Chapter 6
Gazonal, bewildered by the toilets, the lights, the gilding, the chatter of the various groups whom he thought to be discussing him, could only manage to stammer out the words: “Madame--madame--is--very good.”
“What do you manufacture?” said the mistress of the house, laughing.
“Say laces and offer her some guipure,” whispered Bixiou in Gazonal’s ear.
“La-ces,” said Gazonal, perceiving that he would have to pay for his supper. “It will give me the greatest pleasure to offer you a dress--a scarf--a mantilla of my make.”
“Ah, three things! Well, you are nicer than you look to be,” returned Carabine.
“Paris has caught me!” thought Gazonal, now perceiving Jenny Cadine, and going up to her.
“And I,” said the actress, “what am I to have?”
“All I possess,” replied Gazonal, thinking that to offer all was to give nothing.
Massol, Claude Vignon, du Tillet, Maxime de Trailles, Nucingen, du Bruel, Malaga, Monsieur and Madame Gaillard, Vauvinet, and a crowd of other personages now entered.
After a conversation with the manufacturer on the subject of his suit, Massol, without making any promises, told him that the report was not yet written, and that citizens could always rely on the knowledge and the independence of the Council of State. Receiving that cold and dignified response, Gazonal, in despair, thought it necessary to set about seducing the charming Jenny, with whom he was by this time in love. Leon de Lora and Bixiou left their victim in the hands of that most roguish and frolicsome member of the anomalous society,--for Jenny Cadine is the sole rival in that respect of the famous Dejazet.
At the supper-table, where Gazonal was fascinated by a silver service made by the modern Benvenuto Cellini, Froment-Meurice, the contents of which were worthy of the container, his mischievous friends were careful to sit at some distance from him; but they followed with cautious eye the manoeuvres of the clever actress, who, being attracted by the insidious hope of getting her furniture renewed, was playing her cards to take the provincial home with her. No sheep upon the day of the Fete-Dieu ever more meekly allowed his little Saint John to lead him along than Gazonal as he followed his siren.
Three days later, Leon and Bixiou, who had not seen Gazonal since that evening, went to his lodgings about two in the afternoon.
“Well, cousin,” said Leon, “the Council of State has decided in favour of your suit.”
“Maybe, but it is useless now, cousin,” said Gazonal, lifting a melancholy eye to his two friends. “I’ve become a republican.”
“What does that mean?” asked Leon.
“I haven’t anything left; not even enough to pay my lawyer,” replied Gazonal. “Madame Jenny Cadine has got notes of hand out of me to the amount of more money than all the property I own--”
“The fact is Cadine is rather dear; but--”
“Oh, but I didn’t get anything for my money,” said Gazonal. “What a woman! Well, I’ll own the provinces are not a match for Paris; I shall retire to La Trappe.”
“Good!” said Bixiou, “now you are reasonable. Come, recognize the majesty of the capital.”
“And of capital,” added Leon, holding out to Gazonal his notes of hand.
Gazonal gazed at the papers with a stupefied air.
“You can’t say now that we don’t understand the duties of hospitality; haven’t we educated you, saved you from poverty, feasted you, and amused you?” said Bixiou.
“_And_ fooled you,” added Leon, making the gesture of gamins to express the action of picking pockets.
ADDENDUM
The following personages appear in other stories of the Human Comedy.
Brambourg, Comte de A Bachelor’s Establishment
Cadine, Jenny Cousin Betty Beatrix The Member for Arcis
Canalis, Constant-Cyr-Melchior, Baron de Letters of Two Brides A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Modeste Mignon The Magic Skin Another Study of Woman A Start in Life Beatrix The Member for Arcis
Collin, Jacqueline Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life Cousin Betty
Fontaine, Madame Cousin Pons
Gaillard, Theodore A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Beatrix Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life
Gaillard, Madame Theodore Jealousies of a Country Town A Distinguished Provincial at Paris A Bachelor’s Establishment Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life Beatrix
Giraud, Leon A Distinguished Provincial at Paris A Bachelor’s Establishment The Secrets of a Princess
Gobseck, Jean-Esther Van Gobseck Father Goriot Cesar Birotteau The Government Clerks
Lora, Leon de A Bachelor’s Establishment A Start in Life Pierre Grassou Honorine Cousin Betty Beatrix
Lousteau, Etienne A Distinguished Provincial at Paris A Bachelor’s Establishment Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life A Daughter of Eve Beatrix The Muse of the Department Cousin Betty A Prince of Bohemia A Man of Business The Middle Classes
Marsay, Henri de The Thirteen Another Study of Woman The Lily of the Valley Father Goriot Jealousies of a Country Town Ursule Mirouet A Marriage Settlement Lost Illusions A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Letters of Two Brides The Ball at Sceaux Modest Mignon The Secrets of a Princess The Gondreville Mystery A Daughter of Eve
Massol Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life The Magic Skin A Daughter of Eve Cousin Betty
Nathan, Raoul Lost Illusions A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life The Secrets of a Princess A Daughter of Eve Letters of Two Brides The Seamy Side of History The Muse of the Department A Prince of Bohemia A Man of Business
Nathan, Madame Raoul The Muse of the Department Lost Illusions A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life The Government Clerks A Bachelor’s Establishment Ursule Mirouet Eugenie Grandet The Imaginary Mistress A Prince of Bohemia A Daughter of Eve
Nourrisson, Madame Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life Cousin Betty
Nucingen, Baron Frederic de The Firm of Nucingen Father Goriot Pierrette Cesar Birotteau Lost Illusions A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life Another Study of Woman The Secrets of a Princess A Man of Business Cousin Betty The Muse of the Department
Rastignac, Eugene de Father Goriot A Distinguished Provincial at Paris Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life The Ball at Sceaux The Interdiction A Study of Woman Another Study of Woman The Magic Skin The Secrets of a Princess A Daughter of Eve The Gondreville Mystery The Firm of Nucingen Cousin Betty The Member for Arcis
Ridal, Fulgence A Bachelor’s Establishment A Distinguished Provincial at Paris
Ronceret, Madame Fabien du Beatrix The Muse of the Department Cousin Betty
Schinner, Hippolyte The Purse A Bachelor’s Establishment Pierre Grassou A Start in Life Albert Savarus The Government Clerks Modeste Mignon The Imaginary Mistress
Sinet, Seraphine Cousin Betty
Stidmann Modeste Mignon Beatrix The Member for Arcis Cousin Betty Cousin Pons
Tillet, Ferdinand du Cesar Birotteau The Firm of Nucingen The Middle Classes A Bachelor’s Establishment Pierrette Melmoth Reconciled A Distinguished Provincial at Paris The Secrets of a Princess A Daughter of Eve The Member for Arcis Cousin Betty
Trailles, Comte Maxime de Cesar Birotteau Father Goriot Gobseck Ursule Mirouet A Man of Business The Member for Arcis The Secrets of a Princess Cousin Betty The Member for Arcis Beatrix
Vauvinet Cousin Betty
Vignon, Claude A Distinguished Provincial at Paris A Daughter of Eve Honorine Beatrix Cousin Betty
End of Project Gutenberg’s Unconscious Comedians, by Honore de Balzac