your phraseology for their benefit,
and you are as keen in detecting their faults as you were before adroit
in bringing out the virtues of your friends. This way of using the
mental lorgnette is the secret of conversation nowadays, and the whole
art of the complete courtier. If you neglect it, you might as well go
out as an unarmed knight-banneret to fight against men in armor. And I
make use of it, and even abuse it at times. So we are respected--I and
my friends; and, moreover, my sword is quite as sharp as my tongue.'

"One of Foedora's most fervid worshipers, whose presumption was
notorious, and who even made it contribute to his success, took up the
glove thrown down so scornfully by Rastignac. He began an unmeasured
eulogy of me, my performances, and my character. Rastignac had
overlooked this method of detraction. His sarcastic encomiums misled
the countess, who sacrificed without mercy; she betrayed my secrets, and
derided my pretensions and my hopes, to divert her friends.

"'There is a future before him,' said Rastignac. 'Some day he may be in
a position to take a cruel revenge; his talents are at least equal to
his courage; and I should consider those who attack him very rash, for
he has a good memory----'

"'And writes Memoirs,' put in the countess, who seemed to object to the
deep silence that prevailed.

"'Memoirs of a sham countess, madame,' replied Rastignac. 'Another sort
of courage is needed to write that sort of thing.'

"'I give him credit for plenty of courage,' she answered; 'he is
faithful to me.'

"I was greatly tempted to show myself suddenly among the railers, like
the shade of Banquo in Macbeth. I should have lost a mistress, but I
had a friend! But love inspired me all at once, with one of those
treacherous and fallacious subtleties that it can use to soothe all our
pangs.

"If Foedora loved me, I thought, she would be sure to disguise her
feelings by some mocking jest. How often the heart protests against a
lie on the lips!

"Well, very soon my audacious rival, left alone with the countess, rose
to go.

"'What! already?' asked she in a coaxing voice that set my heart
beating. 'Will you not give me a few more minutes? Have you nothing more
to say to me? will you never sacrifice any of your pleasures for me?'

"He went away.

"'Ah!' she yawned; 'how very tiresome they all are!'

"She pulled a cord energetically till the sound of a bell rang through
the place; then, humming a fe