RASTIGNAC (Eugene de),[*] eldest son of the Baron and Baronne de Rastignac, born at Rastignac near Ruffec in 1797.  He came to Paris in 1819 to study law; lived at first on the third floor of the Vauquer lodging-house, rue Neuve-Sainte-Genevieve, having then some association with Jacques Collin, called Vautrin, who was especially interested in him and wanted him to marry Victorine Taillefer.  Rastignac became the lover of Madame de Nucingen, second daughter of Joachim Goriot, an old vermicelli-maker, and in February, 1820, lived on rue d’Artois in pretty apartments, rented and furnished by the father of his mistress.  Goriot died in his arms.  The servant, Christophe, and Rastignac were the only attendants in the good man’s funeral procession.  At the Vauquer lodging-house he was intimate with Horace Bianchon, a medical student. [Father Goriot.] In 1821, at the Opera, young Rastignac made fun for the occupants of two boxes over the provincialisms of Madame de Bargeton and Lucien de Rubempre, “young Chardon.”  This led Madame d’Espard to leave the theatre with her relative, thus publicly and in a cowardly way abandoning the distinguished provincial.  Some months later Rastignac sought the favor of this same Lucien de Rubempre, who was by that time an influential citizen.  He agreed to act with Marsay as the poet’s witness in the duel which he fought with Michel Chrestien, in regard to Daniel d’Arthez. [A Distinguished Provincial at Paris.] At the last masquerade ball of 1824 Rastignac found Rubempre, who had disappeared from Paris some time before.  Vautrin, recalling his memories of the Vauquer lodging-house, urged him authoritatively to treat Lucien as a friend.  Shortly after, Rastignac became a frequenter of the sumptuous mansion furnished by Nucingen for Esther van Gobseck on rue Saint-Georges.  Rastignac was present at Lucien de Rubempre’s funeral in May, 1830. [Scenes from a Courtesan’s Life.] About the same time the Comte de Fontaine asked his daughter Emilie what she thought of Rastignac—­among several others—­as a possible husband for her.  But knowing the relations of this youthful aspirant with Madame de Nucingen, she saved herself by replying maliciously. [The Ball at Sceaux.] In 1828 Rastignac sought to become Madame d’Espard’s lover, but was restrained by his friend, Doctor Bianchon. [The Interdiction.] During the same year Rastignac was treated slightingly by Madame de Listomere, because he asked her to return a letter, which through mistake had been sent to her, but which he had meant for Madame de Nucingen. [A Study of Woman.] After the Revolution of July he was a guest at Mademoiselle des Touches’s evening party, where Marsay told the story of his first love. [Another Study of Woman.] At this time he was intimate with Raphael de Valentin, and expected to marry an Alsatian. [The Magic Skin.] In 1832, Rastignac, having been appointed a baron, was under-secretary of state in the department of which Marsay was the minister. [The Secrets of a Princess.] In 1833-34,