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 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&mdash;among several others&mdash;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, he volunteered as nurse at the bedside of the dying minister, in the hope of being remembered in his will. One evening about this same time he took Raoul Nathan and Emile Blondet, whom he had met in society, to supper with him at Very's. He then advised Nathan to profit by the advances made him by the Comtesse Felix de Vandenesse. (A Daughter of Eve) In 1833, at the Princesse de Cadignan's home, in the presence of the Marquise d'Espard, the old Ducs de Lenoncourt and de Navarreins, the Comte and the Comtesse de Vandenesse, D'Arthez, two ambassadors,