“It is the best way of keeping the money safe,” said he; “I am twice enchanted to have won it yesterday from my honored father, Milord Dudley.”
Such French grace completely fascinated d’Esgrignon; he took it for friendship; and as to the money, punctually forgot to pay his debts with it, and spent it on his pleasures. The fact was that de Marsay was looking on with an unspeakable pleasure while young d’Esgrignon “got out of his depth,” in dandy’s idiom; it pleased de Marsay in all sorts of fondling ways to lay an arm on the lad’s shoulder; by and by he should feel its weight, and disappear the sooner. For de Marsay was jealous; the Duchess flaunted her love affair; she was not at home to other visitors when d’Esgrignon was with her. And besides, de Marsay was one of those savage humorists who delight in mischief, as Turkish women in the bath. So when he had carried off the prize, and bets were settled at the tavern where they breakfasted, and a bottle or two of good wine had appeared, de Marsay turned to d’Esgrignon with a laugh:
“Those bills that you are worrying over are not yours, I am sure.”
“Eh! if they weren’t, why should he worry himself?” asked Rastignac.
“And whose should they be?” d’Esgrignon inquired.
“Then you do not know the Duchess’ position?” queried de Marsay, as he sprang into the saddle.
“No,” said d’Esgrignon, his curiosity aroused.
“Well, dear fellow, it is like this,” returned de Marsay—“thirty thousand francs to Victorine, eighteen thousand francs to Houbigaut, lesser amounts to Herbault, Nattier, Nourtier, and those Latour people,—altogether a hundred thousand francs.”
“An angel!” cried d’Esgrignon, with eyes uplifted to heaven.
“This is the bill for her wings,” Rastignac cried facetiously.