ifficulties of my position to
stay in it without fear of detection if undisturbed by cramp, coughs,
or sneezings. To avoid useless fatigue, I remained standing until the
critical moment, when I must hang suspended like a spider in its web.
The white-watered silk and muslin of the curtains spread before me in
great pleats like organ-pipes. With my penknife I cut loopholes in them,
through which I could see.

"I heard vague murmurs from the salons, the laughter and the louder
tones of the speakers. The smothered commotion and vague uproar lessened
by slow degrees. One man and another came for his hat from the countess'
chest of drawers, close to where I stood. I shivered, if the curtains
were disturbed, at the thought of the mischances consequent on the
confused and hasty investigations made by the men in a hurry to depart,
who were rummaging everywhere. When I experienced no misfortunes of this
kind, I augured well of my enterprise. An old wooer of Foedora's came
for the last hat; he thought himself quite alone, looked at the bed,
and heaved a great sigh, accompanied by some inaudible exclamation, into
which he threw sufficient energy. In the boudoir close by, the countess,
finding only some five or six intimate acquaintances about her, proposed
tea. The scandals for which existing society has reserved the little
faculty of belief that it retains, mingled with epigrams and trenchant
witticisms, and the clatter of cups and spoons. Rastignac drew roars of
laughter by merciless sarcasms at the expense of my rivals.

"'M. de Rastignac is a man with whom it is better not to quarrel,' said
the countess, laughing.

"'I am quite of that opinion,' was his candid reply. 'I have always
been right about my aversions--and my friendships as well,' he added.
'Perhaps my enemies are quite as useful to me as my friends. I have made
a particular study of modern phraseology, and of the natural craft
that is used in all attack or defence. Official eloquence is one of our
perfect social products.

"'One of your friends is not clever, so you speak of his integrity and
his candor. Another's work is heavy; you introduce it as a piece of
conscientious labor; and if the book is ill written, you extol the ideas
it contains. Such an one is treacherous and fickle, slips through
your fingers every moment; bah! he is attractive, bewitching, he is
delightful! Suppose they are enemies, you fling every one, dead or
alive, in their teeth. You reverse