arved
cross-beams of brown wood, was full of charm and originality; the panels
were beautifully wrought; nothing disturbed the general harmony of
the scheme of decoration, not even the windows with their rich colored
glass. I was surprised by the extensive knowledge of decoration that
some artist had brought to bear on a little modern room, it was so
pleasant and fresh, and not heavy, but subdued with its dead gold hues.
It had all the vague sentiment of a German ballad; it was a retreat fit
for some romance of 1827, perfumed by the exotic flowers set in their
stands. Another apartment in the suite was a gilded reproduction of the
Louis Quatorze period, with modern paintings on the walls in odd but
pleasant contrast.

"'You would not be so badly lodged,' was Rastignac's slightly sarcastic
comment. 'It is captivating, isn't it?' he added, smiling as he sat
down. Then suddenly he rose, and led me by the hand into a bedroom,
where the softened light fell upon the bed under its canopy of muslin
and white watered silk--a couch for a young fairy betrothed to one of
the genii.

"'Isn't it wantonly bad taste, insolent and unbounded coquetry,' he
said, lowering his voice, 'that allows us to see this throne of love?
She gives herself to no one, and anybody may leave his card here. If I
were not committed, I should like to see her at my feet all tears and
submission.'

"'Are you so certain of her virtue?'

"'The boldest and even the cleverest adventurers among us, acknowledge
themselves defeated, and continue to be her lovers and devoted friends.
Isn't that woman a puzzle?'

"His words seemed to intoxicate me; I had jealous fears already of the
past. I leapt for joy, and hurried back to the countess, whom I had seen
in the gothic boudoir. She stopped me by a smile, made me sit beside
her, and talked about my work, seeming to take the greatest interest in
it, and all the more when I set forth my theories amusingly, instead of
adopting the formal language of a professor for their explanation. It
seemed to divert her to be told that the human will was a material force
like steam; that in the moral world nothing could resist its power if
a man taught himself to concentrate it, to economize it, and to project
continually its fluid mass in given directions upon other souls. Such
a man, I said, could modify all things relatively to man, even the
peremptory laws of nature. The questions Foedora raised showed a certain
keenness of i