groanings；　to　feel　themselves　over　in　every　stiffened　limb；　and　to
  experience　the　infinite　varieties　of　weariness　that　weighed　upon　them。
  A　servant　came　in　to　throw　back　the　shutters　and　open　the　windows。
  There　they　all　stood；　brought　back　to　consciousness　by　the　warm　rays
  of　sunlight　that　shone　upon　the　sleepers'　heads。　Their　movements
  during　slumber　had　disordered　the　elaborately　arranged　hair　and
  toilettes　of　the　women。　They　presented　a　ghastly　spectacle　in　the
  bright　daylight。　Their　hair　fell　ungracefully　about　them；　their　eyes；
  lately　so　brilliant；　were　heavy　and　dim；　the　expression　of　their　faces
  was　entirely　changed。　The　sickly　hues；　which　daylight　brings　out　so
  strongly；　were　frightful。　An　olive　tint　had　crept　over　the　lymphatic
  faces；　so　fair　and　soft　when　in　repose；　the　dainty　red　lips　were　grown
  pale　and　dry；　and　bore　tokens　of　the　degradation　of　excess。　Each
  disowned　his　mistress　of　the　night　before；　the　women　looked　wan　and
  discolored；　like　flowers　trampled　under　foot　by　a　passing　procession。
  The　men　who　scorned　them　looked　even　more　horrible。　Those　human　faces
  would　have　made　you　shudder。　The　hollow　eyes　with　the　dark　circles
  round　them　seemed　to　see　nothing；　they　were　dull　with　wine　and
  stupefied　with　heavy　slumbers　that　had　been　exhausting　rather　than
  refreshing。　There　was　an　indescribable　ferocious　and　stolid　bestiality
  about　these　haggard　faces；　where　bare　physical　appetite　appeared　shorn
  of　all　the　poetical　illusion　with　which　the　intellect　invests　it。　Even
  these　fearless　champions；　accustomed　to　measure　themselves　with
  excess；　were　struck　with　horror　at　this　awakening　of　vice；　stripped　of
  its　disguises；　at　being　confronted　thus　with　sin；　the　skeleton　in
  rags；　lifeless　and　hollow；　bereft　of　the　sophistries　of　the　intellect
  and　the　enchantments　of　luxury。　Artists　and　courtesans　scrutinized　in
  silence　and　with　haggard　glances　the　surrounding　disorder；　the　rooms
  where　everything　had　been　laid　waste；　at　the　havoc　wrought　by　heated
  passions。
  Demoniac　laughter　broke　out　when　Taillefer；　catching　the　smothered
  murmurs　of　his　guests；　tried　to　greet　them　with　a　grin。　His　darkly
  flushed；　perspiring　countenance　loomed　upon　this　pandemonium；　like　the
  image　of　a　crime　that　knows　no　remorse　（see　L'Auberge　Rouge）。　The
  picture　was　complete。　A　picture　of　a　foul　life　in　the　midst　of　luxury；
  a　hideous　mixture　of　the　pomp　and　squalor　of　humanity；　an　awakening
  after　the　frenzy　of　Debauch　has　crushed　and　squeezed　all　the　fruits　of
  life　in　her　strong　hands；　till　nothing　but　unsightly　refuse　is　left　to
  her；　and　lies　in　which　she　believes　no　longer。　You　might　have　thought
  of　Death　gloating　over　a　family　stricken　with　the　plague。
  The　sweet　scents　and　dazzling　lights；　the　mirth　and　the　excitement
  were　all　no　more；　disgust　with　its　nauseous　sensations　and　searching
  philosophy　was　there　instead。　The　sun　shone　in　like　truth；　the　pure
  outer　air　was　like　virtue；　in　contrast　with　the　heated　atmosphere；
  heavy　with　the　fumes　of　the　previous　night　of　revelry。
  Accustomed　as　they　were　to　their　life；　many　of　the　girls　thought　of
  other　days　and　other　wakings；　pure　and　innocent　days　when　they　looked
  out　and　saw　the　roses　and　honeysuckle　about　the　casement；　and　the
  fresh　countryside　without　enraptured　by　the　glad　music　of　the　skylark；
  while　earth　lay　in　mists；　lighted　by　the　dawn；　and　in　all　the
  glittering　radiance　of　dew。　Others　imagined　the　family　breakfast；　the
  father　and　children　round　the　table；　the　innocent　laughter；　the
  unspeakable　charm　that　pervaded　it　all；　the　simple　hearts　and　their
  meal　as　simple。
  An　artist　mused　upon　his　quiet　studio；　on　his　statue　in　its　severe
  beauty；　and　the　graceful　model　who　was　waiting　for　him。　A　young　man
  recollected　a　lawsuit　on　which　the　fortunes　of　a　family　hung；　and　an
  important　transaction　that　needed　his　presence。　The　scholar　regretted
  his　study　and　that　noble　work　that　called　for　him。　Emile　appeared　just
  then　as　smiling；　blooming；　and　fresh　as　the　smartest　assistant　in　a
  fashionable　shop。
  〃You　are　all　as　ugly　as　bailiffs。　You　won't　be　fit　for　anything
  to…day；　so　this　day　is　lost；　and　I　vote　for　breakfast。〃
  At　this　Taillefer　went　out　to　give　some　orders。　The　women　went
  languidly　up　to　the　mirrors　to　set　their　toilettes　in　order。　Each　one
  shook　herself。　The　wilder　sort　lectured　the　steadier　ones。　The
  courtesans　made　fun　of　those　who　looked　unable　to　continue　the
  boisterous　festivity；　but　these　wan　forms　revived　all　at　once；　stood
  in　groups；　and　talked　and　smiled。　Some　servants　quickly　and　adroitly
  set　the　furniture　and　everything　else　in　its　place；　and　a　magnificent
  breakfast　was　got　ready。
  The　guests　hurried　into　the　dining…room。　Everything　there　bore
  indelible　marks　of　yesterday's　excess；　it　is　true；　but　there　were　at
  any　rate　some　traces　of　ordinary；　rational　existence；　such　traces　as
  may　be　found　in　a　sick　man's　dying　struggles。　And　so　the　revelry　was
  laid　away　and　buried；　like　carnival　of　a　Shrove　Tuesday；　by　masks
  wearied　out　with　dancing；　drunk　with　drunkenness；　and　quite　ready　to
  be　persuaded　of　the　pleasures　of　lassitude；　lest　they　should　be　forced
  to　admit　their　exhaustion。
  As　soon　as　these　bold　spirits　surrounded　the　capitalist's　breakfast…
  table；　Cardot　appeared。　He　had　left　the　rest　to　make　a　night　of　it
  after　the　dinner；　and　finished　the　evening　after　his　own　fashion　in
  the　retirement　of　domestic　life。　Just　now　a　sweet　smile　wandered　over
  his　features。　He　seemed　to　have　a　presentiment　that　there　would　be
  some　inheritance　to　sample　and　divide；　involving　inventories　and
  engrossing；　an　inheritance　rich　in　fees　and　deeds　to　draw　up；　and
  something　as　juicy　as　the　trembling　fillet　of　beef　in　which　their　host
  had　just　plunged　his　knife。
  〃Oh；　ho！　we　are　to　have　breakfast　in　the　presence　of　a　notary；〃　cried
  Cursy。
  〃You　have　come　here　just　at　the　right　time；〃　said　the　banker；
  indicating　the　breakfast；　〃you　can　jot　down　the　numbers；　and　initial
  off　all　the　dishes。〃
  〃There　is　no　will　to　make　here；　but　contracts　of　marriage　there　may
  be；　perhaps；〃　said　the　scholar；　who　had　made　a　satisfactory
  arrangement　for　the　first　time　in　twelve　months。
  〃Oh！　Oh！〃
  〃Ah！　Ah！〃
  〃One　moment；〃　cried　Cardot；　fairly　deafened　by　a　chorus　of　wretched
  jokes。　〃I　came　here　on　serious　business。　I　am　bringing　six　millions
  for　one　of　you。〃　（Dead　silence。）　〃Monsieur；〃　he　went　on；　turning　to
  Raphael；　who　at　the　moment　was　unceremoniously　wiping　his　eyes　on　a
  corner　of　the　table…napkin；　〃was　not　your　mother　a　Mlle。　O'Flaharty？〃
  〃Yes；〃　said　Raphael　mechanically　enough；　〃Barbara　Marie。〃
  〃Have　you　your　certificate　of　birth　about　you；〃　Cardot　went　on；　〃and
  Mme。　de　Valentin's　as　well？〃
  〃I　believe　so。〃
  〃Very　well　then；　monsieur；　you　are　the　sole　heir　of　Major　O'Flaharty；
  who　died　in　August　1828　at　Calcutta。〃
  〃An　incalcuttable　fortune；〃　said　the　critic。
  〃The　Major　having　bequeathed　several　amounts　to　public　institutions　in
  his　will；　the　French　Government　sent　in　a　claim　for　the　remainder　to
  the　East　India　Company；〃　the　notary　continued。　〃The　estate　is　clear
  and　ready　to　be　transferred　at　this　moment。　I　have　been　looking　in
  vain　for　the　heirs　and　assigns　of　Mlle。　Barbara　Marie　O'Flaharty　for　a
  fortnight　past；　when　yesterday　at　dinner〃
  Just　then　Raphael　suddenly　staggered　to　his　feet；　he　looked　like　a　man
  who　has　just　received　a　blow。　Acclamation　took　the　form　of　silence；
  for　stifled　envy　had　been　the　first　feeling　in　every　breast；　and　all
  eyes　devoured　him　like　flames。　Then　a　murmur　rose；　and　grew　like　the
  voice　of　a　discontented　audience；　or　the　first　mutterings　of　a　riot；
  as　everybody　made　some　comment　on　this　news　of　great　wealth　brought　by
  the　notary。
  This　abrupt　subservience　of　fate　brought　Raphael　thoroughly　to　his
  senses。　He　immediately　spread　out　the　table…napkin　with　which　he　had
  lately　taken　the　measure　of　the　piece　of　shagreen。　He　heeded　nothing
  as　he　laid　the　talisman　upon　it；　and　shuddered　involuntarily　at　the
  sight　of　a　slight　difference　between　the　present　size　of　the　skin　and
  the　outline　traced　upon　the　linen。
  〃Why；　what　is　the　matter　with　him？'　Taillefer　cried。　〃He　comes　by　his
  fortune　very　cheaply。〃
  〃Soutiens…le　Chatillon！〃　said　Bixiou　to　Emile。　〃The　joy　will　kill
  him。〃
  A　ghastly　white　hue　overspread　every　line　of　the　wan　features　of　the
  heir…at…law。　His　face　was　drawn；　every　outline　grew　haggard；　the
  hollows　in　his　livid　countenance　grew　deeper；　and　his　eyes　were　fixed
  and　staring。　He　was　facing　Death。
  The　opulent　banker；　surrounded　by　faded　women；　and　faces　with　satiety
  written　on　them；　the　enjoyment　that　had　reached　the　pitch　of　agony；
  was　a　living　illustration　of　his　own　life。
  Raphael　looked　thrice　at　the　talisman；　which　lay　passively　within　the
  merciless　outlines　on　the　table…napkin；　he　tried　not　to　believe　it；
  but　his　incredulity　vanished　utterly　before　the　light　of　an　inner
  presentiment。　The　whole　world　was　his；　he　could　have　all　things；　but
  the　will　to　possess　them　was　utterly　extinct。　Like　a　traveler　in　the
  midst　of　the　desert；　with　but　a　little　water　left　to　quench　his
  thirst；　he　must　measure　his　life　by　the　draughts　he　took　of　it。　He　saw
  what　every　desire　of　his　must　cost　him　in　the　days　of　his　life。　He
  believed　in　the　powers　of