*** An Ultra, condemning M. Pasquier's speech, said his programme
was only a continuation of Decaze's policy. "Yes," said a lady,
"but he stands on a Monarchical basis, he has just the kind of leg
for a Court suit."

"With such a beginning, I don't ask more of you," said Finot; "it will
be all right.--Run round with this," he added, turning to the boy; "the
paper is not exactly a genuine article, but it is our best number yet,"
and he turned to the group of writers. Already Lucien's colleagues were
privately taking his measure.

"That fellow has brains," said Blondet.

"His article is well written," said Claude Vignon.

"Supper!" cried Matifat.

The Duke gave his arm to Florine, Coralie went across to Lucien, and
Tullia went in to supper between Emile Blondet and the German Minister.

"I cannot understand why you are making an onslaught on Mme. de Bargeton
and the Baron du Chatelet; they say that he is prefect-designate of the
Charente, and will be Master of Requests some day."

"Mme. de Bargeton showed Lucien the door as if he had been an imposter,"
said Lousteau.

"Such a fine young fellow!" exclaimed the Minister.

Supper, served with new plate, Sevres porcelain, and white damask, was
redolent of opulence. The dishes were from Chevet, the wines from a
celebrated merchant on the Quai Saint-Bernard, a personal friend
of Matifat's. For the first time Lucien beheld the luxury of Paris
displayed; he went from surprise to surprise, but he kept his
astonishment to himself, like a man who had spirit and taste and wrote
like a gentleman, as Blondet had said.

As they crossed the drawing-room, Coralie bent to Florine, "Make
Camusot so drunk that he will be compelled to stop here all night," she
whispered.

"So you have hooked your journalist, have you?" returned Florine, using
the idiom of women of her class.

"No, dear; I love him," said Coralie, with an adorable little shrug of
the shoulders.

Those words rang in Lucien's ears, borne to them by the fifth deadly
sin. Coralie was perfectly dressed. Every woman possesses some personal
charm in perfection, and Coralie's toilette brought her characteristic
beauty into prominence. Her dress, moreover, like Florine's, was of some
exquisite stuff, unknown as yet to the public, a _mousseline de soie_,
with which Camusot had been supplied a few days before the rest of the
world; for, as owner of the _Golden Cocoon_, he was a kind of Providence
in Paris to