Fifteen years have wreaked their will on a great empire, a monarchy, and a revolution.
No one can now dare to count upon the future.

You know my attachment to the cause of legitimacy.

Suppose some catastrophe; would you not be glad to have a friend in the conquering party ?" "Undoubtedly," she said, smiling.
"Very good; then, will you have in me, secretly, an obliged friend who could be of use to Monsieur de Nucingen in such a case, by supporting his claim to the peerage he is seeking ?" "What do you want of me ?" she asked.
"Very little," he replied.

"All that you know about Nathan's affairs." The baroness repeated to him her conversation with Rastignac, and said, as she gave him the four notes, which the cashier had meantime brought to her: "Don't forget your promise." So little did Vandenesse forget this illusive promise that he used it again on Baron Eugene de Rastignac to obtain from him certain other information.

Leaving Rastignac's apartments, he dictated to a street amanuensis the following note to Florine.
"If Mademoiselle Florine wishes to know of a part she may play she is requested to come to the masked opera at the Opera next Sunday night, accompanied by Monsieur Nathan." To this ball he determined to take his wife and let her own eyes enlighten her as to the relations between Nathan and Florine.