The Nabob, Vol. 2 (of 2)

In Short

A sprawling tale of political ambition and moral decay in Second Empire Paris, this final volume follows Bernard Jansoulet—the immensely wealthy "Nabob"—as his staggering fortune fails to shield him from institutional hypocrisy and personal betrayal. Elected as a deputy, Jansoulet watches his social standing crumble under targeted press attacks, financial ruin, and the death of his political patron, the Duc de Mora. Rich in atmospheric detail and populated by cynical aristocrats, fraudulent doctors, and compromised artists, the novel endures as a sharp, compassionate autopsy of a society driven entirely by greed, vanity, and superficial display.

The Story

The narrative picks up in the oppressive gloom of a rainy Paris, where the sheer volume of mud mirrors the moral grime coating every level of society. Bernard Jansoulet, an unpolished provincial who amassed a legendary fortune in the Orient, stands at the absolute peak of his worldly success. Celebrated for his boundless generosity and newly elected as a Corsican deputy, he hosts extravagant parties for two thousand members of high society. He believes his wealth, combined with the personal favor of the powerful Duc de Mora, will secure his place among the ruling elite.

Yet beneath this glittering surface, the tides swiftly turn. The sensationalist journalist Moessard launches a relentless smear campaign against Jansoulet, eventually targeting his beloved, unpretentious mother, Francoise. Despite Jansoulet's efforts to keep a calm facade, the insults cut deeply into his pride. Meanwhile, his political protector, the Duc de Mora, falls fatally ill under the doubtful care of Doctor Jenkins, a fashionable physician who relies on stimulant pearls and dubious diagnoses. As Mora lies dying, his inner circle focuses not on grief, but on burning incriminating documents to protect their own reputations.

Mora’s death strips Jansoulet of his primary shield. Left vulnerable, he becomes the target of former allies turned predators. His financial rival, Baron Hemerlingue, cynically suggests bribing key political figures to secure Jansoulet's seat in the Chamber. But Jansoulet’s Levantine wife obstinately refuses to humble herself to win social favor, leaving him isolated. When the Chamber of Deputies convenes to review his election, the orator Le Merquier delivers a devastating attack, condemning Jansoulet's shady oriental wealth and painting him as a corrupting influence who believes everything has a price. The Chamber officially rejects his candidacy, dealing a death blow to his public standing.

Following the parliamentary disgrace, Jansoulet's financial empire collapses in rapid succession. The fraudulent banking scheme La Territoriale falls apart, sending its directors into hiding or prison, while its desperate clerks are left to face enraged creditors. Abandoned by his self-serving wife, Jansoulet sinks into a paralyzed depression, leaving his elderly mother to manage the mountain of debts and legal summonses. Though a loyal friend scrambles to retrieve millions from abroad to stave off total bankruptcy, the emotional and physical toll proves insurmountable. In a final, desperate attempt to re-enter society, the ruined Nabob appears at a theater premiere, only to face the harsh, sneering gaze of the very public that once courted his favor.

How It Unfolds

The peak of fortune Jansoulet celebrates his parliamentary election with a grand gala, surrounded by the elite of Paris who eagerly enjoy his hospitality while quietly mocking his humble origins.

The death of a patron The Duc de Mora succumbs to illness, leaving his aides to burn secret papers while Paris prepares a massive, public funeral procession that halts the entire city.

The refusal to yield Cornered by financial troubles, Jansoulet begs his wife to make peace with their rivals to save their position, but she stubbornly refuses to compromise her pride.

Execution in the chamber During a tense session in the legislature, an influential orator exposes the dubious origin of Jansoulet's wealth, leading the assembly to formally reject his election.

The financial collapse The specular companies tied to Jansoulet unravel into police raids and bankruptcy, leaving former clerks and honest investors ruined alongside the fallen millionaire.

The final confrontation Broken in health and spirit, Jansoulet ventures out to a crowded theater, where he meets the cold, collective disdain of the society that destroyed him.

The People

• Bernard Jansoulet (The Nabob): A warm-hearted, naive tycoon from southern France who made his fortune abroad. He wants nothing more than political legitimacy and social respect in Paris, but his trusting nature makes him easy prey for financial parasites and political schemers.
• The Duc de Mora: An effortless, cynical statesman who represents the peak of Second Empire elegance and political power. He uses Jansoulet's wealth for his own ends while maintaining a cool, impenetrable facade until his sudden death.
• Baron Hemerlingue: A shrewd, corpulent financier and Jansoulet's relentless rival. Driven by professional malice, he manipulates political reports and financial markets to ensure the Nabob's complete undoing.
• Mere Jansoulet: Bernard’s aged, straightforward mother. Unmoved by luxury or grand houses, she possesses an unshakeable sense of honor and takes charge of her son's chaotic affairs when his spirits collapse.
• Madame Jansoulet (The Levantine): Jansoulet's indolent, luxury-obsessed wife. Wrapped in her quiet obstinacy, she cares only for her personal ease and refuses to assist her husband in making the social concessions needed to save their family.

In Its Own Voice

"There is in the life of every man a golden hour, a luminous mountain-top where all that he can hope for of prosperity, of joy, of triumph, awaits him and is showered upon him."

A reflection on the fragile nature of success just as the Nabob reaches the summit of his social influence.

"Paris, greedy of spectacles, makes a spectacle of everything indifferently, of civil war or of the burial of a statesman."

An observation on the detached curiosity of the Parisian public during the grand funeral of the Duc de Mora.

"He is the merchant who thinks that everything can be bought if he offers enough for it,--even the votes of electors, even the consciences of his colleagues."

A critical broadside delivered in the legislature to dismantle Jansoulet's reputation.

What It's Really About

Beneath its vivid drama, the novel serves as a relentless critique of the speculative fever and moral vanity that characterized Second Empire Paris. It explores how financial systems and political institutions combine to exploit outsiders, using their capital while denying them true acceptance. The plot repeatedly contrasts the superficial elegance of high society with the actual filth and corruption hidden just out of sight—a theme physically mirrored by the thick Parisian mud that coats pristine mansions and public monuments alike. Ultimately, the book asks whether genuine human warmth or personal integrity can survive in an environment where every relationship is treated as a transactional calculation.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy grand nineteenth-century social canvases—such as the novels of Honoré de Balzac or Charles Dickens—will find this book deeply rewarding. It provides a remarkably vivid portrait of Paris, moving effortlessly from the grand avenues of the Bois de Boulogne to dark legislative halls and chaotic back-offices. The narrative's pacing is swift, propelled by sharp psychological insight and a keen eye for physical detail.

While modern readers should be prepared for the dramatic conventions of nineteenth-century melodrama and period-specific characterizations—such as the exoticized portrayal of the Nabob's Levantine wife—the core story remains strikingly modern. Its depiction of media-driven character assassination, political hypocrisy, and the ruinous nature of speculative finance feels surprisingly fresh. What stays with you is the tragedy of its main character: a man of genuine warmth whose greatest mistake was believing that a corrupt elite would ever play by fair rules.