mme。 la Comtesse； what a clever young fellow he is！ He was
explaining to me that he owed all he is to you〃
〃_I_ am not ungrateful； madame；〃 said Lucien； with a reproachful
glance that charmed the Countess。
〃Let us have an understanding；〃 she said； beckoning him with her fan。
〃Come into the boudoir。 My Lord Bishop； you shall judge between us。〃
〃She has found a funny task for his lordship；〃 said one of the
Chandour camp； sufficiently audibly。
〃Judge between us！〃 repeated Lucien； looking from the prelate to the
lady； 〃then； is one of us in fault？〃
Louise de Negrepelisse sat down on the sofa in the familiar boudoir。
She made the Bishop sit on one side and Lucien on the other； then she
began to speak。 But Lucien； to the joy and surprise of his old love；
honored her with inattention； her words fell unheeded on his ears； he
sat like Pasta in Tancredi； with the words O patria！ upon her lips；
the music of the great cavatina Dell Rizzo might have passed into his
face。 Indeed； Coralie's pupil had contrived to bring the tears to his
eyes。
〃Oh！ Louise； how I loved you！〃 he murmured； careless of the Bishop's
presence； heedless of the conversation； as soon as he knew that the
Countess had seen the tears。
〃Dry your eyes； or you will ruin me here a second time；〃 she said in
an aside that horrified the prelate。
〃And once is enough；〃 was Lucien's quick retort。 〃That speech from
Mme。 d'Espard's cousin would dry the eyes of a weeping Magdalene。 Oh
me！ for a little moment old memories； and lost illusions； and my
twentieth year came back to me； and you have〃
His lordship hastily retreated to the drawing…room at this； it seemed
to him that his dignity was like to be compromised by this sentimental
pair。 Every one ostentatiously refrained from interrupting them； and a
quarter of an hour went by； till at last Sixte du Chatelet； vexed by
the laughter and talk； and excursions to the boudoir door； went in
with a countenance distinctly overclouded； and found Louise and Lucien
talking excitedly。
〃Madame；〃 said Sixte in his wife's ear； 〃you know Angouleme better
than I do； and surely you should think of your position as Mme。 la
Prefete and of the Government？〃
〃My dear；〃 said Louise； scanning her responsible editor with a
haughtiness that made him quake； 〃I am talking with M。 de Rubempre of
matters which interest you。 It is a question of rescuing an inventor
about to fall a victim to the basest machinations； you will help us。
As to those ladies yonder； and their opinion of me； you shall see how
I will freeze the venom of their tongues。〃
She came out of the boudoir on Lucien's arm； and drew him across to
sign the contract with a great lady's audacity。
〃Write your name after mine；〃 she said； handing him the pen。 And
Lucien submissively signed in the place indicated beneath her name。
〃M。 de Senonches； would you have recognized M。 de Rubempre？〃 she
continued； and the insolent sportsman was compelled to greet Lucien。
She returned to the drawing…room on Lucien's arm； and seated him on
the awe…inspiring central sofa between herself and Zephirine。 There；
enthroned like a queen； she began； at first in a low voice； a
conversation in which epigram evidently was not wanting。 Some of her
old friends； and several women who paid court to her； came to join the
group； and Lucien soon became the hero of the circle。 The Countess
drew him out on the subject of life in Paris； his satirical talk
flowed with spontaneous and incredible spirit； he told anecdotes of
celebrities； those conversational luxuries which the provincial
devours with such avidity。 His wit was as much admired as his good
looks。 And Mme。 la Comtesse Sixte du Chatelet； preparing Lucien's
triumph so patiently； sat like a player enraptured with the sound of
his instrument； she gave him opportunities for a reply； she looked
round the circle for applause so openly； that not a few of the women
began to think that their return together was something more than a
coincidence； and that Lucien and Louise； loving with all their hearts；
had been separated by a double treason。 Pique； very likely； had
brought about this ill…starred match with Chatelet。 And a reaction set
in against the prefect。
Before the Countess rose to go at one o'clock in the morning； she
turned to Lucien and said in a low voice； 〃Do me the pleasure of
coming punctually to…morrow evening。〃 Then； with the friendliest
little nod； she went； saying a few words to Chatelet； who was looking
for his hat。
〃If Mme。 du Chatelet has given me a correct idea of the state of
affairs； count on me； my dear Lucien；〃 said the prefect； preparing to
hurry after his wife。 She was going away without him； after the Paris
fashion。 〃Your brother…in…law may consider that his troubles are at an
end；〃 he added as he went。
〃M。 le Comte surely owes me so much；〃 smiled Lucien。
Cointet and Petit…Claud heard these farewell speeches。
〃Well； well； we are done for now；〃 Cointet muttered in his
confederate's ear。 Petit…Claud； thunders