tary carelessness with which she dressed was really exquisite in its elegance. There was a nervous distinction in all she did which suggested a wellborn Persian cat; she was an aris-THEREUPON NANA BECAME a smart woman, mistress tocrat in vice and proudly and rebelliously trampled upon a of all that is foolish and filthy in man, marquise in prostrate Paris like a sovereign whom none dare disobey.
the ranks of her calling. It was a sudden but deci-She set the fashion, and great ladies imitated her.
sive start, a plunge into the garish day of gallant notoriety Nana’s fine house was situated at the corner of the Rue and mad expenditure and that daredevil wastefulness pe-Cardinet, in the Avenue de Villiers. The avenue was part of culiar to beauty. She at once became queen among the most the luxurious quarter at that time springing up in the vague expensive of her kind. Her photographs were displayed in district which had once been the Plaine Monceau. The house shopwindows, and she was mentioned in the papers. When had been built by a young painter, who was intoxicated by she drove in her carriage along the boulevards the people a first success, and had been perforce resold almost as soon would turn and tell one another who that was with all the as it was habitable. It was in the palatial Renaissance man-unction of a nation saluting its sovereign, while the object ner and had fantastic interior arrangements which consisted of their adoration lolled easily back in her diaphanous of modern conveniences framed in a setting of somewhat dresses and smiled gaily under the rain of little golden curls artificial originality. Count Muffat had bought the house which ran riot above the blue of her made-up eyes and the ready furnished and full of hosts of beautiful objects—lovely red of her painted lips. And the wonder of wonders was Eastern hangings, old credences, huge chairs of the Louis that the great creature, who was so awkward on the stage, XIII epoch. And thus Nana had come into artistic surround-so very absurd the moment she sought to act the chaste ings of the choicest kind and of the most extravagantly woman, was able without effort to assume the role of an various dates. But since the studio, which occupied the enchantress in the outer world. Her movements were lithe central portion of the house, could not be of any use to as a serpent’s, and the studied and yet seemingly involun-her, she had upset existing arrangements, establishing a 260
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small drawing room on the first floor, next to her bedroom armchairs upholstered in old tapestry, furnished the entrance and dressing room, and leaving a conservatory, a large draw-hall, adorned the stairheads and gave the first-floor landing room and a dining room to look after themselves undering the appearance of an anteroom. Here men’s overcoats neath. She astonished the architect with her ideas, for, as and hats were always in evidence, and there were thick became a Parisian workgirl who understands the elegancies hangings which deadened every sound. It seemed a place of life by instinct, she had suddenly developed a very pretty apart: on entering it you might have fancied yourself in a taste for every species of luxurious refinement. Indeed, she chapel, whose very air was thrilling with devotion, whose did not spoil her house overmuch; nay, she even added to very silence and seclusion were fraught with mystery.
the richness of the furniture, save here and there, where cer-Nana only opened the large and somewhat too-sumptu-tain traces of tender foolishness and vulgar magnificence ous Louis XVI drawing room on those gala nights when betrayed the ex-flower seller who had been wont to dream she received society from the Tuileries or strangers of disin front of shopwindows in the arcades.
tinction. Ordinarily she only came downstairs at mealtimes, A carpet was spread on the steps beneath the great aw-and she would feel rather lost on such days as she lunched ning over the front door in the court, and the moment you by herself in the lofty dining room with its Gobelin tapes-entered the hall you were greeted by a perfume as of vio-try and its monumental sideboard, adorned with old por-lets and a soft, warm atmosphere which thick hangings celain and marvelous pieces of ancient plate. She used to helped to produce. A window, whose yellow—and rose-go upstairs again as quickly as possible, for her home was colored panes—suggested the warm pallor of human flesh, on the first floor, in the three rooms, the bed, dressing and gave light to the wide staircase, at the foot of which a Ne-small drawing room above described. Twice already she gro in carved wood held out a silver tray full of visiting had done the bedchamber up anew: on the first occasion in cards and four white marble women, with bosoms displayed, mauve satin, on the second in blue silk under lace. But she raised lamps in their uplifted hands. Bronzes and Chinese had not been satisfied with this; it had struck her as vases full of flowers, divans covered with old Persian rugs,
“nohowish,” and she was still unsuccessfully seeking for 261
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new colors and designs. On the elaborately upholstered ettes, a woman in her shift, hunting for fleas, and another bed, which was as low as a sofa, there were twenty thou-with nothing at all on, walking on her hands and waving sand francs’ worth of Point de Venise lace. The furniture her feet in the air, sufficed to sully the room with a note of was lacquered blue and white under designs in silver fili-stupid originality.
gree, and everywhere lay such numbers of white bearskins Through a door, which was nearly always ajar, the dress-that they hid the carpet. This was a luxurious caprice on ing room was visible. It was all in marble and glass with a Nana’s part, she having never been able to break herself of white bath, silver jugs and basins and crystal and ivory ap-the habit of sitting on the floor to take her stockings off.
pointments. A drawn curtain filled the place with a clear Next door to the bedroom the little saloon was full of an twilight which seemed to slumber in the warm scent of amusing medley of exquisitely artistic objects. Against the violets, that suggestive perfume peculiar to Nana where-hangings of pale rose-colored silk—a faded Turkish rose with the whole house, from the roof to the very courtyard, color, embroidered with gold thread—a whole world of was penetrated.
them stood sharply outlined. They were from every land The furnishing of the house was a most important under-and in every possible style. There were Italian cabinets, taking. Nana certainly had Zoe with her, that girl so de-Spanish and Portuguese coffers, models of Chinese pago-voted to her fortunes. For months she had been tranquilly das, a Japanese screen of precious workmanship, besides awaiting this abrupt, new departure, as became a woman china, bronzes, embroidered silks, hangings of the finest who was certain of her powers of prescience, and now she needlework. Armchairs wide as beds and sofas deep as was triumphant; she was mistress of the house and was alcoves suggested voluptuous idleness and the somnolent putting by a round sum while serving Madame as honestly life of the seraglio. The prevailing tone of the room was as possible. But a solitary lady’s maid was no longer suffi-old gold blended with green and red, and nothing it concient. A butler, a coachman, a porter and a cook were tained too forcibly indicated the presence of the courtesan wanted. Besides, it was necessary to fill the stables. It was save the luxuriousness of the seats. Only two “biscuit” statu-then that Labordette made himself most useful. He under-262
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took to perform all sorts of errands which bored the count; which, despite the count’s money, was imminent. Never-he made a comfortable job of the purchase of horses; he theless, she was still bitter about her failure. It added to visited the coachbuilders; he guided the young woman in that other bitterness, the lesson Fontan had given her, a her choice of things. She was to be met with at the shops, shameful lesson for which she held all men responsible.
leaning on his arm. Labordette even got in the servants—
Accordingly she now declared herself very firm and quite Charles, a great, tall coachman, who had been in service proof against sudden infatuations, but thoughts of ven-with the Duc de Corbreuse; Julien, a little, smiling, much-geance took no hold of her volatile brain. What did main-becurled butler, and a married couple, of whom the wife tain a hold on it in the hours when she was not indignant Victorine became cook while the husband Francois was was an ever-wakeful lust of expenditure, added to a natu-taken on as porter and footman. The last mentioned in ral contempt for the man who paid and to a perpetual pas-powder and breeches wore Nana’s livery, which was a sky-sion for consumption and waste, which took pride in the blue one adorned with silver lace, and he received visitors ruin of her lovers.
in the hall. The whole thing was princely in the correctness At starting Nana put the count on a proper footing and of its style.
clearly mapped out the conditions of their relationship. The At the end of two months the house was set going. The count gave twelve thousand francs monthly, presents ex-cost had been more than three hundred thousand francs.
cepted, and demanded nothing in return save absolute fi-There were eight horses in the stables, and five carriages in delity. She swore fidelity but insisted also on being treated the coach houses, and of these five one was a landau with with the utmost consideration, on enjoying complete lib-silver embellishments, which for the moment occupied the erty as mistress of the house and on having her every wish attention of all Paris. And amid this great wealth Nana be-respected. For instance, she was to receive her friends ev-gan settling down and making her nest. After the third rep-ery day, and he was to come only at stated times. In a resentation of the Petite Duchesse she had quitted the the-word, he was to repose a blind confidence in her in every-ater, leaving Bordenave to struggle on against a bankruptcy thing. And when he was seized with jealous anxiety and 263
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hesitated to grant what she wanted, she stood on her dig-True, he did not let them pay him money, but he profited nity and threatened to give him back all he had given or by that of others and only repaid them at rare intervals even swore by little Louiset to perform what she prom-with a bouquet or a dinner. And when the count seemed ised. This was to suffice him. There was no love where inclined to find excuses for these failings she bluntly in-mutual esteem was wanting. At the end of the first month formed him that Daguenet had enjoyed her favors, and she Muffat respected her.
added disgusting particulars. Muffat had grown ashen-pale.
But she desired and obtained still more. Soon she began There was no question of the young man now. This would to influence him, as became a good-natured courtesan.
teach him to be lacking in gratitude!
When he came to her in a moody condition she cheered Meanwhile the house had not been entirely furnished, him up, confessed him and then gave him good advice.
when one evening after she had lavished the most ener-Little by little she interested herself in the annoyances of getic promises of fidelity on Muffat Nana kept the Count his home life, in his wife, in his daughter, in his love affairs Xavier de Vandeuvres for the night. For the last fortnight and financial difficulties; she was very sensible, very fair he had been paying her assiduous court, visiting her and and right-minded. On one occasion only did she let anger sending presents of flowers, and now she gave way not so get the better of her, and that was when he confided to her much out of sudden infatuation as to prove that she was a that doubtless Daguenet was going to ask for his daughter free woman. The idea of gain followed later when, the day Estelle in marriage. When the count began making himself after, Vandeuvres helped her to pay a bill which she did not notorious Daguenet had thought it a wise move to break wish to mention to the other man. From Vandeuvres she off with Nana. He had treated her like a base hussy and had would certainly derive from eight to ten thousand francs a sworn to snatch his future father-in-law out of the creature’s month, and this would prove very useful as pocket money.
clutches. In return Nana abused her old Mimi in a charmIn those days he was finishing the last of his fortune in an ing fashion. He was a renegade who had devoured his for-access of burning, feverish folly. His horses and Lucy had tune in the company of vile women; he had no moral sense.
devoured three of his farms, and at one gulp Nana was 264
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going to swallow his last chateau, near Amiens. He seemed derangements. Madame, however, pained Zoe extremely in a hurry to sweep everything away, down to the ruins of with her imprudent acts, her sudden fits of unwisdom, her the old tower built by a Vandeuvres under Philip Augustus.
mad bravado. Still the lady’s maid grew gradually lenient, He was mad for ruin and thought it a great thing to leave for she had noticed that she made increased profits in sea-the last golden bezants of his coat of arms in the grasp of sons of wanton waste when Madame had committed a folly this courtesan, whom the world of Paris desired. He, too, which must be made up for. It was then that the presents accepted Nana’s conditions, leaving her entire freedom of began raining on her, and she fished up many a louis out of action and claiming her caresses only on certain days. He the troubled waters.
was not even naively impassioned enough to require her to One morning when Muffat had not yet left the bedroom make vows. Muffat suspected nothing. As to Vandeuvres, Zoe ushered a gentleman into the dressing room, where Nana he knew things would take place for a certainty, but he was changing her underwear. He was trembling violently.
never made the least allusion to them and pretended total
“Good gracious! It’s Zizi!” said the young woman in great ignorance, while his lips wore the subtle smile of the skep-astonishment.
tical man of pleasure who does not seek the impossible, It was, indeed, Georges. But when he saw her in her provided he can have his day and that Paris is aware of it.
shift, with her golden hair over her bare shoulders, he threw From that time forth Nana’s house was really properly his arms round her neck and round her waist and kissed appointed. The staff of servants was complete in the stable, her in all directions. She began struggling to get free, for in the kitchen and in my lady’s chamber. Zoe organized she was frightened, and in smothered tones she stammered: everything and passed successfully through the most un-
“Do leave off! He’s there! Oh, it’s silly of you! And you, foreseen difficulties. The household moved as easily as the Zoe, are you out of your senses? Take him away and keep scenery in a theater and was regulated like a grand admin-him downstairs; I’ll try and come down.” istrative concern. Indeed, it worked with such precision Zoe had to push him in front of her. When Nana was able that during the early months there were no jars and no to rejoin them in the drawing room downstairs she scolded 265
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them both, and Zoe pursed up her lips and took her depar-with the feeling that his long desire was at last about to be ture with a vexed expression, remarking that she had only satisfied that he had not even noticed what sort of house been anxious to give Madame a pleasure. Georges was so he was entering. But now he became conscious of a change glad to see Nana again and gazed at her with such delight in the things around him. He examined the sumptuous din-that his fine eyes began filling with tears. The miserable ing room with its lofty decorated ceiling, its Gobelin hang-days were over now; his mother believed him to have grown ings, its buffet blazing with plate.
reasonable and had allowed him to leave Les Fondettes.
“Yes, yes!” he remarked sadly.
Accordingly, the moment he had reached the terminus, he And with that she made him understand that he was never had got a conveyance in order the more quickly to come to come in the mornings but between four and six in the and kiss his sweet darling. He spoke of living at her side in afternoon, if he cared to. That was her reception time. Then future, as he used to do down in the country when he waited as he looked at her with suppliant, questioning eyes and for her, barefooted, in the bedroom at La Mignotte. And craved no boon at all, she, in her turn, kissed him on the as he told her about himself, he let his fingers creep for-forehead in the most amiable way.
ward, for he longed to touch her after that cruel year of
“Be very good,” she whispered. “I’ll do all I can.” separation. Then he got possession of her hands, felt about But the truth was that this remark now meant nothing.
the wide sleeves of her dressing jacket, traveled up as far She thought Georges very nice and would have liked him as her shoulders.
as a companion, but as nothing else. Nevertheless, when
“You still love your baby?” he asked in his child voice.
he arrived daily at four o’clock he seemed so wretched
“Oh, I certainly love him!” answered Nana, briskly get-that she was often fain to be as compliant as of old and ting out of his clutches. “But you come popping in without would hide him in cupboards and constantly allow him to warning. You know, my little man, I’m not my own mis-pick up the crumbs from Beauty’s table. He hardly ever tress; you must be good!”
left the house now and became as much one of its inmates Georges, when he got out of his cab, had been so dizzy as the little dog Bijou. Together they nestled among 266
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Mistress’s skirts and enjoyed a little of her at a time, even Soon, as the lad kept returning to the subject of his when she was with another man, while doles of sugar and brother, she ended by taking a certain interest in Philippe, stray caresses not seldom fell to their share in her hours of and in a week’s time she knew him from head to foot—
loneliness and boredom.
knew him as very tall and very strong and merry and some-Doubtless Mme Hugon found out that the lad had again what rough. She learned intimate details, too, and found returned to that wicked woman’s arms, for she hurried up out that he had hair on his arms and a birthmark on his to Paris and came and sought aid from her other son, the shoulder. So thoroughly did she learn her lesson that one Lieutenant Philippe, who was then in garrison at Vincennes.
day, when she was full of the image of the man who was to Georges, who was hiding from his elder brother, was seized be turned out of doors by her orders, she cried out: with despairing apprehension, for he feared the latter might
“I say, Zizi, your brother’s not coming. He’s a base deserter!” adopt violent tactics, and as his tenderness for Nana was The next day, when Georges and Nana were alone to-so nervously expansive that he could not keep anything gether, Francois came upstairs to ask whether Madame from her, he soon began talking of nothing but his big would receive Lieutenant Philippe Hugon. Georges grew brother, a great, strong fellow, who was capable of all kinds extremely white and murmured:
of things.
“I suspected it; Mamma was talking about it this morning.”
“You know,” he explained, “Mamma won’t come to you And he besought the young woman to send down word while she can send my brother. Oh, she’ll certainly send that she could not see visitors. But she was already on her Philippe to fetch me.”
feet and seemed all aflame as she said: The first time he said this Nana was deeply wounded.
“Why should I not see him? He would think me afraid.
She said frigidly:
Dear me, we’ll have a good laugh! Just leave the gentle-
“Gracious me, I should like to see him come! For all that man in the drawing room for a quarter of an hour, Francois; he’s a lieutenant in the army, Francois will chuck him out afterward bring him up to me.”
in double-quick time!”
She did not sit down again but began pacing feverishly 267
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to and fro between the fireplace and a Venetian mirror hang-dress. Georges began crossing on tiptoe on the other side of ing above an Italian chest. And each time she reached the the room, for he was anxious to obey the young woman.
latter she glanced at the glass and tried the effect of a smile, But the sound of voices retained him, and he hesitated in while Georges sat nervously on a sofa, trembling at the such anguish of mind that his knees gave way under him. He thought of the coming scene. As she walked up and down began imagining that a dread catastrophe would befall, that she kept jerking out such little phrases as: blows would be struck, that something abominable would
“It will calm the fellow down if he has to wait a quarter happen, which would make Nana everlastingly odious to of an hour. Besides, if he thinks he’s calling on a tottie the him. And so he could not withstand the temptation to come drawing room will stun him! Yes, yes, have a good look at back and put his ear against the door. He heard very ill, for everything, my fine fellow! It isn’t imitation, and it’ll teach the thick portieres deadened every sound, but he managed you to respect the lady who owns it. Respect’s what men to catch certain words spoken by Philippe, stern phrases in need to feel! The quarter of an hour’s gone by, eh? No?
which such terms as “mere child,” “family,” “honor,” were Only ten minutes? Oh, we’ve got plenty of time.” distinctly audible. He was so anxious about his darling’s She did not stay where she was, however. At the end of possible answers that his heart beat violently and filled his the quarter of an hour she sent Georges away after making head with a confused, buzzing noise. She was sure to give him solemnly promise not to listen at the door, as such vent to a “Dirty blackguard!” or to a “Leave me bloody well conduct would scarcely look proper in case the servants alone! I’m in my own house!” But nothing happened—not a saw him. As he went into her bedroom Zizi ventured in a breath came from her direction. Nana seemed dead in there!
choking sort of way to remark:
Soon even his brother’s voice grew gentler, and he could
“It’s my brother, you know—”
not make it out at all, when a strange murmuring sound
“Don’t you fear,” she said with much dignity; “if he’s finally stupefied him. Nana was sobbing! For a moment or polite I’ll be polite.”
two he was the prey of contending feelings and knew not Francois ushered in Philippe Hugon, who wore morning whether to run away or to fall upon Philippe. But just then 268
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Zoe came into the room, and he withdrew from the door, savage and have dealt her blows. Thus when Zoe finally ashamed at being thus surprised.
took her departure he ran to the door and once more pressed She began quietly to put some linen away in a cupboard his ear against it. He was thunderstruck; his head swam, while he stood mute and motionless, pressing his forehead for he heard a brisk outburst of gaiety, tender, whispering against a windowpane. He was tortured by uncertainty.
voices and the smothered giggles of a woman who is being After a short silence the woman asked: tickled. Besides, almost directly afterward, Nana conducted
“It’s your brother that’s with Madame?” Philippe to the head of the stairs, and there was an ex-
“Yes,” replied the lad in a choking voice.
change of cordial and familiar phrases.
There was a fresh silence.
When Georges again ventured into the drawing room
“And it makes you anxious, doesn’t it, Monsieur the young woman was standing before the mirror, looking Georges?”
at herself.
“Yes,” he rejoined in the same painful, suffering tone.
“Well?” he asked in utter bewilderment.
Zoe was in no hurry. She folded up some lace and said
“Well, what?” she said without turning round. Then slowly:
negligently:
“You’re wrong; Madame will manage it all.”
“What did you mean? He’s very nice, is your brother!” And then the conversation ended; they said not another
“So it’s all right, is it?”
word. Still she did not leave the room. A long quarter of
“Oh, certainly it’s all right! Goodness me, what’s come an hour passed, and she turned round again without seem-over you? One would have thought we were going to fight!” ing to notice the look of exasperation overspreading the Georges still failed to understand.
lad’s face, which was already white with the effects of un-
“I thought I heard—that is, you didn’t cry?” he stam-certainty and constraint. He was casting sidelong glances mered out.
in the direction of the drawing room.
“Me cry!” she exclaimed, looking fixedly at him. “Why, Maybe Nana was still crying. The other must have grown you’re dreaming! What makes you think I cried?” 269
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Thereupon the lad was treated to a distressing scene for eted their mother’s fears he never knew, but three days having disobeyed and played Paul Pry behind the door. She later she returned to Les Fondettes, apparently satisfied.
sulked, and he returned with coaxing submissiveness to On the evening of her return, at Nana’s house, he trembled the old subject, for he wished to know all about it.
when Francois announced the lieutenant, but the latter
“And my brother then?”
jested gaily and treated him like a young rascal, whose es-
“Your brother saw where he was at once. You know, I capade he had favored as something not likely to have any might have been a tottie, in which case his interference consequences. The lad’s heart was sore within him; he would have been accounted for by your age and the family scarcely dared move and blushed girlishly at the least word honor! Oh yes, I understand those kinds of feelings! But a that was spoken to him. He had not lived much in Philippe’s single glance was enough for him, and he behaved like a society; he was ten years his junior, and he feared him as he well-bred man at once. So don’t be anxious any longer.
would a father, from whom stories about women are con-It’s all over—he’s gone to quiet your mamma!” cealed. Accordingly he experienced an uneasy sense of And she went on laughingly:
shame when he saw him so free in Nana’s company and
“For that matter, you’ll see your brother here. I’ve in-heard him laugh uproariously, as became a man who was vited him, and he’s going to return.” plunging into a life of pleasure with the gusto born of mag-
“Oh, he’s going to return,” said the lad, growing white.
nificent health. Nevertheless, when his brother shortly be-He added nothing, and they ceased talking of Philippe. She gan to present himself every day, Georges ended by get-began dressing to go out, and he watched her with his great, ting somewhat used to it all. Nana was radiant.
sad eyes. Doubtless he was very glad that matters had got This, her latest installation, had been involving all the riot-settled, for he would have preferred death to a rupture of ous waste attendant on the life of gallantry, and now her house-their connection, but deep down in his heart there was a warming was being defiantly celebrated in a grand mansion silent anguish, a profound sense of pain, which he had no positively overflowing with males and with furniture.
experience of and dared not talk about. How Philippe qui-One afternoon when the Hugons were there Count Muffat 270
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arrived out of hours. But when Zoe told him that Madame man on one side and asked news of his mother. From that was with friends he refused to come in and took his depar-time forth the young Hugons, Vandeuvres and Muffat were ture discreetly, as became a gallant gentleman. When he openly about the house and shook hands as guests and made his appearance again in the evening Nana received intimates might have done. It was a more convenient ar-him with the frigid indignation of a grossly affronted rangement than the previous one. Muffat alone still ab-woman.
stained discreetly from too-frequent visits, thus adhering
“Sir,” she said, “I have given you no cause why you should to the ceremonious policy of an ordinary strange caller. At insult me. You must understand this: when I am at home to night when Nana was sitting on her bearskins drawing off visitors, I beg you to make your appearance just like other her stockings, he would talk amicably about the other three people.”
gentlemen and lay especial stress on Philippe, who was The count simply gaped in astonishment. “But, my dear—
loyalty itself.
” he endeavored to explain.
“It’s very true; they’re nice,” Nana would say as she lin-
“Perhaps it was because I had visitors! Yes, there were gered on the floor to change her shift. “Only, you know, men here, but what d’you suppose I was doing with those they see what I am. One word about it and I should chuck men? You only advertise a woman’s affairs when you act