AnastasiedeRestaudwasthewomanforwhomhehadsighed。Hehadcontrivedtowritehisnametwiceuponthelistofpartnersuponherfan，andhadsnatchedafewwordswithherduringthefirstquadrille。
“WhereshallImeetyouagain，Madame？“heaskedabruptly，andthetonesofhisvoicewerefullofthevehementenergythatwomenlikesowell。
“Oh，everywhere！“saidshe，“intheBois，attheBouffons，inmyownhouse。”
Withtheimpetuosityofhisadventuroussoutherntemper，hedidallhecouldtocultivateanacquaintancewiththislovelycountess，makingthebestofhisopportunitiesinthequadrilleandduringawaltzthatshegavehim。WhenhetoldherthathewasacousinofMme。deBeauseant’s，theCountess，whomhetookforagreatlady，askedhimtocallatherhouse，andafterherpartingsmile，Rastignacfeltconvincedthathemustmakethisvisit。Hewassoluckyastolightuponsomeonewhodidnotlaughathisignorance，afataldefectamongthegildedandinsolentyouthofthatperiod；thecoterieofMaulincourts，MaximesdeTrailles，deMarsays，Ronquerolles，Ajuda-Pintos，andVandenesseswhoshonethereinallthegloryofcoxcombryamongthebest-dressedwomenoffashioninParis——LadyBrandon，theDuchessedeLangeais，theComtessedeKergarouet，Mme。deSerizy，theDuchessedeCarigliano，theComtesseFerraud，Mme。deLanty，theMarquised’Aiglemont，Mme。Firmiani，theMarquisedeListomereandtheMarquised’Espard，theDuchessedeMaufrigneuseandtheGrandlieus。Luckily，therefore，forhim，thenovicehappenedupontheMarquisdeMontriveau，theloveroftheDuchessedeLangeais，ageneralassimpleasachild；fromhimRastignaclearnedthattheComtesselivedintheRueduHelder。
Ah，whatitistobeyoung，eagertoseetheworld，greedilyonthewatchforanychancethatbringsyounearerthewomanofyourdreams，andbeholdtwohousesopentheirdoorstoyou！TosetfootintheVicomtessedeBeauseant’shouseintheFaubourgSaint-Germain；tofallonyourkneesbeforeaComtessedeRestaudintheChausseed’Antin；tolookatoneglanceacrossavistaofParisdrawing-rooms，consciousthat，possessingsufficientgoodlooks，youmayhopetofindaidandprotectionthereinafeminineheart！Tofeelambitiousenoughtospurnthetight-ropeonwhichyoumustwalkwiththesteadyheadofanacrobatforwhomafallisimpossible，andtofindinacharmingwomanthebestofallbalancingpoles。