Красное и черное

The Hotel de La Mole

           HelenaandintheportionsofhistorydictatedbyNapoleon.ThedictionofcomteChalvetwaslaconic,hisphraseswereflashesoflightningjust,vivid,deep.Ifhetalkedaboutanymattertheconversationimmediatelymadeastepforward;heimportedfactsintoit;itwasapleasuretohearhim.Inpolitics,however,hewasabrazencynic.

           "Iamindependent,Iam,"hewassayingtoagentlemanwiththreestars,ofwhomapparentlyhewasmakingfun."Whyinsistonmyhavingto-daythesameopinionIhadsixweeksago.Inthatcasemyopinionwouldbemymaster."

           Fourgraveyoungmenwhowerestandingroundscowled;thesegentlemendidnotlikeflippancy.Thecomtesawthathehadgonetoofar.LuckilyheperceivedthehonestM.Balland,averitablehypocriteofhonesty.Thecountbegantotalktohim;peopleclosedup,fortheyrealisedthatpoorBallandwasgoingtobethenextvictim.

           M.Balland,althoughhewashorriblyuglyandhisfirststepsintheworldwerealmostunmentionable,hadbydintofhismoralsandhismoralitymarriedaveryrichwifewhohaddied;hesubsequentlymarriedasecondveryrichonewhowasneverseeninsociety.Heenjoyed,inallhumility,anincomeofsixtythousandfrancs,andhadhisownflatterers.ComteChalvettalkedtohimpitilesslyaboutallthis.Therewassoonacircleofthirtypersonsaroundthem.Everybodywassmiling,includingthesolemnyoungmenwhowerethehopeofthecentury.

           "WhydoeshecometoM.delaMolewhereheisobviouslyonlyalaughingstock?"thoughtJulien.HeapproachedtheabbéPirardtoaskhim.

           M.Ballandmadehisescape.

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