At starting Nana put the count on a proper footing and clearly mapped out the conditions of their relationship.  The count gave twelve thousand francs monthly, presents excepted, and demanded nothing in return save absolute fidelity.  She swore fidelity but insisted also on being treated with the utmost consideration, on enjoying complete liberty as mistress of the house and on having her every wish respected.  For instance, she was to receive her friends every day, and he was to come only at stated times.  In a word, he was to repose a blind confidence in her in everything.  And when he was seized with jealous anxiety and hesitated to grant what she wanted, she stood on her dignity and threatened to give him back all he had given or even swore by little Louiset to perform what she promised.  This was to suffice him.  There was no love where mutual esteem was wanting.  At the end of the first month Muffat respected her.

But she desired and obtained still more.  Soon she began to influence him, as became a good-natured courtesan.  When he came to her in a moody condition she cheered him up, confessed him and then gave him good advice.  Little by little she interested herself in the annoyances of his home life, in his wife, in his daughter, in his love affairs and financial difficulties; she was very sensible, very fair and right-minded.  On one occasion only did she let anger get the better of her, and that was when he confided to her that doubtless Daguenet was going to ask for his daughter Estelle in marriage.  When the count began making himself notorious Daguenet had thought it a wise move to break off with Nana.  He had treated her like a base hussy and had sworn to snatch his future father-in-law out of the creature’s clutches.  In return Nana abused her old Mimi in a charming fashion.  He was a renegade who had devoured his fortune in the company of vile women; he had no moral sense.  True, he did not let them pay him money, but he profited by that of others and only repaid them at rare intervals with a bouquet or a dinner.  And when the count seemed inclined to find excuses for these failings she bluntly informed him that Daguenet had enjoyed her favors, and she added disgusting particulars.  Muffat had grown ashen-pale.  There was no question of the young man now.  This would teach him to be lacking in gratitude!

Meanwhile the house had not been entirely furnished, when one evening after she had lavished the most energetic promises of fidelity on Muffat Nana kept the Count Xavier de Vandeuvres for the night.  For the last fortnight he had been paying her assiduous court, visiting her and sending presents of flowers, and now she gave way not so much out of sudden infatuation as to prove that she was a free woman.  The idea of gain followed later when, the day after, Vandeuvres helped her to pay a bill which she did not wish to mention to the other man.  From Vandeuvres she would certainly derive from eight to ten thousand francs a month,