Chapter X

by Emile Zola

　　Thereupon Nana became a smart woman, mistress of all that is foolishand filthy in man, marquise in the ranks of her calling. It was asudden but decisive start, a plunge into the garish day of gallantnotoriety and mad expenditure and that daredevil wastefulnesspeculiar to beauty. She at once became queen among the mostexpensive of her kind. Her photographs were displayed inshopwindows, and she was mentioned in the papers. When she drove inher carriage along the boulevards the people would turn and tell oneanother who that was with all the unction of a nation saluting itssovereign, while the object of their adoration lolled easily back inher diaphanous dresses and smiled gaily under the rain of littlegolden curls which ran riot above the blue of her made-up eyes andthe red of her painted lips. And the wonder of wonders was that thegreat creature, who was so awkward on the stage, so very absurd themoment she sought to act the chaste woman, was able without effortto assume the role of an enchantress in the outer world. Hermovements were lithe as a serpent's, and the studied and yetseemingly involuntary carelessness with which she dressed was reallyexquisite in its elegance. There was a nervous distinction in allshe did which suggested a wellborn Persian cat; she was anaristocrat in vice and proudly and rebelliously trampled upon aprostrate Paris like a sovereign whom none dare disobey. She setthe fashion, and great ladies imitated her.Nana's fine house was situated at the hangingscorner of the Rue Cardinet, inthe Avenue de Villiers. The avenue was part of the luxuriousquarter at that time springing up in the vague district which hadonce been the Plaine Monceau. The house had been built by a youngpainter, who was intoxicated by a first success, and had beenperforce resold almost as soon as it was habitable. It was in thepalatial Renaissance manner and had fantastic interior arrangementswhich consisted of modern conveniences framed in a setting ofsomewhat artificial originality. Count Muffat had bought the houseready furnished and full of hosts of beautiful objects--lovelyEastern hangings, old credences, huge chairs of the Louis XIIIepoch. And thus Nana had come into artistic surroundings of thechoicest kind and of the most extravagantly various dates. Butsince the studio, which occupied the central portion of the house,could not be of any use to her, she had upset existing arrangements,establishing a small drawing room on the first floor, next to herbedroom and dressing room, and leaving a conservatory, a largedrawing room and a dining room to look after themselves underneath.She astonished the architect with her ideas, for, as became aParisian workgirl who understands the elegancies of life byinstinct, she had suddenly developed a very pretty taste for everyspecies of luxurious refinement. Indeed, she did not spoil herhouse overmuch; nay, she even added to the richness of thefurniture, save here and there, where certain traces of tenderfoolishness and vulgar magnificence betrayed the ex-flower sellerwho had been wont to dream in front of shopwindows in the arcades.A carpet was spread on the steps beneath the great awning over thefront door in the court, and the moment you entered the hall youwere greeted by a perfume as of violets and a soft, warm atmospherewhich thick hangings helped to produce. A window, whose yellow- androse-colored panes suggested the warm pallor of human flesh, gavelight to the wide staircase, at the foot of which a Negro in carvedwood held out a silver tray full of visiting cards and four whitemarble women, with bosoms displayed, raised lamps in their upliftedhands. Bronzes and Chinese vases full of flowers, divans coveredwith old Persian rugs, armchairs upholstered in old tapestry,furnished the entrance hall, adorned the stairheads and gave thefirst-floor landing the appearance of an anteroom. Here men'sovercoats and hats were always in evidence, and there were thickhangings which deadened every sound. It seemed a place apart: onentering it you might have fancied yourself in a chapel, whose veryair was thrilling with devotion, whose very silence and seclusionwere fraught with mystery.Nana only opened the large and somewhat too-sumptuous Louis XVIdrawing room on those gala nights when she received society from theTuileries or strangers of distinction. Ordinarily she only camedownstairs at mealtimes, and she woul of the finest needlework. Armchairswide as beds and sofas deep as alcoves suggested voluptuous idlenessand the somnolent life of the seraglio. The prevailing tone of theroom was old gold blended with green and red, and nothing itcontained too forcibly indicated the presence of the courtesan savethe luxuriousness of the seats. Only two "biscuit" statuettes, awoman in her shift, hunting for fleas, and another with nothing atall on, walking on her hands and waving her feet in the air,sufficed to sully the room with a note of stupid originality.Through a door, which was nearly always ajar, the dressing room wasvisible. It was all in marble and glass with a white bath, silverjugs and basins and crystal and ivory appointments. A drawn curtainfilled the place with a clear twilight which seemed to slumber inthe warm scent of violets, that suggestive perfume peculiar to Nanawherewith the whole house, from the roof to the very courtyard, waspenetrated.The furnishing of the house was a most important undertaking. Nanacertainly had Zoe with her, that girl so devoted to her fortunes.For months she had been tranquilly awaiting this abrupt, newdeparture, as became a woman who was certain of her powers ofprescience, and now she was triumphant; she was mistress of thehouse and was putting by a round sum while serving Madame ashonestly as possible. But a solitary lady's maid wasd feel rather lost on such daysas she lunched by herself in the lofty dining room with its Gobelintapestry and its monumental sideboard, adorned with old porcelainand marvelous pieces of ancient plate. She used to go upstairsagain as quickly as possible, for her home was on the first floor,in the three rooms, the bed, dressing and small drawing room abovedescribed. Twice already she had done the bedchamber up anew: onthe first occasion in mauve satin, on the second in blue silk underlace. But she had not been satisfied with this; it had struck heras "nohowish," and she was still unsuccessfully seeking for newcolors and designs. On the elaborately upholstered bed, which wasas low as a so no longersufficient. A butler, a coachman, a porter and a cook were wanted.Besides, it was necessary to fill the stables. It was then thatLabordette made himself most useful. He undertook to perform allsorts of errands which bored the count; he made a comfortable job ofthe purchase of horses; he visited the coachbuilders; he guided theyoung woman in her choice of things. She was to be met with at theshops, leaning on his arm. Labordette even got in the servants--Charles, a great, tall coachman, who had been in service with theDuc de Corbreuse; Julien, a little, smiling, much-becurled butler,and a married couple, of whom the wife Victorine became cook whilethe husband Francois was taken on as porter and footman. The lastmentioned in powder and breeches wore Nana's livery, which was asky-blue one adorned with silver lace, and he received visitors inthe hall. The whole thing was princely in the correctness of itsstyle.At the end of two months the house was set going. The cost had beenmore than three hundred thousand francs. There were eight horses inthe stables, and five carriages in the coach houses, and of thesefive one was a landau with silver embellishments, which for themoment occupied the attention of all Paris. And amid this greatwealth Nana began settling down and making her nest. After thethird representation of the Petite Duchesse she had quitted thetheater, leaving Bordenave to struggle on against a bankruptcywhich, despite the count's money, was imminent. Nevertheless, shewas still bitter about her failure. It added to that otherbitterness, the lesson Fontan had given her, a shameful lesson forwhich she held all men responsible. Accordingly she now declaredherself very firm and quite proof against sudden infatuations, butthoughts of vengeance took no hold of her volatile brain. What didmaintain a hold on it in the hours when she was not indignant was anever-wakeful lust of expenditure, added to a natural contempt forthe man who paid and to a perpetual passion for consumption andwaste, which took pride in the ruin of her lovers.At starting Nana put the count on a proper footing and clearlymapped out the conditions of their relationship. The count gavetwelve thousand francs monthly, presents excepted, and demandednothing in return save absolute fidelity. She swore fidelity butinsisted also on being treated with the utmost consideration, onenjoying complete liberty as mistress of the house and on having herevery wish respected. For instance, she was to receive her friendsevery day, and he was to come only at stated times. In a word, hewas to repose a blind confidence in her in everything. And when hewas seized with jealous anxiety and hesitated to grant what shewanted, she stood on her dignity and threatened to give him back allhe had given or even swore by little Louiset to perform what shepromised. This was to suffice him. There was no love where mutualesteem was wanting. At the end of the first month Muffat respectedher.But she desired and obtained still more. Soon she began toinfluence him, as became a good-natured courtesan. When he came toher in a moody condition she cheered him up, confessed him and thengave him good advice. Little by little she interested herself inthe annoyanceut ofthe troubled waters.One morning when Muffat had not yet left the bedroom Zoe ushered agentleman into the dressing room, where Nana was changing herunderwear. He was trembling violently."Good gracious! It's Zizi!" said the young woman in greatastonishment.It was, indeed, Georges. But when he saw her in her shift, with hergolden hair over her bare shoulders, he threw his arms round herneck and round her waist and kissed her in all directions. Shebegan struggling to get free, for she was frightened, and insmothered tones she stammered:"Do leave off! He's there! Oh, it's silly of you! And you, Zoe,are you out of your senses? Take him away and keep him downstairs;I'll try and come down."Zoe had to push him in front of her. When Nana was able to rejointhem in the drawing room downstairs she scolded them both, and Zoepursed up her lips and took her departure with a vexed expression,remarking that she had only been anxious to give Madame a pleasure.Georges was so glad to see Nana again and gazed at her with suchdelight that his fine eyes began filling with tears. The miserabledays were over now; his mother believed him to have grown reasonableand had allowed him to leave Les Fondettes. Accordingly, the momenthe had reached the terminus, he had got a conveyance in order themore quickly to come and kiss his sweet darling. He spoke of livingat her sids of his home life, in his wife, in his daughter, inhis love affairs and financial difficulties; she was very sensible,very fair and right-minded. On one occasion only did she let angerget the better of her, and that was when he confided to her thatdoubtless Daguenet was going to ask for his daughter Estelle inmarriage. When the count began making himself notorious Daguenethad thought it a wise move to break off with Nana. He had treatedher like a base hussy and had sworn to snatch his future father-in-law out of the creature's clutches. In return Nana abused her oldMimi in a charming fashion. He was a renegade who had devoured hisfortune in the company of vile women; he had no moral sense. True,he did not let them pay him money, but he profited by that of othersand only repaid them at rare intervals with a bouquet or a dinner.And when the count seemed inclined to find excuses for thesefailings she bluntly informed him that Daguenet had enjoyed herfavors, and she added disgusting particulars. Muffat had grownashen-pale. There was no question of the young man now. This wouldteach him to be lacking in gratitude!Meanwhile the house had not been entirely furnished, when oneevening after she had lavished the most energetic promises offidelity on Muffat Nana kept the Count Xavier de Vandeuvres for thenight. For the last fortnight he had been paying her assiduouscourt, visiting her and sending presents of flowers, and now shegave way not so much out of sudden infatuation as to prove that shewas a free woman. The idea of gain followed later when, the dayafter, Vandeuvres helped her to pay a bill which she did not wish tomention to the other man. From Vandeuvres she would certainlyderive from eight to ten thousand francs a month, and this wouldprove very useful as pocket money. In those days he was finishingthe last of his fortune in an access of burning, feverish folly.His horses and Lucy had devoured three of his farms, and at one gulpNana was going to swallow his last chateau, near Amiens. He seemedin a hurry to sweep everything away, down to the ruins of the oldtower built by a Vandeuvres under Philip Augustus. He was mad forruin and thought it a great thing to leave the last golden bezantsof his coat of arms in the grasp of this courtesan, whom the worldof Paris desired. He, too, accepted Nana's conditions, leaving herentire freedom of action and claiming her caresses only on certaindays. He was not even naively impassioned enough to require her tomake vows. Muffat suspected nothing. As to Vandeuvres, he knewthings would take place for a certainty, but he never made the leastallusion to them and pretended total ignorance, while his lips worethe subtle smile of the skeptical man of pleasure who does not seekthe impossible, provided he can have his day and that Paris is awareof it.From that time forth Nana's house was really properly appointed.The staff of servants was complete in the stable, in the kitchen andin my lady's chamber. Zoe organized everything and passedsuccessfully through the most unforeseen difficulties. Thehousehold moved as easily as the scenery in a theater and wasregulated like a grand administrative concern. Indeed, it workedwith such precision that during the early months there were no jarsand no derangements. Madame, however, pained Zoe extremely with herimprudent acts, her sudden fits of unwisdom, her mad bravado. Stillthe lady's maid grew gradually lenient, for she had noticed that shemade increased profits in seasons of wanton waste when Madame hadcommitted a folly which must be made up for. It was then that thepresents began raining on her, and she fished up many a louis oe infuture, as he used to do down in the country when hewaited for her, barefooted, in the bedroom at La Mignotte. And ashe told her about himself, he let his fingers creep forward, for helonged to touch her after that cruel year of separation. Then hegot possession of her hands, felt about the wide sleeves of herdressing jacket, traveled up as far as her shoulders."You still love your baby?" he asked in his child voice."Oh, I certainly love him!" answered Nana, briskly getting out ofhis clutches. "But you come popping in without warning. You know,my little man, I'm not my own mistress; you must be good!"Georges, when he got out of his cab, had been so dizzy with thefeeling that his long desire was at last about to be satisfied thathe had not even noticed what sort of house he was entering. But nowhe became conscious of a change in the things around him. Heexamined the sumptuous dining room with its lofty decorated ceiling,its Gobelin hangings, its buffet blazing with plate."Yes, yes!" he remarked sadly.And with that she made him understand that he was never to come inthe mornings but between four and six in the afternoon, if he caredto. That was her reception time. Then as he looked at her withsuppliant, questioning eyes and craved no boon at all, she, in herturn, kissed him on the forehead in the most amiable way."Be very good," she whispered. "I'll do all I can."But the truth was that this remark now meant nothing. She thoughtGeorges very nice and would have liked him as a companion, but asnothing else. Nevertheless, when he arrived daily at four o'clockhe seemed so wretched that she was often fain to be as compliant asof old and would hide him in cupboards and constantly allow him topick up the crumbs from Beauty's table. He hardly ever left thehouse now and became as much one of its inmates as the little dogBijou. Together they nestled among Mistress's skirts and enjoyed alittle of her at a time, even when she was with another man, whiledoles of sugar and stray caresses not seldom fell to their share inher hours of loneliness and boredom.Doubtless Mme Hugon found out that the lad had again returned tothat wicked woman's arms, for she hurried up to Paris and came andsought aid from her other son, the Lieutenant Philippe, who was thenin garrison at Vincennes. Georges, who was hiding from his elderbrother, was seized with despairing apprehension, for he feared thelatter might adopt violent tactics, and as his tenderness for Nanawas so nervously expansive that he could not keep anything from her,he soon began talking of nothing but his big brother, a great,strong fellow, who was capable of all kinds of things."You know," he explained, "Mamma won't come to you while she cansend my brother. Oh, she'll certainly send Philippe to fetch me."The first time he said this Nana was deeply wounded. She saidfrigidly:"Gracious me, I should like to see him come! For all that he's alieutenant in the army, Francois will chuck him out in double-quicktime!"Soon, as the lad kept returning to the subject of his brother, sheended by taking a certain interest in Philippe, and in a week's timeshe knew him from head to foot--knew him as very tall and verystrong and merry and somewhat rough. She learned intimate details,too, and found out that he had hair on his arms and a birthmark onhis shoulder. So thoroughly did she learn her lesson that one day,when she was full of the image of the man who was to be turned outof doors by her orders, she cried out:"I say, Zizi, your brother's not coming. He's a base deserter!"The next day, when Georges and Nana were alone together, Francoiscame upstairs to ask whether Madame would receive LieutenantPhilippe Hugon. Georges grew extremely white and murmured:"I suspected it; Mamma was talking about it this morning."And he besought the young woman to send down word that she could notsee visitors. But she was already on her feet and seemed all aflameas she said:"Why should I not see him? He would think me afraid. Dear me,we'll have a good laugh! Just leave the gentleman in the drawingroom for a quarter of an hour, Francois; afterward bring him up tome."She did not sit down again but began pacing feverishly to and frobetween the fireplace and a Venetian mirror hanging above an Italianchest. And each time she reached the latter she glanced at theglass and tried the effect of a smile, while Georges sat nervouslyon a sofa, trembling at the thought of the coming scene. As shewalked up and down she kept jerking out such little phrases as:"It will calm the fellow down if he has to wait a quarter of anhour. Besides, if he thinks he's calling on a tottie the drawingroom will stun him! Yes, yes, have a good look at everything, myfine fellow! It isn't imitation, and it'll teach you to respect thelady who owns it. Respect's what men need to feel! The quarter ofan hour's gone by, eh? No? Only ten minutes? Oh, we've got plentyof time."She did not stay where she was, however. At the end of the quarterof an hour she sent Georges away after making him solemnly promisenot to listen at the door, as such conduct would scarcely lookproper in case the servants saw him. As he went into her bedroomZizi ventured in a choking sort of way to remark:"It's my brother, you know--""Don't you fear," she said with much dignity; "if he's polite I'llbe polite."Francois ushered in Philippe Hugon, who wore morning dress. Georgesbegan crossing on tiptoe on the other side of the room, for he wasanxious to obey the young woman. But the sound of voices retainedhim, and he hesitated in such anguish of mind that his knees gaveway under him. He began imagining that a dread catastrophe wouldbefall, that blows would be struck, that something abominable wouldhappen, which would make Nana everlastingly odious to him. And sohe could not withstand the temptation to come back and put his earagainst the door. He heard very ill, for the thick portieresdeadened every sound, but he managed to catch certain words spokenby Philippe, stern phrases in which such terms as "mere child,""family," "honor," were distinctly audible. He was so anxious abouthis darling's possible answers that his heart beat violently andfilled his head with a confused, buzzing noise. She was sure togive vent to a "Dirty blackguard!" or to a "Leave me bloody wellalone! I'm in my own house!" But nothing happened--not a breathcame from her direction. Nana seemed dead in there! Soon even hisbrother's voice grew gentler, and he could not make it out at all,when a strange murmuring sound finally stupefied him. Nana wassobbing! For a moment or two he was the prey of contending feelingsand knew not whether to run away or to fall upon Philippe. But justthen Zoe came into the room, and he withdrew from the door, ashamedat being thus surprised.She began quietly to put some linen away in a cupboard while hestood mute and motionless, pressing his forehead against awindowpane. He was tortured by uncertainty. After a short silencethe woman asked:"It's your brother that's with Madame?""Yes," replied the lad in a choking voice.There was a fresh silence."And it makes you anxious, doesn't it, Monsieur Georges?""Yes," he rejoined in the same painful, suffering tone.Zoe was in no hurry. She folded up some lace and said slowly:"You're wrong; Madame will manage it all."And then the conversation ended; they said not another word. Stillshe did not leave the room. A long quarter of an hour passed, andshe turned round again without seeming to notice the look ofexasperation overspreading the lad's face, which was already whitewith the effects of uncertainty and constraint. He was castingsidelong glances in the direction of the drawing room.Maybe Nana was still crying. The other must have grown savage andhave dealt her blows. Thus when Zoe finally took her departure heran to the door and once more pressed his ear against it. He wasthunderstruck; his head swam, for he heard a brisk outburst ofgaiety, tender, whispering voices and the smothered giggles of awoman who is being tickled. Besides, almost directly afterward,Nana conducted Philippe to the head of the stairs, and there was anexchange of cordial and familiar phrases.When Georges again ventured into the drawing room the young womanwas standing before the mirror, looking at herself."Well?" he asked in utter bewilderment."Well, what?" she said without turning round. Then negligently:"What did you mean? He's very nice, is your brother!""So it's all right, is it?""Oh, certainly it's all right! Goodness me, what's come over you?One would have thought we were going to fight!"Georges still failed to understand."I thought I heard--that is, you didn't cry?" he stammered out."Me cry!" she exclaimed, looking fixedly at him. "Why, you'redreaming! What makes you think I cried?"Thereupon the lad was treated to a distressing scene for havingdisobeyed and played Paul Pry behind the door. She sulked, and hereturned with coaxing submissiveness to the old subject, for hewished to know all about it."And my brother then?""Your brother saw where he was at once. You know, I might have beena tottie, in which case his interference would have been accountedfor by your age and the family honor! Oh yes, I understand thosekinds of feelings! But a single glance was enough for him, and hebehaved like a well-bred man at once. So don't be anxious anylonger. It's all over--he's gone to quiet your mamma!"And she went on laughingly:"For that matter, you'll see your brother here. I've invited him,and he's going to return.""Oh, he's going to return," said the lad, growing white. He addednothing, and they ceased talking of Philippe. She began dressing togo out, and he watched her with his great, sad eyes. Doubtless hewas very glad that matters had got settled, for he would havepreferred death to a rupture of their connection, but deep down inhis heart there was a silent anguish, a profound sense of pain,which he had no experience of and dared not talk about. HowPhilippe quieted their mother's fears he never knew, but three dayslater she returned to Les Fondettes, apparently satisfied. On theevening of her return, at Nana's house, he trembled when Francoisannounced the lieutenant, but the latter jested gaily and treatedhim like a young rascal, whose escapade he had favored as somethingnot likely to have any consequences. The lad's heart was sorewithin him; he scarcely dared move and blushed girlishly at theleast word that was spoken to him. He had not lived much inPhilippe's society; he was ten years his junior, and he feared himas he would a father, from whom stories about women are concealed.Accordingly he experienced an uneasy sense of shame when he saw himso free in Nana's company and heard him laugh uproariously, asbecame a man who was plunging into a life of pleasure with the gustoborn of magnificent health. Nevertheless, when his brother shortlybegan to present himself every day, Georges ended by gettingsomewhat used to it all. Nana was radiant.This, her latest installation, had been involving all the riotouswaste attendant on the life of gallantry, and now her housewarmingwas being defiantly celebrated in a grand mansion positivelyoverflowing with males and with furniture.One afternoon when the Hugons were there Count Muffat arrived out ofhours. But when Zoe told him that Madame was with friends herefused to come in and took his departure discreetly, as became agallant gentleman. When he made his appearance again in the eveningNana received him with the frigid indignation of a grossly affrontedwoman."Sir," she said, "I have given you no cause why you should insultme. You must understand this: when I am at home to visitors, I begyou to make your appearance just like other people."The count simply gaped in astonishment. "But, my dear--" heendeavored to explain."Perhaps it was because I had visitors! Yes, there were men here,but what d'you suppose I was doing with those men? You onlyadvertise a woman's affairs when you act the discreet lover, and Idon't want to be advertised; I don't!"He obtained his pardon with difficulty, but at bottom he wasenchanted. It was with scenes such as these that she kept him inunquestioning and docile submission. She had long since succeededin imposing Georges on him as a young vagabond who, she declared,amused her. She made him dine with Philippe, and the count behavedwith great amiability. When they rose from table he took the youngman on one side and asked news of his mother. From that time forththe young Hugons, Vandeuvres and Muffat were openly about the houseand shook hands as guests and intimates might have done. It was amore convenient arrangement than the previous one. Muffat alonestill abstained discreetly from too-frequent visits, thus adheringto the ceremonious policy of an ordinary strange caller. At nightwhen Nana was sitting on her bearskins drawing off her stockings, hewould talk amicably about the other three gentlemen and lay especialstress on Philippe, who was loyalty itself."It's very true; they're nice," Nana would say as she lingered onthe floor to change her shift. "Only, you know, they see what I am.One word about it and I should chuck 'em all out of doors for you!"Nevertheless, despite her luxurious life and her group of courtiers,Nana was nearly bored to death. She had men for every minute of thenight, and money overflowed even among the brushes and combs in thedrawers of her dressing table. But all this had ceased to satisfyher; she felt that there was a void somewhere or other, an emptyplace provocative of yawns. Her life dragged on, devoid ofoccupation, and successive days only brought back the samemonotonous hours. Tomorrow had ceased to be; she lived like a bird:sure of her food and ready to perch and roost on any branch whichshe came to. This certainty of food and drink left her lollingeffortless for whole days, lulled her to sleep in conventualidleness and submission as though she were the prisoner of hertrade. Never going out except to drive, she was losing her walkingpowers. She reverted to low childish tastes, would kiss Bijou frommorning to night and kill time with stupid pleasures while waitingfor the man whose caresses she tolerated with an appearance ofcomplaisant lassitude. Amid this species of self-abandonment shenow took no thought about anything save her personal beauty; hersole care was to look after herself, to wash and to perfume herlimbs, as became one who was proud of being able to undress at anymoment and in face of anybody without having to blush for herimperfections.At ten in the morning Nana would get up. Bijou, the Scotch griffondog, used to lick her face and wake her, and then would ensue a gameof play lasting some five minutes, during which the dog would raceabout over her arms and legs and cause Count Muffat much distress.Bijou was the first little male he had ever been jealous of. It wasnot at all proper, he thought, that an animal should go poking itsnose under the bedclothes like that! After this Nana would proceedto her dressing room, where she took a bath. Toward eleven o'clockFrancois would come and do up her hair before beginning theelaborate manipulations of the afternoon.At breakfast, as she hated feeding alone, she nearly always had MmeMaloir at table with her. This lady would arrive from unknownregions in the morning, wearing her extravagantly quaint hats, andwould return at night to that mysterious existence of hers, aboutwhich no one ever troubled. But the hardest to bear were the two orthree hours between lunch and the toilet. On ordinary occasions sheproposed a game of bezique to her old friend; on others she wouldread the Figaro, in which the theatrical echoes and the fashionablenews interested her. Sometimes she even opened a book, for shefancied herself in literary matters. Her toilet kept her till closeon five o'clock, and then only she would wake from her daylongdrowse and drive out or receive a whole mob of men at her own house.She would often dine abroad and always go to bed very late, only torise again on the morrow with the same languor as before and tobegin another day, differing in nothing from its predecessor.The great distraction was to go to the Batignolles and see herlittle Louis at her aunt's. For a fortnight at a time she forgotall about him, and then would follow an access of maternal love, andshe would hurry off on foot with all the modesty and tendernessbecoming a good mother. On such occasions she would be the bearerof snuff for her aunt and of oranges and biscuits for the child, thekind of presents one takes to a hospital. Or again she would driveup in her landau on her return from the Bois, decked in costumes,the resplendence of which greatly excited the dwellers in thesolitary street. Since her niece's magnificent elevation Mme Lerathad been puffed up with vanity. She rarely presented herself in theAvenue de Villiers, for she was pleased to remark that it wasn't herplace to do so, but she enjoyed triumphs in her own street. She wasdelighted when the young woman arrived in dresses that had cost fouror five thousand francs and would be occupied during the whole ofthe next day in showing off her presents and in citing prices whichquite stupefied the neighbors. As often as not, Nana kept Sundayfree for the sake of "her family," and on such occasions, if Muffatinvited her, she would refuse with the smile of a good littleshopwoman. It was impossible, she would answer; she was dining ather aunt's; she was going to see Baby. Moreover, that poor littleman Louiset was always ill. He was almost three years old, growingquite a great boy! But he had had an eczema on the back of hisneck, and now concretions were forming in his ears, which pointed,it was feared, to decay of the bones of the skull. When she saw howpale he looked, with his spoiled blood and his flabby flesh all outin yellow patches, she would become serious, but her principalfeeling would be one of astonishment. What could be the matter withthe little love that he should grow so weakly? She, his mother, wasso strong and well!On the days when her child did not engross attention Nana wouldagain sink back into the noisy monotony of her existence, with itsdrives in the Bois, first nights at the theater, dinners and suppersat the Maison-d'Or or the Cafe Anglais, not to mention all theplaces of public resort, all the spectacles to which crowds rushed--Mabille, the reviews, the races. But whatever happened she stillfelt that stupid, idle void, which caused her, as it were, to sufferinternal cramps. Despite the incessant infatuations that possessedher heart, she would stretch out her arms with a gesture of immenseweariness the moment she was left alone. Solitude rendered her lowspirited at once, for it brought her face to face with the emptinessand boredom within her. Extremely gay by nature and profession, shebecame dismal in solitude and would sum up her life in the followingejaculation, which recurred incessantly between her yawns:"Oh, how the men bother me!"One afternoon as she was returning home from a concert, Nana, on thesidewalk in the Rue Montmartre, noticed a woman trotting along indown-at-the-heel boots, dirty petticoats and a hat utterly ruined bythe rain. She recognized her suddenly."Stop, Charles!" she shouted to the coachman and began calling:"Satin, Satin!"Passers-by turned their heads; the whole street stared. Satin haddrawn near and was still further soiling herself against thecarriage wheels."Do get in, my dear girl," said Nana tranquilly, disdaining theonlookers.And with that she picked her up and carried her off, though she wasin disgusting contrast to her light blue landau and her dress ofpearl-gray silk trimmed with Chantilly, while the street smiled atthe coachman's loftily dignified demeanor.From that day forth Nana had a passion to occupy her thoughts.Satin became her vicious foible. Washed and dressed and dulyinstalled in the house in the Avenue de Villiers, during three daysthe girl talked of Saint-Lazare and the annoyances the sisters hadcaused her and how those dirty police people had put her down on theofficial list. Nana grew indignant and comforted her and vowed shewould get her name taken off, even though she herself should have togo and find out the minister of the interior. Meanwhile there wasno sort of hurry: nobody would come and search for her at Nana's--that was certain. And thereupon the two women began to pass tenderafternoons together, making numberless endearing little speeches andmingling their kisses with laughter. The same little sport, whichthe arrival of the plainclothes men had interrupted in the Rue deLaval, was beginning again in a jocular sort of spirit. One fineevening, however, it became serious, and Nana, who had been sodisgusted at Laure's, now understood what it meant. She was upsetand enraged by it, the more so because Satin disappeared on themorning of the fourth day. No one had seen her go our. She had,indeed, slipped away in her new dress, seized by a longing for air,full of sentimental regret for her old street existence.That day there was such a terrible storm in the house that all theservants hung their heads in sheepish silence. Nana had come nearbeating Francois for not throwing himself across the door throughwhich Satin escaped. She did her best, however, to control herself,and talked of Satin as a dirty swine. Oh, it would teach her topick filthy things like that out of the gutter!When Madame shut herself up in her room in the afternoon Zoe heardher sobbing. In the evening she suddenly asked for her carriage andhad herself driven to Laure's. It had occurred to her that shewould find Satin at the table d'hote in the Rue des Martyrs. Shewas not going there for the sake of seeing her again but in order tocatch her one in the face! As a matter of fact Satin was dining ata little table with Mme Robert. Seeing Nana, she began to laugh,but the former, though wounded to the quick, did not make a scene.On the contrary, she was very sweet and very compliant. She paidfor champagne made five or six tablefuls tipsy and then carried offSatin when Mme Robert was in the closets. Not till they were in thecarriage did she make a mordant attack on her, threatening to killher if she did it again.After that day the same little business began again continually. Ontwenty different occasions Nana, tragically furious, as only ajilted woman can be ran off in pursuit of this sluttish creature,whose flights were prompted by the boredom she suffered amid thecomforts of her new home. Nana began to talk of boxing Mme Robert'sears; one day she even meditated a duel; there was one woman toomany, she said.In these latter times, whenever she dined at Laure's, she donned herdiamonds and occasionally brought with her Louise Violaine, MariaBlond and Tatan Nene, all of them ablaze with finery; and while thesordid feast was progressing in the three saloons and the yellowgaslight flared overhead, these four resplendent ladies would demeanthemselves with a vengeance, for it was their delight to dazzle thelittle local courtesans and to carry them off when dinner was over.On days such as these Laure, sleek and tight-laced as ever wouldkiss everyone with an air of expanded maternity. Yetnotwithstanding all these circumstances Satin's blue eyes and purevirginal face remained as calm as heretofore; torn, beaten andpestered by the two women, she would simply remark that it was afunny business, and they would have done far better to make it up atonce. It did no good to slap her; she couldn't cut herself in two,however much she wanted to be nice to everybody. It was Nana whofinally carried her off in triumph, so assiduously had she loadedSatin with kindnesses and presents. In order to be revenged,however, Mme Robert wrote abominable, anonymous letters to herrival's lovers.For some time past Count Muffat had appeared suspicious, and onemorning, with considerable show of feeling, he laid before Nana ananonymous letter, where in the very first sentences she read thatshe was accused of deceiving the count with Vandeuvres and the youngHugons."It's false! It's false!" she loudly exclaimed in accents ofextraordinary candor."You swear?" asked Muffat, already willing to be comforted."I'll swear by whatever you like--yes, by the head of my child!"But the letter was long. Soon her connection with Satin wasdescribed in the broadest and most ignoble terms. When she had donereading she smiled."Now I know who it comes from," she remarked simply.And as Muffat wanted her denial to the charges therein contained,she resumed quietly enough:"That's a matter which doesn't concern you, dear old pet. How canit hurt you?"She did not deny anything. He used some horrified expressions.Thereupon she shrugged her shoulders. Where had he been all thistime? Why, it was done everywhere! And she mentioned her friendsand swore that fashionable ladies went in for it. In fact, to hearher speak, nothing could be commoner or more natural. But a lie wasa lie, and so a moment ago he had seen how angry she grew in thematter of Vandeuvres and the young Hugons! Oh, if that had beentrue he would have been justified in throttling her! But what wasthe good of lying to him about a matter of no consequence? And withthat she repeated her previous expression:"Come now, how can it hurt you?"Then as the scene still continued, she closed it with a roughspeech:"Besides, dear boy, if the thing doesn't suit you it's very simple:the house door's open! There now, you must take me as you find me!"He hung his head, for the young woman's vows of fidelity made himhappy at bottom. She, however, now knew her power over him andceased to consider his feelings. And from that time forth Satin wasopenly installed in the house on the same footing as the gentlemen.Vandeuvres had not needed anonymous letters in order to understandhow matters stood, and accordingly he joked and tried to pickjealous quarrels with Satin. Philippe and Georges, on their parts,treated her like a jolly good fellow, shaking hands with her andcracking the riskiest jokes imaginable.Nana had an adventure one evening when this slut of a girl had givenher the go-by and she had gone to dine in the Rue des Martyrswithout being able to catch her. While she was dining by herselfDaguenet had appeared on the scene, for although he had reformed, hestill occasionally dropped in under the influence of his old viciousinclinations. He hoped of course that no one would meet him inthese black recesses, dedicated to the town's lowest depravity.Accordingly even Nana's presence seemed to embarrass him at theoutset. But he was not the man to run away and, coming forward witha smile, he asked if Madame would be so kind as to allow him to dineat her table. Noticing his jocular tone, Nana assumed hermagnificently frigid demeanor and icily replied:"Sit down where you please, sir. We are in a public place."Thus begun, the conversation proved amusing. But at dessert Nana,bored and burning for a triumph, put her elbows on the table andbegan in the old familiar way:"Well, what about your marriage, my lad? Is it getting on allright?""Not much," Daguenet averred.As a matter of fact, just when he was about to venture on hisrequest at the Muffats', he had met with such a cold reception fromthe count that he had prudently refrained. The business struck himas a failure. Nana fixed her clear eyes on him; she was sitting,leaning her chin on her hand, and there was an ironical curve abouther lips."Oh yes! I'm a baggage," she resumed slowly. "Oh yes, the futurefather-in-law will have to be dragged from between my claws! Dearme, dear me, for a fellow with nous, you're jolly stupid! What!D'you mean to say you're going to tell your tales to a man whoadores me and tells me everything? Now just listen: you shall marryif I wish it, my little man!"For a minute or two he had felt the truth of this, and now he beganscheming out a method of submission. Nevertheless, he still talkedjokingly, not wishing the matter to grow serious, and after he hadput on his gloves he demanded the hand of Mlle Estelle de Beuvillein the strict regulation manner. Nana ended by laughing, as thoughshe had been tickled. Oh, that Mimi! It was impossible to bear hima grudge! Daguenet's great successes with ladies of her class weredue to the sweetness of his voice, a voice of such musical purityand pliancy as to have won him among courtesans the sobriquet of"Velvet-Mouth." Every woman would give way to him when he lulledher with his sonorous caresses. He knew this power and rocked Nanato sleep with endless words, telling her all kinds of idioticanecdotes. When they left the table d'hote she was blushing rosy-red; she trembled as she hung on his arm; he had reconquered her.As it was very fine, she sent her carriage away and walked with himas far as his own place, where she went upstairs with him naturallyenough. Two hours later, as she was dressing again, she said:"So you hold to this marriage of yours, Mimi?""Egad," he muttered, "it's the best thing I could possibly do afterall! You know I'm stony broke."She summoned him to button her boots, and after a pause:"Good heavens! I've no objection. I'll shove you on! She's as dryas a lath, is that little thing, but since it suits your game--oh,I'm agreeable: I'll run the thing through for you."Then with bosom still uncovered, she began laughing:"Only what will you give me?"He had caught her in his arms and was kissing her on the shouldersin a perfect access of gratitude while she quivered with excitementand struggled merrily and threw herself backward in her efforts tobe free."Oh, I know," she cried, excited by the contest. "Listen to what Iwant in the way of commission. On your wedding day you shall makeme a present of your innocence. Before your wife, d'youunderstand?""That's it! That's it!" he said, laughing even louder than Nana.The bargain amused them--they thought the whole business very good,indeed.Now as it happened, there was a dinner at Nana's next day. For thematter of that, it was the customary Thursday dinner, and Muffat,Vandeuvres, the young Hugons and Satin were present. The countarrived early. He stood in need of eighty thousand francs wherewithto free the young woman from two or three debts and to give her aset of sapphires she was dying to possess. As he had alreadyseriously lessened his capital, he was in search of a lender, for hedid not dare to sell another property. With the advice of Nanaherself he had addressed himself to Labordette, but the latter,deeming it too heavy an undertaking, had mentioned it to thehairdresser Francis, who willingly busied himself in such affairs inorder to oblige his lady clients. The count put himself into thehands of these gentlemen but expressed a formal desire not to appearin the matter, and they both undertook to keep in hand the bill fora hundred thousand francs which he was to sign, excusing themselvesat the same time for charging a matter of twenty thousand francsinterest and loudly denouncing the blackguard usurers to whom, theydeclared, it had been necessary to have recourse. When Muffat hadhimself announced, Francis was putting the last touches to Nana'scoiffure. Labordette also was sitting familiarly in the dressingroom, as became a friend of no consequence. Seeing the count, hediscreetly placed a thick bundle of bank notes among the powders andpomades, and the bill was signed on the marble-topped dressingtable. Nana was anxious to keep Labordette to dinner, but hedeclined--he was taking a rich foreigner about Paris. Muffat,however, led him aside and begged him to go to Becker, the jeweler,and bring him back thence the set of sapphires, which he wanted topresent the young woman by way of surprise that very evening.Labordette willingly undertook the commission, and half an hourlater Julien handed the jewel case mysteriously to the count.During dinnertime Nana was nervous. The sight of the eightythousand francs had excited her. To think all that money was to goto tradespeople! It was a disgusting thought. After soup had beenserved she grew sentimental, and in the splendid dining room,glittering with plate and glass, she talked of the bliss of poverty.The men were in evening dress, Nana in a gown of white embroideredsatin, while Satin made a more modest appearance in black silk witha simple gold heart at her throat, which was a present from her kindfriend. Julien and Francois waited behind the guests and wereassisted in this by Zoe. All three looked most dignified."It's certain I had far greater fun when I hadn't a cent!" Nanarepeated.She had placed Muffat on her right hand and Vandeuvres on her left,but she scarcely looked at them, so taken up was she with Satin, whosat in state between Philippe and Georges on the opposite side ofthe table."Eh, duckie?" she kept saying at every turn. "How we did use tolaugh in those days when we went to Mother Josse's school in the RuePolonceau!"When the roast was being served the two women plunged into a worldof reminiscences. They used to have regular chattering fits of thiskind when a sudden desire to stir the muddy depths of theirchildhood would possess them. These fits always occurred when menwere present: it was as though they had given way to a burningdesire to treat them to the dunghill on which they had grown towoman's estate. The gentlemen paled visibly and looked embarrassed.The young Hugons did their best to laugh, while Vandeuvres nervouslytoyed with his beard and Muffat redoubled his gravity."You remember Victor?" said Nana. "There was a wicked little fellowfor you! Why, he used to take the little girls into cellars!""I remember him perfectly," replied Satin. "I recollect the bigcourtyard at your place very well. There was a portress there witha broom!""Mother Boche--she's dead.""And I can still picture your shop. Your mother was a great fatty.One evening when we were playing your father came in drunk. Oh, sodrunk!"At this point Vandeuvres tried to intercept the ladies'reminiscences and to effect a diversion,"I say, my dear, I should be very glad to have some more truffles.They're simply perfect. Yesterday I had some at the house of theDuc de Corbreuse, which did not come up to them at all.""The truffles, Julien!" said Nana roughly.Then returning to the subject:"By Jove, yes, Dad hadn't any sense! And then what a smash therewas! You should have seen it--down, down, down we went, starvingaway all the time. I can tell you I've had to bear pretty welleverything and it's a miracle I didn't kick the bucket over it, likeDaddy and Mamma."This time Muffat, who was playing with his knife in a state ofinfinite exasperation, made so bold as to intervene."What you're telling us isn't very cheerful.""Eh, what? Not cheerful!" she cried with a withering glance. "Ibelieve you; it isn't cheerful! Somebody had to earn a living forus dear boy. Oh yes, you know, I'm the right sort; I don't mincematters. Mamma was a laundress; Daddy used to get drunk, and hedied of it! There! If it doesn't suit you--if you're ashamed of myfamily--"They all protested. What was she after now? They had every sort ofrespect for her family! But she went on:"If you're ashamed of my family you'll please leave me, because I'mnot one of those women who deny their father and mother. You musttake me and them together, d'you understand?"They took her as required; they accepted the dad, the mamma, thepast; in fact, whatever she chose. With their eyes fixed on thetablecloth, the four now sat shrinking and insignificant while Nana,in a transport of omnipotence, trampled on them in the old muddyboots worn long since in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or. She wasdetermined not to lay down the cudgels just yet. It was all veryfine to bring her fortunes, to build her palaces; she would neverleave off regretting the time when she munched apples! Oh, whatbosh that stupid thing money was! It was made for the tradespeople!Finally her outburst ended in a sentimentally expressed desire for asimple, openhearted existence, to be passed in an atmosphere ofuniversal benevolence.When she got to this point she noticed Julien waiting idly by."Well, what's the matter? Hand the champagne then!" she said. "Whyd'you stand staring at me like a goose?"During this scene the servants had never once smiled. Theyapparently heard nothing, and the more their mistress let herselfdown, the more majestic they became. Julien set to work to pour outthe champagne and did so without mishap, but Francois, who washanding round the fruit, was so unfortunate as to tilt the fruitdish too low, and the apples, the pears and the grapes rolled on thetable."You bloody clumsy lot!" cried Nana.The footman was mistaken enough to try and explain that the fruithad not been firmly piled up. Zoe had disarranged it by taking outsome oranges."Then it's Zoe that's the goose!" said Nana."Madame--" murmured the lady's maid in an injured tone.Straightway Madame rose to her feet, and in a sharp voice and withroyally authoritative gesture:"We've had enough of this, haven't we? Leave the room, all of you!We don't want you any longer!"This summary procedure calmed her down, and she was forthwith allsweetness and amiability. The dessert proved charming, and thegentlemen grew quite merry waiting on themselves. But Satin, havingpeeled a pear, came and ate it behind her darling, leaning on hershoulder the while and whispering sundry little remarks in her ear,at which they both laughed very loudly. By and by she wanted toshare her last piece of pear with Nana and presented it to herbetween her teeth. Whereupon there was a great nibbling of lips,and the pear was finished amid kisses. At this there was a burst ofcomic protest from the gentlemen, Philippe shouting to them to takeit easy and Vandeuvres asking if one ought to leave the room.Georges, meanwhile, had come and put his arm round Satin's waist andhad brought her back to her seat."How silly of you!" said Nana. "You're making her blush, the poor,darling duck. Never mind, dear girl, let them chaff. It's our ownlittle private affair."And turning to Muffat, who was watching them with his seriousexpression:"Isn't it, my friend?""Yes, certainly," he murmured with a slow nod of approval.He no longer protested now. And so amid that company of gentlemenwith the great names and the old, upright traditions, the two womensat face to face, exchanging tender glances, conquering, reigning,in tranquil defiance of the laws of sex, in open contempt for themale portion of the community. The gentlemen burst into applause.The company went upstairs to take coffee in the little drawing room,where a couple of lamps cast a soft glow over the rosy hangings andthe lacquer and old gold of the knickknacks. At that hour of theevening the light played discreetly over coffers, bronzes and china,lighting up silver or ivory inlaid work, bringing into view thepolished contours of a carved stick and gleaming over a panel withglossy silky reflections. The fire, which had been burning sincethe afternoon, was dying out in glowing embers. It was very warm--the air behind the curtains and hangings was languid with warmth.The room was full of Nana's intimate existence: a pair of gloves, afallen handkerchief, an open book, lay scattered about, and theirowner seemed present in careless attire with that well-known odor ofviolets and that species of untidiness which became her in hercharacter of good-natured courtesan and had such a charming effectamong all those rich surroundings. The very armchairs, which wereas wide as beds, and the sofas, which were as deep as alcoves,invited to slumber oblivious of the flight of time and to tenderwhispers in shadowy corners.Satin went and lolled back in the depths of a sofa near thefireplace. She had lit a cigarette, but Vandeuvres began amusinghimself by pretending to be ferociously jealous. Nay, he eventhreatened to send her his seconds if she still persisted in keepingNana from her duty. Philippe and Georges joined him and teased herand badgered her so mercilessly that at last she shouted out:"Darling! Darling! Do make 'em keep quiet! They're still afterme!""Now then, let her be," said Nana seriously. "I won't have hertormented; you know that quite well. And you, my pet, why d'youalways go mixing yourself up with them when they've got so littlesense?"Satin, blushing all over and putting out her tongue, went into thedressing room, through the widely open door of which you caught aglimpse of pale marbles gleaming in the milky light of a gas flamein a globe of rough glass. After that Nana talked to the four menas charmingly as hostess could. During the day she had read a novelwhich was at that time making a good deal of noise. It was thehistory of a courtesan, and Nana was very indignant, declaring thewhole thing to be untrue and expressing angry dislike to that kindof monstrous literature which pretends to paint from nature. "Justas though one could describe everything," she said. Just as thougha novel ought not to be written so that the reader may while away anhour pleasantly! In the matter of books and of plays Nana had verydecided opinions: she wanted tender and noble productions, thingsthat would set her dreaming and would elevate her soul. Thenallusion being made in the course of conversation to the troublesagitating Paris, the incendiary articles in the papers, theincipient popular disturbances which followed the calls to armsnightly raised at public meetings, she waxed wroth with theRepublicans. What on earth did those dirty people who never washedreally want? Were folks not happy? Had not the emperor doneeverything for the people? A nice filthy lot of people! She knew'em; she could talk about 'em, and, quite forgetting the respectwhich at dinner she had just been insisting should be paid to herhumble circle in the Rue de la Goutte-d'Or, she began blackguardingher own class with all the terror and disgust peculiar to a womanwho had risen successfully above it. That very afternoon she hadread in the Figaro an account of the proceedings at a public meetingwhich had verged on the comic. Owing to the slang words that hadbeen used and to the piggish behavior of a drunken man who had gothimself chucked, she was laughing at those proceedings still."Oh, those drunkards!" she said with a disgusted air. "No, look youhere, their republic would be a great misfortune for everybody! Oh,may God preserve us the emperor as long as possible!""God will hear your prayer, my dear," Muffat replied gravely. "Tobe sure, the emperor stands firm."He liked her to express such excellent views. Both, indeed,understood one another in political matters. Vandeuvres andPhilippe Hugon likewise indulged in endless jokes against the"cads," the quarrelsome set who scuttled off the moment they clappedeyes on a bayonet. But Georges that evening remained pale andsomber."What can be the matter with that baby?" asked Nana, noticing histroubled appearance."With me? Nothing--I am listening," he muttered.But he was really suffering. On rising from table he had heardPhilippe joking with the young woman, and now it was Philippe, andnot himself, who sat beside her. His heart, he knew not why,swelled to bursting. He could not bear to see them so closetogether; such vile thoughts oppressed him that shame mingled withhis anguish. He who laughed at Satin, who had accepted Steiner andMuffat and all the rest, felt outraged and murderous at the thoughtthat Philippe might someday touch that woman."Here, take Bijou," she said to comfort him, and she passed him thelittle dog which had gone to sleep on her dress.And with that Georges grew happy again, for with the beast stillwarm from her lap in his arms, he held, as it were, part of her.Allusion had been made to a considerable loss which Vandeuvres hadlast night sustained at the Imperial Club. Muffat, who did notplay, expressed great astonishment, but Vandeuvres smilingly alludedto his imminent ruin, about which Paris was already talking. Thekind of death you chose did not much matter, he averred; the greatthing was to die handsomely. For some time past Nana had noticedthat he was nervous and had a sharp downward droop of the mouth anda fitful gleam in the depths of his clear eyes. But he retained hishaughty aristocratic manner and the delicate elegance of hisimpoverished race, and as yet these strange manifestations wereonly, so to speak, momentary fits of vertigo overcoming a brainalready sapped by play and by debauchery. One night as he laybeside her he had frightened her with a dreadful story. He had toldher he contemplated shutting himself up in his stable and settingfire to himself and his horses at such time as he should havedevoured all his substance. His only hope at that period was ahorse, Lusignan by name, which he was training for the Prix deParis. He was living on this horse, which was the sole stay of hisshaken credit, and whenever Nana grew exacting he would put her offtill June and to the probability of Lusignan's winning."Bah! He may very likely lose," she said merrily, "since he's goingto clear them all out at the races."By way of reply he contented himself by smiling a thin, mysterioussmile. Then carelessly:"By the by, I've taken the liberty of giving your name to myoutsider, the filly. Nana, Nana--that sounds well. You're notvexed?""Vexed, why?" she said in a state of inward ecstasy.The conversation continued, and same mention was made of anexecution shortly to take place. The young woman said she wasburning to go to it when Satin appeared at the dressing-room doorand called her in tones of entreaty. She got up at once and leftthe gentlemen lolling lazily about, while they finished their cigarsand discussed the grave question as to how far a murderer subject tochronic alcoholism is responsible for his act. In the dressing roomZoe sat helpless on a chair, crying her heart out, while Satinvainly endeavored to console her."What's the matter?" said Nana in surprise."Oh, darling, do speak to her!" said Satin. "I've been trying tomake her listen to reason for the last twenty minutes. She's cryingbecause you called her a goose.""Yes, madame, it's very hard--very hard," stuttered Zoe, choked by afresh fit of sobbing.This sad sight melted the young woman's heart at once. She spokekindly, and when the other woman still refused to grow calm she sankdown in front of her and took her round the waist with truly cordialfamiliarity:"But, you silly, I said 'goose' just as I might have said anythingelse. How shall I explain? I was in a passion--it was wrong of me;now calm down.""I who love Madame so," stuttered Zoe; "after all I've done forMadame."Thereupon Nana kissed the lady's maid and, wishing to show her shewasn't vexed, gave her a dress she had worn three times. Theirquarrels always ended up in the giving of presents! Zoe plugged herhandkerchief into her eyes. She carried the dress off over her armand added before leaving that they were very sad in the kitchen andthat Julien and Francois had been unable to eat, so entirely hadMadame's anger taken away their appetites. Thereupon Madame sentthem a louis as a pledge of reconciliation. She suffered too muchif people around her were sorrowful.Nana was returning to the drawing room, happy in the thought thatshe had patched up a disagreement which was rendering her quietlyapprehensive of the morrow, when Satin came and whispered vehementlyin her ear. She was full of complaint, threatened to be off ifthose men still went on teasing her and kept insisting that herdarling should turn them all out of doors for that night, at anyrate. It would be a lesson to them. And then it would be so niceto be alone, both of them! Nana, with a return of anxiety, declaredit to be impossible. Thereupon the other shouted at her like aviolent child and tried hard to overrule her."I wish it, d'you see? Send 'em away or I'm off!"And she went back into the drawing room, stretched herself out inthe recesses of a divan, which stood in the background near thewindow, and lay waiting, silent and deathlike, with her great eyesfixed upon Nana.The gentlemen were deciding against the new criminological theories.Granted that lovely invention of irresponsibility in certainpathological cases, and criminals ceased to exist and sick peoplealone remained. The young woman, expressing approval with anoccasional nod, was busy considering how best to dismiss the count.The others would soon be going, but he would assuredly proveobstinate. In fact, when Philippe got up to withdraw, Georgesfollowed him at once--he seemed only anxious not to leave hisbrother behind. Vandeuvres lingered some minutes longer, feelinghis way, as it were, and waiting to find out if, by any chance, someimportant business would oblige Muffat to cede him his place. Soon,however, when he saw the count deliberately taking up his quartersfor the night, he desisted from his purpose and said good-by, asbecame a man of tact. But on his way to the door, he noticed Satinstaring fixedly at Nana, as usual. Doubtless he understood whatthis meant, for he seemed amused and came and shook hands with her."We're not angry, eh?" he whispered. "Pray pardon me. You're thenicer attraction of the two, on my honor!"Satin deigned no reply. Nor did she take her eyes off Nana and thecount, who were now alone. Muffat, ceasing to be ceremonious, hadcome to sit beside the young woman. He took her fingers and begankissing them. Whereupon Nana, seeking to change the current of histhoughts, asked him if his daughter Estelle were better. Theprevious night he had been complaining of the child's melancholybehavior--he could not even spend a day happily at his own house,with his wife always out and his daughter icily silent.In family matters of this kind Nana was always full of good advice,and when Muffat abandoned all his usual self-control under theinfluence of mental and physical relaxation and once more launchedout into his former plaints, she remembered the promise she hadmade."Suppose you were to marry her?" she said. And with that sheventured to talk of Daguenet. At the mere mention of the name thecount was filled with disgust. "Never," he said after what she hadtold him!She pretended great surprise and then burst out laughing and put herarm round his neck."Oh, the jealous man! To think of it! Just argue it out a little.Why, they slandered me to you--I was furious. At present I shouldbe ever so sorry if--"But over Muffat's shoulder she met Satin's gaze. And she left himanxiously and in a grave voice continued:"This marriage must come off, my friend; I don't want to preventyour daughter's happiness. The young man's most charming; you couldnot possibly find a better sort."And she launched into extraordinary praise of Daguenet. The counthad again taken her hands; he no longer refused now; he would seeabout it, he said, they would talk the matter over. By and by, whenhe spoke of going to bed, she sank her voice and excused herself.It was impossible; she was not well. If he loved her at all hewould not insist! Nevertheless, he was obstinate; he refused to goaway, and she was beginning to give in when she met Satin's eyesonce more. Then she grew inflexible. No, the thing was out of thequestion! The count, deeply moved and with a look of suffering, hadrisen and was going in quest of his hat. But in the doorway heremembered the set of sapphires; he could feel the case in hispocket. He had been wanting to hide it at the bottom of the bed sothat when she entered it before him she should feel it against herlegs. Since dinnertime he had been meditating this little surpriselike a schoolboy, and now, in trouble and anguish of heart at beingthus dismissed, he gave her the case without further ceremony."What is it?" she queried. "Sapphires? Dear me! Oh yes, it's thatset. How sweet you are! But I say, my darling, d'you believe it'sthe same one? In the shopwindow it made a much greater show."That was all the thanks he got, and she let him go away. He noticedSatin stretched out silent and expectant, and with that he gazed atboth women and without further insistence submitted to his fate andwent downstairs. The hall door had not yet closed when Satin caughtNana round the waist and danced and sang. Then she ran to thewindow."Oh, just look at the figure he cuts down in the street!" The twowomen leaned upon the wrought-iron window rail in the shadow of thecurtains. One o'clock struck. The Avenue de Villiers was deserted,and its double file of gas lamps stretched away into the darkness ofthe damp March night through which great gusts of wind keptsweeping, laden with rain. There were vague stretches of land oneither side of the road which looked like gulfs of shadow, whilescaffoldings round mansions in process of construction loomed upwardunder the dark sky. They laughed uncontrollably as they watchedMuffat's rounded back and glistening shadow disappearing along thewet sidewalk into the glacial, desolate plains of new Paris. ButNana silenced Satin."Take care; there are the police!"Thereupon they smothered their laughter and gazed in secret fear attwo dark figures walking with measured tread on the opposite side ofthe avenue. Amid all her luxurious surroundings, amid all the royalsplendors of the woman whom all must obey, Nana still stood inhorror of the police and did not like to hear them mentioned anyoftener than death. She felt distinctly unwell when a policemanlooked up at her house. One never knew what such people might do!They might easily take them for loose women if they heard themlaughing at that hour of the night. Satin, with a little shudder,had squeezed herself up against Nana. Nevertheless, the pair stayedwhere they were and were soon interested in the approach of alantern, the light of which danced over the puddles in the road. Itwas an old ragpicker woman who was busy raking in the gutters.Satin recognized her."Dear me," she exclaimed, "it's Queen Pomare with her wickerworkshawl!"And while a gust of wind lashed the fine rain in their faces shetold her beloved the story of Queen Pomare. Oh, she had been asplendid girl once upon a time: all Paris had talked of her beauty.And such devilish go and such cheek! Why, she led the men aboutlike dogs, and great people stood blubbering on her stairs! Now shewas in the habit of getting tipsy, and the women round about wouldmake her drink absinthe for the sake of a laugh, after which thestreet boys would throw stones at her and chase her. In fact, itwas a regular smashup; the queen had tumbled into the mud! Nanalistened, feeling cold all over."You shall see," added Satin.She whistled a man's whistle, and the ragpicker, who was then belowthe window, lifted her head and showed herself by the yellow flareof her lantern. Framed among rags, a perfect bundle of them, a facelooked out from under a tattered kerchief--a blue, seamed face witha toothless, cavernous mouth and fiery bruises where the eyes shouldbe. And Nana, seeing the frightful old woman, the wanton drowned indrink, had a sudden fit of recollection and saw far back amid theshadows of consciousness the vision of Chamont--Irma d'Anglars, theold harlot crowned with years and honors, ascending the steps infront of her chateau amid abjectly reverential villagers. Then asSatin whistled again, making game of the old hag, who could not seeher:"Do leave off; there are the police!" she murmured in changed tones."In with us, quick, my pet!"The measured steps were returning, and they shut the window.Turning round again, shivering, and with the damp of night on herhair, Nana was momentarily astounded at sight of her drawing room.It seemed as though she had forgotten it and were entering anunknown chamber. So warm, so full of perfume, was the air sheencountered that she experienced a sense of delighted surprise. Theheaped-up wealth of the place, the Old World furniture, the fabricsof silk and gold, the ivory, the bronzes, were slumbering in therosy light of the lamps, while from the whole of the silent house arich feeling of great luxury ascended, the luxury of the solemnreception rooms, of the comfortable, ample dining room, of the vastretired staircase, with their soft carpets and seats. Herindividuality, with its longing for domination and enjoyment and itsdesire to possess everything that she might destroy everything, wassuddenly increased. Never before had she felt so profoundly thepuissance of her sex. She gazed slowly round and remarked with anexpression of grave philosophy:"Ah well, all the same, one's jolly well right to profit by thingswhen one's young!"But now Satin was rolling on the bearskins in the bedroom andcalling her."Oh, do come! Do come!"Nana undressed in the dressing room, and in order to be quickerabout it she took her thick fell of blonde hair in both hands andbegan shaking it above the silver wash hand basin, while a downwardhail of long hairpins rang a little chime on the shining metal.