continuing to put his hand in the bag. Madame Felix de Vandenesse was
to return in a few days, a month earlier than usual, brought back, of
course, by her unconquerable desire to see Nathan, who felt that he
could not be short of money at a time when he renewed that assiduous
life.

Correspondence, in which the pen is always bolder than speech, and
thought, wreathing itself with flowers, allows itself to be seen without
disguise, and brought the countess to the highest pitch of enthusiasm.
She believed she saw in Raoul one of the noblest spirits of the epoch,
a delicate but misjudged heart without a stain and worthy of adoration;
she saw him advancing with a brave hand to grasp the sceptre of power.
Soon that speech so beautiful in love would echo from the tribune. Marie
now lived only in this life of a world outside her own. Her taste was
lost for the tranquil joys of home, and she gave herself up to the
agitations of this whirlwind life communicated by a clever and adoring
pen. She kissed Raoul's letters, written in the midst of the ceaseless
battles of the press, with time taken from necessary studies; she felt
their value; she was certain of being loved, and loved only, with no
rival but the fame and ambition he adored. She found enough in her
country solitude to fill her soul and employ her faculties,--happy,
indeed, to have been so chosen by such a man, who to her was an angel.

During the last days of autumn Marie and Raoul again met and renewed
their walks in the Bois, where alone they could see each other until
the salons reopened. But when the winter fairly began, Raoul appeared in
social life at his apogee. He was almost a personage. Rastignac, now
out of power with the ministry, which went to pieces on the death of de
Marsay, leaned upon Nathan, and gave him in return the warmest praise.
Madame de Vandenesse, feeling this change in public opinion, was
desirous of knowing if her husband's judgment had altered also. She
questioned him again; perhaps with the hope of obtaining one of those
brilliant revenges which please all women, even the noblest and least
worldly,--for may we not believe that even the angels retain some
portion of their self-love as they gather in serried ranks before the
Holy of Holies?

"Nothing was wanting to Raoul Nathan but to be the dupe he now is to a
parcel of intriguing sharpers," replied the count.

Felix, whose knowledge of the world and politics enabled him to judge
clearly,