“ThoughdeMarsaywasrichwhenhestartedinlifehewasanexception，“saidthehost，aparvenunamedFinot，ambitiousofseemingintimatewiththeseyoungmen。“Anyonebuthe，“addedFinotbowingtothatpersonage，“wouldhavebeenruinedbyit。“
“Atrueremark，“saidMaximedeTrailles。
“Andatrueidea，“addedRastignac。
“Mydearfellow，“saiddeMarsay，gravely，toSavinien；“debtsarethecapitalstockofexperience。Agooduniversityeducationwithtutorsforallbranches，whodon’tteachyouanything，costssixtythousandfrancs。Iftheeducationoftheworlddoescostdouble，atleastitteachesyoutounderstandlife，politics，men，——andsometimeswomen。“
BlondetconcludedthelessonbyaparaphrasefromLaFontaine:“Theworldsellsdearlywhatwethinkitgives。“