\"Iwillpilotyou，\"saidhe。\"Inthisparlorwherewenoware，women，thetemplesofthefleshly，freshorotherwise。Bargainsasgoodasnew，evenbetter，forsaleoronlease。Attheright，gaming，thetempleofmoney。Youunderstandallaboutthat。Atthelowerend，dancing，thetempleofinnocence，thesanctuary，themarketforyounggirls。Theyareshownoffthereineverylight。
Evenlegitimatemarriagesaretolerated。Itisthefuture，thehope，ofourevenings。Andthemostcuriouspartofthismuseumofmoraldiseasesaretheseyounggirlswhosesoulsareoutofjoint，justlikethelimbsofthelittleclownsbornofmountebanks。Comeandlookatthem。\"
Hebowed，rightandleft，courteously，acomplimentonhislips，sweepingeachlow-gownedwomanwhomheknewwiththelookofanexpert。
Themusicians，attheendofthesecondparlor，wereplayingawaltz；andthetwofriendsstoppedatthedoortolookatthem。A
scoreofcoupleswerewhirling-themenwithaseriousexpression，andthewomenwithafixedsmileontheirlips。Theydisplayedagooddealofshoulder，liketheirmothers；andthebodicesofsomewereonlyheldinplacebyaslenderribbon，disclosingattimesmorethanisgenerallyshown。
Suddenlyfromtheendoftheroomatallgirldartedforward，glidingthroughthecrowd，brushingagainstthedancers，andholdingherlongtraininherlefthand。Sheranwithquicklittlestepsaswomendoincrowds，andcalledout:\"Ah！HowisMuscade？Howdoyoudo，Muscade？\"
Herfeaturesworeanexpressionofthebloomoflife，theilluminationofhappiness。Herwhitefleshseemedtoshine，thegolden-whitefleshwhichgoeswithredhair。Themassofhertresses，twistedonherhead，fiery，flaminglocks，nestledagainsthersuppleneck，whichwasstillalittlethin。
Sheseemedtomovejustashermotherwasmadetospeak，sonatural，noble，andsimplewerehergestures。Apersonfeltamoraljoyandphysicalpleasureinseeingherwalk，stirabout，bendherhead，orliftherarm。\"Ah！Muscade，howdoyoudo，Muscade？\"sherepeated。
Servignyshookherhandviolently，ashewouldaman\'s，andsaid:
\"MademoiselleYvette，myfriend，BaronSaval。\"
\"Goodevening，Monsieur。Areyoualwaysastallasthat？\"
Servignyrepliedinthatbanteringtonewhichhealwaysusedwithher，inordertoconcealhismistrustandhisuncertainty:
\"No，Mam\'zelle。Hehasputonhisgreatestdimensionstopleaseyourmother，wholovesacolossus。\"
Andtheyounggirlremarkedwithacomicseriousness:\"VerywellButwhenyoucometoseemeyoumustdiminishalittleifyouplease。I
preferthemediumheight。NowMuscadehasjusttheproportionswhichIlike。\"
Andshegaveherhandtothenewcomer。Thensheasked:\"Doyoudance，Muscade？Come，letuswaltz。\"Withoutreplying，withaquickmovement，passionately，Servignyclaspedherwaistandtheydisappearedwiththefuryofawhirlwind。
Theydancedmorerapidlythananyoftheothers，whirledandwhirled，andturnedmadly，soclosetogetherthattheyseemedbutone，andwiththeformerect，thelegsalmostmotionless，asifsomeinvisiblemechanism，concealedbeneaththeirfeet，causedthemtotwirl。Theyappearedtireless。Theotherdancersstoppedfromtimetotime。Theystilldancedon，alone。Theyseemednottoknowwheretheywerenorwhattheyweredoing，asif，theyhadgonefarawayfromtheball，inanecstasy。Themusicianscontinuedtoplay，withtheirlooksfixeduponthismadcouple；alltheguestsgazedatthem，andwhenfinallytheydidstopdancing，everyoneapplaudedthem。
Shewasalittleflushed，withstrangeeyes，ardentandtimid，lessdaringthanamomentbefore，troubledeyes，blue，yetwithapupilsoblackthattheyseemedhardlynatural。Servignyappearedgiddy。
Heleanedagainstadoortoregainhiscomposure。
\"Youhavenohead，mypoorMuscade，Iamsteadierthanyou，\"saidYvettetoServigny。Hesmilednervously，anddevouredherwithalook。Hisanimalfeelingsrevealedthemselvesinhiseyesandinthecurlofhislips。Shestoodbesidehimlookingdown，andherbosomroseandfellinshortgaspsashelookedather。
Thenshesaidsoftly:\"Really，therearetimeswhenyouarelikeatigerabouttospringuponhisprey。Come，givemeyourarm，andletusfindyourfriend。\"
Silentlyheofferedherhisarmandtheywentdownthelongdrawing-
roomtogether。
Savalwasnotalone，fortheMarquiseObardihadrejoinedhim。Sheconversedwithhimonordinaryandfashionablesubjectswithaseductivenessinhertoneswhichintoxicatedhim。And，lookingatherwithhismentaleye，itseemedtohimthatherlips，utteredwordsfardifferentfromthosewhichtheyformed。WhenshesawServignyherfaceimmediatelylightedup，andturningtowardhimshesaid:
\"Youknow，mydearDuke，thatIhavejustleasedavillaatBougivalfortwomonths，andIcountuponyourcomingtoseemethere，anduponyourfriendalso。Listen。WetakepossessionnextMonday，andshallexpectbothofyoutodinnerthefollowingSaturday。WeshallkeepyouoverSunday。\"
PerfectlysereneandtranquilYvettesmiled，sayingwithadecisionwhichsweptawayhesitationonhispart:
\"OfcourseMuscadewillcometodinneronSaturday。Wehaveonlytoaskhim，forheandIintendtocommitalotoffolliesinthecountry。\"
Hethoughthedivinedthebirthofapromiseinhersmile，andinhervoiceheheardwhathethoughtwasinvitation。
ThentheMarquiseturnedherbig，blackeyesuponSaval:\"Andyouwill，ofcourse，come，Baron？\"
Withasmilethatforbadedoubt，hebenttowardher，saying，\"I
shallbeonlytoocharmed，Madame。\"
ThenYvettemurmuredwithmalicethatwaseithernaiveortraitorous:\"Wewillsetalltheworldbytheearsdownthere，won\'twe，Muscade，andmakemyregimentofadmirersfairlymad。\"Andwithalook，shepointedoutagroupofmenwhowerelookingatthemfromalittledistance。
SaidServignytoher:\"AsmanyfolliesasYOUmayplease，Mam\'zelle。\"
InspeakingtoYvette，Servignyneverusedtheword\"Mademoiselle，\"
byreasonofhiscloseandlongintimacywithher。
ThenSavalasked:\"WhydoesMademoisellealwayscallmyfriendServigny\'Muscade\'？\"
Yvetteassumedaveryfrankairandsaid:
\"Iwilltellyou:Itisbecausehealwaysslipsthroughmyhands。
NowIthinkIhavehim，andthenIfindIhavenot。\"
TheMarquise，withhereyesuponSaval，aridevidentlypreoccupied，saidinacarelesstone:\"Youchildrenareveryfunny。\"
ButYvettebridledup:\"Idonotintendtobefunny；Iamsimplyfrank。Muscadepleasesme，andisalwaysdesertingme，andthatiswhatannoysme。\"
Servignybowedprofoundly，saying:\"Iwillneverleaveyouanymore，Mam\'zelle，neitherdaynornight。\"Shemadeagestureofhorror:
\"Mygoodness！no——whatdoyoumean？Youareallrightduringtheday，butatnightyoumightembarrassme。\"
Withanairofimpertinenceheasked:\"Andwhy？\"
Yvetterespondedcalmlyandaudaciously，\"Becauseyouwouldnotlookwellendeshabille。\"
TheMarquise，withoutappearingatalldisturbed，said:\"Whatextraordinarysubjectsforconversation。Onewouldthinkthatyouwerenotatallignorantofsuchthings。\"
AndServignyjokinglyadded:\"Thatisalsomyopinion，Marquise。\"
Yvetteturnedhereyesuponhim，andinahaughty，yetwounded，tonesaid:\"Youarebecomingveryvulgar——justasyouhavebeenseveraltimeslately。\"Andturningquicklysheappealedtoanindividualstandingby:
\"Chevalier，comeanddefendmefrominsult。\"
Athin，brownman，withaneasycarriage，cameforward。
\"Whoistheculprit？\"saidhe，withaconstrainedsmile。
YvettepointedoutServignywithanodofherhead:
\"Thereheis，butIlikehimbetterthanIdoyou，becauseheislessofabore。\"
TheChevalierValrealibowed:
\"IdowhatIcan，Mademoiselle。Imayhavelessability，butnotlessdevotion。\"
Agentlemancameforward，tallandstout，withgraywhiskers，sayinginloudtones:\"MademoiselleYvette，Iamyourmostdevotedslave。\"
Yvettecried:\"Ah，MonsieurdeBelvigne。\"ThenturningtowardSaval，sheintroducedhim。
\"Mylastadorer——big，fat，rich，andstupid。ThosearethekindI
like。Averitabledrum-major——butofthetabled\'hote。Butsee，youarestillbiggerthanhe。HowshallInicknameyou？Good！Ihaveit。
Ishallcallyou\'M。ColossusofRhodes，Junior，\'fromtheColossuswhocertainlywasyourfather。Butyoutwooughttohaveveryinterestingthingstosaytoeachotherupthere，abovetheheadsofusall——so，by-bye。\"
Andsheleftthemquickly，goingtotheorchestratomakethemusiciansstrikeupaquadrille。
MadameObardiseemedpreoccupied。InasoftvoiceshesaidtoServigny:
\"Youarealwaysteasingher。Youwillwarphercharacterandbringoutmanybadtraits。\"
Servignyreplies:\"Why，haven\'tyoufinishedhereducation？\"
Sheappearednottounderstand，andcontinuedtalkinginafriendlyway。Butshenoticedasolemnlookingman，wearingaperfectconstellationofcrossesandorders，standingnearher，andsherantohim；
\"AhPrince，Prince，whatgoodfortune！\"
ServignytookSaval\'sarmanddrewhimaway:
\"Thatisthelatestserioussuitor，PrinceKravalow。Isn\'tshesuperb？\"
\"Tomymindtheyarebothsuperb。Themotherwouldsufficeformeperfectly，\"answeredSaval。
Servignynoddedandsaid:\"Atyourdisposal，mydearboy。\"
Thedancerselbowedthemaside，astheywereformingforaquadrille。
\"Nowletusgoandseethesharpers，\"saidServigny。Andtheyenteredthegambling-room。
Aroundeachtablestoodagroupofmen，lookingon。Therewasverylittleconversation。Attimestheclinkofgoldcoins，tosseduponthegreenclothorhastilyseized，addeditssoundtothemurmuroftheplayers，justasifthemoneywasputtinginitswordamongthehumanvoices。
Allthemenweredecoratedwithvariousorders，andoddribbons，andtheyallworethesamesevereexpression，withdifferentcountenances。Theespeciallydistinguishingfeaturewasthebeard。
ThestiffAmericanwithhishorseshoe，thehaughtyEnglishmanwithhisfan-beardopenonhisbreast，theSpaniardwithhisblackfleecereachingtotheeyes，theRomanwiththathugemustachewhichItalycopiedfromVictorEmmanuel，theAustrianwithhiswhiskersandshavedchin，aRussiangeneralwhoselipseemedarmedwithtwotwistedlances，andaFrenchmanwithadaintymustache，displayedthefanciesofallthebarbersintheworld。
\"Youwon\'tjointhegame？\"askedServigny。
\"No，shallyou？\"
\"Notnow。Ifyouarereadytogo，wewillcomebacksomequieterday。Therearetoomanypeoplehereto-day，andwecan\'tdoanything。\"
\"Well，letusgo。\"
Andtheydisappearedbehindadoor-curtainintothehall。AssoonastheywereinthestreetServignyasked:\"Well，whatdoyouthinkofit？\"
\"Itcertainlyisinteresting，butIfancythewomen\'ssideofitmorethanthemen\'s。\"
\"Indeed！Thosewomenarethebestofthetribeforus。Don\'tyoufindthatyoubreathetheodorofloveamongthem，justasyouscenttheperfumesatahairdresser\'s？\"
\"Reallysuchhousesaretheplaceforonetogo。Andwhatexperts，mydearfellow！Whatartists！Haveyouevereatenbakers\'cakes？
Theylookwell，buttheyamounttonothing。Themanwhobakesthemonlyknowshowtomakebread。Well！theloveofawomaninordinarysocietyalwaysremindsmeofthesebake-shoptrifles，whiletheloveyoufindathousesliketheMarquiseObardi\'s，don\'tyousee，istherealsweetmeat。Oh！theyknowhowtomakecakes，thesecharmingpastry-cooks。Onlyyoupayfivesous，attheirshops，forwhatcoststwosouselsewhere。\"
\"Whoisthemasterofthehousejustnow？\"askedSaval。
Servignyshruggedhisshoulders，signifyinghisignorance。
\"Idon\'tknow，thelatestoneknownwasanEnglishpeer，butheleftthreemonthsago。Atpresentshemustliveoffthecommonherd，orthegambling，perhaps，andonthegamblers，forshehashercaprices。Buttellme，itisunderstoodthatwedinewithheronSaturdayatBougival，isitnot？Peoplearemorefreeinthecountry，andIshallsucceedinfindingoutwhatideasYvettehasinherhead！\"
\"Ishouldlikenothingbetter，\"repliedSaval。\"Ihavenothingtodothatday。\"
PassingdownthroughtheChamps-Elysees，underthestepstheydisturbedacouplemakingloveononeofthebenches，andServignymuttered:\"Whatfoolishnessandwhataseriousmatteratthesametime！Howcommonplaceandamusingloveis，alwaysthesameandalwaysdifferent！AndthebeggarwhogiveshissweethearttwentysousgetsasmuchreturnasIwouldfortenthousandfrancsfromsomeObardi，noyoungerandnolessstupidperhapsthanthisnondescript。Whatnonsense！\"
Hesaidnothingforafewminutes；thenhebeganagain:\"Allthesame，itwouldbegoodtobecomeYvette\'sfirstlover。Oh！forthatIwouldgive——\"
Hedidnotaddwhathewouldgive，andSavalsaidgoodnighttohimastheyreachedthecorneroftheRueRoyale。
CHAPTERII。
BougivalandLoveTheyhadsetthetableontheverandawhichoverlookedtheriver。
ThePrintempsvilla，leasedbytheMarquiseObardi，washalfwayupthishill，justatthecorneroftheSeine，whichturnedbeforethegardenwall，flowingtowardMarly。
Oppositetheresidence，theislandofCroissyformedahorizonoftalltrees，amassofverdure，andtheycouldseealongstretchofthebigriverasfarasthefloatingcafeofLaGrenouillerehiddenbeneaththefoliage。
Theeveningfell，oneofthosecalmeveningsatthewaterside，fullofcoloryetsoft，oneofthosepeacefuleveningswhichproducesasensationofpleasure。Nobreathofairstirredthebranches，noshiverofwindruffledthesmoothclearsurfaceoftheSeine。Itwasnottoowarm，itwasmild——goodweathertolivein。ThegratefulcoolnessofthebanksoftheSeinerosetowardaserenesky。
Thesundisappearedbehindthetreestoshineonotherlands，andoneseemedtoabsorbtheserenityofthealreadysleepingearth，toinhale，inthepeaceofspace，thelifeoftheinfinite。
Astheyleftthedrawing-roomtoseatthemselvesatthetableeveryonewasjoyous。Asoftenedgaietyfilledtheirhearts，theyfeltthatitwouldbesodelightfultodinethereinthecountry，withthatgreatriverandthattwilightforasetting，breathingthatpureandfragrantair。
TheMarquisehadtakenSaval\'sarm，andYvette，Servigny\'s。Thefourwerealonebythemselves。ThetwowomenseemedentirelydifferentpersonsfromwhattheywereatParis，especiallyYvette。Shetalkedbutlittle，andseemedlanguidandgrave。
Saval，hardlyrecognizingherinthisframeofmind，askedher:
\"Whatisthematter，Mademoiselle？Ifindyouchangedsincelastweek。Youhavebecomequiteaseriousperson。\"
\"Itisthecountrythatdoesthatforme，\"shereplied。\"Iamnotthesame，Ifeelqueer；besidesIamnevertwodaysalike。To-dayI
havetheairofamadwoman，andto-morrowshallbeasgraveasanelegy。Ichangewiththeweather，Idon\'tknowwhy。Yousee，Iamcapableofanything，accordingtothemoment。TherearedayswhenI
wouldliketokillpeople，——notanimals，Iwouldneverkillanimals，——butpeople，yes，andotherdayswhenIweepatamerething。Alotofdifferentideaspassthroughmyhead。Itdepends，too，agooddealonhowIgetup。Everymorning，onwaking，IcantelljustwhatIshallbeintheevening。Perhapsitisourdreamsthatsettleitforus，anditdependsonthebookIhavejustread。\"
Shewascladinawhiteflannelsuitwhichdelicatelyenvelopedherinthefloatingsoftnessofthematerial。Herbodice，withfullfolds，suggested，withoutdisplayingandwithoutrestraining，herfreechest，whichwasfirmandalreadyripe。Andhersuperbneckemergedfromafrothofsoftlace，bendingwithgentlemovements，fairerthanhergown，apilasterofflesh，bearingtheheavymassofhergoldenhair。
Servignylookedatherforalongtime:\"Youareadorablethisevening，Mam\'zelle，\"saidhe，\"IwishIcouldalwaysseeyoulikethis。\"
\"Don\'tmakeadeclaration，Muscade。Ishouldtakeitseriously，andthatmightcostyoudear。\"
TheMarquiseseemedhappy，veryhappy。Allinblack，richlydressedinaplaingownwhichshowedherstrong，fulllines，abitofredatthebodice，acinctureofredcarnationsfallingfromherwaistlikeachain，andfastenedatthehips，andaredroseinherdarkhair，shecarriedinallherpersonsomethingfervid，——inthatsimplecostume，inthoseflowerswhichseemedtobleed，inherlook，inherslowspeech，inherpeculiargestures。
Saval，too，appearedseriousandabsorbed。Fromtimetotimehestrokedhispointedbeard，trimmedinthefashionofHenriIII。，andseemedtobemeditatingonthemostprofoundsubjects。
Nobodyspokeforseveralminutes。Thenastheywereservingthetrout，Servignyremarked:
\"Silenceisagoodthing，attimes。Peopleareoftennearertoeachotherwhentheyarekeepingstillthanwhentheyaretalking。Isn\'tthatso，Marquise？\"
Sheturnedalittletowardhimandanswered:
\"Itisquitetrue。Itissosweettothinktogetheraboutagreeablethings。\"
SheraisedherwarmglancetowardSaval，andtheycontinuedforsomesecondslookingintoeachother\'seyes。Aslight，almostinaudiblemovementtookplacebeneaththetable。
Servignyresumed:\"Mam\'zelleYvette，youwillmakemebelievethatyouareinloveifyoukeeponbeingasgoodasthat。Now，withwhomcouldyoubeinlove？Letusthinktogether，ifyouwill；Iputasidethearmyofvulgarsighers。I\'llonlytaketheprincipalones。
IsitPrinceKravalow？\"
AtthisnameYvetteawoke:\"MypoorMuscade，canyouthinkofsuchathing？Why，thePrincehastheairofaRussianinawax-figuremuseum，whohaswonmedalsinahairdressingcompetition。\"
\"Good！We\'lldropthePrince。ButyouhavenoticedtheViscountPierredeBelvigne？\"
Thistimeshebegantolaugh，andasked:\"Canyouimaginemehangingtotheneckof\'Raisine\'？\"Shenicknamedhimaccordingtotheday，Raisine，Malvoisie，[Footnote:Preservedgrapesandpears，malmsey，——
apoorwine。]Argenteuil，forshegaveeverybodynicknames。Andshewouldmurmurtohisface:\"MydearlittlePierre，\"or\"MydivinePedro，darlingPierrot，giveyourbow-wow\'sheadtoyourdearlittlegirl，whowantstokissit。\"
\"Scratchoutnumbertwo。TherestillremainstheChevalierValrealiwhomtheMarquiseseemstofavor，\"continuedServigny。