between　himself　and　heaven。　In　the　face　of　such　achievements；　atheism
  seems　like　a　barren　skeleton。　What　do　you　say？〃
  〃I　am　thinking　of　the　seas　of　blood　shed　by　Catholicism。〃　Emile
  replied；　quite　unimpressed。　〃It　has　drained　our　hearts　and　veins　dry
  to　make　a　mimic　deluge。　No　matter！　Every　man　who　thinks　must　range
  himself　beneath　the　banner　of　Christ；　for　He　alone　has　consummated　the
  triumph　of　spirit　over　matter；　He　alone　has　revealed　to　us；　like　a
  poet；　an　intermediate　world　that　separates　us　from　the　Deity。〃
  〃Believest　thou？〃　asked　Raphael　with　an　unaccountable　drunken　smile。
  〃Very　good；　we　must　not　commit　ourselves；　so　we　will　drink　the
  celebrated　toast；　Diis　ignotis！〃
  And　they　drained　the　chalice　filled　up　with　science；　carbonic　acid
  gas；　perfumes；　poetry；　and　incredulity。
  〃If　the　gentlemen　will　go　to　the　drawing…room；　coffee　is　ready　for
  them；〃　said　the　major…domo。
  There　was　scarcely　one　of　those　present　whose　mind　was　not　floundering
  by　this　time　in　the　delights　of　chaos；　where　every　spark　of
  intelligence　is　quenched；　and　the　body；　set　free　from　its　tyranny；
  gives　itself　up　to　the　frenetic　joys　of　liberty。　Some　who　had　arrived
  at　the　apogee　of　intoxication　were　dejected；　as　they　painfully　tried
  to　arrest　a　single　thought　which　might　assure　them　of　their　own
  existence；　others；　deep　in　the　heavy　morasses　of　indigestion；　denied
  the　possibility　of　movement。　The　noisy　and　the　silent　were　oddly
  assorted。
  For　all　that；　when　new　joys　were　announced　to　them　by　the　stentorian
  tones　of　the　servant；　who　spoke　on　his　master's　behalf；　they　all　rose；
  leaning　upon；　dragging　or　carrying　one　another。　But　on　the　threshold
  of　the　room　the　entire　crew　paused　for　a　moment；　motionless；　as　if
  fascinated。　The　intemperate　pleasures　of　the　banquet　seemed　to　fade
  away　at　this　titillating　spectacle；　prepared　by　their　amphitryon　to
  appeal　to　the　most　sensual　of　their　instincts。
  Beneath　the　shining　wax…lights　in　a　golden　chandelier；　round　about　a
  table　inlaid　with　gilded　metal；　a　group　of　women；　whose　eyes　shone
  like　diamonds；　suddenly　met　the　stupefied　stare　of　the　revelers。　Their
  toilettes　were　splendid；　but　less　magnificent　than　their　beauty；　which
  eclipsed　the　other　marvels　of　this　palace。　A　light　shone　from　their
  eyes；　bewitching　as　those　of　sirens；　more　brilliant　and　ardent　than
  the　blaze　that　streamed　down　upon　the　snowy　marble；　the　delicately
  carved　surfaces　of　bronze；　and　lit　up　the　satin　sheen　of　the　tapestry。
  The　contrasts　of　their　attitudes　and　the　slight　movements　of　their
  heads；　each　differing　in　character　and　nature　of　attraction；　set　the
  heart　afire。　It　was　like　a　thicket；　where　blossoms　mingled　with
  rubies；　sapphires；　and　coral；　a　combination　of　gossamer　scarves　that
  flickered　like　beacon…lights；　of　black　ribbons　about　snowy　throats；　of
  gorgeous　turbans　and　demurely　enticing　apparel。　It　was　a　seraglio　that
  appealed　to　every　eye；　and　fulfilled　every　fancy。　Each　form　posed　to
  admiration　was　scarcely　concealed　by　the　folds　of　cashmere；　and　half
  hidden；　half　revealed　by　transparent　gauze　and　diaphanous　silk。　The
  little　slender　feet　were　eloquent；　though　the　fresh　red　lips　uttered
  no　sound。
  Demure　and　fragile…looking　girls；　pictures　of　maidenly　innocence；　with
  a　semblance　of　conventional　unction　about　their　heads；　were　there　like
  apparitions　that　a　breath　might　dissipate。　Aristocratic　beauties　with
  haughty　glances；　languid；　flexible；　slender；　and　complaisant；　bent
  their　heads　as　though　there　were　royal　protectors　still　in　the　market。
  An　English…woman　seemed　like　a　spirit　of　melancholysome　coy；　pale；
  shadowy　form　among　Ossian's　mists；　or　a　type　of　remorse　flying　from
  crime。　The　Parisienne　was　not　wanting　in　all　her　beauty　that　consists
  in　an　indescribable　charm；　armed　with　her　irresistible　weakness；　vain
  of　her　costume　and　her　wit；　pliant　and　hard；　a　heartless；　passionless
  siren　that　yet　can　create　factitious　treasures　of　passion　and
  counterfeit　emotion。
  Italians　shone　in　the　throng；　serene　and　self…possessed　in　their
  bliss；　handsome　Normans；　with　splendid　figures；　women　of　the　south；
  with　black　hair　and　well…shaped　eyes。　Lebel　might　have　summoned
  together　all　the　fair　women　of　Versailles；　who　since　morning　had
  perfected　all　their　wiles；　and　now　came　like　a　troupe　of　Oriental
  women；　bidden　by　the　slave　merchant　to　be　ready　to　set　out　at　dawn。
  They　stood　disconcerted　and　confused　about　the　table；　huddled　together
  in　a　murmuring　group　like　bees　in　a　hive。　The　combination　of　timid
  embarrassment　with　coquettishness　and　a　sort　of　expostulation　was　the
  result　either　of　calculated　effect　or　a　spontaneous　modesty。　Perhaps　a
  sentiment　of　which　women　are　never　utterly　divested　prescribed　to　them
  the　cloak　of　modesty　to　heighten　and　enhance　the　charms　of　wantonness。
  So　the　venerable　Taillefer's　designs　seemed　on　the　point　of　collapse；
  for　these　unbridled　natures　were　subdued　from　the　very　first　by　the
  majesty　with　which　woman　is　invested。　There　was　a　murmur　of
  admiration；　which　vibrated　like　a　soft　musical　note。　Wine　had　not
  taken　love　for　traveling　companion；　instead　of　a　violent　tumult　of
  passions；　the　guests　thus　taken　by　surprise；　in　a　moment　of　weakness；
  gave　themselves　up　to　luxurious　raptures　of　delight。
  Artists　obeyed　the　voice　of　poetry　which　constrains　them；　and　studied
  with　pleasure　the　different　delicate　tints　of　these　chosen　examples　of
  beauty。　Sobered　by　a　thought　perhaps　due　to　some　emanation　from　a
  bubble　of　carbonic　acid　in　the　champagne；　a　philosopher　shuddered　at
  the　misfortunes　which　had　brought　these　women；　once　perhaps　worthy　of
  the　truest　devotion；　to　this。　Each　one　doubtless　could　have　unfolded　a
  cruel　tragedy。　Infernal　tortures　followed　in　the　train　of　most　of
  them；　and　they　drew　after　them　faithless　men；　broken　vows；　and
  pleasures　atoned　for　in　wretchedness。　Polite　advances　were　made　by　the
  guests；　and　conversations　began；　as　varied　in　character　as　the
  speakers。　They　broke　up　into　groups。　It　might　have　been　a　fashionable
  drawing…room　where　ladies　and　young　girls　offer　after　dinner　the
  assistance　that　coffee；　liqueurs；　and　sugar　afford　to　diners　who　are
  struggling　in　the　toils　of　a　perverse　digestion。　But　in　a　little　while
  laughter　broke　out；　the　murmur　grew；　and　voices　were　raised。　The
  saturnalia；　subdued　for　a　moment；　threatened　at　times　to　renew　itself。
  The　alternations　of　sound　and　silence　bore　a　distant　resemblance　to　a
  symphony　of　Beethoven's。
  The　two　friends；　seated　on　a　silken　divan；　were　first　approached　by　a
  tall；　well…proportioned　girl　of　stately　bearing；　her　features　were
  irregular；　but　her　face　was　striking　and　vehement　in　expression；　and
  impressed　the　mind　by　the　vigor　of　its　contrasts。　Her　dark　hair　fell
  in　luxuriant　curls；　with　which　some　hand　seemed　to　have　played　havoc
  already；　for　the　locks　fell　lightly　over　the　splendid　shoulders　that
  thus　attracted　attention。　The　long　brown　curls　half　hid　her　queenly
  throat；　though　where　the　light　fell　upon　it；　the　delicacy　of　its　fine
  outlines　was　revealed。　Her　warm　and　vivid　coloring　was　set　off　by　the
  dead　white　of　her　complexion。　Bold　and　ardent　glances　came　from　under
  the　long　eyelashes；　the　damp；　red；　half…open　lips　challenged　a　kiss。
  Her　frame　was　strong　but　compliant；　with　a　bust　and　arms　strongly
  developed；　as　in　figures　drawn　by　the　Caracci；　she　yet　seemed　active
  and　elastic；　with　a　panther's　strength　and　suppleness；　and　in　the　same
  way　the　energetic　grace　of　her　figure　suggested　fierce　pleasures。
  But　though　she　might　romp　perhaps　and　laugh；　there　was　something
  terrible　in　her　eyes　and　her　smile。　Like　a　pythoness　possessed　by　the
  demon；　she　inspired　awe　rather　than　pleasure。　All　changes；　one　after
  another；　flashed　like　lightning　over　every　mobile　feature　of　her　face。
  She　might　captivate　a　jaded　fancy；　but　a　young　man　would　have　feared
  her。　She　was　like　some　colossal　statue　fallen　from　the　height　of　a
  Greek　temple；　so　grand　when　seen　afar；　too　roughly　hewn　to　be　seen
  anear。　And　yet；　in　spite　of　all；　her　terrible　beauty　could　have
  stimulated　exhaustion；　her　voice　might　charm　the　deaf；　her　glances
  might　put　life　into　the　bones　of　the　dead；　and　therefore　Emile　was
  vaguely　reminded　of　one　of　Shakespeare's　tragediesa　wonderful　maze；
  in　which　joy　groans；　and　there　is　something　wild　even　about　love；　and
  the　magic　of　forgiveness　and　the　warmth　of　happiness　succeed　to　cruel
  storms　of　rage。　She　was　a　siren　that　can　both　kiss　and　devour；　laugh
  like　a　devil；　or　weep　as　angels　can。　She　could　concentrate　in　one
  instant　all　a　woman's　powers　of　attraction　in　a　single　effort　（the
  sighs　of　melancholy　and　the　charms　of　maiden's　shyness　alone
  excepted）；　then　in　a　moment　rise　in　fury　like　a　nation　in　revolt；　and
  tear　herself；　her　passion；　and　her　lover；　in　pieces。
  Dressed　in　red　velvet；　she　trampled　under　her　reckless　feet　the　stray
  flowers　fallen　from　other　heads；　and　held　out　a　salver　to　the　two
  friends；　with　careless　hands。　The　white　arms　stood　out　in　bold　relief
  against　the　velvet。　Proud　of　her　beauty；　proud　（who　knows？）　of　her
  corruption；　she　stood　like　a　queen　of　pleasure；　like　an　incarnation　of
  enjoyment；　the　enjoyment　that　comes　of　squandering　the　accumulations
  of　three　generations；　that　scoffs　at　its　progenitors；　and　makes