de Bargeton. Lucien frowned
and seemed to be taken aback, but Louise made him a sign, and asked
him to stay to dinner and to read Andre de Chenier aloud to them until
people arrived for their evening game at cards.

"You will give her pleasure," said M. de Bargeton, "and me also. Nothing
suits me better than listening to reading aloud after dinner."

Cajoled by M. de Bargeton, cajoled by Louise, waited upon with the
respect which servants show to a favored guest of the house, Lucien
remained in the Hotel de Bargeton, and began to think of the luxuries
which he enjoyed for the time being as the rightful accessories of
Lucien de Rubempre. He felt his position so strong through Louise's love
and M. de Bargeton's weakness, that as the rooms filled, he assumed a
lordly air, which that fair lady encouraged. He tasted the delights of
despotic sway which Nais had acquired by right of conquest, and liked
to share with him; and, in short, that evening he tried to act up to
the part of the lion of the little town. A few of those who marked these
airs drew their own conclusions from them, and thought that, according
to the old expression, he had come to the last term with the lady.
Amelie, who had come with M. du Chatelet, was sure of the deplorable
fact, in a corner of the drawing-room, where the jealous and envious
gathered together.

"Do not think of calling Nais to account for the vanity of a youngster,
who is as proud as he can be because he has got into society, where he
never expected to set foot," said Chatelet. "Don't you see that this
Chardon takes the civility of a woman of the world for an advance? He
does not know the difference between the silence of real passion and the
patronizing graciousness due to his good looks and youth and talent.
It would be too bad if women were blamed for all the desires which they
inspire. _He_ certainly is in love with her, but as for Nais----"

"Oh! Nais," echoed the perfidious Amelie, "Nais is well enough pleased.
A young man's love has so many attractions--at her age. A woman grows
young again in his company; she is a girl, and acts a girl's hesitation
and manners, and does not dream that she is ridiculous. Just look!
Think of a druggist's son giving himself a conqueror's airs with Mme. de
Bargeton."

"Love knows nought of high or low degree," hummed Adrien.

There was not a single house in Angouleme next day where the degree of
intimacy between M. Chardon (alias de Rubempre) an