PART I

CHAP. PAGE

I. THE DINNER AT MADAME PILOU’S 3

II. A PARTIAL CONFESSION 22

III. A SUPPLEMENT TO THE CONFESSION 34

IV. THE SIN OF NARCISSUS 48

V. AN INVITATION 63

VI. THE GRECIAN PROTOTYPE 72

VII. THE MERCHANTS OF DAMASCUS AND DAN 77

VIII. ‘RITE DE PASSAGE’ 84

IX. AT THE HÔTEL DE RAMBOUILLET 94

X. AFTERWARDS 115

XI. REBUILDING THE HOUSE OF CARDS 122