initial commit of ebook 15465HEADmain

9 files changed, 15945 insertions, 0 deletions

diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6833f05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.gitattributes
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+* text=auto
+*.txt text
+*.md text
diff --git a/15465-8.txt b/15465-8.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..60c1df9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15465-8.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4844 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Parisian Points of View, by Ludovic Halévy
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Parisian Points of View
+
+Author: Ludovic Halévy
+
+Commentator: Brander Matthews
+
+Translator: Edith V. B. Matthews
+
+Release Date: March 25, 2005 [EBook #15465]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARISIAN POINTS OF VIEW ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
+
+
+
+
+
+MASTER-TALES
+
+PARISIAN
+POINTS OF VIEW
+
+BY
+LUDOVIC HALÉVY
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+EDITH V.B. MATTHEWS
+
+WITH INTRODUCTION BY
+BRANDER MATTHEWS
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
+NEW YORK AND LONDON
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1894, by HARPER & BROTHERS.
+
+_All rights reserved._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+                                                      PAGE
+
+INTRODUCTION                                           vii
+ONLY A WALTZ                                             3
+THE DANCING-MASTER                                      37
+THE CIRCUS CHARGER                                      49
+BLACKY                                                  69
+THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PARIS                       83
+THE STORY OF A BALL-DRESS                              113
+THE INSURGENT                                          137
+THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR                                 147
+IN THE EXPRESS                                         161
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+
+
+THE SHORT STORIES OF M. LUDOVIC HALÉVY
+
+
+To most American readers of fiction I fancy that M. Ludovic Halévy is
+known chiefly, if not solely, as the author of that most charming of
+modern French novels, _The Abbé Constantin_. Some of these readers may
+have disliked this or that novel of M. Zola's because of its bad moral,
+and this or that novel of M. Ohnet's because of its bad taste, and all
+of them were delighted to discover in M. Halévy's interesting and
+artistic work a story written by a French gentleman for young ladies.
+Here and there a scoffer might sneer at the tale of the old French
+priest and the young women from Canada as innocuous and saccharine; but
+the story of the good Abbé Constantin and of his nephew, and of the girl
+the nephew loved in spite of her American millions--this story had the
+rare good fortune of pleasing at once the broad public of indiscriminate
+readers of fiction and the narrower circle of real lovers of literature.
+Artificial the atmosphere of the tale might be, but it was with an
+artifice at once delicate and delicious; and the tale itself won its way
+into the hearts of the women of America as it had into the hearts of the
+women of France.
+
+There is even a legend--although how solid a foundation it may have in
+fact I do not dare to discuss--there is a legend that the lady-superior
+of a certain convent near Paris was so fascinated by _The Abbé
+Constantin_, and so thoroughly convinced of the piety of its author,
+that she ordered all his other works, receiving in due season the lively
+volumes wherein are recorded the sayings and doings of Monsieur and
+Madame Cardinal, and of the two lovely daughters of Monsieur and Madame
+Cardinal. To note that these very amusing studies of certain aspects of
+life in a modern capital originally appeared in that extraordinary
+journal, _La Vie Parisienne_--now sadly degenerate--is enough to
+indicate that they are not precisely what the good lady-superior
+expected to receive. We may not say that _La Famille Cardinal_ is one of
+the books every gentleman's library should be without; but to appreciate
+its value requires a far different knowledge of the world and of its
+wickedness than is needed to understand _The Abbé Constantin_.
+
+Yet the picture of the good priest and the portraits of the little
+Cardinals are the work of the same hand, plainly enough. In both of
+these books, as in _Criquette_ (M. Halévy's only other novel), as in _A
+Marriage for Love_, and the twoscore other short stories he has written
+during the past thirty years, there are the same artistic qualities, the
+same sharpness of vision, the same gentle irony, the same constructive
+skill, and the same dramatic touch. It is to be remembered always that
+the author of _L'Abbé Constantin_ is also the half-author of "Froufrou"
+and of "Tricoche et Cacolet," as well as of the librettos of "La Belle
+Hélène" and of "La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein."
+
+In the two novels, as in the twoscore short stories and sketches--the
+_contes_ and the _nouvelles_ which are now spring-like idyls and now
+wintry episodes, now sombre etchings and now gayly-colored pastels--in
+all the works of the story-teller we see the firm grasp of the
+dramatist. The characters speak for themselves; each reveals himself
+with the swift directness of the personages of a play. They are not
+talked about and about, for all analysis has been done by the playwright
+before he rings up the curtain in the first paragraph. And the story
+unrolls itself, also, as rapidly as does a comedy. The movement is
+straightforward. There is the cleverness and the ingenuity of the
+accomplished dramatist, but the construction has the simplicity of the
+highest skill. The arrangement of incidents is so artistic that it seems
+inevitable; and no one is ever moved to wonder whether or not the tale
+might have been better told in different fashion.
+
+Nephew of the composer of "La Juive"--an opera not now heard as often as
+it deserves, perhaps--and son of a playwright no one of whose
+productions now survives, M. Halévy grew up in the theatre. At fourteen
+he was on the free-list of the Opéra, the Opéra-Comique, and the Odéon.
+After he left school and went into the civil service his one wish was to
+write plays, and so to be able to afford to resign his post. In the
+civil service he had an inside view of French politics, which gave him a
+distaste for the mere game of government without in any way impairing
+the vigor of his patriotism; as is proved by certain of the short stones
+dealing with the war of 1870 and the revolt of the Paris Communists. And
+while he did his work faithfully, he had spare hours to give to
+literature. He wrote plays and stories, and they were rejected. The
+manager of the Odéon declared that one early play of M. Halévy's was
+exactly suited to the Gymnase, and the manager of the Gymnase protested
+that it was exactly suited to the Odéon. The editor of a daily journal
+said that one early tale of M. Halévy's was too brief for a novel, and
+the editor of a weekly paper said that it was too long for a short
+story.
+
+In time, of course, his luck turned; he had plays performed and stories
+published; and at last he met M. Henri Meilhac, and entered on that
+collaboration of nearly twenty years' duration to which we owe
+"Froufrou" and "Tricoche et Cacolet," on the one hand, and on the other
+the books of Offenbach's most brilliant operas--"Barbebleue," for
+example, and "La Périchole." When this collaboration terminated, shortly
+before M. Halévy wrote _The Abbé Constantin_, he gave up writing for the
+stage. The training of the playwright he could not give up, if he
+would, nor the intimacy with the manners and customs of the people who
+live, move, and have their being on the far side of the curtain.
+
+Obviously M. Halévy is fond of the actors and the actresses with whom he
+spent the years of his manhood. They appear again and again in his
+tales; and in his treatment of them there is never anything
+ungentlemanly as there was in M. Jean Richepin's recent volume of
+theatrical sketches. M. Halévy's liking for the men and women of the
+stage is deep; and wide is his knowledge of their changing moods. The
+young Criquette and the old Karikari and the aged Dancing-master--he
+knows them all thoroughly, and he likes them heartily, and he
+sympathizes with them cordially. Indeed, nowhere can one find more
+kindly portraits of the kindly player-folk than in the writings of this
+half-author of "Froufrou"; it is as though the successful dramatist felt
+ever grateful towards the partners of his toil, the companions of his
+struggles. He is not blind to their manifold weaknesses, nor is he the
+dupe of their easy emotionalism, but he is tolerant of their failings,
+and towards them, at least, his irony is never mordant.
+
+Irony is one of M. Halévy's chief characteristics, perhaps the chiefest.
+It is gentle when he deals with the people of the stage--far gentler
+then than when he is dealing with the people of Society, with
+fashionable folk, with the aristocracy of wealth. When he is telling us
+of the young loves of millionaires and of million-heiresses, his touch
+may seem caressing, but for all its softness the velvet paw has claws
+none the less. It is amusing to note how often M. Halévy has chosen to
+tell the tale of love among the very rich. The heroine of _The Abbé
+Constantin_ is immensely wealthy, as we all know, and immensely wealthy
+are the heroines of _Princesse_, of _A Grand Marriage,_ and of _In the
+Express_.[A] Sometimes the heroes and the heroines are not only
+immensely wealthy, they are also of the loftiest birth; such, for
+instance, are the young couple whose acquaintance we make in the pages
+of _Only a Waltz_.
+
+[Footnote A: Perhaps the present writer will be forgiven if he wishes to
+record here that _In the Express (Par le Rapide)_ was published in Paris
+only towards the end of 1892, while a tale not wholly unlike it, _In the
+Vestibule Limited_, was published in New York in the spring of 1891.]
+
+There is no trace or taint of snobbery in M. Halévy's treatment of all
+this magnificence; there is none of the vulgarity which marks the pages
+of _Lothair_, for example; there is no mean admiration of mean things.
+There is, on the other hand, no bitterness of scourging satire. He lets
+us see that all this luxury is a little cloying and perhaps not a little
+enervating. He suggests (although he takes care never to say it) that
+perhaps wealth and birth are not really the best the world can offer.
+The amiable egotism of the hero of _In the Express_, and the not
+unkindly selfishness of the heroine of that most Parisian love-story,
+are set before us without insistence, it is true, but with an irony so
+keen that even he who runs as he reads may not mistake the author's real
+opinion of the characters he has evoked.
+
+To say this is to say that M. Halévy's irony is delicate and playful.
+There is no harshness in his manner and no hatred in his mind. We do not
+find in his pages any of the pessimism which is perhaps the dominant
+characteristic of the best French fiction of our time. To M. Halévy, as
+to every thinking man, life is serious, no doubt, but it need not be
+taken sadly, or even solemnly. To him life seems still enjoyable, as it
+must to most of those who have a vivid sense of humor. He is not
+disillusioned utterly, he is not reduced to the blankness of despair as
+are so many of the disciples of Flaubert, who are cast into the outer
+darkness, and who hopelessly revolt against the doom they have brought
+on themselves.
+
+Indeed, it is Merimée that M. Halévy would hail as his master, and not
+Flaubert, whom most of his fellow French writers of fiction follow
+blindly. Now, while the author of _Salamnbo_ was a romanticist turned
+sour, the author of _Carmen_ was a sentimentalist sheathed in irony. To
+Gustave Flaubert the world was hideously ugly, and he wished it
+strangely and splendidly beautiful, and he detested it the more because
+of his impossible ideal. To Prosper Merimée the world was what it is,
+to be taken and made the best of, every man keeping himself carefully
+guarded. Like Merimée, M. Halévy is detached, but he is not
+disenchanted. His work is more joyous than Merimée's, if not so vigorous
+and compact, and his delight in it is less disguised. Even in the
+Cardinal sketches there is nothing that leaves an acrid after-taste,
+nothing corroding--as there is not seldom in the stronger and sterner
+short stories of Maupassant.
+
+More than Maupassant or Flaubert or Merimée, is M. Halévy a Parisian.
+Whether or not the characters of his tale are dwellers in the capital,
+whether or not the scene of his story is laid in the city by the Seine,
+the point of view is always Parisian. The _Circus Charger_ did his duty
+in the stately avenues of a noble country-place, and _Blacky_ performed
+his task near a rustic water-fall; but the men who record their
+intelligent actions are Parisians of the strictest sect. Even in the
+patriotic pieces called forth by the war of 1870, in the _Insurgent_ and
+in the _Chinese Ambassador_, it is the siege of Paris and the struggle
+of the Communists which seem to the author most important. His style
+even, his swift and limpid prose--the prose which somehow corresponds to
+the best _vers de société_ in its brilliancy and buoyancy--is the style
+of one who lives at the centre of things. Cardinal Newman once said that
+while Livy and Tacitus and Terence and Seneca wrote Latin, Cicero wrote
+Roman; so while M. Zola on the one side, and M. Georges Ohnet on the
+other, may write French, M. Halévy writes Parisian.
+
+BRANDER MATTHEWS.
+
+
+
+
+ONLY A WALTZ
+
+
+"Aunt, dear aunt, don't believe a word of what he is going to tell you.
+He is preparing to fib, to fib outrageously. If I hadn't interrupted him
+at the beginning of his talk, he would have told you that he had made up
+his mind to marry me from his and my earliest childhood."
+
+"Of course!" exclaimed Gontran.
+
+"Of course not," replied Marceline. "He was going to tell you that he
+was a good little boy, having always loved his little cousin, and that
+our marriage was a delightful romance of tenderness and sweetness."
+
+"Why, yes, of course," repeated Gontran.
+
+"Nonsense! The truth, Aunt Louise, the real truth, in short, is this,
+never, never should we have been married if on the 17th of May, 1890,
+between nine and eleven o'clock, he had not lost 34,000 points at
+bezique at the club, and if all the boxes had not been sold, that same
+night, at the Bouffes-Parisiens Theatre."
+
+Gontran began to laugh.
+
+"Oh, you can laugh as much as you please! You know very well that but
+for this--on what does fate depend?--I should now be married and a
+duchess, it is true; but Duchess of Courtalin, and not Duchess of
+Lannilis. Well, perhaps that would have been better! At any rate, I wish
+to give Aunt Louise the authentic history of our marriage."
+
+"Tell away, if it amuses you," said Gontran.
+
+"Yes, sir, it amuses me. You shall know all, Aunt Louise--all,
+absolutely all; and I beg you to be judge of our quarrel."
+
+This scene was taking place eight days after Marceline de Lorlauge, at
+the Church of the Madeleine, before the altar, hidden under a mountain
+of roses, had answered "yes," with just the right amount of nervousness
+and emotion (neither too much nor too little, but exactly right), when
+she was asked if she was willing to take for husband her cousin, Jean
+Leopold Mathurin Arbert Gontran, Duke of Lannilis.
+
+This marriage had been the great marriage of the season. There had been
+an absolute crush under the colonnade and against the railings of the
+church to see the bride walk down those fearful steps of the Madeleine.
+What an important feat that is! Merely to be beautiful is not all that
+is needful; it is necessary besides to know how to be beautiful. There
+is an art about being pretty which requires certain preparations and
+study. In society, as in the theatre, success rarely comes at once. Mme.
+de Lannilis had the good-fortune to make her first appearance with
+decisive success. She was at once quite easily and boldly at home in her
+beauty; she had only to appear to triumph. Prince Nérins had not a
+moment's hesitation concerning it, and he it is, as every one knows,
+who, with general consent, has made himself the distributor of the
+patents of supreme Parisian elegance; so while the new duchess, beneath
+the fire of a thousand eyes and behind the ringing staffs, was taking
+her first steps as a young married woman with calm assurance, Nérins,
+struck with admiration, was giving way, under the colonnade of the
+Madeleine, to veritable transports of enthusiasm. He went from group to
+group repeating:
+
+"She is aerial! There is no other expression for her--aerial! She does
+not walk, she glides! If she had the fantasy, with one little kick of
+her heel, she could raise herself lightly over the heads of those two
+tall fellows with spears, cross the Place de la Concorde, and go and
+place herself on the pediment of the Chamber of Deputies. Look at her
+well; that is true beauty, radiant beauty, blazing beauty! She is a
+goddess, a young goddess! she will reign long, gentlemen--as long as
+possible."
+
+The young goddess, for the present, did not go farther than Lannilis, in
+Poitou, to her husband's home--her home--in a mansion that had seen many
+Duchesses of Lannilis, but never one more charming, and never, it must
+be said, one more absolutely in love. This little duchess of nineteen
+was wild about this little duke of twenty-five, who was jealously
+carrying her off for himself alone to a quiet and solitary retreat.
+
+They had arrived Thursday, the 24th of June, at about two o'clock--on an
+exquisite night beneath a star-spangled sky--and they were suddenly
+astounded at receiving a letter from their Aunt Louise, dated July 1:
+
+"Eight days' steady tête-à-tête," she wrote, "is enough, quite enough.
+Trust to the experience of an old countrywoman, who would be delighted
+to kiss her little nephew and niece. Don't eat all your love in the
+bud--keep a little for the future."
+
+Thursday, the 1st of July! Eight days! They had been eight days at
+Lannilis! It was impossible! They tried to put some order in their
+reflections. What had they done Friday, Saturday, and Sunday? But all
+was vague, and became confused in their minds. The days and the nights,
+and the nights and days. What had they done? It was always the same,
+same thing; and the same thing had somehow never been the same thing.
+
+They had just loved, loved, loved; and, quite given up to this very wise
+occupation, they had completely forgotten that near Lannilis, in the old
+residence of Chatellerault, there was dear old Aunt Louise, who was
+expecting their first bridal visit--a visit which was due her, for she
+had the best claim in the world, on account of her eighty-four years,
+her kindness, and also because of the gift of a magnificent pearl
+necklace to Marceline.
+
+So it was necessary to be resigned, to leave off dreaming, and to come
+back to reality; and it was during this visit that, before the old aunt,
+much amused at the quarrel, this great dispute had abruptly burst forth
+between the young married couple.
+
+Aunt Louise had accepted the position of arbitrator, and, presiding over
+the discussion, she had made the two contestants sit down before her in
+arm-chairs, at a respectful distance. Marceline, before being seated,
+had already taken the floor.
+
+"Every one agreed upon this point (you know it, Aunt Louise; mamma must
+often have told you in her letters)--every one was agreed on this point:
+that there were really only two suitable matches for me--the Duke of
+Lannilis here present, and the Duke of Courtalin. I had the weakness to
+prefer him--him over there. Why? I can scarcely tell-a childish habit,
+doubtless. We had played together when we were no higher than that at
+being little husband and wife. I had remained faithful to that childhood
+love, whereas he--"
+
+"Whereas I--"
+
+"All in due season, sir, and you will lose nothing by waiting. However,
+there were all sorts of good reasons for preferring--the other one, who
+had a larger fortune and was of more ancient nobility."
+
+"Oh, as to that--in money, maybe, but as to birth--"
+
+"It is indisputable! You are both dukes by patent."
+
+"We in 1663."
+
+"And the Courtalin--"
+
+"In 1666 only."
+
+"Agreed."
+
+"Well, then?"
+
+"Oh, just wait! I am posted on the question; mamma studied it thoroughly
+when things looked, three months ago, as if I should be Duchess of
+Courtalin. One morning mamma went to the archives with an old friend of
+hers, a great historian, who is a member of the Institute. You date
+from 1663, and the Courtalin from 1666; that is correct. But Louis
+XIV., in 1672, by a special edict, gave the precedence to the
+Courtalins; and you have not, I suppose, any idea of disputing what
+Louis XIV. thought best to do. Now, Aunt Louise, can he?"
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+"But Saint Simon--"
+
+"Oh, let us leave Saint Simon alone; he is prejudice and inaccuracy
+itself! I know he is on your side, but that doesn't count; but I will,
+to be agreeable to you, acknowledge that you are better looking and
+taller than M. de Courtalin--"
+
+"But--"
+
+"Oh, my dear, I begin to see! You are dying for me to tell you that.
+Well, yes, you are a fairly handsome man; but that is only a very
+perishable advantage, and you have too much respect for
+conventionalities to wish to make that equal to the decree of Louis XIV.
+However, I loved you--I loved you faithfully, tenderly, fondly,
+stupidly; yes, stupidly, for when I had come out in society, the year
+before, in April, 1889, at Mme. de Fresnes's ball, when I had allowed my
+poor, little, thin shoulders to be seen for the first time (I must have
+been about seventeen), I noticed that the young marriageable men in our
+set (they are all quoted, noted, and labelled) drew away from me with
+strange, respectful deference. I appeared to be of no importance or
+interest, in spite of my name, my dowry, and my eyes. You see, I had
+singed myself. I had so ridiculously advertised my passion for you that
+I no longer belonged to myself; I was considered as belonging to you. As
+soon as I had put on my first long dress, which gave me at once the
+right to think of marriage and speak of love, I had told all my friends
+that I loved, and would never love or marry any one but you--you or the
+convent. Yes, I had come to that! My friends had told their brothers and
+cousins, who had repeated it to you (just what I wanted), but it put me
+out of the race. Dare to say, sir, that it is not all true, strictly
+true!"
+
+"I am saying nothing--?"
+
+"Because you are overcome, crushed by the evidence. You say nothing now,
+but what did you say last year? Last year! When I think that we could
+have been married since last year! A year, a whole year lost! And it was
+so long, and it could have been so short! Well, he was there, at the
+Fresnes' ball. He condescended to do me the honor of dancing three times
+with me. I came home intoxicated, absolutely intoxicated with joy. But
+that great happiness did not last long, for this is what that Gontran
+the next day said to his friend Robert d'Aigremont, who told his sister
+Gabrielle, who repeated it to me, that he saw clearly that they wished
+to marry him to his cousin Marceline. I had, the day before, literally
+thrown myself into his arms; he had thought right, from pure goodness of
+heart, to show some pity for the love of the little school-girl, so he
+had resolved to dance with me; but he had done, quite done--he wouldn't
+be caught again. He would keep carefully away from coming-out balls;
+they were too dangerous a form of gayety. Marriage did not tempt him in
+the least. He had not had enough of a bachelor's life yet--besides, he
+knew of nothing more absurd than those marriages between cousins. The
+true pleasure of marriage, he said, must be to put into one's life
+something new and unexpected, and to call by her first name, all at
+once, on Tuesday morning, a person whom one didn't so call Monday night.
+But a person whom one already knew well, where would be the pleasure? He
+made a movement, Aunt Louise; did you see?"
+
+"I saw--"
+
+"He recognized the phrase."
+
+"True. I remember--"
+
+"Ah! but you did not say that phrase only--you said all the others. But
+that is nothing as yet, Aunt Louise. Do you know what was his principal
+objection to a marriage with me? Do you know what he told Robert? That
+he had seen me in evening-dress the night before for the first time, and
+that I was too thin! Too thin! Ah! that was a cruel blow to me! For it
+was true. I was thin. The evening after Gabrielle had told me that awful
+fact, that evening in undressing I looked at my poor little shoulders,
+with their poor little salt-cellars, and I had a terrible spasm of
+sorrow--a flood of tears that wouldn't stop--a torrent, a real torrent;
+and then mamma appeared. I was alone, disrobed, hair flying, studying my
+shoulders, deploring their meagreness--a true picture of despair! Mamma
+took me in her arms. 'My angel, my poor dear, what is the matter?' I
+answered only by sobbing. 'My child, tell me all.' Mamma was very
+anxious, but I could not speak; tears choked my voice. 'My dearest, do
+you wish to kill me?' So to reassure mamma I managed to say between my
+sobs: 'I am too thin, mamma; last night Gontran thought me too thin!' At
+that mamma began to laugh heartily; but as she was good-humored that
+evening, after laughing she explained to me that she, at seventeen, had
+been much thinner than I, and she promised me in the most solemn manner
+that I should grow stouter. Mamma spoke true; I have fattened up. Will
+you have the goodness, sir, to declare to our aunt that the salt-cellars
+have entirely disappeared, and that you cannot have against me, in that
+respect, any legitimate cause of complaint?"
+
+"I will declare so very willingly; but you will permit me to add--"
+
+"I will permit you no such thing. I have the floor, let me speak; but
+you will soon have a chance to justify yourself. I intend to put you
+through a little cross-questioning."
+
+"I'll wait, then--"
+
+"Yes, do. So last spring I began my first campaign. I do not know, Aunt
+Louise, what the customs were in your time, but I know that to-day, at
+the present time, the condition of young girls is one of extreme
+severity. We are kept confined, closely confined, till eighteen, for
+mamma was very indulgent in bringing me out when I was only seventeen;
+but mamma is goodness itself, and then she isn't coquettish for a
+sou--she didn't mind admitting that she had a marriageable daughter. All
+mothers are not like that, and I know some who are glad to put off the
+public and official exhibition of their poor children so as to gain a
+year. At the same time that they race at Longchamps and Chantilly the
+great fillies of the year, they take from their boxes the great
+heiresses of the year who are ripe for matrimony, and in a series of
+white balls given for that purpose, between Easter Sunday and the Grand
+Prix, they are made to take little trial gallops before connoisseurs.
+They have to work rapidly and find a buyer before the Grand Prix; for
+after that all is up, the young girls are packed back to their
+governesses, dancing-masters, and literary professors. The campaign is
+over. That is all for the year. They are not seen again, the poor
+things, till after Lent. So mamma took me last year to a dozen large
+balls, which were sad and sorrowful for me. He was not there! He didn't
+wish to marry! He told it to every one insolently, satirically. He would
+never, never, never marry! He told it to me."
+
+"At your mother's request."
+
+"Yes, that is true. I know since that it was at mamma's petition that he
+talked that way; she hoped it would prevent my being stubborn in my
+craze for him."
+
+"Craze!" exclaimed Aunt Louise.
+
+"Excuse me, Aunt Louise, it is a word of to-day."
+
+"And means--"
+
+"It means a sort of unexplainable, absurd, and extravagant love that
+comes without its being possible to know why--in short, Aunt Louise,
+exactly the love I have for him."
+
+"Much obliged! But you do not tell everything. You do not say that your
+mother desired your marriage with Courtalin--"
+
+"Yes, of course; mamma was quite right. M. de Courtalin has a thousand
+sterling merits that you have not--that you will never have; and then M.
+de Courtalin had a particularly good point in mamma's eyes: he did not
+find me too thin, and he asked for my hand in marriage. One day about
+four o'clock (that was the 2d of June last year) mamma came into my room
+with an expression on her face I had never seen before. 'My child,' she
+said--'my dear child!' She had no need to finish; I had understood. M.
+de Courtalin all the evening before, at the Princess de Viran's, had
+hovered about me, and the next day his mother had come to declare to
+mamma that her son knew of nothing more delightful than my face. I
+answered that I knew of nothing less delightful than M. de Courtalin's
+face. I added that, besides, I was in no hurry to marry. Mamma tried to
+make me hear reason. I was going to let slip an admirable chance. The
+Duke of Courtalin was the target of all the ambitious mothers--a great
+name, a great position, a great fortune! I should deeply regret some day
+to have shown such disdain for advantages like these, etc. And to all
+these things, which were so true and sensible, I could find only one
+word to say: his name, Gontran, Gontran, Gontran! Gontran or the
+convent, and the most rigorous one of all, the Carmel, in sackcloth and
+ashes! Oh, Aunt Louise, do look at him! He listens to all this with an
+unbearable little air of fatuity."
+
+"You have forbidden me to speak."
+
+"True. Don't speak; but you have deserved a little lesson in modesty and
+humility. Good gracious! you think perhaps it was for your merits that I
+chose you, insisted on you. You would be far from the mark, my poor
+dear. It is, on the contrary, because of your want of merit. Now, as to
+M. de Courtalin. Why, there is a man of merit! I had, from morning to
+night, M. de Courtalin's merit dinned into my ears, and that was why I
+had taken a dislike to him. What I dreaded more than anything for a
+husband was what is called a superior man; and mamma went the wrong way
+to work to win me over to her candidate when she said to me: 'He is a
+very intelligent, very serious, very deep-thinking, and very
+distinguished man; he has spent his youth honorably; he has been a model
+son, and would make a model husband.' It made me shiver to hear mamma
+talk so. I know nothing more awful than people who are always, always
+right; who, under all circumstances, give evidence of unfailing good
+sense; who crush us with their superiority. With Gontran I am easy,
+quite easy. It isn't he who would crush me with his superiority. I do
+not know much, Aunt Louise, but my ignorance beside his is learning. He
+had great trouble in getting his baccalaureate. He flunked three times."
+
+"Flunked!" exclaimed Aunt Louise.
+
+"It means failed. He taught me the word. All the queer words I use, Aunt
+Louise, were taught me by him."
+
+"Come, now--"
+
+"Yes, all. I can see him now, coming to the house one day, and I can
+hear him say, 'Flunked again!' That was the third time. Then he went and
+took his examination in the country at a little college at Douai; it was
+easier, and he passed at last. M. de Courtalin has never been flunked;
+he is everything that one can be at his age: bachelor, advocate, lawyer,
+and grave, exact, and severe in his language, and dressed--always in a
+black frock-coat, with two rows of buttons, always all buttoned--in
+short, a man of the past. And what a future before him! Already a member
+of the General Council, and very eloquent, very influential, he will be
+deputy in three years, and then, when we have a government that people
+of our class can recognize, minister, ambassador, and I know not what!
+The highest offices wait for him, and all his ambitions will be
+legitimate when he has a chance to put his superior talents at the
+service of the monarchy. That's one of mamma's phrases. Whereas you, my
+poor Gontran--you will never be anything other than a very funny and
+very nice old dear, whom I shall lead as I like with my little finger."
+
+"Oh! oh!"
+
+"You will see. Besides, you have seen for eight days."
+
+"The first eight days don't count."
+
+"I will continue, rest assured. I love you, besides. I love you, and do
+you know why? It is because you are not a man of the past; you are
+distinctly modern, very modern. Look at him, Aunt Louise. Isn't he very
+nice, very well turned out, very modern, in fact--I repeat it--in his
+little pearl-gray suit. He is devoted to his clothes. He consults for
+hours and hours with his tailor, which delights me, for I intend to
+consult for hours and hours with my dress-maker. And he will pay the
+bills without a tremor, for he will be charmed to see me very stylish
+and very much admired. Ah, we shall make the most brilliant and most
+giddy little couple! He is modern, I shall be modern, we shall be
+modern! After three, four, or five weeks (we do not know exactly)
+dedicated to pure love, we shall take flight towards the country, where
+one has a good time; and then we shall be talked about, Aunt Louise, we
+shall be talked about. And now, where was I in my story? I am sure I do
+not know at all."
+
+"Nor I."
+
+"Nor I."
+
+"Ah, I know. Mme. de Courtalin had come to ask my hand for her honorable
+son, and when mamma had spoken to me of that I had exclaimed, 'Sooner
+the convent!' I do not know exactly what mamma said to Mme. de
+Courtalin--at any rate, I was left alone for the time being. There was a
+rush to the Grand Prix, and then a general breaking-up. We went to spend
+a month at Aix-les-Bains for papa's complaint, and then a fortnight
+here, Aunt Louise; and then, do you remember, you received the
+confessions of my poor torn heart. Ah! I must say you are the only young
+member of the family--you were the only one who did not make a long face
+when I spoke of my love for that rogue. Mamma, however, had preached to
+you, and you vaunted the advantages of an alliance with Courtalin, but
+without conviction. I felt that you were at bottom on my side against
+mamma, and it was so easily explained--mamma could not understand me,
+whereas you! They think we little girls know nothing, and we know
+everything. I knew that mamma had made a worldly marriage, which had,
+however, turned out very well; and you, Aunt Louise, had married for
+love. You must have battled to get the husband you wished, and you had
+him, and you resolutely conquered your happiness. Yes, I knew all that;
+I dared even to allude to those things of the past, and those memories
+brought a smile to your lips and tears to your eyes. And to-day again,
+Aunt Louise, there it is, the smile, and there are the tears."
+
+Marceline interrupted her talk, affectionately threw herself on her Aunt
+Louise's neck, and kissed her with all her heart. She wiped away the
+tears with kisses, and only the smile remained. Yes, Aunt Louise
+remembered that she had had hard work to get as husband a certain
+handsome officer of the Royal Guard, who was there present at the scene,
+in an old decorated frame, standing up with his helmet on his head in a
+martial attitude, leaning on the hilt of his cavalry sabre.
+
+He, too, had been modern, that conqueror of the Trocadero, when he
+entered Madrid in 1822 on the staff of the Duke of Angoulême. And she,
+too, old Aunt Louise, had been modern, very modern, the day when, from
+a window of the Palace of the Tuileries, during a military parade, she
+had murmured this phrase in her mother's ear: "Mamma, there is the one I
+love."
+
+"Ah, how cowardly we are!" exclaimed Marceline, abruptly, changing her
+tone. "Yes, how cowardly we are to love them--those, those dreadful men,
+who know so little how to care for us. I say that for Gontran. What was
+he doing while I was telling you my sorrows, Aunt Louise? Quite calmly
+taking a trip around the world. But let him speak now, let him speak,
+especially as I cannot any more. In all my life I have never made so
+long a speech. Speak, sir; why were you going round the world?"
+
+"Because your mother, on the morning of the day before you departed for
+Aix-les-Bains, had had a very long conversation with me."
+
+"And she had said to you?"
+
+"She had said to me, 'Put a stop to this; marry her or go away, and let
+her not hear of you again till her marriage.' And as I had for some time
+been debating whether to take a little trip to Japan, I started for
+Japan."
+
+"He started for Japan! That goes without saying. You hear him, Aunt
+Louise; he admits that this time last year he preferred to expatriate
+himself rather than marry me. So there he was in America, in China, and
+in Japan. This lasted ten months; from time to time, humbly and timidly,
+I asked for news of him. He was very well; his last letter was from
+Shanghai, or Sidney, or Java. For me, not a word, not a
+remembrance--nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing!"
+
+"I had promised your mother. One day at Yokohama I had bought you a lot
+of fascinating little things. The box was done up and addressed to you
+when I remembered my promise. I sent all those Japaneseries to your
+mother, thinking that you would have your share of the spoil."
+
+"I had nothing at all. The arrival of the box was kept a secret. It
+would have been necessary to have pronounced your name before me, and
+mamma didn't wish that. On the other hand, there was always one name on
+her lips--Courtalin. Still Courtalin, and always Courtalin. He had all
+qualities, all virtues. Then he had just lost his aunt in Brittany, and
+he had inherited something. It was thought that he would only have a
+quarter of the property, and he had had three-quarters. Besides, it was
+a country-seat, and all around this seat, an admirable domain, sixteen
+or seventeen hundred hectares. I say it to my shame, Aunt Louise, to my
+great shame, the thought of giving in came to me; and then, to be
+absolutely frank, it rather pleased me to become a duchess; so mamma
+made me out a list of all possible husbands for me, and there was no
+other duke in the list but M. de Courtalin. There was, of course, the
+little Count of Limiers, who would be duke some day. But when? His
+father is forty-five and an athlete, and has an iron constitution. So I
+was obliged to admit it when I talked it over with mamma in the evening.
+To be duchess it was necessary to agree on M. de Courtalin. Mamma,
+however, was perfect, and delightfully gentle. She did not press me, nor
+treat me harshly, nor torment me; she waited. Only I knew she had said
+to Mme. de Nelly: 'It will be accomplished, my dear, before the 20th of
+June. It must be.' Papa was obliged to return to Aix for his complaint.
+The 20th of June was the date for his departure. I no longer said, 'No,
+no, no!' with that savage energy of the year before. You see, Gontran, I
+open my whole heart to you; you will have, I hope, soon the same courage
+and sincerity."
+
+"You may be sure of it."
+
+"I was waiting, however--I was waiting for his return. I wished to have
+with him a very serious conversation. It is quite true that I felt like
+fainting with fear at the mere thought of that explanation; but I was
+none the less resolved to speak, and I would speak. It seemed to me
+impossible that he had not thought of me sometimes out there in China
+and Cochin China. We had always loved each other (till the unhappy day
+on which I had become marriageable) with a tender and faithful
+affection! I knew that he would arrive in Paris during the night of the
+2d or 3d of April. Very certainly the day after he would come and see
+us. And so, in fact, towards two o'clock he came. Mamma hadn't finished
+dressing; I was alone. I ran to him. 'Ah, how glad I am to see you!' and
+I kissed him with effusion. Then he, very much moved, yes, very much
+moved, kissed me, and began to say to me such nice and pretty things
+that I felt my heart melting. Ah, if mamma hadn't come for five
+minutes--I would only have asked for five minutes!--and how quickly it
+would have turned into love-making our little explanation!"
+
+"Yes, that is true. The impulse that threw you into my arms was so
+sincere. Ah, very certainly it was that day, at that moment, that I
+began to love you. And then I looked at you. You were no longer the
+same. There was such great and happy change."
+
+"He does not dare say it, Aunt Louise, but I will say it: I had become
+fatter. Ah, when I think that I might be Duchess of Courtalin if I had
+remained thin. Those men! Those men! What wretches! But mamma came in,
+then papa, and then my brother George. No explanation possible! There
+they all were engaged in an odious conversation on the comparative
+merits of the English and French boats--the English ones are faster, the
+food on the French ones is better, etc. It was charming! At the end of
+an hour Gontran went away, but not without giving me a very tender and
+eloquent hand-shake. I could wish nothing more speaking than that
+hand-shake. But mamma, who was observing us attentively, had clearly
+seen our two hands, after having found a way to say very pleasant
+things, had had a great deal of trouble in separating. I expected, of
+course, to see him the next day. Did you come?"
+
+"No."
+
+"And the day after that?"
+
+"No, nor then."
+
+"At last, after three days, mamma took me to the races at the Bois de
+Boulogne. We arrived, and there at once, two steps from me, I saw him.
+But no, it was no longer he; frigid greeting, frigid good-day, frigid
+hand-shake, frigid words, and very few of them--scarcely a few
+sentences, awkward and embarrassed. Then he was lost in the crowd, and
+that was all. He did not appear again. I was dumfounded, overcome,
+crushed."
+
+"But it was your mother who--"
+
+"Yes, I know now; but I did not know that day. Yes, it was mamma. Oh,
+must I not love mamma to have forgiven her that?"
+
+"She had come to me very early in the morning the day after the very
+eloquent hand-shake and there, in tears--yes, literally in tears (she
+was sobbing)--she had appealed to my sense of honor, of delicacy, of
+integrity. 'You both had,' she said to me, 'yesterday, on seeing each
+other again after a long absence, a little spasm of emotion. That is all
+right; but you must stop there, and not prolong this foolishness,' And,
+just as I was going to protest: 'Oh yes; foolishness!' 'Remember,
+Marceline's happiness is at stake. You have no right to compromise her.
+You come back from China all at once, and your abrupt return will break
+off more sensible, more studied arrangements. M. de Courtalin is
+thirty-four; he is a man of great knowledge and wisdom. However, I know
+that that is only a secondary consideration; but love passes away, and
+money remains, and M. de Courtalin is richer, very much richer, than
+you. With him Marceline will have quite a grand position. Whereas you,
+you know how I love you, and I know how worthy you are of being loved.
+You are charming, charming, charming.' It was your mother who spoke
+thus."
+
+"I know; I know."
+
+"'Yes, charming; but when I have said that, I have said all. So I will
+ask you this question, and I expect from you a faithful answer: Have you
+those solid qualities which alone can make a husband, a true husband?
+Marceline is a little light-headed, a little frivolous, a little
+coquettish.' It is always your mother who is speaking."
+
+"I know; I know."
+
+"I was embarrassed, Aunt Louise; it seemed to me that that speech was
+not without reason. I hadn't a very high idea of myself as a husband,
+and even now I ask myself--"
+
+"Don't ask yourself anything. Be an affectionate husband, and you will
+have all the virtues. Nothing simpler, as you see. You can go on."
+
+"Well, your mother was so skilfully persuasive that the day after, at
+the races, I gave that cold greeting."
+
+"And so I, that same day, on entering the house, threw myself into
+mamma's arms, exclaiming, 'Yes, I am willing to marry M. de Courtalin!'
+Ah, how many times between that day and the 16th of May I threw myself
+into mamma's arms! I did nothing else. Mamma got used to it, and never
+saw me appear without mechanically opening her arms. 'Yes, I am
+willing,' and sometimes, 'No, I am not.' But the 'No, I am nots' became
+fewer and fewer. M. de Courtalin, besides, was perfect; a model of tact,
+of gentleness, and of resignation. He waited, always in his black
+frock-coat, always buttoned, with an inexhaustible patience. Mamma was,
+in short, pledged to Mme. de Courtalin, and I felt the circle tighten
+round me. The papers announced, in a covert but transparent way, that
+there was question of an alliance between two families of the Faubourg
+Saint-Germain, and they made it pretty clear that it concerned two
+important families. I already received vague congratulations, and I
+dared respond only by vague denials. The morning of the famous 17th of
+May mamma had said to me, 'Come, my child, don't make a martyr of that
+poor boy. Since it is to be "yes," for it will be "yes," you know
+yourself, say "yes" at once.' I had obtained only a miserable respite of
+twenty-four hours; and things were thus when, still on the 17th of May,
+mamma and I arrived, a little late (after eleven), at Mme. de
+Vernieux's, who was giving a ball, a very large ball. I went in, and I
+had at once the feeling that I must be looking extremely well that
+evening. They formed into a little hedge along my way, and I heard a
+little 'oh!' of surprise, and a big 'ah!' of admiration which went
+straight to my heart. I had had already in society certain successes,
+but never any as marked as that one. M. de Courtalin came towards me. He
+wished to engage me for all the waltzes, for all the quadrilles, for the
+entire evening, for the night, for life. I answered him: 'Later,
+presently, we will see. I feel a little tired.' The fact was I hadn't
+the heart to dance. Mamma and I took our seats. A waltz began. Mamma
+scolded softly: 'Dance with him, my child, I beg.' I didn't listen to
+her. I was abstractedly looking around the room when suddenly I saw in a
+corner two eyes fixed, fastened, pinioned on me--two eyes that I well
+knew, but that I had some difficulty in recognizing, for they were
+tremendously enlarged by a sort of stupor."
+
+"Say by overwhelming admiration."
+
+"As you please But it is here, Aunt Louise, that my interrogation will
+begin. Why and how were you there? Where had you dined, Gontran?"
+
+"At the club."
+
+"And what did you intend to do after dinner? Come to Mme. de
+Vernieux's?"
+
+"No; Robert d'Aigremont and I had meant to go to the Bouffes-Parisiens."
+
+"You did not go? Why?"
+
+"We had telephoned from the club to have a box; all were sold--"
+
+"So you said to Robert--"
+
+"I said to Robert, 'Let's play bezique;' and I was beaten by one of
+those streaks of bad luck--34,000 points in a dozen games--so thoroughly
+that towards half-past ten I thought that bezique had lasted long
+enough--"
+
+"And so--"
+
+"And so--"
+
+"So Robert wished to bring you to Mme. de Vernieux's. And you didn't
+want to go! If you hadn't come, however, and if there had been a box at
+the Bouffes-Parisiens, or if you had won at bezique, my marriage with M.
+de Courtalin would have been publicly announced the next day."
+
+"Yes, but I came; and there I was in the corner looking at you, looking
+at you, looking at you. It was you, and yet not you--"
+
+"I, immediately on seeing the way you were looking at me, understood
+that something extraordinary was going to happen. Your eyes shone,
+burned, blazed!"
+
+"Because I had discovered that you were simply the prettiest woman of
+the ball, where all the prettiest women of Paris were. Yes, the
+prettiest, and such shoulders, such shoulders!"
+
+"Ripe! in fact, I was ripe!"
+
+"My head was turned at once. I saw Courtalin manoeuvring and trying to
+get near you. I understood that there was not a moment to be lost. To
+reach there ahead of Courtalin I threw myself intrepidly into the midst
+of the room, among the waltzers, pushing and being pushed. I forged a
+passage and tore into rags one of the lace flounces of Mme. de
+Lornans--she hasn't yet forgiven me. But I got there--I got there before
+Courtalin, and threw myself on you, and took you round your waist (I can
+still hear your little cry), and I dragged you off."
+
+"Mamma had scarcely time to scream 'Marceline, Marceline!' when I was
+there no more. He had lifted me off, and carried me away; and we were
+waltzing wildly, furiously!--oh, what a waltz!--and he was saying to me:
+'I love you! I adore you! You are grace and beauty itself! There is only
+one pretty woman here--you; and it is I who will be your husband. I, do
+you hear? I, and not another!' And I, quite suffocated with surprise,
+pleasure, and emotion, allowed myself to be nearly carried by him, but I
+kept begging him to speak lower. 'Anything you wish; yes, I will be your
+wife; but take care--you will be heard--you will be heard.'"
+
+"That is what I wished; and I continued, 'I love you! I adore you!'"
+
+"Then I, absolutely breathless: 'Not so fast. I pray, not so fast; I
+shall fall. I assure you everything is going round, everything is going
+round. Let us stop.' 'No, no; don't let's stop. Keep on still. If we
+stop your mother will separate us, and I have still so many things to
+say to you--so many things, so many things. Swear to me that you will be
+my wife.' 'Yes, I swear it; but enough, enough--' I was smothering. He
+heard nothing. He was going, going like a madman. We had become a
+hurricane, a whirlwind, a cyclone. We caused surprise and fright. No one
+danced any more, but looked at us. And he held me so close, and his face
+was so near my face, his lips so near my lips, that all at once I felt
+myself giving way. I slipped, and let myself into his arms. A cloud
+passed before my eyes; I could not speak nor think; then blankness.
+Everything had disappeared before me in a vertigo not too disagreeable,
+I must say. I had fainted, absolutely fainted."
+
+"The next day our marriage was decided, perfectly decided. Our waltz had
+caused scandal. That was just what I wanted."
+
+"There, Aunt Louise, is the history of our marriage, and I want to-day
+to draw this conclusion: it is that I was the first to begin to love,
+and I shall have, consequently, one day, when it pleases me, the right
+to stop the first."
+
+"Ah, no, indeed; tell her, Aunt Louise, that she will never have that
+right--"
+
+A new quarrel threatened to break out.
+
+"This, my children," said the old aunt, "is all I have to say: she did,
+in truth, start the first to love; but it seems to me, Gontran, that you
+started all at once at such a great pace that you must have caught up
+with her."
+
+"Passed her, Aunt Louise."
+
+"Oh no!" exclaimed Marceline.
+
+"Oh yes--"
+
+"Oh no--"
+
+"Well," continued Aunt Louise, "try never to have any other quarrels
+than that one. Try to walk always in life step by step, side by side,
+and heart to heart. I have seen many inventions since I was born, and
+the world is no longer what it was then. But there is one thing to which
+inventions have made no difference, and never will. That thing you have;
+keep it. It is love! Love each other, children, as strongly and as long
+as possible."
+
+And Aunt Louise wept another tear, and smiled on looking at the portrait
+of the officer of the Royal Guard.
+
+
+
+
+THE DANCING-MASTER
+
+
+
+I was dining at the house of some friends, and in the course of the
+evening the hostess said to me:
+
+"Do you often go to the opera?"
+
+"Yes, very often."
+
+"And do you go behind the scenes?"
+
+"Yes, I go behind."
+
+"Then you can do me a favor. In the ballet department there's an old man
+called Morin, who is perfectly respectable, it seems. He is the little
+B----'s dancing-master. He gives excellent lessons. I should like to
+have him for my little girls, so ask him if he could come twice a week."
+
+I willingly undertook the delicate mission.
+
+The next day, February 17, 1881, about ten in the evening, I arrived at
+the opera, and went behind the scenes to search for Monsieur Morin. "The
+Prophet" was being played, and the third act had just begun. On the
+stage the Anabaptists were singing forcibly:
+
+    "Du sang! que Judas succombe!
+    Du sang! Dansons sur leur tombe!
+    Du sang! Voila l'hécatombe
+    Que Dieu nous demande encor!"
+
+Axes were raised over the heads of a crowd of hapless prisoners, who
+were barons, bishops, monks, and grand ladies. In the wings, balanced on
+their skates, all the ballet-girls were waiting the right moment to
+
+    "Effleurer la glace
+    Sans laisser de trace."
+
+I respectfully begged one of the young Westphalian peasant-girls to
+point out to me the man named Morin.
+
+"Morin," she replied, "is not one of the skaters. Look, he is on the
+stage. That's he over there, the one who is doing the bishop; that
+bishop, you see, who is being pushed and pulled. Wait, he will be off
+directly."
+
+One of the Anabaptist leaders intervened, however, declaring that the
+nobles and priests who could pay ransom should be spared. Morin escaped
+with his life, and I had the honor of being presented to him by the
+little Westphalian peasant-girl.
+
+He had quite a venerable air, with his long gray beard and his fine
+purple robe with his large pastoral cross. While he was arranging
+somewhat his costume, which had been so roughly pulled by those violent
+Anabaptists, I asked him if he would be willing to give lessons to two
+young girls of good family.
+
+The pious bishop accepted with alacrity. His price was ten francs an
+hour.
+
+The little skaters had gone on the stage, and were performing wonderful
+feats. The wings had suddenly become calm and silent. We gave ourselves
+up, his Reverence and myself, to a little friendly chat.
+
+"Yes, sir," his Highness said to me, "I give dancing lessons. I have
+many patrons among the aristocracy and the bankers. I have no reason to
+complain; and yet one must admit things were better once, much better.
+Dancing is going out, sir, dancing is going out."
+
+"Is it possible?"
+
+"It is as I have the honor of telling you. Women still learn to dance;
+but no longer the young men, sir, no longer. Baccarat, races, and the
+minor theatres--that's what they enjoy. It's a little the fault of the
+Government."
+
+"How can that be?"
+
+"M. Jules Ferry has recently rearranged the curriculum of the
+University. He has made certain studies obligatory--modern languages,
+for instance. I don't blame him for that; the study of modern languages
+has great advantages. But dancing, sir; nothing has been done for
+dancing, and it is dancing which ought, after all, to have been made
+obligatory. There ought to be a dancing-master in every high-school, and
+a normal-school for dancing with examinations and competitions in
+dancing. Dancing ought to be studied the same as Latin or Greek.
+Dancing, too, is a language, and a language that every well-bred man
+ought to be able to speak. Well, do you know what happens nowadays?
+Sometimes it happens, sir, that diplomatic posts are given to people who
+get confused in the figures of a quadrille, and who are incapable of
+waltzing for two minutes. They know very well that their education is
+incomplete. Quite lately a young man came to me--a young man of great
+merit, it seems, except in regard to dancing. He had just been attached
+to a great embassy. He had never danced in his life--never. Do you
+understand? Never! It is scarcely to be credited, and yet it is true.
+That's the way M. Barthélémy-Saint-Hilaire picks them out. Oh, this
+beard smothers me! Will you permit me?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+He took off his gray beard, and thus looked much less venerable. He then
+continued:
+
+"I said to this young man: 'We will try, but it will be hard work. One
+oughtn't to begin dancing at twenty-eight.' I limbered him up as best I
+could. I had only two weeks to do it in. I begged him to put off his
+departure, to obtain a reprieve of three or four months--I could have
+made something of him. He would not. He went without knowing anything. I
+often think of him. He will represent us out there; he will represent us
+very badly; he will not be an honor to his country. Please to remember
+that he may be called upon to take part in some official quadrille--to
+dance, for instance, with an archduchess. Well, if he slips up in it,
+with his archduchess, it will be charming! All this is very sad indeed.
+I am a Republican, sir, an old Republican, and it is painful to think
+that the republic is represented by diplomats who cannot distinguish
+between a change of foot and a simple step. Do you know what is said in
+foreign courts? 'Why, who are those savages that France sends us?' Yes,
+that's what they say. The diplomatic corps in the time of the Empire was
+not brilliant. Oh no; those gentlemen did many foolish things. Oh yes;
+but still they knew how to dance!"
+
+And the good old bishop, seeing that I listened with much interest, went
+on with his brilliant improvisation.
+
+"Dancing, sir, is not merely a pleasure, an amusement; no, it is of
+great social interest. Why, the question of marriage is closely
+connected with dancing. At present, in France, marriage is languishing.
+That is proved by statistics. Well, I am convinced that if there are
+fewer marriages it is because there is less dancing. Consider this first
+of all, that to know how to dance well, very well, is, for an agreeable
+young man who is without fortune, a great advantage in society. One of
+my pupils, sir, has recently married extremely well. He was a very
+ordinary kind of youth, who had tried everything and had succeeded in
+nothing; but he was a first-rate waltzer, and he danced away with two
+millions."
+
+"Two millions!"
+
+"Yes, two millions, and they were two cash millions; she was an orphan,
+no father nor mother--all that can be dreamed of. He clasped that young
+lady (she was very plump). Well, in his arms, she felt herself light as
+a feather. She thought of but one thing--waltzing with him. She was as
+one wild. He gave her a new sensation, and what is it women desire above
+all things? To have new sensations, in short, she refused marquises,
+counts, and millionaires. She wanted him only. She got him, and he was
+penniless, and his name is Durand. Ah, do not repeat his name; I
+oughtn't to have told you."
+
+"Don't be afraid."
+
+"After all, you can repeat it; it doesn't matter, it's such a common
+name. There is public policy in love-matches which cause a rich girl to
+marry a poor man, or a poor girl to marry a rich man. It sets money
+circulating, it prevents its remaining in the same place, it keeps
+capital moving. Well, three-fourths of the love-matches were formerly
+made by the dance. Now there are short interviews in parlors, in
+galleries, and at the Opéra Comique. They chat; that's all right, but
+chatting is not sufficient. Wit is something, but not everything. A
+waltz furnishes much knowledge that conversation cannot. Dress-makers
+nowadays are so wily. They know how to bring out this point and hide
+that; they remodel bad figures. They give plumpness and roundness to the
+thin; they make hips, shoulders--everything, in fact. One doesn't know
+what to expect, science has made such advances. The eye may be deceived,
+but the hand of an experienced dancer never! A waltzer with tact knows
+how to find out the exact truth about things."
+
+"Oh! oh!"
+
+"Remaining all the time, sir, perfectly respectful and perfectly
+reserved. Good heavens! look at myself, for instance. It is to waltzing
+that I owe my happiness. Mme. Morin was not then Mme. Morin. I kept my
+eye on her, but I hesitated. She appeared thin, and--well, I'll admit
+that to marry a thin woman didn't suit my ideas. You know every one has
+his ideals. So, sir, I was still hesitating, when one evening, at the
+wedding of one of my friends, a very capable young man, a deputy manager
+of a department at the Ministry of Religion, they started a little
+dance. For the first waltz I asked the one who was to be my companion
+through life. Immediately I felt in my hand a delightful figure--one of
+those full but supple figures; and while waltzing, quite enchanted, I
+was saying to myself, 'She isn't really thin! she isn't really thin!' I
+took her back to her place after the waltz, and went at once to her
+mother to ask for her hand, which was granted me. For fourteen years I
+have been the happiest of men, and perhaps I shouldn't have made that
+marriage if I hadn't known how to waltz. You see, sir, the results of a
+waltz?"
+
+"Perfectly."
+
+"That is not all, sir. Thanks to dancing, one discovers not only the
+agreeable points of a person, the fulness of her figure, the
+lithesomeness of her waist, but also, in a briskly led waltz, a little
+examination of the health and constitution of a woman can be had. I
+remember one evening twelve or so years ago--in the Rue Le Peletier, in
+the old Opéra-house, which has burned down--I was on the stage awaiting
+my cue for the dance in 'William Tell,' you know, in the third act. Two
+subscribers were talking quite close to me, in the wings. One of the
+gentlemen was an old pupil of mine. I have had so many pupils! Without
+wishing to, I heard scraps of the conversation, and these two sentences
+struck my ear: 'Well, have you decided?' 'Oh,' replied my pupil, 'I find
+her very charming, but I have heard that she is weak in the lungs.'
+Then, sir, I did a very unusual thing for me. I begged pardon for having
+heard unintentionally, and I said to my old pupil: 'I think I have
+guessed that a marriage is in question. Will you authorize me to give
+you a piece of advice--advice drawn from the practice of my profession?
+Do they allow this young lady to waltz?' You know there are mothers who
+do not permit--"
+
+"I know, I know."
+
+
+
+We had arrived at this point in that interesting conversation when the
+ballet ended. The bishop and myself were assailed by an actual whirlwind
+of skaters, and my little Westphalian peasant-girl found me where she
+had left me.
+
+"I declare!" she said to me, "so you come to confess at the opera? Give
+him absolution, Morin, and give it to me, too. Now then, come along to
+the greenroom."
+
+She took my arm, and we went off together, while the excellent Morin,
+with gravity and dignity beneath his sacred ornaments, withstood the
+shock of this avalanche of dancers.
+
+
+
+
+THE CIRCUS CHARGER
+
+
+After George had related how he had been married off at twenty-two by
+his aunt, the Baroness de Stilb, Paul said: "_I_ was married off by a
+circus charger. I was very nearly forty years of age, and I felt so
+peacefully settled in my little bachelor habits that, in the best faith
+in the world, on all occasions, I swore by the gods never to run the
+great risk of marriage; but I reckoned without the circus charger.
+
+"It was in the last days of September, 1864. I had just arrived from
+Baden-Baden, and my intention was to spend only twenty-four hours in
+Paris. I had invited four or five of my friends--Callières, Bernheim,
+Frondeville, and Valreas--to my place in Poitou for the shooting season.
+They were to come in the first part of October, and it needed a week to
+put all in order at Roche-Targé. A letter from my overseer awaited me in
+Paris, and the letter brought disastrous news; the dogs were well, but
+out of the dozen hunting horses that I had there, five, during my
+sojourn at Baden, had fallen sick or lame, and I found myself
+absolutely forced to get new horses.
+
+"I made a tour of the Champs-Elysées sellers, who showed me as hunters a
+fine collection of broken--down skeletons. Average price, three thousand
+francs. Roulette had treated me badly of late, and I was neither in the
+humor, nor had I the funds, to spend in that way seven or eight hundred
+louis in a morning.
+
+"It was a Wednesday, and Chéri was holding his first autumn sale. I went
+to the Rue de Ponthieu during the day; and there out of the lot, on
+chance, without inquiry, blindly, by good-luck, and from the mere
+declarations of the catalogue--'_Excellent hunter, good jumper, has
+hunted with lady rider_,' etc.--I bought eight horses, which only cost
+me five thousand francs. Out of eight, I said to myself, there will
+always be four or five who will go, and who will be good enough to serve
+as remounts.
+
+"Among the horses there was one that I had bought, I must confess,
+particularly on account of his coat, which was beautiful. The catalogue
+did not attribute to him any special qualifications for hunting, but
+limited itself to '_Brutus, riding horse_.' He was a large dapple-gray
+horse, but never, I think, have I seen gray better dappled; the white
+coat was strewn almost regularly with beautiful black spots, which were
+well distributed and well marked.
+
+"I left town the next day for Roche-Targé, and the following day, early,
+they announced to me that the horses had arrived. I at once went down to
+see them, and my first glance was at Brutus. He had been trotting in my
+head for forty-eight hours, that devil of a gray horse, and I had a
+singular desire to know what he was and of what he was capable.
+
+"I had him taken out of the stable first. A groom led him to me with a
+strap. The horse had long teeth, hollows in the chest, lumpy
+fetlocks--in short, all the signs of respectable age; but he had
+powerful shoulders, a large breast, a neck which was both strong and
+supple, head well held, tail well placed, and an irreproachable back. It
+wasn't, however, all this that attracted most my attention. What I
+admired above all was the air with which Brutus looked at me, and with
+what an attentive, intelligent, and curious eye he followed my movements
+and gestures. Even my words seemed to interest him singularly; he
+inclined his head to my side as if to hear me, and, as soon as I had
+finished speaking, he neighed joyously in answer.
+
+"They showed me successively the seven other horses; I examined them
+rapidly and absent-mindedly. They were horses like all other horses.
+Brutus certainly had something in particular, and I was anxious to make
+in his company a short jaunt in the country. He allowed himself to be
+saddled, bridled, and mounted like a horse who knows his business, and
+so we both started in the quietest way in the world.
+
+"I had at first ridden him with the snaffle, and Brutus had gone off at
+a long easy gait, with rather a stiff neck and projected head; but as
+soon as I let him feel the curb, he changed with extraordinary rapidity
+and suppleness, drawing his head back to his breast, and champing his
+bit noisily; then at the same time he took a short gait, which was light
+and even, lifting well his feet and striking the sod with the regularity
+of a pendulum.
+
+"Chéri's catalogue had not lied; the horse was a good rider--too good a
+rider, in fact. I made him trot, then gallop; the horse at the first
+suggestion gave me an excellent little trot and an excellent little
+gallop, but always plunging to the ground and pulling my arms when I
+tried to lift his head. When I wished to quicken his gait, the horse
+broke at once. He began to rack in great style, trotting with the
+fore-feet and galloping with the hind ones. 'Well,' I said to myself, 'I
+see now; I've bought some old horse of the Saumur or Saint-Cyr school,
+and it's not on this beast that I'll hunt in eight days.'
+
+"I was about to turn and go home, quite edified as to Brutus's
+qualities, when the report of a gun was heard twenty yards away in the
+woods. It was one of my keepers who was shooting a rabbit, and who
+received some time after a handsome present from my wife for that shot.
+
+"I was then in the centre of the cross-roads, which formed a perfect
+circle of five or six yards in radius; six long green alleys came to an
+end at this spot. On hearing the report, Brutus had stopped short,
+planted himself on his four legs, with ears erect and head raised. I was
+surprised to find the horse so impressionable. I should have thought
+that after the brilliant education that very certainly he had received
+in his youth, Brutus must be an artillery horse, used to gun and cannon.
+I drew in my legs to urge the horse on, but Brutus didn't move; I
+spurred him sharply twice, but Brutus didn't move; I whipped him
+soundly, but Brutus didn't move. I tried to back the horse, to push him
+to the right, to the left, but I couldn't move him in the slightest
+degree. Brutus seemed glued to the ground, and yet--don't you dare to
+laugh, and be assured that my tale is absolutely true--each time that I
+attempted to put the horse in motion he turned his head and looked at
+me with an expression which could clearly be read as impatience and
+surprise; then he would again become as immovable as a statue. There was
+evidently some misunderstanding between the horse and myself. I saw that
+in his eyes, and Brutus said to me, with all the clearness he could put
+in his expression, 'I, as a horse, am doing my duty, and it's you, as a
+rider, who are not doing yours!'
+
+"I was more puzzled than embarrassed. 'What extraordinary kind of a
+horse have I bought at Chéri's,' I said to myself, 'and why does he look
+at me so queerly?' I was, however, going to take strong measures--that
+is to say, I was preparing to whip him smartly--when another report was
+heard.
+
+"Then the horse gave a jump. I thought I had the best of it, and,
+profiting by his bound, I tried to carry him forward with hand and knee.
+But no; he stopped short after his bound, and again planted himself on
+the ground more energetically and more resolutely than the first time.
+Ah, then I grew angry, and my whip came into play; I grasped it firmly
+and began to strike the horse with all my strength to the right and
+left. But Brutus, he too lost patience, and, instead of the cold and
+immovable opposition that at first he had shown, I met with furious
+retaliations, strange springs, bucking, extraordinary rearing,
+fantastic whirling; and in the midst of this battle, while the
+infatuated horse bounded and reared, while I, exasperated, struck with
+vigor the leather pommel with my broken whip, Brutus still found time to
+give me glances not only of surprise and impatience, but also of anger
+and indignation. While I was asking the horse for the obedience which he
+refused me, it is certain that he expected from me something that I was
+not doing.
+
+"How did it end? To my shame, to my great shame, I was pitifully
+unhorsed by an incomparable feat! Brutus understood, I think, that he
+would not get the better of me by violence, and judged it necessary to
+try cunning; after a pause which was most certainly a moment of
+reflection, the horse rose up, head down, upright on his fore-feet, with
+the skill, the calm, and the perfect equilibrium of a clown who walks on
+his hands. Thus I tumbled into the sand, which, by good-luck, was thick
+in that spot.
+
+"I tried to get up. I screamed and fell back ridiculously, flat on my
+stomach, on my nose. At the slightest movement I felt as though a knife
+ran through my left leg. It's a slight matter, however--the rupture of a
+slender sinew; but though slight, the injury was none the less painful.
+I succeeded, nevertheless, in turning over and sitting up; but just
+when, while rubbing my eyes, filled with sand, I was beginning to ask
+myself what in the midst of this tumult had become of my miserable
+dapple-gray, I saw over my head a large horse's hoof descending. Then
+this large hoof pressed, with a certain gentleness, however, on my
+chest, and pushed me delicately back on the ground, on my back this
+time.
+
+"I was greatly discouraged; and feeling incapable of another effort, I
+remained in that position, continuing to ask myself what sort of a horse
+I had bought at Chéri's, closing my eyes, and awaiting death.
+
+"Suddenly I heard a curious trampling around me; a quantity of little
+hard things struck me on the face. I opened my eyes, and perceived
+Brutus, who, with his fore-feet and hind-legs, was trying with
+incredible activity and prodigious skill to bury me in the sand. He was
+doing his best, poor beast, and from time to time he stopped to gaze at
+his work; then, raising his head, he neighed and began his work again.
+That lasted for a good three or four minutes, after which Brutus,
+judging me doubtless sufficiently interred, placed himself very
+respectfully on his knees before my tomb--on his knees, literally on his
+knees! He was saying, I suppose, a little prayer. I looked at him. It
+interested me extremely.
+
+"His prayer finished, Brutus made a slight bow, went off a few steps,
+stopped, then, beginning to gallop, made at least twenty times the
+circuit of the open space in the middle of which he had buried me.
+Brutus galloped very well, with even stride, head well held, on the
+right foot, making around me a perfect circle. I followed him with my
+eyes, but it made me uneasy to see him go round and round and round. I
+had the strength to cry 'Stop! stop!' The horse stopped and seemed
+embarrassed, without doubt asking himself what there was still to be
+done; but he perceived my hat, which in my fall had got separated from
+me, and at once made a new resolution: he walked straight to the hat,
+seized it in his teeth, and galloped off, this time by one of the six
+alleys that led from my tomb.
+
+"Brutus got farther and farther away, and disappeared; I remained alone.
+I was puzzled, positively puzzled. I shook off the little coating of
+dust which covered me, and without getting up, by the help of my two
+arms and right leg--to move my left leg was not to be thought of--I
+succeeded in dragging myself to a little grassy slope on the edge of one
+of the alleys. Once there, I could sit down, after a fashion, and I
+began to shout with all the strength of my lungs, 'Hi, there! hi! hi,
+there!' No answer. The woods were absolutely deserted and still. The
+only thing to be done was to wait till some one passed by to aid me.
+
+"For half an hour I had been in that hateful position when I perceived
+in the distance, at the very end of the same alley by which he had gone
+off, Brutus coming back, with the same long gallop he had used in going.
+A great cloud of dust accompanied the horse. Little by little, in that
+cloud, I perceived a tiny carriage--a pony-carriage; then in that little
+pony-carriage a woman, who drove herself, and behind the woman a small
+groom.
+
+"A few moments later Brutus, covered with foam, stopped before me, let
+my hat drop at my feet and neighed, as though to say, 'I've done my
+duty; here is help.' But I no longer bothered myself about Brutus and
+the explanations that he made me. My only thoughts were for the fairy
+who was to relieve me, and who, after lightly jumping from her little
+carriage, was coming quickly towards me. Besides, she, too, was
+examining me curiously, and all at once we both exclaimed, at the same
+time:
+
+"'Mme. de Noriolis!'
+
+"'M. de La Roche-Targé!'
+
+"A little while ago George spoke to us of his aunt, and mentioned how
+she had married him quite young, at one stroke, without giving him time
+to reflect or breathe. I, too, have an aunt, and between us for a number
+of years there has been a perpetual battle. 'Marry.' 'I don't want to
+marry.' 'Do you want young girls? There is Mademoiselle A, Mademoiselle
+B, Mademoiselle C.' 'I don't want to marry.' 'Do you want widows? There
+is Madame D, Madame E, Madame F.' 'I don't want to marry.'
+
+"Mme. de Noriolis figured always in the first rank in the series of
+widows, and I noticed that my aunt put stress, with evident favoritism,
+on all the good points and advantages that I should find in that
+marriage. She didn't have to tell me that Mme. de Noriolis was very
+pretty--any one could see that; or that she was very rich--I knew it
+already. But she explained to me that M. de Noriolis was an idiot, who
+had had the merit of making his wife perfectly miserable, and that thus
+it would be very easy for the second husband to make himself very much
+loved.
+
+"Then, when she had discoursed at length on the virtues, graces, and
+merits of Mme. de Noriolis, my aunt, who is clever and knows my
+weakness, pulled out of her desk a topographical map, and spread it out
+with care on the table.
+
+"It was the map of the district of Chatellerault, a very correct and
+minute map, that my aunt had gone herself to the military station to
+buy, with the view of convincing me that I ought to marry Mme. de
+Noriolis. The places of Noriolis and of La Roche-Targé were scarcely
+three kilometers apart in that map. My aunt, with her own hands, had
+drawn a line of red ink, and slily united the two places, and she forced
+me to look at her little red line, saying to me, 'Two thousand acres
+without a break, when the places of Noriolis and La Roche-Targé are
+united; what a chance for a hunter!'
+
+"I closed my eyes, so strong was the temptation, and repeated my
+refrain, 'I don't want to marry.' But I was afraid, seriously afraid;
+and when I met Mme. de Noriolis I always saw her surrounded, as by a
+halo, by the little red line of my aunt, and I said to myself: 'A
+charming, and clever, and sensible woman, whose first husband was an
+idiot, and this and that, and two thousand acres without a break. Run
+away, wretch, run away, since you don't wish to marry.'
+
+"And I ran away! But this time by what means could I run away? I was
+there, miserable, in the grass, covered with sand, with my hair in
+disorder, my clothes in rags, and my unfortunate leg stiff. And Mme. de
+Noriolis came nearer, looking spick and span--always in the halo of the
+little red line--and said to me:
+
+"'You, M. de La Roche-Targé, is it you? What are you doing there? What
+has happened to you?'
+
+"I frankly confessed my fall.
+
+"'At least you are not wounded?'
+
+"'No, no, I'm not wounded. I've something the matter with that leg; but
+it's nothing serious, I know.'
+
+"'And what horse played you that trick?'
+
+"'Why, this one.'
+
+"And I pointed out Brutus to Mme. de Noriolis. Brutus was there, quite
+near us, untied, peacefully crunching little tufts of broom.
+
+"'What, that one, that brave horse? Oh, he has well made up for his
+faults, I assure you. I will tell you about it, but later on. You must
+first get home, and at once.'
+
+"'I can't walk a step.'
+
+"'But I am going to take you back myself, at the risk of compromising
+you.'
+
+"And she called Bob, her little groom, and taking me gently by the arm,
+while Bob took me by the other, she made me get into her carriage; five
+minutes later we were bowling off, both of us, in the direction of La
+Roche-Targé: she, holding the reins and driving the pony with a light
+hand; I, looking at her, feeling troubled, confused, embarrassed,
+ridiculous, and stupid. We were alone in the carriage. Bob was
+commissioned to bring Brutus, who, very docile, had allowed himself to
+be taken.
+
+"'Lie down,' Mme. de Noriolis said to me; 'keep your leg straight; I am
+going to drive you slowly so as to avoid bumps.'
+
+"In short, she made a lot of little amiable and pleasant remarks; then,
+when she saw me well settled, she said:
+
+"'Tell me how you came to fall, and then I will tell you how I happened
+to come to your aid. It seems to me this horse story must be queer.'
+
+"I began my tale; but as soon as I spoke of Brutus's efforts to unhorse
+me, and the two reports of the gun, she exclaimed:
+
+"'I understand, I understand. You have bought a circus charger.'
+
+"'A circus charger!'
+
+"'Why, yes; that's it, and that explains everything. You have seen
+twenty times at the Circus of the Empress the performance of the circus
+charger--the light-cavalryman who enters the arena on a gray horse, then
+the Arabs come and shoot at the cavalryman, who is wounded and falls;
+and as you didn't fall, the horse, indignant and not understanding how
+you could so far forget your part, threw you on the ground. And when
+you were on the ground, what did the horse do?'
+
+"I related Brutus's little work in burying me suitably.
+
+"'The circus charger,' she continued; 'still the circus charger. He sees
+his master wounded, the Arabs could come back and finish him, and so
+what does the horse do? He buries the cavalryman. Then goes off
+galloping, didn't he?'
+
+"'Yes, on a hard gallop,'
+
+"'Carrying the flag, which is not to fall into the hands of the Arabs.'
+
+"'It's my hat that he took.'
+
+"'He took what he could. And where does the circus charger gallop to?'
+
+"'Ah! I know, I know,' I exclaimed, in my turn, 'he goes to get the
+sutler.'
+
+"'Precisely. He goes to get the sutler; and the sutler to-day, if you
+please, is I, Countess of Noriolis. Your big gray horse galloped into my
+grounds. I was standing on the porch, putting on my gloves and ready to
+step into my carriage, when the stablemen came running, upon seeing that
+horse arrive saddled and bridled, without a rider, and a hat in his
+mouth. They tried to catch him, but he shunned them and escaped, and
+came straight to the porch, falling on his knees before me. The men
+approached, and once more tried to catch him; but he got up, galloped
+away, stopped by the gate of the grounds, turned around, and looked at
+me. He called to me--I assure you, he called to me. I told the men not
+to bother about the horse any more. Then I jumped into my carriage and
+started; the horse rushed into the woods; post-haste I followed him by
+paths that were not always intended for carriages; but still I followed
+him, and I arrived and found you.'
+
+"At the moment Mme. de Noriolis was speaking those last words the
+carriage received a tremendous shock from behind; then we saw in the air
+Brutus's head, which was held there upright as though by a miracle. For
+it was again Brutus. Mounted by Bob, he had followed the carriage for
+several minutes, and seeing that the back seat of the little
+pony-carriage was unoccupied, he had, like a true artist, cleverly
+seized the moment to give us a new proof of his talent in executing the
+most brilliant of his former performances. In one jump he had placed his
+fore-feet on the carriage, then, that done, he quietly continued
+trotting on his two hind-legs. Bob, distracted, with his body thrown
+over and his head thrown back, was making vain attempts to put the horse
+back on his four legs.
+
+"As to Mme. de Noriolis, she was so well frightened, that, letting the
+reins drop from her hands, she had simply thrown herself in my arms. Her
+adorable little head had rolled hap-hazard on my shoulder, and my lips
+just touched her hair. With my left hand I tried to recover the reins,
+with my right I supported Mme. de Noriolis; my leg hurt me frightfully,
+and I was seized with a queer feeling of confusion.
+
+"It was thus that Mme. de Noriolis made her first entry into La
+Roche-Targé.
+
+"When she returned there, one evening at midnight, six weeks later,
+having during the day become Mme. de La Roche-Targé, she said:
+
+"'What is life, after all? Nothing like this would have happened if you
+hadn't bought the circus charger.'"
+
+
+
+
+BLACKY
+
+
+"Don't be alarmed, sir; you won't miss the train. For the last fifteen
+years I've been carrying travellers to the station, and I've never yet
+missed a train! Think of that, sir; never!"
+
+"But--"
+
+"Oh, don't look at your watch. There is one thing you don't know and
+that you must learn, and that your watch will never be able to tell
+you--that is, that the train is always a quarter of an hour late. Such a
+thing as the train's being on time has never happened."
+
+Such a thing happened that day, however, for the train was on time, and
+so I missed it. My driver was furious.
+
+"You should warn us," he said to the station-master, "if your trains are
+suddenly going to start at the right hour. Who ever saw the like!"
+
+And he turned to one or two of the porters for witnesses.
+
+"Did you ever see such a thing? I don't wish to appear blamable before
+the gentleman. A train on time--on time! You know it's the first time
+it has ever happened."
+
+There was a general cry of "Yes, indeed; usually there's some delay."
+But, for all that, I had none the less three long hours to pass in a
+very desolate village (in the Canton of Vaud) shut in by two sad-looking
+mountains, which had their little topknots covered with snow.
+
+But how kill three hours? In my turn I now asked advice, and again there
+was a chorus of "Go see the Caldron; that's the only sight to be seen in
+this part of the country." "And where is this Caldron?" On the mountain,
+to the right, half way up; but the path was a little complicated, and I
+was advised to take a guide; and there, over there in that white cottage
+with green blinds, I would find the best guide there was about here, an
+honest man--Old Simon.
+
+So I went and knocked at the door of the little house.
+
+An old woman opened it.
+
+"Simon, the guide?"
+
+"Yes, right here; but--if it's to go to the Caldron--"
+
+"It is to go to the Caldron."
+
+"Well, Simon hasn't been very well since morning; he hasn't much
+strength, and he can't go out. But don't worry yourself; there is some
+one who can replace him--there is Blacky."
+
+"All right, let it be Blacky, then."
+
+"Only I must tell you that Blacky isn't a person."
+
+"Not a person?"
+
+"No, he's our dog."
+
+"A dog? What do you mean?"
+
+"Yes, Blacky; and he will guide you very well--quite as well as my
+husband. He is in the habit of--"
+
+"In the habit?"
+
+"Certainly; for years and years Simon took him along, so he learned the
+different places, and now he does very well all by himself. He has often
+taken travellers, and we have always been complimented about him. As for
+intelligence, don't be afraid--he has as much as you or I. He needs only
+speech, but speech isn't required. If it was to show a monument,
+now--why, yes, for then it would be necessary to give some account and
+know the historical dates; but here there are only the beauties of
+nature. Take Blacky, and it will be cheaper also; my husband would cost
+three francs, whereas Blacky is only thirty sous, and he will show you
+as much for thirty sous as my husband would for three francs."
+
+"Very well; and where is Blacky?"
+
+"He is resting in the sun, in the garden. Already this morning he has
+taken some English people to the Caldron. Shall I call him?"
+
+"Yes, call him."
+
+"Blacky! Blacky!"
+
+He came with a leap through the window. He was a rather ugly-looking
+little dog, with long frizzy hair, all mussed; he wasn't much to look
+at, but he had, however, about him a certain air of gravity, resolution,
+and importance. His first glance was at me--a clear, searching,
+confident look that took me in from head to toe, and that seemed to say,
+"It's a traveller, and he wants to see the Caldron."
+
+One train missed sufficed me for that day, and I was particularly
+anxious not to lay myself open to another such experience, so I
+explained to the good woman that I had only three hours for my visit to
+the Caldron.
+
+"Oh, I know," she said; "you wish to take the four-o'clock train. Don't
+be alarmed; Blacky will bring you back in time. Now then, Blacky, off
+with you; hurry up!"
+
+But Blacky didn't seem at all disposed to mind. He stayed there
+motionless, looking at his mistress with a certain uneasiness.
+
+"Ah, how stupid of me!" said the old woman. "I forgot the sugar;" and
+she went to get four pieces of sugar from a drawer, and gave them to me,
+saying: "That's why he wouldn't start; you had no sugar. You see,
+Blacky, the gentleman has the sugar. Now then, run along with you, sir,
+to the Caldron! to the Caldron! to the Caldron!"
+
+She repeated these last words three times, slowly and distinctly, and
+during that time I was closely examining Blacky. He acknowledged the
+words of his mistress with little movements of the head, which rapidly
+became more emphatic, and towards the end he evinced some temper and
+impatience. They could be interpreted thus: "Yes, yes, to the Caldron--I
+understand. The gentleman has the pieces of sugar, and we are going to
+the Caldron--it's settled. Do you take me for a fool?"
+
+And, without waiting for Mme. Simon's third "To the Caldron!" Blacky,
+evidently hurt, turned tail, came and placed himself in front of me, and
+by his look showed me the door, which told me as plainly as a dog can
+tell, "Now then, come along, you!"
+
+I meekly followed him. We two started, he in front, I behind. In this
+manner we went through the entire village. The children who were playing
+in the street recognized my guide.
+
+"Hello, Blacky! good-morning, Blacky!" They wanted to play with the
+dog, but he turned his head with a disdainful air--the air of a dog who
+hasn't the time to answer himself, and who is doing his duty and earning
+thirty sous. One of the children exclaimed:
+
+"Leave him alone; don't you see he is taking the gentleman to the
+Caldron? Good-day, sir!"
+
+And all repeated, laughing, "Good-day, sir!"
+
+I smiled rather awkwardly; I am sure I felt embarrassed, even a little
+humiliated. I was, in fact, under the lead of that animal. He, for the
+present, was my master. He knew where he was going; I did not. I was in
+a hurry to get out of the village and find myself alone with Blacky and
+face to face with the beauties of nature that he had been commissioned
+to show me.
+
+These beauties of nature were, at the beginning, a fearfully hot and
+dusty road, on which the sun fell with full force. The dog walked with a
+brisk step, and I was getting tired following him. I tried to slacken
+his gait. "Come, I say, Blacky, my friend, not so quickly." But Blacky
+turned a deaf ear, and continued, without listening to me, his little
+trot. He was taken suddenly with a real fit of anger when I wished to
+sit down in the corner of a field, under a tree that gave a meagre
+shade. He barked furiously, and cast on me outraged looks; evidently
+what I was doing was against the rule. He was not in the habit of
+stopping there, and his barks were so piercing and annoying that I rose
+to continue on my way. Blacky became calm at once, and walked placidly
+in front of me--I had understood him, and he was satisfied.
+
+Shortly afterwards we entered a delightful path, in full blossom, shady,
+sweet-smelling, and filled with freshness and the murmur of springs.
+Blacky immediately entered the wood, took to his heels, and disappeared
+in the little footway. I followed, slightly out of breath, and had not
+gone a hundred steps when I found Blacky waiting for me, with head erect
+and bright eyes, in a clearing enlivened by the tinkle of a tiny
+cascade. There was there an old rustic bench, and Blacky looked
+impatiently from me to the seat and from the seat to me. I was beginning
+to understand Blacky's language.
+
+"There now," he said to me, "here is indeed a place to rest in. It's
+nice and cool here; but you were so stupid, you wanted to stop in the
+sun. Come on, now; sit down; you really can sit down. I will allow you."
+
+I stopped, sat down, and lit a cigar, and came near offering one to
+Blacky; perhaps he smoked. But I thought he would prefer a piece of
+sugar. He caught it on the fly very cleverly, and crunched it with
+enjoyment. Then he lay down and took a nap at my feet. He was evidently
+accustomed to a little siesta at this place.
+
+He slept barely ten minutes I was, however, perfectly easy, for Blacky
+began to inspire me with absolute confidence, and I was determined to
+obey him blindly. He got up, stretched himself, and threw me a glance
+that meant, "Come along, my friend, come along." And, like two old
+friends, we set off slowly. Blacky was enjoying the silence and the
+sweetness of the place. On the road, previously, being in a hurry, he
+had walked with an abrupt, sturdy, hurried step--he was walking to get
+there; but now, refreshed and revived, Blacky was walking for the
+pleasure of a promenade in one of the prettiest paths in the Canton of
+Vaud.
+
+Presently a side path appeared, leading off to the left; there was a
+short hesitation on the part of Blacky, who reflected, and then passed
+it, continuing on his way straight ahead, but not without some doubt and
+uncertainty in his manner. Then he stopped; he must have made some
+mistake. Yes; for he retraced his steps, and we took the turning to the
+left, which, at the end of a hundred feet, led into an open circular
+space, and Blacky, with his nose in the air, invited me to contemplate
+the highly respectable height of the lofty rocks which formed this
+circle. When Blacky thought I had seen sufficient, he turned around, and
+we went on again in the path through the woods. Blacky had forgotten to
+show me the circle of rocks--a slight error quickly repaired.
+
+The road soon became very mountainous, broken, and difficult, and I
+advanced slowly and with many precautions. As to Blacky, he sprang
+lightly from rock to rock, but did not forsake me. He waited and fixed
+his eyes on me with the most touching solicitude. At last I began to
+hear a rushing of water; Blacky commenced barking joyously.
+
+"Courage!" he said to me; "courage! We are nearly there; you will soon
+see the Caldron."
+
+It was in truth the Caldron. From a short height a modest stream fell,
+splashing and rebounding on a large rock slightly hollowed. I should
+never have been consoled for such a steep climb to see such a small
+sight if I had not had brave little Blacky for a companion. He, at
+least, was much more interesting and marvellous than the Caldron. On
+either side of the fall, in little Swiss chalets, were two dairy-maids;
+one was a blonde and the other a brunette; both were in their national
+dress, and were eagerly on the lookout for my coming, standing on the
+door-steps of their tiny houses--little wooden boxes, seemingly cut out
+by machine.
+
+It seemed to me that the blonde had very pretty eyes, and I had already
+taken several steps towards her when Blacky began to bark emphatically,
+and resolutely barred the way. Could he have a preference for the dark
+one? I walked in the other direction. That was it; Blacky calmed down as
+though by enchantment when he saw me seated at a table in front of the
+house of his young protégée. I asked for a cup of milk; Blacky's friend
+entered her little toy house, and Blacky slipped in at her feet. Through
+a half-open window I followed him with my eyes. The wretch! He was
+waited upon before I was. He it was who first had his large bowl of
+milk. He had sold himself! After which, with white drops on his
+mustache, Blacky came to keep me company and look at me drink my milk. I
+gave him a piece of sugar, and both of us, absolutely satisfied with
+each other, filled our lungs with the sharp air of the mountain. We were
+at a height of about three or four hundred yards. It was a delightful
+half-hour.
+
+Blacky began to show signs of impatience and agitation. I could read him
+then like a book. It was time to go. I paid, got up, and while I went
+off to the right towards the path by which we came to the mountain, I
+saw Blacky go and plant himself on the left, at the opening of another
+path. He gave me a serious and severe look. What progress I had made
+during the last two hours, and how familiar Blacky's eloquent silence
+had become!
+
+"What must you think of me?" said Blacky to me. "Do you imagine I am
+going to take the same path twice? No, indeed. I am a good guide, and I
+know my business. We shall make the descent another way."
+
+We went back by another road, which was much prettier than the first.
+Blacky, quite sprightly, often turned around to me with an air of
+triumphant joy. We traversed the village, and at the station Blacky was
+assailed by three or four dogs of his acquaintance, who seemed desirous
+of a talk or game with their comrade. They attempted to block his way,
+but Blacky, grumbling and growling, repulsed their advances.
+
+"Can't you see what I am doing? I am taking this gentleman to the
+station."
+
+It was only in the waiting-room that he consented to leave me, after
+having eaten with relish the two last pieces of sugar. And this is how I
+interpreted the farewell look of Blacky:
+
+"We are twenty minutes ahead of time. It isn't I who would have let you
+lose the train. Well, good-bye--pleasant journey!"
+
+
+
+
+THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PARIS
+
+
+On Friday, April 19th, Prince Agénor was really distracted at the opera
+during the second act of "Sigurd." The prince kept going from box to
+box, and his enthusiasm increased as he went.
+
+"That blonde! Oh, that blonde! She is ideal! Look at that blonde! Do you
+know that blonde?"
+
+It was from the front part of Mme. de Marizy's large first tier box that
+all these exclamations were coming at that moment.
+
+"Which blonde?" asked Mme. de Marizy.
+
+"Which blonde! Why, there is but one this evening in the house. Opposite
+to you, over there, in the first box, the Sainte Mesme's box. Look,
+baroness, look straight over there--"
+
+"Yes I am looking at her. She is atrociously got up, but pretty--"
+
+"Pretty! She is a wonder! Simply a wonder! Got up? Yes, agreed--some
+country relative. The Sainte Mesmes have cousins in Périgord. But what a
+smile! How well her neck is set on! And the slope of the shoulders! Ah,
+especially the shoulders!"
+
+"Come, either keep still or go away. Let me listen to Mme. Caron--"
+
+The prince went away, as no one knew that incomparable blonde. Yet she
+had often been to the opera, but in an unpretentious way--in the second
+tier of boxes. And to Prince Agénor above the first tier of boxes there
+was nothing, absolutely nothing. There was emptiness--space. The prince
+had never been in a second-tier box, so the second-tier boxes did not
+exist.
+
+While Mme. Caron was marvellously singing the marvellous phrase of
+Reyer, "_Ô mon sauveur silencieux la Valkyrie est ta conquête_," the
+prince strolled along the passages of the opera. Who was that blonde? He
+wanted to know, and he would know.
+
+And suddenly he remembered that good Mme. Picard was the box-opener of
+the Sainte Mesmes, and that he, Prince of Nérins, had had the honor of
+being for a long time a friend of that good Mme. Picard. It was she who
+in the last years of the Second Empire had taught him bezique in all its
+varieties--Japanese, Chinese, etc. He was then twenty, Mme. Picard was
+forty. She was not then box-opener of the National Academy of Music; she
+had in those times as office--and it was not a sinecure--the position of
+aunt to a nice young person who showed a very pretty face and a very
+pretty pair of legs in the chorus of the _revues_ of the Variétée. And
+the prince, while quite young, at the beginning of his life, had, for
+three or four years, led a peaceful, almost domestic life, with the aunt
+and niece. Then they went off one way and he another.
+
+One evening at the opera, ten years later, in handing his overcoat to a
+venerable-looking old dame, Agénor heard himself saluted by the
+following little speech:
+
+"Ah, how happy I am to see you again, prince! And not changed--not at
+all changed. Still the same, absolutely the same--still twenty."
+
+It was Mme. Picard, who had been raised to the dignity of box-opener.
+They chatted, talked of old times, and after that evening the prince
+never passed Mme. Picard without greeting her. She responded with a
+little deferential courtesy. She was one of those people, becoming rarer
+and rarer nowadays, who have the exact feeling for distances and
+conventions. There was, however, a little remnant of familiarity, almost
+of affection, in the way in which she said "prince." This did not
+displease Agénor; he had a very good recollection of Mme. Picard.
+
+"Ah, prince," said Mme. Picard on seeing Agénor, "there is no one for
+you to-night in _my_ boxes. Mme. de Simiane is not here, and Mme. de
+Sainte Mesme has rented her box."
+
+"That's precisely it. Don't you know the people in Mme. de Sainte
+Mesme's box?"
+
+"Not at all, prince. It's the first time I have seen them in the
+marquise's box--"
+
+"Then you have no idea--"
+
+"None, prince. Only to me they don't appear to be people of--"
+
+She was going to say of _our_ set. A box-opener of the first tier of
+boxes at the opera, having generally only to do with absolutely
+high-born people, considers herself as being a little of their set, and
+shows extreme disdain for unimportant people; it displeases her to
+receive these unimportant people in _her_ boxes. Mme. Picard, however,
+had tact which rarely forsook her, and so stopped herself in time to
+say:
+
+"People of _your_ set. They belong to the middle class, to the wealthy
+middle class; but still the middle class. That doesn't satisfy you; you
+wish to know more on account of the blonde. Is it not so, prince?"
+
+Those last words were spoken with rare delicacy; they were murmured more
+than spoken--box-opener to a prince! It would have been unacceptable
+without that perfect reserve in accent and tone; yes, it was a
+box-opener who spoke, but a box-opener who was a little bit the aunt of
+former times, the aunt _à la mode de Cythère_. Mme. Picard continued:
+
+"Ah, she is a beauty! She came with a little dark man--her husband, I'm
+sure; for while she was taking off her cloak--it always takes some
+time--he didn't say a word to her. No eagerness, no little attentions.
+Yes, he could only be a husband. I examined the cloak. People one
+doesn't know puzzle me and _my_ colleague. Mme. Flachet and I always
+amuse ourselves by trying to guess from appearances. Well, the cloak
+comes from a good dress-maker, but not from a great one. It is fine and
+well-made, but it has no style. I think they are middle-class people,
+prince. But how stupid I am! You know M. Palmer--well, a little while
+ago he came to see the beautiful blonde!"
+
+"M. Palmer?"
+
+"Yes, and he can tell you."
+
+"Thanks, Mme. Picard, thanks--"
+
+"Good-bye, prince, good-bye," and Mme. Picard went back to her stool,
+near her colleague, Mme. Flachet, and said to her:
+
+"Ah, my dear, what a charming man the prince is! True gentlefolks, there
+is nothing like them! But they are dying out, they are dying out; there
+are many less than formerly."
+
+Prince Agénor was willing to do Palmer--big Palmer, rich Palmer, vain
+Palmer--the honor of being one of his friends; he deigned, and very
+frequently, to confide to Palmer his financial difficulties, and the
+banker was delighted to come to his aid. The prince had been obliged to
+resign himself to becoming a member of two boards of directors presided
+over by Palmer, who was much pleased at having under obligations to him
+the representative of one of the noblest families in France. Besides,
+the prince proved himself to be a _good prince_, and publicly
+acknowledged Palmer, showing himself in his box, taking charge of his
+entertainments, and occupying himself with his racing-stable. He had
+even pushed his gratitude to the point of compromising Mme. Palmer in
+the most showy way.
+
+"I am removing her from the middle class," he said; "I owe it to Palmer,
+who is one of the best fellows in the world."
+
+The prince found the banker alone in a lower box.
+
+"What is the name--the name of that blonde in the Sainte Mesme's box?"
+
+"Mme. Derline."
+
+"Is there a M. Derline?"
+
+"Certainly, a lawyer--my lawyer; the Sainte Mesme's lawyer. And if you
+want to see Mme. Derline close to, come to my ball next Thursday. She
+will be there--"
+
+The wife of a lawyer!. She was only the wife of a lawyer! The prince sat
+down in the front of the box, opposite Mme. Derline, and while looking
+at that lawyeress he was thinking. "Have I," he said to himself,
+"sufficient credit, sufficient power, to make of Mme. Derline the most
+beautiful woman in Paris?"
+
+For there was always a _most beautiful woman in Paris_, and it was he,
+Prince Agénor, who flattered himself that he could discover, proclaim,
+crown, and consecrate that most beautiful woman in Paris. Launch Mme.
+Derline in society! Why not? He had never launched any one from the
+middle class. The enterprise would be new, amusing, and bold. He looked
+at Mme. Derline through his opera-glass, and discovered thousands of
+beauties and perfections in her delightful face.
+
+After the opera, the prince, during the exit, placed himself at the
+bottom of the great staircase. He had enlisted two of his friends.
+"Come," he had said to them, "I will show you the most beautiful woman
+in Paris." While he was speaking, two steps away from the prince was an
+alert young man who was attached to a morning paper, a very widely-read
+paper. The young man had sharp ears, he caught on the fly the phrase of
+the Prince Agénor, whose high social position he knew; he succeeded in
+keeping close to the prince, and when Mme. Derline passed, the young
+reporter had the gift of hearing the conversation, without losing a
+word, of the three brilliant noblemen. A quarter of an hour later he
+arrived at the office of the paper.
+
+"Is there time," he asked, "to write a dozen lines in the _Society
+Note-book_?"
+
+"Yes, but hurry."
+
+The young man was a quick writer; the fifteen lines were done in the
+twinkling of an eye. They brought seven francs fifty to the reporter,
+but cost M. Derline a little more than that.
+
+During this time Prince Agénor, seated in the club at the whist-table,
+was saying, while shuffling the cards:
+
+"This evening at the opera there was a marvellous woman, a certain Mme.
+Derline. She is the most beautiful woman in Paris!"
+
+The following morning, in the gossip-corner of the Bois, in the spring
+sunshine, the prince, surrounded by a little group of respectful
+disciples, was solemnly delivering from the back of his roan mare the
+following opinion:
+
+"Listen well to what I say. The most beautiful woman in Paris is a
+certain Mme. Derline. This star will be visible Thursday evening at the
+Palmer's. Go, and don't forget the name--Mme. Derline."
+
+The disciples dispersed, and went abroad spreading the great news.
+
+Mme. Derline had been admirably brought up by an irreproachable mother;
+she had been taught that she ought to get up in the morning, keep a
+strict account of her expenses, not go to a great dress-maker, believe
+in God, love her husband, visit the poor, and never spend but half her
+income in order to prepare dowries for her daughters. Mme. Derline
+performed all these duties. She led a peaceful and serene life in the
+old house (in the Rue Dragon) which had sheltered, since 1825, three
+generations of Derlines; the husbands had all three been lawyers, the
+wives had all three been virtuous. The three generations had passed
+there a happy and moderate life, never having any great pleasures, but,
+also, never being very bored.
+
+The next day at eight o'clock in the morning Mme. Derline awoke with an
+uneasy feeling. She had passed a troubled night--she, who usually slept
+like a child. The evening before at the opera, in the box, Mme. Derline
+had vaguely felt that something was going on around her. And during the
+entire last act an opera-glass, obstinately fixed on her--the prince's
+opera-glass--had thrown her into a certain agitation, not disagreeable,
+however. She wore a low dress--too much so, in her mother's opinion--and
+two or three times, under the fixity of that opera-glass, she had raised
+the shoulder-straps of her dress.
+
+So, after opening her eyes, Mme. Derline reclosed them lazily,
+indolently, with thoughts floating between dreamland and reality. She
+again saw the opera-house, and a hundred, two hundred, five hundred
+opera-glasses obstinately fixed on her--on her alone.
+
+The maid entered, placed a tray on a little table, made up a big fire in
+the fire-place, and went away. There was a cup of chocolate and the
+morning paper on the tray, the same as every morning. Then Mme. Derline
+courageously got up, slipped her little bare feet into fur slippers,
+wrapped herself in a white cashmere dressing-gown, and crouched
+shivering in an arm-chair by the fire. She sipped the chocolate, and
+slightly burned herself; she must wait a little while. She put down the
+cup, took up the paper, unfolded it, and rapidly ran her eye over the
+six columns of the front page. At the bottom, quite at the bottom of the
+sixth column, were the following lines:
+
+    _Last evening at the opera there was a very brilliant performance of
+    "Sigurd." Society was well represented there; the beautiful Duchess
+    of Montaiglon, the pretty Countess Verdinière of Lardac, the
+    marvellous Marquise of Muriel, the lively Baroness  of_--
+
+To read the name of the baroness it was necessary to turn the page. Mme.
+Derline did not turn it; she was thinking, reflecting. The evening
+before she had amused herself by having Palmer point out to her the
+social leaders in the house, and it so happened that the banker had
+pointed out to her the marvellous marquise. And Mme. Derline--who was
+twenty-two--raised herself a little to look in the glass. She exchanged
+a slight smile with a young blonde, who was very pink and white.
+
+"Ah," she said to herself, "if I were a marquise the man who wrote this
+would perhaps have paid some attention to me, and my name would perhaps
+be there. I wonder if it's fun to see one's name printed in a paper?"
+
+And while addressing this question to herself, she turned the page, and
+continued reading:
+
+    --_the lively Baroness of Myrvoix, etc. We have to announce the
+    appearance of a new star which has abruptly burst forth in the
+    Parisian constellation. The house was in ecstasy over a strange and
+    disturbing blonde, whose dark steel eyes, and whose shoulders--ah,
+    what shoulders! The shoulders were the event of the evening. From
+    all quarters one heard asked, "Who is she?" "Who is she?" "To whom
+    do those divine shoulders belong?" "To whom?" We know, and our
+    readers will doubtless thank us for telling them the name of this
+    ideal wonder. It is Mme. Derline._
+
+Her name! She had read her name! She was dazzled. Her eyes clouded. All
+the letters in the alphabet began to dance wildly on the paper. Then
+they calmed down, stopped, and regained their places. She was able to
+find her name, and continue reading;
+
+    _It is Mme. Derline, the wife of one of the most agreeable and
+    richest lawyers in Paris. The Prince of Nérins, whose word has so
+    much weight in such matters, said yesterday evening to every one who
+    would listen, "She is the most beautiful woman in Paris." We are
+    absolutely of that opinion._
+
+A single paragraph, and that was all. It was enough, it was too much!
+Mme Derline was seized with a feeling of undefinable confusion. It was
+a combination of fear and pleasure, of joy and trouble, of satisfied
+vanity and wounded modesty. Her dressing-gown was a little open; she
+folded it over with a sort of violence, and crossed it upon, her feet,
+abruptly drawn back towards the arm-chair. She had a feeling of nudity.
+It seemed to her that all Paris was there, in her room, and that the
+Prince de Nérins was in front saying to all Paris, "Look, look! She is
+the most beautiful woman in Paris."
+
+The Prince of Nérins! She knew the name well, for she read with keen
+interest in the papers all the articles entitled "_Parisian Life_,"
+"_High Life_," "_Society Echoes_," etc.; and all the society columns
+signed "_Mousseline_," "_Fanfreluche_," "_Brimborion_," "_Véloutine_";
+all the accounts of great marriages, great balls, of great comings out,
+and of great charity sales. The name of the prince often figured in
+these articles, and he was always quoted as supreme arbiter of Parisian
+elegances.
+
+And it was he who had declared--ah!--decidedly pleasure got the better
+of fear. Still trembling with emotion, Mme. Derline went and placed
+herself before a long looking-glass, an old cheval-glass from Jacob's,
+which never till now had reflected other than good middle-class women
+married to good lawyers. In that glass she looked at herself, examined
+herself, studied herself, long, curiously, and eagerly. Of course she
+knew she was pretty, but oh, the power of print! She found herself
+absolutely delightful. She was no longer Mme. Derline--she was the most
+beautiful woman in Paris! Her feet, her little feet--their bareness no
+longer troubled her--left the ground. She raised herself gently towards
+the heavens, towards the clouds, and felt herself become a goddess.
+
+But suddenly an anxiety seized her. "Edward! What would Edward say?"
+Edward was her husband. There had been but one man's surname in her
+life--her husband's. The lawyer was well loved! And almost at the same
+moment when she was asking herself what Edward would say, Edward
+abruptly opened the door.
+
+He was a little out of breath. He had run up-stairs two at a time. He
+was peacefully rummaging among old papers in his study on the
+ground-floor when one of his brother-lawyers, with forced
+congratulations, however, had made him read the famous article. He had
+soon got rid of his brother-lawyer, and he had come, much irritated, to
+his room. At first there was simply a torrent of words.
+
+"Why do these journalists meddle? It's an outrage! Your name--look,
+there is your name in this paper!"
+
+"Yes, I know, I've seen--"
+
+"Ah, you know, you have seen--and you think it quite natural!"
+
+"But, dear--"
+
+"What times do we live in? It's your fault, too."
+
+"My fault!"
+
+"Yes, your fault!"
+
+"And how?"
+
+"Your dress last night was too low, much too low. Besides, your mother
+told you so--"
+
+"Oh, mamma--"
+
+"You needn't say 'Oh, mamma!' Your mother was right. There, read: 'And
+whose shoulders--ah, what shoulders!' And it is of your shoulders they
+are speaking. And that prince who dares to award you a prize for
+beauty!"
+
+The good man had plebeian, Gothical ideas--the ideas of a lawyer of old
+times, of a lawyer of the Rue Dragon; the lawyers of the Boulevard
+Malesherbes are no longer like that.
+
+Mme. Derline very gently, very quietly, brought the rebel back to
+reason. Of course there was charm and eloquence in her speech, but how
+much more charm and eloquence in the tenderness of her glance and smile.
+
+Why this great rage and despair? He was accused of being the husband of
+the most beautiful woman in Paris. Was that such a horrible thing, such
+a terrible misfortune? And who was the brother-lawyer, the good
+brother-lawyer, who had taken pleasure in coming to show him the hateful
+article?
+
+"M. Renaud."
+
+"Oh, it was M. Renaud--dear M. Renaud!"
+
+Thereupon Mme. Derline was seized with a hearty fit of laughter; so much
+so that the blond hair, which had been loosely done up, came down and
+framed the pretty face from which gleamed the dark eyes which could
+also, when they gave themselves the trouble, look very gentle, very
+caressing, very loving.
+
+"Oh, it was M. Renaud, the husband of that delightful Mme. Renaud! Well,
+do you know what you will do immediately, without losing a minute? Go to
+the president of the Tribunal and ask for a divorce. You will say to
+him: 'M. Aubépin, deliver me from my wife. Her crime is being pretty,
+very pretty, too pretty. I wish another one who is ugly, very ugly, who
+has Mme. Renaud's large nose, colossal foot, pointed chin, skinny
+shoulders, and eternal pimples.' That's what you want, isn't it? Come,
+you big stupid, kiss your poor wife, and forgive her for not being a
+monster."
+
+As rather lively gestures had illustrated this little speech, the white
+cashmere dressing-gown had slipped--slipped a good deal, and had opened,
+very much opened; the criminal shoulders were within reach of M.
+Derline's lips--he succumbed. Besides, he too felt the abominable
+influence of the press. His wife had never seemed so pretty to him, and,
+brought back to subjection, M. Derline returned to his study in order to
+make money for the most beautiful woman in Paris.
+
+A very wise and opportune occupation; for scarcely was Mme. Derline left
+alone when an idea flashed through her head which was to call forth a
+very pretty collection of bank-notes from the cash-box of the lawyer of
+the Rue Dragon. Mme. Derline had intended wearing to the Palmer's ball a
+dress which had already been much seen. Mme. Derline had kept the
+dress-maker of her wedding-dress, her mother's dress-maker, a
+dress-maker of the Left Bank. It seemed to her that her new position
+imposed new duties on her. She could not appear at the Palmer's without
+a dress which had not been seen, and stamped with a well-known name. She
+ordered the carriage in the afternoon, and resolutely gave her coachman
+the address of one of the most illustrious dress-makers in Paris. She
+arrived a little agitated, and to reach the great artist was obliged to
+pass through a veritable crowd of footmen, who were in the antechamber
+chatting and laughing, used to meeting there and making long stops.
+Nearly all the footmen were those of society, the highest society; they
+had spent the previous evening together at the English Embassy, and were
+to be that evening at the Duchess of Grémoille.
+
+Mme. Derline entered a sumptuous parlor; it was very sumptuous, too
+sumptuous. Twenty great customers were there--society women and
+actresses, all agitated, anxious, feverish--looking at the beautiful
+tall saleswomen come and go before them, wearing the last creations of
+the master of the house. The great artist had a diplomatic bearing:
+buttoned-up black frock-coat, long cravat with pin (a present from a
+royal highness who paid her bills slowly), and a many-colored rosette in
+his button-hole (the gift of a small reigning prince who paid slower yet
+the bills of an opera-dancer). He came and went--precise, calm, and
+cool--in the midst of the solicitations and supplications of his
+customers. "M. Arthur! M. Arthur!" One heard nothing but that phrase. He
+was M. Arthur. He went from one to the other--respectful, without too
+much humility, to the duchesses, and easy, without too much familiarity,
+to the actresses. There was an extraordinary liveliness, and a
+confusion of marvellous velvets, satins, and embroidered, brocaded, and
+gold or silver threaded stuffs, all thrown here and there, as though by
+accident--but what science in that accident--on arm-chairs, tables, and
+divans.
+
+In the first place Mme. Derline ran against a shop-girl who was bearing
+with outstretched arms a white dress, and was almost hidden beneath a
+light mountain of muslins and laces. The only thing visible was the
+shop-girl's mussed black hair and sly suburban expression. Mme. Derline
+backed away, wishing to place herself against the, wall; but a tryer-on
+was there, a large energetic brunette, who spoke authoritatively in a
+high staccato. "At once," she was saying--"bring me at once the
+princess's dress!"
+
+Frightened and dazed, Mme. Derline stood in a corner and watched an
+opportunity to seize a saleswoman on the fly. She even thought of giving
+up the game. Never, certainly, should she dare to address directly that
+terrible M. Arthur, who had just given her a rapid glance in which she
+believed to have read, "Who is she? She isn't properly dressed! She
+doesn't go to a fashionable dress-maker!" At last Mme. Derline succeeded
+in getting hold of a disengaged saleswoman, and there was the same
+slightly disdainful glance--a glance which was accompanied by the
+phrase:
+
+"Madame is not a regular customer of the house?"
+
+"No, I am not a customer--"
+
+"And you wish?"
+
+"A dress, a ball-dress--and I want the dress for next Thursday
+evening--"
+
+"Thursday next!"
+
+"Yes, Thursday next."
+
+"Oh! madame, it is not to be thought of. Even for a customer of the
+house it would be impossible."
+
+"But I wished it so much--"
+
+"Go and see M. Arthur. He alone can--"
+
+"And where is M. Arthur?"
+
+"In his office. He has just gone into his office. Over there, madame,
+opposite."
+
+Mme. Derline, through a half-open door, saw a sombre and severe but
+luxurious room--an ambassador's office. On the walls the great European
+powers were represented by photographs--the Empress Eugénie, the
+Princess of Wales, a grand-duchess of Russia, and an archduchess of
+Austria. M. Arthur was there taking a few moments' rest, seated in a
+large arm-chair, with an air of lassitude and exhaustion, and with a
+newspaper spread out over his knees. He arose on seeing Mme. Derline
+enter. In a trembling voice she repeated her wish.
+
+"Oh, madame, a ball-dress--a beautiful ball-dress--for Thursday! I
+couldn't make such a promise--I couldn't keep it. There are
+responsibilities to which I never expose myself."
+
+He spoke slowly, gravely, as a man conscious of his high position.
+
+"Oh, I am so disappointed. It was a particular occasion and I was told
+that you alone could--"
+
+Two tears, two little tears, glittered on her eye-lashes. M. Arthur was
+moved. A woman, a pretty woman, crying there, before him! Never had such
+homage been paid to his genius.
+
+"Well, madame, I am willing to make an attempt. A very simple dress--"
+
+"Oh no, not simple. Very brilliant, on the contrary--everything that is
+most brilliant. Two of my friends are customers of yours (she named
+them), and I am Mme. Derline--"
+
+"Mme. Derline! You are Mme. Derline?"
+
+The two _Mme. Derlines_ were followed by a glance and a smile--the
+glance was at the newspaper and the smile was at Mme. Derline; but it
+was a discreet, self-contained smile--the smile of a perfectly gallant
+man. This is what the glance and smile said with admirable clearness:
+
+"Ah I you are Mme. Derline--that already celebrated Mme. Derline--who
+yesterday at the opera--I understand, I understand--I was reading just
+now in this paper--words are no longer necessary--you should have told
+your name at once--yes, you need me; yes, you shall have your dress;
+yes, I want to divide your success with you."
+
+M. Arthur called:
+
+"Mademoiselle Blanche, come here at once! Mademoiselle Blanche!"
+
+And turning towards Mme. Derline, he said:
+
+"She has great talent, but I shall myself superintend it; so be
+easy--yes, I myself."
+
+Mme. Derline was a little confused, a little embarrassed by her glory,
+but happy nevertheless. Mademoiselle Blanche came forward.
+
+"Conduct madame," said M. Arthur, "and take the necessary measures for a
+ball-dress, very low, and with absolutely bare arms. During that time,
+madame, I am going to think seriously of what I can do for you. It must
+be something entirely new--ah! before going, permit me--"
+
+He walked very slowly around Mme. Derline, and examined her with
+profound attention; then he walked away, and considered her from a
+little distance. His face was serious, thoughtful, and anxious. A great
+thinker wrestling with a great problem. He passed his hand over his
+forehead, raised his eyes to the sky, getting inspiration by a painful
+delivery; but suddenly his face lit up--the spirit from above had
+answered.
+
+"Go, madame," he said, "go. Your dress is thought out. When you come
+back, mademoiselle, bring me that piece of pink satin; you know, the one
+that I was keeping for some great occasion."
+
+Thus Mme. Derline found herself with Mademoiselle Blanche in a trying-on
+room, which was a sort of little cabin lined with mirrors. A quarter of
+an hour later, when the measures had been taken, Mme. Derline came back
+and discovered M. Arthur in the midst of pieces of satin of all colors,
+of crêpes, of tulles, of laces, and of brocaded stuffs.
+
+"No, no, not the pink satin," he said to Mademoiselle Blanche, who was
+bringing the asked-for piece; "no, I have found something better. Listen
+to me. This is what I wish: I have given up the pink, and I have decided
+on this, this peach-colored satin. A classic robe, outlining all the
+fine lines and showing the suppleness of the body. This robe must be
+very clinging--hardly any underskirts. It must be of surah. Madame must
+be melted into it--do you thoroughly understand?--absolutely melted
+into the robe. We will drop over the dress this crêpe--yes, that one,
+but in small, light pleats. The crêpe will be as a cloud thrown over the
+dress--a transparent, vapory, impalpable cloud. The arms are to be
+absolutely bare, as I already told you. On each shoulder there must be a
+simple knot, showing the upper part of the arm. Of what is the knot to
+be? I'm still undecided--I need to think it over--till to-morrow,
+madame, till to-morrow."
+
+Mme. Derline came back the next day, and the next, and every day till
+the day before the famous Thursday; and each time that she came back,
+while awaiting her turn to try on, she ordered dresses, very simple
+ones, but yet costing from seven to eight hundred francs each.
+
+And that was not all. On the day of her first visit to M. Arthur, when
+Mme. Derline came out of the great house, she was
+broken-hearted--positively broken-hearted--at the sight of her brougham;
+it really did make a pitiful appearance among all the stylish carriages
+which were waiting in three rows and taking up half the street. It was
+the brougham of her late mother-in-law, and it still rolled through the
+streets of Paris after fifteen years' service. Mme. Derline got into the
+woe-begone brougham to drive straight to a very well-known
+carriage-maker, and that evening, cleverly seizing the psychological
+moment, she explained to M. Derline that she had seen a certain little
+black coupé lined with blue satin that would frame delightfully her new
+dresses.
+
+The coupé was bought the next day by M. Derline, who also was beginning
+fully to realize the extent of his new duties. But the next day it was
+discovered that it was impossible to harness to that jewel of a coupé
+the old horse who had pulled the old carriage, and no less impossible to
+put on the box the old coachman who drove the old horse.
+
+This is how on Thursday, April 25th, at half-past ten in the evening, a
+very pretty chestnut mare, driven by a very correct English coachman,
+took M. and Mme. Derline to the Palmer's. They still lacked something--a
+little groom to sit beside the English coachman. But a certain amount of
+discretion had to be employed. The most beautiful woman in Paris
+intended to wait ten days before asking for the little groom.
+
+While she was going up-stairs at the Palmer's, she distinctly felt her
+heart beat like the strokes of a hammer. She was going to play a
+decisive game. She knew that the Palmers had been going everywhere,
+saying, "Come on Thursday; we will show you Mme. Derline, the most
+beautiful woman in Paris." Curiosity as well as jealousy had been well
+awakened.
+
+She entered, and from the first minute she had the delicious sensation
+of her success. Throughout the long gallery of the Palmer's house it was
+a true triumphal march. She advanced with firm and precise step, erect,
+and head well held. She appeared to see nothing, to hear nothing, but
+how well she saw! how well she felt, the fire of all those eyes on her
+shoulders! Around her arose a little murmur of admiration, and never had
+music been sweeter to her.
+
+Yes, decidedly, all went well. She was on a fair way to conquer Paris.
+And, sure of herself, at each step she became more confident, lighter,
+and bolder, as she advanced on Palmer's arm, who, in passing, pointed
+out the counts, the marquises, and the dukes. And then Palmer suddenly
+said to her:
+
+"I want to present to you one of your greatest admirers, who, the other
+night at the opera, spoke of nothing but your beauty; he is the Prince
+of Nérins."
+
+She became as red as a cherry. Palmer looked at her and began to laugh.
+
+"Ah, you read the other day in that paper?"
+
+"I read--yes, I read--"
+
+"But where is the prince, where is he? I saw him during the day, and he
+was to be here early."
+
+Mme. Derline was not to see the Prince of Nérins that evening. And yet
+he had intended to go to the Palmers and preside at the deification of
+his lawyeress. He had dined at the club, and had allowed himself to be
+dragged off to a first performance at a minor theatre. An operetta of
+the regulation type was being played. The principal personage was a
+young queen, who was always escorted by the customary four
+maids-of-honor.
+
+Three of these young ladies were very well known to first-nighters, as
+having already figured in the tableaux of operettas and in groups of
+fairies, but the fourth--Oh, the fourth! She was a new one, a tall
+brunette of the most striking beauty. The prince made himself remarked
+more than all others by his enthusiasm. He completely forgot that he was
+to leave after the first act. The play was over very late, and the
+prince was still there, having paid no attention to the piece or the
+music, having seen nothing but the wonderful brunette, having heard
+nothing but the stanza which she had unworthily massacred in the middle
+of the second act. And while they were leaving the theatre, the prince
+was saying to whoever would listen:
+
+"That brunette! oh, that brunette! She hasn't an equal in any theatre!
+She is the most beautiful woman in Paris! The most beautiful!"
+
+It was one o'clock in the morning. The prince asked himself if he should
+go to the Palmers. Poor Mme. Derline; she was of very slight importance
+beside this new wonder! And then, too, the prince was a methodical man.
+The hour for whist had arrived; so he departed to play whist.
+
+The following morning Mme. Derline found ten lines on the Palmer's ball
+in the "society column." There was mention of the marquises, the
+countesses, and the duchesses who were there, but about Mme. Derline
+there was not a word--not a word.
+
+On the other hand, the writer of theatrical gossip celebrated in
+enthusiastic terms the beauty of that ideal maid-of-honor, and said,
+"_Besides, the Prince of Nérins declared that Mademoiselle Miranda was
+indisputedly the most beautiful woman in Paris!_"
+
+Mme. Derline threw the paper in the fire. She did not wish her husband
+to know that she was already not the most beautiful woman in Paris.
+
+She has, however, kept the great dress-maker and the English coachman,
+but she never dared to ask for the little groom.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF A BALL-DRESS
+
+
+When the women of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries write their
+memoirs they boldly present themselves to the reader thus: "I have a
+well-shaped mouth," said the Marquise of Courcelles, "beautiful lips,
+pearly teeth, good forehead, cheeks, and expression, finely chiselled
+throat, divine hands, passable arms (that is to say, they are a little
+thin); but I find consolation for that misfortune in the fact that I
+have the prettiest legs in the world."
+
+And I will follow the marquise's example. Here is my portrait: Overskirt
+of white illusion trimmed with fringe, and three flounces of blond
+alternating with the fringe; court mantle of cherry silk girt by a high
+flounce of white blond which falls over the fringe and is caught up by
+Marie Antoinette satin; two other flounces of blond are placed behind at
+intervals above; on each side from the waist up are facings composed of
+little alternating flounces of blond, looped up with satin; the big puff
+behind is bound by a flounce of white blond. A little white waist, the
+front and shoulder-straps of which are of satin trimmed with blond. Belt
+of red satin with large red butterfly.
+
+The world was made in six days, I in three. And yet I too am in the
+world--a little complicated world of silk, satin, blond, loops, and
+fringes. Did God rest while he was making the world? I do not know; but
+I do know that the scissors that cut me out and the needle that sewed me
+rested neither day nor night from Monday evening, January 24, 1870, to
+Thursday morning, January 27th. The slashes of the scissors and the
+pricks of the needle caused me great pain at first, but I soon paid no
+attention to them at all. I began to observe what was going on, to
+understand that I was becoming a dress, and to discover that the dress
+would be a marvel. From time to time M. Worth came himself to pay me
+little visits. "Take in the waist," he would say, "add more fringe,
+spread out the train, enlarge the butterfly," etc.
+
+One thing worried me: For whom was I intended? I knew the name, nothing
+more--the Baroness Z----. Princess would have been better; but still,
+baroness did very well. I was ambitious. I dreaded the theatre. It
+remained to be seen whether this baroness was young, pretty, and equal
+to wearing me boldly, and whether she had a figure to show me off to
+advantage. I was horribly afraid of falling into the hands of an ugly
+woman, a provincial, or an old coquette.
+
+How perfectly reassured I was as soon as I saw the baroness! Small,
+delicate, supple, stylish, a fairy waist, the shoulders of a goddess,
+and, besides all this, a certain little air of audacity, of raillery,
+but in exquisite moderation.
+
+I was spread out on a large pearl-gray lounge, and I was received with
+marks of frank admiration. M. Worth had been good enough to bring me
+_himself_, and he didn't trouble himself about all dresses.
+
+"How original!" exclaimed the little baroness; "how new! But very dear,
+isn't it?"
+
+"One thousand and fifty francs."
+
+"One thousand and fifty francs! And I furnished the lace! Ah, how
+quickly I should leave you if I didn't owe you so much! For I owe you a
+lot of money."
+
+"Oh, very little, baroness--very little."
+
+"No, no; a great deal. But we will discuss that another day."
+
+That evening I made my first appearance in society, and I came out at
+the Tuileries. We both of us, the baroness and myself, had an undeniable
+success. When the Empress crossed the Salon of Diana, making pleasant
+remarks to the right and left, she had the graciousness to stop before
+us and make the following remark, which seemed to me extremely witty,
+"Ah, baroness, what a dress--what a dress! It's a dream!" On that
+occasion the Empress wore a dress of white tulle dotted with silver, on
+a design of cloudy green, with epaulettes of sable. It was queer, not
+ineffective, but in doubtful taste.
+
+We received much attention, the baroness and I. The new Minister, M.
+Émile Ollivier, was presented to us; we received him coldly, as the
+little baroness did not approve, I believe, of liberal reforms, and
+looked for nothing good from them. We had a long chat on the window-seat
+with the Marshal Leboeuf. The only topic during that interesting
+conversation was the execution of Troppmann. It was the great event of
+the week.
+
+At two o'clock we left--the baroness, I, and the baron. For there was a
+husband, who for the time being was crowded in the corner of the
+carriage, and hidden under the mass of my skirts and of my train, which
+was thrown back on him all in a heap.
+
+"Confess, Edward," said the little baroness--confess that I was pretty
+to-night."
+
+"Very."
+
+"And my dress?"
+
+"Oh, charming!"
+
+"You say that indolently, without spirit or enthusiasm. I know you
+well. You think I've been extravagant. Well, indeed I haven't. Do you
+know how much this dress cost me? Four hundred francs--not a centime
+more."
+
+We arrived home, which was a step from the Tuileries, in the Place
+Vendôme. The baron went to his rooms, the baroness to hers; and while
+Hermance, the maid, cleverly and swiftly untied all my rosettes and took
+out the pins, the little baroness kept repeating: "How becoming this
+dress is to me! And I seem to become it, too. I shall wear it on
+Thursday, Hermance, to go to the Austrian Embassy. Wait a minute, till I
+see the effect of the butterfly in the back. Bring the lamp nearer;
+nearer yet. Yes, that's it. Ah, how pretty it is! I am enchanted with
+this dress, Hermance--really enchanted!"
+
+If the little baroness was enchanted with me, I was equally enchanted
+with the baroness. We two made the most tender, the most intimate, and
+the most united of families. We comprehended, understood, and completed
+each other so well. I had not to do with one of those mechanical
+dolls--stupidly and brutally laced into a padded corset. Between the
+little baroness and myself there was absolutely nothing but lace and
+fine linen. We could confidentially and surely depend on one another.
+The beauty of the little baroness was a real beauty, without garniture,
+conjuring, or trickery.
+
+So the following Thursday I went to the Austrian Embassy, and a week
+later to the Princess Mathilde's. But, alas! the next morning the little
+baroness said to her maid: "Hermance, take that dress to the reserve. I
+love it, and I'd wear it every evening; but it has been seen
+sufficiently for this winter. Yesterday several people said to me, 'Ah,
+that's your dress of the Tuileries; it's your dress of the Austrian
+Embassy.' It must be given up till next year. Good-bye, dear little
+dress."
+
+And, having said that, she placed her charming lips at hap-hazard among
+my laces and kissed me in the dearest way in the world. Ah, how pleased
+and proud I was of that childish and sweet fellowship! I remembered that
+the evening before, on our return, the little baroness had kissed her
+husband; but the kiss she had given him was a quick, dry kiss--one of
+those hurried kisses with which one wishes to get through; whereas my
+kiss had been prolonged and passionate. She had cordiality for the
+baron, and love for me. The little baroness wasn't twenty, and she was a
+coquette to the core. I say this, in the first place, to excuse her,
+and, in the second place, to give an exact impression of her character.
+
+So at noon, in the arms of Hermance, I made my entry to the reserve. It
+was a dormitory of dresses, an immense room on the third story, very
+large, and lined with wardrobes of white oak, carefully locked. In the
+middle of the room was an ottoman, on which Hermance deposited me; after
+which she slid back ten or twelve wardrobe doors, one after the other.
+Dresses upon dresses! I should never be able to tell how many. All were
+hung in the air by silk tape on big triangles. Hermance, however, seemed
+much embarrassed.
+
+"In the reserve," she murmured, "in the reserve; that is easy to say.
+But where is there any room? And this one needs a lot." At last
+Hermance, after having given a number of little taps to the right and
+left, succeeded in making a sort of slit, into which I had great
+difficulty in sliding. Hermance gave me and my neighbors some more
+little taps to lump us together, and then shut the door. Darkness
+reigned. I was placed between a blue velvet dress and a mauve satin one.
+
+Towards the end of April we received a visit from the little baroness,
+and in consequence of that visit there was great disturbance. Winter
+dresses were hung up; spring dresses were got down. At the beginning of
+July another visit, another disturbance--entry of the costumes from the
+races; departure of others for the watering-places. I lost my neighbor
+to the right, the mauve dress, and kept my neighbor on the left, the
+blue dress, a cross and crabbed person who was forever groaning,
+complaining, and saying to me, "Oh, my dear, you do take up so much
+room; do get out of the way a little." I must admit that the poor blue
+velvet dress was much to be pitied. It was three years old, having been
+a part of the little baroness's trousseau, and had never been worn. "A
+high-neck blue velvet dress, at my age, with my shoulders and arms!" had
+exclaimed the little baroness; "I should look like a grandmother!" Thus
+it was decreed, and the unfortunate blue dress had gone from the
+trousseau straight to the reserve.
+
+A week or ten days after the departure of the dresses for Baden-Baden we
+heard a noise, the voices of women, and all the doors were opened. It
+was the little baroness, who had brought her friend the Countess N----.
+
+"Sit there, my dear, on that ottoman," said the little baroness. "I have
+come to look over my dresses. I am very hurried; I arrived but just now
+from Baden, and I start again to-night for Anjou. We can chatter while
+Hermance shows me the dresses. Oh, those Prussians, my dear, the
+monsters! We had to run away, Blanche and myself, like thieves. (Very
+simple dresses, Hermance, every-day dresses, and walking and boating
+dresses.) Yes, my dear, like thieves! They threw stones at us, real
+stones, in the Avenue of Lichtental, and called us 'Rascally
+Frenchwomen! French rabble!' The Emperor did well to declare war against
+such people. (Dresses for horseback, Hermance--my brown riding-habit.)
+At any rate, there's no need to worry. My husband dined yesterday with
+Guy; you know, the tall Guy, who is an aide of Leboeuf. Well, we are
+ready, admirably ready, and the Prussians not at all. (Very simple, I
+said, Hermance. You are showing me ball-dresses. I don't intend to dance
+during the war.) And then, my dear, it seems that this war was
+absolutely necessary from a dynastic point of view. I don't quite know
+why, but I tell it to you as I heard it. (These dozen dresses, Hermance,
+will be sufficient. But there are thirteen. I never could have thirteen.
+Take away the green one; or, no, add another--that blue one; that's
+all.) Now let's go down, my dear."
+
+Whereupon she departed. So war was declared, and with Prussia. I was
+much moved. I was a French dress and a Bonapartist dress. I was afraid
+for France and afraid for the dynasty, but the words of the tall Guy
+were so perfectly reassuring.
+
+For two months there was no news; but about the 10th of September the
+little baroness arrived with Hermance. She was very pale, poor little
+baroness--very pale and agitated.
+
+"Dark dresses, Hermance," she said, "black dresses. I know! What remains
+of Aunt Pauline's mourning? There must remain quite a lot of things. You
+see, I am too sad--"
+
+"But if madame expects to remain long in England?"
+
+"Ah! as long as the Republic lasts."
+
+"Then it may be a long time."
+
+"What do you mean--a long time? What _do_ you mean, Hermance? Who can
+tell you such things?"
+
+"It seems to me that if I were madame I'd take for precaution's sake a
+few winter dresses, a few evening-dresses--"
+
+"Evening-dresses! Why, what are you thinking of? I shall go nowhere,
+Hermance, alone in England, without my husband, who stays in Paris in
+the National Guard."
+
+"But if madame should go to see their Majesties in England?"
+
+"Yes, of course I shall, Hermance."
+
+"Well, it's because I know madame's feelings and views that--"
+
+"You are right; put in some evening-dresses."
+
+"Will madame take her last white satin dress?"
+
+"Oh no, not that one; it would be too sad a memory for the Empress, who
+noticed it at the last ball at the Tuileries. And then the dress
+wouldn't stand the voyage. My poor white satin dress! Shall I ever wear
+it again?"
+
+That is why I did not emigrate, and how I found myself blockaded in
+Paris during the siege. From the few words that we had heard of the
+conversation of the little baroness and Hermance we had a pretty clear
+idea of the situation. The Empire was overthrown and the Republic
+proclaimed. The Republic! There were among us several old family laces
+who had seen the first Republic--that of '93. The Reign of Terror! Ah,
+what tales they told us! The fall of the Empire, however, did not
+displease these old laces, who were all Legitimists or Orleanists. In my
+neighborhood, on a gooseberry satin skirt, there were four flounces of
+lace who had had the honor of attending the coronation of Charles X.,
+and who were delighted, and kept saying to us: "The Bonapartes brought
+about invasion; invasion brings back the Bourbons. Long live Henry V.!"
+
+We all had, however, a common preoccupation. Should we remain in style?
+We were nearly all startling, risky, and loud--so much so that we were
+quite anxious, except three or four quiet dresses, velvet and dark cloth
+dresses, who joined in the chorus with the old laces, and said to us:
+"Ah, here's an end to the carnival, to this masquerade of an empire!
+Republic or monarchy, little we care; we are sensible and in good
+taste." We felt they were somewhat in the right in talking thus. From
+September to February we remained shut up in the wardrobes, wrangling
+with each other, listening to the cannon, and knowing nothing of what
+was going on.
+
+Towards the middle of February all the doors were opened. It was the
+little baroness--the little baroness!
+
+"Ah!" she exclaimed, "my dresses, my beloved dresses, there they are;
+how happy I am to see them!"
+
+We could say nothing; but we, too, were very happy to see the little
+baroness.
+
+"Now, then, Hermance," continued the little baroness, "let us hunt
+around a little. What can I take to Bordeaux? After such disasters I
+must have quiet and sombre dresses."
+
+"Madame hasn't very many."
+
+"I beg your pardon, Hermance, I have dark dresses--this one and that
+one. The blue velvet dress! The blue velvet dress is just the thing, and
+I've never worn it."
+
+And so my neighbor the blue dress was taken down, and was at last going
+to make her first appearance in the world. However, the little baroness
+herself, with great activity, rummaged round in the wardrobes.
+
+"Nothing, nothing," she said; "four or five dresses only. All the rest
+are impossible, and would not accord with the Government we shall have
+in Bordeaux. Well, I shall be obliged to have some republican dresses
+made--very moderate republican, but still republican."
+
+The little baroness went away, to come back a month later, always with
+Hermance, who was an excellent maid, and much thought of by her
+mistress. New deliberation.
+
+"Hermance," said the little baroness, "what can I take to Versailles? I
+think we shall be able to have a little more freedom. There will be
+receptions and dinners with M. Thiers; then the princes are coming. I
+might risk transition dresses. Do you know what I mean by that,
+Hermance--transition dresses?"
+
+"Perfectly, madame--pearl grays, mauves, violets, lilacs."
+
+"Yes, that's it, Hermance; light but quiet colors. You are an
+invaluable maid. You understand me perfectly."
+
+The little baroness started for Versailles with a collection of
+transition dresses. There must have been twenty. It was a good
+beginning, and filled us with hope. She had begun at Bordeaux with
+sombre colors, and continued on at Versailles with light ones,
+Versailles was evidently only a stepping-stone between Bordeaux and
+Paris. The little baroness was soon coming back to Paris, and once the
+little baroness was in Paris we could feel assured that we should not
+stay long in the wardrobes.
+
+But it happened that a few days after the departure of the little
+baroness for Versailles we heard loud firing beneath the windows of the
+house (we lived in the Place Vendôme). Was it another revolt, another
+revolution? For a week nothing more was heard; there was silence. Then
+at the end of that week the cannonade began around Paris worse than
+ever. Was the war recommencing with the Prussians? Was it a new siege?
+
+The days passed, and the boom of the cannon continued. Finally, one
+morning there was a great racket in the court-yard of our house. Cries,
+threats, oaths! The noise came up and up. Great blows with the butt ends
+of muskets were struck on the wardrobe doors. They were smashed in and
+we perceived eight or ten slovenly looking, dirty, and bearded men.
+Among these men was a woman, a little brunette; fairly pretty, I must
+say, but queerly gotten up. A black dress with a short skirt, little
+boots with red bows, a round gray felt hat with a large red plume, and a
+sort of red scarf worn crosswise. It was a peculiar style, but it was
+style all the same.
+
+"Oh, oh!" exclaimed the little woman, "here's luck! What a lot of
+dresses! Well, clear away all this, sergeant, and take those duds to
+headquarters."
+
+Then all those men threw themselves upon us with a sort of fury. We felt
+ourselves gripped and dishonored by coarse, dirty hands.
+
+"Don't soil them too much, citizens," the little woman would cry. "Do
+them up in packages, and take the packages down to the
+ammunition-wagon."
+
+The headquarters was the apartment of the young lady of the red plume.
+Our new mistress was the wife of a general of the Commune. We were
+destined to remain official dresses. Official during the Empire, and
+official during the Commune. The first thought of Mme. General was to
+hold a review of us, and I had the honor of being the object of her
+special attention and admiration.
+
+"Ah, look, Émile!" (Émile was the General.) "Look! this is the toniest
+of the whole concern. I'll keep it for the Tuileries."
+
+I was to be kept for the Tuileries! What tales of woe and what
+lamentations there were in the sort of alcove where we were thrown like
+rags! Mme. General went into society every evening, and never put on the
+same dress twice. My poor companions the day after told me their
+adventures of the day before. This one had dined at Citizen Raoul
+Rigault's, the Préfecture of Police; that one attended a performance of
+"Andromaque" at the Théâtre Français, in the Empress's box, etc. At last
+it was my turn. The 17th of May was the day of the grand concert at the
+Tuileries.
+
+Oh, my dear little baroness, what had become of you? Where were your
+long soft muslin petticoats and your fine white satin corsets? Where
+were your transparent linen chemisettes? Mme. General had coarse
+petticoats of starched calico. Mme. General wore such a corset! Mme.
+General had such a crinoline! My poor skirts of lace and satin were
+abominably stiffened and tossed about by the hard crinoline hoops. As to
+the basque, the strange thing happened that the basque of the little
+baroness was much too tight for Mme. General at the waist, and, on the
+contrary, above the waist it was--I really do not know how to explain
+such things. At any rate, it was just the opposite of small, so much so
+that it had to be padded. Horrible! Most horrible!
+
+At ten that evening I was climbing for the second time the grand
+staircase of the Tuileries, in the midst of a dense and ignoble mob. One
+of the General's aides-de-camp tried in vain to open a passage.
+
+"Room, room, for the wife of the General!" he cried.
+
+Much they cared for the wife of the General! Great big boots trampled on
+my train, sharp spurs tore my laces, and the bones of the corsets of
+Mme. General hurt me terribly.
+
+At midnight I returned to Mme. General's den. I returned in rags,
+shreds, soiled, dishonored, and stained with wine, tobacco, and mud. A
+hateful little maid brutally tore me from the shoulders of Mme. General,
+and said to her mistress:
+
+"Well, madame, was it beautiful?"
+
+"No, Victoria," replied Mme. General, "it was too mixed. But do hurry
+up! tear it off if it won't come. I know where to find others at the
+same price."
+
+And I was thrown like a rag on a heap of pieces. The heap of pieces was
+composed of ball-dresses of the little baroness.
+
+One morning, three or four days later, the aide-de-camp rushed in,
+crying, "The Versaillists! The Versaillists are in Paris!"
+
+Thereupon Mme. General put on a sort of military costume, took two
+revolvers, filled them with cartridges, and hung them on a black leather
+belt which she wore around her waist. "Where is the General?" she said
+to the aide-de-camp.
+
+"At the Tuileries."
+
+"Very well, I shall go there with you." And on that she departed, with
+her little gray felt hat jauntily tilted over her ear.
+
+The cannonade and firing redoubled and came nearer. Evidently there was
+fighting very near us, quite close to us. The next day towards noon we
+saw them both come back, the General and Mme. General. And in what a
+condition! Panting, frightened, forbidding, with clothes white with
+dust, and hands and faces black with powder. The General was wounded in
+the left hand, he had twisted around his wrist a handkerchief bathed in
+blood.
+
+"Does your arm hurt you?" Mme. General said to him.
+
+"It stings a little, that's all."
+
+"Are they following us?"
+
+"Yes, I think so."
+
+"Listen! There are noises, shouts."
+
+"Look out of the window without showing yourself."
+
+"The red trousers! They are here!"
+
+"Lock and bolt the door. Get the revolvers and load them. I can't on
+account of my arm. This wound is a bore."
+
+"You are so pale!"
+
+"Yes; I am losing blood--a good deal of blood."
+
+"They are coming up the stairs!"
+
+"Into the alcove--let us go into the alcove, on the dresses."
+
+"Here they are!"
+
+"Give me the revolver."
+
+The door gave way violently under the hammering of the butts of the
+guns. A shower of bullets fell on us and around us. The General, with a
+single movement, fell heavily at full length on the bed of silk, muslin,
+and laces that we made for him. Three or four men with red trousers
+threw themselves on Mme. General, who fought, bit, and screamed,
+"Assassins! assassins!"
+
+A soldier tore away the bell-cord, firmly tied her hands, and carried
+her away like a bundle. She continued to repeat, in a strangled voice,
+"Assassins! assassins!" The soldiers approached the alcove and looked at
+the General. "As to him," they said, "he's done for; he doesn't need
+anything more. Let's be off."
+
+They left us, and we remained there for two days, crushed beneath that
+corpse and covered with blood. Finally, at the end of those two days, a
+man arrived who was called a Commissioner, and who wore a tricolored
+scarf around his waist. "This corpse has been forgotten," he said. "Take
+it away."
+
+They tried to lift the body, but with fingers stiffened by death the
+General held my big cherry satin butterfly. They had nearly to break his
+fingers to get it out.
+
+Meantime the Commissioner examined and searched curiously among that
+brilliant heap of rags on which the General had died. My waist appeared
+to catch his eye. "Here is a mark," he said to one of his men--"a mark
+inside the waist, with the name and number of the maker. We can learn
+where these dresses came from. Wrap this waist in a newspaper and I'll
+take it."
+
+They wrapped me in an old number of the _Official Journal of the
+Commune_. The following day we went to M. Worth, the Commissioner and I.
+The conversation was not long.
+
+"Was this dress made by you?" the Commissioner asked.
+
+"Yes; here's the mark."
+
+"And for whom was it made?"
+
+"Number 18,223. Wait a moment; I'll consult my books." The dress-maker
+came back in five minutes, and said to the Commissioner, "It was for the
+Baroness Z---- that I made this dress, eighteen months ago, and it isn't
+paid for."
+
+
+
+
+THE INSURGENT
+
+
+"Prisoner," said the President of the Council of War, "have you anything
+to add in your defence?"
+
+"Yes, colonel," replied the prisoner. "The little lawyer you assigned me
+defended me according to his idea; I want to defend myself according to
+mine.
+
+"My name is Martin (Lewis Joseph). I am fifty-five years old. My father
+was a locksmith. He had a little shop in the upper part of the
+Saint-Martin Quarter, and had a fair business. We just existed. I
+learned to read in the _National_, which was, I believe, the paper of M.
+Thiers.
+
+"On the 27th of July, 1830, my father went out very early. That evening,
+at ten o'clock, he was brought back to us on a litter, dying. He had
+received a bullet in the chest. Beside him on the litter was his musket.
+
+"'Take it,' he said to me. 'I give it to you; and every time there is a
+riot, be against the Government--always, always, always!'
+
+"An hour later he was dead. I went out in the night. At the first
+barricade I stopped and offered myself; a man examined me by the light
+of a lantern. 'A child!' he exclaimed. I was not fifteen. I was very
+slight and undersized. I answered: 'A child, maybe, but my father was
+killed two hours ago. He gave me his musket. Teach me how to use it.'
+
+"From that moment I became what I have always been for forty years, an
+insurgent! If I fought during the Commune, it was not because I was
+forced, nor for the thirty sous; it was from taste, from pleasure, from
+habit, from routine.
+
+"In 1830 I behaved rather bravely at the attack on the Louvre. The
+urchin who first scaled the gate beneath the bullets of the Swiss was I.
+I received the Medal of July. But the shopkeepers gave us a king. It had
+all to be done over. I joined a secret society; I learned to melt
+bullets, to make powder--in short, I completed my education, and I
+waited.
+
+"I had to wait nearly two years. On June 5, 1832, at noon, in front of
+the Madeleine, I was the first to unharness one of the horses of the
+hearse of General Lamarque. I passed the day in shouting, 'Long live
+Lafayette!' and I passed the night in making barricades. The next
+morning we were attacked by the regulars. In the evening, towards four
+o'clock, we were blocked, cannonaded, swept with grape-shot, and crushed
+back into the Church of Saint-Méry. I had a bullet and three
+bayonet-stabs in my body when I was picked up by the soldiers from the
+stone floor of a little chapel to the left--the Chapel of St. John. I
+have often gone back to that little chapel--not to pray, I wasn't
+brought up with such ideas--but to see the stains of my blood which
+still remain on the stones.
+
+"On account of my youth I received a ten-year sentence. I was sent to
+Mont Saint-Michel. That was why I didn't take part in the riots of 1834.
+If I had been free I should have fought in Rue Transnonian as I had
+fought in Rue Saint-Méry--'against the Government--always, always,
+always!' It was my father's last word; it was my gospel, my religion. I
+call that my catechism in six words. I came out of prison in 1842, and I
+again began to wait.
+
+"The revolution of '48 was made without effort. The shopkeepers were
+stupid and cowardly. They were neither for nor against us. The municipal
+guards alone defended themselves. We had a little trouble in taking the
+guard-house of the Château d'Eau. On the evening of February 24th I
+remained three or four hours on the square before the Hôtel de Ville.
+The members of the Provisional Government, one after another, made
+speeches to us--said that we were heroes, great citizens, the foremost
+nation in the world, that we had broken the bonds of tyranny. After
+having fed us on these fine speeches, they gave us a republic which
+wasn't any better than the monarchy we had overthrown.
+
+"In June I took up my musket again, but on that occasion we were not
+successful. I was arrested, sentenced, and sent to Cayenne. It seems
+that I behaved well there. One day I saved a captain of marines from
+drowning. Observe that I should most certainly have shot at that captain
+if he had been on one side of a barricade and I on the other; but a man
+who is drowning, dying--in short, I received my pardon, I came back to
+France in 1852, after the Coup d'État; I had missed the insurrection of
+1851.
+
+"At Cayenne I had made friends with a tailor named Barnard. Six months
+after my departure for France, Barnard died. I went to see his widow.
+She was in want. I married her. We had a son in 1854--you will
+understand presently why I speak to you of my wife and my son. But you
+must already suspect that an insurgent who marries the widow of an
+insurgent does not have royalist children.
+
+"Under the Empire there was nothing to do. The police were very strict.
+We were dispersed, disarmed. I worked, I brought up my son with the
+ideas that my father had given me. The wait was long. Rochefort,
+Gambetta, public reunions--all that put us in motion again.
+
+"On the first important occasion I showed myself. I was one of that
+little band who assaulted the barracks of the firemen of Villette. Only
+there we made a mistake. We killed a fireman, unnecessarily, I was
+caught and thrown into prison, but the Government of the Fourth of
+September liberated us, from which I concluded that we did right to
+attack those barracks and kill the fireman, even unnecessarily.
+
+"The siege began. I immediately opposed the Government, on the side of
+the Commune. I marched against the Hôtel de Ville on the 31st of October
+and on the 22d of January. I liked revolt for revolt's sake. An
+insurgent--I told you in the beginning I am an insurgent. I cannot hear
+a discussion without taking part, nor see a riot without running to it,
+nor a barricade without bringing my paving-stone. It's in the blood.
+
+"And then, besides, I wasn't quite ignorant, and I said to myself, It is
+only necessary to succeed thoroughly some day, and then, in our turn, we
+shall be the Government, and it will be better than with all these
+lawyers, who place themselves behind us during the battle, and pass
+ahead after the victory.'
+
+"The 18th of March came, and naturally I was in it. I shouted 'Hurrah
+for the regulars!' I fraternized with the army. I went to the Hôtel de
+Ville. I found a government already at work. It was absolutely the same
+as on the 24th of February.
+
+"Now you tell me that that insurrection was not lawful. That is
+possible, but I don't quite see why not. I begin to get muddled--about
+these insurrections which are a duty and those which are a crime! I do
+not clearly see the difference.
+
+"I shot at the Versailles troops in 1871, as I had shot at the royal
+guard in 1830 and on the municipals in 1848. After 1830 I received the
+Medal of July; after 1848 the compliments of M. de Lamartine. This time
+I am going to get transportation or death.
+
+"There are insurrections which please you. You raise columns to them,
+you give their names to streets, you give yourselves the offices, the
+promotions, and the big salaries, and we folks, who made the revolution,
+you call us great citizens, heroes, a nation of brave men, etc. That's
+the coin we are paid with.
+
+"And then there are other insurrections which displease you. As a
+result, transportation, death. Well, you see, if you hadn't complimented
+us so after the first ones, perhaps we wouldn't have made the last. If
+you hadn't raised the Column of July at the entrance of our
+neighborhood, we wouldn't perhaps have gone and demolished the Vendôme
+Column in your neighborhood. Those two penny trumpets didn't agree. One
+had to upset the other, and that is what happened.
+
+"Now, why I threw away my captain's uniform on the 26th of May, why I
+was in a blouse when I was arrested, I will tell you. When I learned
+that the gentlemen of the Commune, instead of coming to shoot with us
+behind the barricades, were at the Hôtel de Ville distributing among
+themselves thousand-franc notes, were shaving their beards, dyeing their
+hair, and hiding themselves in caves, I did not wish to keep the
+shoulder-straps they had given me.
+
+"Besides, shoulder-straps embarrassed me. 'Captain Martin' sounded
+idiotic. 'Insurgent Martin'--why, that's well and good. I wanted to end
+as I had begun, die as my father had died, as a rioter in a riot, as a
+barricader behind a barricade.
+
+"I could not get killed. I got caught. I belong to you. But I wish to
+beg a favor of you. I have a son, a child of seventeen; he is at
+Cherbourg, on the hulks. He fought, it is true, and he does not deny it;
+but it is I who put a musket in his hand, it is I who told him that his
+duty was there. He listened to me. He obeyed me. That is all his crime.
+Do not sentence him too harshly.
+
+"As for me, you have got me; do not let me go, that's the advice I give
+you. I am too old to mend; and then, what can you expect? Nothing can
+change it. I was born on the wrong side of the barricade."
+
+
+
+
+
+THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR
+
+
+In the beginning of the year 1870 some English and French residents had
+been massacred in China. Reparation was demanded. His Excellency
+Tchong-Keon, Tutor of the Heir-apparent and Vice-President of the War
+Department, was sent to Europe as Ambassador Extraordinary to the
+English and French governments.
+
+Tchong-Keon has recently published at Pekin a very curious account of
+his voyage. One of my friends who lives in Shanghai, and who possesses
+the rare talent of being able to read Chinese easily, sent me this
+faithful translation of a part of Tchong-Keon's book:
+
+
+HAVRE, _September 12, 1870_.
+
+I land, and I make myself known. I am the Ambassador of the Emperor of
+China. I bear apologies to the Emperor of the French, and presents to
+the Empress. There is no Emperor and no Empress. A Republic has been
+proclaimed. I am much embarrassed. Shall I offer the apologies and
+presents that were intended for the Empire to the Republic?
+
+
+HAVRE, _September 14, 1870_.
+
+After much reflection, I shall offer the apologies and keep the
+presents.
+
+
+HAVRE, _September 26, 1870_.
+
+Yes; but to whom shall I carry the apologies, and to whom shall I
+present them? The Government of the French Republic is divided in two:
+there is one part in Paris and one part in Tours. To go to Paris is not
+to be thought of. Paris is besieged and blockaded by the Prussians. I
+shall go to Tours.
+
+
+HAVRE, _October 2, 1870_.
+
+I did not go, and I shall not go, to Tours. I received yesterday a visit
+from the correspondent of the _Times_, a most agreeable and sensible
+man. I told him that I intended going to Tours.
+
+"To Tours! What do you want in Tours?"
+
+"To present the apologies of my master to the Minister of Foreign
+Affairs of the French Republic."
+
+"But that minister isn't in Tours."
+
+"And where is he?"
+
+"Blockaded in Paris."
+
+A Minister of Foreign Affairs who is blockaded in a besieged town seemed
+to me most extraordinary.
+
+"And why," the correspondent of the _Times_ asked me, "do you bring
+apologies to the French Government?"
+
+"Because we massacred some French residents."
+
+"French residents! That's of no importance nowadays. France no longer
+exists. You can, if it amuses you, throw all the French residents into
+the sea."
+
+"We also thoughtlessly massacred some English residents."
+
+"You massacred some English residents! Oh, that's very different!
+England is still a great nation. And you have brought apologies to Queen
+Victoria?"
+
+"Yes, apologies and presents."
+
+"Go to London, go straight to London, and don't bother about France;
+there is no France."
+
+The correspondent of the _Times_ looked quite happy when he spoke those
+words: "there is no France."
+
+
+LONDON, _October 10, 1870_.
+
+I've seen the Queen of England. She received me very cordially. She has
+accepted the apologies; she has accepted the presents.
+
+
+LONDON, _October 12, 1870_.
+
+Had a long conversation with Lord Granville, Minister of Foreign Affairs
+of the Queen of England. I explained to his Excellency that I meant to
+go home at once, and that I feel I need not pay further attention to my
+French embassy, as France no longer exists. Lord Granville answered me:
+
+"Don't go away so soon; you will perhaps be obliged to come back, and
+sooner than you imagine. France is an extraordinary country, which picks
+up very quickly. Await the end of the war, and then you can take your
+apologies to the Government that France will have decided on giving
+itself. Till then remain in England. We shall be most happy to offer you
+our hospitality."
+
+
+LONDON, _November 3, 1870_.
+
+I did not return to China. I am waiting in London till the Minister of
+Foreign Affairs is not besieged, and till there is some way of laying
+one's hands on the French Government. There are many Parisians here who
+escaped from their country on account of the war. I dined yesterday with
+his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. Three Parisian women, all three
+young, and all three pretty, took possession of me after dinner. We had
+a very interesting conversation in English.
+
+"You are looking for the French Government, the legitimate Government?"
+said the first of these Parisians. "Why, it is here in England, half an
+hour from London. To-morrow go to the Waterloo station and buy a ticket
+for Chiselhurst, and there you will find Napoleon III., who is, and has
+never ceased to be, the Emperor of the French."
+
+"Don't listen to her, Mr. Ambassador," laughingly said the second
+Parisian, "don't listen to her; she is a terrible Bonapartist. Yes, the
+true sovereign of France is in England, quite near London, but not at
+Chiselhurst; and it is not the Waterloo station you must go to, but the
+Victoria station. You mustn't take a ticket for Chiselhurst, but for
+Twickenham, and there you will find at Orleans House his Royal Highness
+the Count of Paris."
+
+"Don't listen to her, Mr. Ambassador," exclaimed in turn, and also
+laughing, the third Parisian, "don't listen to her; she is a terrible
+revolutionist! The Count of Paris is not the heir to the throne of
+France. To find the legitimate King you must go a little farther than
+Chiselhurst or Twickenham; you must go to Austria, to the Frohsdorf
+Palace. The King of France--he is the descendant of Henry IV.--is the
+Count of Chambord."
+
+If I count aright, that makes three legitimate sovereigns, and all three
+deposed. Never in China have we had anything of that sort. Our old
+dynasty has had to fight against the invasions of the Mongols and
+against the insurrections of the Taipings. But three legitimate
+sovereigns for the same country, for a single throne! One has to come
+to Europe to see such things.
+
+However, the three Parisians gayly discussed the matter, and seemed to
+be the best friends in the world.
+
+
+LONDON, _November 15, 1870_.
+
+As a sequel to the three Frenchwomen, representing three different
+monarchs, I met, this evening, at Lord Granville's, three Frenchmen
+representing three different republics.
+
+The first asked me why I didn't go to Tours.
+
+"You will find there," he said to me, "the authorized representatives of
+the French Republic, and in addressing yourself to M. Gambetta you are
+addressing France--"
+
+"Don't do that, Mr. Ambassador!" exclaimed the second Frenchman; "the
+real Government of the real French Republic is shut up in Paris. M.
+Jules Favre alone can officially receive your visit and your apologies."
+
+"The Republic of Paris isn't worth more than the Republic of Tours," the
+third Frenchman then told me. "If we have a Republic in France, it will
+be neither the Republic of M. Gambetta nor the Republic of M. Jules
+Favre."
+
+"And whose Republic then?"
+
+"The Republic of M. Thiers--"
+
+Whereupon the three Frenchmen began to dispute in earnest. They were
+very red, shouted loudly, and made violent gestures. The discussion
+about the three monarchies had been much gentler and much more agreeable
+than the discussion about the three republics.
+
+During the evening these Frenchmen managed to slip into my ear, in turn,
+two or three little phrases of this kind:
+
+"Don't listen," the first one said to me, "to that partisan of the
+Government of Paris; he is a lawyer who has come here with a commission
+from M. Jules Favre. So you see he has a big salary, and as he wishes to
+keep it--"
+
+"Don't listen," the second one said to me, "to that partisan of the
+alleged Republic of M. Thiers; he is only a monarchist, a disguised
+Orleanist--"
+
+"Don't listen," the third one said to me, "to that partisan of the
+Republic of Tours; he is a gentleman who has come to England to get a
+loan for the benefit of the Government of Tours; so, as he expects to
+get a lot of money--"
+
+Thus I am, if I reckon correctly, face to face with six
+governments--three monarchies and three republics.
+
+
+LONDON, _December 6, 1870_.
+
+I think that his Excellency, M. de Bernstoff, Prussian Ambassador to
+England, takes pleasure in making fun of me. I never meet him but that
+he announces to me that Paris will capitulate the next day. The next day
+arrives and Paris does not capitulate. However, this evening his
+Excellency looked so perfectly sure of what he was saying that I think I
+can prepare to start for Paris.
+
+
+PARIS, _February 20, 1871_.
+
+I only left on the 10th of February. At last I am in Paris. I travelled
+slowly, by short stages. What a lot of burned villages! What a lot of
+sacked houses! What a lot of devastated forests, dug-up woods, and
+bridges and railroads destroyed! And these Europeans treat us as
+barbarians!
+
+However, among all these ruins there is one the sight of which filled me
+with the keenest joy. The palace of Saint-Cloud was the summer palace of
+the Emperor Napoleon, and not a stone upon a stone remains. I
+contemplated curiously, eagerly, and for a long time the blackened ruins
+of this palace. Pieces of old Chinese vases were hidden in the heaps of
+rubbish among the wreck of marble and fragments of shell.
+
+Where did those old Chinese vases come from? Perhaps from the summer
+palace of our Emperor, from that palace which was devastated, burned,
+and destroyed by those English and French soldiers who came to bring us
+civilization.
+
+I was extremely well received by the English, who overwhelmed me with
+invitations and kindnesses; but none the less I hope that the palaces of
+Buckingham and Windsor will also have their turn.
+
+
+PARIS, _February 25, 1871_.
+
+I have written to M. Jules Favre to let him know that I have been
+waiting six months for the opportunity of presenting to him the
+compliments and apologies of the Emperor of China. M. Jules Favre
+answered me that he is obliged to start for Bordeaux. I shall have an
+audience in the beginning of March.
+
+
+PARIS, _March 7, 1871_.
+
+Another letter from M. Jules Favre. He is expected at Frankfort by M. de
+Bismarck. My audience is again put off.
+
+
+PARIS, _March 17, 1871_.
+
+At last, to-morrow, March 18th, at four o'clock, I am to be received by
+M. Jules Favre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
+
+
+PARIS, _March 18, 1871_.
+
+We dressed ourselves, I and my two secretaries, in our official
+costumes, and departed at three o'clock, accompanied by an interpreter.
+We arrived. The court of the house was filled with people who appeared
+busy and hurried, and who came and went, carrying cases and packages.
+The interpreter, after having exchanged several words with an employee
+of the ministry, said to me:
+
+"Something serious has happened--an insurrection. The Government is
+again obliged to change its capital!"
+
+At that moment a door opened, and M. Jules Favre himself appeared with a
+large portfolio under his arm. He explained to the interpreter that I
+should have my audience at Versailles in several days, and having made
+me a profound bow, which I returned him, he ran away with his large
+portfolio.
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _March 19, 1871_.
+
+I had to leave Paris at twelve o'clock in a great hurry. There really is
+a new Government at Paris. This Government is not one of the three
+monarchies, nor one of the three republics. It is a seventh arrangement,
+which is called the _Commune_. This morning an armed troop of men
+surrounded the house where I live. It seems that the new Ministry of
+Foreign Affairs of Paris of the Commune would have been charmed to
+receive a Chinese ambassador. They had come to carry me off. I had time
+to escape. It is not the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Paris that I
+ought to see, it is the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Versailles.
+
+Good heavens, how complicated it all is! And when shall I be able to put
+my hand on this intangible person, who is now blockaded in Paris and now
+chased out of Paris?
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _April 6, 1871_.
+
+At last, yesterday, I had the honor of being received by his Excellency,
+and we discussed the events that had occurred in Paris.
+
+"This insurrection," M. Jules Favre said to me, "is the most formidable
+and the most extraordinary that has ever broken out."
+
+I could not allow such a great historical error to pass. I answered M.
+Jules Favre that we had had in China for millions of years socialists
+and socialistic uprisings; that the French Communists were but rough
+imitators of our Chinese Taipings; that we had had in 1230 a siege at
+Nankin which had lasted seven years, etc. In short, these Europeans are
+only beginning again our history with less grandeur and more barbarity.
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _May 15, 1871_.
+
+My mission is ended; I could return to China; but all that I see here
+interests me extremely. This civil war immediately succeeding a foreign
+war is a very curious occurrence. There is here, for a Chinaman, an
+excellent opportunity of study, on the spot and from life, of European
+civilization.
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _May 24, 1871_.
+
+Paris is burning, and on the terrace of the palace of Saint-Cloud, in
+the midst of the ruins of that palace, I passed my day looking at Paris
+burn. It is a dead, destroyed, and annihilated city.
+
+
+PARIS, _June 10, 1871_.
+
+Not at all. It is still the most beautiful city in Europe, and the most
+brilliant, and the most gay. I shall spend some time in Paris.
+
+
+PARIS, _June 29, 1871_.
+
+Yesterday M. Thiers, in the Bois de Boulogne, held a review of a hundred
+thousand men. Will there always be a France?
+
+
+
+
+IN THE EXPRESS
+
+
+"When one bears the name of Luynes or La Trémoille, I can readily
+understand the desire to continue the Luynes or the La Trémoilles; but
+really when one is named Chamblard, what possible object can there be
+in--Eh? Answer."
+
+In this fashion young Raoul Chamblard talked while comfortably settled
+back in a large red velvet arm-chair. This happened on the 26th of
+March, 1892, in one of the parlor-cars of the express to Marseilles,
+which had left Paris at 8.50 that morning. It was now five minutes past
+nine. The train with much racket was crossing the bridge of Charentin.
+Young Chamblard was talking to his friend, Maurice Révoille, who, after
+a six weeks' leave, was going to join his regiment in Algeria.
+
+The lieutenant of light cavalry responded to his friend's question with
+a vague gesture. Raoul Chamblard continued:
+
+"However, it's my father's fixed idea. There must be Chamblards after
+me. And as papa has but one son, it's to me he looks to do what is
+necessary."
+
+"Well, do what is necessary."
+
+"But I am only twenty-four, my dear fellow, and to marry at twenty-four
+is hard. It seems to me that I'm still entitled to a little more fun,
+and even a good deal."
+
+"Well, have your fun."
+
+"That's just what I've done up to now. I have had a first-rate time! But
+I've taste only for expensive amusements. I don't know how to enjoy
+myself without money, and I haven't a cent. Do you understand? Not a
+cent!"
+
+"You? You are very rich."
+
+"A great mistake! Upon coming of age, three years ago, I spent what was
+left me by my mother. Mother wasn't very rich; she was worth six hundred
+thousand francs, not more. Papa made almost a love-match. The six
+hundred thousand francs vanished in three years, and could I decently do
+anything else as the son of my father? He is powerfully rich!"
+
+"That's what's said."
+
+"And it's very true. He has a dozen millions which are quite his own,
+and can't be hurt by an accident; and his bank still goes on, and brings
+him in, one year with another, besides the interest on his dozen
+millions, three or four hundred thousand francs more. Nothing is more
+solid than the Chamblard bank; it's honest, it's venerable. Papa isn't
+fair to me, but I'm fair to him. When you have a father in business,
+it's a good thing when you go out not to be exposed to meet eyes which
+seem to say to you, 'My dear fellow, your father has swindled me.' Papa
+has but one passion: from five to seven every day he plays piquet at his
+club, at ten sous a point, and as he is an excellent player, he wins
+seven times out of ten. He keeps an account of his games with the same
+scrupulous exactitude he has in all things, and he was telling the day
+before yesterday that piquet this year had brought him in six thousand
+five hundred francs over and above the cost of the cards. He has a seat
+in the orchestra at the opera, not for the ballet, but for the music
+only; he never goes on the stage--neither do I, for that matter. Dancers
+don't attract me at all; they live in Batignolles, in Montmartre; they
+always walk with their mothers; they completely lack charm. In short, my
+father is what one calls a good man. You see I continue to be fair to
+him. Besides, I'm always right. Yes, it's a very good thing to have an
+honorable father, and Papa Chamblard is a model of all virtues, and he
+accumulates for me with a zeal! but I think, just at present, he
+accumulates a little too much. He has cut off my income. No marriage,
+no money. That's brief and decisive. That's his programme. And he has
+hunted up a wife for me--when I say one, I should say three."
+
+"Three wives!"
+
+"Yes. One morning he came to me and said: 'This must end. Look, here's a
+list--three splendid matches.' There were the names, the relations, the
+dowries--it was even arranged in the order of the dowries. I had to
+yield and consent to an interview with Number One. That took place at
+the Salon in the Champs Elysées. Ah, my boy, Number One--dry, flat,
+bony, sallow!"
+
+"Then why did your father--"
+
+"Why? Because she was the daughter, and only daughter, of a wealthy
+manufacturer from Roubaix. It was splendid! We each started with a
+hundred thousand francs income, and that was to be, in the course of
+time, after realized expectations, a shower of millions! It made papa
+supremely happy--the thought that all his millions in Paris would one
+day make an enormous heap with all those Roubaix millions. Millions
+don't frighten me, but on the condition that they surround a pretty, a
+very pretty and stylish woman--a great deal of style! That's _my_
+programme. I want to be able to take my wife to the theatres without
+having to blush before the box-openers."
+
+"What do you mean? Before the box-openers?"
+
+"Why, certainly. I am known, and I've a reputation to keep up. You see,
+the openers are always the same--always; and of course they know me.
+They've been in the habit of seeing me, during the last three or four
+years, come with the best-known and best-dressed women in Paris. Which
+is to say, that I should never dare present myself before them with that
+creature from Roubaix. They would think I had married for money. I tried
+to explain that delicately to papa, but one can't make him hear reason.
+There are things which he doesn't understand, which he can't understand.
+I have no grudge against him; he's of his time, I'm of mine. In short, I
+declared resolutely that I would never marry Number One. Notice that I
+discoursed most sensibly with papa. I said to him: 'You want me to have
+a home' (home is his word), 'but when I should have placed in that home
+a fright such as to scare the sparrows, my home would be a horror to me,
+and I should be forced, absolutely forced, to arrange a home outside.
+Thus I should have a household at home and a household outside, and it's
+then that the money would fly!' But papa won't listen to anything! He
+doesn't understand that I must have a little wife who is pretty,
+Parisian pretty--that is to say, original, gay, jolly, who is looked at
+on the street, and stared at through opera-glasses at the theatre, who
+will do me honor, and who will set me off well. I must be able to
+continue my bachelor life with her, and as long as possible. And then
+there's another thing that I can't tell papa. His name is Chamblard--it
+isn't his fault; only, in consequence, I too am named Chamblard, and
+it's not very agreeable, with a name like that, to try to get on in
+society. And a pretty, a very pretty, woman is the best passport. There,
+look at Robineau. He has just been received into the little club of the
+Rue Royale. And why? It's not the Union or the Jockey; but never mind,
+one doesn't get in there as into a hotel. And why was Robineau
+received?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"It's because he has married a charming woman, and this charming woman
+is a skater of the first rank. She had a tremendous success on the ice
+at the Bois de Boulogne. In the society columns of all the papers there
+was mention of the exquisite, delightful, and ideal Mme. Robineau. She
+was in the swim at one stroke. And Robineau, he too was in the swim. He
+was a member of the little club six weeks later! Papa, he doesn't
+understand the importance of these things; one can't reason with him
+about it; it's all Greek to him. However, as he had absolutely cut off
+my supplies, I had to submit, and consent to an interview with Number
+Two."
+
+"And what was Number Two like?"
+
+"Ah, my dear fellow, what was she like! She was the daughter of a rich
+merchant of Antwerp. A Belgian article! First a provincial, and then a
+foreigner! Papa doesn't like Parisians. Mamma was from Châtellerault,
+and she was indeed a saint. Number Two happened to be in Paris; so last
+night, at the Opéra Comique, they showed me a Fleming, who was very
+blond, very insipid, very masculine--a Rubens, a true Rubens; a
+giantess, a colossal woman, a head taller than I, which is to say that
+materially one could not take her in a lower stage-box, and those are
+the only boxes I like. On leaving the theatre I told papa that I
+wouldn't have Number Two any more than Number One, and that I had had
+enough, and that I wouldn't see Number Three. The discussion was heated.
+Papa went off banging doors and repeating, 'No more money!' I saw that
+it was serious. I went to bed, but I couldn't sleep--I thought; but I
+could think of nothing to save me from the fat hands of the Antwerp
+girl. Suddenly, towards three in the morning, I had an inspiration--I
+had an idea that I can call, if you'll permit it, a stroke of genius."
+
+"I'll permit it."
+
+"Yes, genius. I knew that you left to-day for Marseilles, and this
+morning I departed, English fashion, without explanation, and in a
+little while, at the first stop, at Laroche--I have looked at the
+time-table, I have thought of everything--I shall send the following
+despatch to my father," and Raoul triumphantly pulled a paper out of his
+pocket. "It's all ready. Listen. 'M. Chamblard, 8 Rue Rougemont, Paris,
+Laroche station. I left on the express for Marseilles with Maurice. I am
+going to make a voyage around the world. I sha'n't be more than six
+months. I have engaged by telegraph a state-room on the _Traonaddy_
+which leaves to-morrow for Singapore. Anything rather than a Flemish
+alliance! Farewell. With regrets for leaving you, your affectionate son,
+Raoul Chamblard.' My telegram's all right, isn't it?"
+
+"It isn't bad, but do you seriously mean--"
+
+"Yes, I shall go if, before I reach Marseilles, I haven't an answer from
+papa; but I shall have one, for two reasons. In the first place, Papa
+Chamblard knows how to reason, and he will say to himself: 'What shall I
+gain by it? Instead of fooling round with little white women in Paris,
+he will fool round with little yellow ones at Singapore.' And then
+another reason, the best one, is that Papa Chamblard adores me, and he
+can't do without me, and the little sentimental phrase at the end of my
+despatch will appeal to his heart. You'll see how it will turn out. At
+11.20 my telegram will leave Laroche; papa will receive it at half-past
+twelve. And I'll bet you ten louis that at Dijon or Mâcon I'll find in
+the wire screen of the station a telegram addressed to me, and worded
+thus: 'Return; no longer question of Antwerp marriage.' Papa's telegram
+will be brief, because he is saving and suppresses unnecessary words.
+Will you take the bet?"
+
+"No, I should lose."
+
+"I think so. Have you the papers?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+They read three or four papers, Parisian papers, and read them like true
+Parisians. It took a short fifteen minutes. While reading they exchanged
+short remarks about the new ministry, the races at Auteuil, and Yvette
+Guilbert--particularly about Yvette Guilbert. Young Chamblard had been
+to hear her the day before, and he hummed the refrain:
+
+    "Un fiacre allait trottinant
+          Cahin-caha
+        Hu dia! Hop là!
+    Un fiacre allait trottinant
+    Jaune avec un cocher blanc."
+
+And as the light cavalryman had never heard Yvette Guilbert sing the
+"Fiacre," young Chamblard threw up his arms and exclaimed: "You never
+heard the 'Fiacre,' and you had three months' leave! What did you do in
+Paris? _I_ know the 'Fiacre' by heart."
+
+Upon which Raoul began to hum again, and while humming in a voice which
+became more and more slow, and more and more feeble, he settled back
+into his arm-chair, and soon fell into a peaceful slumber, like the big
+baby that he was.
+
+All at once he was waked up with a start by the stepping of the train,
+and by the voice of the conductor, who cried, "Ouah! Ouah! Ouah!" The
+cry is the same for all stations. This time it was meant for Laroche.
+And now for the telegram. Young Chamblard ran to the telegraph-office.
+The immovable operator counted the sixty-seven words of that queer
+despatch. "All aboard, all aboard!"
+
+Young Chamblard had scarcely time to jump on the step of his car.
+
+"Ouf! that's done," he said to the cavalryman. "Suppose we lunch."
+
+So they both started on their way to the dining-car. It was quite a
+journey, for two parlor-cars separated them from the restaurant-car, and
+those two cars were crowded. It was the season for the great pilgrimage
+of a few Parisians and a good many English towards Nice, Cannes, and
+Monte Carlo. The express was running very fast, and was pitching
+violently. One needed sea-legs. Then a furious wind beat against the
+train, and wrapped it in clouds of dust, making the crossing of the
+platforms particularly disagreeable.
+
+They advanced, walking with difficulty through the first car, over the
+first crossing, and encountering the first squall, then through the
+second car; but Chamblard, who went ahead, had difficulty in opening the
+door to the second platform. It resisted on account of the force of the
+wind; finally it yielded, and Raoul received at the same time in his
+eyes a cloud of dust, and in his arms a young blonde, who exclaimed,
+"Oh, excuse me!" while he, too, exclaimed, "Oh, excuse me!" and at the
+same time he received the cavalryman on his back, who, also blinded by
+the dust, was saying, "Go on, Raoul, go on."
+
+The two doors of the cars had shut, and they were all three crowded in
+the little passage in the wind--young Raoul, young Maurice, and the
+young blonde.
+
+The "Oh, excuse me" was immediately followed by a "M. Maurice!" which
+was replied to by a "Mlle. Martha!" The little blonde knew the
+cavalryman, and perceiving that she was almost in the arms of a
+stranger, Mlle. Martha disengaged herself, and backed cleverly towards
+the platform of the car, saying to Maurice, "You're on the train, and
+you're going?"
+
+"To Algeria."
+
+"We to Marseilles. I am getting a shawl for mamma, who is cold. Mamma
+will be delighted to see you. You will find her in the dining-car. I'll
+see you later."
+
+"But I will accompany you?"
+
+"If you like."
+
+She walked on, but not without first having slightly bowed to young
+Chamblard, who had remained there astounded, contemplating Mlle. Martha
+with eyes filled with admiration.
+
+She had time before going to notice that he was a good-looking young
+fellow, that he wore a neat little suit, and that he looked at her with
+staring eyes; but in those staring eyes a thought could be clearly read
+that could not displease her: "Oh, how pretty you are!"
+
+Raoul was, in fact, saying to himself: "My type, exactly my type! And
+what style--what style in the simplicity of that costume! And the little
+toque, a little on one side over the ear--it's a masterpiece! How well
+she knows how to dress! What an effect she would make in an audience!
+And that little English accent!"
+
+For she had a little English accent; she had even taken a good deal of
+trouble for several years to acquire that little accent. She used to say
+to her governess, Miss Butler:
+
+"Yes, of course I want to know English, but I wish especially to speak
+French with an English accent." She had worked for nothing else. She had
+been, fortunately, rewarded for her perseverance; her little
+Anglo-Parisian gibberish was at times quite original.
+
+While Maurice was retracing his steps with Mlle. Martha, Raoul placed
+himself at a table in the dining-car. He soon saw them come back with
+mamma's shawl. Maurice lingered for a few minutes at the table where the
+mother and the young brother of the little blonde were lunching. Then he
+came back to Raoul, who said as soon as he approached:
+
+"Who is she--quick, tell me, who is she? Whenever one pleases I will
+marry her--now, on getting down from the train. In my arms! I held her
+in my arms! Such a waist! A dream! There are, as you must know, slim
+waists and slim waists. There are waists which are slim, hard, harsh,
+stiff, bony, or mechanically made by odious artifices in the corsets. I
+have thoroughly studied the corset question. It's so important! And then
+there's the true slim waist, which is easy, natural, supple. Supple
+isn't sufficient for what just slid through my hands a short time ago.
+Slippery--yes, that's the word. Slippery just expresses my thought--a
+slippery waist!"
+
+Raoul was quite charmed with what he said.
+
+"Yes," he continued, "slippery; and that little pug-nose! and her little
+eyes have quite a--a Chinese air! But who is she, who is she?"
+
+"The daughter of one of my mother's friends."
+
+"Is she rich?"
+
+"Very rich."
+
+"It's on account of papa that I asked you that, because I would marry
+her without a dowry. It's the first time I've ever said such a thing on
+meeting a young girl. And now the name."
+
+"Mlle. Martha Derame."
+
+"Derame, did you say?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Isn't the father a wealthy merchant who has business in Japan and
+China?"
+
+"The same."
+
+"Ah, my dear fellow--no; one only sees such things in the comic plays
+of the minor theatres, at Cluny or Dejazet."
+
+"What's the matter with you?"
+
+"What's the matter with me? She's papa's Number Three--yes, Number
+Three. The father of that little marvel is one of papa's piquet players
+at the club. And I wouldn't see Number Three, and she falls into my arms
+on the platform between Paris and Lyons. You will present me after
+lunch, and I shall speak to the mother and tell her all."
+
+"How, all?"
+
+"Yes, all; that her daughter is papa's Number Three, and that I didn't
+want Number One or Two, but that I should like Number Three. Ah, dear
+boy, how pretty she is--especially her nose, so charmingly turned up.
+She has just looked at me, and in a certain way; I am sure I don't
+displease her. Did you mention me, did you tell my name?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You were wrong. At any rate, right after lunch--Do you know what I
+think? That this affair will go through on wheels. I shall first
+telegraph papa, and then to-morrow--Oh, heavens! I hope there's a
+telephone between Paris and Marseilles--"
+
+He interrupted himself and called:
+
+"Porter! Porter!"
+
+"Sir."
+
+"Is there a telephone between Paris and Marseilles?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Ah! That's all Thanks. The telephone, Maurice, there's the telephone!
+Papa can speak for me to-morrow by telephone. It will be charming!
+Marriage by express. Express, electric, telephonic, and romantic
+marriage, all at the same time. You understand that between a little
+phiz like that and a voyage around the world I don't hesitate. But why
+haven't you thought of marrying her?"
+
+"Oh, too wealthy--too wealthy a match for me; and then she is not the
+kind of little person to go and bury in a garrison town in Algeria. She
+is a Parisian, a true Parisian, who wants to amuse herself, and who will
+amuse herself."
+
+"Just what I want, absolutely just what I want. I too wish to amuse
+myself. She will amuse herself, I shall amuse myself, we will amuse
+ourselves."
+
+Young Raoul was in a frenzy, and as soon as he had finished his luncheon
+he scrawled a new despatch on the restaurant table to his father, and,
+while writing, talked very excitedly.
+
+"I'll send my despatch from Dijon, and I'll address it to the club; papa
+will be there about five o'clock, and also the father of this little
+marvel. They can immediately discuss the affair. Shall I ask for an
+answer at Lyons? The time-table, pass me the time-table. Lyons, 5.25.
+No, that would be too short. Answer at Marseilles. They stop at
+Marseilles? Yes? For twenty-four hours? All right, so do I. At what
+hotel? Hôtel de Noailles? All right, so do I. So answer Hôtel de
+Noailles. My despatch is very good. You will see. As good as the
+other--better, even. I've the knack of telegrams to-day. Yes, it's very
+good."
+
+He wrote and wrote; he was inspired, he was animated; he made a few more
+mistakes than usual in spelling, that was all--it was emotion. He reread
+his despatch with complaisance, he made Maurice read it, who could not
+help thinking the incident funny. Raoul counted the words of his
+despatch--there were about a hundred and fifty--and calling the waiter
+of the dining-car, he said, "Send this telegram off for me at Dijon.
+Here are ten francs; there will be two or three over for you."
+
+Then turning at once to Maurice he asked, "Is that enough?"
+
+"Why certainly."
+
+"Well, for such a marriage--ah, my dear fellow, you sail to-morrow at
+what time?"
+
+"At two o'clock."
+
+"Oh, we have plenty of time, then; all will be settled by two o'clock."
+
+"Oh, settled; you're crazy!"
+
+"Not at all; it's already very far advanced, since it's papa's Number
+Three. I only ask one thing of you: present me to the mother shortly.
+After that let me alone. I'll manage everything; only, at any cost, we
+must leave our car and find two arm-chairs in the same car, and near my
+mother-in-law."
+
+"Your mother-in-law!"
+
+"That's what I said; my mother-in-law. Once the two arm-chairs are
+procured, I am master of the situation. You don't know me. I already
+know what I shall say to the mother, what I shall say to my young
+brother-in-law (he is very nice), and what I shall say to my future
+bride. I shall have made a conquest of all of them before we reach
+Lyons. Lyons? No; that's going a little fast--say Valence or Montélimar.
+Pass me the time-table again. Let us settle everything, and leave
+nothing to chance. Oh, look at her! She has nibbled nuts for the last
+fifteen minutes, and how she cracks them--crack! one little bite--and
+what pretty little teeth! She is very pretty even while eating--an
+important thing. It's very rare to find women who remain pretty while
+eating and sleeping, very rare. Little Adelaide, the red-headed one, you
+remember, ate stupidly. And this one over there eats brightly; she
+eats--crack! another nut--and she looks at me on the sly. I can see that
+she looks at me. All goes well, all goes well!"
+
+In truth, all did go well. At Montbard, 12.32, Raoul was presented to
+Mme. Derame, who, on hearing the name of Chamblard, had a little
+shiver--the shiver of a mother who has a young daughter to marry, and
+who says to herself, "Oh, what a splendid match!" Her husband had often
+spoken to her of young Chamblard.
+
+"Ah," he used to say to her, "what a marriage for Martha! We speak of it
+sometimes before and after our piquet, Chamblard and I; but the young
+man is restive--doesn't yet wish to settle down. It would be such a good
+thing--he is richer than we. Chamblard is once, twice, three times
+richer! And Martha isn't easy to marry; she has already refused five or
+six desirable matches on all sorts of pretexts. They didn't please her:
+they were too old, they had no style, they didn't live in fashionable
+neighborhoods, she didn't wish to go into sugar, or cotton, or wine--or
+anything, in short. She would accept none other than a young husband,
+and not too serious. She must have a very rich man who did nothing and
+loved pleasure."
+
+How well young Chamblard answered to that description! When there was
+question of doing nothing, Raoul showed real talent. As soon as one
+talked horses, dogs, carriages, hats, dresses, jewelry, races, fencing,
+skating, cooking, etc., he showed signs of the rarest and highest
+competence.
+
+So, as there was general conversation, Raoul was very brilliant. In the
+neighborhood of Châlons-sur-Saône (3.10), while relating how he,
+Chamblard, had invented a marvellous little coupé, he did not say that:
+that coupé had been offered by him to Mlle. Juliette Lorphelin, of the
+ballet corps at the Folies-Bergère. This coupé was a marvel; besides, it
+was very well known; it was called the Chamblard coupé.
+
+"Small," he said, "very small. A coupé ought always to be small." But
+what a lot of things in such a small space: a drawer for toilet
+necessaries, a secret box for money and jewelry, a clock, a thermometer,
+a barometer, a writing-shelf--and that was not all!
+
+He became animated, and grew excited in speaking of his invention.
+Martha listened to him eagerly.
+
+"When you pull up the four wooden shutters you naturally find yourself
+in the dark; but the four shutters are mirrors, and as soon as one has
+placed a finger on a little button hidden under the right-hand cushion,
+six little crystal balls, ingeniously scattered in the tufting of the
+blue satin of the coupé, become electric lights. The coupé is turned
+into a little lighted boudoir; and not only for five minutes--no, but
+for an hour, two hours, if one wishes it; there is a storage-battery
+under the seat. When I submitted this idea to my carriage-maker he was
+smitten with envy and admiration."
+
+Martha, too, was smitten.
+
+"What a charming man!" she said to herself. "Oh, to have such a coupé!
+But pearl-gray--I should want it pearl-gray."
+
+Then they discussed jewelry, dresses, hats, stuffs. And Raoul proved on
+all those questions, if possible, more remarkable than ever. He had paid
+so many bills to great dress-makers, great milliners, and great
+jewellers! He had been present at so many conferences on the cut of such
+a dress or the arrangement of such a costume, at so many scenes of
+trying on and draping! And as he drew easily, he willingly threw his
+ideas on paper, as he said, neatly. He had even designed the costumes of
+a little piece--played in I do not know what little theatre--which was
+revolutionary, anarchistic, symbolistic, decadent, end of the century,
+end of the world.
+
+He took his little note-book and began to outline with a light hand, in
+spite of the movement of the train, several of his creations. He had
+tact, and thought of everything. "It was," he said, "for charades played
+in society at my friend's, the baron so and so." He invented the baron,
+and gave him a resonant name.
+
+Martha was delighted. Never had a man, since she had been allowed to
+chat a little with young men, seemed to her to have such an original and
+interesting conversation.
+
+"Lately," said Raoul, "one of my cousins--she often applies to
+me--consulted me about a dress for a ball at Nice, during the carnival.
+This is what I advised her. See, I draw at the same time--look."
+
+Oh, how she did look!
+
+"I am going to try to make myself well understood. A foundation of
+smooth white satin, clinging, very clinging--blue, I adore blue."
+
+That pained her; she disliked blue.
+
+"Yes, very clinging; my cousin has a delightful figure, and can stand
+it."
+
+He took Martha's figure in with a hasty glance, and the glance seemed to
+say, "You could, too." She understood and blushed, charmed with that
+delicate flattery. Raoul continued:
+
+"Pale, very pale blue satin. Then on my foundation I threw an
+over-dress of pompadour lace of very soft tones: greens, pinks, mauves,
+cream, and azure. Very large sleeves with a double puff of blue velvet,
+wristlets of Venetian point. Am I clear?"
+
+"Oh, very clear, very clear."
+
+And in an excited voice she repeated:
+
+"A double puff of blue velvet, with wristlets of Venetian point."
+
+All of a sudden the brakes scraped, and the train came sharply to a
+stop. One heard the cry of "Mâcon! Mâcon!"
+
+"Mâcon already!" said Martha.
+
+That "_already_" rang delightfully in Raoul's ears. There was much in
+that _already_. Raoul profited by the five minutes' stop to complete and
+fix his little sketch, which was slightly jolted; and he did not notice
+that his young brother-in-law had been sent out with a despatch to the
+telegraph-office. The despatch had been secretly written by Mme. Derame,
+and had, too, been directed to the Old Club.
+
+The train started--4.11. Raoul had not thought to get down to see if
+under the railing there was not a despatch addressed to him. There was
+one, which was to remain eternally at Mâcon. The telegram contained
+these words: "Return; no longer question of Antwerp marriage."
+
+The train ran on and on, and now there was question of another dress--a
+silk dress, light pink, with a large jabot of lace down the front. Raoul
+literally dazzled Martha by his inexhaustible fertility of wise
+expressions and technical terms.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+While the express passed the Romanèche station (4.32) father Chamblard
+came into the Old Club, went into the card-room, and met father Derame.
+Piquet? With pleasure. So there they sat, face to face. There were there
+eight or ten card-tables--piquet, bezique, whist, etc. The works were in
+full blast. First game, and papa Derame is rubiconed; the second game
+was going to begin when a footman arrives with a despatch for M.
+Chamblard.
+
+"Will you excuse me?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+He reads, he becomes red; he rereads, and he gets scarlet.
+
+It was Raoul's brilliant telegram from Dijon:
+
+"Dear father, I shall not go. Most extraordinary meeting. Your Number
+Three--yes, your Number Three--in the train with her mother, and I
+wouldn't see her. Ah! if I had known. Strike while the iron's hot; I'm
+striking it, strike it too. M. D. must be at the club, speak to him at
+once; tell him that I left to avoid marrying an ugly woman; that I only
+wish to make a love-match; that I am head-over-heels in love with his
+daughter. We shall all be to-night at Marseilles, Hôtel de Noailles. Get
+M. D. to back me up by telegraph to Mme. D. I will talk with you
+to-morrow over the telephone. I am writing my telegram in the
+dining-car. At this moment she is nibbling nuts--charming, she is
+charming! She fell into my arms on the platform. Till to-morrow at the
+telephone, nine o'clock."
+
+M. Chamblard's agitation did not escape M. Derame.
+
+"Is it a serious matter?" he asked.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"We can stop if you wish."
+
+"Yes; but first of all, did Mme. and Mlle. Derame leave here this
+morning on the express for Marseilles?"
+
+"Yes, at 9.55. Why do you ask that? Has there been any accident?"
+
+"No, no accident; it can't be called that; on the contrary. Come, come
+into the little parlor."
+
+He told him everything, showed him the despatch, gave him certain
+necessary explanations about the words, such as Number Three. And there
+they were, choking, delighted--both the father of the young man and the
+father of the young girl. What luck, what a providential meeting!
+
+"But you told me that your son didn't wish to marry."
+
+"He didn't wish to, but he has seen your daughter, and now he wishes to.
+Come, hurry up and send a telegram to Marseilles to Mme. Derame."
+
+"But she will be thunderstruck when I present to her a son-in-law by
+telegraph."
+
+Return of the footman. It was a despatch for M. Derame. He opens it.
+
+"It's from my wife, from Mâcon, 2.15."
+
+"Good," says M. Chamblard; "all goes well, very well."
+
+"Very disturbed. Met in the train the son of M. C., of Rue Rougemont,
+your club friend. He was presented by Maurice. You often spoke to me of
+a possible alliance there. Evidently he thinks her charming. Just at
+present he is talking to her, and looks at her, looks at her. What shall
+I do? Shall I put a stop to it or allow it to continue? Large fortune,
+isn't there?"
+
+M. Derame in his turn showed his despatch to M. Chamblard. They
+continued to talk, in high good-humor and in excellent accord, and went
+on with their game of piquet only after having sent the following two
+telegrams to the Hôtel de Noailles:
+
+First despatch to Mme. Derame: "If it pleases you, if it pleases her,
+yes. Enormous fortune."
+
+Second despatch to Raoul: "Have spoken to D. He is telegraphing to Mme.
+D. He approves, so do I."
+
+A footman carried the two despatches at the same time to the
+telegraph-office in the Place de la Bourse, and during the time that,
+running over the wires along the railroad, they passed the express
+towards half-past six in the neighborhood of Saint-Rambert, the Derames,
+Raoul, and Maurice, in the best possible spirits and in most perfect
+harmony, dined at the same table, and Martha looked at Raoul, and Raoul
+looked at Martha, and Mme. Derame said to herself: "Martha's falling in
+love; I know her, she is falling in love. She fell in love just so last
+year at a ball with a little youth who was very dandified, but without
+fortune. This time, luckily, yes--Edward told me so--there is plenty of
+money; so, naturally, if Martha is willing we are."
+
+The train ran on, and on, and on; and Raoul talked, and talked, and
+talked. He even let slip practical thoughts, raised himself up to
+general ideas, and developed with force the theory that the first duty
+of a woman was to be, in all things, refined elegance. He explained,
+with endless detail, what the life of an absolutely correct fashionable
+woman was, what it was to be an absolutely fashionable woman. He
+triumphantly took _his fashionable woman_ from Paris to Trouville, from
+Trouville to Lake Como, from Lake Como to Monte-Carlo. He drew the
+trunks of the fashionable woman, marvellous trunks, which were heaped up
+in the vestibules of first-class hotels. Besides, he had also invented a
+trunk.
+
+Then, very tactfully, he put Martha through a little examination, which
+had nothing in common with the examinations of the Sorbonne or the Hôtel
+de Ville.
+
+"Did she skate?" That's what he wanted to know first! He was himself a
+very distinguished skater. He needed a sport-loving wife. He had but
+just pronounced the word skating when suddenly the young brother (how
+precious little brothers sometimes are) exclaimed: "Ah, it's sister who
+skates well! She makes figures-of-eight. And who swims well, too--like a
+fish!"
+
+She skated, she swam, she was sport-loving. Raoul said to the young
+girl, with deep enthusiasm: "I congratulate you. A woman who can't swim
+isn't a woman."
+
+And he added, with increasing energy:
+
+"A woman who can't skate isn't a woman."
+
+When he had a strong thought, he willingly used it again in a brief but
+striking form.
+
+Martha's face beamed with joy. She was really a woman. Never had a
+sweeter word been said to her.
+
+Night had come; it was necessary, therefore, to tear one's self away
+from that exquisite conversation, and return to the parlor-car. Young
+Derame was going to sleep; so they began to prepare for the trip through
+the train.
+
+Here is the platform, the platform of the morning, the platform of the
+first meeting. She walks ahead of him, and in a whisper he says to her,
+"It's here that this morning--"
+
+She turns round, and smiling repeats, "Yes, it's here that this
+morning--"
+
+Always with that little English accent which never leaves her, even when
+she is most agitated.
+
+_It is here that this morning_--That was all, and it said all. A
+delightful evening. No more rain, no more dust. Already there was the
+soft, balmy air of the South. The moon lit that idyl at full speed.
+Spring-time everywhere, in the sky and in the hearts.
+
+"She loves me," he said to himself.
+
+"He adores me," she said to herself.
+
+How right they were to give themselves up thus, without a struggle,
+without resistance, to the inclination which carried them, quite
+naturally, towards each other. There had been between them, from the
+first word, so perfect, so complete a community of tastes, ideas, and
+sentiments. They were so well made, this little puppet and this little
+doll, to roll off, both together, gloriously in the "Chamblard coupé,"
+so well matched to walk in the world, accomplishing mechanically,
+automatically, at the right hour, in the prescribed costume, everywhere
+where it was correct to take pleasure, all the functions of fashionable
+life, and all the rituals of worldly worship.
+
+They arrive in the parlor-car. The shades are drawn over the lamps;
+travellers are stiff, drowsy, and asleep in the big red arm-chairs.
+
+"Change places," Raoul whispers to Maurice; "sit beside her. I am going
+to sit by the mother; I must speak to her."
+
+Maurice lent himself to this manoeuvre with perfect docility, Martha
+did not understand it. Why did he abandon her? Why was he talking to her
+mother, and so low, so low that she couldn't hear? What was he saying?
+What was he saying?
+
+This is what he said between Montélimar, 8.35, and Pierrelatte, 8.55:
+
+"Listen to me, madam, listen to me. I am an honest man; I wish, I
+ought, to let you know the situation, the entire situation. Let us first
+settle an important point. My father knows M. Derame."
+
+"Yes, yes, I know."
+
+"Another more important point. Let us mention the essential things
+first. My father is very rich."
+
+"I know, I know that too."
+
+"Good, then, very good. I continue. I left Paris this morning, and I
+have here in my pocket a ticket for cabin No. 27 on the _Traonaddy_,
+which leaves to-morrow at four o'clock from the Bay of Joliette for
+Suez, Aden, Colombo, and Singapore, and I shall go on board to-morrow at
+four o'clock if you don't let me hope to become your son-in-law."
+
+"Sir!"
+
+"Don't move, madam, don't move. Mlle. Martha is pretending to sleep, but
+she isn't sleeping; she is watching us, and I haven't said all yet. I am
+but just beginning. You are going to answer me--oh, I know it--that you
+don't know me, that Mlle. Martha doesn't know me. Allow me to tell you
+that Mlle. Martha and myself know each other better than three-fourths
+of engaged couples on the day of their marriage. You know how it is
+usually done. A rapid glance from afar in a theatre--one brings good
+lorgnettes, one examines. 'How do you like him?' 'Fairly, fairly.'
+Then, several days later, at a ball, in the midst of the figures of the
+quadrille, several gasping, breathless phrases are exchanged. Then a
+meeting in a picture-gallery. There, there is more intimacy, because it
+takes place in a small room. It happened to me with a young provincial.
+I had pegged away that morning at the Joanne guide, so as to be able to
+find something to say about the Raphaels and the Murillos. And at the
+end of several interviews of that sort it is over, one has made
+acquaintance, one suits the other, and the marriage is decided. Mlle.
+Martha and I are already old comrades. In the first place, to begin
+with, this morning at half-past eleven she fell into my arms."
+
+"My daughter in your arms!"
+
+"Don't jump, madam; Mlle. Martha will see you jump."
+
+Martha had, in fact, closely followed the scene with half-shut eyes, and
+said to herself, "Good gracious! what is he telling mamma? She is
+obliged to hold on to the arms of her seat to keep herself from jumping
+up."
+
+"Yes, madam, in my arms; by the greatest, by the most fortunate of
+accidents, we stumbled over each other on one of the platforms of the
+train. And since I have seen her, not in the false light of a theatre
+or a gallery, but in the full glare of sunlight. I have seen her at
+lunch, munching nuts with the prettiest teeth there are in the world; I
+have seen her, just now, in the moonlight; and I know that she skates,
+and I know that she swims, and I know she would like to have a
+pearl-gray coupé, and she ought to have it. And now I admire her in the
+semi-obscurity. Ravishing! isn't she ravishing?"
+
+"Sir, never has a mother found herself--"
+
+"In such a situation? I acknowledge it, madam, and for that very reason
+you must get out of the situation quickly; it's evident that it can't be
+prolonged."
+
+"That's true--"
+
+"Here is what I propose to you. You go to the Hôtel de Noailles; I, too,
+naturally. You have all the morning to-morrow to talk to Mlle. Martha,
+and the telephone to talk through to M. Derame. You know who I am. You
+have seen me, too, in the daylight. I have talked--talked a great deal.
+You could, you and Mlle. Martha, find out what I am, what I think. Well,
+to-morrow--what time do you expect to breakfast to-morrow?"
+
+"But I don't know. I assure you that I am choking, upset, overcome."
+
+"Let us settle on an hour all the same; eleven o'clock--will you, at
+eleven?"
+
+"If you wish."
+
+"Well, to-morrow at eleven o'clock I shall be in the dining-room of the
+hotel. If you say 'Go' I shall go; if you say 'Stay' I shall stay. Don't
+answer me; take time to reflect; it's worth while. Till to-morrow,
+madam, till to-morrow at eleven."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In the morning very interesting communications passed between Paris and
+Marseilles.
+
+When Mme. Derame entered the dining-room of the hotel at eleven o'clock,
+Raoul went straight to her, and the cavalryman, always adroit in his
+manoeuvres, had taken possession of Mlle. Martha. A short dialogue
+ensued between Raoul and Mme. Derame, who was much agitated.
+
+"They tell me there are boats every fortnight between Indo-China and
+Marseilles--you could put off your departure--merely taking another
+boat--"
+
+"Ah, thanks, madam, thanks!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At two o'clock the Derames and young Chamblard accompanied Maurice to
+the boat for Africa. On the deck of the steamer Raoul said to his
+friend:
+
+"It's understood that you are to be best man. On arriving, ask your
+colonel for leave at once. It will take place, I think, in six weeks."
+
+Raoul was mistaken. It was decidedly an express marriage; five weeks
+were sufficient.
+
+When they were mounting the steps of the Madeleine, Raoul said to
+Martha:
+
+"Twelve o'clock."
+
+"What are you thinking of?"
+
+"Ah, you too."
+
+"Twelve, the hour of the platform, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, that's it."
+
+They began to laugh, but quickly became serious, and made an
+irreproachable entry into church.
+
+They were looked at eagerly, and on all sides the following remarks were
+exchanged:
+
+"You know it's a love-match." "Yes, it appears it was a meeting on the
+train." "A lightning-stroke!" "What a charming affair!" "And so rare!"
+"Oh yes, so rare! A love-match! A true love-match!"
+
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Parisian Points of View, by Ludovic Halévy
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARISIAN POINTS OF VIEW ***
+
+***** This file should be named 15465-8.txt or 15465-8.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/4/6/15465/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/15465-8.zip b/15465-8.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b0b28e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15465-8.zip
diff --git a/15465-h.zip b/15465-h.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20ddd83
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15465-h.zip
diff --git a/15465-h/15465-h.htm b/15465-h/15465-h.htm
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..68f695f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15465-h/15465-h.htm
@@ -0,0 +1,6241 @@
+<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN"
+    "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd">
+
+<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
+  <head>
+    <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" />
+    <title>
+      The Project Gutenberg eBook of Parisian Points of View, by Ludovic Halévy.
+    </title>
+    <style type="text/css">
+/*<![CDATA[  XML blockout */
+<!--
+    p {  margin-top: .75em;
+         text-align: justify;
+         margin-bottom: .75em;
+         }
+    h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {
+         text-align: center; /* all headings centered */
+         clear: both;
+         }
+    hr { width: 33%;
+	 margin-top: 2em;
+	 margin-bottom: 2em;
+         margin-left: auto;
+         margin-right: auto;
+         clear: both;
+       }
+
+    table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;}
+
+    body{margin-left: 10%;
+         margin-right: 10%;
+        }
+
+    .linenum  {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */
+    .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;}
+    .pagenum  {position: absolute; left: 92%; font-size: smaller; text-align: right;} /* page numbers */
+    .sidenote {width: 20%; padding-bottom: .5em; padding-top: .5em;
+               padding-left: .5em; padding-right: .5em; margin-left: 1em;
+               float: right; clear: right; margin-top: 1em;
+               font-size: smaller; background: #eeeeee; border: dashed 1px;}
+
+    .bb       {border-bottom: solid 2px;}
+    .bl       {border-left: solid 2px;}
+    .bt       {border-top: solid 2px;}
+    .br       {border-right: solid 2px;}
+    .bbox     {border: solid 2px;}
+
+    .center   {text-align: center;}
+    .smcap    {font-variant: small-caps;}
+    .u        {text-decoration: underline;}
+
+    .caption  {font-weight: bold;}
+
+    .figcenter   {margin: auto; text-align: center;}
+
+    .figleft     {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top:
+                 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;}
+
+    .figright    {float: right; clear: right; margin-left: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;
+                 margin-top: 1em; margin-right: 0; padding: 0; text-align: center;}
+
+    .footnotes        {border: dashed 1px;}
+    .footnote         {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;}
+    .footnote .label  {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;}
+    .fnanchor         {vertical-align: super; font-size: .8em; text-decoration: none;}
+
+    .poem             {margin-left:10%; margin-right:10%; text-align: left;}
+    .poem br          {display: none;}
+    .poem .stanza     {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;}
+    .poem span        {display: block; margin: 0; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;}
+    .poem span.i2     {display: block; margin-left: 2em;}
+    .poem span.i4     {display: block; margin-left: 4em;}
+    // -->
+    /* XML end  ]]>*/
+    </style>
+  </head>
+<body>
+
+
+<pre>
+
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Parisian Points of View, by Ludovic Halévy
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Parisian Points of View
+
+Author: Ludovic Halévy
+
+Commentator: Brander Matthews
+
+Translator: Edith V. B. Matthews
+
+Release Date: March 25, 2005 [EBook #15465]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARISIAN POINTS OF VIEW ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+<hr style="width: 95%;" />
+
+
+
+<h4>MASTER-TALES</h4>
+
+<h1>PARISIAN</h1>
+<h1>POINTS OF VIEW</h1>
+
+<h3>BY</h3>
+<h2>LUDOVIC HAL&Eacute;VY<br /><br /><br /><br /></h2>
+
+
+<h4>TRANSLATED BY</h4>
+<h3>EDITH V.B. MATTHEWS</h3>
+
+<h4>WITH INTRODUCTION BY</h4>
+<h3>BRANDER MATTHEWS</h3>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<p class="center">HARPER &amp; BROTHERS PUBLISHERS<br />
+NEW YORK AND LONDON
+<br /><br /><br /><br /></p>
+
+
+
+
+<p class="center">Copyright, 1894, by HARPER &amp; BROTHERS.</p>
+<p class="center"><i>All rights reserved.</i>
+</p>
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>CONTENTS</h2>
+
+<div class='center'>
+<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Table of Contents">
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#INTRODUCTION"><b>INTRODUCTION</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#ONLY_A_WALTZ"><b>ONLY A WALTZ</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_DANCING_MASTER"><b>THE DANCING-MASTER</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_CIRCUS_CHARGER"><b>THE CIRCUS CHARGER</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#BLACKY"><b>BLACKY</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_MOST_BEAUTIFUL_WOMAN_IN_PARIS"><b>THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PARIS</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_STORY_OF_A_BALL_DRESS"><b>THE STORY OF A BALL-DRESS</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_INSURGENT"><b>THE INSURGENT</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#THE_CHINESE_AMBASSADOR"><b>THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR</b></a></td></tr>
+<tr><td align='left'><a href="#IN_THE_EXPRESS"><b>IN THE EXPRESS</b></a></td></tr>
+</table></div>
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="INTRODUCTION" id="INTRODUCTION"></a>INTRODUCTION</h2>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>THE SHORT STORIES OF M. LUDOVIC HAL&Eacute;VY</h2>
+
+
+<p>To most American readers of fiction I fancy
+that M. Ludovic Hal&eacute;vy is known chiefly, if not
+solely, as the author of that most charming of modern
+French novels, <i>The Abb&eacute; Constantin</i>. Some of
+these readers may have disliked this or that novel
+of M. Zola's because of its bad moral, and this or
+that novel of M. Ohnet's because of its bad taste,
+and all of them were delighted to discover in M.
+Hal&eacute;vy's interesting and artistic work a story written
+by a French gentleman for young ladies. Here
+and there a scoffer might sneer at the tale of the
+old French priest and the young women from Canada
+as innocuous and saccharine; but the story of
+the good Abb&eacute; Constantin and of his nephew, and
+of the girl the nephew loved in spite of her American
+millions&mdash;this story had the rare good fortune
+of pleasing at once the broad public of indiscriminate
+readers of fiction and the narrower circle of
+real lovers of literature. Artificial the atmosphere
+of the tale might be, but it was with an artifice at
+once delicate and delicious; and the tale itself won
+its way into the hearts of the women of America
+as it had into the hearts of the women of France.</p>
+
+<p>There is even a legend&mdash;although how solid a
+foundation it may have in fact I do not dare to discuss&mdash;there
+is a legend that the lady-superior of a
+certain convent near Paris was so fascinated by
+<i>The Abb&eacute; Constantin</i>, and so thoroughly convinced
+of the piety of its author, that she ordered all his
+other works, receiving in due season the lively volumes
+wherein are recorded the sayings and doings
+of Monsieur and Madame Cardinal, and of the two
+lovely daughters of Monsieur and Madame Cardinal.
+To note that these very amusing studies of
+certain aspects of life in a modern capital originally
+appeared in that extraordinary journal, <i>La Vie
+Parisienne</i>&mdash;now sadly degenerate&mdash;is enough to indicate
+that they are not precisely what the good
+lady-superior expected to receive. We may not
+say that <i>La Famille Cardinal</i> is one of the books
+every gentleman's library should be without; but
+to appreciate its value requires a far different knowledge
+of the world and of its wickedness than is
+needed to understand <i>The Abb&eacute; Constantin</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Yet the picture of the good priest and the portraits
+of the little Cardinals are the work of the
+same hand, plainly enough. In both of these
+books, as in <i>Criquette</i> (M. Hal&eacute;vy's only other
+novel), as in <i>A Marriage for Love</i>, and the twoscore
+other short stories he has written during the
+past thirty years, there are the same artistic qualities,
+the same sharpness of vision, the same gentle
+irony, the same constructive skill, and the same
+dramatic touch. It is to be remembered always
+that the author of <i>L'Abb&eacute; Constantin</i> is also the
+half-author of &quot;Froufrou&quot; and of &quot;Tricoche et
+Cacolet,&quot; as well as of the librettos of &quot;La Belle
+H&eacute;l&egrave;ne&quot; and of &quot;La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>In the two novels, as in the twoscore short stories
+and sketches&mdash;the <i>contes</i> and the <i>nouvelles</i> which
+are now spring-like idyls and now wintry episodes,
+now sombre etchings and now gayly-colored pastels&mdash;in
+all the works of the story-teller we see the
+firm grasp of the dramatist. The characters speak
+for themselves; each reveals himself with the swift
+directness of the personages of a play. They are
+not talked about and about, for all analysis has
+been done by the playwright before he rings up the
+curtain in the first paragraph. And the story unrolls
+itself, also, as rapidly as does a comedy. The
+movement is straightforward. There is the cleverness
+and the ingenuity of the accomplished dramatist,
+but the construction has the simplicity of the
+highest skill. The arrangement of incidents is so
+artistic that it seems inevitable; and no one is ever
+moved to wonder whether or not the tale might
+have been better told in different fashion.</p>
+
+<p>Nephew of the composer of &quot;La Juive&quot;&mdash;an
+opera not now heard as often as it deserves, perhaps&mdash;and
+son of a playwright no one of whose
+productions now survives, M. Hal&eacute;vy grew up in
+the theatre. At fourteen he was on the free-list of
+the Op&eacute;ra, the Op&eacute;ra-Comique, and the Od&eacute;on.
+After he left school and went into the civil service
+his one wish was to write plays, and so to be able
+to afford to resign his post. In the civil service
+he had an inside view of French politics, which
+gave him a distaste for the mere game of government
+without in any way impairing the vigor of his
+patriotism; as is proved by certain of the short
+stones dealing with the war of 1870 and the revolt
+of the Paris Communists. And while he did his
+work faithfully, he had spare hours to give to literature.
+He wrote plays and stories, and they were
+rejected. The manager of the Od&eacute;on declared that
+one early play of M. Hal&eacute;vy's was exactly suited
+to the Gymnase, and the manager of the Gymnase
+protested that it was exactly suited to the Od&eacute;on.
+The editor of a daily journal said that one early
+tale of M. Hal&eacute;vy's was too brief for a novel, and
+the editor of a weekly paper said that it was too
+long for a short story.</p>
+
+<p>In time, of course, his luck turned; he had plays
+performed and stories published; and at last he
+met M. Henri Meilhac, and entered on that collaboration
+of nearly twenty years' duration to which
+we owe &quot;Froufrou&quot; and &quot;Tricoche et Cacolet,&quot; on
+the one hand, and on the other the books of Offenbach's
+most brilliant operas&mdash;&quot;Barbebleue,&quot; for example,
+and &quot;La P&eacute;richole.&quot; When this collaboration
+terminated, shortly before M. Hal&eacute;vy wrote
+<i>The Abb&eacute; Constantin</i>, he gave up writing for the
+stage. The training of the playwright he could
+not give up, if he would, nor the intimacy with the
+manners and customs of the people who live, move,
+and have their being on the far side of the curtain.</p>
+
+<p>Obviously M. Hal&eacute;vy is fond of the actors and
+the actresses with whom he spent the years of his
+manhood. They appear again and again in his
+tales; and in his treatment of them there is never
+anything ungentlemanly as there was in M. Jean
+Richepin's recent volume of theatrical sketches.
+M. Hal&eacute;vy's liking for the men and women of the
+stage is deep; and wide is his knowledge of their
+changing moods. The young Criquette and the
+old Karikari and the aged Dancing-master&mdash;he
+knows them all thoroughly, and he likes them
+heartily, and he sympathizes with them cordially.
+Indeed, nowhere can one find more kindly portraits
+of the kindly player-folk than in the writings
+of this half-author of &quot;Froufrou&quot;; it is as though
+the successful dramatist felt ever grateful towards
+the partners of his toil, the companions of his
+struggles. He is not blind to their manifold weaknesses,
+nor is he the dupe of their easy emotionalism,
+but he is tolerant of their failings, and towards
+them, at least, his irony is never mordant.</p>
+
+<p>Irony is one of M. Hal&eacute;vy's chief characteristics,
+perhaps the chiefest. It is gentle when he deals
+with the people of the stage&mdash;far gentler then than
+when he is dealing with the people of Society, with
+fashionable folk, with the aristocracy of wealth.
+When he is telling us of the young loves of millionaires
+and of million-heiresses, his touch may seem
+caressing, but for all its softness the velvet paw has
+claws none the less. It is amusing to note how
+often M. Hal&eacute;vy has chosen to tell the tale of love
+among the very rich. The heroine of <i>The Abb&eacute;
+Constantin</i> is immensely wealthy, as we all know,
+and immensely wealthy are the heroines of <i>Princesse</i>,
+of <i>A Grand Marriage,</i> and of <i>In the Express</i>.<a name="FNanchor_A_1" id="FNanchor_A_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_A_1" class="fnanchor">[A]</a>
+Sometimes the heroes and the heroines
+are not only immensely wealthy, they are also of
+the loftiest birth; such, for instance, are the young
+couple whose acquaintance we make in the pages
+of <i>Only a Waltz</i>.</p>
+
+<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_A_1" id="Footnote_A_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_A_1"><span class="label">[A]</span></a> Perhaps the present writer will be forgiven if he wishes
+to record here that <i>In the Express (Par le Rapide)</i> was
+published in Paris only towards the end of 1892, while a tale
+not wholly unlike it, <i>In the Vestibule Limited</i>, was published
+in New York in the spring of 1891.</p></div>
+
+<p>There is no trace or taint of snobbery in M.
+Hal&eacute;vy's treatment of all this magnificence; there
+is none of the vulgarity which marks the pages of
+<i>Lothair</i>, for example; there is no mean admiration
+of mean things. There is, on the other hand,
+no bitterness of scourging satire. He lets us see
+that all this luxury is a little cloying and perhaps
+not a little enervating. He suggests (although he
+takes care never to say it) that perhaps wealth
+and birth are not really the best the world can
+offer. The amiable egotism of the hero of <i>In the
+Express</i>, and the not unkindly selfishness of the
+heroine of that most Parisian love-story, are set before
+us without insistence, it is true, but with an
+irony so keen that even he who runs as he reads
+may not mistake the author's real opinion of the
+characters he has evoked.</p>
+
+<p>To say this is to say that M. Hal&eacute;vy's irony is
+delicate and playful. There is no harshness in his
+manner and no hatred in his mind. We do not
+find in his pages any of the pessimism which is
+perhaps the dominant characteristic of the best
+French fiction of our time. To M. Hal&eacute;vy, as to
+every thinking man, life is serious, no doubt, but
+it need not be taken sadly, or even solemnly. To
+him life seems still enjoyable, as it must to most
+of those who have a vivid sense of humor. He is
+not disillusioned utterly, he is not reduced to the
+blankness of despair as are so many of the disciples
+of Flaubert, who are cast into the outer darkness,
+and who hopelessly revolt against the doom
+they have brought on themselves.</p>
+
+<p>Indeed, it is Merim&eacute;e that M. Hal&eacute;vy would hail
+as his master, and not Flaubert, whom most of
+his fellow French writers of fiction follow blindly.
+Now, while the author of <i>Salamnbo</i> was a romanticist
+turned sour, the author of <i>Carmen</i> was
+a sentimentalist sheathed in irony. To Gustave
+Flaubert the world was hideously ugly, and he
+wished it strangely and splendidly beautiful, and
+he detested it the more because of his impossible
+ideal. To Prosper Merim&eacute;e the world was what
+it is, to be taken and made the best of, every
+man keeping himself carefully guarded. Like Merim&eacute;e,
+M. Hal&eacute;vy is detached, but he is not disenchanted.
+His work is more joyous than Merim&eacute;e's,
+if not so vigorous and compact, and his delight
+in it is less disguised. Even in the Cardinal
+sketches there is nothing that leaves an acrid
+after-taste, nothing corroding&mdash;as there is not seldom
+in the stronger and sterner short stories of
+Maupassant.</p>
+
+<p>More than Maupassant or Flaubert or Merim&eacute;e,
+is M. Hal&eacute;vy a Parisian. Whether or not the characters
+of his tale are dwellers in the capital, whether
+or not the scene of his story is laid in the city
+by the Seine, the point of view is always Parisian.
+The <i>Circus Charger</i> did his duty in the stately
+avenues of a noble country-place, and <i>Blacky</i> performed
+his task near a rustic water-fall; but the
+men who record their intelligent actions are Parisians
+of the strictest sect. Even in the patriotic
+pieces called forth by the war of 1870, in the <i>Insurgent</i>
+and in the <i>Chinese Ambassador</i>, it is the
+siege of Paris and the struggle of the Communists
+which seem to the author most important. His
+style even, his swift and limpid prose&mdash;the prose
+which somehow corresponds to the best <i>vers de soci&eacute;t&eacute;</i>
+in its brilliancy and buoyancy&mdash;is the style of
+one who lives at the centre of things. Cardinal
+Newman once said that while Livy and Tacitus
+and Terence and Seneca wrote Latin, Cicero wrote
+Roman; so while M. Zola on the one side, and M.
+Georges Ohnet on the other, may write French, M.
+Hal&eacute;vy writes Parisian.</p>
+
+<p>BRANDER MATTHEWS.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="ONLY_A_WALTZ" id="ONLY_A_WALTZ"></a>ONLY A WALTZ</h2>
+
+
+<p>&quot;Aunt, dear aunt, don't believe a word of what
+he is going to tell you. He is preparing to fib, to
+fib outrageously. If I hadn't interrupted him at
+the beginning of his talk, he would have told you
+that he had made up his mind to marry me from
+his and my earliest childhood.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Of course!&quot; exclaimed Gontran.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Of course not,&quot; replied Marceline. &quot;He was
+going to tell you that he was a good little boy,
+having always loved his little cousin, and that our
+marriage was a delightful romance of tenderness
+and sweetness.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Why, yes, of course,&quot; repeated Gontran.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Nonsense! The truth, Aunt Louise, the real
+truth, in short, is this, never, never should we have
+been married if on the 17th of May, 1890, between
+nine and eleven o'clock, he had not lost 34,000
+points at bezique at the club, and if all the boxes
+had not been sold, that same night, at the Bouffes-Parisiens
+Theatre.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Gontran began to laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, you can laugh as much as you please!
+You know very well that but for this&mdash;on what
+does fate depend?&mdash;I should now be married and
+a duchess, it is true; but Duchess of Courtalin, and
+not Duchess of Lannilis. Well, perhaps that would
+have been better! At any rate, I wish to give
+Aunt Louise the authentic history of our marriage.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Tell away, if it amuses you,&quot; said Gontran.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, sir, it amuses me. You shall know all,
+Aunt Louise&mdash;all, absolutely all; and I beg you to
+be judge of our quarrel.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>This scene was taking place eight days after
+Marceline de Lorlauge, at the Church of the Madeleine,
+before the altar, hidden under a mountain of
+roses, had answered &quot;yes,&quot; with just the right
+amount of nervousness and emotion (neither too
+much nor too little, but exactly right), when she was
+asked if she was willing to take for husband her
+cousin, Jean Leopold Mathurin Arbert Gontran,
+Duke of Lannilis.</p>
+
+<p>This marriage had been the great marriage of the
+season. There had been an absolute crush under
+the colonnade and against the railings of the church
+to see the bride walk down those fearful steps of
+the Madeleine. What an important feat that is!
+Merely to be beautiful is not all that is needful; it
+is necessary besides to know how to be beautiful.
+There is an art about being pretty which requires
+certain preparations and study. In society, as in
+the theatre, success rarely comes at once. Mme.
+de Lannilis had the good-fortune to make her
+first appearance with decisive success. She was at
+once quite easily and boldly at home in her beauty;
+she had only to appear to triumph. Prince
+N&eacute;rins had not a moment's hesitation concerning
+it, and he it is, as every one knows, who, with
+general consent, has made himself the distributor
+of the patents of supreme Parisian elegance;
+so while the new duchess, beneath the fire of a
+thousand eyes and behind the ringing staffs, was
+taking her first steps as a young married woman
+with calm assurance, N&eacute;rins, struck with admiration,
+was giving way, under the colonnade of the
+Madeleine, to veritable transports of enthusiasm.
+He went from group to group repeating:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;She is aerial! There is no other expression
+for her&mdash;aerial! She does not walk, she glides!
+If she had the fantasy, with one little kick of her
+heel, she could raise herself lightly over the heads
+of those two tall fellows with spears, cross the
+Place de la Concorde, and go and place herself on
+the pediment of the Chamber of Deputies. Look
+at her well; that is true beauty, radiant beauty,
+blazing beauty! She is a goddess, a young goddess!
+she will reign long, gentlemen&mdash;as long as
+possible.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The young goddess, for the present, did not go
+farther than Lannilis, in Poitou, to her husband's
+home&mdash;her home&mdash;in a mansion that had seen
+many Duchesses of Lannilis, but never one more
+charming, and never, it must be said, one more absolutely
+in love. This little duchess of nineteen
+was wild about this little duke of twenty-five, who
+was jealously carrying her off for himself alone to
+a quiet and solitary retreat.</p>
+
+<p>They had arrived Thursday, the 24th of June, at
+about two o'clock&mdash;on an exquisite night beneath
+a star-spangled sky&mdash;and they were suddenly
+astounded at receiving a letter from their Aunt
+Louise, dated July 1:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Eight days' steady t&ecirc;te-&agrave;-t&ecirc;te,&quot; she wrote, &quot;is
+enough, quite enough. Trust to the experience of
+an old countrywoman, who would be delighted to
+kiss her little nephew and niece. Don't eat all
+your love in the bud&mdash;keep a little for the future.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Thursday, the 1st of July! Eight days! They
+had been eight days at Lannilis! It was impossible!
+They tried to put some order in their reflections.
+What had they done Friday, Saturday,
+and Sunday? But all was vague, and became confused
+in their minds. The days and the nights,
+and the nights and days. What had they done?
+It was always the same, same thing; and the same
+thing had somehow never been the same thing.</p>
+
+<p>They had just loved, loved, loved; and, quite given
+up to this very wise occupation, they had completely
+forgotten that near Lannilis, in the old residence
+of Chatellerault, there was dear old Aunt
+Louise, who was expecting their first bridal visit&mdash;a
+visit which was due her, for she had the best claim
+in the world, on account of her eighty-four years,
+her kindness, and also because of the gift of a
+magnificent pearl necklace to Marceline.</p>
+
+<p>So it was necessary to be resigned, to leave off
+dreaming, and to come back to reality; and it was
+during this visit that, before the old aunt, much
+amused at the quarrel, this great dispute had
+abruptly burst forth between the young married
+couple.</p>
+
+<p>Aunt Louise had accepted the position of arbitrator,
+and, presiding over the discussion, she had
+made the two contestants sit down before her in
+arm-chairs, at a respectful distance. Marceline,
+before being seated, had already taken the floor.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Every one agreed upon this point (you know
+it, Aunt Louise; mamma must often have told you
+in her letters)&mdash;every one was agreed on this point:
+that there were really only two suitable matches
+for me&mdash;the Duke of Lannilis here present, and the
+Duke of Courtalin. I had the weakness to prefer
+him&mdash;him over there. Why? I can scarcely tell-a
+childish habit, doubtless. We had played together
+when we were no higher than that at being
+little husband and wife. I had remained faithful to
+that childhood love, whereas he&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Whereas I&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;All in due season, sir, and you will lose nothing
+by waiting. However, there were all sorts of good
+reasons for preferring&mdash;the other one, who had a
+larger fortune and was of more ancient nobility.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, as to that&mdash;in money, maybe, but as to
+birth&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It is indisputable! You are both dukes by
+patent.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;We in 1663.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And the Courtalin&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In 1666 only.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Agreed.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, then?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, just wait! I am posted on the question;
+mamma studied it thoroughly when things looked,
+three months ago, as if I should be Duchess of
+Courtalin. One morning mamma went to the archives
+with an old friend of hers, a great historian,
+who is a member of the Institute. You date from
+1663, and the Courtalin from 1666; that is correct.
+But Louis XIV., in 1672, by a special edict, gave the
+precedence to the Courtalins; and you have not,
+I suppose, any idea of disputing what Louis XIV.
+thought best to do. Now, Aunt Louise, can he?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Certainly not.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But Saint Simon&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, let us leave Saint Simon alone; he is prejudice
+and inaccuracy itself! I know he is on your
+side, but that doesn't count; but I will, to be agreeable
+to you, acknowledge that you are better looking
+and taller than M. de Courtalin&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, my dear, I begin to see! You are dying
+for me to tell you that. Well, yes, you are a fairly
+handsome man; but that is only a very perishable
+advantage, and you have too much respect for conventionalities
+to wish to make that equal to the decree
+of Louis XIV. However, I loved you&mdash;I loved
+you faithfully, tenderly, fondly, stupidly; yes, stupidly,
+for when I had come out in society, the year
+before, in April, 1889, at Mme. de Fresnes's ball,
+when I had allowed my poor, little, thin shoulders
+to be seen for the first time (I must have been about
+seventeen), I noticed that the young marriageable
+men in our set (they are all quoted, noted, and labelled)
+drew away from me with strange, respectful
+deference. I appeared to be of no importance or
+interest, in spite of my name, my dowry, and my
+eyes. You see, I had singed myself. I had so ridiculously
+advertised my passion for you that I no
+longer belonged to myself; I was considered as
+belonging to you. As soon as I had put on my
+first long dress, which gave me at once the right to
+think of marriage and speak of love, I had told all
+my friends that I loved, and would never love or
+marry any one but you&mdash;you or the convent. Yes,
+I had come to that! My friends had told their
+brothers and cousins, who had repeated it to you
+(just what I wanted), but it put me out of the race.
+Dare to say, sir, that it is not all true, strictly true!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I am saying nothing&mdash;?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Because you are overcome, crushed by the evidence.
+You say nothing now, but what did you
+say last year? Last year! When I think that we
+could have been married since last year! A year,
+a whole year lost! And it was so long, and it could
+have been so short! Well, he was there, at the
+Fresnes' ball. He condescended to do me the honor
+of dancing three times with me. I came home intoxicated,
+absolutely intoxicated with joy. But that
+great happiness did not last long, for this is what
+that Gontran the next day said to his friend Robert
+d'Aigremont, who told his sister Gabrielle, who repeated
+it to me, that he saw clearly that they wished
+to marry him to his cousin Marceline. I had, the
+day before, literally thrown myself into his arms;
+he had thought right, from pure goodness of heart,
+to show some pity for the love of the little school-girl,
+so he had resolved to dance with me; but he
+had done, quite done&mdash;he wouldn't be caught again.
+He would keep carefully away from coming-out
+balls; they were too dangerous a form of gayety.
+Marriage did not tempt him in the least. He had
+not had enough of a bachelor's life yet&mdash;besides, he
+knew of nothing more absurd than those marriages
+between cousins. The true pleasure of marriage, he
+said, must be to put into one's life something new
+and unexpected, and to call by her first name, all
+at once, on Tuesday morning, a person whom one
+didn't so call Monday night. But a person whom
+one already knew well, where would be the pleasure?
+He made a movement, Aunt Louise; did you
+see?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I saw&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;He recognized the phrase.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;True. I remember&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah! but you did not say that phrase only&mdash;you
+said all the others. But that is nothing as yet, Aunt
+Louise. Do you know what was his principal objection
+to a marriage with me? Do you know what
+he told Robert? That he had seen me in evening-dress
+the night before for the first time, and that I
+was too thin! Too thin! Ah! that was a cruel
+blow to me! For it was true. I was thin. The
+evening after Gabrielle had told me that awful fact,
+that evening in undressing I looked at my poor little
+shoulders, with their poor little salt-cellars, and
+I had a terrible spasm of sorrow&mdash;a flood of tears
+that wouldn't stop&mdash;a torrent, a real torrent; and
+then mamma appeared. I was alone, disrobed, hair
+flying, studying my shoulders, deploring their meagreness&mdash;a
+true picture of despair! Mamma took
+me in her arms. 'My angel, my poor dear, what is
+the matter?' I answered only by sobbing. 'My
+child, tell me all.' Mamma was very anxious, but
+I could not speak; tears choked my voice. 'My
+dearest, do you wish to kill me?' So to reassure
+mamma I managed to say between my sobs: 'I
+am too thin, mamma; last night Gontran thought
+me too thin!' At that mamma began to laugh
+heartily; but as she was good-humored that evening,
+after laughing she explained to me that she,
+at seventeen, had been much thinner than I, and
+she promised me in the most solemn manner that
+I should grow stouter. Mamma spoke true; I
+have fattened up. Will you have the goodness, sir,
+to declare to our aunt that the salt-cellars have entirely
+disappeared, and that you cannot have against
+me, in that respect, any legitimate cause of complaint?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I will declare so very willingly; but you will permit
+me to add&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I will permit you no such thing. I have the
+floor, let me speak; but you will soon have a chance
+to justify yourself. I intend to put you through a
+little cross-questioning.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I'll wait, then&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, do. So last spring I began my first campaign.
+I do not know, Aunt Louise, what the customs
+were in your time, but I know that to-day, at
+the present time, the condition of young girls is one
+of extreme severity. We are kept confined, closely
+confined, till eighteen, for mamma was very indulgent
+in bringing me out when I was only seventeen;
+but mamma is goodness itself, and then she isn't
+coquettish for a sou&mdash;she didn't mind admitting that
+she had a marriageable daughter. All mothers are
+not like that, and I know some who are glad to put
+off the public and official exhibition of their poor
+children so as to gain a year. At the same time
+that they race at Longchamps and Chantilly the
+great fillies of the year, they take from their boxes
+the great heiresses of the year who are ripe for matrimony,
+and in a series of white balls given for that
+purpose, between Easter Sunday and the Grand
+Prix, they are made to take little trial gallops before
+connoisseurs. They have to work rapidly and find
+a buyer before the Grand Prix; for after that all is
+up, the young girls are packed back to their governesses,
+dancing-masters, and literary professors.
+The campaign is over. That is all for the year.
+They are not seen again, the poor things, till after
+Lent. So mamma took me last year to a dozen
+large balls, which were sad and sorrowful for me.
+He was not there! He didn't wish to marry! He
+told it to every one insolently, satirically. He
+would never, never, never marry! He told it to
+me.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;At your mother's request.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, that is true. I know since that it was at
+mamma's petition that he talked that way; she
+hoped it would prevent my being stubborn in my
+craze for him.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Craze!&quot; exclaimed Aunt Louise.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Excuse me, Aunt Louise, it is a word of to-day.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And means&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It means a sort of unexplainable, absurd, and
+extravagant love that comes without its being possible
+to know why&mdash;in short, Aunt Louise, exactly
+the love I have for him.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Much obliged! But you do not tell everything.
+You do not say that your mother desired your marriage
+with Courtalin&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, of course; mamma was quite right. M. de
+Courtalin has a thousand sterling merits that you
+have not&mdash;that you will never have; and then M. de
+Courtalin had a particularly good point in mamma's
+eyes: he did not find me too thin, and he asked for
+my hand in marriage. One day about four o'clock
+(that was the 2d of June last year) mamma came
+into my room with an expression on her face
+I had never seen before. 'My child,' she said&mdash;'my
+dear child!' She had no need to finish; I had
+understood. M. de Courtalin all the evening before,
+at the Princess de Viran's, had hovered about
+me, and the next day his mother had come to declare
+to mamma that her son knew of nothing more
+delightful than my face. I answered that I knew
+of nothing less delightful than M. de Courtalin's
+face. I added that, besides, I was in no hurry to
+marry. Mamma tried to make me hear reason. I
+was going to let slip an admirable chance. The
+Duke of Courtalin was the target of all the ambitious
+mothers&mdash;a great name, a great position, a great
+fortune! I should deeply regret some day to have
+shown such disdain for advantages like these, etc.
+And to all these things, which were so true and
+sensible, I could find only one word to say: his
+name, Gontran, Gontran, Gontran! Gontran or the
+convent, and the most rigorous one of all, the Carmel,
+in sackcloth and ashes! Oh, Aunt Louise, do
+look at him! He listens to all this with an unbearable
+little air of fatuity.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You have forbidden me to speak.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;True. Don't speak; but you have deserved a little
+lesson in modesty and humility. Good gracious!
+you think perhaps it was for your merits that I chose
+you, insisted on you. You would be far from the
+mark, my poor dear. It is, on the contrary, because
+of your want of merit. Now, as to M. de Courtalin.
+Why, there is a man of merit! I had, from morning
+to night, M. de Courtalin's merit dinned into
+my ears, and that was why I had taken a dislike to
+him. What I dreaded more than anything for a
+husband was what is called a superior man; and
+mamma went the wrong way to work to win me
+over to her candidate when she said to me: 'He is
+a very intelligent, very serious, very deep-thinking,
+and very distinguished man; he has spent his
+youth honorably; he has been a model son, and
+would make a model husband.' It made me shiver
+to hear mamma talk so. I know nothing more
+awful than people who are always, always right;
+who, under all circumstances, give evidence of unfailing
+good sense; who crush us with their superiority.
+With Gontran I am easy, quite easy. It
+isn't he who would crush me with his superiority.
+I do not know much, Aunt Louise, but my ignorance
+beside his is learning. He had great trouble
+in getting his baccalaureate. He flunked three
+times.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Flunked!&quot; exclaimed Aunt Louise.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It means failed. He taught me the word. All
+the queer words I use, Aunt Louise, were taught
+me by him.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Come, now&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, all. I can see him now, coming to the
+house one day, and I can hear him say, 'Flunked
+again!' That was the third time. Then he went
+and took his examination in the country at a little
+college at Douai; it was easier, and he passed at
+last. M. de Courtalin has never been flunked; he
+is everything that one can be at his age: bachelor,
+advocate, lawyer, and grave, exact, and severe in
+his language, and dressed&mdash;always in a black
+frock-coat, with two rows of buttons, always all
+buttoned&mdash;in short, a man of the past. And what a
+future before him! Already a member of the General
+Council, and very eloquent, very influential,
+he will be deputy in three years, and then, when
+we have a government that people of our class can
+recognize, minister, ambassador, and I know not
+what! The highest offices wait for him, and all
+his ambitions will be legitimate when he has a
+chance to put his superior talents at the service of
+the monarchy. That's one of mamma's phrases.
+Whereas you, my poor Gontran&mdash;you will never be
+anything other than a very funny and very nice
+old dear, whom I shall lead as I like with my little
+finger.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh! oh!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You will see. Besides, you have seen for eight
+days.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The first eight days don't count.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I will continue, rest assured. I love you, besides.
+I love you, and do you know why? It is because
+you are not a man of the past; you are distinctly
+modern, very modern. Look at him, Aunt
+Louise. Isn't he very nice, very well turned out,
+very modern, in fact&mdash;I repeat it&mdash;in his little pearl-gray
+suit. He is devoted to his clothes. He consults
+for hours and hours with his tailor, which
+delights me, for I intend to consult for hours and
+hours with my dress-maker. And he will pay the
+bills without a tremor, for he will be charmed to see
+me very stylish and very much admired. Ah, we
+shall make the most brilliant and most giddy little
+couple! He is modern, I shall be modern, we shall
+be modern! After three, four, or five weeks (we
+do not know exactly) dedicated to pure love, we
+shall take flight towards the country, where one has
+a good time; and then we shall be talked about,
+Aunt Louise, we shall be talked about. And now,
+where was I in my story? I am sure I do not
+know at all.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Nor I.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Nor I.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, I know. Mme. de Courtalin had come to
+ask my hand for her honorable son, and when
+mamma had spoken to me of that I had exclaimed,
+'Sooner the convent!' I do not know
+exactly what mamma said to Mme. de Courtalin&mdash;at
+any rate, I was left alone for the time being.
+There was a rush to the Grand Prix, and then a
+general breaking-up. We went to spend a month
+at Aix-les-Bains for papa's complaint, and then a
+fortnight here, Aunt Louise; and then, do you remember,
+you received the confessions of my poor
+torn heart. Ah! I must say you are the only
+young member of the family&mdash;you were the only
+one who did not make a long face when I spoke of
+my love for that rogue. Mamma, however, had
+preached to you, and you vaunted the advantages
+of an alliance with Courtalin, but without conviction.
+I felt that you were at bottom on my side
+against mamma, and it was so easily explained&mdash;mamma
+could not understand me, whereas you!
+They think we little girls know nothing, and we
+know everything. I knew that mamma had made a
+worldly marriage, which had, however, turned out
+very well; and you, Aunt Louise, had married for
+love. You must have battled to get the husband
+you wished, and you had him, and you resolutely
+conquered your happiness. Yes, I knew all that;
+I dared even to allude to those things of the past,
+and those memories brought a smile to your lips
+and tears to your eyes. And to-day again, Aunt
+Louise, there it is, the smile, and there are the
+tears.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Marceline interrupted her talk, affectionately
+threw herself on her Aunt Louise's neck, and kissed
+her with all her heart. She wiped away the tears
+with kisses, and only the smile remained. Yes,
+Aunt Louise remembered that she had had hard
+work to get as husband a certain handsome officer
+of the Royal Guard, who was there present at
+the scene, in an old decorated frame, standing up
+with his helmet on his head in a martial attitude,
+leaning on the hilt of his cavalry sabre.</p>
+
+<p>He, too, had been modern, that conqueror of the
+Trocadero, when he entered Madrid in 1822 on the
+staff of the Duke of Angoul&ecirc;me. And she, too, old
+Aunt Louise, had been modern, very modern, the
+day when, from a window of the Palace of the Tuileries,
+during a military parade, she had murmured
+this phrase in her mother's ear: &quot;Mamma, there is
+the one I love.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, how cowardly we are!&quot; exclaimed Marceline,
+abruptly, changing her tone. &quot;Yes, how cowardly
+we are to love them&mdash;those, those dreadful
+men, who know so little how to care for us. I say
+that for Gontran. What was he doing while I
+was telling you my sorrows, Aunt Louise? Quite
+calmly taking a trip around the world. But let him
+speak now, let him speak, especially as I cannot
+any more. In all my life I have never made so
+long a speech. Speak, sir; why were you going
+round the world?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Because your mother, on the morning of the
+day before you departed for Aix-les-Bains, had had
+a very long conversation with me.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And she had said to you?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;She had said to me, 'Put a stop to this; marry
+her or go away, and let her not hear of you again
+till her marriage.' And as I had for some time
+been debating whether to take a little trip to Japan,
+I started for Japan.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;He started for Japan! That goes without saying.
+You hear him, Aunt Louise; he admits that
+this time last year he preferred to expatriate himself
+rather than marry me. So there he was in
+America, in China, and in Japan. This lasted ten
+months; from time to time, humbly and timidly, I
+asked for news of him. He was very well; his
+last letter was from Shanghai, or Sidney, or Java.
+For me, not a word, not a remembrance&mdash;nothing,
+nothing, absolutely nothing!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I had promised your mother. One day at Yokohama
+I had bought you a lot of fascinating little
+things. The box was done up and addressed to
+you when I remembered my promise. I sent all
+those Japaneseries to your mother, thinking that
+you would have your share of the spoil.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I had nothing at all. The arrival of the box
+was kept a secret. It would have been necessary
+to have pronounced your name before me, and
+mamma didn't wish that. On the other hand, there
+was always one name on her lips&mdash;Courtalin. Still
+Courtalin, and always Courtalin. He had all qualities,
+all virtues. Then he had just lost his aunt
+in Brittany, and he had inherited something. It
+was thought that he would only have a quarter of
+the property, and he had had three-quarters. Besides,
+it was a country-seat, and all around this
+seat, an admirable domain, sixteen or seventeen
+hundred hectares. I say it to my shame, Aunt
+Louise, to my great shame, the thought of giving
+in came to me; and then, to be absolutely frank,
+it rather pleased me to become a duchess; so
+mamma made me out a list of all possible husbands
+for me, and there was no other duke in the
+list but M. de Courtalin. There was, of course,
+the little Count of Limiers, who would be duke
+some day. But when? His father is forty-five and
+an athlete, and has an iron constitution. So I was
+obliged to admit it when I talked it over with
+mamma in the evening. To be duchess it was
+necessary to agree on M. de Courtalin. Mamma,
+however, was perfect, and delightfully gentle. She
+did not press me, nor treat me harshly, nor torment
+me; she waited. Only I knew she had said to
+Mme. de Nelly: 'It will be accomplished, my dear,
+before the 20th of June. It must be.' Papa
+was obliged to return to Aix for his complaint.
+The 20th of June was the date for his departure.
+I no longer said, 'No, no, no!' with that savage
+energy of the year before. You see, Gontran,
+I open my whole heart to you; you will have, I
+hope, soon the same courage and sincerity.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You may be sure of it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I was waiting, however&mdash;I was waiting for his
+return. I wished to have with him a very serious
+conversation. It is quite true that I felt like fainting
+with fear at the mere thought of that explanation;
+but I was none the less resolved to speak, and
+I would speak. It seemed to me impossible that
+he had not thought of me sometimes out there in
+China and Cochin China. We had always loved
+each other (till the unhappy day on which I had
+become marriageable) with a tender and faithful
+affection! I knew that he would arrive in Paris
+during the night of the 2d or 3d of April. Very
+certainly the day after he would come and see us.
+And so, in fact, towards two o'clock he came.
+Mamma hadn't finished dressing; I was alone. I
+ran to him. 'Ah, how glad I am to see you!' and
+I kissed him with effusion. Then he, very much
+moved, yes, very much moved, kissed me, and began
+to say to me such nice and pretty things that I
+felt my heart melting. Ah, if mamma hadn't come
+for five minutes&mdash;I would only have asked for five
+minutes!&mdash;and how quickly it would have turned
+into love-making our little explanation!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, that is true. The impulse that threw you
+into my arms was so sincere. Ah, very certainly
+it was that day, at that moment, that I began to love
+you. And then I looked at you. You were no
+longer the same. There was such great and happy
+change.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;He does not dare say it, Aunt Louise, but I
+will say it: I had become fatter. Ah, when I
+think that I might be Duchess of Courtalin if I
+had remained thin. Those men! Those men!
+What wretches! But mamma came in, then papa,
+and then my brother George. No explanation possible!
+There they all were engaged in an odious
+conversation on the comparative merits of the
+English and French boats&mdash;the English ones are
+faster, the food on the French ones is better, etc.
+It was charming! At the end of an hour Gontran
+went away, but not without giving me a very tender
+and eloquent hand-shake. I could wish nothing
+more speaking than that hand-shake. But mamma,
+who was observing us attentively, had clearly seen
+our two hands, after having found a way to say
+very pleasant things, had had a great deal of trouble
+in separating. I expected, of course, to see him
+the next day. Did you come?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And the day after that?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, nor then.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;At last, after three days, mamma took me to
+the races at the Bois de Boulogne. We arrived,
+and there at once, two steps from me, I saw him.
+But no, it was no longer he; frigid greeting, frigid
+good-day, frigid hand-shake, frigid words, and very
+few of them&mdash;scarcely a few sentences, awkward
+and embarrassed. Then he was lost in the crowd,
+and that was all. He did not appear again. I
+was dumfounded, overcome, crushed.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But it was your mother who&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, I know now; but I did not know that day.
+Yes, it was mamma. Oh, must I not love mamma
+to have forgiven her that?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;She had come to me very early in the morning
+the day after the very eloquent hand-shake and
+there, in tears&mdash;yes, literally in tears (she was sobbing)&mdash;she
+had appealed to my sense of honor, of
+delicacy, of integrity. 'You both had,' she said to
+me, 'yesterday, on seeing each other again after a
+long absence, a little spasm of emotion. That is
+all right; but you must stop there, and not prolong
+this foolishness,' And, just as I was going to protest:
+'Oh yes; foolishness!' 'Remember, Marceline's
+happiness is at stake. You have no right to
+compromise her. You come back from China all
+at once, and your abrupt return will break off more
+sensible, more studied arrangements. M. de Courtalin
+is thirty-four; he is a man of great knowledge
+and wisdom. However, I know that that is only a
+secondary consideration; but love passes away, and
+money remains, and M. de Courtalin is richer, very
+much richer, than you. With him Marceline will
+have quite a grand position. Whereas you, you
+know how I love you, and I know how worthy you
+are of being loved. You are charming, charming,
+charming.' It was your mother who spoke thus.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I know; I know.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Yes, charming; but when I have said that, I
+have said all. So I will ask you this question, and
+I expect from you a faithful answer: Have you
+those solid qualities which alone can make a husband,
+a true husband? Marceline is a little light-headed,
+a little frivolous, a little coquettish.' It is
+always your mother who is speaking.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I know; I know.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I was embarrassed, Aunt Louise; it seemed to
+me that that speech was not without reason. I
+hadn't a very high idea of myself as a husband,
+and even now I ask myself&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't ask yourself anything. Be an affectionate
+husband, and you will have all the virtues.
+Nothing simpler, as you see. You can go on.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, your mother was so skilfully persuasive
+that the day after, at the races, I gave that cold
+greeting.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And so I, that same day, on entering the
+house, threw myself into mamma's arms, exclaiming,
+'Yes, I am willing to marry M. de Courtalin!'
+Ah, how many times between that day and
+the 16th of May I threw myself into mamma's
+arms! I did nothing else. Mamma got used to
+it, and never saw me appear without mechanically
+opening her arms. 'Yes, I am willing,' and sometimes,
+'No, I am not.' But the 'No, I am nots'
+became fewer and fewer. M. de Courtalin, besides,
+was perfect; a model of tact, of gentleness,
+and of resignation. He waited, always in his black
+frock-coat, always buttoned, with an inexhaustible
+patience. Mamma was, in short, pledged to Mme.
+de Courtalin, and I felt the circle tighten round
+me. The papers announced, in a covert but transparent
+way, that there was question of an alliance
+between two families of the Faubourg Saint-Germain,
+and they made it pretty clear that it concerned
+two important families. I already received
+vague congratulations, and I dared respond only
+by vague denials. The morning of the famous
+17th of May mamma had said to me, 'Come,
+my child, don't make a martyr of that poor boy.
+Since it is to be &quot;yes,&quot; for it will be &quot;yes,&quot; you
+know yourself, say &quot;yes&quot; at once.' I had obtained
+only a miserable respite of twenty-four
+hours; and things were thus when, still on the 17th
+of May, mamma and I arrived, a little late (after
+eleven), at Mme. de Vernieux's, who was giving a
+ball, a very large ball. I went in, and I had at
+once the feeling that I must be looking extremely
+well that evening. They formed into a little
+hedge along my way, and I heard a little 'oh!'
+of surprise, and a big 'ah!' of admiration which
+went straight to my heart. I had had already in
+society certain successes, but never any as marked
+as that one. M. de Courtalin came towards me.
+He wished to engage me for all the waltzes, for all
+the quadrilles, for the entire evening, for the night,
+for life. I answered him: 'Later, presently, we will
+see. I feel a little tired.' The fact was I hadn't
+the heart to dance. Mamma and I took our seats.
+A waltz began. Mamma scolded softly: 'Dance
+with him, my child, I beg.' I didn't listen to her.
+I was abstractedly looking around the room when
+suddenly I saw in a corner two eyes fixed, fastened,
+pinioned on me&mdash;two eyes that I well knew, but
+that I had some difficulty in recognizing, for they
+were tremendously enlarged by a sort of stupor.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Say by overwhelming admiration.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;As you please But it is here, Aunt Louise,
+that my interrogation will begin. Why and how
+were you there? Where had you dined, Gontran?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;At the club.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And what did you intend to do after dinner?
+Come to Mme. de Vernieux's?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No; Robert d'Aigremont and I had meant to
+go to the Bouffes-Parisiens.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You did not go? Why?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;We had telephoned from the club to have a
+box; all were sold&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;So you said to Robert&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I said to Robert, 'Let's play bezique;' and I
+was beaten by one of those streaks of bad luck&mdash;34,000
+points in a dozen games&mdash;so thoroughly
+that towards half-past ten I thought that bezique
+had lasted long enough&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And so&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And so&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;So Robert wished to bring you to Mme. de
+Vernieux's. And you didn't want to go! If
+you hadn't come, however, and if there had been
+a box at the Bouffes-Parisiens, or if you had won
+at bezique, my marriage with M. de Courtalin
+would have been publicly announced the next day.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, but I came; and there I was in the corner
+looking at you, looking at you, looking at you.
+It was you, and yet not you&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I, immediately on seeing the way you were looking
+at me, understood that something extraordinary
+was going to happen. Your eyes shone, burned,
+blazed!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Because I had discovered that you were simply
+the prettiest woman of the ball, where all the prettiest
+women of Paris were. Yes, the prettiest, and
+such shoulders, such shoulders!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ripe! in fact, I was ripe!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;My head was turned at once. I saw Courtalin
+manoeuvring and trying to get near you. I understood
+that there was not a moment to be lost. To
+reach there ahead of Courtalin I threw myself intrepidly
+into the midst of the room, among the waltzers,
+pushing and being pushed. I forged a passage
+and tore into rags one of the lace flounces of Mme.
+de Lornans&mdash;she hasn't yet forgiven me. But I
+got there&mdash;I got there before Courtalin, and threw
+myself on you, and took you round your waist
+(I can still hear your little cry), and I dragged
+you off.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Mamma had scarcely time to scream 'Marceline,
+Marceline!' when I was there no more. He
+had lifted me off, and carried me away; and we
+were waltzing wildly, furiously!&mdash;oh, what a waltz!&mdash;and
+he was saying to me: 'I love you! I adore
+you! You are grace and beauty itself! There is
+only one pretty woman here&mdash;you; and it is I who
+will be your husband. I, do you hear? I, and not
+another!' And I, quite suffocated with surprise,
+pleasure, and emotion, allowed myself to be nearly
+carried by him, but I kept begging him to speak
+lower. 'Anything you wish; yes, I will be your
+wife; but take care&mdash;you will be heard&mdash;you will be
+heard.'&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That is what I wished; and I continued, 'I love
+you! I adore you!'&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Then I, absolutely breathless: 'Not so fast.
+I pray, not so fast; I shall fall. I assure you everything
+is going round, everything is going round.
+Let us stop.' 'No, no; don't let's stop. Keep on
+still. If we stop your mother will separate us, and
+I have still so many things to say to you&mdash;so many
+things, so many things. Swear to me that you will
+be my wife.' 'Yes, I swear it; but enough, enough&mdash;'
+I was smothering. He heard nothing. He was
+going, going like a madman. We had become a
+hurricane, a whirlwind, a cyclone. We caused surprise
+and fright. No one danced any more, but
+looked at us. And he held me so close, and his
+face was so near my face, his lips so near my lips,
+that all at once I felt myself giving way. I slipped,
+and let myself into his arms. A cloud passed
+before my eyes; I could not speak nor think;
+then blankness. Everything had disappeared before
+me in a vertigo not too disagreeable, I must
+say. I had fainted, absolutely fainted.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The next day our marriage was decided, perfectly
+decided. Our waltz had caused scandal.
+That was just what I wanted.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;There, Aunt Louise, is the history of our marriage,
+and I want to-day to draw this conclusion:
+it is that I was the first to begin to love, and I shall
+have, consequently, one day, when it pleases me,
+the right to stop the first.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, no, indeed; tell her, Aunt Louise, that she
+will never have that right&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>A new quarrel threatened to break out.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;This, my children,&quot; said the old aunt, &quot;is all I
+have to say: she did, in truth, start the first to love;
+but it seems to me, Gontran, that you started all at
+once at such a great pace that you must have
+caught up with her.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Passed her, Aunt Louise.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh no!&quot; exclaimed Marceline.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh yes&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh no&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well,&quot; continued Aunt Louise, &quot;try never to
+have any other quarrels than that one. Try to walk
+always in life step by step, side by side, and heart
+to heart. I have seen many inventions since I was
+born, and the world is no longer what it was then.
+But there is one thing to which inventions have
+made no difference, and never will. That thing
+you have; keep it. It is love! Love each other,
+children, as strongly and as long as possible.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And Aunt Louise wept another tear, and smiled
+on looking at the portrait of the officer of the Royal
+Guard.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="THE_DANCING_MASTER" id="THE_DANCING_MASTER"></a>THE DANCING-MASTER</h2>
+
+
+<p>I was dining at the house of some friends, and
+in the course of the evening the hostess said to me:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Do you often go to the opera?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, very often.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And do you go behind the scenes?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, I go behind.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Then you can do me a favor. In the ballet
+department there's an old man called Morin, who
+is perfectly respectable, it seems. He is the little
+B&mdash;&mdash;'s dancing-master. He gives excellent lessons.
+I should like to have him for my little girls,
+so ask him if he could come twice a week.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>I willingly undertook the delicate mission.</p>
+
+<p>The next day, February 17, 1881, about ten in
+the evening, I arrived at the opera, and went behind
+the scenes to search for Monsieur Morin.
+&quot;The Prophet&quot; was being played, and the third
+act had just begun. On the stage the Anabaptists
+were singing forcibly:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span>&quot;Du sang! que Judas succombe!<br /></span>
+<span>Du sang! Dansons sur leur tombe!<br /></span>
+<span>Du sang! Voila l'h&eacute;catombe<br /></span>
+<span>Que Dieu nous demande encor!&quot;<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>Axes were raised over the heads of a crowd
+of hapless prisoners, who were barons, bishops,
+monks, and grand ladies. In the wings, balanced
+on their skates, all the ballet-girls were waiting the
+right moment to</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span>&quot;Effleurer la glace<br /></span>
+<span>Sans laisser de trace.&quot;<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>I respectfully begged one of the young Westphalian
+peasant-girls to point out to me the man
+named Morin.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Morin,&quot; she replied, &quot;is not one of the skaters.
+Look, he is on the stage. That's he over there, the
+one who is doing the bishop; that bishop, you see,
+who is being pushed and pulled. Wait, he will be
+off directly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>One of the Anabaptist leaders intervened, however,
+declaring that the nobles and priests who
+could pay ransom should be spared. Morin escaped
+with his life, and I had the honor of being
+presented to him by the little Westphalian peasant-girl.</p>
+
+<p>He had quite a venerable air, with his long gray
+beard and his fine purple robe with his large pastoral
+cross. While he was arranging somewhat
+his costume, which had been so roughly pulled by
+those violent Anabaptists, I asked him if he would
+be willing to give lessons to two young girls of
+good family.</p>
+
+<p>The pious bishop accepted with alacrity. His
+price was ten francs an hour.</p>
+
+<p>The little skaters had gone on the stage, and
+were performing wonderful feats. The wings had
+suddenly become calm and silent. We gave ourselves
+up, his Reverence and myself, to a little
+friendly chat.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, sir,&quot; his Highness said to me, &quot;I give
+dancing lessons. I have many patrons among the
+aristocracy and the bankers. I have no reason to
+complain; and yet one must admit things were
+better once, much better. Dancing is going out,
+sir, dancing is going out.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Is it possible?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It is as I have the honor of telling you. Women
+still learn to dance; but no longer the young
+men, sir, no longer. Baccarat, races, and the minor
+theatres&mdash;that's what they enjoy. It's a little the
+fault of the Government.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;How can that be?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;M. Jules Ferry has recently rearranged the
+curriculum of the University. He has made certain
+studies obligatory&mdash;modern languages, for instance.
+I don't blame him for that; the study of
+modern languages has great advantages. But dancing,
+sir; nothing has been done for dancing, and it
+is dancing which ought, after all, to have been made
+obligatory. There ought to be a dancing-master
+in every high-school, and a normal-school for
+dancing with examinations and competitions in
+dancing. Dancing ought to be studied the same
+as Latin or Greek. Dancing, too, is a language,
+and a language that every well-bred man ought to
+be able to speak. Well, do you know what happens
+nowadays? Sometimes it happens, sir, that diplomatic
+posts are given to people who get confused
+in the figures of a quadrille, and who are incapable
+of waltzing for two minutes. They know very well
+that their education is incomplete. Quite lately a
+young man came to me&mdash;a young man of great
+merit, it seems, except in regard to dancing. He
+had just been attached to a great embassy. He
+had never danced in his life&mdash;never. Do you understand?
+Never! It is scarcely to be credited, and
+yet it is true. That's the way M. Barth&eacute;l&eacute;my-Saint-Hilaire
+picks them out. Oh, this beard smothers
+me! Will you permit me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Certainly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He took off his gray beard, and thus looked much
+less venerable. He then continued:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I said to this young man: 'We will try, but it
+will be hard work. One oughtn't to begin dancing
+at twenty-eight.' I limbered him up as best I could.
+I had only two weeks to do it in. I begged him to
+put off his departure, to obtain a reprieve of three
+or four months&mdash;I could have made something of
+him. He would not. He went without knowing
+anything. I often think of him. He will represent
+us out there; he will represent us very badly; he will
+not be an honor to his country. Please to remember
+that he may be called upon to take part in some
+official quadrille&mdash;to dance, for instance, with an
+archduchess. Well, if he slips up in it, with his
+archduchess, it will be charming! All this is very
+sad indeed. I am a Republican, sir, an old Republican,
+and it is painful to think that the republic is
+represented by diplomats who cannot distinguish
+between a change of foot and a simple step. Do
+you know what is said in foreign courts? 'Why,
+who are those savages that France sends us?'
+Yes, that's what they say. The diplomatic corps
+in the time of the Empire was not brilliant. Oh
+no; those gentlemen did many foolish things. Oh
+yes; but still they knew how to dance!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And the good old bishop, seeing that I listened
+with much interest, went on with his brilliant improvisation.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Dancing, sir, is not merely a pleasure, an amusement;
+no, it is of great social interest. Why, the
+question of marriage is closely connected with dancing.
+At present, in France, marriage is languishing.
+That is proved by statistics. Well, I am convinced
+that if there are fewer marriages it is because
+there is less dancing. Consider this first of all,
+that to know how to dance well, very well, is, for
+an agreeable young man who is without fortune,
+a great advantage in society. One of my pupils,
+sir, has recently married extremely well. He was
+a very ordinary kind of youth, who had tried everything
+and had succeeded in nothing; but he was a
+first-rate waltzer, and he danced away with two
+millions.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Two millions!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, two millions, and they were two cash millions;
+she was an orphan, no father nor mother&mdash;all
+that can be dreamed of. He clasped that young
+lady (she was very plump). Well, in his arms, she
+felt herself light as a feather. She thought of but
+one thing&mdash;waltzing with him. She was as one
+wild. He gave her a new sensation, and what is
+it women desire above all things? To have new
+sensations, in short, she refused marquises, counts,
+and millionaires. She wanted him only. She got
+him, and he was penniless, and his name is Durand.
+Ah, do not repeat his name; I oughtn't to
+have told you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't be afraid.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;After all, you can repeat it; it doesn't matter, it's
+such a common name. There is public policy in love-matches
+which cause a rich girl to marry a poor
+man, or a poor girl to marry a rich man. It sets
+money circulating, it prevents its remaining in the
+same place, it keeps capital moving. Well, three-fourths
+of the love-matches were formerly made
+by the dance. Now there are short interviews in
+parlors, in galleries, and at the Op&eacute;ra Comique.
+They chat; that's all right, but chatting is not
+sufficient. Wit is something, but not everything.
+A waltz furnishes much knowledge that conversation
+cannot. Dress-makers nowadays are so
+wily. They know how to bring out this point and
+hide that; they remodel bad figures. They give
+plumpness and roundness to the thin; they make
+hips, shoulders&mdash;everything, in fact. One doesn't
+know what to expect, science has made such advances.
+The eye may be deceived, but the hand
+of an experienced dancer never! A waltzer with
+tact knows how to find out the exact truth about
+things.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh! oh!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Remaining all the time, sir, perfectly respectful
+and perfectly reserved. Good heavens! look at
+myself, for instance. It is to waltzing that I owe
+my happiness. Mme. Morin was not then Mme.
+Morin. I kept my eye on her, but I hesitated.
+She appeared thin, and&mdash;well, I'll admit that to
+marry a thin woman didn't suit my ideas. You
+know every one has his ideals. So, sir, I was
+still hesitating, when one evening, at the wedding
+of one of my friends, a very capable young man,
+a deputy manager of a department at the Ministry
+of Religion, they started a little dance. For
+the first waltz I asked the one who was to be my
+companion through life. Immediately I felt in my
+hand a delightful figure&mdash;one of those full but supple
+figures; and while waltzing, quite enchanted, I
+was saying to myself, 'She isn't really thin! she
+isn't really thin!' I took her back to her place
+after the waltz, and went at once to her mother to
+ask for her hand, which was granted me. For fourteen
+years I have been the happiest of men, and
+perhaps I shouldn't have made that marriage if I
+hadn't known how to waltz. You see, sir, the results
+of a waltz?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Perfectly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That is not all, sir. Thanks to dancing, one
+discovers not only the agreeable points of a person,
+the fulness of her figure, the lithesomeness of
+her waist, but also, in a briskly led waltz, a little
+examination of the health and constitution of a
+woman can be had. I remember one evening
+twelve or so years ago&mdash;in the Rue Le Peletier, in
+the old Op&eacute;ra-house, which has burned down&mdash;I
+was on the stage awaiting my cue for the dance
+in 'William Tell,' you know, in the third act. Two
+subscribers were talking quite close to me, in the
+wings. One of the gentlemen was an old pupil of
+mine. I have had so many pupils! Without wishing
+to, I heard scraps of the conversation, and these
+two sentences struck my ear: 'Well, have you decided?'
+'Oh,' replied my pupil, 'I find her very
+charming, but I have heard that she is weak in the
+lungs.' Then, sir, I did a very unusual thing for
+me. I begged pardon for having heard unintentionally,
+and I said to my old pupil: 'I think I
+have guessed that a marriage is in question. Will
+you authorize me to give you a piece of advice&mdash;advice
+drawn from the practice of my profession?
+Do they allow this young lady to waltz?' You know
+there are mothers who do not permit&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I know, I know.&quot;</p>
+
+
+<p>We had arrived at this point in that interesting
+conversation when the ballet ended. The bishop
+and myself were assailed by an actual whirlwind
+of skaters, and my little Westphalian peasant-girl
+found me where she had left me.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I declare!&quot; she said to me, &quot;so you come to
+confess at the opera? Give him absolution, Morin,
+and give it to me, too. Now then, come along
+to the greenroom.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>She took my arm, and we went off together, while
+the excellent Morin, with gravity and dignity beneath
+his sacred ornaments, withstood the shock
+of this avalanche of dancers.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="THE_CIRCUS_CHARGER" id="THE_CIRCUS_CHARGER"></a>THE CIRCUS CHARGER</h2>
+
+
+<p>After George had related how he had been married
+off at twenty-two by his aunt, the Baroness
+de Stilb, Paul said: &quot;<i>I</i> was married off by a circus
+charger. I was very nearly forty years of age, and
+I felt so peacefully settled in my little bachelor
+habits that, in the best faith in the world, on all
+occasions, I swore by the gods never to run the
+great risk of marriage; but I reckoned without the
+circus charger.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It was in the last days of September, 1864. I
+had just arrived from Baden-Baden, and my intention
+was to spend only twenty-four hours in Paris.
+I had invited four or five of my friends&mdash;Calli&egrave;res,
+Bernheim, Frondeville, and Valreas&mdash;to my place in
+Poitou for the shooting season. They were to
+come in the first part of October, and it needed a
+week to put all in order at Roche-Targ&eacute;. A letter
+from my overseer awaited me in Paris, and the
+letter brought disastrous news; the dogs were well,
+but out of the dozen hunting horses that I had
+there, five, during my sojourn at Baden, had fallen
+sick or lame, and I found myself absolutely forced
+to get new horses.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I made a tour of the Champs-Elys&eacute;es sellers,
+who showed me as hunters a fine collection of
+broken&mdash;down skeletons. Average price, three
+thousand francs. Roulette had treated me badly of
+late, and I was neither in the humor, nor had I the
+funds, to spend in that way seven or eight hundred
+louis in a morning.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It was a Wednesday, and Ch&eacute;ri was holding his
+first autumn sale. I went to the Rue de Ponthieu
+during the day; and there out of the lot, on chance,
+without inquiry, blindly, by good-luck, and from
+the mere declarations of the catalogue&mdash;'<i>Excellent
+hunter, good jumper, has hunted with lady rider</i>,' etc.&mdash;I
+bought eight horses, which only cost me five
+thousand francs. Out of eight, I said to myself,
+there will always be four or five who will go, and
+who will be good enough to serve as remounts.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Among the horses there was one that I had
+bought, I must confess, particularly on account of
+his coat, which was beautiful. The catalogue did
+not attribute to him any special qualifications for
+hunting, but limited itself to '<i>Brutus, riding horse</i>.'
+He was a large dapple-gray horse, but never, I
+think, have I seen gray better dappled; the white
+coat was strewn almost regularly with beautiful
+black spots, which were well distributed and well
+marked.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I left town the next day for Roche-Targ&eacute;, and
+the following day, early, they announced to me that
+the horses had arrived. I at once went down to
+see them, and my first glance was at Brutus. He
+had been trotting in my head for forty-eight hours,
+that devil of a gray horse, and I had a singular
+desire to know what he was and of what he was
+capable.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I had him taken out of the stable first. A
+groom led him to me with a strap. The horse had
+long teeth, hollows in the chest, lumpy fetlocks&mdash;in
+short, all the signs of respectable age; but he had
+powerful shoulders, a large breast, a neck which
+was both strong and supple, head well held, tail
+well placed, and an irreproachable back. It wasn't,
+however, all this that attracted most my attention.
+What I admired above all was the air with which
+Brutus looked at me, and with what an attentive,
+intelligent, and curious eye he followed my movements
+and gestures. Even my words seemed to
+interest him singularly; he inclined his head to my
+side as if to hear me, and, as soon as I had finished
+speaking, he neighed joyously in answer.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;They showed me successively the seven other
+horses; I examined them rapidly and absent-mindedly.
+They were horses like all other horses.
+Brutus certainly had something in particular, and I
+was anxious to make in his company a short jaunt
+in the country. He allowed himself to be saddled,
+bridled, and mounted like a horse who knows his
+business, and so we both started in the quietest
+way in the world.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I had at first ridden him with the snaffle, and
+Brutus had gone off at a long easy gait, with
+rather a stiff neck and projected head; but as
+soon as I let him feel the curb, he changed with
+extraordinary rapidity and suppleness, drawing his
+head back to his breast, and champing his bit noisily;
+then at the same time he took a short gait,
+which was light and even, lifting well his feet and
+striking the sod with the regularity of a pendulum.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ch&eacute;ri's catalogue had not lied; the horse was a
+good rider&mdash;too good a rider, in fact. I made him
+trot, then gallop; the horse at the first suggestion
+gave me an excellent little trot and an excellent little
+gallop, but always plunging to the ground and
+pulling my arms when I tried to lift his head.
+When I wished to quicken his gait, the horse
+broke at once. He began to rack in great style,
+trotting with the fore-feet and galloping with the
+hind ones. 'Well,' I said to myself, 'I see now;
+I've bought some old horse of the Saumur or
+Saint-Cyr school, and it's not on this beast that
+I'll hunt in eight days.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I was about to turn and go home, quite edified
+as to Brutus's qualities, when the report of a gun
+was heard twenty yards away in the woods. It
+was one of my keepers who was shooting a rabbit,
+and who received some time after a handsome
+present from my wife for that shot.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I was then in the centre of the cross-roads, which
+formed a perfect circle of five or six yards in radius;
+six long green alleys came to an end at this
+spot. On hearing the report, Brutus had stopped
+short, planted himself on his four legs, with ears
+erect and head raised. I was surprised to find the
+horse so impressionable. I should have thought
+that after the brilliant education that very certainly
+he had received in his youth, Brutus must be an
+artillery horse, used to gun and cannon. I drew in
+my legs to urge the horse on, but Brutus didn't
+move; I spurred him sharply twice, but Brutus
+didn't move; I whipped him soundly, but Brutus
+didn't move. I tried to back the horse, to push him
+to the right, to the left, but I couldn't move him in
+the slightest degree. Brutus seemed glued to the
+ground, and yet&mdash;don't you dare to laugh, and be
+assured that my tale is absolutely true&mdash;each time
+that I attempted to put the horse in motion he
+turned his head and looked at me with an expression
+which could clearly be read as impatience
+and surprise; then he would again become as immovable
+as a statue. There was evidently some
+misunderstanding between the horse and myself.
+I saw that in his eyes, and Brutus said to me, with
+all the clearness he could put in his expression, 'I,
+as a horse, am doing my duty, and it's you, as a
+rider, who are not doing yours!'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I was more puzzled than embarrassed. 'What
+extraordinary kind of a horse have I bought at
+Ch&eacute;ri's,' I said to myself, 'and why does he look
+at me so queerly?' I was, however, going to take
+strong measures&mdash;that is to say, I was preparing to
+whip him smartly&mdash;when another report was heard.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Then the horse gave a jump. I thought I had
+the best of it, and, profiting by his bound, I tried
+to carry him forward with hand and knee. But
+no; he stopped short after his bound, and again
+planted himself on the ground more energetically
+and more resolutely than the first time. Ah, then
+I grew angry, and my whip came into play; I
+grasped it firmly and began to strike the horse
+with all my strength to the right and left. But
+Brutus, he too lost patience, and, instead of the
+cold and immovable opposition that at first he
+had shown, I met with furious retaliations, strange
+springs, bucking, extraordinary rearing, fantastic
+whirling; and in the midst of this battle, while the
+infatuated horse bounded and reared, while I, exasperated,
+struck with vigor the leather pommel
+with my broken whip, Brutus still found time to
+give me glances not only of surprise and impatience,
+but also of anger and indignation. While I
+was asking the horse for the obedience which he
+refused me, it is certain that he expected from me
+something that I was not doing.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;How did it end? To my shame, to my great
+shame, I was pitifully unhorsed by an incomparable
+feat! Brutus understood, I think, that he
+would not get the better of me by violence, and
+judged it necessary to try cunning; after a pause
+which was most certainly a moment of reflection,
+the horse rose up, head down, upright on his fore-feet,
+with the skill, the calm, and the perfect
+equilibrium of a clown who walks on his hands.
+Thus I tumbled into the sand, which, by good-luck,
+was thick in that spot.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I tried to get up. I screamed and fell back ridiculously,
+flat on my stomach, on my nose. At the
+slightest movement I felt as though a knife ran
+through my left leg. It's a slight matter, however&mdash;the
+rupture of a slender sinew; but though slight, the
+injury was none the less painful. I succeeded, nevertheless,
+in turning over and sitting up; but just
+when, while rubbing my eyes, filled with sand, I
+was beginning to ask myself what in the midst of
+this tumult had become of my miserable dapple-gray,
+I saw over my head a large horse's hoof
+descending. Then this large hoof pressed, with a
+certain gentleness, however, on my chest, and
+pushed me delicately back on the ground, on my
+back this time.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I was greatly discouraged; and feeling incapable
+of another effort, I remained in that position,
+continuing to ask myself what sort of a horse I had
+bought at Ch&eacute;ri's, closing my eyes, and awaiting
+death.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Suddenly I heard a curious trampling around
+me; a quantity of little hard things struck me on
+the face. I opened my eyes, and perceived Brutus,
+who, with his fore-feet and hind-legs, was trying with
+incredible activity and prodigious skill to bury me
+in the sand. He was doing his best, poor beast,
+and from time to time he stopped to gaze at his
+work; then, raising his head, he neighed and began
+his work again. That lasted for a good three
+or four minutes, after which Brutus, judging me
+doubtless sufficiently interred, placed himself very
+respectfully on his knees before my tomb&mdash;on his
+knees, literally on his knees! He was saying, I
+suppose, a little prayer. I looked at him. It interested
+me extremely.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;His prayer finished, Brutus made a slight bow,
+went off a few steps, stopped, then, beginning to
+gallop, made at least twenty times the circuit of the
+open space in the middle of which he had buried
+me. Brutus galloped very well, with even stride,
+head well held, on the right foot, making around
+me a perfect circle. I followed him with my eyes,
+but it made me uneasy to see him go round and
+round and round. I had the strength to cry
+'Stop! stop!' The horse stopped and seemed
+embarrassed, without doubt asking himself what
+there was still to be done; but he perceived my
+hat, which in my fall had got separated from me,
+and at once made a new resolution: he walked
+straight to the hat, seized it in his teeth, and galloped
+off, this time by one of the six alleys that led
+from my tomb.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Brutus got farther and farther away, and disappeared;
+I remained alone. I was puzzled, positively
+puzzled. I shook off the little coating of
+dust which covered me, and without getting up, by
+the help of my two arms and right leg&mdash;to move
+my left leg was not to be thought of&mdash;I succeeded
+in dragging myself to a little grassy slope on the
+edge of one of the alleys. Once there, I could sit
+down, after a fashion, and I began to shout with
+all the strength of my lungs, 'Hi, there! hi! hi,
+there!' No answer. The woods were absolutely
+deserted and still. The only thing to be done
+was to wait till some one passed by to aid me.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;For half an hour I had been in that hateful position
+when I perceived in the distance, at the very
+end of the same alley by which he had gone off,
+Brutus coming back, with the same long gallop he
+had used in going. A great cloud of dust accompanied
+the horse. Little by little, in that cloud, I
+perceived a tiny carriage&mdash;a pony-carriage; then
+in that little pony-carriage a woman, who drove
+herself, and behind the woman a small groom.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;A few moments later Brutus, covered with foam,
+stopped before me, let my hat drop at my feet and
+neighed, as though to say, 'I've done my duty; here
+is help.' But I no longer bothered myself about
+Brutus and the explanations that he made me. My
+only thoughts were for the fairy who was to relieve
+me, and who, after lightly jumping from her little
+carriage, was coming quickly towards me. Besides,
+she, too, was examining me curiously, and all at
+once we both exclaimed, at the same time:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Mme. de Noriolis!'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'M. de La Roche-Targ&eacute;!'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;A little while ago George spoke to us of his
+aunt, and mentioned how she had married him quite
+young, at one stroke, without giving him time to
+reflect or breathe. I, too, have an aunt, and between
+us for a number of years there has been a
+perpetual battle. 'Marry.' 'I don't want to marry.'
+'Do you want young girls? There is Mademoiselle
+A, Mademoiselle B, Mademoiselle C.'
+'I don't want to marry.' 'Do you want widows?
+There is Madame D, Madame E, Madame F.' 'I
+don't want to marry.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Mme. de Noriolis figured always in the first rank
+in the series of widows, and I noticed that my aunt
+put stress, with evident favoritism, on all the good
+points and advantages that I should find in that
+marriage. She didn't have to tell me that Mme. de
+Noriolis was very pretty&mdash;any one could see that;
+or that she was very rich&mdash;I knew it already. But
+she explained to me that M. de Noriolis was an
+idiot, who had had the merit of making his wife
+perfectly miserable, and that thus it would be very
+easy for the second husband to make himself very
+much loved.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Then, when she had discoursed at length on the
+virtues, graces, and merits of Mme. de Noriolis,
+my aunt, who is clever and knows my weakness,
+pulled out of her desk a topographical map, and
+spread it out with care on the table.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It was the map of the district of Chatellerault,
+a very correct and minute map, that my aunt had
+gone herself to the military station to buy, with the
+view of convincing me that I ought to marry Mme.
+de Noriolis. The places of Noriolis and of La
+Roche-Targ&eacute; were scarcely three kilometers apart
+in that map. My aunt, with her own hands, had
+drawn a line of red ink, and slily united the two
+places, and she forced me to look at her little red
+line, saying to me, 'Two thousand acres without a
+break, when the places of Noriolis and La Roche-Targ&eacute;
+are united; what a chance for a hunter!'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I closed my eyes, so strong was the temptation,
+and repeated my refrain, 'I don't want to marry.'
+But I was afraid, seriously afraid; and when I met
+Mme. de Noriolis I always saw her surrounded,
+as by a halo, by the little red line of my aunt, and
+I said to myself: 'A charming, and clever, and
+sensible woman, whose first husband was an idiot,
+and this and that, and two thousand acres without
+a break. Run away, wretch, run away, since you
+don't wish to marry.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And I ran away! But this time by what means
+could I run away? I was there, miserable, in the
+grass, covered with sand, with my hair in disorder,
+my clothes in rags, and my unfortunate leg stiff.
+And Mme. de Noriolis came nearer, looking spick
+and span&mdash;always in the halo of the little red
+line&mdash;and said to me:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'You, M. de La Roche-Targ&eacute;, is it you? What
+are you doing there? What has happened to you?'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I frankly confessed my fall.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'At least you are not wounded?'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'No, no, I'm not wounded. I've something the
+matter with that leg; but it's nothing serious, I
+know.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'And what horse played you that trick?'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Why, this one.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And I pointed out Brutus to Mme. de Noriolis.
+Brutus was there, quite near us, untied, peacefully
+crunching little tufts of broom.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'What, that one, that brave horse? Oh, he has
+well made up for his faults, I assure you. I will
+tell you about it, but later on. You must first get
+home, and at once.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'I can't walk a step.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'But I am going to take you back myself, at the
+risk of compromising you.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And she called Bob, her little groom, and taking
+me gently by the arm, while Bob took me by the
+other, she made me get into her carriage; five minutes
+later we were bowling off, both of us, in the
+direction of La Roche-Targ&eacute;: she, holding the reins
+and driving the pony with a light hand; I, looking
+at her, feeling troubled, confused, embarrassed,
+ridiculous, and stupid. We were alone in the carriage.
+Bob was commissioned to bring Brutus,
+who, very docile, had allowed himself to be taken.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Lie down,' Mme. de Noriolis said to me; 'keep
+your leg straight; I am going to drive you slowly
+so as to avoid bumps.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In short, she made a lot of little amiable and
+pleasant remarks; then, when she saw me well settled,
+she said:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Tell me how you came to fall, and then I will
+tell you how I happened to come to your aid. It
+seems to me this horse story must be queer.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I began my tale; but as soon as I spoke of
+Brutus's efforts to unhorse me, and the two reports
+of the gun, she exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'I understand, I understand. You have bought
+a circus charger.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'A circus charger!'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Why, yes; that's it, and that explains everything.
+You have seen twenty times at the Circus of
+the Empress the performance of the circus charger&mdash;the
+light-cavalryman who enters the arena on a
+gray horse, then the Arabs come and shoot at the
+cavalryman, who is wounded and falls; and as you
+didn't fall, the horse, indignant and not understanding
+how you could so far forget your part, threw
+you on the ground. And when you were on the
+ground, what did the horse do?'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I related Brutus's little work in burying me suitably.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'The circus charger,' she continued; 'still the
+circus charger. He sees his master wounded, the
+Arabs could come back and finish him, and so what
+does the horse do? He buries the cavalryman.
+Then goes off galloping, didn't he?'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Yes, on a hard gallop,'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Carrying the flag, which is not to fall into the
+hands of the Arabs.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'It's my hat that he took.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'He took what he could. And where does the
+circus charger gallop to?'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Ah! I know, I know,' I exclaimed, in my turn,
+'he goes to get the sutler.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Precisely. He goes to get the sutler; and the
+sutler to-day, if you please, is I, Countess of Noriolis.
+Your big gray horse galloped into my grounds.
+I was standing on the porch, putting on my gloves
+and ready to step into my carriage, when the stablemen
+came running, upon seeing that horse arrive
+saddled and bridled, without a rider, and a
+hat in his mouth. They tried to catch him, but
+he shunned them and escaped, and came straight
+to the porch, falling on his knees before me. The
+men approached, and once more tried to catch him;
+but he got up, galloped away, stopped by the gate
+of the grounds, turned around, and looked at me.
+He called to me&mdash;I assure you, he called to me. I
+told the men not to bother about the horse any
+more. Then I jumped into my carriage and started;
+the horse rushed into the woods; post-haste I followed
+him by paths that were not always intended
+for carriages; but still I followed him, and I arrived
+and found you.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;At the moment Mme. de Noriolis was speaking
+those last words the carriage received a tremendous
+shock from behind; then we saw in the air Brutus's
+head, which was held there upright as though by a
+miracle. For it was again Brutus. Mounted by
+Bob, he had followed the carriage for several minutes,
+and seeing that the back seat of the little pony-carriage
+was unoccupied, he had, like a true artist,
+cleverly seized the moment to give us a new proof
+of his talent in executing the most brilliant of his
+former performances. In one jump he had placed
+his fore-feet on the carriage, then, that done, he
+quietly continued trotting on his two hind-legs.
+Bob, distracted, with his body thrown over and his
+head thrown back, was making vain attempts to put
+the horse back on his four legs.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;As to Mme. de Noriolis, she was so well frightened,
+that, letting the reins drop from her hands,
+she had simply thrown herself in my arms. Her
+adorable little head had rolled hap-hazard on my
+shoulder, and my lips just touched her hair. With
+my left hand I tried to recover the reins, with my
+right I supported Mme. de Noriolis; my leg hurt
+me frightfully, and I was seized with a queer feeling
+of confusion.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It was thus that Mme. de Noriolis made her
+first entry into La Roche-Targ&eacute;.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;When she returned there, one evening at midnight,
+six weeks later, having during the day become
+Mme. de La Roche-Targ&eacute;, she said:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'What is life, after all? Nothing like this would
+have happened if you hadn't bought the circus
+charger.'&quot;</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="BLACKY" id="BLACKY"></a>BLACKY</h2>
+
+
+<p>&quot;Don't be alarmed, sir; you won't miss the
+train. For the last fifteen years I've been carrying
+travellers to the station, and I've never yet missed
+a train! Think of that, sir; never!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, don't look at your watch. There is one
+thing you don't know and that you must learn,
+and that your watch will never be able to tell you&mdash;that
+is, that the train is always a quarter of an
+hour late. Such a thing as the train's being on
+time has never happened.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Such a thing happened that day, however, for
+the train was on time, and so I missed it. My
+driver was furious.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You should warn us,&quot; he said to the station-master,
+&quot;if your trains are suddenly going to start
+at the right hour. Who ever saw the like!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And he turned to one or two of the porters for
+witnesses.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Did you ever see such a thing? I don't wish
+to appear blamable before the gentleman. A train
+on time&mdash;on time! You know it's the first time it
+has ever happened.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>There was a general cry of &quot;Yes, indeed; usually
+there's some delay.&quot; But, for all that, I had none
+the less three long hours to pass in a very desolate
+village (in the Canton of Vaud) shut in by two
+sad-looking mountains, which had their little topknots
+covered with snow.</p>
+
+<p>But how kill three hours? In my turn I now
+asked advice, and again there was a chorus of
+&quot;Go see the Caldron; that's the only sight to be
+seen in this part of the country.&quot; &quot;And where
+is this Caldron?&quot; On the mountain, to the right,
+half way up; but the path was a little complicated,
+and I was advised to take a guide; and there,
+over there in that white cottage with green blinds,
+I would find the best guide there was about here,
+an honest man&mdash;Old Simon.</p>
+
+<p>So I went and knocked at the door of the little
+house.</p>
+
+<p>An old woman opened it.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Simon, the guide?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, right here; but&mdash;if it's to go to the Caldron&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It is to go to the Caldron.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, Simon hasn't been very well since morning;
+he hasn't much strength, and he can't go
+out. But don't worry yourself; there is some one
+who can replace him&mdash;there is Blacky.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;All right, let it be Blacky, then.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Only I must tell you that Blacky isn't a person.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Not a person?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, he's our dog.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;A dog? What do you mean?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, Blacky; and he will guide you very well&mdash;quite
+as well as my husband. He is in the habit
+of&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In the habit?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Certainly; for years and years Simon took him
+along, so he learned the different places, and now
+he does very well all by himself. He has often
+taken travellers, and we have always been complimented
+about him. As for intelligence, don't be
+afraid&mdash;he has as much as you or I. He needs
+only speech, but speech isn't required. If it was
+to show a monument, now&mdash;why, yes, for then it
+would be necessary to give some account and know
+the historical dates; but here there are only the
+beauties of nature. Take Blacky, and it will be
+cheaper also; my husband would cost three francs,
+whereas Blacky is only thirty sous, and he will
+show you as much for thirty sous as my husband
+would for three francs.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Very well; and where is Blacky?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;He is resting in the sun, in the garden. Already
+this morning he has taken some English
+people to the Caldron. Shall I call him?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, call him.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Blacky! Blacky!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He came with a leap through the window. He
+was a rather ugly-looking little dog, with long frizzy
+hair, all mussed; he wasn't much to look at, but he
+had, however, about him a certain air of gravity,
+resolution, and importance. His first glance was
+at me&mdash;a clear, searching, confident look that took
+me in from head to toe, and that seemed to say,
+&quot;It's a traveller, and he wants to see the Caldron.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>One train missed sufficed me for that day, and I
+was particularly anxious not to lay myself open to
+another such experience, so I explained to the
+good woman that I had only three hours for my
+visit to the Caldron.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, I know,&quot; she said; &quot;you wish to take the
+four-o'clock train. Don't be alarmed; Blacky will
+bring you back in time. Now then, Blacky, off
+with you; hurry up!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>But Blacky didn't seem at all disposed to mind.
+He stayed there motionless, looking at his mistress
+with a certain uneasiness.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, how stupid of me!&quot; said the old woman.
+&quot;I forgot the sugar;&quot; and she went to get four
+pieces of sugar from a drawer, and gave them to
+me, saying: &quot;That's why he wouldn't start; you
+had no sugar. You see, Blacky, the gentleman
+has the sugar. Now then, run along with you,
+sir, to the Caldron! to the Caldron! to the Caldron!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>She repeated these last words three times, slowly
+and distinctly, and during that time I was closely
+examining Blacky. He acknowledged the words
+of his mistress with little movements of the head,
+which rapidly became more emphatic, and towards
+the end he evinced some temper and impatience.
+They could be interpreted thus: &quot;Yes, yes, to the
+Caldron&mdash;I understand. The gentleman has the
+pieces of sugar, and we are going to the Caldron&mdash;it's
+settled. Do you take me for a fool?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And, without waiting for Mme. Simon's third
+&quot;To the Caldron!&quot; Blacky, evidently hurt, turned
+tail, came and placed himself in front of me, and
+by his look showed me the door, which told me as
+plainly as a dog can tell, &quot;Now then, come along,
+you!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>I meekly followed him. We two started, he in
+front, I behind. In this manner we went through
+the entire village. The children who were playing
+in the street recognized my guide.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Hello, Blacky! good-morning, Blacky!&quot; They
+wanted to play with the dog, but he turned his
+head with a disdainful air&mdash;the air of a dog who
+hasn't the time to answer himself, and who is
+doing his duty and earning thirty sous. One of
+the children exclaimed:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Leave him alone; don't you see he is taking
+the gentleman to the Caldron? Good-day, sir!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And all repeated, laughing, &quot;Good-day, sir!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>I smiled rather awkwardly; I am sure I felt
+embarrassed, even a little humiliated. I was, in fact,
+under the lead of that animal. He, for the present,
+was my master. He knew where he was going;
+I did not. I was in a hurry to get out of the village
+and find myself alone with Blacky and face to
+face with the beauties of nature that he had been
+commissioned to show me.</p>
+
+<p>These beauties of nature were, at the beginning,
+a fearfully hot and dusty road, on which the sun
+fell with full force. The dog walked with a brisk
+step, and I was getting tired following him. I
+tried to slacken his gait. &quot;Come, I say, Blacky,
+my friend, not so quickly.&quot; But Blacky turned a
+deaf ear, and continued, without listening to me,
+his little trot. He was taken suddenly with a real
+fit of anger when I wished to sit down in the corner
+of a field, under a tree that gave a meagre
+shade. He barked furiously, and cast on me outraged
+looks; evidently what I was doing was
+against the rule. He was not in the habit of
+stopping there, and his barks were so piercing
+and annoying that I rose to continue on my way.
+Blacky became calm at once, and walked placidly
+in front of me&mdash;I had understood him, and he was
+satisfied.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly afterwards we entered a delightful path,
+in full blossom, shady, sweet-smelling, and filled
+with freshness and the murmur of springs. Blacky
+immediately entered the wood, took to his heels,
+and disappeared in the little footway. I followed,
+slightly out of breath, and had not gone a hundred
+steps when I found Blacky waiting for me, with
+head erect and bright eyes, in a clearing enlivened
+by the tinkle of a tiny cascade. There was there
+an old rustic bench, and Blacky looked impatiently
+from me to the seat and from the seat to me. I
+was beginning to understand Blacky's language.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;There now,&quot; he said to me, &quot;here is indeed a
+place to rest in. It's nice and cool here; but you
+were so stupid, you wanted to stop in the sun.
+Come on, now; sit down; you really can sit down.
+I will allow you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>I stopped, sat down, and lit a cigar, and came
+near offering one to Blacky; perhaps he smoked.
+But I thought he would prefer a piece of sugar.
+He caught it on the fly very cleverly, and crunched
+it with enjoyment. Then he lay down and took a
+nap at my feet. He was evidently accustomed to
+a little siesta at this place.</p>
+
+<p>He slept barely ten minutes I was, however,
+perfectly easy, for Blacky began to inspire me with
+absolute confidence, and I was determined to obey
+him blindly. He got up, stretched himself, and
+threw me a glance that meant, &quot;Come along, my
+friend, come along.&quot; And, like two old friends,
+we set off slowly. Blacky was enjoying the silence
+and the sweetness of the place. On the road, previously,
+being in a hurry, he had walked with an
+abrupt, sturdy, hurried step&mdash;he was walking to
+get there; but now, refreshed and revived, Blacky
+was walking for the pleasure of a promenade in one
+of the prettiest paths in the Canton of Vaud.</p>
+
+<p>Presently a side path appeared, leading off to the
+left; there was a short hesitation on the part of
+Blacky, who reflected, and then passed it, continuing
+on his way straight ahead, but not without
+some doubt and uncertainty in his manner. Then
+he stopped; he must have made some mistake.
+Yes; for he retraced his steps, and we took the
+turning to the left, which, at the end of a hundred
+feet, led into an open circular space, and Blacky,
+with his nose in the air, invited me to contemplate
+the highly respectable height of the lofty rocks
+which formed this circle. When Blacky thought
+I had seen sufficient, he turned around, and we
+went on again in the path through the woods.
+Blacky had forgotten to show me the circle of
+rocks&mdash;a slight error quickly repaired.</p>
+
+<p>The road soon became very mountainous, broken,
+and difficult, and I advanced slowly and with many
+precautions. As to Blacky, he sprang lightly from
+rock to rock, but did not forsake me. He waited
+and fixed his eyes on me with the most touching
+solicitude. At last I began to hear a rushing of
+water; Blacky commenced barking joyously.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Courage!&quot; he said to me; &quot;courage! We are
+nearly there; you will soon see the Caldron.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>It was in truth the Caldron. From a short
+height a modest stream fell, splashing and rebounding
+on a large rock slightly hollowed. I
+should never have been consoled for such a steep
+climb to see such a small sight if I had not had
+brave little Blacky for a companion. He, at least,
+was much more interesting and marvellous than the
+Caldron. On either side of the fall, in little Swiss
+chalets, were two dairy-maids; one was a blonde
+and the other a brunette; both were in their national
+dress, and were eagerly on the lookout for my coming,
+standing on the door-steps of their tiny houses&mdash;little
+wooden boxes, seemingly cut out by machine.</p>
+
+<p>It seemed to me that the blonde had very pretty
+eyes, and I had already taken several steps towards
+her when Blacky began to bark emphatically, and
+resolutely barred the way. Could he have a preference
+for the dark one? I walked in the other
+direction. That was it; Blacky calmed down as
+though by enchantment when he saw me seated
+at a table in front of the house of his young prot&eacute;g&eacute;e.
+I asked for a cup of milk; Blacky's friend
+entered her little toy house, and Blacky slipped in
+at her feet. Through a half-open window I followed
+him with my eyes. The wretch! He was
+waited upon before I was. He it was who first
+had his large bowl of milk. He had sold himself!
+After which, with white drops on his mustache,
+Blacky came to keep me company and look at me
+drink my milk. I gave him a piece of sugar, and
+both of us, absolutely satisfied with each other,
+filled our lungs with the sharp air of the mountain.
+We were at a height of about three or four hundred
+yards. It was a delightful half-hour.</p>
+
+<p>Blacky began to show signs of impatience and
+agitation. I could read him then like a book. It
+was time to go. I paid, got up, and while I went
+off to the right towards the path by which we came
+to the mountain, I saw Blacky go and plant himself
+on the left, at the opening of another path. He
+gave me a serious and severe look. What progress
+I had made during the last two hours, and how
+familiar Blacky's eloquent silence had become!</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What must you think of me?&quot; said Blacky to
+me. &quot;Do you imagine I am going to take the
+same path twice? No, indeed. I am a good
+guide, and I know my business. We shall make
+the descent another way.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>We went back by another road, which was much
+prettier than the first. Blacky, quite sprightly,
+often turned around to me with an air of triumphant
+joy. We traversed the village, and at the station
+Blacky was assailed by three or four dogs of
+his acquaintance, who seemed desirous of a talk or
+game with their comrade. They attempted to
+block his way, but Blacky, grumbling and growling,
+repulsed their advances.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Can't you see what I am doing? I am taking
+this gentleman to the station.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>It was only in the waiting-room that he consented
+to leave me, after having eaten with relish
+the two last pieces of sugar. And this is how I
+interpreted the farewell look of Blacky:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;We are twenty minutes ahead of time. It isn't
+I who would have let you lose the train. Well,
+good-bye&mdash;pleasant journey!&quot;</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="THE_MOST_BEAUTIFUL_WOMAN_IN_PARIS" id="THE_MOST_BEAUTIFUL_WOMAN_IN_PARIS"></a>THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PARIS</h2>
+
+
+<p>On Friday, April 19th, Prince Ag&eacute;nor was really
+distracted at the opera during the second act of
+&quot;Sigurd.&quot; The prince kept going from box to box,
+and his enthusiasm increased as he went.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That blonde! Oh, that blonde! She is ideal!
+Look at that blonde! Do you know that blonde?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>It was from the front part of Mme. de Marizy's
+large first tier box that all these exclamations were
+coming at that moment.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Which blonde?&quot; asked Mme. de Marizy.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Which blonde! Why, there is but one this
+evening in the house. Opposite to you, over there,
+in the first box, the Sainte Mesme's box. Look,
+baroness, look straight over there&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes I am looking at her. She is atrociously
+got up, but pretty&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Pretty! She is a wonder! Simply a wonder!
+Got up? Yes, agreed&mdash;some country relative. The
+Sainte Mesmes have cousins in P&eacute;rigord. But what
+a smile! How well her neck is set on! And the slope
+of the shoulders! Ah, especially the shoulders!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Come, either keep still or go away. Let me
+listen to Mme. Caron&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The prince went away, as no one knew that incomparable
+blonde. Yet she had often been to the
+opera, but in an unpretentious way&mdash;in the second
+tier of boxes. And to Prince Ag&eacute;nor above the
+first tier of boxes there was nothing, absolutely
+nothing. There was emptiness&mdash;space. The prince
+had never been in a second-tier box, so the second-tier
+boxes did not exist.</p>
+
+<p>While Mme. Caron was marvellously singing the
+marvellous phrase of Reyer, &quot;<i>&Ocirc; mon sauveur silencieux
+la Valkyrie est ta conqu&ecirc;te</i>,&quot; the prince strolled
+along the passages of the opera. Who was that
+blonde? He wanted to know, and he would know.</p>
+
+<p>And suddenly he remembered that good Mme.
+Picard was the box-opener of the Sainte Mesmes,
+and that he, Prince of N&eacute;rins, had had the honor of
+being for a long time a friend of that good Mme.
+Picard. It was she who in the last years of the
+Second Empire had taught him bezique in all its
+varieties&mdash;Japanese, Chinese, etc. He was then
+twenty, Mme. Picard was forty. She was not then
+box-opener of the National Academy of Music; she
+had in those times as office&mdash;and it was not a
+sinecure&mdash;the position of aunt to a nice young
+person who showed a very pretty face and a very
+pretty pair of legs in the chorus of the <i>revues</i> of
+the Vari&eacute;t&eacute;e. And the prince, while quite young,
+at the beginning of his life, had, for three or four
+years, led a peaceful, almost domestic life, with the
+aunt and niece. Then they went off one way and
+he another.</p>
+
+<p>One evening at the opera, ten years later, in
+handing his overcoat to a venerable-looking old
+dame, Ag&eacute;nor heard himself saluted by the following
+little speech:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, how happy I am to see you again, prince!
+And not changed&mdash;not at all changed. Still the
+same, absolutely the same&mdash;still twenty.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>It was Mme. Picard, who had been raised to the
+dignity of box-opener. They chatted, talked of
+old times, and after that evening the prince never
+passed Mme. Picard without greeting her. She
+responded with a little deferential courtesy. She
+was one of those people, becoming rarer and rarer
+nowadays, who have the exact feeling for distances
+and conventions. There was, however, a little remnant
+of familiarity, almost of affection, in the way
+in which she said &quot;prince.&quot; This did not displease
+Ag&eacute;nor; he had a very good recollection of Mme.
+Picard.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, prince,&quot; said Mme. Picard on seeing Ag&eacute;nor,
+&quot;there is no one for you to-night in <i>my</i> boxes.
+Mme. de Simiane is not here, and Mme. de Sainte
+Mesme has rented her box.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That's precisely it. Don't you know the people
+in Mme. de Sainte Mesme's box?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Not at all, prince. It's the first time I have
+seen them in the marquise's box&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Then you have no idea&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;None, prince. Only to me they don't appear
+to be people of&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>She was going to say of <i>our</i> set. A box-opener
+of the first tier of boxes at the opera, having generally
+only to do with absolutely high-born people,
+considers herself as being a little of their set, and
+shows extreme disdain for unimportant people; it
+displeases her to receive these unimportant people
+in <i>her</i> boxes. Mme. Picard, however, had tact
+which rarely forsook her, and so stopped herself in
+time to say:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;People of <i>your</i> set. They belong to the middle
+class, to the wealthy middle class; but still the middle
+class. That doesn't satisfy you; you wish to
+know more on account of the blonde. Is it not so,
+prince?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Those last words were spoken with rare delicacy;
+they were murmured more than spoken&mdash;box-opener
+to a prince! It would have been unacceptable without
+that perfect reserve in accent and tone; yes, it
+was a box-opener who spoke, but a box-opener who
+was a little bit the aunt of former times, the aunt
+<i>&agrave; la mode de Cyth&egrave;re</i>. Mme. Picard continued:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, she is a beauty! She came with a little
+dark man&mdash;her husband, I'm sure; for while she
+was taking off her cloak&mdash;it always takes some
+time&mdash;he didn't say a word to her. No eagerness,
+no little attentions. Yes, he could only be a husband.
+I examined the cloak. People one doesn't
+know puzzle me and <i>my</i> colleague. Mme. Flachet
+and I always amuse ourselves by trying to guess
+from appearances. Well, the cloak comes from a
+good dress-maker, but not from a great one. It is
+fine and well-made, but it has no style. I think
+they are middle-class people, prince. But how
+stupid I am! You know M. Palmer&mdash;well, a little
+while ago he came to see the beautiful blonde!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;M. Palmer?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, and he can tell you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Thanks, Mme. Picard, thanks&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Good-bye, prince, good-bye,&quot; and Mme. Picard
+went back to her stool, near her colleague, Mme.
+Flachet, and said to her:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, my dear, what a charming man the prince
+is! True gentlefolks, there is nothing like them!
+But they are dying out, they are dying out; there
+are many less than formerly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Prince Ag&eacute;nor was willing to do Palmer&mdash;big Palmer,
+rich Palmer, vain Palmer&mdash;the honor of being
+one of his friends; he deigned, and very frequently,
+to confide to Palmer his financial difficulties,
+and the banker was delighted to come to his aid.
+The prince had been obliged to resign himself to
+becoming a member of two boards of directors
+presided over by Palmer, who was much pleased at
+having under obligations to him the representative
+of one of the noblest families in France. Besides,
+the prince proved himself to be a <i>good prince</i>, and
+publicly acknowledged Palmer, showing himself in
+his box, taking charge of his entertainments, and
+occupying himself with his racing-stable. He had
+even pushed his gratitude to the point of compromising
+Mme. Palmer in the most showy way.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I am removing her from the middle class,&quot; he
+said; &quot;I owe it to Palmer, who is one of the best
+fellows in the world.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The prince found the banker alone in a lower
+box.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What is the name&mdash;the name of that blonde in
+the Sainte Mesme's box?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Mme. Derline.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Is there a M. Derline?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Certainly, a lawyer&mdash;my lawyer; the Sainte
+Mesme's lawyer. And if you want to see Mme.
+Derline close to, come to my ball next Thursday.
+She will be there&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The wife of a lawyer!. She was only the wife of
+a lawyer! The prince sat down in the front of the
+box, opposite Mme. Derline, and while looking
+at that lawyeress he was thinking. &quot;Have I,&quot; he
+said to himself, &quot;sufficient credit, sufficient power,
+to make of Mme. Derline the most beautiful woman
+in Paris?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>For there was always a <i>most beautiful woman in
+Paris</i>, and it was he, Prince Ag&eacute;nor, who flattered
+himself that he could discover, proclaim, crown,
+and consecrate that most beautiful woman in Paris.
+Launch Mme. Derline in society! Why not? He
+had never launched any one from the middle class.
+The enterprise would be new, amusing, and bold.
+He looked at Mme. Derline through his opera-glass,
+and discovered thousands of beauties and
+perfections in her delightful face.</p>
+
+<p>After the opera, the prince, during the exit,
+placed himself at the bottom of the great staircase.
+He had enlisted two of his friends. &quot;Come,&quot; he
+had said to them, &quot;I will show you the most beautiful
+woman in Paris.&quot; While he was speaking,
+two steps away from the prince was an alert young
+man who was attached to a morning paper, a very
+widely-read paper. The young man had sharp
+ears, he caught on the fly the phrase of the Prince
+Ag&eacute;nor, whose high social position he knew; he
+succeeded in keeping close to the prince, and when
+Mme. Derline passed, the young reporter had the
+gift of hearing the conversation, without losing
+a word, of the three brilliant noblemen. A quarter
+of an hour later he arrived at the office of the
+paper.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Is there time,&quot; he asked, &quot;to write a dozen lines
+in the <i>Society Note-book</i>?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, but hurry.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The young man was a quick writer; the fifteen
+lines were done in the twinkling of an eye. They
+brought seven francs fifty to the reporter, but cost
+M. Derline a little more than that.</p>
+
+<p>During this time Prince Ag&eacute;nor, seated in the
+club at the whist-table, was saying, while shuffling
+the cards:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;This evening at the opera there was a marvellous
+woman, a certain Mme. Derline. She is the
+most beautiful woman in Paris!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The following morning, in the gossip-corner of
+the Bois, in the spring sunshine, the prince, surrounded
+by a little group of respectful disciples,
+was solemnly delivering from the back of his roan
+mare the following opinion:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Listen well to what I say. The most beautiful
+woman in Paris is a certain Mme. Derline. This
+star will be visible Thursday evening at the Palmer's.
+Go, and don't forget the name&mdash;Mme.
+Derline.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The disciples dispersed, and went abroad spreading
+the great news.</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline had been admirably brought up
+by an irreproachable mother; she had been taught
+that she ought to get up in the morning, keep a
+strict account of her expenses, not go to a great
+dress-maker, believe in God, love her husband, visit
+the poor, and never spend but half her income in
+order to prepare dowries for her daughters. Mme.
+Derline performed all these duties. She led a
+peaceful and serene life in the old house (in the
+Rue Dragon) which had sheltered, since 1825, three
+generations of Derlines; the husbands had all three
+been lawyers, the wives had all three been virtuous.
+The three generations had passed there a happy
+and moderate life, never having any great pleasures,
+but, also, never being very bored.</p>
+
+<p>The next day at eight o'clock in the morning
+Mme. Derline awoke with an uneasy feeling. She
+had passed a troubled night&mdash;she, who usually slept
+like a child. The evening before at the opera, in
+the box, Mme. Derline had vaguely felt that something
+was going on around her. And during the
+entire last act an opera-glass, obstinately fixed on
+her&mdash;the prince's opera-glass&mdash;had thrown her
+into a certain agitation, not disagreeable, however.
+She wore a low dress&mdash;too much so, in her mother's
+opinion&mdash;and two or three times, under the fixity
+of that opera-glass, she had raised the shoulder-straps
+of her dress.</p>
+
+<p>So, after opening her eyes, Mme. Derline reclosed
+them lazily, indolently, with thoughts floating
+between dreamland and reality. She again
+saw the opera-house, and a hundred, two hundred,
+five hundred opera-glasses obstinately fixed on her&mdash;on
+her alone.</p>
+
+<p>The maid entered, placed a tray on a little table,
+made up a big fire in the fire-place, and went away.
+There was a cup of chocolate and the morning paper
+on the tray, the same as every morning. Then Mme.
+Derline courageously got up, slipped her little
+bare feet into fur slippers, wrapped herself in a
+white cashmere dressing-gown, and crouched shivering
+in an arm-chair by the fire. She sipped the
+chocolate, and slightly burned herself; she must
+wait a little while. She put down the cup, took up
+the paper, unfolded it, and rapidly ran her eye
+over the six columns of the front page. At the
+bottom, quite at the bottom of the sixth column,
+were the following lines:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p><i>Last evening at the opera there was a very brilliant
+performance of &quot;Sigurd.&quot; Society was well represented
+there; the beautiful Duchess of Montaiglon, the
+pretty Countess Verdini&egrave;re of Lardac, the marvellous
+Marquise of Muriel, the lively Baroness of</i>&mdash;</p></blockquote>
+
+<p>To read the name of the baroness it was necessary
+to turn the page. Mme. Derline did not turn
+it; she was thinking, reflecting. The evening before
+she had amused herself by having Palmer point out
+to her the social leaders in the house, and it so
+happened that the banker had pointed out to her
+the marvellous marquise. And Mme. Derline&mdash;who
+was twenty-two&mdash;raised herself a little to look in the
+glass. She exchanged a slight smile with a young
+blonde, who was very pink and white.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah,&quot; she said to herself, &quot;if I were a marquise
+the man who wrote this would perhaps have paid
+some attention to me, and my name would perhaps
+be there. I wonder if it's fun to see one's name
+printed in a paper?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And while addressing this question to herself, she
+turned the page, and continued reading:</p>
+
+<blockquote><p>&mdash;<i>the lively Baroness of Myrvoix, etc. We have
+to announce the appearance of a new star which has
+abruptly burst forth in the Parisian constellation.
+The house was in ecstasy over a strange and disturbing
+blonde, whose dark steel eyes, and whose shoulders&mdash;ah,
+what shoulders! The shoulders were the event
+of the evening. From all quarters one heard asked,
+&quot;Who is she?&quot; &quot;Who is she?&quot; &quot;To whom do
+those divine shoulders belong?&quot; &quot;To whom?&quot; We
+know, and our readers will doubtless thank us for telling
+them the name of this ideal wonder. It is Mme.
+Derline.</i></p></blockquote>
+
+<p>Her name! She had read her name! She was
+dazzled. Her eyes clouded. All the letters in
+the alphabet began to dance wildly on the paper.
+Then they calmed down, stopped, and regained
+their places. She was able to find her name, and
+continue reading;</p>
+
+<blockquote><p><i>It is Mme. Derline, the wife of one of the most
+agreeable and richest lawyers in Paris. The Prince
+of N&eacute;rins, whose word has so much weight in such
+matters, said yesterday evening to every one who would
+listen, &quot;She is the most beautiful woman in Paris.&quot;
+We are absolutely of that opinion.</i></p></blockquote>
+
+<p>A single paragraph, and that was all. It was
+enough, it was too much! Mme Derline was seized
+with a feeling of undefinable confusion. It was
+a combination of fear and pleasure, of joy and
+trouble, of satisfied vanity and wounded modesty.
+Her dressing-gown was a little open; she folded it
+over with a sort of violence, and crossed it upon,
+her feet, abruptly drawn back towards the arm-chair.
+She had a feeling of nudity. It seemed to
+her that all Paris was there, in her room, and that
+the Prince de N&eacute;rins was in front saying to all Paris,
+&quot;Look, look! She is the most beautiful woman in
+Paris.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The Prince of N&eacute;rins! She knew the name
+well, for she read with keen interest in the papers
+all the articles entitled &quot;<i>Parisian Life</i>,&quot; &quot;<i>High
+Life</i>,&quot; &quot;<i>Society Echoes</i>,&quot; etc.; and all the society
+columns signed &quot;<i>Mousseline</i>,&quot; &quot;<i>Fanfreluche</i>,&quot; &quot;<i>Brimborion</i>,&quot;
+&quot;<i>V&eacute;loutine</i>&quot;; all the accounts of great marriages,
+great balls, of great comings out, and of
+great charity sales. The name of the prince often
+figured in these articles, and he was always quoted
+as supreme arbiter of Parisian elegances.</p>
+
+<p>And it was he who had declared&mdash;ah!&mdash;decidedly
+pleasure got the better of fear. Still trembling with
+emotion, Mme. Derline went and placed herself
+before a long looking-glass, an old cheval-glass
+from Jacob's, which never till now had reflected
+other than good middle-class women married to
+good lawyers. In that glass she looked at herself,
+examined herself, studied herself, long, curiously,
+and eagerly. Of course she knew she was pretty,
+but oh, the power of print! She found herself absolutely
+delightful. She was no longer Mme.
+Derline&mdash;she was the most beautiful woman in Paris!
+Her feet, her little feet&mdash;their bareness no longer
+troubled her&mdash;left the ground. She raised herself
+gently towards the heavens, towards the clouds, and
+felt herself become a goddess.</p>
+
+<p>But suddenly an anxiety seized her. &quot;Edward!
+What would Edward say?&quot; Edward was her husband.
+There had been but one man's surname in
+her life&mdash;her husband's. The lawyer was well loved!
+And almost at the same moment when she was asking
+herself what Edward would say, Edward abruptly
+opened the door.</p>
+
+<p>He was a little out of breath. He had run up-stairs
+two at a time. He was peacefully rummaging
+among old papers in his study on the ground-floor
+when one of his brother-lawyers, with forced congratulations,
+however, had made him read the famous
+article. He had soon got rid of his brother-lawyer,
+and he had come, much irritated, to his
+room. At first there was simply a torrent of words.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Why do these journalists meddle? It's an outrage!
+Your name&mdash;look, there is your name in this
+paper!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, I know, I've seen&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, you know, you have seen&mdash;and you think
+it quite natural!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But, dear&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What times do we live in? It's your fault, too.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;My fault!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, your fault!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And how?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Your dress last night was too low, much too
+low. Besides, your mother told you so&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, mamma&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You needn't say 'Oh, mamma!' Your mother
+was right. There, read: 'And whose shoulders&mdash;ah,
+what shoulders!' And it is of your shoulders
+they are speaking. And that prince who dares to
+award you a prize for beauty!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The good man had plebeian, Gothical ideas&mdash;the
+ideas of a lawyer of old times, of a lawyer of the
+Rue Dragon; the lawyers of the Boulevard Malesherbes
+are no longer like that.</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline very gently, very quietly, brought
+the rebel back to reason. Of course there was charm
+and eloquence in her speech, but how much more
+charm and eloquence in the tenderness of her
+glance and smile.</p>
+
+<p>Why this great rage and despair? He was accused
+of being the husband of the most beautiful
+woman in Paris. Was that such a horrible thing,
+such a terrible misfortune? And who was the
+brother-lawyer, the good brother-lawyer, who had
+taken pleasure in coming to show him the hateful
+article?</p>
+
+<p>&quot;M. Renaud.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, it was M. Renaud&mdash;dear M. Renaud!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon Mme. Derline was seized with a
+hearty fit of laughter; so much so that the blond
+hair, which had been loosely done up, came down
+and framed the pretty face from which gleamed the
+dark eyes which could also, when they gave themselves
+the trouble, look very gentle, very caressing,
+very loving.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, it was M. Renaud, the husband of that
+delightful Mme. Renaud! Well, do you know what
+you will do immediately, without losing a minute?
+Go to the president of the Tribunal and ask for
+a divorce. You will say to him: 'M. Aub&eacute;pin, deliver
+me from my wife. Her crime is being pretty,
+very pretty, too pretty. I wish another one who
+is ugly, very ugly, who has Mme. Renaud's large
+nose, colossal foot, pointed chin, skinny shoulders,
+and eternal pimples.' That's what you want, isn't
+it? Come, you big stupid, kiss your poor wife, and
+forgive her for not being a monster.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>As rather lively gestures had illustrated this little
+speech, the white cashmere dressing-gown had
+slipped&mdash;slipped a good deal, and had opened, very
+much opened; the criminal shoulders were within
+reach of M. Derline's lips&mdash;he succumbed. Besides,
+he too felt the abominable influence of the
+press. His wife had never seemed so pretty to
+him, and, brought back to subjection, M. Derline
+returned to his study in order to make money for
+the most beautiful woman in Paris.</p>
+
+<p>A very wise and opportune occupation; for scarcely
+was Mme. Derline left alone when an idea
+flashed through her head which was to call forth
+a very pretty collection of bank-notes from the cash-box
+of the lawyer of the Rue Dragon. Mme.
+Derline had intended wearing to the Palmer's ball
+a dress which had already been much seen. Mme.
+Derline had kept the dress-maker of her wedding-dress,
+her mother's dress-maker, a dress-maker
+of the Left Bank. It seemed to her that her new
+position imposed new duties on her. She could
+not appear at the Palmer's without a dress which
+had not been seen, and stamped with a well-known
+name. She ordered the carriage in the afternoon,
+and resolutely gave her coachman the address of
+one of the most illustrious dress-makers in Paris.
+She arrived a little agitated, and to reach the great
+artist was obliged to pass through a veritable crowd
+of footmen, who were in the antechamber chatting
+and laughing, used to meeting there and making
+long stops. Nearly all the footmen were those of
+society, the highest society; they had spent the
+previous evening together at the English Embassy,
+and were to be that evening at the Duchess of Gr&eacute;moille.</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline entered a sumptuous parlor; it
+was very sumptuous, too sumptuous. Twenty great
+customers were there&mdash;society women and actresses,
+all agitated, anxious, feverish&mdash;looking at the beautiful
+tall saleswomen come and go before them,
+wearing the last creations of the master of the
+house. The great artist had a diplomatic bearing:
+buttoned-up black frock-coat, long cravat with pin
+(a present from a royal highness who paid her
+bills slowly), and a many-colored rosette in his
+button-hole (the gift of a small reigning prince
+who paid slower yet the bills of an opera-dancer).
+He came and went&mdash;precise, calm, and cool&mdash;in
+the midst of the solicitations and supplications of
+his customers. &quot;M. Arthur! M. Arthur!&quot; One
+heard nothing but that phrase. He was M. Arthur.
+He went from one to the other&mdash;respectful, without
+too much humility, to the duchesses, and easy,
+without too much familiarity, to the actresses.
+There was an extraordinary liveliness, and a confusion
+of marvellous velvets, satins, and embroidered,
+brocaded, and gold or silver threaded stuffs,
+all thrown here and there, as though by accident&mdash;but
+what science in that accident&mdash;on arm-chairs,
+tables, and divans.</p>
+
+<p>In the first place Mme. Derline ran against a
+shop-girl who was bearing with outstretched arms
+a white dress, and was almost hidden beneath a
+light mountain of muslins and laces. The only
+thing visible was the shop-girl's mussed black
+hair and sly suburban expression. Mme. Derline
+backed away, wishing to place herself against the,
+wall; but a tryer-on was there, a large energetic brunette,
+who spoke authoritatively in a high staccato.
+&quot;At once,&quot; she was saying&mdash;&quot;bring me at once
+the princess's dress!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Frightened and dazed, Mme. Derline stood in
+a corner and watched an opportunity to seize a
+saleswoman on the fly. She even thought of giving
+up the game. Never, certainly, should she
+dare to address directly that terrible M. Arthur,
+who had just given her a rapid glance in which
+she believed to have read, &quot;Who is she? She
+isn't properly dressed! She doesn't go to a fashionable
+dress-maker!&quot; At last Mme. Derline
+succeeded in getting hold of a disengaged saleswoman,
+and there was the same slightly disdainful
+glance&mdash;a glance which was accompanied by the
+phrase:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Madame is not a regular customer of the
+house?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, I am not a customer&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And you wish?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;A dress, a ball-dress&mdash;and I want the dress
+for next Thursday evening&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Thursday next!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, Thursday next.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh! madame, it is not to be thought of.
+Even for a customer of the house it would be impossible.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But I wished it so much&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Go and see M. Arthur. He alone can&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And where is M. Arthur?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In his office. He has just gone into his office.
+Over there, madame, opposite.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline, through a half-open door, saw a
+sombre and severe but luxurious room&mdash;an ambassador's
+office. On the walls the great European
+powers were represented by photographs&mdash;the
+Empress Eug&eacute;nie, the Princess of Wales, a
+grand-duchess of Russia, and an archduchess
+of Austria. M. Arthur was there taking a few
+moments' rest, seated in a large arm-chair, with
+an air of lassitude and exhaustion, and with a
+newspaper spread out over his knees. He arose
+on seeing Mme. Derline enter. In a trembling
+voice she repeated her wish.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, madame, a ball-dress&mdash;a beautiful ball-dress&mdash;for
+Thursday! I couldn't make such a promise&mdash;I
+couldn't keep it. There are responsibilities
+to which I never expose myself.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He spoke slowly, gravely, as a man conscious
+of his high position.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, I am so disappointed. It was a particular
+occasion and I was told that you alone
+could&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Two tears, two little tears, glittered on her eye-lashes.
+M. Arthur was moved. A woman, a
+pretty woman, crying there, before him! Never
+had such homage been paid to his genius.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, madame, I am willing to make an attempt.
+A very simple dress&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh no, not simple. Very brilliant, on the contrary&mdash;everything
+that is most brilliant. Two of
+my friends are customers of yours (she named
+them), and I am Mme. Derline&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Mme. Derline! You are Mme. Derline?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The two <i>Mme. Derlines</i> were followed by a
+glance and a smile&mdash;the glance was at the newspaper
+and the smile was at Mme. Derline; but it
+was a discreet, self-contained smile&mdash;the smile of
+a perfectly gallant man. This is what the glance
+and smile said with admirable clearness:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah I you are Mme. Derline&mdash;that already celebrated
+Mme. Derline&mdash;who yesterday at the opera&mdash;I
+understand, I understand&mdash;I was reading just
+now in this paper&mdash;words are no longer necessary&mdash;you
+should have told your name at once&mdash;yes,
+you need me; yes, you shall have your dress;
+yes, I want to divide your success with you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>M. Arthur called:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Mademoiselle Blanche, come here at once!
+Mademoiselle Blanche!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And turning towards Mme. Derline, he said:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;She has great talent, but I shall myself superintend
+it; so be easy&mdash;yes, I myself.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline was a little confused, a little embarrassed
+by her glory, but happy nevertheless.
+Mademoiselle Blanche came forward.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Conduct madame,&quot; said M. Arthur, &quot;and
+take the necessary measures for a ball-dress,
+very low, and with absolutely bare arms. During
+that time, madame, I am going to think seriously
+of what I can do for you. It must be something
+entirely new&mdash;ah! before going, permit me&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He walked very slowly around Mme. Derline,
+and examined her with profound attention; then
+he walked away, and considered her from a little
+distance. His face was serious, thoughtful, and
+anxious. A great thinker wrestling with a great
+problem. He passed his hand over his forehead,
+raised his eyes to the sky, getting inspiration by
+a painful delivery; but suddenly his face lit up&mdash;the
+spirit from above had answered.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Go, madame,&quot; he said, &quot;go. Your dress is
+thought out. When you come back, mademoiselle,
+bring me that piece of pink satin; you know, the
+one that I was keeping for some great occasion.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Thus Mme. Derline found herself with Mademoiselle
+Blanche in a trying-on room, which was
+a sort of little cabin lined with mirrors. A quarter
+of an hour later, when the measures had been taken,
+Mme. Derline came back and discovered M. Arthur
+in the midst of pieces of satin of all colors, of
+cr&ecirc;pes, of tulles, of laces, and of brocaded stuffs.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, no, not the pink satin,&quot; he said to Mademoiselle
+Blanche, who was bringing the asked-for
+piece; &quot;no, I have found something better.
+Listen to me. This is what I wish: I have
+given up the pink, and I have decided on this, this
+peach-colored satin. A classic robe, outlining all
+the fine lines and showing the suppleness of the
+body. This robe must be very clinging&mdash;hardly
+any underskirts. It must be of surah. Madame
+must be melted into it&mdash;do you thoroughly understand?&mdash;absolutely
+melted into the robe. We will
+drop over the dress this cr&ecirc;pe&mdash;yes, that one, but
+in small, light pleats. The cr&ecirc;pe will be as a cloud
+thrown over the dress&mdash;a transparent, vapory, impalpable
+cloud. The arms are to be absolutely
+bare, as I already told you. On each shoulder
+there must be a simple knot, showing the upper
+part of the arm. Of what is the knot to be? I'm
+still undecided&mdash;I need to think it over&mdash;till to-morrow,
+madame, till to-morrow.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline came back the next day, and the
+next, and every day till the day before the famous
+Thursday; and each time that she came back,
+while awaiting her turn to try on, she ordered
+dresses, very simple ones, but yet costing from
+seven to eight hundred francs each.</p>
+
+<p>And that was not all. On the day of her first
+visit to M. Arthur, when Mme. Derline came out
+of the great house, she was broken-hearted&mdash;positively
+broken-hearted&mdash;at the sight of her brougham;
+it really did make a pitiful appearance among
+all the stylish carriages which were waiting in three
+rows and taking up half the street. It was the
+brougham of her late mother-in-law, and it still
+rolled through the streets of Paris after fifteen
+years' service. Mme. Derline got into the woe-begone
+brougham to drive straight to a very well-known
+carriage-maker, and that evening, cleverly
+seizing the psychological moment, she explained
+to M. Derline that she had seen a certain little
+black coup&eacute; lined with blue satin that would frame
+delightfully her new dresses.</p>
+
+<p>The coup&eacute; was bought the next day by M.
+Derline, who also was beginning fully to realize
+the extent of his new duties. But the next day it
+was discovered that it was impossible to harness
+to that jewel of a coup&eacute; the old horse who had
+pulled the old carriage, and no less impossible to
+put on the box the old coachman who drove the
+old horse.</p>
+
+<p>This is how on Thursday, April 25th, at half-past
+ten in the evening, a very pretty chestnut
+mare, driven by a very correct English coachman,
+took M. and Mme. Derline to the Palmer's. They
+still lacked something&mdash;a little groom to sit beside
+the English coachman. But a certain amount of
+discretion had to be employed. The most beautiful
+woman in Paris intended to wait ten days before
+asking for the little groom.</p>
+
+<p>While she was going up-stairs at the Palmer's,
+she distinctly felt her heart beat like the strokes of
+a hammer. She was going to play a decisive game.
+She knew that the Palmers had been going everywhere,
+saying, &quot;Come on Thursday; we will show
+you Mme. Derline, the most beautiful woman in
+Paris.&quot; Curiosity as well as jealousy had been
+well awakened.</p>
+
+<p>She entered, and from the first minute she had
+the delicious sensation of her success. Throughout
+the long gallery of the Palmer's house it was a
+true triumphal march. She advanced with firm
+and precise step, erect, and head well held. She
+appeared to see nothing, to hear nothing, but how
+well she saw! how well she felt, the fire of all those
+eyes on her shoulders! Around her arose a little
+murmur of admiration, and never had music been
+sweeter to her.</p>
+
+<p>Yes, decidedly, all went well. She was on a fair
+way to conquer Paris. And, sure of herself, at
+each step she became more confident, lighter, and
+bolder, as she advanced on Palmer's arm, who, in
+passing, pointed out the counts, the marquises, and
+the dukes. And then Palmer suddenly said to her:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I want to present to you one of your greatest
+admirers, who, the other night at the opera, spoke
+of nothing but your beauty; he is the Prince of
+N&eacute;rins.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>She became as red as a cherry. Palmer looked
+at her and began to laugh.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, you read the other day in that paper?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I read&mdash;yes, I read&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But where is the prince, where is he? I saw
+him during the day, and he was to be here early.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline was not to see the Prince of
+N&eacute;rins that evening. And yet he had intended to
+go to the Palmers and preside at the deification of
+his lawyeress. He had dined at the club, and had
+allowed himself to be dragged off to a first performance
+at a minor theatre. An operetta of the
+regulation type was being played. The principal
+personage was a young queen, who was always
+escorted by the customary four maids-of-honor.</p>
+
+<p>Three of these young ladies were very well
+known to first-nighters, as having already figured
+in the tableaux of operettas and in groups of
+fairies, but the fourth&mdash;Oh, the fourth! She was
+a new one, a tall brunette of the most striking
+beauty. The prince made himself remarked more
+than all others by his enthusiasm. He completely
+forgot that he was to leave after the first act. The
+play was over very late, and the prince was still
+there, having paid no attention to the piece or the
+music, having seen nothing but the wonderful
+brunette, having heard nothing but the stanza
+which she had unworthily massacred in the middle
+of the second act. And while they were leaving
+the theatre, the prince was saying to whoever
+would listen:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That brunette! oh, that brunette! She hasn't
+an equal in any theatre! She is the most beautiful
+woman in Paris! The most beautiful!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>It was one o'clock in the morning. The prince
+asked himself if he should go to the Palmers.
+Poor Mme. Derline; she was of very slight importance
+beside this new wonder! And then, too,
+the prince was a methodical man. The hour for
+whist had arrived; so he departed to play whist.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning Mme. Derline found ten
+lines on the Palmer's ball in the &quot;society column.&quot;
+There was mention of the marquises, the
+countesses, and the duchesses who were there, but
+about Mme. Derline there was not a word&mdash;not a
+word.</p>
+
+<p>On the other hand, the writer of theatrical gossip
+celebrated in enthusiastic terms the beauty of that
+ideal maid-of-honor, and said, &quot;<i>Besides, the Prince
+of N&eacute;rins declared that Mademoiselle Miranda was
+indisputedly the most beautiful woman in Paris!</i>&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Mme. Derline threw the paper in the fire. She
+did not wish her husband to know that she was
+already not the most beautiful woman in Paris.</p>
+
+<p>She has, however, kept the great dress-maker
+and the English coachman, but she never dared to
+ask for the little groom.</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="THE_STORY_OF_A_BALL_DRESS" id="THE_STORY_OF_A_BALL_DRESS"></a>THE STORY OF A BALL-DRESS</h2>
+
+
+<p>When the women of the seventeenth and eighteenth
+centuries write their memoirs they boldly
+present themselves to the reader thus: &quot;I have a
+well-shaped mouth,&quot; said the Marquise of Courcelles,
+&quot;beautiful lips, pearly teeth, good forehead,
+cheeks, and expression, finely chiselled throat, divine
+hands, passable arms (that is to say, they are
+a little thin); but I find consolation for that misfortune
+in the fact that I have the prettiest legs in
+the world.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And I will follow the marquise's example. Here
+is my portrait: Overskirt of white illusion trimmed
+with fringe, and three flounces of blond alternating
+with the fringe; court mantle of cherry silk
+girt by a high flounce of white blond which falls
+over the fringe and is caught up by Marie Antoinette
+satin; two other flounces of blond are
+placed behind at intervals above; on each side
+from the waist up are facings composed of little
+alternating flounces of blond, looped up with satin;
+the big puff behind is bound by a flounce of white
+blond. A little white waist, the front and shoulder-straps
+of which are of satin trimmed with blond.
+Belt of red satin with large red butterfly.</p>
+
+<p>The world was made in six days, I in three. And
+yet I too am in the world&mdash;a little complicated world
+of silk, satin, blond, loops, and fringes. Did God
+rest while he was making the world? I do not
+know; but I do know that the scissors that cut
+me out and the needle that sewed me rested neither
+day nor night from Monday evening, January
+24, 1870, to Thursday morning, January 27th. The
+slashes of the scissors and the pricks of the needle
+caused me great pain at first, but I soon paid no
+attention to them at all. I began to observe what
+was going on, to understand that I was becoming
+a dress, and to discover that the dress would be a
+marvel. From time to time M. Worth came himself
+to pay me little visits. &quot;Take in the waist,&quot;
+he would say, &quot;add more fringe, spread out the
+train, enlarge the butterfly,&quot; etc.</p>
+
+<p>One thing worried me: For whom was I intended?
+I knew the name, nothing more&mdash;the Baroness
+Z&mdash;&mdash;. Princess would have been better; but
+still, baroness did very well. I was ambitious. I
+dreaded the theatre. It remained to be seen whether
+this baroness was young, pretty, and equal to
+wearing me boldly, and whether she had a figure
+to show me off to advantage. I was horribly afraid
+of falling into the hands of an ugly woman, a provincial,
+or an old coquette.</p>
+
+<p>How perfectly reassured I was as soon as I saw
+the baroness! Small, delicate, supple, stylish, a
+fairy waist, the shoulders of a goddess, and, besides
+all this, a certain little air of audacity, of raillery,
+but in exquisite moderation.</p>
+
+<p>I was spread out on a large pearl-gray lounge,
+and I was received with marks of frank admiration.
+M. Worth had been good enough to bring me <i>himself</i>,
+and he didn't trouble himself about all dresses.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;How original!&quot; exclaimed the little baroness;
+&quot;how new! But very dear, isn't it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;One thousand and fifty francs.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;One thousand and fifty francs! And I furnished
+the lace! Ah, how quickly I should leave
+you if I didn't owe you so much! For I owe you
+a lot of money.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, very little, baroness&mdash;very little.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, no; a great deal. But we will discuss that
+another day.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>That evening I made my first appearance in society,
+and I came out at the Tuileries. We both
+of us, the baroness and myself, had an undeniable
+success. When the Empress crossed the Salon of
+Diana, making pleasant remarks to the right and
+left, she had the graciousness to stop before us and
+make the following remark, which seemed to me
+extremely witty, &quot;Ah, baroness, what a dress&mdash;what
+a dress! It's a dream!&quot; On that occasion
+the Empress wore a dress of white tulle dotted with
+silver, on a design of cloudy green, with epaulettes
+of sable. It was queer, not ineffective, but in
+doubtful taste.</p>
+
+<p>We received much attention, the baroness and I.
+The new Minister, M. &Eacute;mile Ollivier, was presented
+to us; we received him coldly, as the little baroness
+did not approve, I believe, of liberal reforms,
+and looked for nothing good from them. We had
+a long chat on the window-seat with the Marshal
+Leb&oelig;uf. The only topic during that interesting
+conversation was the execution of Troppmann. It
+was the great event of the week.</p>
+
+<p>At two o'clock we left&mdash;the baroness, I, and the
+baron. For there was a husband, who for the time
+being was crowded in the corner of the carriage,
+and hidden under the mass of my skirts and of my
+train, which was thrown back on him all in a heap.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Confess, Edward,&quot; said the little baroness&mdash;confess
+that I was pretty to-night.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Very.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And my dress?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, charming!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You say that indolently, without spirit or enthusiasm.
+I know you well. You think I've been
+extravagant. Well, indeed I haven't. Do you
+know how much this dress cost me? Four hundred
+francs&mdash;not a centime more.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>We arrived home, which was a step from the
+Tuileries, in the Place Vend&ocirc;me. The baron went
+to his rooms, the baroness to hers; and while Hermance,
+the maid, cleverly and swiftly untied all my
+rosettes and took out the pins, the little baroness
+kept repeating: &quot;How becoming this dress is to
+me! And I seem to become it, too. I shall wear
+it on Thursday, Hermance, to go to the Austrian
+Embassy. Wait a minute, till I see the effect of
+the butterfly in the back. Bring the lamp nearer;
+nearer yet. Yes, that's it. Ah, how pretty it is!
+I am enchanted with this dress, Hermance&mdash;really
+enchanted!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>If the little baroness was enchanted with me, I
+was equally enchanted with the baroness. We two
+made the most tender, the most intimate, and the
+most united of families. We comprehended, understood,
+and completed each other so well. I
+had not to do with one of those mechanical dolls&mdash;stupidly
+and brutally laced into a padded corset.
+Between the little baroness and myself there was
+absolutely nothing but lace and fine linen. We
+could confidentially and surely depend on one another.
+The beauty of the little baroness was a real
+beauty, without garniture, conjuring, or trickery.</p>
+
+<p>So the following Thursday I went to the Austrian
+Embassy, and a week later to the Princess
+Mathilde's. But, alas! the next morning the little
+baroness said to her maid: &quot;Hermance, take that
+dress to the reserve. I love it, and I'd wear it
+every evening; but it has been seen sufficiently
+for this winter. Yesterday several people said to
+me, 'Ah, that's your dress of the Tuileries; it's
+your dress of the Austrian Embassy.' It must be
+given up till next year. Good-bye, dear little
+dress.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And, having said that, she placed her charming
+lips at hap-hazard among my laces and kissed me
+in the dearest way in the world. Ah, how pleased
+and proud I was of that childish and sweet fellowship!
+I remembered that the evening before, on
+our return, the little baroness had kissed her
+husband; but the kiss she had given him was a
+quick, dry kiss&mdash;one of those hurried kisses with
+which one wishes to get through; whereas my kiss
+had been prolonged and passionate. She had
+cordiality for the baron, and love for me. The
+little baroness wasn't twenty, and she was a coquette
+to the core. I say this, in the first place,
+to excuse her, and, in the second place, to give an
+exact impression of her character.</p>
+
+<p>So at noon, in the arms of Hermance, I made
+my entry to the reserve. It was a dormitory of
+dresses, an immense room on the third story, very
+large, and lined with wardrobes of white oak, carefully
+locked. In the middle of the room was an
+ottoman, on which Hermance deposited me; after
+which she slid back ten or twelve wardrobe doors,
+one after the other. Dresses upon dresses! I
+should never be able to tell how many. All were
+hung in the air by silk tape on big triangles. Hermance,
+however, seemed much embarrassed.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In the reserve,&quot; she murmured, &quot;in the reserve;
+that is easy to say. But where is there any
+room? And this one needs a lot.&quot; At last Hermance,
+after having given a number of little taps
+to the right and left, succeeded in making a sort of
+slit, into which I had great difficulty in sliding.
+Hermance gave me and my neighbors some more
+little taps to lump us together, and then shut the
+door. Darkness reigned. I was placed between a
+blue velvet dress and a mauve satin one.</p>
+
+<p>Towards the end of April we received a visit
+from the little baroness, and in consequence of
+that visit there was great disturbance. Winter
+dresses were hung up; spring dresses were got
+down. At the beginning of July another visit,
+another disturbance&mdash;entry of the costumes from
+the races; departure of others for the watering-places.
+I lost my neighbor to the right, the mauve
+dress, and kept my neighbor on the left, the blue
+dress, a cross and crabbed person who was forever
+groaning, complaining, and saying to me, &quot;Oh, my
+dear, you do take up so much room; do get out of
+the way a little.&quot; I must admit that the poor blue
+velvet dress was much to be pitied. It was three
+years old, having been a part of the little baroness's
+trousseau, and had never been worn. &quot;A high-neck
+blue velvet dress, at my age, with my shoulders
+and arms!&quot; had exclaimed the little baroness;
+&quot;I should look like a grandmother!&quot; Thus it was
+decreed, and the unfortunate blue dress had gone
+from the trousseau straight to the reserve.</p>
+
+<p>A week or ten days after the departure of the
+dresses for Baden-Baden we heard a noise, the
+voices of women, and all the doors were opened.
+It was the little baroness, who had brought her
+friend the Countess N&mdash;&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Sit there, my dear, on that ottoman,&quot; said the
+little baroness. &quot;I have come to look over my
+dresses. I am very hurried; I arrived but just
+now from Baden, and I start again to-night for
+Anjou. We can chatter while Hermance shows
+me the dresses. Oh, those Prussians, my dear, the
+monsters! We had to run away, Blanche and myself,
+like thieves. (Very simple dresses, Hermance,
+every-day dresses, and walking and boating dresses.)
+Yes, my dear, like thieves! They threw stones at
+us, real stones, in the Avenue of Lichtental, and
+called us 'Rascally Frenchwomen! French rabble!'
+The Emperor did well to declare war against such
+people. (Dresses for horseback, Hermance&mdash;my
+brown riding-habit.) At any rate, there's no need
+to worry. My husband dined yesterday with Guy;
+you know, the tall Guy, who is an aide of Leb&oelig;uf.
+Well, we are ready, admirably ready, and the Prussians
+not at all. (Very simple, I said, Hermance.
+You are showing me ball-dresses. I don't intend
+to dance during the war.) And then, my dear, it
+seems that this war was absolutely necessary from
+a dynastic point of view. I don't quite know
+why, but I tell it to you as I heard it. (These
+dozen dresses, Hermance, will be sufficient. But
+there are thirteen. I never could have thirteen.
+Take away the green one; or, no, add another&mdash;that
+blue one; that's all.) Now let's go down, my
+dear.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Whereupon she departed. So war was declared,
+and with Prussia. I was much moved. I was a
+French dress and a Bonapartist dress. I was
+afraid for France and afraid for the dynasty, but the
+words of the tall Guy were so perfectly reassuring.</p>
+
+<p>For two months there was no news; but about
+the 10th of September the little baroness arrived
+with Hermance. She was very pale, poor little
+baroness&mdash;very pale and agitated.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Dark dresses, Hermance,&quot; she said, &quot;black
+dresses. I know! What remains of Aunt Pauline's
+mourning? There must remain quite a lot
+of things. You see, I am too sad&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But if madame expects to remain long in England?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah! as long as the Republic lasts.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Then it may be a long time.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What do you mean&mdash;a long time? What <i>do</i>
+you mean, Hermance? Who can tell you such
+things?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It seems to me that if I were madame I'd take
+for precaution's sake a few winter dresses, a few
+evening-dresses&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Evening-dresses! Why, what are you thinking
+of? I shall go nowhere, Hermance, alone in England,
+without my husband, who stays in Paris in
+the National Guard.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But if madame should go to see their Majesties
+in England?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, of course I shall, Hermance.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, it's because I know madame's feelings
+and views that&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You are right; put in some evening-dresses.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Will madame take her last white satin dress?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh no, not that one; it would be too sad a
+memory for the Empress, who noticed it at the last
+ball at the Tuileries. And then the dress wouldn't
+stand the voyage. My poor white satin dress!
+Shall I ever wear it again?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>That is why I did not emigrate, and how I found
+myself blockaded in Paris during the siege. From
+the few words that we had heard of the conversation
+of the little baroness and Hermance we had a
+pretty clear idea of the situation. The Empire was
+overthrown and the Republic proclaimed. The
+Republic! There were among us several old family
+laces who had seen the first Republic&mdash;that of
+'93. The Reign of Terror! Ah, what tales they
+told us! The fall of the Empire, however, did not
+displease these old laces, who were all Legitimists
+or Orleanists. In my neighborhood, on a gooseberry
+satin skirt, there were four flounces of lace
+who had had the honor of attending the coronation
+of Charles X., and who were delighted, and kept
+saying to us: &quot;The Bonapartes brought about invasion;
+invasion brings back the Bourbons. Long
+live Henry V.!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>We all had, however, a common preoccupation.
+Should we remain in style? We were nearly all
+startling, risky, and loud&mdash;so much so that we were
+quite anxious, except three or four quiet dresses,
+velvet and dark cloth dresses, who joined in the
+chorus with the old laces, and said to us: &quot;Ah,
+here's an end to the carnival, to this masquerade
+of an empire! Republic or monarchy, little we care;
+we are sensible and in good taste.&quot; We felt they were
+somewhat in the right in talking thus. From September
+to February we remained shut up in the wardrobes,
+wrangling with each other, listening to the
+cannon, and knowing nothing of what was going on.</p>
+
+<p>Towards the middle of February all the doors
+were opened. It was the little baroness&mdash;the little
+baroness!</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah!&quot; she exclaimed, &quot;my dresses, my beloved
+dresses, there they are; how happy I am to see
+them!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>We could say nothing; but we, too, were very
+happy to see the little baroness.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Now, then, Hermance,&quot; continued the little
+baroness, &quot;let us hunt around a little. What can
+I take to Bordeaux? After such disasters I must
+have quiet and sombre dresses.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Madame hasn't very many.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I beg your pardon, Hermance, I have dark
+dresses&mdash;this one and that one. The blue velvet
+dress! The blue velvet dress is just the thing, and
+I've never worn it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And so my neighbor the blue dress was taken
+down, and was at last going to make her first appearance
+in the world. However, the little baroness
+herself, with great activity, rummaged round in
+the wardrobes.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Nothing, nothing,&quot; she said; &quot;four or five
+dresses only. All the rest are impossible, and
+would not accord with the Government we shall
+have in Bordeaux. Well, I shall be obliged to have
+some republican dresses made&mdash;very moderate republican,
+but still republican.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The little baroness went away, to come back a
+month later, always with Hermance, who was an excellent
+maid, and much thought of by her mistress.
+New deliberation.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Hermance,&quot; said the little baroness, &quot;what can
+I take to Versailles? I think we shall be able to
+have a little more freedom. There will be receptions
+and dinners with M. Thiers; then the princes
+are coming. I might risk transition dresses. Do
+you know what I mean by that, Hermance&mdash;transition
+dresses?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Perfectly, madame&mdash;pearl grays, mauves, violets,
+lilacs.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, that's it, Hermance; light but quiet colors.
+You are an invaluable maid. You understand me
+perfectly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The little baroness started for Versailles with a
+collection of transition dresses. There must have
+been twenty. It was a good beginning, and filled
+us with hope. She had begun at Bordeaux with
+sombre colors, and continued on at Versailles with
+light ones, Versailles was evidently only a stepping-stone
+between Bordeaux and Paris. The little
+baroness was soon coming back to Paris, and once
+the little baroness was in Paris we could feel assured
+that we should not stay long in the wardrobes.</p>
+
+<p>But it happened that a few days after the departure
+of the little baroness for Versailles we heard
+loud firing beneath the windows of the house (we
+lived in the Place Vend&ocirc;me). Was it another revolt,
+another revolution? For a week nothing more
+was heard; there was silence. Then at the end of
+that week the cannonade began around Paris worse
+than ever. Was the war recommencing with the
+Prussians? Was it a new siege?</p>
+
+<p>The days passed, and the boom of the cannon
+continued. Finally, one morning there was a great
+racket in the court-yard of our house. Cries,
+threats, oaths! The noise came up and up. Great
+blows with the butt ends of muskets were struck
+on the wardrobe doors. They were smashed in
+and we perceived eight or ten slovenly looking,
+dirty, and bearded men. Among these men was a
+woman, a little brunette; fairly pretty, I must say,
+but queerly gotten up. A black dress with a short
+skirt, little boots with red bows, a round gray felt
+hat with a large red plume, and a sort of red scarf
+worn crosswise. It was a peculiar style, but it was
+style all the same.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, oh!&quot; exclaimed the little woman, &quot;here's
+luck! What a lot of dresses! Well, clear away all
+this, sergeant, and take those duds to headquarters.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Then all those men threw themselves upon us
+with a sort of fury. We felt ourselves gripped and
+dishonored by coarse, dirty hands.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't soil them too much, citizens,&quot; the little
+woman would cry. &quot;Do them up in packages, and
+take the packages down to the ammunition-wagon.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The headquarters was the apartment of the young
+lady of the red plume. Our new mistress was the
+wife of a general of the Commune. We were destined
+to remain official dresses. Official during the
+Empire, and official during the Commune. The
+first thought of Mme. General was to hold a review
+of us, and I had the honor of being the object of
+her special attention and admiration.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, look, &Eacute;mile!&quot; (&Eacute;mile was the General.)
+&quot;Look! this is the toniest of the whole concern.
+I'll keep it for the Tuileries.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>I was to be kept for the Tuileries! What tales
+of woe and what lamentations there were in the
+sort of alcove where we were thrown like rags!
+Mme. General went into society every evening, and
+never put on the same dress twice. My poor companions
+the day after told me their adventures of
+the day before. This one had dined at Citizen
+Raoul Rigault's, the Pr&eacute;fecture of Police; that one
+attended a performance of &quot;Andromaque&quot; at the
+Th&eacute;&acirc;tre Fran&ccedil;ais, in the Empress's box, etc. At
+last it was my turn. The 17th of May was the
+day of the grand concert at the Tuileries.</p>
+
+<p>Oh, my dear little baroness, what had become
+of you? Where were your long soft muslin petticoats
+and your fine white satin corsets? Where
+were your transparent linen chemisettes? Mme.
+General had coarse petticoats of starched calico.
+Mme. General wore such a corset! Mme. General
+had such a crinoline! My poor skirts of lace and
+satin were abominably stiffened and tossed about
+by the hard crinoline hoops. As to the basque,
+the strange thing happened that the basque of the
+little baroness was much too tight for Mme. General
+at the waist, and, on the contrary, above the waist
+it was&mdash;I really do not know how to explain such
+things. At any rate, it was just the opposite of
+small, so much so that it had to be padded. Horrible!
+Most horrible!</p>
+
+<p>At ten that evening I was climbing for the second
+time the grand staircase of the Tuileries, in
+the midst of a dense and ignoble mob. One of the
+General's aides-de-camp tried in vain to open a passage.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Room, room, for the wife of the General!&quot; he
+cried.</p>
+
+<p>Much they cared for the wife of the General!
+Great big boots trampled on my train, sharp spurs
+tore my laces, and the bones of the corsets of Mme.
+General hurt me terribly.</p>
+
+<p>At midnight I returned to Mme. General's den. I
+returned in rags, shreds, soiled, dishonored, and
+stained with wine, tobacco, and mud. A hateful
+little maid brutally tore me from the shoulders of
+Mme. General, and said to her mistress:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, madame, was it beautiful?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, Victoria,&quot; replied Mme. General, &quot;it was too
+mixed. But do hurry up! tear it off if it won't come.
+I know where to find others at the same price.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And I was thrown like a rag on a heap of pieces.
+The heap of pieces was composed of ball-dresses
+of the little baroness.</p>
+
+<p>One morning, three or four days later, the aide-de-camp
+rushed in, crying, &quot;The Versaillists! The
+Versaillists are in Paris!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Thereupon Mme. General put on a sort of military
+costume, took two revolvers, filled them with cartridges,
+and hung them on a black leather belt
+which she wore around her waist. &quot;Where is the
+General?&quot; she said to the aide-de-camp.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;At the Tuileries.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Very well, I shall go there with you.&quot; And
+on that she departed, with her little gray felt hat
+jauntily tilted over her ear.</p>
+
+<p>The cannonade and firing redoubled and came
+nearer. Evidently there was fighting very near us,
+quite close to us. The next day towards noon we
+saw them both come back, the General and Mme.
+General. And in what a condition! Panting,
+frightened, forbidding, with clothes white with
+dust, and hands and faces black with powder.
+The General was wounded in the left hand, he
+had twisted around his wrist a handkerchief bathed
+in blood.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Does your arm hurt you?&quot; Mme. General said
+to him.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It stings a little, that's all.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Are they following us?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, I think so.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Listen! There are noises, shouts.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Look out of the window without showing yourself.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The red trousers! They are here!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Lock and bolt the door. Get the revolvers and
+load them. I can't on account of my arm. This
+wound is a bore.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You are so pale!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes; I am losing blood&mdash;a good deal of blood.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;They are coming up the stairs!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Into the alcove&mdash;let us go into the alcove, on
+the dresses.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Here they are!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Give me the revolver.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The door gave way violently under the hammering
+of the butts of the guns. A shower of bullets
+fell on us and around us. The General, with a single
+movement, fell heavily at full length on the bed
+of silk, muslin, and laces that we made for him.
+Three or four men with red trousers threw themselves
+on Mme. General, who fought, bit, and
+screamed, &quot;Assassins! assassins!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>A soldier tore away the bell-cord, firmly tied her
+hands, and carried her away like a bundle. She
+continued to repeat, in a strangled voice, &quot;Assassins!
+assassins!&quot; The soldiers approached the alcove
+and looked at the General. &quot;As to him,&quot; they
+said, &quot;he's done for; he doesn't need anything
+more. Let's be off.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>They left us, and we remained there for two days,
+crushed beneath that corpse and covered with blood.
+Finally, at the end of those two days, a man arrived
+who was called a Commissioner, and who wore a
+tricolored scarf around his waist. &quot;This corpse
+has been forgotten,&quot; he said. &quot;Take it away.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>They tried to lift the body, but with fingers stiffened
+by death the General held my big cherry satin
+butterfly. They had nearly to break his fingers to
+get it out.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime the Commissioner examined and
+searched curiously among that brilliant heap of
+rags on which the General had died. My waist
+appeared to catch his eye. &quot;Here is a mark,&quot; he
+said to one of his men&mdash;&quot;a mark inside the waist,
+with the name and number of the maker. We can
+learn where these dresses came from. Wrap this
+waist in a newspaper and I'll take it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>They wrapped me in an old number of the <i>Official
+Journal of the Commune</i>. The following day we
+went to M. Worth, the Commissioner and I. The
+conversation was not long.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Was this dress made by you?&quot; the Commissioner
+asked.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes; here's the mark.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And for whom was it made?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Number 18,223. Wait a moment; I'll consult
+my books.&quot; The dress-maker came back in five
+minutes, and said to the Commissioner, &quot;It was for
+the Baroness Z&mdash;&mdash; that I made this dress, eighteen
+months ago, and it isn't paid for.&quot;</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="THE_INSURGENT" id="THE_INSURGENT"></a>THE INSURGENT</h2>
+
+
+<p>&quot;Prisoner,&quot; said the President of the Council
+of War, &quot;have you anything to add in your defence?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, colonel,&quot; replied the prisoner. &quot;The little
+lawyer you assigned me defended me according to
+his idea; I want to defend myself according to
+mine.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;My name is Martin (Lewis Joseph). I am fifty-five
+years old. My father was a locksmith. He had
+a little shop in the upper part of the Saint-Martin
+Quarter, and had a fair business. We just
+existed. I learned to read in the <i>National</i>, which
+was, I believe, the paper of M. Thiers.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;On the 27th of July, 1830, my father went out
+very early. That evening, at ten o'clock, he was
+brought back to us on a litter, dying. He had received
+a bullet in the chest. Beside him on the
+litter was his musket.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;'Take it,' he said to me. 'I give it to you; and
+every time there is a riot, be against the Government&mdash;always,
+always, always!'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;An hour later he was dead. I went out in the
+night. At the first barricade I stopped and offered
+myself; a man examined me by the light of a lantern.
+'A child!' he exclaimed. I was not fifteen.
+I was very slight and undersized. I answered: 'A
+child, maybe, but my father was killed two hours
+ago. He gave me his musket. Teach me how to
+use it.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;From that moment I became what I have always
+been for forty years, an insurgent! If I fought
+during the Commune, it was not because I was
+forced, nor for the thirty sous; it was from taste,
+from pleasure, from habit, from routine.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In 1830 I behaved rather bravely at the attack
+on the Louvre. The urchin who first scaled the
+gate beneath the bullets of the Swiss was I. I received
+the Medal of July. But the shopkeepers
+gave us a king. It had all to be done over. I
+joined a secret society; I learned to melt bullets,
+to make powder&mdash;in short, I completed my education,
+and I waited.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I had to wait nearly two years. On June 5,
+1832, at noon, in front of the Madeleine, I was the
+first to unharness one of the horses of the hearse
+of General Lamarque. I passed the day in shouting,
+'Long live Lafayette!' and I passed the night
+in making barricades. The next morning we were
+attacked by the regulars. In the evening, towards
+four o'clock, we were blocked, cannonaded, swept
+with grape-shot, and crushed back into the Church
+of Saint-M&eacute;ry. I had a bullet and three bayonet-stabs
+in my body when I was picked up by the soldiers
+from the stone floor of a little chapel to the
+left&mdash;the Chapel of St. John. I have often gone
+back to that little chapel&mdash;not to pray, I wasn't
+brought up with such ideas&mdash;but to see the stains
+of my blood which still remain on the stones.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;On account of my youth I received a ten-year
+sentence. I was sent to Mont Saint-Michel. That
+was why I didn't take part in the riots of 1834.
+If I had been free I should have fought in Rue
+Transnonian as I had fought in Rue Saint-M&eacute;ry&mdash;'against
+the Government&mdash;always, always, always!'
+It was my father's last word; it was my gospel, my
+religion. I call that my catechism in six words. I
+came out of prison in 1842, and I again began to
+wait.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The revolution of '48 was made without effort.
+The shopkeepers were stupid and cowardly. They
+were neither for nor against us. The municipal
+guards alone defended themselves. We had a little
+trouble in taking the guard-house of the Ch&acirc;teau
+d'Eau. On the evening of February 24th I remained
+three or four hours on the square before the H&ocirc;tel
+de Ville. The members of the Provisional Government,
+one after another, made speeches to us&mdash;said
+that we were heroes, great citizens, the foremost nation
+in the world, that we had broken the bonds of
+tyranny. After having fed us on these fine speeches,
+they gave us a republic which wasn't any better
+than the monarchy we had overthrown.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In June I took up my musket again, but on that
+occasion we were not successful. I was arrested,
+sentenced, and sent to Cayenne. It seems that I
+behaved well there. One day I saved a captain
+of marines from drowning. Observe that I should
+most certainly have shot at that captain if he had
+been on one side of a barricade and I on the other;
+but a man who is drowning, dying&mdash;in short, I received
+my pardon, I came back to France in 1852,
+after the Coup d'&Eacute;tat; I had missed the insurrection
+of 1851.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;At Cayenne I had made friends with a tailor
+named Barnard. Six months after my departure
+for France, Barnard died. I went to see his widow.
+She was in want. I married her. We had a son
+in 1854&mdash;you will understand presently why I speak
+to you of my wife and my son. But you must already
+suspect that an insurgent who marries the
+widow of an insurgent does not have royalist children.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Under the Empire there was nothing to do.
+The police were very strict. We were dispersed,
+disarmed. I worked, I brought up my son with
+the ideas that my father had given me. The wait
+was long. Rochefort, Gambetta, public reunions&mdash;all
+that put us in motion again.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;On the first important occasion I showed myself.
+I was one of that little band who assaulted
+the barracks of the firemen of Villette. Only there
+we made a mistake. We killed a fireman, unnecessarily,
+I was caught and thrown into prison,
+but the Government of the Fourth of September
+liberated us, from which I concluded that we did
+right to attack those barracks and kill the fireman,
+even unnecessarily.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The siege began. I immediately opposed the
+Government, on the side of the Commune. I
+marched against the H&ocirc;tel de Ville on the 31st of
+October and on the 22d of January. I liked revolt
+for revolt's sake. An insurgent&mdash;I told you in the
+beginning I am an insurgent. I cannot hear a discussion
+without taking part, nor see a riot without
+running to it, nor a barricade without bringing my
+paving-stone. It's in the blood.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And then, besides, I wasn't quite ignorant, and
+I said to myself, It is only necessary to succeed
+thoroughly some day, and then, in our turn, we
+shall be the Government, and it will be better than
+with all these lawyers, who place themselves behind
+us during the battle, and pass ahead after the
+victory.'</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The 18th of March came, and naturally I was
+in it. I shouted 'Hurrah for the regulars!' I fraternized
+with the army. I went to the H&ocirc;tel de
+Ville. I found a government already at work. It was
+absolutely the same as on the 24th of February.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Now you tell me that that insurrection was not
+lawful. That is possible, but I don't quite see why
+not. I begin to get muddled&mdash;about these insurrections
+which are a duty and those which are a
+crime! I do not clearly see the difference.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I shot at the Versailles troops in 1871, as I had
+shot at the royal guard in 1830 and on the municipals
+in 1848. After 1830 I received the Medal of
+July; after 1848 the compliments of M. de Lamartine.
+This time I am going to get transportation
+or death.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;There are insurrections which please you. You
+raise columns to them, you give their names to
+streets, you give yourselves the offices, the promotions,
+and the big salaries, and we folks, who made
+the revolution, you call us great citizens, heroes, a
+nation of brave men, etc. That's the coin we are
+paid with.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And then there are other insurrections which
+displease you. As a result, transportation, death.
+Well, you see, if you hadn't complimented us so
+after the first ones, perhaps we wouldn't have made
+the last. If you hadn't raised the Column of July
+at the entrance of our neighborhood, we wouldn't
+perhaps have gone and demolished the Vend&ocirc;me
+Column in your neighborhood. Those two penny
+trumpets didn't agree. One had to upset the other,
+and that is what happened.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Now, why I threw away my captain's uniform
+on the 26th of May, why I was in a blouse when I
+was arrested, I will tell you. When I learned that
+the gentlemen of the Commune, instead of coming
+to shoot with us behind the barricades, were at
+the H&ocirc;tel de Ville distributing among themselves
+thousand-franc notes, were shaving their beards,
+dyeing their hair, and hiding themselves in caves,
+I did not wish to keep the shoulder-straps they had
+given me.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Besides, shoulder-straps embarrassed me. 'Captain
+Martin' sounded idiotic. 'Insurgent Martin'&mdash;why,
+that's well and good. I wanted to end as
+I had begun, die as my father had died, as a rioter
+in a riot, as a barricader behind a barricade.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I could not get killed. I got caught. I belong
+to you. But I wish to beg a favor of you. I have
+a son, a child of seventeen; he is at Cherbourg, on
+the hulks. He fought, it is true, and he does not
+deny it; but it is I who put a musket in his hand,
+it is I who told him that his duty was there. He
+listened to me. He obeyed me. That is all his
+crime. Do not sentence him too harshly.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;As for me, you have got me; do not let me go,
+that's the advice I give you. I am too old to mend;
+and then, what can you expect? Nothing can
+change it. I was born on the wrong side of the
+barricade.&quot;</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="THE_CHINESE_AMBASSADOR" id="THE_CHINESE_AMBASSADOR"></a>THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR</h2>
+
+
+<p>In the beginning of the year 1870 some English
+and French residents had been massacred in
+China. Reparation was demanded. His Excellency
+Tchong-Keon, Tutor of the Heir-apparent and
+Vice-President of the War Department, was sent
+to Europe as Ambassador Extraordinary to the English
+and French governments.</p>
+
+<p>Tchong-Keon has recently published at Pekin a
+very curious account of his voyage. One of my
+friends who lives in Shanghai, and who possesses
+the rare talent of being able to read Chinese easily,
+sent me this faithful translation of a part of Tchong-Keon's
+book:</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>HAVRE, <i>September 12, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I land, and I make myself known. I am the
+Ambassador of the Emperor of China. I bear
+apologies to the Emperor of the French, and presents
+to the Empress. There is no Emperor and no
+Empress. A Republic has been proclaimed. I
+am much embarrassed. Shall I offer the apologies
+and presents that were intended for the Empire to
+the Republic?</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>HAVRE, <i>September 14, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>After much reflection, I shall offer the apologies
+and keep the presents.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>HAVRE, <i>September 26, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Yes; but to whom shall I carry the apologies, and
+to whom shall I present them? The Government
+of the French Republic is divided in two: there is
+one part in Paris and one part in Tours. To go to
+Paris is not to be thought of. Paris is besieged
+and blockaded by the Prussians. I shall go to
+Tours.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>HAVRE, <i>October 2, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I did not go, and I shall not go, to Tours. I received
+yesterday a visit from the correspondent
+of the <i>Times</i>, a most agreeable and sensible man.
+I told him that I intended going to Tours.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;To Tours! What do you want in Tours?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;To present the apologies of my master to the
+Minister of Foreign Affairs of the French Republic.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But that minister isn't in Tours.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And where is he?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Blockaded in Paris.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>A Minister of Foreign Affairs who is blockaded
+in a besieged town seemed to me most extraordinary.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And why,&quot; the correspondent of the <i>Times</i>
+asked me, &quot;do you bring apologies to the French
+Government?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Because we massacred some French residents.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;French residents! That's of no importance
+nowadays. France no longer exists. You can, if
+it amuses you, throw all the French residents into
+the sea.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;We also thoughtlessly massacred some English
+residents.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You massacred some English residents! Oh,
+that's very different! England is still a great
+nation. And you have brought apologies to Queen
+Victoria?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, apologies and presents.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Go to London, go straight to London, and don't
+bother about France; there is no France.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The correspondent of the <i>Times</i> looked quite
+happy when he spoke those words: &quot;there is no
+France.&quot;</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>LONDON, <i>October 10, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I've seen the Queen of England. She received
+me very cordially. She has accepted the apologies;
+she has accepted the presents.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>LONDON, <i>October 12, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Had a long conversation with Lord Granville,
+Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Queen of England.
+I explained to his Excellency that I meant
+to go home at once, and that I feel I need not pay
+further attention to my French embassy, as France
+no longer exists. Lord Granville answered me:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't go away so soon; you will perhaps be
+obliged to come back, and sooner than you imagine.
+France is an extraordinary country, which picks up
+very quickly. Await the end of the war, and then
+you can take your apologies to the Government that
+France will have decided on giving itself. Till then
+remain in England. We shall be most happy to offer
+you our hospitality.&quot;</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>LONDON, <i>November 3, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I did not return to China. I am waiting in London
+till the Minister of Foreign Affairs is not besieged,
+and till there is some way of laying one's
+hands on the French Government. There are many
+Parisians here who escaped from their country on
+account of the war. I dined yesterday with his
+Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. Three Parisian
+women, all three young, and all three pretty,
+took possession of me after dinner. We had a very
+interesting conversation in English.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You are looking for the French Government,
+the legitimate Government?&quot; said the first of these
+Parisians. &quot;Why, it is here in England, half an hour
+from London. To-morrow go to the Waterloo station
+and buy a ticket for Chiselhurst, and there
+you will find Napoleon III., who is, and has never
+ceased to be, the Emperor of the French.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't listen to her, Mr. Ambassador,&quot; laughingly
+said the second Parisian, &quot;don't listen to her;
+she is a terrible Bonapartist. Yes, the true sovereign
+of France is in England, quite near London,
+but not at Chiselhurst; and it is not the Waterloo
+station you must go to, but the Victoria station.
+You mustn't take a ticket for Chiselhurst, but for
+Twickenham, and there you will find at Orleans
+House his Royal Highness the Count of Paris.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't listen to her, Mr. Ambassador,&quot; exclaimed
+in turn, and also laughing, the third Parisian, &quot;don't
+listen to her; she is a terrible revolutionist! The
+Count of Paris is not the heir to the throne of
+France. To find the legitimate King you must go
+a little farther than Chiselhurst or Twickenham;
+you must go to Austria, to the Frohsdorf Palace.
+The King of France&mdash;he is the descendant of
+Henry IV.&mdash;is the Count of Chambord.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>If I count aright, that makes three legitimate
+sovereigns, and all three deposed. Never in China
+have we had anything of that sort. Our old dynasty
+has had to fight against the invasions of the
+Mongols and against the insurrections of the Taipings.
+But three legitimate sovereigns for the same
+country, for a single throne! One has to come to
+Europe to see such things.</p>
+
+<p>However, the three Parisians gayly discussed the
+matter, and seemed to be the best friends in the
+world.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>LONDON, <i>November 15, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>As a sequel to the three Frenchwomen, representing
+three different monarchs, I met, this evening,
+at Lord Granville's, three Frenchmen representing
+three different republics.</p>
+
+<p>The first asked me why I didn't go to Tours.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You will find there,&quot; he said to me, &quot;the authorized
+representatives of the French Republic,
+and in addressing yourself to M. Gambetta you
+are addressing France&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't do that, Mr. Ambassador!&quot; exclaimed the
+second Frenchman; &quot;the real Government of the
+real French Republic is shut up in Paris. M. Jules
+Favre alone can officially receive your visit and
+your apologies.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The Republic of Paris isn't worth more than
+the Republic of Tours,&quot; the third Frenchman then
+told me. &quot;If we have a Republic in France, it will
+be neither the Republic of M. Gambetta nor the
+Republic of M. Jules Favre.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And whose Republic then?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The Republic of M. Thiers&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Whereupon the three Frenchmen began to dispute
+in earnest. They were very red, shouted loudly, and
+made violent gestures. The discussion about the
+three monarchies had been much gentler and much
+more agreeable than the discussion about the three
+republics.</p>
+
+<p>During the evening these Frenchmen managed to
+slip into my ear, in turn, two or three little phrases
+of this kind:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't listen,&quot; the first one said to me, &quot;to that
+partisan of the Government of Paris; he is a lawyer
+who has come here with a commission from
+M. Jules Favre. So you see he has a big salary,
+and as he wishes to keep it&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't listen,&quot; the second one said to me, &quot;to
+that partisan of the alleged Republic of M. Thiers;
+he is only a monarchist, a disguised Orleanist&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't listen,&quot; the third one said to me, &quot;to
+that partisan of the Republic of Tours; he is a gentleman
+who has come to England to get a loan for
+the benefit of the Government of Tours; so, as he
+expects to get a lot of money&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Thus I am, if I reckon correctly, face to face with
+six governments&mdash;three monarchies and three republics.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>LONDON, <i>December 6, 1870</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I think that his Excellency, M. de Bernstoff,
+Prussian Ambassador to England, takes pleasure
+in making fun of me. I never meet him but that
+he announces to me that Paris will capitulate the
+next day. The next day arrives and Paris does not
+capitulate. However, this evening his Excellency
+looked so perfectly sure of what he was saying that
+I think I can prepare to start for Paris.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>PARIS, <i>February 20, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I only left on the 10th of February. At last I am
+in Paris. I travelled slowly, by short stages. What
+a lot of burned villages! What a lot of sacked
+houses! What a lot of devastated forests, dug-up
+woods, and bridges and railroads destroyed! And
+these Europeans treat us as barbarians!</p>
+
+<p>However, among all these ruins there is one the
+sight of which filled me with the keenest joy. The
+palace of Saint-Cloud was the summer palace of the
+Emperor Napoleon, and not a stone upon a stone
+remains. I contemplated curiously, eagerly, and for
+a long time the blackened ruins of this palace.
+Pieces of old Chinese vases were hidden in the
+heaps of rubbish among the wreck of marble and
+fragments of shell.</p>
+
+<p>Where did those old Chinese vases come from?
+Perhaps from the summer palace of our Emperor,
+from that palace which was devastated, burned,
+and destroyed by those English and French soldiers
+who came to bring us civilization.</p>
+
+<p>I was extremely well received by the English,
+who overwhelmed me with invitations and kindnesses;
+but none the less I hope that the palaces of
+Buckingham and Windsor will also have their turn.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>PARIS, <i>February 25, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I have written to M. Jules Favre to let him
+know that I have been waiting six months for
+the opportunity of presenting to him the compliments
+and apologies of the Emperor of China.
+M. Jules Favre answered me that he is obliged
+to start for Bordeaux. I shall have an audience in
+the beginning of March.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>PARIS, <i>March 7, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Another letter from M. Jules Favre. He is expected
+at Frankfort by M. de Bismarck. My audience
+is again put off.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>PARIS, <i>March 17, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>At last, to-morrow, March 18th, at four o'clock,
+I am to be received by M. Jules Favre at the Ministry
+of Foreign Affairs.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>PARIS, <i>March 18, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>We dressed ourselves, I and my two secretaries,
+in our official costumes, and departed at three
+o'clock, accompanied by an interpreter. We arrived.
+The court of the house was filled with people
+who appeared busy and hurried, and who came
+and went, carrying cases and packages. The interpreter,
+after having exchanged several words
+with an employee of the ministry, said to me:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Something serious has happened&mdash;an insurrection.
+The Government is again obliged to change
+its capital!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>At that moment a door opened, and M. Jules
+Favre himself appeared with a large portfolio under
+his arm. He explained to the interpreter that
+I should have my audience at Versailles in several
+days, and having made me a profound bow, which
+I returned him, he ran away with his large portfolio.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>VERSAILLES, <i>March 19, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>I had to leave Paris at twelve o'clock in a great
+hurry. There really is a new Government at Paris.
+This Government is not one of the three monarchies,
+nor one of the three republics. It is a seventh
+arrangement, which is called the <i>Commune</i>.
+This morning an armed troop of men surrounded
+the house where I live. It seems that the new
+Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Paris of the Commune
+would have been charmed to receive a Chinese
+ambassador. They had come to carry me off.
+I had time to escape. It is not the Minister of
+Foreign Affairs in Paris that I ought to see, it is the
+Minister of Foreign Affairs in Versailles.</p>
+
+<p>Good heavens, how complicated it all is! And
+when shall I be able to put my hand on this intangible
+person, who is now blockaded in Paris
+and now chased out of Paris?</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>VERSAILLES, <i>April 6, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>At last, yesterday, I had the honor of being received
+by his Excellency, and we discussed the
+events that had occurred in Paris.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;This insurrection,&quot; M. Jules Favre said to me,
+&quot;is the most formidable and the most extraordinary
+that has ever broken out.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>I could not allow such a great historical error to
+pass. I answered M. Jules Favre that we had
+had in China for millions of years socialists and
+socialistic uprisings; that the French Communists
+were but rough imitators of our Chinese Taipings;
+that we had had in 1230 a siege at Nankin which
+had lasted seven years, etc. In short, these Europeans
+are only beginning again our history with
+less grandeur and more barbarity.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>VERSAILLES, <i>May 15, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>My mission is ended; I could return to China;
+but all that I see here interests me extremely.
+This civil war immediately succeeding a foreign
+war is a very curious occurrence. There is here,
+for a Chinaman, an excellent opportunity of study,
+on the spot and from life, of European civilization.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>VERSAILLES, <i>May 24, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Paris is burning, and on the terrace of the palace
+of Saint-Cloud, in the midst of the ruins of that
+palace, I passed my day looking at Paris burn. It
+is a dead, destroyed, and annihilated city.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>PARIS, <i>June 10, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Not at all. It is still the most beautiful city in
+Europe, and the most brilliant, and the most gay.
+I shall spend some time in Paris.</p>
+
+<div><br /></div>
+<div><br /></div>
+<p>PARIS, <i>June 29, 1871</i>.</p>
+
+<p>Yesterday M. Thiers, in the Bois de Boulogne,
+held a review of a hundred thousand men. Will
+there always be a France?</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2><a name="IN_THE_EXPRESS" id="IN_THE_EXPRESS"></a>IN THE EXPRESS</h2>
+
+
+<p>&quot;When one bears the name of Luynes or La
+Tr&eacute;moille, I can readily understand the desire to
+continue the Luynes or the La Tr&eacute;moilles; but
+really when one is named Chamblard, what possible
+object can there be in&mdash;Eh? Answer.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>In this fashion young Raoul Chamblard talked
+while comfortably settled back in a large red velvet
+arm-chair. This happened on the 26th of March,
+1892, in one of the parlor-cars of the express to
+Marseilles, which had left Paris at 8.50 that morning.
+It was now five minutes past nine. The train
+with much racket was crossing the bridge of Charentin.
+Young Chamblard was talking to his friend,
+Maurice R&eacute;voille, who, after a six weeks' leave, was
+going to join his regiment in Algeria.</p>
+
+<p>The lieutenant of light cavalry responded to his
+friend's question with a vague gesture. Raoul
+Chamblard continued:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;However, it's my father's fixed idea. There
+must be Chamblards after me. And as papa has
+but one son, it's to me he looks to do what is necessary.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, do what is necessary.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But I am only twenty-four, my dear fellow, and
+to marry at twenty-four is hard. It seems to me
+that I'm still entitled to a little more fun, and even
+a good deal.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, have your fun.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That's just what I've done up to now. I have
+had a first-rate time! But I've taste only for expensive
+amusements. I don't know how to enjoy
+myself without money, and I haven't a cent. Do
+you understand? Not a cent!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You? You are very rich.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;A great mistake! Upon coming of age, three
+years ago, I spent what was left me by my mother.
+Mother wasn't very rich; she was worth six hundred
+thousand francs, not more. Papa made almost
+a love-match. The six hundred thousand
+francs vanished in three years, and could I decently
+do anything else as the son of my father? He
+is powerfully rich!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That's what's said.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And it's very true. He has a dozen millions
+which are quite his own, and can't be hurt by an
+accident; and his bank still goes on, and brings
+him in, one year with another, besides the interest
+on his dozen millions, three or four hundred thousand
+francs more. Nothing is more solid than the
+Chamblard bank; it's honest, it's venerable. Papa
+isn't fair to me, but I'm fair to him. When you
+have a father in business, it's a good thing when
+you go out not to be exposed to meet eyes which
+seem to say to you, 'My dear fellow, your father
+has swindled me.' Papa has but one passion:
+from five to seven every day he plays piquet at
+his club, at ten sous a point, and as he is an excellent
+player, he wins seven times out of ten. He
+keeps an account of his games with the same scrupulous
+exactitude he has in all things, and he was
+telling the day before yesterday that piquet this
+year had brought him in six thousand five hundred
+francs over and above the cost of the cards. He
+has a seat in the orchestra at the opera, not for
+the ballet, but for the music only; he never goes
+on the stage&mdash;neither do I, for that matter. Dancers
+don't attract me at all; they live in Batignolles,
+in Montmartre; they always walk with
+their mothers; they completely lack charm. In
+short, my father is what one calls a good man.
+You see I continue to be fair to him. Besides, I'm
+always right. Yes, it's a very good thing to have
+an honorable father, and Papa Chamblard is a model
+of all virtues, and he accumulates for me with a
+zeal! but I think, just at present, he accumulates
+a little too much. He has cut off my income. No
+marriage, no money. That's brief and decisive.
+That's his programme. And he has hunted up
+a wife for me&mdash;when I say one, I should say three.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Three wives!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes. One morning he came to me and said:
+'This must end. Look, here's a list&mdash;three splendid
+matches.' There were the names, the relations,
+the dowries&mdash;it was even arranged in the
+order of the dowries. I had to yield and consent
+to an interview with Number One. That took place
+at the Salon in the Champs Elys&eacute;es. Ah, my boy,
+Number One&mdash;dry, flat, bony, sallow!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Then why did your father&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Why? Because she was the daughter, and only
+daughter, of a wealthy manufacturer from Roubaix.
+It was splendid! We each started with a hundred
+thousand francs income, and that was to be, in the
+course of time, after realized expectations, a shower
+of millions! It made papa supremely happy&mdash;the
+thought that all his millions in Paris would one
+day make an enormous heap with all those Roubaix
+millions. Millions don't frighten me, but on
+the condition that they surround a pretty, a very
+pretty and stylish woman&mdash;a great deal of style!
+That's <i>my</i> programme. I want to be able to take
+my wife to the theatres without having to blush
+before the box-openers.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What do you mean? Before the box-openers?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Why, certainly. I am known, and I've a reputation
+to keep up. You see, the openers are always
+the same&mdash;always; and of course they know
+me. They've been in the habit of seeing me, during
+the last three or four years, come with the best-known
+and best-dressed women in Paris. Which
+is to say, that I should never dare present myself before
+them with that creature from Roubaix. They
+would think I had married for money. I tried to
+explain that delicately to papa, but one can't make
+him hear reason. There are things which he doesn't
+understand, which he can't understand. I have no
+grudge against him; he's of his time, I'm of mine.
+In short, I declared resolutely that I would never
+marry Number One. Notice that I discoursed most
+sensibly with papa. I said to him: 'You want me
+to have a home' (home is his word), 'but when I
+should have placed in that home a fright such as
+to scare the sparrows, my home would be a horror
+to me, and I should be forced, absolutely forced,
+to arrange a home outside. Thus I should have a
+household at home and a household outside, and
+it's then that the money would fly!' But papa
+won't listen to anything! He doesn't understand
+that I must have a little wife who is pretty, Parisian
+pretty&mdash;that is to say, original, gay, jolly, who
+is looked at on the street, and stared at through
+opera-glasses at the theatre, who will do me honor,
+and who will set me off well. I must be able to
+continue my bachelor life with her, and as long as
+possible. And then there's another thing that I
+can't tell papa. His name is Chamblard&mdash;it isn't
+his fault; only, in consequence, I too am named
+Chamblard, and it's not very agreeable, with a name
+like that, to try to get on in society. And a pretty,
+a very pretty, woman is the best passport. There,
+look at Robineau. He has just been received into
+the little club of the Rue Royale. And why? It's
+not the Union or the Jockey; but never mind, one
+doesn't get in there as into a hotel. And why was
+Robineau received?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I don't know.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It's because he has married a charming woman,
+and this charming woman is a skater of the first
+rank. She had a tremendous success on the ice
+at the Bois de Boulogne. In the society columns
+of all the papers there was mention of the exquisite,
+delightful, and ideal Mme. Robineau. She was
+in the swim at one stroke. And Robineau, he too
+was in the swim. He was a member of the little
+club six weeks later! Papa, he doesn't understand
+the importance of these things; one can't reason
+with him about it; it's all Greek to him. However,
+as he had absolutely cut off my supplies, I had to
+submit, and consent to an interview with Number
+Two.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;And what was Number Two like?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, my dear fellow, what was she like! She
+was the daughter of a rich merchant of Antwerp.
+A Belgian article! First a provincial, and then a
+foreigner! Papa doesn't like Parisians. Mamma
+was from Ch&acirc;tellerault, and she was indeed a saint.
+Number Two happened to be in Paris; so last night,
+at the Op&eacute;ra Comique, they showed me a Fleming,
+who was very blond, very insipid, very masculine&mdash;a
+Rubens, a true Rubens; a giantess, a colossal
+woman, a head taller than I, which is to say that
+materially one could not take her in a lower stage-box,
+and those are the only boxes I like. On leaving
+the theatre I told papa that I wouldn't have
+Number Two any more than Number One, and that
+I had had enough, and that I wouldn't see Number
+Three. The discussion was heated. Papa went off
+banging doors and repeating, 'No more money!'
+I saw that it was serious. I went to bed, but I
+couldn't sleep&mdash;I thought; but I could think of
+nothing to save me from the fat hands of the Antwerp
+girl. Suddenly, towards three in the morning,
+I had an inspiration&mdash;I had an idea that I can call,
+if you'll permit it, a stroke of genius.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I'll permit it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, genius. I knew that you left to-day for
+Marseilles, and this morning I departed, English
+fashion, without explanation, and in a little while,
+at the first stop, at Laroche&mdash;I have looked at the
+time-table, I have thought of everything&mdash;I shall
+send the following despatch to my father,&quot; and Raoul
+triumphantly pulled a paper out of his pocket.
+&quot;It's all ready. Listen. 'M. Chamblard, 8 Rue
+Rougemont, Paris, Laroche station. I left on the
+express for Marseilles with Maurice. I am going to
+make a voyage around the world. I sha'n't be more
+than six months. I have engaged by telegraph a
+state-room on the <i>Traonaddy</i> which leaves to-morrow
+for Singapore. Anything rather than a
+Flemish alliance! Farewell. With regrets for leaving
+you, your affectionate son, Raoul Chamblard.'
+My telegram's all right, isn't it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It isn't bad, but do you seriously mean&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, I shall go if, before I reach Marseilles, I
+haven't an answer from papa; but I shall have one,
+for two reasons. In the first place, Papa Chamblard
+knows how to reason, and he will say to himself:
+'What shall I gain by it? Instead of fooling
+round with little white women in Paris, he will fool
+round with little yellow ones at Singapore.' And
+then another reason, the best one, is that Papa
+Chamblard adores me, and he can't do without
+me, and the little sentimental phrase at the end of
+my despatch will appeal to his heart. You'll see
+how it will turn out. At 11.20 my telegram will
+leave Laroche; papa will receive it at half-past
+twelve. And I'll bet you ten louis that at Dijon or
+M&acirc;con I'll find in the wire screen of the station a
+telegram addressed to me, and worded thus: 'Return;
+no longer question of Antwerp marriage.'
+Papa's telegram will be brief, because he is saving
+and suppresses unnecessary words. Will you take
+the bet?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, I should lose.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I think so. Have you the papers?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>They read three or four papers, Parisian papers,
+and read them like true Parisians. It took a short
+fifteen minutes. While reading they exchanged
+short remarks about the new ministry, the races
+at Auteuil, and Yvette Guilbert&mdash;particularly about
+Yvette Guilbert. Young Chamblard had been to
+hear her the day before, and he hummed the refrain:</p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span>&quot;Un fiacre allait trottinant<br /></span>
+<span class="i4">Cahin-caha<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">Hu dia! Hop l&agrave;!<br /></span>
+<span>Un fiacre allait trottinant<br /></span>
+<span>Jaune avec un cocher blanc.&quot;<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p>And as the light cavalryman had never heard
+Yvette Guilbert sing the &quot;Fiacre,&quot; young Chamblard
+threw up his arms and exclaimed: &quot;You never
+heard the 'Fiacre,' and you had three months'
+leave! What did you do in Paris? <i>I</i> know the
+'Fiacre' by heart.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Upon which Raoul began to hum again, and
+while humming in a voice which became more and
+more slow, and more and more feeble, he settled
+back into his arm-chair, and soon fell into a peaceful
+slumber, like the big baby that he was.</p>
+
+<p>All at once he was waked up with a start by the
+stepping of the train, and by the voice of the conductor,
+who cried, &quot;Ouah! Ouah! Ouah!&quot; The
+cry is the same for all stations. This time it was
+meant for Laroche. And now for the telegram.
+Young Chamblard ran to the telegraph-office.
+The immovable operator counted the sixty-seven
+words of that queer despatch. &quot;All aboard, all
+aboard!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Young Chamblard had scarcely time to jump on
+the step of his car.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ouf! that's done,&quot; he said to the cavalryman.
+&quot;Suppose we lunch.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>So they both started on their way to the dining-car.
+It was quite a journey, for two parlor-cars
+separated them from the restaurant-car, and those
+two cars were crowded. It was the season for the
+great pilgrimage of a few Parisians and a good
+many English towards Nice, Cannes, and Monte
+Carlo. The express was running very fast, and was
+pitching violently. One needed sea-legs. Then a
+furious wind beat against the train, and wrapped it
+in clouds of dust, making the crossing of the platforms
+particularly disagreeable.</p>
+
+<p>They advanced, walking with difficulty through
+the first car, over the first crossing, and encountering
+the first squall, then through the second car; but
+Chamblard, who went ahead, had difficulty in opening
+the door to the second platform. It resisted
+on account of the force of the wind; finally it yielded,
+and Raoul received at the same time in his
+eyes a cloud of dust, and in his arms a young
+blonde, who exclaimed, &quot;Oh, excuse me!&quot; while
+he, too, exclaimed, &quot;Oh, excuse me!&quot; and at the
+same time he received the cavalryman on his back,
+who, also blinded by the dust, was saying, &quot;Go on,
+Raoul, go on.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The two doors of the cars had shut, and they
+were all three crowded in the little passage in the
+wind&mdash;young Raoul, young Maurice, and the young
+blonde.</p>
+
+<p>The &quot;Oh, excuse me&quot; was immediately followed
+by a &quot;M. Maurice!&quot; which was replied to by a
+&quot;Mlle. Martha!&quot; The little blonde knew the cavalryman,
+and perceiving that she was almost in the
+arms of a stranger, Mlle. Martha disengaged herself,
+and backed cleverly towards the platform of
+the car, saying to Maurice, &quot;You're on the train,
+and you're going?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;To Algeria.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;We to Marseilles. I am getting a shawl for
+mamma, who is cold. Mamma will be delighted to
+see you. You will find her in the dining-car. I'll
+see you later.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But I will accompany you?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;If you like.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>She walked on, but not without first having
+slightly bowed to young Chamblard, who had remained
+there astounded, contemplating Mlle. Martha
+with eyes filled with admiration.</p>
+
+<p>She had time before going to notice that he was
+a good-looking young fellow, that he wore a neat
+little suit, and that he looked at her with staring
+eyes; but in those staring eyes a thought could
+be clearly read that could not displease her: &quot;Oh,
+how pretty you are!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Raoul was, in fact, saying to himself: &quot;My type,
+exactly my type! And what style&mdash;what style in
+the simplicity of that costume! And the little
+toque, a little on one side over the ear&mdash;it's a masterpiece!
+How well she knows how to dress! What
+an effect she would make in an audience! And
+that little English accent!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>For she had a little English accent; she had even
+taken a good deal of trouble for several years to
+acquire that little accent. She used to say to her
+governess, Miss Butler:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, of course I want to know English, but I
+wish especially to speak French with an English
+accent.&quot; She had worked for nothing else. She
+had been, fortunately, rewarded for her perseverance;
+her little Anglo-Parisian gibberish was at
+times quite original.</p>
+
+<p>While Maurice was retracing his steps with Mlle.
+Martha, Raoul placed himself at a table in the
+dining-car. He soon saw them come back with
+mamma's shawl. Maurice lingered for a few minutes
+at the table where the mother and the young
+brother of the little blonde were lunching. Then
+he came back to Raoul, who said as soon as he
+approached:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Who is she&mdash;quick, tell me, who is she? Whenever
+one pleases I will marry her&mdash;now, on getting
+down from the train. In my arms! I held her in
+my arms! Such a waist! A dream! There are,
+as you must know, slim waists and slim waists.
+There are waists which are slim, hard, harsh, stiff,
+bony, or mechanically made by odious artifices in
+the corsets. I have thoroughly studied the corset
+question. It's so important! And then there's the
+true slim waist, which is easy, natural, supple. Supple
+isn't sufficient for what just slid through my
+hands a short time ago. Slippery&mdash;yes, that's the
+word. Slippery just expresses my thought&mdash;a slippery
+waist!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Raoul was quite charmed with what he said.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes,&quot; he continued, &quot;slippery; and that little
+pug-nose! and her little eyes have quite a&mdash;a Chinese
+air! But who is she, who is she?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The daughter of one of my mother's friends.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Is she rich?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Very rich.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It's on account of papa that I asked you
+that, because I would marry her without a dowry.
+It's the first time I've ever said such a
+thing on meeting a young girl. And now the
+name.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Mlle. Martha Derame.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Derame, did you say?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Isn't the father a wealthy merchant who has
+business in Japan and China?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;The same.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, my dear fellow&mdash;no; one only sees such
+things in the comic plays of the minor theatres, at
+Cluny or Dejazet.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What's the matter with you?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What's the matter with me? She's papa's Number
+Three&mdash;yes, Number Three. The father of that
+little marvel is one of papa's piquet players at the
+club. And I wouldn't see Number Three, and she
+falls into my arms on the platform between Paris
+and Lyons. You will present me after lunch, and I
+shall speak to the mother and tell her all.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;How, all?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, all; that her daughter is papa's Number
+Three, and that I didn't want Number One or Two,
+but that I should like Number Three. Ah, dear boy,
+how pretty she is&mdash;especially her nose, so charmingly
+turned up. She has just looked at me, and in a
+certain way; I am sure I don't displease her. Did
+you mention me, did you tell my name?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You were wrong. At any rate, right after
+lunch&mdash;Do you know what I think? That this
+affair will go through on wheels. I shall first telegraph
+papa, and then to-morrow&mdash;Oh, heavens!
+I hope there's a telephone between Paris and Marseilles&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He interrupted himself and called:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Porter! Porter!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Sir.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Is there a telephone between Paris and Marseilles?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, sir.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah! That's all Thanks. The telephone,
+Maurice, there's the telephone! Papa can speak
+for me to-morrow by telephone. It will be charming!
+Marriage by express. Express, electric, telephonic,
+and romantic marriage, all at the same
+time. You understand that between a little phiz
+like that and a voyage around the world I don't
+hesitate. But why haven't you thought of marrying her?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, too wealthy&mdash;too wealthy a match for me;
+and then she is not the kind of little person to go
+and bury in a garrison town in Algeria. She is a
+Parisian, a true Parisian, who wants to amuse herself,
+and who will amuse herself.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Just what I want, absolutely just what I want.
+I too wish to amuse myself. She will amuse herself,
+I shall amuse myself, we will amuse ourselves.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Young Raoul was in a frenzy, and as soon as he
+had finished his luncheon he scrawled a new despatch
+on the restaurant table to his father, and,
+while writing, talked very excitedly.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I'll send my despatch from Dijon, and I'll address
+it to the club; papa will be there about five
+o'clock, and also the father of this little marvel.
+They can immediately discuss the affair. Shall I
+ask for an answer at Lyons? The time-table, pass
+me the time-table. Lyons, 5.25. No, that would
+be too short. Answer at Marseilles. They stop
+at Marseilles? Yes? For twenty-four hours? All
+right, so do I. At what hotel? H&ocirc;tel de Noailles?
+All right, so do I. So answer H&ocirc;tel de Noailles.
+My despatch is very good. You will see. As good
+as the other&mdash;better, even. I've the knack of telegrams
+to-day. Yes, it's very good.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He wrote and wrote; he was inspired, he was animated;
+he made a few more mistakes than usual
+in spelling, that was all&mdash;it was emotion. He reread
+his despatch with complaisance, he made Maurice
+read it, who could not help thinking the incident
+funny. Raoul counted the words of his despatch&mdash;there
+were about a hundred and fifty&mdash;and calling
+the waiter of the dining-car, he said, &quot;Send this
+telegram off for me at Dijon. Here are ten francs;
+there will be two or three over for you.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Then turning at once to Maurice he asked, &quot;Is
+that enough?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Why certainly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, for such a marriage&mdash;ah, my dear fellow,
+you sail to-morrow at what time?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;At two o'clock.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, we have plenty of time, then; all will be settled
+by two o'clock.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, settled; you're crazy!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Not at all; it's already very far advanced, since
+it's papa's Number Three. I only ask one thing of
+you: present me to the mother shortly. After that
+let me alone. I'll manage everything; only, at any
+cost, we must leave our car and find two arm-chairs
+in the same car, and near my mother-in-law.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Your mother-in-law!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That's what I said; my mother-in-law. Once
+the two arm-chairs are procured, I am master of the
+situation. You don't know me. I already know
+what I shall say to the mother, what I shall say to
+my young brother-in-law (he is very nice), and what
+I shall say to my future bride. I shall have made
+a conquest of all of them before we reach Lyons.
+Lyons? No; that's going a little fast&mdash;say Valence
+or Mont&eacute;limar. Pass me the time-table again. Let
+us settle everything, and leave nothing to chance.
+Oh, look at her! She has nibbled nuts for the last
+fifteen minutes, and how she cracks them&mdash;crack!
+one little bite&mdash;and what pretty little teeth! She
+is very pretty even while eating&mdash;an important
+thing. It's very rare to find women who remain
+pretty while eating and sleeping, very rare. Little
+Adelaide, the red-headed one, you remember, ate
+stupidly. And this one over there eats brightly;
+she eats&mdash;crack! another nut&mdash;and she looks at me
+on the sly. I can see that she looks at me. All
+goes well, all goes well!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>In truth, all did go well. At Montbard, 12.32,
+Raoul was presented to Mme. Derame, who, on
+hearing the name of Chamblard, had a little shiver&mdash;the
+shiver of a mother who has a young daughter
+to marry, and who says to herself, &quot;Oh, what a
+splendid match!&quot; Her husband had often spoken
+to her of young Chamblard.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah,&quot; he used to say to her, &quot;what a marriage
+for Martha! We speak of it sometimes before and
+after our piquet, Chamblard and I; but the young
+man is restive&mdash;doesn't yet wish to settle down.
+It would be such a good thing&mdash;he is richer than
+we. Chamblard is once, twice, three times richer!
+And Martha isn't easy to marry; she has already
+refused five or six desirable matches on all sorts
+of pretexts. They didn't please her: they were too
+old, they had no style, they didn't live in fashionable
+neighborhoods, she didn't wish to go into
+sugar, or cotton, or wine&mdash;or anything, in short.
+She would accept none other than a young husband,
+and not too serious. She must have a very
+rich man who did nothing and loved pleasure.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>How well young Chamblard answered to that
+description! When there was question of doing
+nothing, Raoul showed real talent. As soon as one
+talked horses, dogs, carriages, hats, dresses, jewelry,
+races, fencing, skating, cooking, etc., he showed
+signs of the rarest and highest competence.</p>
+
+<p>So, as there was general conversation, Raoul
+was very brilliant. In the neighborhood of Ch&acirc;lons-sur-Sa&ocirc;ne
+(3.10), while relating how he, Chamblard,
+had invented a marvellous little coup&eacute;, he
+did not say that: that coup&eacute; had been offered by
+him to Mlle. Juliette Lorphelin, of the ballet corps
+at the Folies-Berg&egrave;re. This coup&eacute; was a marvel;
+besides, it was very well known; it was called the
+Chamblard coup&eacute;.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Small,&quot; he said, &quot;very small. A coup&eacute; ought
+always to be small.&quot; But what a lot of things in
+such a small space: a drawer for toilet necessaries,
+a secret box for money and jewelry, a clock, a thermometer,
+a barometer, a writing-shelf&mdash;and that
+was not all!</p>
+
+<p>He became animated, and grew excited in speaking
+of his invention. Martha listened to him eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;When you pull up the four wooden shutters
+you naturally find yourself in the dark; but the four
+shutters are mirrors, and as soon as one has placed
+a finger on a little button hidden under the right-hand
+cushion, six little crystal balls, ingeniously
+scattered in the tufting of the blue satin of the
+coup&eacute;, become electric lights. The coup&eacute; is turned
+into a little lighted boudoir; and not only for five
+minutes&mdash;no, but for an hour, two hours, if one
+wishes it; there is a storage-battery under the seat.
+When I submitted this idea to my carriage-maker
+he was smitten with envy and admiration.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Martha, too, was smitten.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What a charming man!&quot; she said to herself.
+&quot;Oh, to have such a coup&eacute;! But pearl-gray&mdash;I
+should want it pearl-gray.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Then they discussed jewelry, dresses, hats, stuffs.
+And Raoul proved on all those questions, if possible,
+more remarkable than ever. He had paid so
+many bills to great dress-makers, great milliners,
+and great jewellers! He had been present at so
+many conferences on the cut of such a dress or the
+arrangement of such a costume, at so many scenes
+of trying on and draping! And as he drew easily,
+he willingly threw his ideas on paper, as he said,
+neatly. He had even designed the costumes of
+a little piece&mdash;played in I do not know what little
+theatre&mdash;which was revolutionary, anarchistic, symbolistic,
+decadent, end of the century, end of the
+world.</p>
+
+<p>He took his little note-book and began to outline
+with a light hand, in spite of the movement of
+the train, several of his creations. He had tact, and
+thought of everything. &quot;It was,&quot; he said, &quot;for
+charades played in society at my friend's, the baron
+so and so.&quot; He invented the baron, and gave him
+a resonant name.</p>
+
+<p>Martha was delighted. Never had a man, since
+she had been allowed to chat a little with young
+men, seemed to her to have such an original and
+interesting conversation.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Lately,&quot; said Raoul, &quot;one of my cousins&mdash;she
+often applies to me&mdash;consulted me about a dress
+for a ball at Nice, during the carnival. This is
+what I advised her. See, I draw at the same time&mdash;look.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Oh, how she did look!</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I am going to try to make myself well understood.
+A foundation of smooth white satin, clinging,
+very clinging&mdash;blue, I adore blue.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>That pained her; she disliked blue.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, very clinging; my cousin has a delightful
+figure, and can stand it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He took Martha's figure in with a hasty glance,
+and the glance seemed to say, &quot;You could, too.&quot;
+She understood and blushed, charmed with that
+delicate flattery. Raoul continued:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Pale, very pale blue satin. Then on my foundation
+I threw an over-dress of pompadour lace of
+very soft tones: greens, pinks, mauves, cream, and
+azure. Very large sleeves with a double puff of blue
+velvet, wristlets of Venetian point. Am I clear?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Oh, very clear, very clear.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And in an excited voice she repeated:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;A double puff of blue velvet, with wristlets of
+Venetian point.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>All of a sudden the brakes scraped, and the train
+came sharply to a stop. One heard the cry of
+&quot;M&acirc;con! M&acirc;con!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;M&acirc;con already!&quot; said Martha.</p>
+
+<p>That &quot;<i>already</i>&quot; rang delightfully in Raoul's ears.
+There was much in that <i>already</i>. Raoul profited
+by the five minutes' stop to complete and fix his
+little sketch, which was slightly jolted; and he did
+not notice that his young brother-in-law had been
+sent out with a despatch to the telegraph-office.
+The despatch had been secretly written by Mme.
+Derame, and had, too, been directed to the Old
+Club.</p>
+
+<p>The train started&mdash;4.11. Raoul had not thought
+to get down to see if under the railing there was
+not a despatch addressed to him. There was one,
+which was to remain eternally at M&acirc;con. The telegram
+contained these words: &quot;Return; no longer
+question of Antwerp marriage.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The train ran on and on, and now there was
+question of another dress&mdash;a silk dress, light pink,
+with a large jabot of lace down the front. Raoul
+literally dazzled Martha by his inexhaustible fertility
+of wise expressions and technical terms.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>While the express passed the Roman&egrave;che station
+(4.32) father Chamblard came into the Old Club,
+went into the card-room, and met father Derame.
+Piquet? With pleasure. So there they sat, face
+to face. There were there eight or ten card-tables&mdash;piquet,
+bezique, whist, etc. The works were in full
+blast. First game, and papa Derame is rubiconed;
+the second game was going to begin when a footman
+arrives with a despatch for M. Chamblard.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Will you excuse me?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Certainly.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He reads, he becomes red; he rereads, and he
+gets scarlet.</p>
+
+<p>It was Raoul's brilliant telegram from Dijon:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Dear father, I shall not go. Most extraordinary
+meeting. Your Number Three&mdash;yes, your
+Number Three&mdash;in the train with her mother, and
+I wouldn't see her. Ah! if I had known. Strike
+while the iron's hot; I'm striking it, strike it too.
+M. D. must be at the club, speak to him at once;
+tell him that I left to avoid marrying an ugly woman;
+that I only wish to make a love-match; that I
+am head-over-heels in love with his daughter. We
+shall all be to-night at Marseilles, H&ocirc;tel de Noailles.
+Get M. D. to back me up by telegraph to
+Mme. D. I will talk with you to-morrow over the
+telephone. I am writing my telegram in the dining-car.
+At this moment she is nibbling nuts&mdash;charming,
+she is charming! She fell into my arms on the
+platform. Till to-morrow at the telephone, nine
+o'clock.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>M. Chamblard's agitation did not escape M.
+Derame.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Is it a serious matter?&quot; he asked.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;We can stop if you wish.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes; but first of all, did Mme. and Mlle. Derame
+leave here this morning on the express for
+Marseilles?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, at 9.55. Why do you ask that? Has
+there been any accident?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;No, no accident; it can't be called that; on
+the contrary. Come, come into the little parlor.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>He told him everything, showed him the despatch,
+gave him certain necessary explanations
+about the words, such as Number Three. And there
+they were, choking, delighted&mdash;both the father of
+the young man and the father of the young girl.
+What luck, what a providential meeting!</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But you told me that your son didn't wish to
+marry.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;He didn't wish to, but he has seen your daughter,
+and now he wishes to. Come, hurry up and
+send a telegram to Marseilles to Mme. Derame.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But she will be thunderstruck when I present
+to her a son-in-law by telegraph.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Return of the footman. It was a despatch for
+M. Derame. He opens it.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It's from my wife, from M&acirc;con, 2.15.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Good,&quot; says M. Chamblard; &quot;all goes well, very
+well.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Very disturbed. Met in the train the son of
+M. C., of Rue Rougemont, your club friend. He
+was presented by Maurice. You often spoke to
+me of a possible alliance there. Evidently he thinks
+her charming. Just at present he is talking to her,
+and looks at her, looks at her. What shall I do?
+Shall I put a stop to it or allow it to continue?
+Large fortune, isn't there?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>M. Derame in his turn showed his despatch to
+M. Chamblard. They continued to talk, in high
+good-humor and in excellent accord, and went on
+with their game of piquet only after having sent the
+following two telegrams to the H&ocirc;tel de Noailles:</p>
+
+<p>First despatch to Mme. Derame: &quot;If it pleases
+you, if it pleases her, yes. Enormous fortune.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Second despatch to Raoul: &quot;Have spoken to
+D. He is telegraphing to Mme. D. He approves,
+so do I.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>A footman carried the two despatches at the
+same time to the telegraph-office in the Place de la
+Bourse, and during the time that, running over
+the wires along the railroad, they passed the express
+towards half-past six in the neighborhood of
+Saint-Rambert, the Derames, Raoul, and Maurice,
+in the best possible spirits and in most perfect
+harmony, dined at the same table, and Martha
+looked at Raoul, and Raoul looked at Martha, and
+Mme. Derame said to herself: &quot;Martha's falling in
+love; I know her, she is falling in love. She fell in
+love just so last year at a ball with a little youth
+who was very dandified, but without fortune. This
+time, luckily, yes&mdash;Edward told me so&mdash;there is
+plenty of money; so, naturally, if Martha is willing
+we are.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>The train ran on, and on, and on; and Raoul
+talked, and talked, and talked. He even let slip
+practical thoughts, raised himself up to general
+ideas, and developed with force the theory that
+the first duty of a woman was to be, in all things,
+refined elegance. He explained, with endless detail,
+what the life of an absolutely correct fashionable
+woman was, what it was to be an absolutely
+fashionable woman. He triumphantly took <i>his
+fashionable woman</i> from Paris to Trouville, from
+Trouville to Lake Como, from Lake Como to Monte-Carlo.
+He drew the trunks of the fashionable
+woman, marvellous trunks, which were heaped up
+in the vestibules of first-class hotels. Besides, he
+had also invented a trunk.</p>
+
+<p>Then, very tactfully, he put Martha through a
+little examination, which had nothing in common
+with the examinations of the Sorbonne or the H&ocirc;tel
+de Ville.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Did she skate?&quot; That's what he wanted to
+know first! He was himself a very distinguished
+skater. He needed a sport-loving wife. He had
+but just pronounced the word skating when suddenly
+the young brother (how precious little brothers
+sometimes are) exclaimed: &quot;Ah, it's sister who
+skates well! She makes figures-of-eight. And who
+swims well, too&mdash;like a fish!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>She skated, she swam, she was sport-loving.
+Raoul said to the young girl, with deep enthusiasm:
+&quot;I congratulate you. A woman who can't swim
+isn't a woman.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>And he added, with increasing energy:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;A woman who can't skate isn't a woman.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>When he had a strong thought, he willingly used
+it again in a brief but striking form.</p>
+
+<p>Martha's face beamed with joy. She was really
+a woman. Never had a sweeter word been said to
+her.</p>
+
+<p>Night had come; it was necessary, therefore, to
+tear one's self away from that exquisite conversation,
+and return to the parlor-car. Young Derame
+was going to sleep; so they began to prepare for
+the trip through the train.</p>
+
+<p>Here is the platform, the platform of the morning,
+the platform of the first meeting. She walks
+ahead of him, and in a whisper he says to her, &quot;It's
+here that this morning&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>She turns round, and smiling repeats, &quot;Yes, it's
+here that this morning&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Always with that little English accent which
+never leaves her, even when she is most agitated.</p>
+
+<p><i>It is here that this morning</i>&mdash;That was all, and
+it said all. A delightful evening. No more rain,
+no more dust. Already there was the soft, balmy
+air of the South. The moon lit that idyl at full
+speed. Spring-time everywhere, in the sky and in
+the hearts.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;She loves me,&quot; he said to himself.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;He adores me,&quot; she said to herself.</p>
+
+<p>How right they were to give themselves up thus,
+without a struggle, without resistance, to the inclination
+which carried them, quite naturally, towards
+each other. There had been between them,
+from the first word, so perfect, so complete a community
+of tastes, ideas, and sentiments. They were
+so well made, this little puppet and this little doll,
+to roll off, both together, gloriously in the &quot;Chamblard
+coup&eacute;,&quot; so well matched to walk in the world,
+accomplishing mechanically, automatically, at the
+right hour, in the prescribed costume, everywhere
+where it was correct to take pleasure, all the functions
+of fashionable life, and all the rituals of worldly
+worship.</p>
+
+<p>They arrive in the parlor-car. The shades are
+drawn over the lamps; travellers are stiff, drowsy,
+and asleep in the big red arm-chairs.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Change places,&quot; Raoul whispers to Maurice;
+&quot;sit beside her. I am going to sit by the mother;
+I must speak to her.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Maurice lent himself to this man&oelig;uvre with perfect
+docility, Martha did not understand it. Why
+did he abandon her? Why was he talking to her
+mother, and so low, so low that she couldn't hear?
+What was he saying? What was he saying?</p>
+
+<p>This is what he said between Mont&eacute;limar, 8.35,
+and Pierrelatte, 8.55:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Listen to me, madam, listen to me. I am an
+honest man; I wish, I ought, to let you know the
+situation, the entire situation. Let us first settle
+an important point. My father knows M. Derame.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, yes, I know.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Another more important point. Let us mention
+the essential things first. My father is very
+rich.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;I know, I know that too.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Good, then, very good. I continue. I left Paris
+this morning, and I have here in my pocket a ticket
+for cabin No. 27 on the <i>Traonaddy</i>, which leaves
+to-morrow at four o'clock from the Bay of Joliette
+for Suez, Aden, Colombo, and Singapore, and I
+shall go on board to-morrow at four o'clock if you
+don't let me hope to become your son-in-law.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Sir!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't move, madam, don't move. Mlle. Martha
+is pretending to sleep, but she isn't sleeping;
+she is watching us, and I haven't said all yet. I
+am but just beginning. You are going to answer
+me&mdash;oh, I know it&mdash;that you don't know me, that
+Mlle. Martha doesn't know me. Allow me to tell
+you that Mlle. Martha and myself know each other
+better than three-fourths of engaged couples on the
+day of their marriage. You know how it is usually
+done. A rapid glance from afar in a theatre&mdash;one
+brings good lorgnettes, one examines. 'How do
+you like him?' 'Fairly, fairly.' Then, several days
+later, at a ball, in the midst of the figures of
+the quadrille, several gasping, breathless phrases
+are exchanged. Then a meeting in a picture-gallery.
+There, there is more intimacy, because it
+takes place in a small room. It happened to me
+with a young provincial. I had pegged away that
+morning at the Joanne guide, so as to be able to
+find something to say about the Raphaels and the
+Murillos. And at the end of several interviews of
+that sort it is over, one has made acquaintance,
+one suits the other, and the marriage is decided.
+Mlle. Martha and I are already old comrades. In
+the first place, to begin with, this morning at half-past
+eleven she fell into my arms.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;My daughter in your arms!&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Don't jump, madam; Mlle. Martha will see you
+jump.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Martha had, in fact, closely followed the scene
+with half-shut eyes, and said to herself, &quot;Good gracious!
+what is he telling mamma? She is obliged
+to hold on to the arms of her seat to keep herself
+from jumping up.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, madam, in my arms; by the greatest, by
+the most fortunate of accidents, we stumbled over
+each other on one of the platforms of the train.
+And since I have seen her, not in the false light
+of a theatre or a gallery, but in the full glare of sunlight.
+I have seen her at lunch, munching nuts with
+the prettiest teeth there are in the world; I have
+seen her, just now, in the moonlight; and I know
+that she skates, and I know that she swims, and I
+know she would like to have a pearl-gray coup&eacute;, and
+she ought to have it. And now I admire her in the
+semi-obscurity. Ravishing! isn't she ravishing?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Sir, never has a mother found herself&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;In such a situation? I acknowledge it, madam,
+and for that very reason you must get out of the
+situation quickly; it's evident that it can't be prolonged.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;That's true&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Here is what I propose to you. You go to the
+H&ocirc;tel de Noailles; I, too, naturally. You have all
+the morning to-morrow to talk to Mlle. Martha, and
+the telephone to talk through to M. Derame. You
+know who I am. You have seen me, too, in the
+daylight. I have talked&mdash;talked a great deal. You
+could, you and Mlle. Martha, find out what I am,
+what I think. Well, to-morrow&mdash;what time do you
+expect to breakfast to-morrow?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;But I don't know. I assure you that I am
+choking, upset, overcome.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Let us settle on an hour all the same; eleven
+o'clock&mdash;will you, at eleven?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;If you wish.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Well, to-morrow at eleven o'clock I shall be in
+the dining-room of the hotel. If you say 'Go' I
+shall go; if you say 'Stay' I shall stay. Don't
+answer me; take time to reflect; it's worth while.
+Till to-morrow, madam, till to-morrow at eleven.&quot;</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>In the morning very interesting communications
+passed between Paris and Marseilles.</p>
+
+<p>When Mme. Derame entered the dining-room of
+the hotel at eleven o'clock, Raoul went straight to
+her, and the cavalryman, always adroit in his man&oelig;uvres,
+had taken possession of Mlle. Martha. A
+short dialogue ensued between Raoul and Mme.
+Derame, who was much agitated.</p>
+
+<p>&quot;They tell me there are boats every fortnight
+between Indo-China and Marseilles&mdash;you could put
+off your departure&mdash;merely taking another boat&mdash;&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, thanks, madam, thanks!&quot;</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>At two o'clock the Derames and young Chamblard
+accompanied Maurice to the boat for Africa.
+On the deck of the steamer Raoul said to his
+friend:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;It's understood that you are to be best man.
+On arriving, ask your colonel for leave at once. It
+will take place, I think, in six weeks.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>Raoul was mistaken. It was decidedly an express
+marriage; five weeks were sufficient.</p>
+
+<p>When they were mounting the steps of the
+Madeleine, Raoul said to Martha:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Twelve o'clock.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;What are you thinking of?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Ah, you too.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Twelve, the hour of the platform, isn't it?&quot;</p>
+
+<p>&quot;Yes, that's it.&quot;</p>
+
+<p>They began to laugh, but quickly became serious,
+and made an irreproachable entry into church.</p>
+
+<p>They were looked at eagerly, and on all sides
+the following remarks were exchanged:</p>
+
+<p>&quot;You know it's a love-match.&quot; &quot;Yes, it appears
+it was a meeting on the train.&quot; &quot;A lightning-stroke!&quot;
+&quot;What a charming affair!&quot; &quot;And so
+rare!&quot; &quot;Oh yes, so rare! A love-match! A true
+love-match!&quot;</p>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>THE END</h2>
+<hr style="width: 95%;" />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Parisian Points of View, by Ludovic Halévy
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARISIAN POINTS OF VIEW ***
+
+***** This file should be named 15465-h.htm or 15465-h.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/4/6/15465/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
+
+
+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
diff --git a/15465.txt b/15465.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3857a8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15465.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,4844 @@
+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Parisian Points of View, by Ludovic Halevy
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Parisian Points of View
+
+Author: Ludovic Halevy
+
+Commentator: Brander Matthews
+
+Translator: Edith V. B. Matthews
+
+Release Date: March 25, 2005 [EBook #15465]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARISIAN POINTS OF VIEW ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
+
+
+
+
+
+MASTER-TALES
+
+PARISIAN
+POINTS OF VIEW
+
+BY
+LUDOVIC HALEVY
+
+TRANSLATED BY
+EDITH V.B. MATTHEWS
+
+WITH INTRODUCTION BY
+BRANDER MATTHEWS
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS
+NEW YORK AND LONDON
+
+
+
+
+Copyright, 1894, by HARPER & BROTHERS.
+
+_All rights reserved._
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+                                                      PAGE
+
+INTRODUCTION                                           vii
+ONLY A WALTZ                                             3
+THE DANCING-MASTER                                      37
+THE CIRCUS CHARGER                                      49
+BLACKY                                                  69
+THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PARIS                       83
+THE STORY OF A BALL-DRESS                              113
+THE INSURGENT                                          137
+THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR                                 147
+IN THE EXPRESS                                         161
+
+
+
+
+INTRODUCTION
+
+
+
+
+THE SHORT STORIES OF M. LUDOVIC HALEVY
+
+
+To most American readers of fiction I fancy that M. Ludovic Halevy is
+known chiefly, if not solely, as the author of that most charming of
+modern French novels, _The Abbe Constantin_. Some of these readers may
+have disliked this or that novel of M. Zola's because of its bad moral,
+and this or that novel of M. Ohnet's because of its bad taste, and all
+of them were delighted to discover in M. Halevy's interesting and
+artistic work a story written by a French gentleman for young ladies.
+Here and there a scoffer might sneer at the tale of the old French
+priest and the young women from Canada as innocuous and saccharine; but
+the story of the good Abbe Constantin and of his nephew, and of the girl
+the nephew loved in spite of her American millions--this story had the
+rare good fortune of pleasing at once the broad public of indiscriminate
+readers of fiction and the narrower circle of real lovers of literature.
+Artificial the atmosphere of the tale might be, but it was with an
+artifice at once delicate and delicious; and the tale itself won its way
+into the hearts of the women of America as it had into the hearts of the
+women of France.
+
+There is even a legend--although how solid a foundation it may have in
+fact I do not dare to discuss--there is a legend that the lady-superior
+of a certain convent near Paris was so fascinated by _The Abbe
+Constantin_, and so thoroughly convinced of the piety of its author,
+that she ordered all his other works, receiving in due season the lively
+volumes wherein are recorded the sayings and doings of Monsieur and
+Madame Cardinal, and of the two lovely daughters of Monsieur and Madame
+Cardinal. To note that these very amusing studies of certain aspects of
+life in a modern capital originally appeared in that extraordinary
+journal, _La Vie Parisienne_--now sadly degenerate--is enough to
+indicate that they are not precisely what the good lady-superior
+expected to receive. We may not say that _La Famille Cardinal_ is one of
+the books every gentleman's library should be without; but to appreciate
+its value requires a far different knowledge of the world and of its
+wickedness than is needed to understand _The Abbe Constantin_.
+
+Yet the picture of the good priest and the portraits of the little
+Cardinals are the work of the same hand, plainly enough. In both of
+these books, as in _Criquette_ (M. Halevy's only other novel), as in _A
+Marriage for Love_, and the twoscore other short stories he has written
+during the past thirty years, there are the same artistic qualities, the
+same sharpness of vision, the same gentle irony, the same constructive
+skill, and the same dramatic touch. It is to be remembered always that
+the author of _L'Abbe Constantin_ is also the half-author of "Froufrou"
+and of "Tricoche et Cacolet," as well as of the librettos of "La Belle
+Helene" and of "La Grande Duchesse de Gerolstein."
+
+In the two novels, as in the twoscore short stories and sketches--the
+_contes_ and the _nouvelles_ which are now spring-like idyls and now
+wintry episodes, now sombre etchings and now gayly-colored pastels--in
+all the works of the story-teller we see the firm grasp of the
+dramatist. The characters speak for themselves; each reveals himself
+with the swift directness of the personages of a play. They are not
+talked about and about, for all analysis has been done by the playwright
+before he rings up the curtain in the first paragraph. And the story
+unrolls itself, also, as rapidly as does a comedy. The movement is
+straightforward. There is the cleverness and the ingenuity of the
+accomplished dramatist, but the construction has the simplicity of the
+highest skill. The arrangement of incidents is so artistic that it seems
+inevitable; and no one is ever moved to wonder whether or not the tale
+might have been better told in different fashion.
+
+Nephew of the composer of "La Juive"--an opera not now heard as often as
+it deserves, perhaps--and son of a playwright no one of whose
+productions now survives, M. Halevy grew up in the theatre. At fourteen
+he was on the free-list of the Opera, the Opera-Comique, and the Odeon.
+After he left school and went into the civil service his one wish was to
+write plays, and so to be able to afford to resign his post. In the
+civil service he had an inside view of French politics, which gave him a
+distaste for the mere game of government without in any way impairing
+the vigor of his patriotism; as is proved by certain of the short stones
+dealing with the war of 1870 and the revolt of the Paris Communists. And
+while he did his work faithfully, he had spare hours to give to
+literature. He wrote plays and stories, and they were rejected. The
+manager of the Odeon declared that one early play of M. Halevy's was
+exactly suited to the Gymnase, and the manager of the Gymnase protested
+that it was exactly suited to the Odeon. The editor of a daily journal
+said that one early tale of M. Halevy's was too brief for a novel, and
+the editor of a weekly paper said that it was too long for a short
+story.
+
+In time, of course, his luck turned; he had plays performed and stories
+published; and at last he met M. Henri Meilhac, and entered on that
+collaboration of nearly twenty years' duration to which we owe
+"Froufrou" and "Tricoche et Cacolet," on the one hand, and on the other
+the books of Offenbach's most brilliant operas--"Barbebleue," for
+example, and "La Perichole." When this collaboration terminated, shortly
+before M. Halevy wrote _The Abbe Constantin_, he gave up writing for the
+stage. The training of the playwright he could not give up, if he
+would, nor the intimacy with the manners and customs of the people who
+live, move, and have their being on the far side of the curtain.
+
+Obviously M. Halevy is fond of the actors and the actresses with whom he
+spent the years of his manhood. They appear again and again in his
+tales; and in his treatment of them there is never anything
+ungentlemanly as there was in M. Jean Richepin's recent volume of
+theatrical sketches. M. Halevy's liking for the men and women of the
+stage is deep; and wide is his knowledge of their changing moods. The
+young Criquette and the old Karikari and the aged Dancing-master--he
+knows them all thoroughly, and he likes them heartily, and he
+sympathizes with them cordially. Indeed, nowhere can one find more
+kindly portraits of the kindly player-folk than in the writings of this
+half-author of "Froufrou"; it is as though the successful dramatist felt
+ever grateful towards the partners of his toil, the companions of his
+struggles. He is not blind to their manifold weaknesses, nor is he the
+dupe of their easy emotionalism, but he is tolerant of their failings,
+and towards them, at least, his irony is never mordant.
+
+Irony is one of M. Halevy's chief characteristics, perhaps the chiefest.
+It is gentle when he deals with the people of the stage--far gentler
+then than when he is dealing with the people of Society, with
+fashionable folk, with the aristocracy of wealth. When he is telling us
+of the young loves of millionaires and of million-heiresses, his touch
+may seem caressing, but for all its softness the velvet paw has claws
+none the less. It is amusing to note how often M. Halevy has chosen to
+tell the tale of love among the very rich. The heroine of _The Abbe
+Constantin_ is immensely wealthy, as we all know, and immensely wealthy
+are the heroines of _Princesse_, of _A Grand Marriage,_ and of _In the
+Express_.[A] Sometimes the heroes and the heroines are not only
+immensely wealthy, they are also of the loftiest birth; such, for
+instance, are the young couple whose acquaintance we make in the pages
+of _Only a Waltz_.
+
+[Footnote A: Perhaps the present writer will be forgiven if he wishes to
+record here that _In the Express (Par le Rapide)_ was published in Paris
+only towards the end of 1892, while a tale not wholly unlike it, _In the
+Vestibule Limited_, was published in New York in the spring of 1891.]
+
+There is no trace or taint of snobbery in M. Halevy's treatment of all
+this magnificence; there is none of the vulgarity which marks the pages
+of _Lothair_, for example; there is no mean admiration of mean things.
+There is, on the other hand, no bitterness of scourging satire. He lets
+us see that all this luxury is a little cloying and perhaps not a little
+enervating. He suggests (although he takes care never to say it) that
+perhaps wealth and birth are not really the best the world can offer.
+The amiable egotism of the hero of _In the Express_, and the not
+unkindly selfishness of the heroine of that most Parisian love-story,
+are set before us without insistence, it is true, but with an irony so
+keen that even he who runs as he reads may not mistake the author's real
+opinion of the characters he has evoked.
+
+To say this is to say that M. Halevy's irony is delicate and playful.
+There is no harshness in his manner and no hatred in his mind. We do not
+find in his pages any of the pessimism which is perhaps the dominant
+characteristic of the best French fiction of our time. To M. Halevy, as
+to every thinking man, life is serious, no doubt, but it need not be
+taken sadly, or even solemnly. To him life seems still enjoyable, as it
+must to most of those who have a vivid sense of humor. He is not
+disillusioned utterly, he is not reduced to the blankness of despair as
+are so many of the disciples of Flaubert, who are cast into the outer
+darkness, and who hopelessly revolt against the doom they have brought
+on themselves.
+
+Indeed, it is Merimee that M. Halevy would hail as his master, and not
+Flaubert, whom most of his fellow French writers of fiction follow
+blindly. Now, while the author of _Salamnbo_ was a romanticist turned
+sour, the author of _Carmen_ was a sentimentalist sheathed in irony. To
+Gustave Flaubert the world was hideously ugly, and he wished it
+strangely and splendidly beautiful, and he detested it the more because
+of his impossible ideal. To Prosper Merimee the world was what it is,
+to be taken and made the best of, every man keeping himself carefully
+guarded. Like Merimee, M. Halevy is detached, but he is not
+disenchanted. His work is more joyous than Merimee's, if not so vigorous
+and compact, and his delight in it is less disguised. Even in the
+Cardinal sketches there is nothing that leaves an acrid after-taste,
+nothing corroding--as there is not seldom in the stronger and sterner
+short stories of Maupassant.
+
+More than Maupassant or Flaubert or Merimee, is M. Halevy a Parisian.
+Whether or not the characters of his tale are dwellers in the capital,
+whether or not the scene of his story is laid in the city by the Seine,
+the point of view is always Parisian. The _Circus Charger_ did his duty
+in the stately avenues of a noble country-place, and _Blacky_ performed
+his task near a rustic water-fall; but the men who record their
+intelligent actions are Parisians of the strictest sect. Even in the
+patriotic pieces called forth by the war of 1870, in the _Insurgent_ and
+in the _Chinese Ambassador_, it is the siege of Paris and the struggle
+of the Communists which seem to the author most important. His style
+even, his swift and limpid prose--the prose which somehow corresponds to
+the best _vers de societe_ in its brilliancy and buoyancy--is the style
+of one who lives at the centre of things. Cardinal Newman once said that
+while Livy and Tacitus and Terence and Seneca wrote Latin, Cicero wrote
+Roman; so while M. Zola on the one side, and M. Georges Ohnet on the
+other, may write French, M. Halevy writes Parisian.
+
+BRANDER MATTHEWS.
+
+
+
+
+ONLY A WALTZ
+
+
+"Aunt, dear aunt, don't believe a word of what he is going to tell you.
+He is preparing to fib, to fib outrageously. If I hadn't interrupted him
+at the beginning of his talk, he would have told you that he had made up
+his mind to marry me from his and my earliest childhood."
+
+"Of course!" exclaimed Gontran.
+
+"Of course not," replied Marceline. "He was going to tell you that he
+was a good little boy, having always loved his little cousin, and that
+our marriage was a delightful romance of tenderness and sweetness."
+
+"Why, yes, of course," repeated Gontran.
+
+"Nonsense! The truth, Aunt Louise, the real truth, in short, is this,
+never, never should we have been married if on the 17th of May, 1890,
+between nine and eleven o'clock, he had not lost 34,000 points at
+bezique at the club, and if all the boxes had not been sold, that same
+night, at the Bouffes-Parisiens Theatre."
+
+Gontran began to laugh.
+
+"Oh, you can laugh as much as you please! You know very well that but
+for this--on what does fate depend?--I should now be married and a
+duchess, it is true; but Duchess of Courtalin, and not Duchess of
+Lannilis. Well, perhaps that would have been better! At any rate, I wish
+to give Aunt Louise the authentic history of our marriage."
+
+"Tell away, if it amuses you," said Gontran.
+
+"Yes, sir, it amuses me. You shall know all, Aunt Louise--all,
+absolutely all; and I beg you to be judge of our quarrel."
+
+This scene was taking place eight days after Marceline de Lorlauge, at
+the Church of the Madeleine, before the altar, hidden under a mountain
+of roses, had answered "yes," with just the right amount of nervousness
+and emotion (neither too much nor too little, but exactly right), when
+she was asked if she was willing to take for husband her cousin, Jean
+Leopold Mathurin Arbert Gontran, Duke of Lannilis.
+
+This marriage had been the great marriage of the season. There had been
+an absolute crush under the colonnade and against the railings of the
+church to see the bride walk down those fearful steps of the Madeleine.
+What an important feat that is! Merely to be beautiful is not all that
+is needful; it is necessary besides to know how to be beautiful. There
+is an art about being pretty which requires certain preparations and
+study. In society, as in the theatre, success rarely comes at once. Mme.
+de Lannilis had the good-fortune to make her first appearance with
+decisive success. She was at once quite easily and boldly at home in her
+beauty; she had only to appear to triumph. Prince Nerins had not a
+moment's hesitation concerning it, and he it is, as every one knows,
+who, with general consent, has made himself the distributor of the
+patents of supreme Parisian elegance; so while the new duchess, beneath
+the fire of a thousand eyes and behind the ringing staffs, was taking
+her first steps as a young married woman with calm assurance, Nerins,
+struck with admiration, was giving way, under the colonnade of the
+Madeleine, to veritable transports of enthusiasm. He went from group to
+group repeating:
+
+"She is aerial! There is no other expression for her--aerial! She does
+not walk, she glides! If she had the fantasy, with one little kick of
+her heel, she could raise herself lightly over the heads of those two
+tall fellows with spears, cross the Place de la Concorde, and go and
+place herself on the pediment of the Chamber of Deputies. Look at her
+well; that is true beauty, radiant beauty, blazing beauty! She is a
+goddess, a young goddess! she will reign long, gentlemen--as long as
+possible."
+
+The young goddess, for the present, did not go farther than Lannilis, in
+Poitou, to her husband's home--her home--in a mansion that had seen many
+Duchesses of Lannilis, but never one more charming, and never, it must
+be said, one more absolutely in love. This little duchess of nineteen
+was wild about this little duke of twenty-five, who was jealously
+carrying her off for himself alone to a quiet and solitary retreat.
+
+They had arrived Thursday, the 24th of June, at about two o'clock--on an
+exquisite night beneath a star-spangled sky--and they were suddenly
+astounded at receiving a letter from their Aunt Louise, dated July 1:
+
+"Eight days' steady tete-a-tete," she wrote, "is enough, quite enough.
+Trust to the experience of an old countrywoman, who would be delighted
+to kiss her little nephew and niece. Don't eat all your love in the
+bud--keep a little for the future."
+
+Thursday, the 1st of July! Eight days! They had been eight days at
+Lannilis! It was impossible! They tried to put some order in their
+reflections. What had they done Friday, Saturday, and Sunday? But all
+was vague, and became confused in their minds. The days and the nights,
+and the nights and days. What had they done? It was always the same,
+same thing; and the same thing had somehow never been the same thing.
+
+They had just loved, loved, loved; and, quite given up to this very wise
+occupation, they had completely forgotten that near Lannilis, in the old
+residence of Chatellerault, there was dear old Aunt Louise, who was
+expecting their first bridal visit--a visit which was due her, for she
+had the best claim in the world, on account of her eighty-four years,
+her kindness, and also because of the gift of a magnificent pearl
+necklace to Marceline.
+
+So it was necessary to be resigned, to leave off dreaming, and to come
+back to reality; and it was during this visit that, before the old aunt,
+much amused at the quarrel, this great dispute had abruptly burst forth
+between the young married couple.
+
+Aunt Louise had accepted the position of arbitrator, and, presiding over
+the discussion, she had made the two contestants sit down before her in
+arm-chairs, at a respectful distance. Marceline, before being seated,
+had already taken the floor.
+
+"Every one agreed upon this point (you know it, Aunt Louise; mamma must
+often have told you in her letters)--every one was agreed on this point:
+that there were really only two suitable matches for me--the Duke of
+Lannilis here present, and the Duke of Courtalin. I had the weakness to
+prefer him--him over there. Why? I can scarcely tell-a childish habit,
+doubtless. We had played together when we were no higher than that at
+being little husband and wife. I had remained faithful to that childhood
+love, whereas he--"
+
+"Whereas I--"
+
+"All in due season, sir, and you will lose nothing by waiting. However,
+there were all sorts of good reasons for preferring--the other one, who
+had a larger fortune and was of more ancient nobility."
+
+"Oh, as to that--in money, maybe, but as to birth--"
+
+"It is indisputable! You are both dukes by patent."
+
+"We in 1663."
+
+"And the Courtalin--"
+
+"In 1666 only."
+
+"Agreed."
+
+"Well, then?"
+
+"Oh, just wait! I am posted on the question; mamma studied it thoroughly
+when things looked, three months ago, as if I should be Duchess of
+Courtalin. One morning mamma went to the archives with an old friend of
+hers, a great historian, who is a member of the Institute. You date
+from 1663, and the Courtalin from 1666; that is correct. But Louis
+XIV., in 1672, by a special edict, gave the precedence to the
+Courtalins; and you have not, I suppose, any idea of disputing what
+Louis XIV. thought best to do. Now, Aunt Louise, can he?"
+
+"Certainly not."
+
+"But Saint Simon--"
+
+"Oh, let us leave Saint Simon alone; he is prejudice and inaccuracy
+itself! I know he is on your side, but that doesn't count; but I will,
+to be agreeable to you, acknowledge that you are better looking and
+taller than M. de Courtalin--"
+
+"But--"
+
+"Oh, my dear, I begin to see! You are dying for me to tell you that.
+Well, yes, you are a fairly handsome man; but that is only a very
+perishable advantage, and you have too much respect for
+conventionalities to wish to make that equal to the decree of Louis XIV.
+However, I loved you--I loved you faithfully, tenderly, fondly,
+stupidly; yes, stupidly, for when I had come out in society, the year
+before, in April, 1889, at Mme. de Fresnes's ball, when I had allowed my
+poor, little, thin shoulders to be seen for the first time (I must have
+been about seventeen), I noticed that the young marriageable men in our
+set (they are all quoted, noted, and labelled) drew away from me with
+strange, respectful deference. I appeared to be of no importance or
+interest, in spite of my name, my dowry, and my eyes. You see, I had
+singed myself. I had so ridiculously advertised my passion for you that
+I no longer belonged to myself; I was considered as belonging to you. As
+soon as I had put on my first long dress, which gave me at once the
+right to think of marriage and speak of love, I had told all my friends
+that I loved, and would never love or marry any one but you--you or the
+convent. Yes, I had come to that! My friends had told their brothers and
+cousins, who had repeated it to you (just what I wanted), but it put me
+out of the race. Dare to say, sir, that it is not all true, strictly
+true!"
+
+"I am saying nothing--?"
+
+"Because you are overcome, crushed by the evidence. You say nothing now,
+but what did you say last year? Last year! When I think that we could
+have been married since last year! A year, a whole year lost! And it was
+so long, and it could have been so short! Well, he was there, at the
+Fresnes' ball. He condescended to do me the honor of dancing three times
+with me. I came home intoxicated, absolutely intoxicated with joy. But
+that great happiness did not last long, for this is what that Gontran
+the next day said to his friend Robert d'Aigremont, who told his sister
+Gabrielle, who repeated it to me, that he saw clearly that they wished
+to marry him to his cousin Marceline. I had, the day before, literally
+thrown myself into his arms; he had thought right, from pure goodness of
+heart, to show some pity for the love of the little school-girl, so he
+had resolved to dance with me; but he had done, quite done--he wouldn't
+be caught again. He would keep carefully away from coming-out balls;
+they were too dangerous a form of gayety. Marriage did not tempt him in
+the least. He had not had enough of a bachelor's life yet--besides, he
+knew of nothing more absurd than those marriages between cousins. The
+true pleasure of marriage, he said, must be to put into one's life
+something new and unexpected, and to call by her first name, all at
+once, on Tuesday morning, a person whom one didn't so call Monday night.
+But a person whom one already knew well, where would be the pleasure? He
+made a movement, Aunt Louise; did you see?"
+
+"I saw--"
+
+"He recognized the phrase."
+
+"True. I remember--"
+
+"Ah! but you did not say that phrase only--you said all the others. But
+that is nothing as yet, Aunt Louise. Do you know what was his principal
+objection to a marriage with me? Do you know what he told Robert? That
+he had seen me in evening-dress the night before for the first time, and
+that I was too thin! Too thin! Ah! that was a cruel blow to me! For it
+was true. I was thin. The evening after Gabrielle had told me that awful
+fact, that evening in undressing I looked at my poor little shoulders,
+with their poor little salt-cellars, and I had a terrible spasm of
+sorrow--a flood of tears that wouldn't stop--a torrent, a real torrent;
+and then mamma appeared. I was alone, disrobed, hair flying, studying my
+shoulders, deploring their meagreness--a true picture of despair! Mamma
+took me in her arms. 'My angel, my poor dear, what is the matter?' I
+answered only by sobbing. 'My child, tell me all.' Mamma was very
+anxious, but I could not speak; tears choked my voice. 'My dearest, do
+you wish to kill me?' So to reassure mamma I managed to say between my
+sobs: 'I am too thin, mamma; last night Gontran thought me too thin!' At
+that mamma began to laugh heartily; but as she was good-humored that
+evening, after laughing she explained to me that she, at seventeen, had
+been much thinner than I, and she promised me in the most solemn manner
+that I should grow stouter. Mamma spoke true; I have fattened up. Will
+you have the goodness, sir, to declare to our aunt that the salt-cellars
+have entirely disappeared, and that you cannot have against me, in that
+respect, any legitimate cause of complaint?"
+
+"I will declare so very willingly; but you will permit me to add--"
+
+"I will permit you no such thing. I have the floor, let me speak; but
+you will soon have a chance to justify yourself. I intend to put you
+through a little cross-questioning."
+
+"I'll wait, then--"
+
+"Yes, do. So last spring I began my first campaign. I do not know, Aunt
+Louise, what the customs were in your time, but I know that to-day, at
+the present time, the condition of young girls is one of extreme
+severity. We are kept confined, closely confined, till eighteen, for
+mamma was very indulgent in bringing me out when I was only seventeen;
+but mamma is goodness itself, and then she isn't coquettish for a
+sou--she didn't mind admitting that she had a marriageable daughter. All
+mothers are not like that, and I know some who are glad to put off the
+public and official exhibition of their poor children so as to gain a
+year. At the same time that they race at Longchamps and Chantilly the
+great fillies of the year, they take from their boxes the great
+heiresses of the year who are ripe for matrimony, and in a series of
+white balls given for that purpose, between Easter Sunday and the Grand
+Prix, they are made to take little trial gallops before connoisseurs.
+They have to work rapidly and find a buyer before the Grand Prix; for
+after that all is up, the young girls are packed back to their
+governesses, dancing-masters, and literary professors. The campaign is
+over. That is all for the year. They are not seen again, the poor
+things, till after Lent. So mamma took me last year to a dozen large
+balls, which were sad and sorrowful for me. He was not there! He didn't
+wish to marry! He told it to every one insolently, satirically. He would
+never, never, never marry! He told it to me."
+
+"At your mother's request."
+
+"Yes, that is true. I know since that it was at mamma's petition that he
+talked that way; she hoped it would prevent my being stubborn in my
+craze for him."
+
+"Craze!" exclaimed Aunt Louise.
+
+"Excuse me, Aunt Louise, it is a word of to-day."
+
+"And means--"
+
+"It means a sort of unexplainable, absurd, and extravagant love that
+comes without its being possible to know why--in short, Aunt Louise,
+exactly the love I have for him."
+
+"Much obliged! But you do not tell everything. You do not say that your
+mother desired your marriage with Courtalin--"
+
+"Yes, of course; mamma was quite right. M. de Courtalin has a thousand
+sterling merits that you have not--that you will never have; and then M.
+de Courtalin had a particularly good point in mamma's eyes: he did not
+find me too thin, and he asked for my hand in marriage. One day about
+four o'clock (that was the 2d of June last year) mamma came into my room
+with an expression on her face I had never seen before. 'My child,' she
+said--'my dear child!' She had no need to finish; I had understood. M.
+de Courtalin all the evening before, at the Princess de Viran's, had
+hovered about me, and the next day his mother had come to declare to
+mamma that her son knew of nothing more delightful than my face. I
+answered that I knew of nothing less delightful than M. de Courtalin's
+face. I added that, besides, I was in no hurry to marry. Mamma tried to
+make me hear reason. I was going to let slip an admirable chance. The
+Duke of Courtalin was the target of all the ambitious mothers--a great
+name, a great position, a great fortune! I should deeply regret some day
+to have shown such disdain for advantages like these, etc. And to all
+these things, which were so true and sensible, I could find only one
+word to say: his name, Gontran, Gontran, Gontran! Gontran or the
+convent, and the most rigorous one of all, the Carmel, in sackcloth and
+ashes! Oh, Aunt Louise, do look at him! He listens to all this with an
+unbearable little air of fatuity."
+
+"You have forbidden me to speak."
+
+"True. Don't speak; but you have deserved a little lesson in modesty and
+humility. Good gracious! you think perhaps it was for your merits that I
+chose you, insisted on you. You would be far from the mark, my poor
+dear. It is, on the contrary, because of your want of merit. Now, as to
+M. de Courtalin. Why, there is a man of merit! I had, from morning to
+night, M. de Courtalin's merit dinned into my ears, and that was why I
+had taken a dislike to him. What I dreaded more than anything for a
+husband was what is called a superior man; and mamma went the wrong way
+to work to win me over to her candidate when she said to me: 'He is a
+very intelligent, very serious, very deep-thinking, and very
+distinguished man; he has spent his youth honorably; he has been a model
+son, and would make a model husband.' It made me shiver to hear mamma
+talk so. I know nothing more awful than people who are always, always
+right; who, under all circumstances, give evidence of unfailing good
+sense; who crush us with their superiority. With Gontran I am easy,
+quite easy. It isn't he who would crush me with his superiority. I do
+not know much, Aunt Louise, but my ignorance beside his is learning. He
+had great trouble in getting his baccalaureate. He flunked three times."
+
+"Flunked!" exclaimed Aunt Louise.
+
+"It means failed. He taught me the word. All the queer words I use, Aunt
+Louise, were taught me by him."
+
+"Come, now--"
+
+"Yes, all. I can see him now, coming to the house one day, and I can
+hear him say, 'Flunked again!' That was the third time. Then he went and
+took his examination in the country at a little college at Douai; it was
+easier, and he passed at last. M. de Courtalin has never been flunked;
+he is everything that one can be at his age: bachelor, advocate, lawyer,
+and grave, exact, and severe in his language, and dressed--always in a
+black frock-coat, with two rows of buttons, always all buttoned--in
+short, a man of the past. And what a future before him! Already a member
+of the General Council, and very eloquent, very influential, he will be
+deputy in three years, and then, when we have a government that people
+of our class can recognize, minister, ambassador, and I know not what!
+The highest offices wait for him, and all his ambitions will be
+legitimate when he has a chance to put his superior talents at the
+service of the monarchy. That's one of mamma's phrases. Whereas you, my
+poor Gontran--you will never be anything other than a very funny and
+very nice old dear, whom I shall lead as I like with my little finger."
+
+"Oh! oh!"
+
+"You will see. Besides, you have seen for eight days."
+
+"The first eight days don't count."
+
+"I will continue, rest assured. I love you, besides. I love you, and do
+you know why? It is because you are not a man of the past; you are
+distinctly modern, very modern. Look at him, Aunt Louise. Isn't he very
+nice, very well turned out, very modern, in fact--I repeat it--in his
+little pearl-gray suit. He is devoted to his clothes. He consults for
+hours and hours with his tailor, which delights me, for I intend to
+consult for hours and hours with my dress-maker. And he will pay the
+bills without a tremor, for he will be charmed to see me very stylish
+and very much admired. Ah, we shall make the most brilliant and most
+giddy little couple! He is modern, I shall be modern, we shall be
+modern! After three, four, or five weeks (we do not know exactly)
+dedicated to pure love, we shall take flight towards the country, where
+one has a good time; and then we shall be talked about, Aunt Louise, we
+shall be talked about. And now, where was I in my story? I am sure I do
+not know at all."
+
+"Nor I."
+
+"Nor I."
+
+"Ah, I know. Mme. de Courtalin had come to ask my hand for her honorable
+son, and when mamma had spoken to me of that I had exclaimed, 'Sooner
+the convent!' I do not know exactly what mamma said to Mme. de
+Courtalin--at any rate, I was left alone for the time being. There was a
+rush to the Grand Prix, and then a general breaking-up. We went to spend
+a month at Aix-les-Bains for papa's complaint, and then a fortnight
+here, Aunt Louise; and then, do you remember, you received the
+confessions of my poor torn heart. Ah! I must say you are the only young
+member of the family--you were the only one who did not make a long face
+when I spoke of my love for that rogue. Mamma, however, had preached to
+you, and you vaunted the advantages of an alliance with Courtalin, but
+without conviction. I felt that you were at bottom on my side against
+mamma, and it was so easily explained--mamma could not understand me,
+whereas you! They think we little girls know nothing, and we know
+everything. I knew that mamma had made a worldly marriage, which had,
+however, turned out very well; and you, Aunt Louise, had married for
+love. You must have battled to get the husband you wished, and you had
+him, and you resolutely conquered your happiness. Yes, I knew all that;
+I dared even to allude to those things of the past, and those memories
+brought a smile to your lips and tears to your eyes. And to-day again,
+Aunt Louise, there it is, the smile, and there are the tears."
+
+Marceline interrupted her talk, affectionately threw herself on her Aunt
+Louise's neck, and kissed her with all her heart. She wiped away the
+tears with kisses, and only the smile remained. Yes, Aunt Louise
+remembered that she had had hard work to get as husband a certain
+handsome officer of the Royal Guard, who was there present at the scene,
+in an old decorated frame, standing up with his helmet on his head in a
+martial attitude, leaning on the hilt of his cavalry sabre.
+
+He, too, had been modern, that conqueror of the Trocadero, when he
+entered Madrid in 1822 on the staff of the Duke of Angouleme. And she,
+too, old Aunt Louise, had been modern, very modern, the day when, from
+a window of the Palace of the Tuileries, during a military parade, she
+had murmured this phrase in her mother's ear: "Mamma, there is the one I
+love."
+
+"Ah, how cowardly we are!" exclaimed Marceline, abruptly, changing her
+tone. "Yes, how cowardly we are to love them--those, those dreadful men,
+who know so little how to care for us. I say that for Gontran. What was
+he doing while I was telling you my sorrows, Aunt Louise? Quite calmly
+taking a trip around the world. But let him speak now, let him speak,
+especially as I cannot any more. In all my life I have never made so
+long a speech. Speak, sir; why were you going round the world?"
+
+"Because your mother, on the morning of the day before you departed for
+Aix-les-Bains, had had a very long conversation with me."
+
+"And she had said to you?"
+
+"She had said to me, 'Put a stop to this; marry her or go away, and let
+her not hear of you again till her marriage.' And as I had for some time
+been debating whether to take a little trip to Japan, I started for
+Japan."
+
+"He started for Japan! That goes without saying. You hear him, Aunt
+Louise; he admits that this time last year he preferred to expatriate
+himself rather than marry me. So there he was in America, in China, and
+in Japan. This lasted ten months; from time to time, humbly and timidly,
+I asked for news of him. He was very well; his last letter was from
+Shanghai, or Sidney, or Java. For me, not a word, not a
+remembrance--nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing!"
+
+"I had promised your mother. One day at Yokohama I had bought you a lot
+of fascinating little things. The box was done up and addressed to you
+when I remembered my promise. I sent all those Japaneseries to your
+mother, thinking that you would have your share of the spoil."
+
+"I had nothing at all. The arrival of the box was kept a secret. It
+would have been necessary to have pronounced your name before me, and
+mamma didn't wish that. On the other hand, there was always one name on
+her lips--Courtalin. Still Courtalin, and always Courtalin. He had all
+qualities, all virtues. Then he had just lost his aunt in Brittany, and
+he had inherited something. It was thought that he would only have a
+quarter of the property, and he had had three-quarters. Besides, it was
+a country-seat, and all around this seat, an admirable domain, sixteen
+or seventeen hundred hectares. I say it to my shame, Aunt Louise, to my
+great shame, the thought of giving in came to me; and then, to be
+absolutely frank, it rather pleased me to become a duchess; so mamma
+made me out a list of all possible husbands for me, and there was no
+other duke in the list but M. de Courtalin. There was, of course, the
+little Count of Limiers, who would be duke some day. But when? His
+father is forty-five and an athlete, and has an iron constitution. So I
+was obliged to admit it when I talked it over with mamma in the evening.
+To be duchess it was necessary to agree on M. de Courtalin. Mamma,
+however, was perfect, and delightfully gentle. She did not press me, nor
+treat me harshly, nor torment me; she waited. Only I knew she had said
+to Mme. de Nelly: 'It will be accomplished, my dear, before the 20th of
+June. It must be.' Papa was obliged to return to Aix for his complaint.
+The 20th of June was the date for his departure. I no longer said, 'No,
+no, no!' with that savage energy of the year before. You see, Gontran, I
+open my whole heart to you; you will have, I hope, soon the same courage
+and sincerity."
+
+"You may be sure of it."
+
+"I was waiting, however--I was waiting for his return. I wished to have
+with him a very serious conversation. It is quite true that I felt like
+fainting with fear at the mere thought of that explanation; but I was
+none the less resolved to speak, and I would speak. It seemed to me
+impossible that he had not thought of me sometimes out there in China
+and Cochin China. We had always loved each other (till the unhappy day
+on which I had become marriageable) with a tender and faithful
+affection! I knew that he would arrive in Paris during the night of the
+2d or 3d of April. Very certainly the day after he would come and see
+us. And so, in fact, towards two o'clock he came. Mamma hadn't finished
+dressing; I was alone. I ran to him. 'Ah, how glad I am to see you!' and
+I kissed him with effusion. Then he, very much moved, yes, very much
+moved, kissed me, and began to say to me such nice and pretty things
+that I felt my heart melting. Ah, if mamma hadn't come for five
+minutes--I would only have asked for five minutes!--and how quickly it
+would have turned into love-making our little explanation!"
+
+"Yes, that is true. The impulse that threw you into my arms was so
+sincere. Ah, very certainly it was that day, at that moment, that I
+began to love you. And then I looked at you. You were no longer the
+same. There was such great and happy change."
+
+"He does not dare say it, Aunt Louise, but I will say it: I had become
+fatter. Ah, when I think that I might be Duchess of Courtalin if I had
+remained thin. Those men! Those men! What wretches! But mamma came in,
+then papa, and then my brother George. No explanation possible! There
+they all were engaged in an odious conversation on the comparative
+merits of the English and French boats--the English ones are faster, the
+food on the French ones is better, etc. It was charming! At the end of
+an hour Gontran went away, but not without giving me a very tender and
+eloquent hand-shake. I could wish nothing more speaking than that
+hand-shake. But mamma, who was observing us attentively, had clearly
+seen our two hands, after having found a way to say very pleasant
+things, had had a great deal of trouble in separating. I expected, of
+course, to see him the next day. Did you come?"
+
+"No."
+
+"And the day after that?"
+
+"No, nor then."
+
+"At last, after three days, mamma took me to the races at the Bois de
+Boulogne. We arrived, and there at once, two steps from me, I saw him.
+But no, it was no longer he; frigid greeting, frigid good-day, frigid
+hand-shake, frigid words, and very few of them--scarcely a few
+sentences, awkward and embarrassed. Then he was lost in the crowd, and
+that was all. He did not appear again. I was dumfounded, overcome,
+crushed."
+
+"But it was your mother who--"
+
+"Yes, I know now; but I did not know that day. Yes, it was mamma. Oh,
+must I not love mamma to have forgiven her that?"
+
+"She had come to me very early in the morning the day after the very
+eloquent hand-shake and there, in tears--yes, literally in tears (she
+was sobbing)--she had appealed to my sense of honor, of delicacy, of
+integrity. 'You both had,' she said to me, 'yesterday, on seeing each
+other again after a long absence, a little spasm of emotion. That is all
+right; but you must stop there, and not prolong this foolishness,' And,
+just as I was going to protest: 'Oh yes; foolishness!' 'Remember,
+Marceline's happiness is at stake. You have no right to compromise her.
+You come back from China all at once, and your abrupt return will break
+off more sensible, more studied arrangements. M. de Courtalin is
+thirty-four; he is a man of great knowledge and wisdom. However, I know
+that that is only a secondary consideration; but love passes away, and
+money remains, and M. de Courtalin is richer, very much richer, than
+you. With him Marceline will have quite a grand position. Whereas you,
+you know how I love you, and I know how worthy you are of being loved.
+You are charming, charming, charming.' It was your mother who spoke
+thus."
+
+"I know; I know."
+
+"'Yes, charming; but when I have said that, I have said all. So I will
+ask you this question, and I expect from you a faithful answer: Have you
+those solid qualities which alone can make a husband, a true husband?
+Marceline is a little light-headed, a little frivolous, a little
+coquettish.' It is always your mother who is speaking."
+
+"I know; I know."
+
+"I was embarrassed, Aunt Louise; it seemed to me that that speech was
+not without reason. I hadn't a very high idea of myself as a husband,
+and even now I ask myself--"
+
+"Don't ask yourself anything. Be an affectionate husband, and you will
+have all the virtues. Nothing simpler, as you see. You can go on."
+
+"Well, your mother was so skilfully persuasive that the day after, at
+the races, I gave that cold greeting."
+
+"And so I, that same day, on entering the house, threw myself into
+mamma's arms, exclaiming, 'Yes, I am willing to marry M. de Courtalin!'
+Ah, how many times between that day and the 16th of May I threw myself
+into mamma's arms! I did nothing else. Mamma got used to it, and never
+saw me appear without mechanically opening her arms. 'Yes, I am
+willing,' and sometimes, 'No, I am not.' But the 'No, I am nots' became
+fewer and fewer. M. de Courtalin, besides, was perfect; a model of tact,
+of gentleness, and of resignation. He waited, always in his black
+frock-coat, always buttoned, with an inexhaustible patience. Mamma was,
+in short, pledged to Mme. de Courtalin, and I felt the circle tighten
+round me. The papers announced, in a covert but transparent way, that
+there was question of an alliance between two families of the Faubourg
+Saint-Germain, and they made it pretty clear that it concerned two
+important families. I already received vague congratulations, and I
+dared respond only by vague denials. The morning of the famous 17th of
+May mamma had said to me, 'Come, my child, don't make a martyr of that
+poor boy. Since it is to be "yes," for it will be "yes," you know
+yourself, say "yes" at once.' I had obtained only a miserable respite of
+twenty-four hours; and things were thus when, still on the 17th of May,
+mamma and I arrived, a little late (after eleven), at Mme. de
+Vernieux's, who was giving a ball, a very large ball. I went in, and I
+had at once the feeling that I must be looking extremely well that
+evening. They formed into a little hedge along my way, and I heard a
+little 'oh!' of surprise, and a big 'ah!' of admiration which went
+straight to my heart. I had had already in society certain successes,
+but never any as marked as that one. M. de Courtalin came towards me. He
+wished to engage me for all the waltzes, for all the quadrilles, for the
+entire evening, for the night, for life. I answered him: 'Later,
+presently, we will see. I feel a little tired.' The fact was I hadn't
+the heart to dance. Mamma and I took our seats. A waltz began. Mamma
+scolded softly: 'Dance with him, my child, I beg.' I didn't listen to
+her. I was abstractedly looking around the room when suddenly I saw in a
+corner two eyes fixed, fastened, pinioned on me--two eyes that I well
+knew, but that I had some difficulty in recognizing, for they were
+tremendously enlarged by a sort of stupor."
+
+"Say by overwhelming admiration."
+
+"As you please But it is here, Aunt Louise, that my interrogation will
+begin. Why and how were you there? Where had you dined, Gontran?"
+
+"At the club."
+
+"And what did you intend to do after dinner? Come to Mme. de
+Vernieux's?"
+
+"No; Robert d'Aigremont and I had meant to go to the Bouffes-Parisiens."
+
+"You did not go? Why?"
+
+"We had telephoned from the club to have a box; all were sold--"
+
+"So you said to Robert--"
+
+"I said to Robert, 'Let's play bezique;' and I was beaten by one of
+those streaks of bad luck--34,000 points in a dozen games--so thoroughly
+that towards half-past ten I thought that bezique had lasted long
+enough--"
+
+"And so--"
+
+"And so--"
+
+"So Robert wished to bring you to Mme. de Vernieux's. And you didn't
+want to go! If you hadn't come, however, and if there had been a box at
+the Bouffes-Parisiens, or if you had won at bezique, my marriage with M.
+de Courtalin would have been publicly announced the next day."
+
+"Yes, but I came; and there I was in the corner looking at you, looking
+at you, looking at you. It was you, and yet not you--"
+
+"I, immediately on seeing the way you were looking at me, understood
+that something extraordinary was going to happen. Your eyes shone,
+burned, blazed!"
+
+"Because I had discovered that you were simply the prettiest woman of
+the ball, where all the prettiest women of Paris were. Yes, the
+prettiest, and such shoulders, such shoulders!"
+
+"Ripe! in fact, I was ripe!"
+
+"My head was turned at once. I saw Courtalin manoeuvring and trying to
+get near you. I understood that there was not a moment to be lost. To
+reach there ahead of Courtalin I threw myself intrepidly into the midst
+of the room, among the waltzers, pushing and being pushed. I forged a
+passage and tore into rags one of the lace flounces of Mme. de
+Lornans--she hasn't yet forgiven me. But I got there--I got there before
+Courtalin, and threw myself on you, and took you round your waist (I can
+still hear your little cry), and I dragged you off."
+
+"Mamma had scarcely time to scream 'Marceline, Marceline!' when I was
+there no more. He had lifted me off, and carried me away; and we were
+waltzing wildly, furiously!--oh, what a waltz!--and he was saying to me:
+'I love you! I adore you! You are grace and beauty itself! There is only
+one pretty woman here--you; and it is I who will be your husband. I, do
+you hear? I, and not another!' And I, quite suffocated with surprise,
+pleasure, and emotion, allowed myself to be nearly carried by him, but I
+kept begging him to speak lower. 'Anything you wish; yes, I will be your
+wife; but take care--you will be heard--you will be heard.'"
+
+"That is what I wished; and I continued, 'I love you! I adore you!'"
+
+"Then I, absolutely breathless: 'Not so fast. I pray, not so fast; I
+shall fall. I assure you everything is going round, everything is going
+round. Let us stop.' 'No, no; don't let's stop. Keep on still. If we
+stop your mother will separate us, and I have still so many things to
+say to you--so many things, so many things. Swear to me that you will be
+my wife.' 'Yes, I swear it; but enough, enough--' I was smothering. He
+heard nothing. He was going, going like a madman. We had become a
+hurricane, a whirlwind, a cyclone. We caused surprise and fright. No one
+danced any more, but looked at us. And he held me so close, and his face
+was so near my face, his lips so near my lips, that all at once I felt
+myself giving way. I slipped, and let myself into his arms. A cloud
+passed before my eyes; I could not speak nor think; then blankness.
+Everything had disappeared before me in a vertigo not too disagreeable,
+I must say. I had fainted, absolutely fainted."
+
+"The next day our marriage was decided, perfectly decided. Our waltz had
+caused scandal. That was just what I wanted."
+
+"There, Aunt Louise, is the history of our marriage, and I want to-day
+to draw this conclusion: it is that I was the first to begin to love,
+and I shall have, consequently, one day, when it pleases me, the right
+to stop the first."
+
+"Ah, no, indeed; tell her, Aunt Louise, that she will never have that
+right--"
+
+A new quarrel threatened to break out.
+
+"This, my children," said the old aunt, "is all I have to say: she did,
+in truth, start the first to love; but it seems to me, Gontran, that you
+started all at once at such a great pace that you must have caught up
+with her."
+
+"Passed her, Aunt Louise."
+
+"Oh no!" exclaimed Marceline.
+
+"Oh yes--"
+
+"Oh no--"
+
+"Well," continued Aunt Louise, "try never to have any other quarrels
+than that one. Try to walk always in life step by step, side by side,
+and heart to heart. I have seen many inventions since I was born, and
+the world is no longer what it was then. But there is one thing to which
+inventions have made no difference, and never will. That thing you have;
+keep it. It is love! Love each other, children, as strongly and as long
+as possible."
+
+And Aunt Louise wept another tear, and smiled on looking at the portrait
+of the officer of the Royal Guard.
+
+
+
+
+THE DANCING-MASTER
+
+
+
+I was dining at the house of some friends, and in the course of the
+evening the hostess said to me:
+
+"Do you often go to the opera?"
+
+"Yes, very often."
+
+"And do you go behind the scenes?"
+
+"Yes, I go behind."
+
+"Then you can do me a favor. In the ballet department there's an old man
+called Morin, who is perfectly respectable, it seems. He is the little
+B----'s dancing-master. He gives excellent lessons. I should like to
+have him for my little girls, so ask him if he could come twice a week."
+
+I willingly undertook the delicate mission.
+
+The next day, February 17, 1881, about ten in the evening, I arrived at
+the opera, and went behind the scenes to search for Monsieur Morin. "The
+Prophet" was being played, and the third act had just begun. On the
+stage the Anabaptists were singing forcibly:
+
+    "Du sang! que Judas succombe!
+    Du sang! Dansons sur leur tombe!
+    Du sang! Voila l'hecatombe
+    Que Dieu nous demande encor!"
+
+Axes were raised over the heads of a crowd of hapless prisoners, who
+were barons, bishops, monks, and grand ladies. In the wings, balanced on
+their skates, all the ballet-girls were waiting the right moment to
+
+    "Effleurer la glace
+    Sans laisser de trace."
+
+I respectfully begged one of the young Westphalian peasant-girls to
+point out to me the man named Morin.
+
+"Morin," she replied, "is not one of the skaters. Look, he is on the
+stage. That's he over there, the one who is doing the bishop; that
+bishop, you see, who is being pushed and pulled. Wait, he will be off
+directly."
+
+One of the Anabaptist leaders intervened, however, declaring that the
+nobles and priests who could pay ransom should be spared. Morin escaped
+with his life, and I had the honor of being presented to him by the
+little Westphalian peasant-girl.
+
+He had quite a venerable air, with his long gray beard and his fine
+purple robe with his large pastoral cross. While he was arranging
+somewhat his costume, which had been so roughly pulled by those violent
+Anabaptists, I asked him if he would be willing to give lessons to two
+young girls of good family.
+
+The pious bishop accepted with alacrity. His price was ten francs an
+hour.
+
+The little skaters had gone on the stage, and were performing wonderful
+feats. The wings had suddenly become calm and silent. We gave ourselves
+up, his Reverence and myself, to a little friendly chat.
+
+"Yes, sir," his Highness said to me, "I give dancing lessons. I have
+many patrons among the aristocracy and the bankers. I have no reason to
+complain; and yet one must admit things were better once, much better.
+Dancing is going out, sir, dancing is going out."
+
+"Is it possible?"
+
+"It is as I have the honor of telling you. Women still learn to dance;
+but no longer the young men, sir, no longer. Baccarat, races, and the
+minor theatres--that's what they enjoy. It's a little the fault of the
+Government."
+
+"How can that be?"
+
+"M. Jules Ferry has recently rearranged the curriculum of the
+University. He has made certain studies obligatory--modern languages,
+for instance. I don't blame him for that; the study of modern languages
+has great advantages. But dancing, sir; nothing has been done for
+dancing, and it is dancing which ought, after all, to have been made
+obligatory. There ought to be a dancing-master in every high-school, and
+a normal-school for dancing with examinations and competitions in
+dancing. Dancing ought to be studied the same as Latin or Greek.
+Dancing, too, is a language, and a language that every well-bred man
+ought to be able to speak. Well, do you know what happens nowadays?
+Sometimes it happens, sir, that diplomatic posts are given to people who
+get confused in the figures of a quadrille, and who are incapable of
+waltzing for two minutes. They know very well that their education is
+incomplete. Quite lately a young man came to me--a young man of great
+merit, it seems, except in regard to dancing. He had just been attached
+to a great embassy. He had never danced in his life--never. Do you
+understand? Never! It is scarcely to be credited, and yet it is true.
+That's the way M. Barthelemy-Saint-Hilaire picks them out. Oh, this
+beard smothers me! Will you permit me?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+He took off his gray beard, and thus looked much less venerable. He then
+continued:
+
+"I said to this young man: 'We will try, but it will be hard work. One
+oughtn't to begin dancing at twenty-eight.' I limbered him up as best I
+could. I had only two weeks to do it in. I begged him to put off his
+departure, to obtain a reprieve of three or four months--I could have
+made something of him. He would not. He went without knowing anything. I
+often think of him. He will represent us out there; he will represent us
+very badly; he will not be an honor to his country. Please to remember
+that he may be called upon to take part in some official quadrille--to
+dance, for instance, with an archduchess. Well, if he slips up in it,
+with his archduchess, it will be charming! All this is very sad indeed.
+I am a Republican, sir, an old Republican, and it is painful to think
+that the republic is represented by diplomats who cannot distinguish
+between a change of foot and a simple step. Do you know what is said in
+foreign courts? 'Why, who are those savages that France sends us?' Yes,
+that's what they say. The diplomatic corps in the time of the Empire was
+not brilliant. Oh no; those gentlemen did many foolish things. Oh yes;
+but still they knew how to dance!"
+
+And the good old bishop, seeing that I listened with much interest, went
+on with his brilliant improvisation.
+
+"Dancing, sir, is not merely a pleasure, an amusement; no, it is of
+great social interest. Why, the question of marriage is closely
+connected with dancing. At present, in France, marriage is languishing.
+That is proved by statistics. Well, I am convinced that if there are
+fewer marriages it is because there is less dancing. Consider this first
+of all, that to know how to dance well, very well, is, for an agreeable
+young man who is without fortune, a great advantage in society. One of
+my pupils, sir, has recently married extremely well. He was a very
+ordinary kind of youth, who had tried everything and had succeeded in
+nothing; but he was a first-rate waltzer, and he danced away with two
+millions."
+
+"Two millions!"
+
+"Yes, two millions, and they were two cash millions; she was an orphan,
+no father nor mother--all that can be dreamed of. He clasped that young
+lady (she was very plump). Well, in his arms, she felt herself light as
+a feather. She thought of but one thing--waltzing with him. She was as
+one wild. He gave her a new sensation, and what is it women desire above
+all things? To have new sensations, in short, she refused marquises,
+counts, and millionaires. She wanted him only. She got him, and he was
+penniless, and his name is Durand. Ah, do not repeat his name; I
+oughtn't to have told you."
+
+"Don't be afraid."
+
+"After all, you can repeat it; it doesn't matter, it's such a common
+name. There is public policy in love-matches which cause a rich girl to
+marry a poor man, or a poor girl to marry a rich man. It sets money
+circulating, it prevents its remaining in the same place, it keeps
+capital moving. Well, three-fourths of the love-matches were formerly
+made by the dance. Now there are short interviews in parlors, in
+galleries, and at the Opera Comique. They chat; that's all right, but
+chatting is not sufficient. Wit is something, but not everything. A
+waltz furnishes much knowledge that conversation cannot. Dress-makers
+nowadays are so wily. They know how to bring out this point and hide
+that; they remodel bad figures. They give plumpness and roundness to the
+thin; they make hips, shoulders--everything, in fact. One doesn't know
+what to expect, science has made such advances. The eye may be deceived,
+but the hand of an experienced dancer never! A waltzer with tact knows
+how to find out the exact truth about things."
+
+"Oh! oh!"
+
+"Remaining all the time, sir, perfectly respectful and perfectly
+reserved. Good heavens! look at myself, for instance. It is to waltzing
+that I owe my happiness. Mme. Morin was not then Mme. Morin. I kept my
+eye on her, but I hesitated. She appeared thin, and--well, I'll admit
+that to marry a thin woman didn't suit my ideas. You know every one has
+his ideals. So, sir, I was still hesitating, when one evening, at the
+wedding of one of my friends, a very capable young man, a deputy manager
+of a department at the Ministry of Religion, they started a little
+dance. For the first waltz I asked the one who was to be my companion
+through life. Immediately I felt in my hand a delightful figure--one of
+those full but supple figures; and while waltzing, quite enchanted, I
+was saying to myself, 'She isn't really thin! she isn't really thin!' I
+took her back to her place after the waltz, and went at once to her
+mother to ask for her hand, which was granted me. For fourteen years I
+have been the happiest of men, and perhaps I shouldn't have made that
+marriage if I hadn't known how to waltz. You see, sir, the results of a
+waltz?"
+
+"Perfectly."
+
+"That is not all, sir. Thanks to dancing, one discovers not only the
+agreeable points of a person, the fulness of her figure, the
+lithesomeness of her waist, but also, in a briskly led waltz, a little
+examination of the health and constitution of a woman can be had. I
+remember one evening twelve or so years ago--in the Rue Le Peletier, in
+the old Opera-house, which has burned down--I was on the stage awaiting
+my cue for the dance in 'William Tell,' you know, in the third act. Two
+subscribers were talking quite close to me, in the wings. One of the
+gentlemen was an old pupil of mine. I have had so many pupils! Without
+wishing to, I heard scraps of the conversation, and these two sentences
+struck my ear: 'Well, have you decided?' 'Oh,' replied my pupil, 'I find
+her very charming, but I have heard that she is weak in the lungs.'
+Then, sir, I did a very unusual thing for me. I begged pardon for having
+heard unintentionally, and I said to my old pupil: 'I think I have
+guessed that a marriage is in question. Will you authorize me to give
+you a piece of advice--advice drawn from the practice of my profession?
+Do they allow this young lady to waltz?' You know there are mothers who
+do not permit--"
+
+"I know, I know."
+
+
+
+We had arrived at this point in that interesting conversation when the
+ballet ended. The bishop and myself were assailed by an actual whirlwind
+of skaters, and my little Westphalian peasant-girl found me where she
+had left me.
+
+"I declare!" she said to me, "so you come to confess at the opera? Give
+him absolution, Morin, and give it to me, too. Now then, come along to
+the greenroom."
+
+She took my arm, and we went off together, while the excellent Morin,
+with gravity and dignity beneath his sacred ornaments, withstood the
+shock of this avalanche of dancers.
+
+
+
+
+THE CIRCUS CHARGER
+
+
+After George had related how he had been married off at twenty-two by
+his aunt, the Baroness de Stilb, Paul said: "_I_ was married off by a
+circus charger. I was very nearly forty years of age, and I felt so
+peacefully settled in my little bachelor habits that, in the best faith
+in the world, on all occasions, I swore by the gods never to run the
+great risk of marriage; but I reckoned without the circus charger.
+
+"It was in the last days of September, 1864. I had just arrived from
+Baden-Baden, and my intention was to spend only twenty-four hours in
+Paris. I had invited four or five of my friends--Callieres, Bernheim,
+Frondeville, and Valreas--to my place in Poitou for the shooting season.
+They were to come in the first part of October, and it needed a week to
+put all in order at Roche-Targe. A letter from my overseer awaited me in
+Paris, and the letter brought disastrous news; the dogs were well, but
+out of the dozen hunting horses that I had there, five, during my
+sojourn at Baden, had fallen sick or lame, and I found myself
+absolutely forced to get new horses.
+
+"I made a tour of the Champs-Elysees sellers, who showed me as hunters a
+fine collection of broken--down skeletons. Average price, three thousand
+francs. Roulette had treated me badly of late, and I was neither in the
+humor, nor had I the funds, to spend in that way seven or eight hundred
+louis in a morning.
+
+"It was a Wednesday, and Cheri was holding his first autumn sale. I went
+to the Rue de Ponthieu during the day; and there out of the lot, on
+chance, without inquiry, blindly, by good-luck, and from the mere
+declarations of the catalogue--'_Excellent hunter, good jumper, has
+hunted with lady rider_,' etc.--I bought eight horses, which only cost
+me five thousand francs. Out of eight, I said to myself, there will
+always be four or five who will go, and who will be good enough to serve
+as remounts.
+
+"Among the horses there was one that I had bought, I must confess,
+particularly on account of his coat, which was beautiful. The catalogue
+did not attribute to him any special qualifications for hunting, but
+limited itself to '_Brutus, riding horse_.' He was a large dapple-gray
+horse, but never, I think, have I seen gray better dappled; the white
+coat was strewn almost regularly with beautiful black spots, which were
+well distributed and well marked.
+
+"I left town the next day for Roche-Targe, and the following day, early,
+they announced to me that the horses had arrived. I at once went down to
+see them, and my first glance was at Brutus. He had been trotting in my
+head for forty-eight hours, that devil of a gray horse, and I had a
+singular desire to know what he was and of what he was capable.
+
+"I had him taken out of the stable first. A groom led him to me with a
+strap. The horse had long teeth, hollows in the chest, lumpy
+fetlocks--in short, all the signs of respectable age; but he had
+powerful shoulders, a large breast, a neck which was both strong and
+supple, head well held, tail well placed, and an irreproachable back. It
+wasn't, however, all this that attracted most my attention. What I
+admired above all was the air with which Brutus looked at me, and with
+what an attentive, intelligent, and curious eye he followed my movements
+and gestures. Even my words seemed to interest him singularly; he
+inclined his head to my side as if to hear me, and, as soon as I had
+finished speaking, he neighed joyously in answer.
+
+"They showed me successively the seven other horses; I examined them
+rapidly and absent-mindedly. They were horses like all other horses.
+Brutus certainly had something in particular, and I was anxious to make
+in his company a short jaunt in the country. He allowed himself to be
+saddled, bridled, and mounted like a horse who knows his business, and
+so we both started in the quietest way in the world.
+
+"I had at first ridden him with the snaffle, and Brutus had gone off at
+a long easy gait, with rather a stiff neck and projected head; but as
+soon as I let him feel the curb, he changed with extraordinary rapidity
+and suppleness, drawing his head back to his breast, and champing his
+bit noisily; then at the same time he took a short gait, which was light
+and even, lifting well his feet and striking the sod with the regularity
+of a pendulum.
+
+"Cheri's catalogue had not lied; the horse was a good rider--too good a
+rider, in fact. I made him trot, then gallop; the horse at the first
+suggestion gave me an excellent little trot and an excellent little
+gallop, but always plunging to the ground and pulling my arms when I
+tried to lift his head. When I wished to quicken his gait, the horse
+broke at once. He began to rack in great style, trotting with the
+fore-feet and galloping with the hind ones. 'Well,' I said to myself, 'I
+see now; I've bought some old horse of the Saumur or Saint-Cyr school,
+and it's not on this beast that I'll hunt in eight days.'
+
+"I was about to turn and go home, quite edified as to Brutus's
+qualities, when the report of a gun was heard twenty yards away in the
+woods. It was one of my keepers who was shooting a rabbit, and who
+received some time after a handsome present from my wife for that shot.
+
+"I was then in the centre of the cross-roads, which formed a perfect
+circle of five or six yards in radius; six long green alleys came to an
+end at this spot. On hearing the report, Brutus had stopped short,
+planted himself on his four legs, with ears erect and head raised. I was
+surprised to find the horse so impressionable. I should have thought
+that after the brilliant education that very certainly he had received
+in his youth, Brutus must be an artillery horse, used to gun and cannon.
+I drew in my legs to urge the horse on, but Brutus didn't move; I
+spurred him sharply twice, but Brutus didn't move; I whipped him
+soundly, but Brutus didn't move. I tried to back the horse, to push him
+to the right, to the left, but I couldn't move him in the slightest
+degree. Brutus seemed glued to the ground, and yet--don't you dare to
+laugh, and be assured that my tale is absolutely true--each time that I
+attempted to put the horse in motion he turned his head and looked at
+me with an expression which could clearly be read as impatience and
+surprise; then he would again become as immovable as a statue. There was
+evidently some misunderstanding between the horse and myself. I saw that
+in his eyes, and Brutus said to me, with all the clearness he could put
+in his expression, 'I, as a horse, am doing my duty, and it's you, as a
+rider, who are not doing yours!'
+
+"I was more puzzled than embarrassed. 'What extraordinary kind of a
+horse have I bought at Cheri's,' I said to myself, 'and why does he look
+at me so queerly?' I was, however, going to take strong measures--that
+is to say, I was preparing to whip him smartly--when another report was
+heard.
+
+"Then the horse gave a jump. I thought I had the best of it, and,
+profiting by his bound, I tried to carry him forward with hand and knee.
+But no; he stopped short after his bound, and again planted himself on
+the ground more energetically and more resolutely than the first time.
+Ah, then I grew angry, and my whip came into play; I grasped it firmly
+and began to strike the horse with all my strength to the right and
+left. But Brutus, he too lost patience, and, instead of the cold and
+immovable opposition that at first he had shown, I met with furious
+retaliations, strange springs, bucking, extraordinary rearing,
+fantastic whirling; and in the midst of this battle, while the
+infatuated horse bounded and reared, while I, exasperated, struck with
+vigor the leather pommel with my broken whip, Brutus still found time to
+give me glances not only of surprise and impatience, but also of anger
+and indignation. While I was asking the horse for the obedience which he
+refused me, it is certain that he expected from me something that I was
+not doing.
+
+"How did it end? To my shame, to my great shame, I was pitifully
+unhorsed by an incomparable feat! Brutus understood, I think, that he
+would not get the better of me by violence, and judged it necessary to
+try cunning; after a pause which was most certainly a moment of
+reflection, the horse rose up, head down, upright on his fore-feet, with
+the skill, the calm, and the perfect equilibrium of a clown who walks on
+his hands. Thus I tumbled into the sand, which, by good-luck, was thick
+in that spot.
+
+"I tried to get up. I screamed and fell back ridiculously, flat on my
+stomach, on my nose. At the slightest movement I felt as though a knife
+ran through my left leg. It's a slight matter, however--the rupture of a
+slender sinew; but though slight, the injury was none the less painful.
+I succeeded, nevertheless, in turning over and sitting up; but just
+when, while rubbing my eyes, filled with sand, I was beginning to ask
+myself what in the midst of this tumult had become of my miserable
+dapple-gray, I saw over my head a large horse's hoof descending. Then
+this large hoof pressed, with a certain gentleness, however, on my
+chest, and pushed me delicately back on the ground, on my back this
+time.
+
+"I was greatly discouraged; and feeling incapable of another effort, I
+remained in that position, continuing to ask myself what sort of a horse
+I had bought at Cheri's, closing my eyes, and awaiting death.
+
+"Suddenly I heard a curious trampling around me; a quantity of little
+hard things struck me on the face. I opened my eyes, and perceived
+Brutus, who, with his fore-feet and hind-legs, was trying with
+incredible activity and prodigious skill to bury me in the sand. He was
+doing his best, poor beast, and from time to time he stopped to gaze at
+his work; then, raising his head, he neighed and began his work again.
+That lasted for a good three or four minutes, after which Brutus,
+judging me doubtless sufficiently interred, placed himself very
+respectfully on his knees before my tomb--on his knees, literally on his
+knees! He was saying, I suppose, a little prayer. I looked at him. It
+interested me extremely.
+
+"His prayer finished, Brutus made a slight bow, went off a few steps,
+stopped, then, beginning to gallop, made at least twenty times the
+circuit of the open space in the middle of which he had buried me.
+Brutus galloped very well, with even stride, head well held, on the
+right foot, making around me a perfect circle. I followed him with my
+eyes, but it made me uneasy to see him go round and round and round. I
+had the strength to cry 'Stop! stop!' The horse stopped and seemed
+embarrassed, without doubt asking himself what there was still to be
+done; but he perceived my hat, which in my fall had got separated from
+me, and at once made a new resolution: he walked straight to the hat,
+seized it in his teeth, and galloped off, this time by one of the six
+alleys that led from my tomb.
+
+"Brutus got farther and farther away, and disappeared; I remained alone.
+I was puzzled, positively puzzled. I shook off the little coating of
+dust which covered me, and without getting up, by the help of my two
+arms and right leg--to move my left leg was not to be thought of--I
+succeeded in dragging myself to a little grassy slope on the edge of one
+of the alleys. Once there, I could sit down, after a fashion, and I
+began to shout with all the strength of my lungs, 'Hi, there! hi! hi,
+there!' No answer. The woods were absolutely deserted and still. The
+only thing to be done was to wait till some one passed by to aid me.
+
+"For half an hour I had been in that hateful position when I perceived
+in the distance, at the very end of the same alley by which he had gone
+off, Brutus coming back, with the same long gallop he had used in going.
+A great cloud of dust accompanied the horse. Little by little, in that
+cloud, I perceived a tiny carriage--a pony-carriage; then in that little
+pony-carriage a woman, who drove herself, and behind the woman a small
+groom.
+
+"A few moments later Brutus, covered with foam, stopped before me, let
+my hat drop at my feet and neighed, as though to say, 'I've done my
+duty; here is help.' But I no longer bothered myself about Brutus and
+the explanations that he made me. My only thoughts were for the fairy
+who was to relieve me, and who, after lightly jumping from her little
+carriage, was coming quickly towards me. Besides, she, too, was
+examining me curiously, and all at once we both exclaimed, at the same
+time:
+
+"'Mme. de Noriolis!'
+
+"'M. de La Roche-Targe!'
+
+"A little while ago George spoke to us of his aunt, and mentioned how
+she had married him quite young, at one stroke, without giving him time
+to reflect or breathe. I, too, have an aunt, and between us for a number
+of years there has been a perpetual battle. 'Marry.' 'I don't want to
+marry.' 'Do you want young girls? There is Mademoiselle A, Mademoiselle
+B, Mademoiselle C.' 'I don't want to marry.' 'Do you want widows? There
+is Madame D, Madame E, Madame F.' 'I don't want to marry.'
+
+"Mme. de Noriolis figured always in the first rank in the series of
+widows, and I noticed that my aunt put stress, with evident favoritism,
+on all the good points and advantages that I should find in that
+marriage. She didn't have to tell me that Mme. de Noriolis was very
+pretty--any one could see that; or that she was very rich--I knew it
+already. But she explained to me that M. de Noriolis was an idiot, who
+had had the merit of making his wife perfectly miserable, and that thus
+it would be very easy for the second husband to make himself very much
+loved.
+
+"Then, when she had discoursed at length on the virtues, graces, and
+merits of Mme. de Noriolis, my aunt, who is clever and knows my
+weakness, pulled out of her desk a topographical map, and spread it out
+with care on the table.
+
+"It was the map of the district of Chatellerault, a very correct and
+minute map, that my aunt had gone herself to the military station to
+buy, with the view of convincing me that I ought to marry Mme. de
+Noriolis. The places of Noriolis and of La Roche-Targe were scarcely
+three kilometers apart in that map. My aunt, with her own hands, had
+drawn a line of red ink, and slily united the two places, and she forced
+me to look at her little red line, saying to me, 'Two thousand acres
+without a break, when the places of Noriolis and La Roche-Targe are
+united; what a chance for a hunter!'
+
+"I closed my eyes, so strong was the temptation, and repeated my
+refrain, 'I don't want to marry.' But I was afraid, seriously afraid;
+and when I met Mme. de Noriolis I always saw her surrounded, as by a
+halo, by the little red line of my aunt, and I said to myself: 'A
+charming, and clever, and sensible woman, whose first husband was an
+idiot, and this and that, and two thousand acres without a break. Run
+away, wretch, run away, since you don't wish to marry.'
+
+"And I ran away! But this time by what means could I run away? I was
+there, miserable, in the grass, covered with sand, with my hair in
+disorder, my clothes in rags, and my unfortunate leg stiff. And Mme. de
+Noriolis came nearer, looking spick and span--always in the halo of the
+little red line--and said to me:
+
+"'You, M. de La Roche-Targe, is it you? What are you doing there? What
+has happened to you?'
+
+"I frankly confessed my fall.
+
+"'At least you are not wounded?'
+
+"'No, no, I'm not wounded. I've something the matter with that leg; but
+it's nothing serious, I know.'
+
+"'And what horse played you that trick?'
+
+"'Why, this one.'
+
+"And I pointed out Brutus to Mme. de Noriolis. Brutus was there, quite
+near us, untied, peacefully crunching little tufts of broom.
+
+"'What, that one, that brave horse? Oh, he has well made up for his
+faults, I assure you. I will tell you about it, but later on. You must
+first get home, and at once.'
+
+"'I can't walk a step.'
+
+"'But I am going to take you back myself, at the risk of compromising
+you.'
+
+"And she called Bob, her little groom, and taking me gently by the arm,
+while Bob took me by the other, she made me get into her carriage; five
+minutes later we were bowling off, both of us, in the direction of La
+Roche-Targe: she, holding the reins and driving the pony with a light
+hand; I, looking at her, feeling troubled, confused, embarrassed,
+ridiculous, and stupid. We were alone in the carriage. Bob was
+commissioned to bring Brutus, who, very docile, had allowed himself to
+be taken.
+
+"'Lie down,' Mme. de Noriolis said to me; 'keep your leg straight; I am
+going to drive you slowly so as to avoid bumps.'
+
+"In short, she made a lot of little amiable and pleasant remarks; then,
+when she saw me well settled, she said:
+
+"'Tell me how you came to fall, and then I will tell you how I happened
+to come to your aid. It seems to me this horse story must be queer.'
+
+"I began my tale; but as soon as I spoke of Brutus's efforts to unhorse
+me, and the two reports of the gun, she exclaimed:
+
+"'I understand, I understand. You have bought a circus charger.'
+
+"'A circus charger!'
+
+"'Why, yes; that's it, and that explains everything. You have seen
+twenty times at the Circus of the Empress the performance of the circus
+charger--the light-cavalryman who enters the arena on a gray horse, then
+the Arabs come and shoot at the cavalryman, who is wounded and falls;
+and as you didn't fall, the horse, indignant and not understanding how
+you could so far forget your part, threw you on the ground. And when
+you were on the ground, what did the horse do?'
+
+"I related Brutus's little work in burying me suitably.
+
+"'The circus charger,' she continued; 'still the circus charger. He sees
+his master wounded, the Arabs could come back and finish him, and so
+what does the horse do? He buries the cavalryman. Then goes off
+galloping, didn't he?'
+
+"'Yes, on a hard gallop,'
+
+"'Carrying the flag, which is not to fall into the hands of the Arabs.'
+
+"'It's my hat that he took.'
+
+"'He took what he could. And where does the circus charger gallop to?'
+
+"'Ah! I know, I know,' I exclaimed, in my turn, 'he goes to get the
+sutler.'
+
+"'Precisely. He goes to get the sutler; and the sutler to-day, if you
+please, is I, Countess of Noriolis. Your big gray horse galloped into my
+grounds. I was standing on the porch, putting on my gloves and ready to
+step into my carriage, when the stablemen came running, upon seeing that
+horse arrive saddled and bridled, without a rider, and a hat in his
+mouth. They tried to catch him, but he shunned them and escaped, and
+came straight to the porch, falling on his knees before me. The men
+approached, and once more tried to catch him; but he got up, galloped
+away, stopped by the gate of the grounds, turned around, and looked at
+me. He called to me--I assure you, he called to me. I told the men not
+to bother about the horse any more. Then I jumped into my carriage and
+started; the horse rushed into the woods; post-haste I followed him by
+paths that were not always intended for carriages; but still I followed
+him, and I arrived and found you.'
+
+"At the moment Mme. de Noriolis was speaking those last words the
+carriage received a tremendous shock from behind; then we saw in the air
+Brutus's head, which was held there upright as though by a miracle. For
+it was again Brutus. Mounted by Bob, he had followed the carriage for
+several minutes, and seeing that the back seat of the little
+pony-carriage was unoccupied, he had, like a true artist, cleverly
+seized the moment to give us a new proof of his talent in executing the
+most brilliant of his former performances. In one jump he had placed his
+fore-feet on the carriage, then, that done, he quietly continued
+trotting on his two hind-legs. Bob, distracted, with his body thrown
+over and his head thrown back, was making vain attempts to put the horse
+back on his four legs.
+
+"As to Mme. de Noriolis, she was so well frightened, that, letting the
+reins drop from her hands, she had simply thrown herself in my arms. Her
+adorable little head had rolled hap-hazard on my shoulder, and my lips
+just touched her hair. With my left hand I tried to recover the reins,
+with my right I supported Mme. de Noriolis; my leg hurt me frightfully,
+and I was seized with a queer feeling of confusion.
+
+"It was thus that Mme. de Noriolis made her first entry into La
+Roche-Targe.
+
+"When she returned there, one evening at midnight, six weeks later,
+having during the day become Mme. de La Roche-Targe, she said:
+
+"'What is life, after all? Nothing like this would have happened if you
+hadn't bought the circus charger.'"
+
+
+
+
+BLACKY
+
+
+"Don't be alarmed, sir; you won't miss the train. For the last fifteen
+years I've been carrying travellers to the station, and I've never yet
+missed a train! Think of that, sir; never!"
+
+"But--"
+
+"Oh, don't look at your watch. There is one thing you don't know and
+that you must learn, and that your watch will never be able to tell
+you--that is, that the train is always a quarter of an hour late. Such a
+thing as the train's being on time has never happened."
+
+Such a thing happened that day, however, for the train was on time, and
+so I missed it. My driver was furious.
+
+"You should warn us," he said to the station-master, "if your trains are
+suddenly going to start at the right hour. Who ever saw the like!"
+
+And he turned to one or two of the porters for witnesses.
+
+"Did you ever see such a thing? I don't wish to appear blamable before
+the gentleman. A train on time--on time! You know it's the first time
+it has ever happened."
+
+There was a general cry of "Yes, indeed; usually there's some delay."
+But, for all that, I had none the less three long hours to pass in a
+very desolate village (in the Canton of Vaud) shut in by two sad-looking
+mountains, which had their little topknots covered with snow.
+
+But how kill three hours? In my turn I now asked advice, and again there
+was a chorus of "Go see the Caldron; that's the only sight to be seen in
+this part of the country." "And where is this Caldron?" On the mountain,
+to the right, half way up; but the path was a little complicated, and I
+was advised to take a guide; and there, over there in that white cottage
+with green blinds, I would find the best guide there was about here, an
+honest man--Old Simon.
+
+So I went and knocked at the door of the little house.
+
+An old woman opened it.
+
+"Simon, the guide?"
+
+"Yes, right here; but--if it's to go to the Caldron--"
+
+"It is to go to the Caldron."
+
+"Well, Simon hasn't been very well since morning; he hasn't much
+strength, and he can't go out. But don't worry yourself; there is some
+one who can replace him--there is Blacky."
+
+"All right, let it be Blacky, then."
+
+"Only I must tell you that Blacky isn't a person."
+
+"Not a person?"
+
+"No, he's our dog."
+
+"A dog? What do you mean?"
+
+"Yes, Blacky; and he will guide you very well--quite as well as my
+husband. He is in the habit of--"
+
+"In the habit?"
+
+"Certainly; for years and years Simon took him along, so he learned the
+different places, and now he does very well all by himself. He has often
+taken travellers, and we have always been complimented about him. As for
+intelligence, don't be afraid--he has as much as you or I. He needs only
+speech, but speech isn't required. If it was to show a monument,
+now--why, yes, for then it would be necessary to give some account and
+know the historical dates; but here there are only the beauties of
+nature. Take Blacky, and it will be cheaper also; my husband would cost
+three francs, whereas Blacky is only thirty sous, and he will show you
+as much for thirty sous as my husband would for three francs."
+
+"Very well; and where is Blacky?"
+
+"He is resting in the sun, in the garden. Already this morning he has
+taken some English people to the Caldron. Shall I call him?"
+
+"Yes, call him."
+
+"Blacky! Blacky!"
+
+He came with a leap through the window. He was a rather ugly-looking
+little dog, with long frizzy hair, all mussed; he wasn't much to look
+at, but he had, however, about him a certain air of gravity, resolution,
+and importance. His first glance was at me--a clear, searching,
+confident look that took me in from head to toe, and that seemed to say,
+"It's a traveller, and he wants to see the Caldron."
+
+One train missed sufficed me for that day, and I was particularly
+anxious not to lay myself open to another such experience, so I
+explained to the good woman that I had only three hours for my visit to
+the Caldron.
+
+"Oh, I know," she said; "you wish to take the four-o'clock train. Don't
+be alarmed; Blacky will bring you back in time. Now then, Blacky, off
+with you; hurry up!"
+
+But Blacky didn't seem at all disposed to mind. He stayed there
+motionless, looking at his mistress with a certain uneasiness.
+
+"Ah, how stupid of me!" said the old woman. "I forgot the sugar;" and
+she went to get four pieces of sugar from a drawer, and gave them to me,
+saying: "That's why he wouldn't start; you had no sugar. You see,
+Blacky, the gentleman has the sugar. Now then, run along with you, sir,
+to the Caldron! to the Caldron! to the Caldron!"
+
+She repeated these last words three times, slowly and distinctly, and
+during that time I was closely examining Blacky. He acknowledged the
+words of his mistress with little movements of the head, which rapidly
+became more emphatic, and towards the end he evinced some temper and
+impatience. They could be interpreted thus: "Yes, yes, to the Caldron--I
+understand. The gentleman has the pieces of sugar, and we are going to
+the Caldron--it's settled. Do you take me for a fool?"
+
+And, without waiting for Mme. Simon's third "To the Caldron!" Blacky,
+evidently hurt, turned tail, came and placed himself in front of me, and
+by his look showed me the door, which told me as plainly as a dog can
+tell, "Now then, come along, you!"
+
+I meekly followed him. We two started, he in front, I behind. In this
+manner we went through the entire village. The children who were playing
+in the street recognized my guide.
+
+"Hello, Blacky! good-morning, Blacky!" They wanted to play with the
+dog, but he turned his head with a disdainful air--the air of a dog who
+hasn't the time to answer himself, and who is doing his duty and earning
+thirty sous. One of the children exclaimed:
+
+"Leave him alone; don't you see he is taking the gentleman to the
+Caldron? Good-day, sir!"
+
+And all repeated, laughing, "Good-day, sir!"
+
+I smiled rather awkwardly; I am sure I felt embarrassed, even a little
+humiliated. I was, in fact, under the lead of that animal. He, for the
+present, was my master. He knew where he was going; I did not. I was in
+a hurry to get out of the village and find myself alone with Blacky and
+face to face with the beauties of nature that he had been commissioned
+to show me.
+
+These beauties of nature were, at the beginning, a fearfully hot and
+dusty road, on which the sun fell with full force. The dog walked with a
+brisk step, and I was getting tired following him. I tried to slacken
+his gait. "Come, I say, Blacky, my friend, not so quickly." But Blacky
+turned a deaf ear, and continued, without listening to me, his little
+trot. He was taken suddenly with a real fit of anger when I wished to
+sit down in the corner of a field, under a tree that gave a meagre
+shade. He barked furiously, and cast on me outraged looks; evidently
+what I was doing was against the rule. He was not in the habit of
+stopping there, and his barks were so piercing and annoying that I rose
+to continue on my way. Blacky became calm at once, and walked placidly
+in front of me--I had understood him, and he was satisfied.
+
+Shortly afterwards we entered a delightful path, in full blossom, shady,
+sweet-smelling, and filled with freshness and the murmur of springs.
+Blacky immediately entered the wood, took to his heels, and disappeared
+in the little footway. I followed, slightly out of breath, and had not
+gone a hundred steps when I found Blacky waiting for me, with head erect
+and bright eyes, in a clearing enlivened by the tinkle of a tiny
+cascade. There was there an old rustic bench, and Blacky looked
+impatiently from me to the seat and from the seat to me. I was beginning
+to understand Blacky's language.
+
+"There now," he said to me, "here is indeed a place to rest in. It's
+nice and cool here; but you were so stupid, you wanted to stop in the
+sun. Come on, now; sit down; you really can sit down. I will allow you."
+
+I stopped, sat down, and lit a cigar, and came near offering one to
+Blacky; perhaps he smoked. But I thought he would prefer a piece of
+sugar. He caught it on the fly very cleverly, and crunched it with
+enjoyment. Then he lay down and took a nap at my feet. He was evidently
+accustomed to a little siesta at this place.
+
+He slept barely ten minutes I was, however, perfectly easy, for Blacky
+began to inspire me with absolute confidence, and I was determined to
+obey him blindly. He got up, stretched himself, and threw me a glance
+that meant, "Come along, my friend, come along." And, like two old
+friends, we set off slowly. Blacky was enjoying the silence and the
+sweetness of the place. On the road, previously, being in a hurry, he
+had walked with an abrupt, sturdy, hurried step--he was walking to get
+there; but now, refreshed and revived, Blacky was walking for the
+pleasure of a promenade in one of the prettiest paths in the Canton of
+Vaud.
+
+Presently a side path appeared, leading off to the left; there was a
+short hesitation on the part of Blacky, who reflected, and then passed
+it, continuing on his way straight ahead, but not without some doubt and
+uncertainty in his manner. Then he stopped; he must have made some
+mistake. Yes; for he retraced his steps, and we took the turning to the
+left, which, at the end of a hundred feet, led into an open circular
+space, and Blacky, with his nose in the air, invited me to contemplate
+the highly respectable height of the lofty rocks which formed this
+circle. When Blacky thought I had seen sufficient, he turned around, and
+we went on again in the path through the woods. Blacky had forgotten to
+show me the circle of rocks--a slight error quickly repaired.
+
+The road soon became very mountainous, broken, and difficult, and I
+advanced slowly and with many precautions. As to Blacky, he sprang
+lightly from rock to rock, but did not forsake me. He waited and fixed
+his eyes on me with the most touching solicitude. At last I began to
+hear a rushing of water; Blacky commenced barking joyously.
+
+"Courage!" he said to me; "courage! We are nearly there; you will soon
+see the Caldron."
+
+It was in truth the Caldron. From a short height a modest stream fell,
+splashing and rebounding on a large rock slightly hollowed. I should
+never have been consoled for such a steep climb to see such a small
+sight if I had not had brave little Blacky for a companion. He, at
+least, was much more interesting and marvellous than the Caldron. On
+either side of the fall, in little Swiss chalets, were two dairy-maids;
+one was a blonde and the other a brunette; both were in their national
+dress, and were eagerly on the lookout for my coming, standing on the
+door-steps of their tiny houses--little wooden boxes, seemingly cut out
+by machine.
+
+It seemed to me that the blonde had very pretty eyes, and I had already
+taken several steps towards her when Blacky began to bark emphatically,
+and resolutely barred the way. Could he have a preference for the dark
+one? I walked in the other direction. That was it; Blacky calmed down as
+though by enchantment when he saw me seated at a table in front of the
+house of his young protegee. I asked for a cup of milk; Blacky's friend
+entered her little toy house, and Blacky slipped in at her feet. Through
+a half-open window I followed him with my eyes. The wretch! He was
+waited upon before I was. He it was who first had his large bowl of
+milk. He had sold himself! After which, with white drops on his
+mustache, Blacky came to keep me company and look at me drink my milk. I
+gave him a piece of sugar, and both of us, absolutely satisfied with
+each other, filled our lungs with the sharp air of the mountain. We were
+at a height of about three or four hundred yards. It was a delightful
+half-hour.
+
+Blacky began to show signs of impatience and agitation. I could read him
+then like a book. It was time to go. I paid, got up, and while I went
+off to the right towards the path by which we came to the mountain, I
+saw Blacky go and plant himself on the left, at the opening of another
+path. He gave me a serious and severe look. What progress I had made
+during the last two hours, and how familiar Blacky's eloquent silence
+had become!
+
+"What must you think of me?" said Blacky to me. "Do you imagine I am
+going to take the same path twice? No, indeed. I am a good guide, and I
+know my business. We shall make the descent another way."
+
+We went back by another road, which was much prettier than the first.
+Blacky, quite sprightly, often turned around to me with an air of
+triumphant joy. We traversed the village, and at the station Blacky was
+assailed by three or four dogs of his acquaintance, who seemed desirous
+of a talk or game with their comrade. They attempted to block his way,
+but Blacky, grumbling and growling, repulsed their advances.
+
+"Can't you see what I am doing? I am taking this gentleman to the
+station."
+
+It was only in the waiting-room that he consented to leave me, after
+having eaten with relish the two last pieces of sugar. And this is how I
+interpreted the farewell look of Blacky:
+
+"We are twenty minutes ahead of time. It isn't I who would have let you
+lose the train. Well, good-bye--pleasant journey!"
+
+
+
+
+THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMAN IN PARIS
+
+
+On Friday, April 19th, Prince Agenor was really distracted at the opera
+during the second act of "Sigurd." The prince kept going from box to
+box, and his enthusiasm increased as he went.
+
+"That blonde! Oh, that blonde! She is ideal! Look at that blonde! Do you
+know that blonde?"
+
+It was from the front part of Mme. de Marizy's large first tier box that
+all these exclamations were coming at that moment.
+
+"Which blonde?" asked Mme. de Marizy.
+
+"Which blonde! Why, there is but one this evening in the house. Opposite
+to you, over there, in the first box, the Sainte Mesme's box. Look,
+baroness, look straight over there--"
+
+"Yes I am looking at her. She is atrociously got up, but pretty--"
+
+"Pretty! She is a wonder! Simply a wonder! Got up? Yes, agreed--some
+country relative. The Sainte Mesmes have cousins in Perigord. But what a
+smile! How well her neck is set on! And the slope of the shoulders! Ah,
+especially the shoulders!"
+
+"Come, either keep still or go away. Let me listen to Mme. Caron--"
+
+The prince went away, as no one knew that incomparable blonde. Yet she
+had often been to the opera, but in an unpretentious way--in the second
+tier of boxes. And to Prince Agenor above the first tier of boxes there
+was nothing, absolutely nothing. There was emptiness--space. The prince
+had never been in a second-tier box, so the second-tier boxes did not
+exist.
+
+While Mme. Caron was marvellously singing the marvellous phrase of
+Reyer, "_O mon sauveur silencieux la Valkyrie est ta conquete_," the
+prince strolled along the passages of the opera. Who was that blonde? He
+wanted to know, and he would know.
+
+And suddenly he remembered that good Mme. Picard was the box-opener of
+the Sainte Mesmes, and that he, Prince of Nerins, had had the honor of
+being for a long time a friend of that good Mme. Picard. It was she who
+in the last years of the Second Empire had taught him bezique in all its
+varieties--Japanese, Chinese, etc. He was then twenty, Mme. Picard was
+forty. She was not then box-opener of the National Academy of Music; she
+had in those times as office--and it was not a sinecure--the position of
+aunt to a nice young person who showed a very pretty face and a very
+pretty pair of legs in the chorus of the _revues_ of the Varietee. And
+the prince, while quite young, at the beginning of his life, had, for
+three or four years, led a peaceful, almost domestic life, with the aunt
+and niece. Then they went off one way and he another.
+
+One evening at the opera, ten years later, in handing his overcoat to a
+venerable-looking old dame, Agenor heard himself saluted by the
+following little speech:
+
+"Ah, how happy I am to see you again, prince! And not changed--not at
+all changed. Still the same, absolutely the same--still twenty."
+
+It was Mme. Picard, who had been raised to the dignity of box-opener.
+They chatted, talked of old times, and after that evening the prince
+never passed Mme. Picard without greeting her. She responded with a
+little deferential courtesy. She was one of those people, becoming rarer
+and rarer nowadays, who have the exact feeling for distances and
+conventions. There was, however, a little remnant of familiarity, almost
+of affection, in the way in which she said "prince." This did not
+displease Agenor; he had a very good recollection of Mme. Picard.
+
+"Ah, prince," said Mme. Picard on seeing Agenor, "there is no one for
+you to-night in _my_ boxes. Mme. de Simiane is not here, and Mme. de
+Sainte Mesme has rented her box."
+
+"That's precisely it. Don't you know the people in Mme. de Sainte
+Mesme's box?"
+
+"Not at all, prince. It's the first time I have seen them in the
+marquise's box--"
+
+"Then you have no idea--"
+
+"None, prince. Only to me they don't appear to be people of--"
+
+She was going to say of _our_ set. A box-opener of the first tier of
+boxes at the opera, having generally only to do with absolutely
+high-born people, considers herself as being a little of their set, and
+shows extreme disdain for unimportant people; it displeases her to
+receive these unimportant people in _her_ boxes. Mme. Picard, however,
+had tact which rarely forsook her, and so stopped herself in time to
+say:
+
+"People of _your_ set. They belong to the middle class, to the wealthy
+middle class; but still the middle class. That doesn't satisfy you; you
+wish to know more on account of the blonde. Is it not so, prince?"
+
+Those last words were spoken with rare delicacy; they were murmured more
+than spoken--box-opener to a prince! It would have been unacceptable
+without that perfect reserve in accent and tone; yes, it was a
+box-opener who spoke, but a box-opener who was a little bit the aunt of
+former times, the aunt _a la mode de Cythere_. Mme. Picard continued:
+
+"Ah, she is a beauty! She came with a little dark man--her husband, I'm
+sure; for while she was taking off her cloak--it always takes some
+time--he didn't say a word to her. No eagerness, no little attentions.
+Yes, he could only be a husband. I examined the cloak. People one
+doesn't know puzzle me and _my_ colleague. Mme. Flachet and I always
+amuse ourselves by trying to guess from appearances. Well, the cloak
+comes from a good dress-maker, but not from a great one. It is fine and
+well-made, but it has no style. I think they are middle-class people,
+prince. But how stupid I am! You know M. Palmer--well, a little while
+ago he came to see the beautiful blonde!"
+
+"M. Palmer?"
+
+"Yes, and he can tell you."
+
+"Thanks, Mme. Picard, thanks--"
+
+"Good-bye, prince, good-bye," and Mme. Picard went back to her stool,
+near her colleague, Mme. Flachet, and said to her:
+
+"Ah, my dear, what a charming man the prince is! True gentlefolks, there
+is nothing like them! But they are dying out, they are dying out; there
+are many less than formerly."
+
+Prince Agenor was willing to do Palmer--big Palmer, rich Palmer, vain
+Palmer--the honor of being one of his friends; he deigned, and very
+frequently, to confide to Palmer his financial difficulties, and the
+banker was delighted to come to his aid. The prince had been obliged to
+resign himself to becoming a member of two boards of directors presided
+over by Palmer, who was much pleased at having under obligations to him
+the representative of one of the noblest families in France. Besides,
+the prince proved himself to be a _good prince_, and publicly
+acknowledged Palmer, showing himself in his box, taking charge of his
+entertainments, and occupying himself with his racing-stable. He had
+even pushed his gratitude to the point of compromising Mme. Palmer in
+the most showy way.
+
+"I am removing her from the middle class," he said; "I owe it to Palmer,
+who is one of the best fellows in the world."
+
+The prince found the banker alone in a lower box.
+
+"What is the name--the name of that blonde in the Sainte Mesme's box?"
+
+"Mme. Derline."
+
+"Is there a M. Derline?"
+
+"Certainly, a lawyer--my lawyer; the Sainte Mesme's lawyer. And if you
+want to see Mme. Derline close to, come to my ball next Thursday. She
+will be there--"
+
+The wife of a lawyer!. She was only the wife of a lawyer! The prince sat
+down in the front of the box, opposite Mme. Derline, and while looking
+at that lawyeress he was thinking. "Have I," he said to himself,
+"sufficient credit, sufficient power, to make of Mme. Derline the most
+beautiful woman in Paris?"
+
+For there was always a _most beautiful woman in Paris_, and it was he,
+Prince Agenor, who flattered himself that he could discover, proclaim,
+crown, and consecrate that most beautiful woman in Paris. Launch Mme.
+Derline in society! Why not? He had never launched any one from the
+middle class. The enterprise would be new, amusing, and bold. He looked
+at Mme. Derline through his opera-glass, and discovered thousands of
+beauties and perfections in her delightful face.
+
+After the opera, the prince, during the exit, placed himself at the
+bottom of the great staircase. He had enlisted two of his friends.
+"Come," he had said to them, "I will show you the most beautiful woman
+in Paris." While he was speaking, two steps away from the prince was an
+alert young man who was attached to a morning paper, a very widely-read
+paper. The young man had sharp ears, he caught on the fly the phrase of
+the Prince Agenor, whose high social position he knew; he succeeded in
+keeping close to the prince, and when Mme. Derline passed, the young
+reporter had the gift of hearing the conversation, without losing a
+word, of the three brilliant noblemen. A quarter of an hour later he
+arrived at the office of the paper.
+
+"Is there time," he asked, "to write a dozen lines in the _Society
+Note-book_?"
+
+"Yes, but hurry."
+
+The young man was a quick writer; the fifteen lines were done in the
+twinkling of an eye. They brought seven francs fifty to the reporter,
+but cost M. Derline a little more than that.
+
+During this time Prince Agenor, seated in the club at the whist-table,
+was saying, while shuffling the cards:
+
+"This evening at the opera there was a marvellous woman, a certain Mme.
+Derline. She is the most beautiful woman in Paris!"
+
+The following morning, in the gossip-corner of the Bois, in the spring
+sunshine, the prince, surrounded by a little group of respectful
+disciples, was solemnly delivering from the back of his roan mare the
+following opinion:
+
+"Listen well to what I say. The most beautiful woman in Paris is a
+certain Mme. Derline. This star will be visible Thursday evening at the
+Palmer's. Go, and don't forget the name--Mme. Derline."
+
+The disciples dispersed, and went abroad spreading the great news.
+
+Mme. Derline had been admirably brought up by an irreproachable mother;
+she had been taught that she ought to get up in the morning, keep a
+strict account of her expenses, not go to a great dress-maker, believe
+in God, love her husband, visit the poor, and never spend but half her
+income in order to prepare dowries for her daughters. Mme. Derline
+performed all these duties. She led a peaceful and serene life in the
+old house (in the Rue Dragon) which had sheltered, since 1825, three
+generations of Derlines; the husbands had all three been lawyers, the
+wives had all three been virtuous. The three generations had passed
+there a happy and moderate life, never having any great pleasures, but,
+also, never being very bored.
+
+The next day at eight o'clock in the morning Mme. Derline awoke with an
+uneasy feeling. She had passed a troubled night--she, who usually slept
+like a child. The evening before at the opera, in the box, Mme. Derline
+had vaguely felt that something was going on around her. And during the
+entire last act an opera-glass, obstinately fixed on her--the prince's
+opera-glass--had thrown her into a certain agitation, not disagreeable,
+however. She wore a low dress--too much so, in her mother's opinion--and
+two or three times, under the fixity of that opera-glass, she had raised
+the shoulder-straps of her dress.
+
+So, after opening her eyes, Mme. Derline reclosed them lazily,
+indolently, with thoughts floating between dreamland and reality. She
+again saw the opera-house, and a hundred, two hundred, five hundred
+opera-glasses obstinately fixed on her--on her alone.
+
+The maid entered, placed a tray on a little table, made up a big fire in
+the fire-place, and went away. There was a cup of chocolate and the
+morning paper on the tray, the same as every morning. Then Mme. Derline
+courageously got up, slipped her little bare feet into fur slippers,
+wrapped herself in a white cashmere dressing-gown, and crouched
+shivering in an arm-chair by the fire. She sipped the chocolate, and
+slightly burned herself; she must wait a little while. She put down the
+cup, took up the paper, unfolded it, and rapidly ran her eye over the
+six columns of the front page. At the bottom, quite at the bottom of the
+sixth column, were the following lines:
+
+    _Last evening at the opera there was a very brilliant performance of
+    "Sigurd." Society was well represented there; the beautiful Duchess
+    of Montaiglon, the pretty Countess Verdiniere of Lardac, the
+    marvellous Marquise of Muriel, the lively Baroness  of_--
+
+To read the name of the baroness it was necessary to turn the page. Mme.
+Derline did not turn it; she was thinking, reflecting. The evening
+before she had amused herself by having Palmer point out to her the
+social leaders in the house, and it so happened that the banker had
+pointed out to her the marvellous marquise. And Mme. Derline--who was
+twenty-two--raised herself a little to look in the glass. She exchanged
+a slight smile with a young blonde, who was very pink and white.
+
+"Ah," she said to herself, "if I were a marquise the man who wrote this
+would perhaps have paid some attention to me, and my name would perhaps
+be there. I wonder if it's fun to see one's name printed in a paper?"
+
+And while addressing this question to herself, she turned the page, and
+continued reading:
+
+    --_the lively Baroness of Myrvoix, etc. We have to announce the
+    appearance of a new star which has abruptly burst forth in the
+    Parisian constellation. The house was in ecstasy over a strange and
+    disturbing blonde, whose dark steel eyes, and whose shoulders--ah,
+    what shoulders! The shoulders were the event of the evening. From
+    all quarters one heard asked, "Who is she?" "Who is she?" "To whom
+    do those divine shoulders belong?" "To whom?" We know, and our
+    readers will doubtless thank us for telling them the name of this
+    ideal wonder. It is Mme. Derline._
+
+Her name! She had read her name! She was dazzled. Her eyes clouded. All
+the letters in the alphabet began to dance wildly on the paper. Then
+they calmed down, stopped, and regained their places. She was able to
+find her name, and continue reading;
+
+    _It is Mme. Derline, the wife of one of the most agreeable and
+    richest lawyers in Paris. The Prince of Nerins, whose word has so
+    much weight in such matters, said yesterday evening to every one who
+    would listen, "She is the most beautiful woman in Paris." We are
+    absolutely of that opinion._
+
+A single paragraph, and that was all. It was enough, it was too much!
+Mme Derline was seized with a feeling of undefinable confusion. It was
+a combination of fear and pleasure, of joy and trouble, of satisfied
+vanity and wounded modesty. Her dressing-gown was a little open; she
+folded it over with a sort of violence, and crossed it upon, her feet,
+abruptly drawn back towards the arm-chair. She had a feeling of nudity.
+It seemed to her that all Paris was there, in her room, and that the
+Prince de Nerins was in front saying to all Paris, "Look, look! She is
+the most beautiful woman in Paris."
+
+The Prince of Nerins! She knew the name well, for she read with keen
+interest in the papers all the articles entitled "_Parisian Life_,"
+"_High Life_," "_Society Echoes_," etc.; and all the society columns
+signed "_Mousseline_," "_Fanfreluche_," "_Brimborion_," "_Veloutine_";
+all the accounts of great marriages, great balls, of great comings out,
+and of great charity sales. The name of the prince often figured in
+these articles, and he was always quoted as supreme arbiter of Parisian
+elegances.
+
+And it was he who had declared--ah!--decidedly pleasure got the better
+of fear. Still trembling with emotion, Mme. Derline went and placed
+herself before a long looking-glass, an old cheval-glass from Jacob's,
+which never till now had reflected other than good middle-class women
+married to good lawyers. In that glass she looked at herself, examined
+herself, studied herself, long, curiously, and eagerly. Of course she
+knew she was pretty, but oh, the power of print! She found herself
+absolutely delightful. She was no longer Mme. Derline--she was the most
+beautiful woman in Paris! Her feet, her little feet--their bareness no
+longer troubled her--left the ground. She raised herself gently towards
+the heavens, towards the clouds, and felt herself become a goddess.
+
+But suddenly an anxiety seized her. "Edward! What would Edward say?"
+Edward was her husband. There had been but one man's surname in her
+life--her husband's. The lawyer was well loved! And almost at the same
+moment when she was asking herself what Edward would say, Edward
+abruptly opened the door.
+
+He was a little out of breath. He had run up-stairs two at a time. He
+was peacefully rummaging among old papers in his study on the
+ground-floor when one of his brother-lawyers, with forced
+congratulations, however, had made him read the famous article. He had
+soon got rid of his brother-lawyer, and he had come, much irritated, to
+his room. At first there was simply a torrent of words.
+
+"Why do these journalists meddle? It's an outrage! Your name--look,
+there is your name in this paper!"
+
+"Yes, I know, I've seen--"
+
+"Ah, you know, you have seen--and you think it quite natural!"
+
+"But, dear--"
+
+"What times do we live in? It's your fault, too."
+
+"My fault!"
+
+"Yes, your fault!"
+
+"And how?"
+
+"Your dress last night was too low, much too low. Besides, your mother
+told you so--"
+
+"Oh, mamma--"
+
+"You needn't say 'Oh, mamma!' Your mother was right. There, read: 'And
+whose shoulders--ah, what shoulders!' And it is of your shoulders they
+are speaking. And that prince who dares to award you a prize for
+beauty!"
+
+The good man had plebeian, Gothical ideas--the ideas of a lawyer of old
+times, of a lawyer of the Rue Dragon; the lawyers of the Boulevard
+Malesherbes are no longer like that.
+
+Mme. Derline very gently, very quietly, brought the rebel back to
+reason. Of course there was charm and eloquence in her speech, but how
+much more charm and eloquence in the tenderness of her glance and smile.
+
+Why this great rage and despair? He was accused of being the husband of
+the most beautiful woman in Paris. Was that such a horrible thing, such
+a terrible misfortune? And who was the brother-lawyer, the good
+brother-lawyer, who had taken pleasure in coming to show him the hateful
+article?
+
+"M. Renaud."
+
+"Oh, it was M. Renaud--dear M. Renaud!"
+
+Thereupon Mme. Derline was seized with a hearty fit of laughter; so much
+so that the blond hair, which had been loosely done up, came down and
+framed the pretty face from which gleamed the dark eyes which could
+also, when they gave themselves the trouble, look very gentle, very
+caressing, very loving.
+
+"Oh, it was M. Renaud, the husband of that delightful Mme. Renaud! Well,
+do you know what you will do immediately, without losing a minute? Go to
+the president of the Tribunal and ask for a divorce. You will say to
+him: 'M. Aubepin, deliver me from my wife. Her crime is being pretty,
+very pretty, too pretty. I wish another one who is ugly, very ugly, who
+has Mme. Renaud's large nose, colossal foot, pointed chin, skinny
+shoulders, and eternal pimples.' That's what you want, isn't it? Come,
+you big stupid, kiss your poor wife, and forgive her for not being a
+monster."
+
+As rather lively gestures had illustrated this little speech, the white
+cashmere dressing-gown had slipped--slipped a good deal, and had opened,
+very much opened; the criminal shoulders were within reach of M.
+Derline's lips--he succumbed. Besides, he too felt the abominable
+influence of the press. His wife had never seemed so pretty to him, and,
+brought back to subjection, M. Derline returned to his study in order to
+make money for the most beautiful woman in Paris.
+
+A very wise and opportune occupation; for scarcely was Mme. Derline left
+alone when an idea flashed through her head which was to call forth a
+very pretty collection of bank-notes from the cash-box of the lawyer of
+the Rue Dragon. Mme. Derline had intended wearing to the Palmer's ball a
+dress which had already been much seen. Mme. Derline had kept the
+dress-maker of her wedding-dress, her mother's dress-maker, a
+dress-maker of the Left Bank. It seemed to her that her new position
+imposed new duties on her. She could not appear at the Palmer's without
+a dress which had not been seen, and stamped with a well-known name. She
+ordered the carriage in the afternoon, and resolutely gave her coachman
+the address of one of the most illustrious dress-makers in Paris. She
+arrived a little agitated, and to reach the great artist was obliged to
+pass through a veritable crowd of footmen, who were in the antechamber
+chatting and laughing, used to meeting there and making long stops.
+Nearly all the footmen were those of society, the highest society; they
+had spent the previous evening together at the English Embassy, and were
+to be that evening at the Duchess of Gremoille.
+
+Mme. Derline entered a sumptuous parlor; it was very sumptuous, too
+sumptuous. Twenty great customers were there--society women and
+actresses, all agitated, anxious, feverish--looking at the beautiful
+tall saleswomen come and go before them, wearing the last creations of
+the master of the house. The great artist had a diplomatic bearing:
+buttoned-up black frock-coat, long cravat with pin (a present from a
+royal highness who paid her bills slowly), and a many-colored rosette in
+his button-hole (the gift of a small reigning prince who paid slower yet
+the bills of an opera-dancer). He came and went--precise, calm, and
+cool--in the midst of the solicitations and supplications of his
+customers. "M. Arthur! M. Arthur!" One heard nothing but that phrase. He
+was M. Arthur. He went from one to the other--respectful, without too
+much humility, to the duchesses, and easy, without too much familiarity,
+to the actresses. There was an extraordinary liveliness, and a
+confusion of marvellous velvets, satins, and embroidered, brocaded, and
+gold or silver threaded stuffs, all thrown here and there, as though by
+accident--but what science in that accident--on arm-chairs, tables, and
+divans.
+
+In the first place Mme. Derline ran against a shop-girl who was bearing
+with outstretched arms a white dress, and was almost hidden beneath a
+light mountain of muslins and laces. The only thing visible was the
+shop-girl's mussed black hair and sly suburban expression. Mme. Derline
+backed away, wishing to place herself against the, wall; but a tryer-on
+was there, a large energetic brunette, who spoke authoritatively in a
+high staccato. "At once," she was saying--"bring me at once the
+princess's dress!"
+
+Frightened and dazed, Mme. Derline stood in a corner and watched an
+opportunity to seize a saleswoman on the fly. She even thought of giving
+up the game. Never, certainly, should she dare to address directly that
+terrible M. Arthur, who had just given her a rapid glance in which she
+believed to have read, "Who is she? She isn't properly dressed! She
+doesn't go to a fashionable dress-maker!" At last Mme. Derline succeeded
+in getting hold of a disengaged saleswoman, and there was the same
+slightly disdainful glance--a glance which was accompanied by the
+phrase:
+
+"Madame is not a regular customer of the house?"
+
+"No, I am not a customer--"
+
+"And you wish?"
+
+"A dress, a ball-dress--and I want the dress for next Thursday
+evening--"
+
+"Thursday next!"
+
+"Yes, Thursday next."
+
+"Oh! madame, it is not to be thought of. Even for a customer of the
+house it would be impossible."
+
+"But I wished it so much--"
+
+"Go and see M. Arthur. He alone can--"
+
+"And where is M. Arthur?"
+
+"In his office. He has just gone into his office. Over there, madame,
+opposite."
+
+Mme. Derline, through a half-open door, saw a sombre and severe but
+luxurious room--an ambassador's office. On the walls the great European
+powers were represented by photographs--the Empress Eugenie, the
+Princess of Wales, a grand-duchess of Russia, and an archduchess of
+Austria. M. Arthur was there taking a few moments' rest, seated in a
+large arm-chair, with an air of lassitude and exhaustion, and with a
+newspaper spread out over his knees. He arose on seeing Mme. Derline
+enter. In a trembling voice she repeated her wish.
+
+"Oh, madame, a ball-dress--a beautiful ball-dress--for Thursday! I
+couldn't make such a promise--I couldn't keep it. There are
+responsibilities to which I never expose myself."
+
+He spoke slowly, gravely, as a man conscious of his high position.
+
+"Oh, I am so disappointed. It was a particular occasion and I was told
+that you alone could--"
+
+Two tears, two little tears, glittered on her eye-lashes. M. Arthur was
+moved. A woman, a pretty woman, crying there, before him! Never had such
+homage been paid to his genius.
+
+"Well, madame, I am willing to make an attempt. A very simple dress--"
+
+"Oh no, not simple. Very brilliant, on the contrary--everything that is
+most brilliant. Two of my friends are customers of yours (she named
+them), and I am Mme. Derline--"
+
+"Mme. Derline! You are Mme. Derline?"
+
+The two _Mme. Derlines_ were followed by a glance and a smile--the
+glance was at the newspaper and the smile was at Mme. Derline; but it
+was a discreet, self-contained smile--the smile of a perfectly gallant
+man. This is what the glance and smile said with admirable clearness:
+
+"Ah I you are Mme. Derline--that already celebrated Mme. Derline--who
+yesterday at the opera--I understand, I understand--I was reading just
+now in this paper--words are no longer necessary--you should have told
+your name at once--yes, you need me; yes, you shall have your dress;
+yes, I want to divide your success with you."
+
+M. Arthur called:
+
+"Mademoiselle Blanche, come here at once! Mademoiselle Blanche!"
+
+And turning towards Mme. Derline, he said:
+
+"She has great talent, but I shall myself superintend it; so be
+easy--yes, I myself."
+
+Mme. Derline was a little confused, a little embarrassed by her glory,
+but happy nevertheless. Mademoiselle Blanche came forward.
+
+"Conduct madame," said M. Arthur, "and take the necessary measures for a
+ball-dress, very low, and with absolutely bare arms. During that time,
+madame, I am going to think seriously of what I can do for you. It must
+be something entirely new--ah! before going, permit me--"
+
+He walked very slowly around Mme. Derline, and examined her with
+profound attention; then he walked away, and considered her from a
+little distance. His face was serious, thoughtful, and anxious. A great
+thinker wrestling with a great problem. He passed his hand over his
+forehead, raised his eyes to the sky, getting inspiration by a painful
+delivery; but suddenly his face lit up--the spirit from above had
+answered.
+
+"Go, madame," he said, "go. Your dress is thought out. When you come
+back, mademoiselle, bring me that piece of pink satin; you know, the one
+that I was keeping for some great occasion."
+
+Thus Mme. Derline found herself with Mademoiselle Blanche in a trying-on
+room, which was a sort of little cabin lined with mirrors. A quarter of
+an hour later, when the measures had been taken, Mme. Derline came back
+and discovered M. Arthur in the midst of pieces of satin of all colors,
+of crepes, of tulles, of laces, and of brocaded stuffs.
+
+"No, no, not the pink satin," he said to Mademoiselle Blanche, who was
+bringing the asked-for piece; "no, I have found something better. Listen
+to me. This is what I wish: I have given up the pink, and I have decided
+on this, this peach-colored satin. A classic robe, outlining all the
+fine lines and showing the suppleness of the body. This robe must be
+very clinging--hardly any underskirts. It must be of surah. Madame must
+be melted into it--do you thoroughly understand?--absolutely melted
+into the robe. We will drop over the dress this crepe--yes, that one,
+but in small, light pleats. The crepe will be as a cloud thrown over the
+dress--a transparent, vapory, impalpable cloud. The arms are to be
+absolutely bare, as I already told you. On each shoulder there must be a
+simple knot, showing the upper part of the arm. Of what is the knot to
+be? I'm still undecided--I need to think it over--till to-morrow,
+madame, till to-morrow."
+
+Mme. Derline came back the next day, and the next, and every day till
+the day before the famous Thursday; and each time that she came back,
+while awaiting her turn to try on, she ordered dresses, very simple
+ones, but yet costing from seven to eight hundred francs each.
+
+And that was not all. On the day of her first visit to M. Arthur, when
+Mme. Derline came out of the great house, she was
+broken-hearted--positively broken-hearted--at the sight of her brougham;
+it really did make a pitiful appearance among all the stylish carriages
+which were waiting in three rows and taking up half the street. It was
+the brougham of her late mother-in-law, and it still rolled through the
+streets of Paris after fifteen years' service. Mme. Derline got into the
+woe-begone brougham to drive straight to a very well-known
+carriage-maker, and that evening, cleverly seizing the psychological
+moment, she explained to M. Derline that she had seen a certain little
+black coupe lined with blue satin that would frame delightfully her new
+dresses.
+
+The coupe was bought the next day by M. Derline, who also was beginning
+fully to realize the extent of his new duties. But the next day it was
+discovered that it was impossible to harness to that jewel of a coupe
+the old horse who had pulled the old carriage, and no less impossible to
+put on the box the old coachman who drove the old horse.
+
+This is how on Thursday, April 25th, at half-past ten in the evening, a
+very pretty chestnut mare, driven by a very correct English coachman,
+took M. and Mme. Derline to the Palmer's. They still lacked something--a
+little groom to sit beside the English coachman. But a certain amount of
+discretion had to be employed. The most beautiful woman in Paris
+intended to wait ten days before asking for the little groom.
+
+While she was going up-stairs at the Palmer's, she distinctly felt her
+heart beat like the strokes of a hammer. She was going to play a
+decisive game. She knew that the Palmers had been going everywhere,
+saying, "Come on Thursday; we will show you Mme. Derline, the most
+beautiful woman in Paris." Curiosity as well as jealousy had been well
+awakened.
+
+She entered, and from the first minute she had the delicious sensation
+of her success. Throughout the long gallery of the Palmer's house it was
+a true triumphal march. She advanced with firm and precise step, erect,
+and head well held. She appeared to see nothing, to hear nothing, but
+how well she saw! how well she felt, the fire of all those eyes on her
+shoulders! Around her arose a little murmur of admiration, and never had
+music been sweeter to her.
+
+Yes, decidedly, all went well. She was on a fair way to conquer Paris.
+And, sure of herself, at each step she became more confident, lighter,
+and bolder, as she advanced on Palmer's arm, who, in passing, pointed
+out the counts, the marquises, and the dukes. And then Palmer suddenly
+said to her:
+
+"I want to present to you one of your greatest admirers, who, the other
+night at the opera, spoke of nothing but your beauty; he is the Prince
+of Nerins."
+
+She became as red as a cherry. Palmer looked at her and began to laugh.
+
+"Ah, you read the other day in that paper?"
+
+"I read--yes, I read--"
+
+"But where is the prince, where is he? I saw him during the day, and he
+was to be here early."
+
+Mme. Derline was not to see the Prince of Nerins that evening. And yet
+he had intended to go to the Palmers and preside at the deification of
+his lawyeress. He had dined at the club, and had allowed himself to be
+dragged off to a first performance at a minor theatre. An operetta of
+the regulation type was being played. The principal personage was a
+young queen, who was always escorted by the customary four
+maids-of-honor.
+
+Three of these young ladies were very well known to first-nighters, as
+having already figured in the tableaux of operettas and in groups of
+fairies, but the fourth--Oh, the fourth! She was a new one, a tall
+brunette of the most striking beauty. The prince made himself remarked
+more than all others by his enthusiasm. He completely forgot that he was
+to leave after the first act. The play was over very late, and the
+prince was still there, having paid no attention to the piece or the
+music, having seen nothing but the wonderful brunette, having heard
+nothing but the stanza which she had unworthily massacred in the middle
+of the second act. And while they were leaving the theatre, the prince
+was saying to whoever would listen:
+
+"That brunette! oh, that brunette! She hasn't an equal in any theatre!
+She is the most beautiful woman in Paris! The most beautiful!"
+
+It was one o'clock in the morning. The prince asked himself if he should
+go to the Palmers. Poor Mme. Derline; she was of very slight importance
+beside this new wonder! And then, too, the prince was a methodical man.
+The hour for whist had arrived; so he departed to play whist.
+
+The following morning Mme. Derline found ten lines on the Palmer's ball
+in the "society column." There was mention of the marquises, the
+countesses, and the duchesses who were there, but about Mme. Derline
+there was not a word--not a word.
+
+On the other hand, the writer of theatrical gossip celebrated in
+enthusiastic terms the beauty of that ideal maid-of-honor, and said,
+"_Besides, the Prince of Nerins declared that Mademoiselle Miranda was
+indisputedly the most beautiful woman in Paris!_"
+
+Mme. Derline threw the paper in the fire. She did not wish her husband
+to know that she was already not the most beautiful woman in Paris.
+
+She has, however, kept the great dress-maker and the English coachman,
+but she never dared to ask for the little groom.
+
+
+
+
+THE STORY OF A BALL-DRESS
+
+
+When the women of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries write their
+memoirs they boldly present themselves to the reader thus: "I have a
+well-shaped mouth," said the Marquise of Courcelles, "beautiful lips,
+pearly teeth, good forehead, cheeks, and expression, finely chiselled
+throat, divine hands, passable arms (that is to say, they are a little
+thin); but I find consolation for that misfortune in the fact that I
+have the prettiest legs in the world."
+
+And I will follow the marquise's example. Here is my portrait: Overskirt
+of white illusion trimmed with fringe, and three flounces of blond
+alternating with the fringe; court mantle of cherry silk girt by a high
+flounce of white blond which falls over the fringe and is caught up by
+Marie Antoinette satin; two other flounces of blond are placed behind at
+intervals above; on each side from the waist up are facings composed of
+little alternating flounces of blond, looped up with satin; the big puff
+behind is bound by a flounce of white blond. A little white waist, the
+front and shoulder-straps of which are of satin trimmed with blond. Belt
+of red satin with large red butterfly.
+
+The world was made in six days, I in three. And yet I too am in the
+world--a little complicated world of silk, satin, blond, loops, and
+fringes. Did God rest while he was making the world? I do not know; but
+I do know that the scissors that cut me out and the needle that sewed me
+rested neither day nor night from Monday evening, January 24, 1870, to
+Thursday morning, January 27th. The slashes of the scissors and the
+pricks of the needle caused me great pain at first, but I soon paid no
+attention to them at all. I began to observe what was going on, to
+understand that I was becoming a dress, and to discover that the dress
+would be a marvel. From time to time M. Worth came himself to pay me
+little visits. "Take in the waist," he would say, "add more fringe,
+spread out the train, enlarge the butterfly," etc.
+
+One thing worried me: For whom was I intended? I knew the name, nothing
+more--the Baroness Z----. Princess would have been better; but still,
+baroness did very well. I was ambitious. I dreaded the theatre. It
+remained to be seen whether this baroness was young, pretty, and equal
+to wearing me boldly, and whether she had a figure to show me off to
+advantage. I was horribly afraid of falling into the hands of an ugly
+woman, a provincial, or an old coquette.
+
+How perfectly reassured I was as soon as I saw the baroness! Small,
+delicate, supple, stylish, a fairy waist, the shoulders of a goddess,
+and, besides all this, a certain little air of audacity, of raillery,
+but in exquisite moderation.
+
+I was spread out on a large pearl-gray lounge, and I was received with
+marks of frank admiration. M. Worth had been good enough to bring me
+_himself_, and he didn't trouble himself about all dresses.
+
+"How original!" exclaimed the little baroness; "how new! But very dear,
+isn't it?"
+
+"One thousand and fifty francs."
+
+"One thousand and fifty francs! And I furnished the lace! Ah, how
+quickly I should leave you if I didn't owe you so much! For I owe you a
+lot of money."
+
+"Oh, very little, baroness--very little."
+
+"No, no; a great deal. But we will discuss that another day."
+
+That evening I made my first appearance in society, and I came out at
+the Tuileries. We both of us, the baroness and myself, had an undeniable
+success. When the Empress crossed the Salon of Diana, making pleasant
+remarks to the right and left, she had the graciousness to stop before
+us and make the following remark, which seemed to me extremely witty,
+"Ah, baroness, what a dress--what a dress! It's a dream!" On that
+occasion the Empress wore a dress of white tulle dotted with silver, on
+a design of cloudy green, with epaulettes of sable. It was queer, not
+ineffective, but in doubtful taste.
+
+We received much attention, the baroness and I. The new Minister, M.
+Emile Ollivier, was presented to us; we received him coldly, as the
+little baroness did not approve, I believe, of liberal reforms, and
+looked for nothing good from them. We had a long chat on the window-seat
+with the Marshal Leboeuf. The only topic during that interesting
+conversation was the execution of Troppmann. It was the great event of
+the week.
+
+At two o'clock we left--the baroness, I, and the baron. For there was a
+husband, who for the time being was crowded in the corner of the
+carriage, and hidden under the mass of my skirts and of my train, which
+was thrown back on him all in a heap.
+
+"Confess, Edward," said the little baroness--confess that I was pretty
+to-night."
+
+"Very."
+
+"And my dress?"
+
+"Oh, charming!"
+
+"You say that indolently, without spirit or enthusiasm. I know you
+well. You think I've been extravagant. Well, indeed I haven't. Do you
+know how much this dress cost me? Four hundred francs--not a centime
+more."
+
+We arrived home, which was a step from the Tuileries, in the Place
+Vendome. The baron went to his rooms, the baroness to hers; and while
+Hermance, the maid, cleverly and swiftly untied all my rosettes and took
+out the pins, the little baroness kept repeating: "How becoming this
+dress is to me! And I seem to become it, too. I shall wear it on
+Thursday, Hermance, to go to the Austrian Embassy. Wait a minute, till I
+see the effect of the butterfly in the back. Bring the lamp nearer;
+nearer yet. Yes, that's it. Ah, how pretty it is! I am enchanted with
+this dress, Hermance--really enchanted!"
+
+If the little baroness was enchanted with me, I was equally enchanted
+with the baroness. We two made the most tender, the most intimate, and
+the most united of families. We comprehended, understood, and completed
+each other so well. I had not to do with one of those mechanical
+dolls--stupidly and brutally laced into a padded corset. Between the
+little baroness and myself there was absolutely nothing but lace and
+fine linen. We could confidentially and surely depend on one another.
+The beauty of the little baroness was a real beauty, without garniture,
+conjuring, or trickery.
+
+So the following Thursday I went to the Austrian Embassy, and a week
+later to the Princess Mathilde's. But, alas! the next morning the little
+baroness said to her maid: "Hermance, take that dress to the reserve. I
+love it, and I'd wear it every evening; but it has been seen
+sufficiently for this winter. Yesterday several people said to me, 'Ah,
+that's your dress of the Tuileries; it's your dress of the Austrian
+Embassy.' It must be given up till next year. Good-bye, dear little
+dress."
+
+And, having said that, she placed her charming lips at hap-hazard among
+my laces and kissed me in the dearest way in the world. Ah, how pleased
+and proud I was of that childish and sweet fellowship! I remembered that
+the evening before, on our return, the little baroness had kissed her
+husband; but the kiss she had given him was a quick, dry kiss--one of
+those hurried kisses with which one wishes to get through; whereas my
+kiss had been prolonged and passionate. She had cordiality for the
+baron, and love for me. The little baroness wasn't twenty, and she was a
+coquette to the core. I say this, in the first place, to excuse her,
+and, in the second place, to give an exact impression of her character.
+
+So at noon, in the arms of Hermance, I made my entry to the reserve. It
+was a dormitory of dresses, an immense room on the third story, very
+large, and lined with wardrobes of white oak, carefully locked. In the
+middle of the room was an ottoman, on which Hermance deposited me; after
+which she slid back ten or twelve wardrobe doors, one after the other.
+Dresses upon dresses! I should never be able to tell how many. All were
+hung in the air by silk tape on big triangles. Hermance, however, seemed
+much embarrassed.
+
+"In the reserve," she murmured, "in the reserve; that is easy to say.
+But where is there any room? And this one needs a lot." At last
+Hermance, after having given a number of little taps to the right and
+left, succeeded in making a sort of slit, into which I had great
+difficulty in sliding. Hermance gave me and my neighbors some more
+little taps to lump us together, and then shut the door. Darkness
+reigned. I was placed between a blue velvet dress and a mauve satin one.
+
+Towards the end of April we received a visit from the little baroness,
+and in consequence of that visit there was great disturbance. Winter
+dresses were hung up; spring dresses were got down. At the beginning of
+July another visit, another disturbance--entry of the costumes from the
+races; departure of others for the watering-places. I lost my neighbor
+to the right, the mauve dress, and kept my neighbor on the left, the
+blue dress, a cross and crabbed person who was forever groaning,
+complaining, and saying to me, "Oh, my dear, you do take up so much
+room; do get out of the way a little." I must admit that the poor blue
+velvet dress was much to be pitied. It was three years old, having been
+a part of the little baroness's trousseau, and had never been worn. "A
+high-neck blue velvet dress, at my age, with my shoulders and arms!" had
+exclaimed the little baroness; "I should look like a grandmother!" Thus
+it was decreed, and the unfortunate blue dress had gone from the
+trousseau straight to the reserve.
+
+A week or ten days after the departure of the dresses for Baden-Baden we
+heard a noise, the voices of women, and all the doors were opened. It
+was the little baroness, who had brought her friend the Countess N----.
+
+"Sit there, my dear, on that ottoman," said the little baroness. "I have
+come to look over my dresses. I am very hurried; I arrived but just now
+from Baden, and I start again to-night for Anjou. We can chatter while
+Hermance shows me the dresses. Oh, those Prussians, my dear, the
+monsters! We had to run away, Blanche and myself, like thieves. (Very
+simple dresses, Hermance, every-day dresses, and walking and boating
+dresses.) Yes, my dear, like thieves! They threw stones at us, real
+stones, in the Avenue of Lichtental, and called us 'Rascally
+Frenchwomen! French rabble!' The Emperor did well to declare war against
+such people. (Dresses for horseback, Hermance--my brown riding-habit.)
+At any rate, there's no need to worry. My husband dined yesterday with
+Guy; you know, the tall Guy, who is an aide of Leboeuf. Well, we are
+ready, admirably ready, and the Prussians not at all. (Very simple, I
+said, Hermance. You are showing me ball-dresses. I don't intend to dance
+during the war.) And then, my dear, it seems that this war was
+absolutely necessary from a dynastic point of view. I don't quite know
+why, but I tell it to you as I heard it. (These dozen dresses, Hermance,
+will be sufficient. But there are thirteen. I never could have thirteen.
+Take away the green one; or, no, add another--that blue one; that's
+all.) Now let's go down, my dear."
+
+Whereupon she departed. So war was declared, and with Prussia. I was
+much moved. I was a French dress and a Bonapartist dress. I was afraid
+for France and afraid for the dynasty, but the words of the tall Guy
+were so perfectly reassuring.
+
+For two months there was no news; but about the 10th of September the
+little baroness arrived with Hermance. She was very pale, poor little
+baroness--very pale and agitated.
+
+"Dark dresses, Hermance," she said, "black dresses. I know! What remains
+of Aunt Pauline's mourning? There must remain quite a lot of things. You
+see, I am too sad--"
+
+"But if madame expects to remain long in England?"
+
+"Ah! as long as the Republic lasts."
+
+"Then it may be a long time."
+
+"What do you mean--a long time? What _do_ you mean, Hermance? Who can
+tell you such things?"
+
+"It seems to me that if I were madame I'd take for precaution's sake a
+few winter dresses, a few evening-dresses--"
+
+"Evening-dresses! Why, what are you thinking of? I shall go nowhere,
+Hermance, alone in England, without my husband, who stays in Paris in
+the National Guard."
+
+"But if madame should go to see their Majesties in England?"
+
+"Yes, of course I shall, Hermance."
+
+"Well, it's because I know madame's feelings and views that--"
+
+"You are right; put in some evening-dresses."
+
+"Will madame take her last white satin dress?"
+
+"Oh no, not that one; it would be too sad a memory for the Empress, who
+noticed it at the last ball at the Tuileries. And then the dress
+wouldn't stand the voyage. My poor white satin dress! Shall I ever wear
+it again?"
+
+That is why I did not emigrate, and how I found myself blockaded in
+Paris during the siege. From the few words that we had heard of the
+conversation of the little baroness and Hermance we had a pretty clear
+idea of the situation. The Empire was overthrown and the Republic
+proclaimed. The Republic! There were among us several old family laces
+who had seen the first Republic--that of '93. The Reign of Terror! Ah,
+what tales they told us! The fall of the Empire, however, did not
+displease these old laces, who were all Legitimists or Orleanists. In my
+neighborhood, on a gooseberry satin skirt, there were four flounces of
+lace who had had the honor of attending the coronation of Charles X.,
+and who were delighted, and kept saying to us: "The Bonapartes brought
+about invasion; invasion brings back the Bourbons. Long live Henry V.!"
+
+We all had, however, a common preoccupation. Should we remain in style?
+We were nearly all startling, risky, and loud--so much so that we were
+quite anxious, except three or four quiet dresses, velvet and dark cloth
+dresses, who joined in the chorus with the old laces, and said to us:
+"Ah, here's an end to the carnival, to this masquerade of an empire!
+Republic or monarchy, little we care; we are sensible and in good
+taste." We felt they were somewhat in the right in talking thus. From
+September to February we remained shut up in the wardrobes, wrangling
+with each other, listening to the cannon, and knowing nothing of what
+was going on.
+
+Towards the middle of February all the doors were opened. It was the
+little baroness--the little baroness!
+
+"Ah!" she exclaimed, "my dresses, my beloved dresses, there they are;
+how happy I am to see them!"
+
+We could say nothing; but we, too, were very happy to see the little
+baroness.
+
+"Now, then, Hermance," continued the little baroness, "let us hunt
+around a little. What can I take to Bordeaux? After such disasters I
+must have quiet and sombre dresses."
+
+"Madame hasn't very many."
+
+"I beg your pardon, Hermance, I have dark dresses--this one and that
+one. The blue velvet dress! The blue velvet dress is just the thing, and
+I've never worn it."
+
+And so my neighbor the blue dress was taken down, and was at last going
+to make her first appearance in the world. However, the little baroness
+herself, with great activity, rummaged round in the wardrobes.
+
+"Nothing, nothing," she said; "four or five dresses only. All the rest
+are impossible, and would not accord with the Government we shall have
+in Bordeaux. Well, I shall be obliged to have some republican dresses
+made--very moderate republican, but still republican."
+
+The little baroness went away, to come back a month later, always with
+Hermance, who was an excellent maid, and much thought of by her
+mistress. New deliberation.
+
+"Hermance," said the little baroness, "what can I take to Versailles? I
+think we shall be able to have a little more freedom. There will be
+receptions and dinners with M. Thiers; then the princes are coming. I
+might risk transition dresses. Do you know what I mean by that,
+Hermance--transition dresses?"
+
+"Perfectly, madame--pearl grays, mauves, violets, lilacs."
+
+"Yes, that's it, Hermance; light but quiet colors. You are an
+invaluable maid. You understand me perfectly."
+
+The little baroness started for Versailles with a collection of
+transition dresses. There must have been twenty. It was a good
+beginning, and filled us with hope. She had begun at Bordeaux with
+sombre colors, and continued on at Versailles with light ones,
+Versailles was evidently only a stepping-stone between Bordeaux and
+Paris. The little baroness was soon coming back to Paris, and once the
+little baroness was in Paris we could feel assured that we should not
+stay long in the wardrobes.
+
+But it happened that a few days after the departure of the little
+baroness for Versailles we heard loud firing beneath the windows of the
+house (we lived in the Place Vendome). Was it another revolt, another
+revolution? For a week nothing more was heard; there was silence. Then
+at the end of that week the cannonade began around Paris worse than
+ever. Was the war recommencing with the Prussians? Was it a new siege?
+
+The days passed, and the boom of the cannon continued. Finally, one
+morning there was a great racket in the court-yard of our house. Cries,
+threats, oaths! The noise came up and up. Great blows with the butt ends
+of muskets were struck on the wardrobe doors. They were smashed in and
+we perceived eight or ten slovenly looking, dirty, and bearded men.
+Among these men was a woman, a little brunette; fairly pretty, I must
+say, but queerly gotten up. A black dress with a short skirt, little
+boots with red bows, a round gray felt hat with a large red plume, and a
+sort of red scarf worn crosswise. It was a peculiar style, but it was
+style all the same.
+
+"Oh, oh!" exclaimed the little woman, "here's luck! What a lot of
+dresses! Well, clear away all this, sergeant, and take those duds to
+headquarters."
+
+Then all those men threw themselves upon us with a sort of fury. We felt
+ourselves gripped and dishonored by coarse, dirty hands.
+
+"Don't soil them too much, citizens," the little woman would cry. "Do
+them up in packages, and take the packages down to the
+ammunition-wagon."
+
+The headquarters was the apartment of the young lady of the red plume.
+Our new mistress was the wife of a general of the Commune. We were
+destined to remain official dresses. Official during the Empire, and
+official during the Commune. The first thought of Mme. General was to
+hold a review of us, and I had the honor of being the object of her
+special attention and admiration.
+
+"Ah, look, Emile!" (Emile was the General.) "Look! this is the toniest
+of the whole concern. I'll keep it for the Tuileries."
+
+I was to be kept for the Tuileries! What tales of woe and what
+lamentations there were in the sort of alcove where we were thrown like
+rags! Mme. General went into society every evening, and never put on the
+same dress twice. My poor companions the day after told me their
+adventures of the day before. This one had dined at Citizen Raoul
+Rigault's, the Prefecture of Police; that one attended a performance of
+"Andromaque" at the Theatre Francais, in the Empress's box, etc. At last
+it was my turn. The 17th of May was the day of the grand concert at the
+Tuileries.
+
+Oh, my dear little baroness, what had become of you? Where were your
+long soft muslin petticoats and your fine white satin corsets? Where
+were your transparent linen chemisettes? Mme. General had coarse
+petticoats of starched calico. Mme. General wore such a corset! Mme.
+General had such a crinoline! My poor skirts of lace and satin were
+abominably stiffened and tossed about by the hard crinoline hoops. As to
+the basque, the strange thing happened that the basque of the little
+baroness was much too tight for Mme. General at the waist, and, on the
+contrary, above the waist it was--I really do not know how to explain
+such things. At any rate, it was just the opposite of small, so much so
+that it had to be padded. Horrible! Most horrible!
+
+At ten that evening I was climbing for the second time the grand
+staircase of the Tuileries, in the midst of a dense and ignoble mob. One
+of the General's aides-de-camp tried in vain to open a passage.
+
+"Room, room, for the wife of the General!" he cried.
+
+Much they cared for the wife of the General! Great big boots trampled on
+my train, sharp spurs tore my laces, and the bones of the corsets of
+Mme. General hurt me terribly.
+
+At midnight I returned to Mme. General's den. I returned in rags,
+shreds, soiled, dishonored, and stained with wine, tobacco, and mud. A
+hateful little maid brutally tore me from the shoulders of Mme. General,
+and said to her mistress:
+
+"Well, madame, was it beautiful?"
+
+"No, Victoria," replied Mme. General, "it was too mixed. But do hurry
+up! tear it off if it won't come. I know where to find others at the
+same price."
+
+And I was thrown like a rag on a heap of pieces. The heap of pieces was
+composed of ball-dresses of the little baroness.
+
+One morning, three or four days later, the aide-de-camp rushed in,
+crying, "The Versaillists! The Versaillists are in Paris!"
+
+Thereupon Mme. General put on a sort of military costume, took two
+revolvers, filled them with cartridges, and hung them on a black leather
+belt which she wore around her waist. "Where is the General?" she said
+to the aide-de-camp.
+
+"At the Tuileries."
+
+"Very well, I shall go there with you." And on that she departed, with
+her little gray felt hat jauntily tilted over her ear.
+
+The cannonade and firing redoubled and came nearer. Evidently there was
+fighting very near us, quite close to us. The next day towards noon we
+saw them both come back, the General and Mme. General. And in what a
+condition! Panting, frightened, forbidding, with clothes white with
+dust, and hands and faces black with powder. The General was wounded in
+the left hand, he had twisted around his wrist a handkerchief bathed in
+blood.
+
+"Does your arm hurt you?" Mme. General said to him.
+
+"It stings a little, that's all."
+
+"Are they following us?"
+
+"Yes, I think so."
+
+"Listen! There are noises, shouts."
+
+"Look out of the window without showing yourself."
+
+"The red trousers! They are here!"
+
+"Lock and bolt the door. Get the revolvers and load them. I can't on
+account of my arm. This wound is a bore."
+
+"You are so pale!"
+
+"Yes; I am losing blood--a good deal of blood."
+
+"They are coming up the stairs!"
+
+"Into the alcove--let us go into the alcove, on the dresses."
+
+"Here they are!"
+
+"Give me the revolver."
+
+The door gave way violently under the hammering of the butts of the
+guns. A shower of bullets fell on us and around us. The General, with a
+single movement, fell heavily at full length on the bed of silk, muslin,
+and laces that we made for him. Three or four men with red trousers
+threw themselves on Mme. General, who fought, bit, and screamed,
+"Assassins! assassins!"
+
+A soldier tore away the bell-cord, firmly tied her hands, and carried
+her away like a bundle. She continued to repeat, in a strangled voice,
+"Assassins! assassins!" The soldiers approached the alcove and looked at
+the General. "As to him," they said, "he's done for; he doesn't need
+anything more. Let's be off."
+
+They left us, and we remained there for two days, crushed beneath that
+corpse and covered with blood. Finally, at the end of those two days, a
+man arrived who was called a Commissioner, and who wore a tricolored
+scarf around his waist. "This corpse has been forgotten," he said. "Take
+it away."
+
+They tried to lift the body, but with fingers stiffened by death the
+General held my big cherry satin butterfly. They had nearly to break his
+fingers to get it out.
+
+Meantime the Commissioner examined and searched curiously among that
+brilliant heap of rags on which the General had died. My waist appeared
+to catch his eye. "Here is a mark," he said to one of his men--"a mark
+inside the waist, with the name and number of the maker. We can learn
+where these dresses came from. Wrap this waist in a newspaper and I'll
+take it."
+
+They wrapped me in an old number of the _Official Journal of the
+Commune_. The following day we went to M. Worth, the Commissioner and I.
+The conversation was not long.
+
+"Was this dress made by you?" the Commissioner asked.
+
+"Yes; here's the mark."
+
+"And for whom was it made?"
+
+"Number 18,223. Wait a moment; I'll consult my books." The dress-maker
+came back in five minutes, and said to the Commissioner, "It was for the
+Baroness Z---- that I made this dress, eighteen months ago, and it isn't
+paid for."
+
+
+
+
+THE INSURGENT
+
+
+"Prisoner," said the President of the Council of War, "have you anything
+to add in your defence?"
+
+"Yes, colonel," replied the prisoner. "The little lawyer you assigned me
+defended me according to his idea; I want to defend myself according to
+mine.
+
+"My name is Martin (Lewis Joseph). I am fifty-five years old. My father
+was a locksmith. He had a little shop in the upper part of the
+Saint-Martin Quarter, and had a fair business. We just existed. I
+learned to read in the _National_, which was, I believe, the paper of M.
+Thiers.
+
+"On the 27th of July, 1830, my father went out very early. That evening,
+at ten o'clock, he was brought back to us on a litter, dying. He had
+received a bullet in the chest. Beside him on the litter was his musket.
+
+"'Take it,' he said to me. 'I give it to you; and every time there is a
+riot, be against the Government--always, always, always!'
+
+"An hour later he was dead. I went out in the night. At the first
+barricade I stopped and offered myself; a man examined me by the light
+of a lantern. 'A child!' he exclaimed. I was not fifteen. I was very
+slight and undersized. I answered: 'A child, maybe, but my father was
+killed two hours ago. He gave me his musket. Teach me how to use it.'
+
+"From that moment I became what I have always been for forty years, an
+insurgent! If I fought during the Commune, it was not because I was
+forced, nor for the thirty sous; it was from taste, from pleasure, from
+habit, from routine.
+
+"In 1830 I behaved rather bravely at the attack on the Louvre. The
+urchin who first scaled the gate beneath the bullets of the Swiss was I.
+I received the Medal of July. But the shopkeepers gave us a king. It had
+all to be done over. I joined a secret society; I learned to melt
+bullets, to make powder--in short, I completed my education, and I
+waited.
+
+"I had to wait nearly two years. On June 5, 1832, at noon, in front of
+the Madeleine, I was the first to unharness one of the horses of the
+hearse of General Lamarque. I passed the day in shouting, 'Long live
+Lafayette!' and I passed the night in making barricades. The next
+morning we were attacked by the regulars. In the evening, towards four
+o'clock, we were blocked, cannonaded, swept with grape-shot, and crushed
+back into the Church of Saint-Mery. I had a bullet and three
+bayonet-stabs in my body when I was picked up by the soldiers from the
+stone floor of a little chapel to the left--the Chapel of St. John. I
+have often gone back to that little chapel--not to pray, I wasn't
+brought up with such ideas--but to see the stains of my blood which
+still remain on the stones.
+
+"On account of my youth I received a ten-year sentence. I was sent to
+Mont Saint-Michel. That was why I didn't take part in the riots of 1834.
+If I had been free I should have fought in Rue Transnonian as I had
+fought in Rue Saint-Mery--'against the Government--always, always,
+always!' It was my father's last word; it was my gospel, my religion. I
+call that my catechism in six words. I came out of prison in 1842, and I
+again began to wait.
+
+"The revolution of '48 was made without effort. The shopkeepers were
+stupid and cowardly. They were neither for nor against us. The municipal
+guards alone defended themselves. We had a little trouble in taking the
+guard-house of the Chateau d'Eau. On the evening of February 24th I
+remained three or four hours on the square before the Hotel de Ville.
+The members of the Provisional Government, one after another, made
+speeches to us--said that we were heroes, great citizens, the foremost
+nation in the world, that we had broken the bonds of tyranny. After
+having fed us on these fine speeches, they gave us a republic which
+wasn't any better than the monarchy we had overthrown.
+
+"In June I took up my musket again, but on that occasion we were not
+successful. I was arrested, sentenced, and sent to Cayenne. It seems
+that I behaved well there. One day I saved a captain of marines from
+drowning. Observe that I should most certainly have shot at that captain
+if he had been on one side of a barricade and I on the other; but a man
+who is drowning, dying--in short, I received my pardon, I came back to
+France in 1852, after the Coup d'Etat; I had missed the insurrection of
+1851.
+
+"At Cayenne I had made friends with a tailor named Barnard. Six months
+after my departure for France, Barnard died. I went to see his widow.
+She was in want. I married her. We had a son in 1854--you will
+understand presently why I speak to you of my wife and my son. But you
+must already suspect that an insurgent who marries the widow of an
+insurgent does not have royalist children.
+
+"Under the Empire there was nothing to do. The police were very strict.
+We were dispersed, disarmed. I worked, I brought up my son with the
+ideas that my father had given me. The wait was long. Rochefort,
+Gambetta, public reunions--all that put us in motion again.
+
+"On the first important occasion I showed myself. I was one of that
+little band who assaulted the barracks of the firemen of Villette. Only
+there we made a mistake. We killed a fireman, unnecessarily, I was
+caught and thrown into prison, but the Government of the Fourth of
+September liberated us, from which I concluded that we did right to
+attack those barracks and kill the fireman, even unnecessarily.
+
+"The siege began. I immediately opposed the Government, on the side of
+the Commune. I marched against the Hotel de Ville on the 31st of October
+and on the 22d of January. I liked revolt for revolt's sake. An
+insurgent--I told you in the beginning I am an insurgent. I cannot hear
+a discussion without taking part, nor see a riot without running to it,
+nor a barricade without bringing my paving-stone. It's in the blood.
+
+"And then, besides, I wasn't quite ignorant, and I said to myself, It is
+only necessary to succeed thoroughly some day, and then, in our turn, we
+shall be the Government, and it will be better than with all these
+lawyers, who place themselves behind us during the battle, and pass
+ahead after the victory.'
+
+"The 18th of March came, and naturally I was in it. I shouted 'Hurrah
+for the regulars!' I fraternized with the army. I went to the Hotel de
+Ville. I found a government already at work. It was absolutely the same
+as on the 24th of February.
+
+"Now you tell me that that insurrection was not lawful. That is
+possible, but I don't quite see why not. I begin to get muddled--about
+these insurrections which are a duty and those which are a crime! I do
+not clearly see the difference.
+
+"I shot at the Versailles troops in 1871, as I had shot at the royal
+guard in 1830 and on the municipals in 1848. After 1830 I received the
+Medal of July; after 1848 the compliments of M. de Lamartine. This time
+I am going to get transportation or death.
+
+"There are insurrections which please you. You raise columns to them,
+you give their names to streets, you give yourselves the offices, the
+promotions, and the big salaries, and we folks, who made the revolution,
+you call us great citizens, heroes, a nation of brave men, etc. That's
+the coin we are paid with.
+
+"And then there are other insurrections which displease you. As a
+result, transportation, death. Well, you see, if you hadn't complimented
+us so after the first ones, perhaps we wouldn't have made the last. If
+you hadn't raised the Column of July at the entrance of our
+neighborhood, we wouldn't perhaps have gone and demolished the Vendome
+Column in your neighborhood. Those two penny trumpets didn't agree. One
+had to upset the other, and that is what happened.
+
+"Now, why I threw away my captain's uniform on the 26th of May, why I
+was in a blouse when I was arrested, I will tell you. When I learned
+that the gentlemen of the Commune, instead of coming to shoot with us
+behind the barricades, were at the Hotel de Ville distributing among
+themselves thousand-franc notes, were shaving their beards, dyeing their
+hair, and hiding themselves in caves, I did not wish to keep the
+shoulder-straps they had given me.
+
+"Besides, shoulder-straps embarrassed me. 'Captain Martin' sounded
+idiotic. 'Insurgent Martin'--why, that's well and good. I wanted to end
+as I had begun, die as my father had died, as a rioter in a riot, as a
+barricader behind a barricade.
+
+"I could not get killed. I got caught. I belong to you. But I wish to
+beg a favor of you. I have a son, a child of seventeen; he is at
+Cherbourg, on the hulks. He fought, it is true, and he does not deny it;
+but it is I who put a musket in his hand, it is I who told him that his
+duty was there. He listened to me. He obeyed me. That is all his crime.
+Do not sentence him too harshly.
+
+"As for me, you have got me; do not let me go, that's the advice I give
+you. I am too old to mend; and then, what can you expect? Nothing can
+change it. I was born on the wrong side of the barricade."
+
+
+
+
+
+THE CHINESE AMBASSADOR
+
+
+In the beginning of the year 1870 some English and French residents had
+been massacred in China. Reparation was demanded. His Excellency
+Tchong-Keon, Tutor of the Heir-apparent and Vice-President of the War
+Department, was sent to Europe as Ambassador Extraordinary to the
+English and French governments.
+
+Tchong-Keon has recently published at Pekin a very curious account of
+his voyage. One of my friends who lives in Shanghai, and who possesses
+the rare talent of being able to read Chinese easily, sent me this
+faithful translation of a part of Tchong-Keon's book:
+
+
+HAVRE, _September 12, 1870_.
+
+I land, and I make myself known. I am the Ambassador of the Emperor of
+China. I bear apologies to the Emperor of the French, and presents to
+the Empress. There is no Emperor and no Empress. A Republic has been
+proclaimed. I am much embarrassed. Shall I offer the apologies and
+presents that were intended for the Empire to the Republic?
+
+
+HAVRE, _September 14, 1870_.
+
+After much reflection, I shall offer the apologies and keep the
+presents.
+
+
+HAVRE, _September 26, 1870_.
+
+Yes; but to whom shall I carry the apologies, and to whom shall I
+present them? The Government of the French Republic is divided in two:
+there is one part in Paris and one part in Tours. To go to Paris is not
+to be thought of. Paris is besieged and blockaded by the Prussians. I
+shall go to Tours.
+
+
+HAVRE, _October 2, 1870_.
+
+I did not go, and I shall not go, to Tours. I received yesterday a visit
+from the correspondent of the _Times_, a most agreeable and sensible
+man. I told him that I intended going to Tours.
+
+"To Tours! What do you want in Tours?"
+
+"To present the apologies of my master to the Minister of Foreign
+Affairs of the French Republic."
+
+"But that minister isn't in Tours."
+
+"And where is he?"
+
+"Blockaded in Paris."
+
+A Minister of Foreign Affairs who is blockaded in a besieged town seemed
+to me most extraordinary.
+
+"And why," the correspondent of the _Times_ asked me, "do you bring
+apologies to the French Government?"
+
+"Because we massacred some French residents."
+
+"French residents! That's of no importance nowadays. France no longer
+exists. You can, if it amuses you, throw all the French residents into
+the sea."
+
+"We also thoughtlessly massacred some English residents."
+
+"You massacred some English residents! Oh, that's very different!
+England is still a great nation. And you have brought apologies to Queen
+Victoria?"
+
+"Yes, apologies and presents."
+
+"Go to London, go straight to London, and don't bother about France;
+there is no France."
+
+The correspondent of the _Times_ looked quite happy when he spoke those
+words: "there is no France."
+
+
+LONDON, _October 10, 1870_.
+
+I've seen the Queen of England. She received me very cordially. She has
+accepted the apologies; she has accepted the presents.
+
+
+LONDON, _October 12, 1870_.
+
+Had a long conversation with Lord Granville, Minister of Foreign Affairs
+of the Queen of England. I explained to his Excellency that I meant to
+go home at once, and that I feel I need not pay further attention to my
+French embassy, as France no longer exists. Lord Granville answered me:
+
+"Don't go away so soon; you will perhaps be obliged to come back, and
+sooner than you imagine. France is an extraordinary country, which picks
+up very quickly. Await the end of the war, and then you can take your
+apologies to the Government that France will have decided on giving
+itself. Till then remain in England. We shall be most happy to offer you
+our hospitality."
+
+
+LONDON, _November 3, 1870_.
+
+I did not return to China. I am waiting in London till the Minister of
+Foreign Affairs is not besieged, and till there is some way of laying
+one's hands on the French Government. There are many Parisians here who
+escaped from their country on account of the war. I dined yesterday with
+his Royal Highness, the Prince of Wales. Three Parisian women, all three
+young, and all three pretty, took possession of me after dinner. We had
+a very interesting conversation in English.
+
+"You are looking for the French Government, the legitimate Government?"
+said the first of these Parisians. "Why, it is here in England, half an
+hour from London. To-morrow go to the Waterloo station and buy a ticket
+for Chiselhurst, and there you will find Napoleon III., who is, and has
+never ceased to be, the Emperor of the French."
+
+"Don't listen to her, Mr. Ambassador," laughingly said the second
+Parisian, "don't listen to her; she is a terrible Bonapartist. Yes, the
+true sovereign of France is in England, quite near London, but not at
+Chiselhurst; and it is not the Waterloo station you must go to, but the
+Victoria station. You mustn't take a ticket for Chiselhurst, but for
+Twickenham, and there you will find at Orleans House his Royal Highness
+the Count of Paris."
+
+"Don't listen to her, Mr. Ambassador," exclaimed in turn, and also
+laughing, the third Parisian, "don't listen to her; she is a terrible
+revolutionist! The Count of Paris is not the heir to the throne of
+France. To find the legitimate King you must go a little farther than
+Chiselhurst or Twickenham; you must go to Austria, to the Frohsdorf
+Palace. The King of France--he is the descendant of Henry IV.--is the
+Count of Chambord."
+
+If I count aright, that makes three legitimate sovereigns, and all three
+deposed. Never in China have we had anything of that sort. Our old
+dynasty has had to fight against the invasions of the Mongols and
+against the insurrections of the Taipings. But three legitimate
+sovereigns for the same country, for a single throne! One has to come
+to Europe to see such things.
+
+However, the three Parisians gayly discussed the matter, and seemed to
+be the best friends in the world.
+
+
+LONDON, _November 15, 1870_.
+
+As a sequel to the three Frenchwomen, representing three different
+monarchs, I met, this evening, at Lord Granville's, three Frenchmen
+representing three different republics.
+
+The first asked me why I didn't go to Tours.
+
+"You will find there," he said to me, "the authorized representatives of
+the French Republic, and in addressing yourself to M. Gambetta you are
+addressing France--"
+
+"Don't do that, Mr. Ambassador!" exclaimed the second Frenchman; "the
+real Government of the real French Republic is shut up in Paris. M.
+Jules Favre alone can officially receive your visit and your apologies."
+
+"The Republic of Paris isn't worth more than the Republic of Tours," the
+third Frenchman then told me. "If we have a Republic in France, it will
+be neither the Republic of M. Gambetta nor the Republic of M. Jules
+Favre."
+
+"And whose Republic then?"
+
+"The Republic of M. Thiers--"
+
+Whereupon the three Frenchmen began to dispute in earnest. They were
+very red, shouted loudly, and made violent gestures. The discussion
+about the three monarchies had been much gentler and much more agreeable
+than the discussion about the three republics.
+
+During the evening these Frenchmen managed to slip into my ear, in turn,
+two or three little phrases of this kind:
+
+"Don't listen," the first one said to me, "to that partisan of the
+Government of Paris; he is a lawyer who has come here with a commission
+from M. Jules Favre. So you see he has a big salary, and as he wishes to
+keep it--"
+
+"Don't listen," the second one said to me, "to that partisan of the
+alleged Republic of M. Thiers; he is only a monarchist, a disguised
+Orleanist--"
+
+"Don't listen," the third one said to me, "to that partisan of the
+Republic of Tours; he is a gentleman who has come to England to get a
+loan for the benefit of the Government of Tours; so, as he expects to
+get a lot of money--"
+
+Thus I am, if I reckon correctly, face to face with six
+governments--three monarchies and three republics.
+
+
+LONDON, _December 6, 1870_.
+
+I think that his Excellency, M. de Bernstoff, Prussian Ambassador to
+England, takes pleasure in making fun of me. I never meet him but that
+he announces to me that Paris will capitulate the next day. The next day
+arrives and Paris does not capitulate. However, this evening his
+Excellency looked so perfectly sure of what he was saying that I think I
+can prepare to start for Paris.
+
+
+PARIS, _February 20, 1871_.
+
+I only left on the 10th of February. At last I am in Paris. I travelled
+slowly, by short stages. What a lot of burned villages! What a lot of
+sacked houses! What a lot of devastated forests, dug-up woods, and
+bridges and railroads destroyed! And these Europeans treat us as
+barbarians!
+
+However, among all these ruins there is one the sight of which filled me
+with the keenest joy. The palace of Saint-Cloud was the summer palace of
+the Emperor Napoleon, and not a stone upon a stone remains. I
+contemplated curiously, eagerly, and for a long time the blackened ruins
+of this palace. Pieces of old Chinese vases were hidden in the heaps of
+rubbish among the wreck of marble and fragments of shell.
+
+Where did those old Chinese vases come from? Perhaps from the summer
+palace of our Emperor, from that palace which was devastated, burned,
+and destroyed by those English and French soldiers who came to bring us
+civilization.
+
+I was extremely well received by the English, who overwhelmed me with
+invitations and kindnesses; but none the less I hope that the palaces of
+Buckingham and Windsor will also have their turn.
+
+
+PARIS, _February 25, 1871_.
+
+I have written to M. Jules Favre to let him know that I have been
+waiting six months for the opportunity of presenting to him the
+compliments and apologies of the Emperor of China. M. Jules Favre
+answered me that he is obliged to start for Bordeaux. I shall have an
+audience in the beginning of March.
+
+
+PARIS, _March 7, 1871_.
+
+Another letter from M. Jules Favre. He is expected at Frankfort by M. de
+Bismarck. My audience is again put off.
+
+
+PARIS, _March 17, 1871_.
+
+At last, to-morrow, March 18th, at four o'clock, I am to be received by
+M. Jules Favre at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
+
+
+PARIS, _March 18, 1871_.
+
+We dressed ourselves, I and my two secretaries, in our official
+costumes, and departed at three o'clock, accompanied by an interpreter.
+We arrived. The court of the house was filled with people who appeared
+busy and hurried, and who came and went, carrying cases and packages.
+The interpreter, after having exchanged several words with an employee
+of the ministry, said to me:
+
+"Something serious has happened--an insurrection. The Government is
+again obliged to change its capital!"
+
+At that moment a door opened, and M. Jules Favre himself appeared with a
+large portfolio under his arm. He explained to the interpreter that I
+should have my audience at Versailles in several days, and having made
+me a profound bow, which I returned him, he ran away with his large
+portfolio.
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _March 19, 1871_.
+
+I had to leave Paris at twelve o'clock in a great hurry. There really is
+a new Government at Paris. This Government is not one of the three
+monarchies, nor one of the three republics. It is a seventh arrangement,
+which is called the _Commune_. This morning an armed troop of men
+surrounded the house where I live. It seems that the new Ministry of
+Foreign Affairs of Paris of the Commune would have been charmed to
+receive a Chinese ambassador. They had come to carry me off. I had time
+to escape. It is not the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Paris that I
+ought to see, it is the Minister of Foreign Affairs in Versailles.
+
+Good heavens, how complicated it all is! And when shall I be able to put
+my hand on this intangible person, who is now blockaded in Paris and now
+chased out of Paris?
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _April 6, 1871_.
+
+At last, yesterday, I had the honor of being received by his Excellency,
+and we discussed the events that had occurred in Paris.
+
+"This insurrection," M. Jules Favre said to me, "is the most formidable
+and the most extraordinary that has ever broken out."
+
+I could not allow such a great historical error to pass. I answered M.
+Jules Favre that we had had in China for millions of years socialists
+and socialistic uprisings; that the French Communists were but rough
+imitators of our Chinese Taipings; that we had had in 1230 a siege at
+Nankin which had lasted seven years, etc. In short, these Europeans are
+only beginning again our history with less grandeur and more barbarity.
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _May 15, 1871_.
+
+My mission is ended; I could return to China; but all that I see here
+interests me extremely. This civil war immediately succeeding a foreign
+war is a very curious occurrence. There is here, for a Chinaman, an
+excellent opportunity of study, on the spot and from life, of European
+civilization.
+
+
+VERSAILLES, _May 24, 1871_.
+
+Paris is burning, and on the terrace of the palace of Saint-Cloud, in
+the midst of the ruins of that palace, I passed my day looking at Paris
+burn. It is a dead, destroyed, and annihilated city.
+
+
+PARIS, _June 10, 1871_.
+
+Not at all. It is still the most beautiful city in Europe, and the most
+brilliant, and the most gay. I shall spend some time in Paris.
+
+
+PARIS, _June 29, 1871_.
+
+Yesterday M. Thiers, in the Bois de Boulogne, held a review of a hundred
+thousand men. Will there always be a France?
+
+
+
+
+IN THE EXPRESS
+
+
+"When one bears the name of Luynes or La Tremoille, I can readily
+understand the desire to continue the Luynes or the La Tremoilles; but
+really when one is named Chamblard, what possible object can there be
+in--Eh? Answer."
+
+In this fashion young Raoul Chamblard talked while comfortably settled
+back in a large red velvet arm-chair. This happened on the 26th of
+March, 1892, in one of the parlor-cars of the express to Marseilles,
+which had left Paris at 8.50 that morning. It was now five minutes past
+nine. The train with much racket was crossing the bridge of Charentin.
+Young Chamblard was talking to his friend, Maurice Revoille, who, after
+a six weeks' leave, was going to join his regiment in Algeria.
+
+The lieutenant of light cavalry responded to his friend's question with
+a vague gesture. Raoul Chamblard continued:
+
+"However, it's my father's fixed idea. There must be Chamblards after
+me. And as papa has but one son, it's to me he looks to do what is
+necessary."
+
+"Well, do what is necessary."
+
+"But I am only twenty-four, my dear fellow, and to marry at twenty-four
+is hard. It seems to me that I'm still entitled to a little more fun,
+and even a good deal."
+
+"Well, have your fun."
+
+"That's just what I've done up to now. I have had a first-rate time! But
+I've taste only for expensive amusements. I don't know how to enjoy
+myself without money, and I haven't a cent. Do you understand? Not a
+cent!"
+
+"You? You are very rich."
+
+"A great mistake! Upon coming of age, three years ago, I spent what was
+left me by my mother. Mother wasn't very rich; she was worth six hundred
+thousand francs, not more. Papa made almost a love-match. The six
+hundred thousand francs vanished in three years, and could I decently do
+anything else as the son of my father? He is powerfully rich!"
+
+"That's what's said."
+
+"And it's very true. He has a dozen millions which are quite his own,
+and can't be hurt by an accident; and his bank still goes on, and brings
+him in, one year with another, besides the interest on his dozen
+millions, three or four hundred thousand francs more. Nothing is more
+solid than the Chamblard bank; it's honest, it's venerable. Papa isn't
+fair to me, but I'm fair to him. When you have a father in business,
+it's a good thing when you go out not to be exposed to meet eyes which
+seem to say to you, 'My dear fellow, your father has swindled me.' Papa
+has but one passion: from five to seven every day he plays piquet at his
+club, at ten sous a point, and as he is an excellent player, he wins
+seven times out of ten. He keeps an account of his games with the same
+scrupulous exactitude he has in all things, and he was telling the day
+before yesterday that piquet this year had brought him in six thousand
+five hundred francs over and above the cost of the cards. He has a seat
+in the orchestra at the opera, not for the ballet, but for the music
+only; he never goes on the stage--neither do I, for that matter. Dancers
+don't attract me at all; they live in Batignolles, in Montmartre; they
+always walk with their mothers; they completely lack charm. In short, my
+father is what one calls a good man. You see I continue to be fair to
+him. Besides, I'm always right. Yes, it's a very good thing to have an
+honorable father, and Papa Chamblard is a model of all virtues, and he
+accumulates for me with a zeal! but I think, just at present, he
+accumulates a little too much. He has cut off my income. No marriage,
+no money. That's brief and decisive. That's his programme. And he has
+hunted up a wife for me--when I say one, I should say three."
+
+"Three wives!"
+
+"Yes. One morning he came to me and said: 'This must end. Look, here's a
+list--three splendid matches.' There were the names, the relations, the
+dowries--it was even arranged in the order of the dowries. I had to
+yield and consent to an interview with Number One. That took place at
+the Salon in the Champs Elysees. Ah, my boy, Number One--dry, flat,
+bony, sallow!"
+
+"Then why did your father--"
+
+"Why? Because she was the daughter, and only daughter, of a wealthy
+manufacturer from Roubaix. It was splendid! We each started with a
+hundred thousand francs income, and that was to be, in the course of
+time, after realized expectations, a shower of millions! It made papa
+supremely happy--the thought that all his millions in Paris would one
+day make an enormous heap with all those Roubaix millions. Millions
+don't frighten me, but on the condition that they surround a pretty, a
+very pretty and stylish woman--a great deal of style! That's _my_
+programme. I want to be able to take my wife to the theatres without
+having to blush before the box-openers."
+
+"What do you mean? Before the box-openers?"
+
+"Why, certainly. I am known, and I've a reputation to keep up. You see,
+the openers are always the same--always; and of course they know me.
+They've been in the habit of seeing me, during the last three or four
+years, come with the best-known and best-dressed women in Paris. Which
+is to say, that I should never dare present myself before them with that
+creature from Roubaix. They would think I had married for money. I tried
+to explain that delicately to papa, but one can't make him hear reason.
+There are things which he doesn't understand, which he can't understand.
+I have no grudge against him; he's of his time, I'm of mine. In short, I
+declared resolutely that I would never marry Number One. Notice that I
+discoursed most sensibly with papa. I said to him: 'You want me to have
+a home' (home is his word), 'but when I should have placed in that home
+a fright such as to scare the sparrows, my home would be a horror to me,
+and I should be forced, absolutely forced, to arrange a home outside.
+Thus I should have a household at home and a household outside, and it's
+then that the money would fly!' But papa won't listen to anything! He
+doesn't understand that I must have a little wife who is pretty,
+Parisian pretty--that is to say, original, gay, jolly, who is looked at
+on the street, and stared at through opera-glasses at the theatre, who
+will do me honor, and who will set me off well. I must be able to
+continue my bachelor life with her, and as long as possible. And then
+there's another thing that I can't tell papa. His name is Chamblard--it
+isn't his fault; only, in consequence, I too am named Chamblard, and
+it's not very agreeable, with a name like that, to try to get on in
+society. And a pretty, a very pretty, woman is the best passport. There,
+look at Robineau. He has just been received into the little club of the
+Rue Royale. And why? It's not the Union or the Jockey; but never mind,
+one doesn't get in there as into a hotel. And why was Robineau
+received?"
+
+"I don't know."
+
+"It's because he has married a charming woman, and this charming woman
+is a skater of the first rank. She had a tremendous success on the ice
+at the Bois de Boulogne. In the society columns of all the papers there
+was mention of the exquisite, delightful, and ideal Mme. Robineau. She
+was in the swim at one stroke. And Robineau, he too was in the swim. He
+was a member of the little club six weeks later! Papa, he doesn't
+understand the importance of these things; one can't reason with him
+about it; it's all Greek to him. However, as he had absolutely cut off
+my supplies, I had to submit, and consent to an interview with Number
+Two."
+
+"And what was Number Two like?"
+
+"Ah, my dear fellow, what was she like! She was the daughter of a rich
+merchant of Antwerp. A Belgian article! First a provincial, and then a
+foreigner! Papa doesn't like Parisians. Mamma was from Chatellerault,
+and she was indeed a saint. Number Two happened to be in Paris; so last
+night, at the Opera Comique, they showed me a Fleming, who was very
+blond, very insipid, very masculine--a Rubens, a true Rubens; a
+giantess, a colossal woman, a head taller than I, which is to say that
+materially one could not take her in a lower stage-box, and those are
+the only boxes I like. On leaving the theatre I told papa that I
+wouldn't have Number Two any more than Number One, and that I had had
+enough, and that I wouldn't see Number Three. The discussion was heated.
+Papa went off banging doors and repeating, 'No more money!' I saw that
+it was serious. I went to bed, but I couldn't sleep--I thought; but I
+could think of nothing to save me from the fat hands of the Antwerp
+girl. Suddenly, towards three in the morning, I had an inspiration--I
+had an idea that I can call, if you'll permit it, a stroke of genius."
+
+"I'll permit it."
+
+"Yes, genius. I knew that you left to-day for Marseilles, and this
+morning I departed, English fashion, without explanation, and in a
+little while, at the first stop, at Laroche--I have looked at the
+time-table, I have thought of everything--I shall send the following
+despatch to my father," and Raoul triumphantly pulled a paper out of his
+pocket. "It's all ready. Listen. 'M. Chamblard, 8 Rue Rougemont, Paris,
+Laroche station. I left on the express for Marseilles with Maurice. I am
+going to make a voyage around the world. I sha'n't be more than six
+months. I have engaged by telegraph a state-room on the _Traonaddy_
+which leaves to-morrow for Singapore. Anything rather than a Flemish
+alliance! Farewell. With regrets for leaving you, your affectionate son,
+Raoul Chamblard.' My telegram's all right, isn't it?"
+
+"It isn't bad, but do you seriously mean--"
+
+"Yes, I shall go if, before I reach Marseilles, I haven't an answer from
+papa; but I shall have one, for two reasons. In the first place, Papa
+Chamblard knows how to reason, and he will say to himself: 'What shall I
+gain by it? Instead of fooling round with little white women in Paris,
+he will fool round with little yellow ones at Singapore.' And then
+another reason, the best one, is that Papa Chamblard adores me, and he
+can't do without me, and the little sentimental phrase at the end of my
+despatch will appeal to his heart. You'll see how it will turn out. At
+11.20 my telegram will leave Laroche; papa will receive it at half-past
+twelve. And I'll bet you ten louis that at Dijon or Macon I'll find in
+the wire screen of the station a telegram addressed to me, and worded
+thus: 'Return; no longer question of Antwerp marriage.' Papa's telegram
+will be brief, because he is saving and suppresses unnecessary words.
+Will you take the bet?"
+
+"No, I should lose."
+
+"I think so. Have you the papers?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+They read three or four papers, Parisian papers, and read them like true
+Parisians. It took a short fifteen minutes. While reading they exchanged
+short remarks about the new ministry, the races at Auteuil, and Yvette
+Guilbert--particularly about Yvette Guilbert. Young Chamblard had been
+to hear her the day before, and he hummed the refrain:
+
+    "Un fiacre allait trottinant
+          Cahin-caha
+        Hu dia! Hop la!
+    Un fiacre allait trottinant
+    Jaune avec un cocher blanc."
+
+And as the light cavalryman had never heard Yvette Guilbert sing the
+"Fiacre," young Chamblard threw up his arms and exclaimed: "You never
+heard the 'Fiacre,' and you had three months' leave! What did you do in
+Paris? _I_ know the 'Fiacre' by heart."
+
+Upon which Raoul began to hum again, and while humming in a voice which
+became more and more slow, and more and more feeble, he settled back
+into his arm-chair, and soon fell into a peaceful slumber, like the big
+baby that he was.
+
+All at once he was waked up with a start by the stepping of the train,
+and by the voice of the conductor, who cried, "Ouah! Ouah! Ouah!" The
+cry is the same for all stations. This time it was meant for Laroche.
+And now for the telegram. Young Chamblard ran to the telegraph-office.
+The immovable operator counted the sixty-seven words of that queer
+despatch. "All aboard, all aboard!"
+
+Young Chamblard had scarcely time to jump on the step of his car.
+
+"Ouf! that's done," he said to the cavalryman. "Suppose we lunch."
+
+So they both started on their way to the dining-car. It was quite a
+journey, for two parlor-cars separated them from the restaurant-car, and
+those two cars were crowded. It was the season for the great pilgrimage
+of a few Parisians and a good many English towards Nice, Cannes, and
+Monte Carlo. The express was running very fast, and was pitching
+violently. One needed sea-legs. Then a furious wind beat against the
+train, and wrapped it in clouds of dust, making the crossing of the
+platforms particularly disagreeable.
+
+They advanced, walking with difficulty through the first car, over the
+first crossing, and encountering the first squall, then through the
+second car; but Chamblard, who went ahead, had difficulty in opening the
+door to the second platform. It resisted on account of the force of the
+wind; finally it yielded, and Raoul received at the same time in his
+eyes a cloud of dust, and in his arms a young blonde, who exclaimed,
+"Oh, excuse me!" while he, too, exclaimed, "Oh, excuse me!" and at the
+same time he received the cavalryman on his back, who, also blinded by
+the dust, was saying, "Go on, Raoul, go on."
+
+The two doors of the cars had shut, and they were all three crowded in
+the little passage in the wind--young Raoul, young Maurice, and the
+young blonde.
+
+The "Oh, excuse me" was immediately followed by a "M. Maurice!" which
+was replied to by a "Mlle. Martha!" The little blonde knew the
+cavalryman, and perceiving that she was almost in the arms of a
+stranger, Mlle. Martha disengaged herself, and backed cleverly towards
+the platform of the car, saying to Maurice, "You're on the train, and
+you're going?"
+
+"To Algeria."
+
+"We to Marseilles. I am getting a shawl for mamma, who is cold. Mamma
+will be delighted to see you. You will find her in the dining-car. I'll
+see you later."
+
+"But I will accompany you?"
+
+"If you like."
+
+She walked on, but not without first having slightly bowed to young
+Chamblard, who had remained there astounded, contemplating Mlle. Martha
+with eyes filled with admiration.
+
+She had time before going to notice that he was a good-looking young
+fellow, that he wore a neat little suit, and that he looked at her with
+staring eyes; but in those staring eyes a thought could be clearly read
+that could not displease her: "Oh, how pretty you are!"
+
+Raoul was, in fact, saying to himself: "My type, exactly my type! And
+what style--what style in the simplicity of that costume! And the little
+toque, a little on one side over the ear--it's a masterpiece! How well
+she knows how to dress! What an effect she would make in an audience!
+And that little English accent!"
+
+For she had a little English accent; she had even taken a good deal of
+trouble for several years to acquire that little accent. She used to say
+to her governess, Miss Butler:
+
+"Yes, of course I want to know English, but I wish especially to speak
+French with an English accent." She had worked for nothing else. She had
+been, fortunately, rewarded for her perseverance; her little
+Anglo-Parisian gibberish was at times quite original.
+
+While Maurice was retracing his steps with Mlle. Martha, Raoul placed
+himself at a table in the dining-car. He soon saw them come back with
+mamma's shawl. Maurice lingered for a few minutes at the table where the
+mother and the young brother of the little blonde were lunching. Then he
+came back to Raoul, who said as soon as he approached:
+
+"Who is she--quick, tell me, who is she? Whenever one pleases I will
+marry her--now, on getting down from the train. In my arms! I held her
+in my arms! Such a waist! A dream! There are, as you must know, slim
+waists and slim waists. There are waists which are slim, hard, harsh,
+stiff, bony, or mechanically made by odious artifices in the corsets. I
+have thoroughly studied the corset question. It's so important! And then
+there's the true slim waist, which is easy, natural, supple. Supple
+isn't sufficient for what just slid through my hands a short time ago.
+Slippery--yes, that's the word. Slippery just expresses my thought--a
+slippery waist!"
+
+Raoul was quite charmed with what he said.
+
+"Yes," he continued, "slippery; and that little pug-nose! and her little
+eyes have quite a--a Chinese air! But who is she, who is she?"
+
+"The daughter of one of my mother's friends."
+
+"Is she rich?"
+
+"Very rich."
+
+"It's on account of papa that I asked you that, because I would marry
+her without a dowry. It's the first time I've ever said such a thing on
+meeting a young girl. And now the name."
+
+"Mlle. Martha Derame."
+
+"Derame, did you say?"
+
+"Yes."
+
+"Isn't the father a wealthy merchant who has business in Japan and
+China?"
+
+"The same."
+
+"Ah, my dear fellow--no; one only sees such things in the comic plays
+of the minor theatres, at Cluny or Dejazet."
+
+"What's the matter with you?"
+
+"What's the matter with me? She's papa's Number Three--yes, Number
+Three. The father of that little marvel is one of papa's piquet players
+at the club. And I wouldn't see Number Three, and she falls into my arms
+on the platform between Paris and Lyons. You will present me after
+lunch, and I shall speak to the mother and tell her all."
+
+"How, all?"
+
+"Yes, all; that her daughter is papa's Number Three, and that I didn't
+want Number One or Two, but that I should like Number Three. Ah, dear
+boy, how pretty she is--especially her nose, so charmingly turned up.
+She has just looked at me, and in a certain way; I am sure I don't
+displease her. Did you mention me, did you tell my name?"
+
+"No."
+
+"You were wrong. At any rate, right after lunch--Do you know what I
+think? That this affair will go through on wheels. I shall first
+telegraph papa, and then to-morrow--Oh, heavens! I hope there's a
+telephone between Paris and Marseilles--"
+
+He interrupted himself and called:
+
+"Porter! Porter!"
+
+"Sir."
+
+"Is there a telephone between Paris and Marseilles?"
+
+"Yes, sir."
+
+"Ah! That's all Thanks. The telephone, Maurice, there's the telephone!
+Papa can speak for me to-morrow by telephone. It will be charming!
+Marriage by express. Express, electric, telephonic, and romantic
+marriage, all at the same time. You understand that between a little
+phiz like that and a voyage around the world I don't hesitate. But why
+haven't you thought of marrying her?"
+
+"Oh, too wealthy--too wealthy a match for me; and then she is not the
+kind of little person to go and bury in a garrison town in Algeria. She
+is a Parisian, a true Parisian, who wants to amuse herself, and who will
+amuse herself."
+
+"Just what I want, absolutely just what I want. I too wish to amuse
+myself. She will amuse herself, I shall amuse myself, we will amuse
+ourselves."
+
+Young Raoul was in a frenzy, and as soon as he had finished his luncheon
+he scrawled a new despatch on the restaurant table to his father, and,
+while writing, talked very excitedly.
+
+"I'll send my despatch from Dijon, and I'll address it to the club; papa
+will be there about five o'clock, and also the father of this little
+marvel. They can immediately discuss the affair. Shall I ask for an
+answer at Lyons? The time-table, pass me the time-table. Lyons, 5.25.
+No, that would be too short. Answer at Marseilles. They stop at
+Marseilles? Yes? For twenty-four hours? All right, so do I. At what
+hotel? Hotel de Noailles? All right, so do I. So answer Hotel de
+Noailles. My despatch is very good. You will see. As good as the
+other--better, even. I've the knack of telegrams to-day. Yes, it's very
+good."
+
+He wrote and wrote; he was inspired, he was animated; he made a few more
+mistakes than usual in spelling, that was all--it was emotion. He reread
+his despatch with complaisance, he made Maurice read it, who could not
+help thinking the incident funny. Raoul counted the words of his
+despatch--there were about a hundred and fifty--and calling the waiter
+of the dining-car, he said, "Send this telegram off for me at Dijon.
+Here are ten francs; there will be two or three over for you."
+
+Then turning at once to Maurice he asked, "Is that enough?"
+
+"Why certainly."
+
+"Well, for such a marriage--ah, my dear fellow, you sail to-morrow at
+what time?"
+
+"At two o'clock."
+
+"Oh, we have plenty of time, then; all will be settled by two o'clock."
+
+"Oh, settled; you're crazy!"
+
+"Not at all; it's already very far advanced, since it's papa's Number
+Three. I only ask one thing of you: present me to the mother shortly.
+After that let me alone. I'll manage everything; only, at any cost, we
+must leave our car and find two arm-chairs in the same car, and near my
+mother-in-law."
+
+"Your mother-in-law!"
+
+"That's what I said; my mother-in-law. Once the two arm-chairs are
+procured, I am master of the situation. You don't know me. I already
+know what I shall say to the mother, what I shall say to my young
+brother-in-law (he is very nice), and what I shall say to my future
+bride. I shall have made a conquest of all of them before we reach
+Lyons. Lyons? No; that's going a little fast--say Valence or Montelimar.
+Pass me the time-table again. Let us settle everything, and leave
+nothing to chance. Oh, look at her! She has nibbled nuts for the last
+fifteen minutes, and how she cracks them--crack! one little bite--and
+what pretty little teeth! She is very pretty even while eating--an
+important thing. It's very rare to find women who remain pretty while
+eating and sleeping, very rare. Little Adelaide, the red-headed one, you
+remember, ate stupidly. And this one over there eats brightly; she
+eats--crack! another nut--and she looks at me on the sly. I can see that
+she looks at me. All goes well, all goes well!"
+
+In truth, all did go well. At Montbard, 12.32, Raoul was presented to
+Mme. Derame, who, on hearing the name of Chamblard, had a little
+shiver--the shiver of a mother who has a young daughter to marry, and
+who says to herself, "Oh, what a splendid match!" Her husband had often
+spoken to her of young Chamblard.
+
+"Ah," he used to say to her, "what a marriage for Martha! We speak of it
+sometimes before and after our piquet, Chamblard and I; but the young
+man is restive--doesn't yet wish to settle down. It would be such a good
+thing--he is richer than we. Chamblard is once, twice, three times
+richer! And Martha isn't easy to marry; she has already refused five or
+six desirable matches on all sorts of pretexts. They didn't please her:
+they were too old, they had no style, they didn't live in fashionable
+neighborhoods, she didn't wish to go into sugar, or cotton, or wine--or
+anything, in short. She would accept none other than a young husband,
+and not too serious. She must have a very rich man who did nothing and
+loved pleasure."
+
+How well young Chamblard answered to that description! When there was
+question of doing nothing, Raoul showed real talent. As soon as one
+talked horses, dogs, carriages, hats, dresses, jewelry, races, fencing,
+skating, cooking, etc., he showed signs of the rarest and highest
+competence.
+
+So, as there was general conversation, Raoul was very brilliant. In the
+neighborhood of Chalons-sur-Saone (3.10), while relating how he,
+Chamblard, had invented a marvellous little coupe, he did not say that:
+that coupe had been offered by him to Mlle. Juliette Lorphelin, of the
+ballet corps at the Folies-Bergere. This coupe was a marvel; besides, it
+was very well known; it was called the Chamblard coupe.
+
+"Small," he said, "very small. A coupe ought always to be small." But
+what a lot of things in such a small space: a drawer for toilet
+necessaries, a secret box for money and jewelry, a clock, a thermometer,
+a barometer, a writing-shelf--and that was not all!
+
+He became animated, and grew excited in speaking of his invention.
+Martha listened to him eagerly.
+
+"When you pull up the four wooden shutters you naturally find yourself
+in the dark; but the four shutters are mirrors, and as soon as one has
+placed a finger on a little button hidden under the right-hand cushion,
+six little crystal balls, ingeniously scattered in the tufting of the
+blue satin of the coupe, become electric lights. The coupe is turned
+into a little lighted boudoir; and not only for five minutes--no, but
+for an hour, two hours, if one wishes it; there is a storage-battery
+under the seat. When I submitted this idea to my carriage-maker he was
+smitten with envy and admiration."
+
+Martha, too, was smitten.
+
+"What a charming man!" she said to herself. "Oh, to have such a coupe!
+But pearl-gray--I should want it pearl-gray."
+
+Then they discussed jewelry, dresses, hats, stuffs. And Raoul proved on
+all those questions, if possible, more remarkable than ever. He had paid
+so many bills to great dress-makers, great milliners, and great
+jewellers! He had been present at so many conferences on the cut of such
+a dress or the arrangement of such a costume, at so many scenes of
+trying on and draping! And as he drew easily, he willingly threw his
+ideas on paper, as he said, neatly. He had even designed the costumes of
+a little piece--played in I do not know what little theatre--which was
+revolutionary, anarchistic, symbolistic, decadent, end of the century,
+end of the world.
+
+He took his little note-book and began to outline with a light hand, in
+spite of the movement of the train, several of his creations. He had
+tact, and thought of everything. "It was," he said, "for charades played
+in society at my friend's, the baron so and so." He invented the baron,
+and gave him a resonant name.
+
+Martha was delighted. Never had a man, since she had been allowed to
+chat a little with young men, seemed to her to have such an original and
+interesting conversation.
+
+"Lately," said Raoul, "one of my cousins--she often applies to
+me--consulted me about a dress for a ball at Nice, during the carnival.
+This is what I advised her. See, I draw at the same time--look."
+
+Oh, how she did look!
+
+"I am going to try to make myself well understood. A foundation of
+smooth white satin, clinging, very clinging--blue, I adore blue."
+
+That pained her; she disliked blue.
+
+"Yes, very clinging; my cousin has a delightful figure, and can stand
+it."
+
+He took Martha's figure in with a hasty glance, and the glance seemed to
+say, "You could, too." She understood and blushed, charmed with that
+delicate flattery. Raoul continued:
+
+"Pale, very pale blue satin. Then on my foundation I threw an
+over-dress of pompadour lace of very soft tones: greens, pinks, mauves,
+cream, and azure. Very large sleeves with a double puff of blue velvet,
+wristlets of Venetian point. Am I clear?"
+
+"Oh, very clear, very clear."
+
+And in an excited voice she repeated:
+
+"A double puff of blue velvet, with wristlets of Venetian point."
+
+All of a sudden the brakes scraped, and the train came sharply to a
+stop. One heard the cry of "Macon! Macon!"
+
+"Macon already!" said Martha.
+
+That "_already_" rang delightfully in Raoul's ears. There was much in
+that _already_. Raoul profited by the five minutes' stop to complete and
+fix his little sketch, which was slightly jolted; and he did not notice
+that his young brother-in-law had been sent out with a despatch to the
+telegraph-office. The despatch had been secretly written by Mme. Derame,
+and had, too, been directed to the Old Club.
+
+The train started--4.11. Raoul had not thought to get down to see if
+under the railing there was not a despatch addressed to him. There was
+one, which was to remain eternally at Macon. The telegram contained
+these words: "Return; no longer question of Antwerp marriage."
+
+The train ran on and on, and now there was question of another dress--a
+silk dress, light pink, with a large jabot of lace down the front. Raoul
+literally dazzled Martha by his inexhaustible fertility of wise
+expressions and technical terms.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+While the express passed the Romaneche station (4.32) father Chamblard
+came into the Old Club, went into the card-room, and met father Derame.
+Piquet? With pleasure. So there they sat, face to face. There were there
+eight or ten card-tables--piquet, bezique, whist, etc. The works were in
+full blast. First game, and papa Derame is rubiconed; the second game
+was going to begin when a footman arrives with a despatch for M.
+Chamblard.
+
+"Will you excuse me?"
+
+"Certainly."
+
+He reads, he becomes red; he rereads, and he gets scarlet.
+
+It was Raoul's brilliant telegram from Dijon:
+
+"Dear father, I shall not go. Most extraordinary meeting. Your Number
+Three--yes, your Number Three--in the train with her mother, and I
+wouldn't see her. Ah! if I had known. Strike while the iron's hot; I'm
+striking it, strike it too. M. D. must be at the club, speak to him at
+once; tell him that I left to avoid marrying an ugly woman; that I only
+wish to make a love-match; that I am head-over-heels in love with his
+daughter. We shall all be to-night at Marseilles, Hotel de Noailles. Get
+M. D. to back me up by telegraph to Mme. D. I will talk with you
+to-morrow over the telephone. I am writing my telegram in the
+dining-car. At this moment she is nibbling nuts--charming, she is
+charming! She fell into my arms on the platform. Till to-morrow at the
+telephone, nine o'clock."
+
+M. Chamblard's agitation did not escape M. Derame.
+
+"Is it a serious matter?" he asked.
+
+"Yes."
+
+"We can stop if you wish."
+
+"Yes; but first of all, did Mme. and Mlle. Derame leave here this
+morning on the express for Marseilles?"
+
+"Yes, at 9.55. Why do you ask that? Has there been any accident?"
+
+"No, no accident; it can't be called that; on the contrary. Come, come
+into the little parlor."
+
+He told him everything, showed him the despatch, gave him certain
+necessary explanations about the words, such as Number Three. And there
+they were, choking, delighted--both the father of the young man and the
+father of the young girl. What luck, what a providential meeting!
+
+"But you told me that your son didn't wish to marry."
+
+"He didn't wish to, but he has seen your daughter, and now he wishes to.
+Come, hurry up and send a telegram to Marseilles to Mme. Derame."
+
+"But she will be thunderstruck when I present to her a son-in-law by
+telegraph."
+
+Return of the footman. It was a despatch for M. Derame. He opens it.
+
+"It's from my wife, from Macon, 2.15."
+
+"Good," says M. Chamblard; "all goes well, very well."
+
+"Very disturbed. Met in the train the son of M. C., of Rue Rougemont,
+your club friend. He was presented by Maurice. You often spoke to me of
+a possible alliance there. Evidently he thinks her charming. Just at
+present he is talking to her, and looks at her, looks at her. What shall
+I do? Shall I put a stop to it or allow it to continue? Large fortune,
+isn't there?"
+
+M. Derame in his turn showed his despatch to M. Chamblard. They
+continued to talk, in high good-humor and in excellent accord, and went
+on with their game of piquet only after having sent the following two
+telegrams to the Hotel de Noailles:
+
+First despatch to Mme. Derame: "If it pleases you, if it pleases her,
+yes. Enormous fortune."
+
+Second despatch to Raoul: "Have spoken to D. He is telegraphing to Mme.
+D. He approves, so do I."
+
+A footman carried the two despatches at the same time to the
+telegraph-office in the Place de la Bourse, and during the time that,
+running over the wires along the railroad, they passed the express
+towards half-past six in the neighborhood of Saint-Rambert, the Derames,
+Raoul, and Maurice, in the best possible spirits and in most perfect
+harmony, dined at the same table, and Martha looked at Raoul, and Raoul
+looked at Martha, and Mme. Derame said to herself: "Martha's falling in
+love; I know her, she is falling in love. She fell in love just so last
+year at a ball with a little youth who was very dandified, but without
+fortune. This time, luckily, yes--Edward told me so--there is plenty of
+money; so, naturally, if Martha is willing we are."
+
+The train ran on, and on, and on; and Raoul talked, and talked, and
+talked. He even let slip practical thoughts, raised himself up to
+general ideas, and developed with force the theory that the first duty
+of a woman was to be, in all things, refined elegance. He explained,
+with endless detail, what the life of an absolutely correct fashionable
+woman was, what it was to be an absolutely fashionable woman. He
+triumphantly took _his fashionable woman_ from Paris to Trouville, from
+Trouville to Lake Como, from Lake Como to Monte-Carlo. He drew the
+trunks of the fashionable woman, marvellous trunks, which were heaped up
+in the vestibules of first-class hotels. Besides, he had also invented a
+trunk.
+
+Then, very tactfully, he put Martha through a little examination, which
+had nothing in common with the examinations of the Sorbonne or the Hotel
+de Ville.
+
+"Did she skate?" That's what he wanted to know first! He was himself a
+very distinguished skater. He needed a sport-loving wife. He had but
+just pronounced the word skating when suddenly the young brother (how
+precious little brothers sometimes are) exclaimed: "Ah, it's sister who
+skates well! She makes figures-of-eight. And who swims well, too--like a
+fish!"
+
+She skated, she swam, she was sport-loving. Raoul said to the young
+girl, with deep enthusiasm: "I congratulate you. A woman who can't swim
+isn't a woman."
+
+And he added, with increasing energy:
+
+"A woman who can't skate isn't a woman."
+
+When he had a strong thought, he willingly used it again in a brief but
+striking form.
+
+Martha's face beamed with joy. She was really a woman. Never had a
+sweeter word been said to her.
+
+Night had come; it was necessary, therefore, to tear one's self away
+from that exquisite conversation, and return to the parlor-car. Young
+Derame was going to sleep; so they began to prepare for the trip through
+the train.
+
+Here is the platform, the platform of the morning, the platform of the
+first meeting. She walks ahead of him, and in a whisper he says to her,
+"It's here that this morning--"
+
+She turns round, and smiling repeats, "Yes, it's here that this
+morning--"
+
+Always with that little English accent which never leaves her, even when
+she is most agitated.
+
+_It is here that this morning_--That was all, and it said all. A
+delightful evening. No more rain, no more dust. Already there was the
+soft, balmy air of the South. The moon lit that idyl at full speed.
+Spring-time everywhere, in the sky and in the hearts.
+
+"She loves me," he said to himself.
+
+"He adores me," she said to herself.
+
+How right they were to give themselves up thus, without a struggle,
+without resistance, to the inclination which carried them, quite
+naturally, towards each other. There had been between them, from the
+first word, so perfect, so complete a community of tastes, ideas, and
+sentiments. They were so well made, this little puppet and this little
+doll, to roll off, both together, gloriously in the "Chamblard coupe,"
+so well matched to walk in the world, accomplishing mechanically,
+automatically, at the right hour, in the prescribed costume, everywhere
+where it was correct to take pleasure, all the functions of fashionable
+life, and all the rituals of worldly worship.
+
+They arrive in the parlor-car. The shades are drawn over the lamps;
+travellers are stiff, drowsy, and asleep in the big red arm-chairs.
+
+"Change places," Raoul whispers to Maurice; "sit beside her. I am going
+to sit by the mother; I must speak to her."
+
+Maurice lent himself to this manoeuvre with perfect docility, Martha
+did not understand it. Why did he abandon her? Why was he talking to her
+mother, and so low, so low that she couldn't hear? What was he saying?
+What was he saying?
+
+This is what he said between Montelimar, 8.35, and Pierrelatte, 8.55:
+
+"Listen to me, madam, listen to me. I am an honest man; I wish, I
+ought, to let you know the situation, the entire situation. Let us first
+settle an important point. My father knows M. Derame."
+
+"Yes, yes, I know."
+
+"Another more important point. Let us mention the essential things
+first. My father is very rich."
+
+"I know, I know that too."
+
+"Good, then, very good. I continue. I left Paris this morning, and I
+have here in my pocket a ticket for cabin No. 27 on the _Traonaddy_,
+which leaves to-morrow at four o'clock from the Bay of Joliette for
+Suez, Aden, Colombo, and Singapore, and I shall go on board to-morrow at
+four o'clock if you don't let me hope to become your son-in-law."
+
+"Sir!"
+
+"Don't move, madam, don't move. Mlle. Martha is pretending to sleep, but
+she isn't sleeping; she is watching us, and I haven't said all yet. I am
+but just beginning. You are going to answer me--oh, I know it--that you
+don't know me, that Mlle. Martha doesn't know me. Allow me to tell you
+that Mlle. Martha and myself know each other better than three-fourths
+of engaged couples on the day of their marriage. You know how it is
+usually done. A rapid glance from afar in a theatre--one brings good
+lorgnettes, one examines. 'How do you like him?' 'Fairly, fairly.'
+Then, several days later, at a ball, in the midst of the figures of the
+quadrille, several gasping, breathless phrases are exchanged. Then a
+meeting in a picture-gallery. There, there is more intimacy, because it
+takes place in a small room. It happened to me with a young provincial.
+I had pegged away that morning at the Joanne guide, so as to be able to
+find something to say about the Raphaels and the Murillos. And at the
+end of several interviews of that sort it is over, one has made
+acquaintance, one suits the other, and the marriage is decided. Mlle.
+Martha and I are already old comrades. In the first place, to begin
+with, this morning at half-past eleven she fell into my arms."
+
+"My daughter in your arms!"
+
+"Don't jump, madam; Mlle. Martha will see you jump."
+
+Martha had, in fact, closely followed the scene with half-shut eyes, and
+said to herself, "Good gracious! what is he telling mamma? She is
+obliged to hold on to the arms of her seat to keep herself from jumping
+up."
+
+"Yes, madam, in my arms; by the greatest, by the most fortunate of
+accidents, we stumbled over each other on one of the platforms of the
+train. And since I have seen her, not in the false light of a theatre
+or a gallery, but in the full glare of sunlight. I have seen her at
+lunch, munching nuts with the prettiest teeth there are in the world; I
+have seen her, just now, in the moonlight; and I know that she skates,
+and I know that she swims, and I know she would like to have a
+pearl-gray coupe, and she ought to have it. And now I admire her in the
+semi-obscurity. Ravishing! isn't she ravishing?"
+
+"Sir, never has a mother found herself--"
+
+"In such a situation? I acknowledge it, madam, and for that very reason
+you must get out of the situation quickly; it's evident that it can't be
+prolonged."
+
+"That's true--"
+
+"Here is what I propose to you. You go to the Hotel de Noailles; I, too,
+naturally. You have all the morning to-morrow to talk to Mlle. Martha,
+and the telephone to talk through to M. Derame. You know who I am. You
+have seen me, too, in the daylight. I have talked--talked a great deal.
+You could, you and Mlle. Martha, find out what I am, what I think. Well,
+to-morrow--what time do you expect to breakfast to-morrow?"
+
+"But I don't know. I assure you that I am choking, upset, overcome."
+
+"Let us settle on an hour all the same; eleven o'clock--will you, at
+eleven?"
+
+"If you wish."
+
+"Well, to-morrow at eleven o'clock I shall be in the dining-room of the
+hotel. If you say 'Go' I shall go; if you say 'Stay' I shall stay. Don't
+answer me; take time to reflect; it's worth while. Till to-morrow,
+madam, till to-morrow at eleven."
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In the morning very interesting communications passed between Paris and
+Marseilles.
+
+When Mme. Derame entered the dining-room of the hotel at eleven o'clock,
+Raoul went straight to her, and the cavalryman, always adroit in his
+manoeuvres, had taken possession of Mlle. Martha. A short dialogue
+ensued between Raoul and Mme. Derame, who was much agitated.
+
+"They tell me there are boats every fortnight between Indo-China and
+Marseilles--you could put off your departure--merely taking another
+boat--"
+
+"Ah, thanks, madam, thanks!"
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At two o'clock the Derames and young Chamblard accompanied Maurice to
+the boat for Africa. On the deck of the steamer Raoul said to his
+friend:
+
+"It's understood that you are to be best man. On arriving, ask your
+colonel for leave at once. It will take place, I think, in six weeks."
+
+Raoul was mistaken. It was decidedly an express marriage; five weeks
+were sufficient.
+
+When they were mounting the steps of the Madeleine, Raoul said to
+Martha:
+
+"Twelve o'clock."
+
+"What are you thinking of?"
+
+"Ah, you too."
+
+"Twelve, the hour of the platform, isn't it?"
+
+"Yes, that's it."
+
+They began to laugh, but quickly became serious, and made an
+irreproachable entry into church.
+
+They were looked at eagerly, and on all sides the following remarks were
+exchanged:
+
+"You know it's a love-match." "Yes, it appears it was a meeting on the
+train." "A lightning-stroke!" "What a charming affair!" "And so rare!"
+"Oh yes, so rare! A love-match! A true love-match!"
+
+
+
+
+THE END
+
+
+
+
+
+End of Project Gutenberg's Parisian Points of View, by Ludovic Halevy
+
+*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PARISIAN POINTS OF VIEW ***
+
+***** This file should be named 15465.txt or 15465.zip *****
+This and all associated files of various formats will be found in:
+        https://www.gutenberg.org/1/5/4/6/15465/
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Melissa Er-Raqabi and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net.
+
+
+Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions
+will be renamed.
+
+Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no
+one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation
+(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without
+permission and without paying copyright royalties.  Special rules,
+set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to
+copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to
+protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark.  Project
+Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you
+charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission.  If you
+do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the
+rules is very easy.  You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose
+such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and
+research.  They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do
+practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks.  Redistribution is
+subject to the trademark license, especially commercial
+redistribution.
+
+
+
+*** START: FULL LICENSE ***
+
+THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE
+PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK
+
+To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free
+distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work
+(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at
+https://gutenberg.org/license).
+
+
+Section 1.  General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic works
+
+1.A.  By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to
+and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property
+(trademark/copyright) agreement.  If you do not agree to abide by all
+the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy
+all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession.
+If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the
+terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or
+entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8.
+
+1.B.  "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark.  It may only be
+used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who
+agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement.  There are a few
+things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works
+even without complying with the full terms of this agreement.  See
+paragraph 1.C below.  There are a lot of things you can do with Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement
+and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.  See paragraph 1.E below.
+
+1.C.  The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation"
+or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic works.  Nearly all the individual works in the
+collection are in the public domain in the United States.  If an
+individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are
+located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from
+copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative
+works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg
+are removed.  Of course, we hope that you will support the Project
+Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by
+freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of
+this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with
+the work.  You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by
+keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project
+Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others.
+
+1.D.  The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern
+what you can do with this work.  Copyright laws in most countries are in
+a constant state of change.  If you are outside the United States, check
+the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement
+before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or
+creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project
+Gutenberg-tm work.  The Foundation makes no representations concerning
+the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United
+States.
+
+1.E.  Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg:
+
+1.E.1.  The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate
+access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently
+whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the
+phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project
+Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed,
+copied or distributed:
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+1.E.2.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived
+from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is
+posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied
+and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees
+or charges.  If you are redistributing or providing access to a work
+with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the
+work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1
+through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the
+Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or
+1.E.9.
+
+1.E.3.  If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted
+with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution
+must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional
+terms imposed by the copyright holder.  Additional terms will be linked
+to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the
+permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work.
+
+1.E.4.  Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this
+work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm.
+
+1.E.5.  Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this
+electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without
+prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with
+active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm License.
+
+1.E.6.  You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary,
+compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any
+word processing or hypertext form.  However, if you provide access to or
+distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than
+"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version
+posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org),
+you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a
+copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon
+request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other
+form.  Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1.
+
+1.E.7.  Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying,
+performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works
+unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9.
+
+1.E.8.  You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing
+access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided
+that
+
+- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from
+     the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method
+     you already use to calculate your applicable taxes.  The fee is
+     owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he
+     has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the
+     Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation.  Royalty payments
+     must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you
+     prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax
+     returns.  Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and
+     sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the
+     address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to
+     the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation."
+
+- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies
+     you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he
+     does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm
+     License.  You must require such a user to return or
+     destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium
+     and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of
+     Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any
+     money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the
+     electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days
+     of receipt of the work.
+
+- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free
+     distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works.
+
+1.E.9.  If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm
+electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set
+forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from
+both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael
+Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark.  Contact the
+Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below.
+
+1.F.
+
+1.F.1.  Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable
+effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread
+public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm
+collection.  Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain
+"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or
+corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual
+property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a
+computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by
+your equipment.
+
+1.F.2.  LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right
+of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project
+Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project
+Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all
+liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal
+fees.  YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT
+LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE
+PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3.  YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE
+TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE
+LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR
+INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH
+DAMAGE.
+
+1.F.3.  LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a
+defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can
+receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a
+written explanation to the person you received the work from.  If you
+received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with
+your written explanation.  The person or entity that provided you with
+the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a
+refund.  If you received the work electronically, the person or entity
+providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to
+receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund.  If the second copy
+is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further
+opportunities to fix the problem.
+
+1.F.4.  Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth
+in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER
+WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO
+WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE.
+
+1.F.5.  Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied
+warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages.
+If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the
+law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be
+interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by
+the applicable state law.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any
+provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions.
+
+1.F.6.  INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the
+trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone
+providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance
+with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production,
+promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works,
+harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees,
+that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do
+or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm
+work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any
+Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause.
+
+
+Section  2.  Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of
+electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers
+including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers.  It exists
+because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from
+people in all walks of life.
+
+Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the
+assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's
+goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will
+remain freely available for generations to come.  In 2001, the Project
+Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure
+and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations.
+To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation
+and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4
+and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org.
+
+
+Section 3.  Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive
+Foundation
+
+The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit
+501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the
+state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal
+Revenue Service.  The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification
+number is 64-6221541.  Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at
+https://pglaf.org/fundraising.  Contributions to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent
+permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws.
+
+The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S.
+Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered
+throughout numerous locations.  Its business office is located at
+809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email
+business@pglaf.org.  Email contact links and up to date contact
+information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official
+page at https://pglaf.org
+
+For additional contact information:
+     Dr. Gregory B. Newby
+     Chief Executive and Director
+     gbnewby@pglaf.org
+
+
+Section 4.  Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg
+Literary Archive Foundation
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide
+spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of
+increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be
+freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest
+array of equipment including outdated equipment.  Many small donations
+($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt
+status with the IRS.
+
+The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating
+charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United
+States.  Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a
+considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up
+with these requirements.  We do not solicit donations in locations
+where we have not received written confirmation of compliance.  To
+SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any
+particular state visit https://pglaf.org
+
+While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we
+have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition
+against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who
+approach us with offers to donate.
+
+International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make
+any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from
+outside the United States.  U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff.
+
+Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation
+methods and addresses.  Donations are accepted in a number of other
+ways including including checks, online payments and credit card
+donations.  To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate
+
+
+Section 5.  General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic
+works.
+
+Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm
+concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared
+with anyone.  For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project
+Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support.
+
+
+Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed
+editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S.
+unless a copyright notice is included.  Thus, we do not necessarily
+keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition.
+
+
+Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility:
+
+     https://www.gutenberg.org
+
+This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm,
+including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary
+Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to
+subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks.
diff --git a/15465.zip b/15465.zip
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f0f429f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/15465.zip
diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6312041
--- /dev/null
+++ b/LICENSE.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements,
+metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be
+in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES.
+
+Procedures for determining public domain status are described in
+the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org.
+
+No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in
+jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize
+this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright
+status under the laws that apply to them.
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..12e23d3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/README.md
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for
+eBook #15465 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/15465)