ThestudentdidnotknowthattheBaroness’thoughtshadbeenwandering；thatshewaseventhenexpectingaletterfromdeMarsay，oneofthoselettersthatbringaboutarupturethatrendsthesoul；so，happyinhisdelusion，EugenewentwiththeVicomtessetotheperistyle，wherepeoplewerewaitingtilltheircarriageswereannounced。
“Thatcousinofyoursishardlyrecognizableforthesameman。”
saidthePortugueselaughinglytotheVicomtesse，whenEugenehadtakenleaveofthem。“Hewillbreakthebank。Heisassuppleasaneel；hewillgoalongway，ofthatIamsure。Whoelsecouldhavepickedoutawomanforhim，asyoudid，justwhensheneededconsolation？“
“Butitisnotcertainthatshedoesnotstilllovethefaithlesslover。”saidMme。deBeauseant。
ThestudentmeanwhilewalkedbackfromtheTheatre-ItalientotheRueNeuve-Sainte-Genevieve，makingthemostdelightfulplansashewent。HehadnoticedhowcloselyMme。deRestaudhadscrutinizedhimwhenhesatbesideMme。deNucingen，andinferredthattheCountess’doorswouldnotbeclosedinthefuture。Fourimportanthouseswerenowopentohim——forhemeanttostandwellwiththeMarechale；hehadfoursupportersintheinmostcircleofsocietyinParis。Evennowitwascleartohimthat，onceinvolvedinthisintricatesocialmachinery，hemustattachhimselftoaspokeofthewheelthatwastoturnandraisehisfortunes；hewouldnotexaminehimselftoocuriouslyastothemethods，buthewascertainoftheend，andconsciousofthepowertogainandkeephishold。