ner, and the Comte de Gondreville,
Francois Keller's father-in-law, the Chevalier d'Espard, des Lupeaulx,
Doctor Bianchon--Desplein's best beloved pupil--Beaudenord and his wife,
the Comte and Comtesse de Montcornet, Blondet, Mademoiselle des Touches
and Conti, and finally, Lucien de Rubempre, for whom Rastignac had for
the last five years manifested the warmest regard--by order, as the
advertisements have it.

"We shall not find it easy to get rid of that young fellow," said
Blondet to Rastignac, when he saw Lucien come in handsomer than ever,
and uncommonly well dressed.

"It is wiser to make friends with him, for he is formidable," said
Rastignac.

"He?" said de Marsay. "No one is formidable to my knowledge but men
whose position is assured, and his is unattacked rather than attackable!
Look here, what does he live on? Where does his money come from? He has,
I am certain, sixty thousand francs in debts."

"He has found a friend in a very rich Spanish priest who has taken a
fancy to him," replied Rastignac.

"He is going to be married to the eldest Mademoiselle de Grandlieu,"
said Mademoiselle des Touches.

"Yes," said the Chevalier d'Espard, "but they require him to buy an
estate worth thirty thousand francs a year as security for the fortune
he is to settle on the young lady, and for that he needs a million
francs, which are not to be found in any Spaniard's shoes."

"That is dear, for Clotilde is very ugly," said the Baroness.

Madame de Nucingen affected to call Mademoiselle de Grandlieu by her
Christian name, as though she, nee Goriot, frequented that society.

"No," replied du Tillet, "the daughter of a duchess is never ugly to the
like of us, especially when she brings with her the title of Marquis
and a diplomatic appointment. But the great obstacle to the marriage is
Madame de Serizy's insane passion for Lucien. She must give him a great
deal of money."

"Then I am not surprised at seeing Lucien so serious; for Madame de
Serizy will certainly not give him a million francs to help him to marry
Mademoiselle de Grandlieu. He probably sees no way out of the scrape,"
said de Marsay.

"But Mademoiselle de Grandlieu worships him," said the Comtesse de
Montcornet; "and with the young person's assistance, he may perhaps make
better terms."

"And what will he do with his sister and brother-in-law at Angouleme?"
asked the Chevalier d'Espard.

"Well, his sister is rich," replied Rastignac, "and he now sp