of his coat of arms in the grasp of this courtesan, whom the world

of Paris desired. He, too, accepted Nana's conditions, leaving her

entire freedom of action and claiming her caresses only on certain

days. He was not even naively impassioned enough to require her to

make vows. Muffat suspected nothing. As to Vandeuvres, he knew

things would take place for a certainty, but he never made the least

allusion to them and pretended total ignorance, while his lips wore

the subtle smile of the skeptical man of pleasure who does not seek