When his mother left him, Oscar went to lounge upon the boulevards until
it was time to go to Georges Marest's breakfast. Why not display those
beautiful clothes which he wore with a pride and joy which all young
fellows who have been pinched for means in their youth will remember. A
pretty waistcoat with a blue ground and a palm-leaf pattern, a pair of
black cashmere trousers pleated, a black coat very well fitting, and a
cane with a gilt top, the cost of which he had saved himself, caused a
natural joy to the poor lad, who thought of his manner of dress on the
day of that journey to Presles, as the effect that Georges had then
produced upon him came back to his mind.

Oscar had before him the perspective of a day of happiness; he was
to see the gay world at last! Let us admit that a clerk deprived of
enjoyments, though longing for dissipation, was likely to let his
unchained senses drive the wise counsels of his mother and Godeschal
completely out of his mind. To the shame of youth let it be added that
good advice is never lacking to it. In the matter of Georges, Oscar
himself had a feeling of aversion for him; he felt humiliated before a
witness of that scene in the salon at Presles when Moreau had flung
him at the count's feet. The moral senses have their laws, which are
implacable, and we are always punished for disregarding them. There is
one in particular, which the animals themselves obey without discussion,
and invariably; it is that which tells us to avoid those who have once
injured us, with or without intention, voluntarily or involuntarily. The
creature from whom we receive either damage or annoyance will always be
displeasing to us. Whatever may be his rank or the degree of affection
in which he stands to us, it is best to break away from him; for our
evil genius has sent him to us. Though the Christian sentiment is
opposed to it, obedience to this terrible law is essentially social and
conservative. The daughter of James II., who seated herself upon
her father's throne, must have caused him many a wound before that
usurpation. Judas had certainly given some murderous blow to Jesus
before he betrayed him. We have within us an inward power of sight, an
eye of the soul which foresees catastrophes; and the repugnance that
comes over us against the fateful being is the result of that foresight.
Though religion orders us to conquer it, distrust remains, and its voice
is forever heard. Would Oscar, at twenty yea