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Page 33
"La-ces," said Gazonal, perceiving that he would have to pay for his
supper. "It will give me the greatest pleasure to offer you a dress--a
scarf--a mantilla of my make."
"Ah, three things! Well, you are nicer than you look to be," returned
Carabine.
"Paris has caught me!" thought Gazonal, now perceiving Jenny Cadine,
and going up to her.
"And I," said the actress, "what am I to have?"
"All I possess," replied Gazonal, thinking that to offer all was to
give nothing.
Massol, Claude Vignon, du Tillet, Maxime de Trailles, Nucingen, du
Bruel, Malaga, Monsieur and Madame Gaillard, Vauvinet, and a crowd of
other personages now entered.
After a conversation with the manufacturer on the subject of his suit,
Massol, without making any promises, told him that the report was not
yet written, and that citizens could always rely on the knowledge and
the independence of the Council of State. Receiving that cold and
dignified response, Gazonal, in despair, thought it necessary to set
about seducing the charming Jenny, with whom he was by this time in
love. Leon de Lora and Bixiou left their victim in the hands of that
most roguish and frolicsome member of the anomalous society,--for
Jenny Cadine is the sole rival in that respect of the famous Dejazet.
At the supper-table, where Gazonal was fascinated by a silver service
made by the modern Benvenuto Cellini, Froment-Meurice, the contents of
which were worthy of the container, his mischievous friends were
careful to sit at some distance from him; but they followed with
cautious eye the manoeuvres of the clever actress, who, being
attracted by the insidious hope of getting her furniture renewed, was
playing her cards to take the provincial home with her. No sheep upon
the day of the Fete-Dieu ever more meekly allowed his little Saint
John to lead him along than Gazonal as he followed his siren.
Three days later, Leon and Bixiou, who had not seen Gazonal since that
evening, went to his lodgings about two in the afternoon.
"Well, cousin," said Leon, "the Council of State has decided in favour
of your suit."
"Maybe, but it is useless now, cousin," said Gazonal, lifting a
melancholy eye to his two friends. "I've become a republican."
"What does that mean?" asked Leon.
"I haven't anything left; not even enough to pay my lawyer," replied
Gazonal. "Madame Jenny Cadine has got notes of hand out of me to the
amount of more money than all the property I own--"
"The fact is Cadine is rather dear; but--"
"Oh, but I didn't get anything for my money," said Gazonal. "What a
woman! Well, I'll own the provinces are not a match for Paris; I shall
retire to La Trappe."
"Good!" said Bixiou, "now you are reasonable. Come, recognize the
majesty of the capital."
"And of capital," added Leon, holding out to Gazonal his notes of
hand.
Gazonal gazed at the papers with a stupefied air.
"You can't say now that we don't understand the duties of hospitality;
haven't we educated you, saved you from poverty, feasted you, and
amused you?" said Bixiou.
"AND fooled you," added Leon, making the gesture of gamins to express
the action of picking pockets.
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.
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