"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。