addressedherself
was
a
young
lady
with
dark
hair
,
which
,
despite
its
evident
repugnance
,
was
restrained
into
smooth
glossy
braids
over
the
forehead
,
and
at
the
crown
of
the
small
graceful
head
into
the
simple
knot
which
Horace
has
described
as
“
Spartan
.
”
Her
dress
contrasted
the
speaker’s
by
an
exquisite
neatness
.
We
have
seen
her
before
as
the
lady
in
the
pearl-coloured
robe
;
but
seen
now
at
home
she
looks
much
younger
.
She
was
one
of
those
whom
,
encountered
in
the
streets
or
in
society
,
one
might
guess
to
be
married
,
—
probably
a
young
bride
;
for
thus
seen
there
was
about
her
an
air
of
dignity
and
of
self-possession
which
suits
well
with
the
ideal
of
chaste
youthful
matronage
;
and
in
the
expression
of
the
face
there
was
a
pensive
thoughtfulness
beyond
her
years
.
But
as
she
now
sat
by
the
open
window
arranging
flowers
in
a
glass
bowl
,
a
book
lying
open
on
her
lap
,
you
would
never
have
said
,
“
What
a
handsome
woman
!
”
you
would
have
said
,
“
What
a
charming
girl
!
”
All
about
her
was
maidenly
,
innocent
,
and
fresh
.
The
dignity
of
her
bearing
was
lost
in
household
ease
,
the
pensiveness
of
her
expression
in
an
untroubled
serene
sweetness
.
Perhaps
many
of
my
readers
may
have
known
friends
engaged
in
some
absorbing
cause
of
thought
,
and
who
are
in
the
habit
when
they
go
out
,
especially
if
on
solitary
walks
,
to
take
that
cause
of
thought
with
them
.
The
friend
may
be
an
orator
meditating
his
speech
,
a
poet
his
verses
,
a
lawyer
a
difficult
case
,
a
physician
an
intricate
malady
.
If
you
have
such
a
friend
,
and
you
observe
him
thus
away
from
his
home
,
his
face
will
seem
to
you
older
and
graver
.
He
is
absorbed
in
the
care
that
weighs
on
him
.
When
you
see
him
in
a
holiday
moment
at
his
own
fireside
,
the
care
is
thrown
aside
;
perhaps
he
mastered
while
abroad
the
difficulty
that
had
troubled
him
;
he
is
cheerful
,
pleasant
,
sunny
.
This
appears
to
be
very
much
the
case
with
persons
of
genius
.
When
in
their
own
houses
we
usually
find
them
very
playful
and
childlike
.
Most
persons
of
real
genius
,
whatever
they
may
seem
out
of
doors
,
are
very
sweet-tempered
at
home
,
and
sweet
temper
is
sympathizing
and
genial
in
the
intercourse
of
private
life
.
Certainly
,
observing
this
girl
as
she
now
bends
over
the
flowers
,
it
would
be
difficult
to
believe
her
to
be
the
Isaura
Cicogna
whose
letters
to
Madame
de
Grantinesnil
exhibit
the
doubts
and
struggles
of
an
unquiet
,
discontented
,
aspiring
mind
.
Only
in
one
or
two
passages
in
those
letters
would
you
have
guessed
at
the
writer
in
the
girl
as
we
now
see
her
.
It
is
in
those
passages
where
she
expresses
her
love
of
harmony
,
and
her
repugnance
to
contest
:
those
were
characteristics
you
might
have
read
in
her
face
.
Certainly
the
girl
is
very
lovely
:
what
long
dark
eyelashes
!
what
soft
,
tender
,
dark-blue
eyes
!
now
that
she
looks
up
and
smiles
,
what
a
bewitching
smile
it
is
!
by
what
sudden
play
of
rippling
dimples
the
smile
is
enlivened
and
redoubled
!
Do
you
notice
one
feature
?
In
very
showy
beauties
it
is
seldom
noticed
;
but
I
,
being
in
my
way
a
physiognomist
,
consider
that
it
is
always
worth
heeding
as
an
index
of
character
.
It
is
the
ear
.
Remark
how
delicately
it
is
formed
in
her
:
none
of
that
heaviness
of
lobe
which
is
a
sure
sign
of
sluggish
intellect
and
coarse
perception
.
Hers
is
the
artist’s
ear
.
Note
next
those
hands
:
how
beautifully
shaped
!
small
,
but
not
doll-like
hands
,
—
ready
and
nimble
,
firm
and
nervous
hands
,
that
could
work
for
a
helpmate
.
By
no
means
very
white
,
still
less
red
,
but
somewhat
embrowned
as
by
the
sun
,
such
as
you
may
see
in
girls
reared
in
southern
climes
,
and
in
her
perhaps
betokening
an
impulsive
character
which
had
not
accustomed
itself
,
when
at
sport
in
the
open
air
,
to
the
thraldom
of
gloves
,
—
very
impulsive
people
even
in
cold
climates
seldom
do
.
In
conveying
to
us
by
a
few
bold
strokes
an
idea
of
the
sensitive
,
quick-moved
,
warm-blooded
Henry
II
.
,
the
most
impulsive
of
the
Plantagenets
,
his
contemporary
chronicler
tells
us
that
rather
than
imprison
those
active
hands
of
his
,
even
in
hawking-gloves
,
he
would
suffer
his
falcon
to
fix
its
sharp
claws
into
his
wrist
.
No
doubt
there
is
a
difference
as
to
what
is
befitting
between
a
burly
bellicose
creature
like
Henry
II
.
and
a
delicate
young
lady
like
Isaura
Cicogna
;
and
one
would
not
wish
to
see
those
dainty
wrists
of
hers
seamed
and
scarred
by
a
falcon’s
claws
.
But
a
girl
may
not
be
less
exquisitely
feminine
for
slight
heed
of
artificial
prettiness
.
Isaura
had
no
need
of
pale
bloodless
hands
to
seem
one
of
Nature’s
highest
grade
of
gentlewomen
even
to
the
most
fastidious
eyes
.
About
her
there
was
a
charm
apart
from
her
mere
beauty
,
and
often
disturbed
instead
of
heightened
by
her
mere
intellect
:
it
consisted
in
a
combination
of
exquisite
artistic
refinement
,
and
of
a
generosity
of
character
by
which
refinement
was
animated
into
vigour
and
warmth
.
The
room
,
which
was
devoted
exclusively
to
Isaura
,
had
in
it
much
that
spoke
of
the
occupant
.
That
room
,
when
first
taken
furnished
,
had
a
good
deal
of
the
comfortless
showiness
which
belongs
to
ordinary
furnished
apartments
in
France
,
especially
in
the
Parisian
suburbs
,
chiefly
let
for
the
summer
:
thin
limp
muslin
curtains
that
decline
to
draw
;
stiff
mahogany
chairs
covered
with
yellow
Utrecht
velvet
;
a
tall
secretaire
in
a
dark
corner
;
an
oval
buhl-table
set
in
tawdry
ormolu
,
islanded
in
the
centre
of
a
poor
but
gaudy
Scotch
carpet
;
and
but
one
other
table
of
dull
walnut-wood
,
standing
clothless
before
a
sofa
to
match
the
chairs
;
the
eternal
ormolu
clock
flanked
by
the
two
eternal
ormolu
candelabra
on
the
dreary
mantelpiece
.
Some
of
this
garniture
had
been
removed
,
others
softened
into
cheeriness
and
comfort
.
The
room
somehow
or
other
—
thanks
partly
to
a
very
moderate
expenditure
in
pretty
twills
with
pretty
borders
,
gracefully
simple
table-covers
,
with
one
or
two
additional
small
tables
and
easy-chairs
,
two
simple
vases
filled
with
flowers
;
thanks
still
more
to
a
nameless
skill
in
re-arrangement
,
and
the
disposal
of
the
slight
knick-knacks
and
well-bound
volumes
,
which
,
even
in
travelling
,
women
who
have
cultivated
the
pleasures
of
taste
carry
about
them
—
had
been
coaxed
into
that
quiet
harmony
,
that
tone
of
consistent
subdued
colour
,
which
corresponded
with
the
characteristics
of
the
inmate
.
Most
people
might
have
been
puzzled
where
to
place
the
piano
,
a
semi-grand
,
so
as
not
to
take
up
too
much
space
in
the
little
room
;
but
where
it
was
placed
it
seemed
so
at
home
that
you
might
have
supposed
the
room
had
been
built
for
it
.
There
are
two
kinds
of
neatness
,
—
one
is
too
evident
,
and
makes
everything
about
it
seem
trite
and
cold
and
stiff
;
and
another
kind
of
neatness
disappears
from
our
sight
in
a
satisfied
sense
of
completeness
,
—
like
some
exquisite
,
simple
,
finished
style
of
writing
,
an
Addison’s
or
a
St.
Pierre’s
.
This
last
sort
of
neatness
belonged
to
Isaura
,
and
brought
to
mind
the
well-known
line
of
Catullus
when
on
recrossing
his
threshold
he
invokes
its
welcome
,
—
a
line
thus
not
inelegantly
translated
by
Leigh
Hunt
,
“
Smile
every
dimple
on
the
cheek
of
Home
.
”
I
entreat
the
reader’s
pardon
for
this
long
descriptive
digression
;
but
Isaura
is
one
of
those
characters
which
are
called
many-sided
,
and
therefore
not
very
easy
to
comprehend
.
She
gives
us
one
side
of
her
character
in
her
correspondence
with
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
,
and
another
side
of
it
in
her
own
home
with
her
Italian
companion
,
—
half
nurse
,
half
chaperon
.
“
Monsieur
Louvier
is
indeed
very
courteous
,
”
said
Isaura
,
looking
up
from
the
flowers
with
the
dimpled
smile
we
have
noticed
.
“
But
I
think
,
Madre
,
that
we
should
do
well
to
stay
at
home
on
Saturday
,
—
not
peacefully
,
for
I
owe
you
your
revenge
at
Euchre
.
”
“
You
can’t
mean
it
,
Piecola
!
”
exclaimed
the
Signora
,
in
evident
consternation
.
“
Stay
at
home
!
—
why
stay
at
home
?
Euchre
is
very
well
when
there
is
nothing
else
to
do
:
but
change
is
pleasant
;
le
bon
Dieu
likes
it
,
“
‘Ne
caldo
ne
gelo
Resta
mai
in
cielo.’
“
And
such
beautiful
ices
one
gets
at
M
.
Louvier’s
!
Did
you
taste
the
pistachio
ice
?
What
fine
rooms
,
and
so
well
lit
up
!
I
adore
light
.
And
the
ladies
so
beautifully
dressed
:
one
sees
the
fashions
.
Stay
at
home
!
play
at
Euchre
indeed
!
Piccola
,
you
cannot
be
so
cruel
to
yourself
:
you
are
young
.
”
“
But
,
dear
Madre
,
just
consider
;
we
are
invited
because
we
are
considered
professional
singers
:
your
reputation
as
such
is
of
course
established
,
—
mine
is
not
;
but
still
I
shall
be
asked
to
sing
,
as
I
was
asked
before
;
and
you
know
Dr.
C
.
forbids
me
to
do
so
except
to
a
very
small
audience
;
and
it
is
so
ungracious
always
to
say
‘No
;
’
and
besides
,
did
you
not
yourself
say
,
when
we
came
away
last
time
from
M
.
Louvier’s
,
that
it
was
very
dull
,
that
you
knew
nobody
,
and
that
the
ladies
had
such
superb
toilets
that
you
felt
mortified
—
and
—
”
“
Zitto
!
zitto
!
you
talk
idly
,
Piccola
,
—
very
idly
.
I
was
mortified
then
in
my
old
black
Lyons
silk
;
but
have
I
not
bought
since
then
my
beautiful
Greek
jacket
,
—
scarlet
and
gold
lace
?
and
why
should
I
buy
it
if
I
am
not
to
show
it
?
”
“
But
,
dear
Madre
,
the
jacket
is
certainly
very
handsome
,
and
will
make
an
effect
in
a
little
dinner
at
the
Savarins
or
Mrs.
Morley’s
;
but
in
a
great
formal
reception
like
M
.
Louvier’s
will
it
not
look
—
”
“
Splendid
!
”
interrupted
the
Signora
.
“
But
singolare
.
”
“
So
much
the
better
;
did
not
that
great
English
Lady
wear
such
a
jacket
,
and
did
not
every
one
admire
her
,
piu
tosto
invidia
the
compassione
?
”
Isaura
sighed
.
Now
the
jacket
of
the
Signora
was
a
subject
of
disquietude
to
her
friend
.
It
so
happened
that
a
young
English
lady
of
the
highest
rank
and
the
rarest
beauty
had
appeared
at
M
.
Louvier’s
,
and
indeed
generally
in
the
beau
monde
of
Paris
,
in
a
Greek
jacket
that
became
her
very
much
.
The
jacket
had
fascinated
,
at
M
.
Louvier’s
,
the
eyes
of
the
Signora
.
But
of
this
Isaura
was
unaware
.
The
Signora
,
on
returning
home
from
M
.
Louvier’s
,
had
certainly
lamented
much
over
the
mesquin
appearance
of
her
old-fashioned
Italian
habiliments
compared
with
the
brilliant
toilette
of
the
gay
Parisiennes
;
and
Isaura
—
quite
woman
enough
to
sympathize
with
woman
in
such
womanly
vanities
—
proposed
the
next
day
to
go
with
the
Signora
to
one
of
the
principal
couturieres
of
Paris
,
and
adapt
the
Signora’s
costume
to
the
fashions
of
the
place
.
But
the
Signora
having
predetermined
on
a
Greek
jacket
,
and
knowing
by
instinct
that
Isaura
would
be
disposed
to
thwart
that
splendid
predilection
,
had
artfully
suggested
that
it
would
be
better
to
go
to
the
couturiere
with
Madame
Savarin
,
as
being
a
more
experienced
adviser
,
—
and
the
coupe
only
held
two
.
As
Madame
Savarin
was
about
the
same
age
as
the
Signora
,
and
dressed
as
became
her
years
and
in
excellent
taste
,
Isaura
thought
this
an
admirable
suggestion
;
and
pressing
into
her
chaperon’s
hand
a
billet
de
banque
sufficient
to
re-equip
her
cap-a
pie
,
dismissed
the
subject
from
her
mind
.
But
the
Signora
was
much
too
cunning
to
submit
her
passion
for
the
Greek
jacket
to
the
discouraging
comments
of
Madame
Savarin
.
Monopolizing
the
coupe
,
she
became
absolute
mistress
of
the
situation
.
She
went
to
no
fashionable
couturiere’s
.
She
went
to
a
magasin
that
she
had
seen
advertised
in
the
Petites
Afiches
as
supplying
superb
costumes
for
fancy-balls
and
amateur
performers
in
private
theatricals
.
She
returned
home
triumphant
,
with
a
jacket
still
more
dazzling
to
the
eye
than
that
of
the
English
lady
.
When
Isaura
first
beheld
it
,
she
drew
back
in
a
sort
of
superstitious
terror
,
as
of
a
comet
or
other
blazing
portent
.
“
Cosa
stupenda
!
”
(
stupendous
thing
!
)
She
might
well
be
dismayed
when
the
Signora
proposed
to
appear
thus
attired
in
M
.
Louvier’s
salon
.
What
might
be
admired
as
coquetry
of
dress
in
a
young
beauty
of
rank
so
great
that
even
a
vulgarity
in
her
would
be
called
distinguee
,
was
certainly
an
audacious
challenge
of
ridicule
in
the
elderly
ci-devant
music-teacher
.
But
how
could
Isaura
,
how
can
any
one
of
common
humanity
,
say
to
a
woman
resolved
upon
wearing
a
certain
dress
,
“
You
are
not
young
and
handsome
enough
for
that
?
”
Isaura
could
only
murmur
,
“
For
many
reasons
I
would
rather
stay
at
home
,
dear
Madre
.
”
“
Ah
!
I
see
you
are
ashamed
of
me
,
”
said
the
Signora
,
in
softened
tones
:
“
very
natural
.
When
the
nightingale
sings
no
more
,
she
is
only
an
ugly
brown
bird
;
”
and
therewith
the
Signora
Venosta
seated
herself
submissively
,
and
began
to
cry
.
On
this
Isaura
sprang
up
,
wound
her
arms
round
the
Signora’s
neck
,
soothed
her
with
coaxing
,
kissed
and
petted
her
,
and
ended
by
saying
,
“
Of
course
we
will
go
;
”
and
,
“
but
let
me
choose
you
another
dress
,
—
a
dark-green
velvet
trimmed
with
blonde
:
blonde
becomes
you
so
well
.
”
“
No
,
no
:
I
hate
green
velvet
;
anybody
can
wear
that
.
Piccola
,
I
am
not
clever
like
thee
;
I
cannot
amuse
myself
like
thee
with
books
.
I
am
in
a
foreign
land
.
I
have
a
poor
head
,
but
I
have
a
big
heart
”
(
another
burst
of
tears
)
;
“
and
that
big
heart
is
set
on
my
beautiful
Greek
jacket
.
”
“
Dearest
Madre
,
”
said
Isaura
,
half
weeping
too
,
“
forgive
me
,
you
are
right
.
The
Greek
jacket
is
splendid
;
I
shall
be
so
pleased
to
see
you
wear
it
:
poor
Madre
!
so
pleased
to
think
that
in
the
foreign
land
you
are
not
without
something
that
pleases
you
!
”
CHAPTER
V.
CONFORMABLY
with
his
engagement
to
meet
M
.
Louvier
,
Alain
found
himself
on
the
day
and
at
the
hour
named
in
M
.
Gandrin’s
salon
.
On
this
occasion
Madame
Gandrin
did
not
appear
.
Her
husband
was
accustomed
to
give
diners
d’hommes
.
The
great
man
had
not
yet
arrived
.
“
I
think
,
Marquis
,
”
said
M
.
Gandrin
,
“
that
you
will
not
regret
having
followed
my
advice
:
my
representations
have
disposed
Louvier
to
regard
you
with
much
favour
,
and
he
is
certainly
flattered
by
being
permitted
to
make
your
personal
acquaintance
.
”
The
avoue
had
scarcely
finished
this
little
speech
,
when
M
.
Louvier
was
announced
.
He
entered
with
a
beaming
smile
,
which
did
not
detract
from
his
imposing
presence
.
His
flatterers
had
told
him
that
he
had
a
look
of
Louis
Philippe
;
therefore
he
had
sought
to
imitate
the
dress
and
the
bonhomie
of
that
monarch
of
the
middle
class
.
He
wore
a
wig
,
elaborately
piled
up
,
and
shaped
his
whiskers
in
royal
harmony
with
the
royal
wig
.
Above
all
,
he
studied
that
social
frankness
of
manner
with
which
the
able
sovereign
dispelled
awe
of
his
presence
or
dread
of
his
astuteness
.
Decidedly
he
was
a
man
very
pleasant
to
converse
and
to
deal
with
—
so
long
as
there
seemed
to
him
something
to
gain
and
nothing
to
lose
by
being
pleasant
.
He
returned
Alain’s
bow
by
a
cordial
offer
of
both
expansive
hands
,
into
the
grasp
of
which
the
hands
of
the
aristocrat
utterly
disappeared
.
“
Charmed
to
make
your
acquaintance
,
Marquis
;
still
more
charmed
if
you
will
let
me
be
useful
during
your
sejour
at
Paris
.
Ma
foi
,
excuse
my
bluntness
,
but
you
are
a
fort
beau
garcon
.
Monsieur
your
father
was
a
handsome
man
,
but
you
beat
him
hollow
.
Gandrin
,
my
friend
,
would
not
you
and
I
give
half
our
fortunes
for
one
year
of
this
fine
fellow’s
youth
spent
at
Paris
?
Peste
!
what
love-letters
we
should
have
,
with
no
need
to
buy
them
by
billets
de
banque
!
”
Thus
he
ran
on
,
much
to
Alain’s
confusion
,
till
dinner
was
announced
.
Then
there
was
something
grandiose
in
the
frank
bourgeois
style
wherewith
he
expanded
his
napkin
and
twisted
one
end
into
his
waistcoat
;
it
was
so
manly
a
renunciation
of
the
fashions
which
a
man
so
repandu
in
all
circles
might
be
supposed
to
follow
,
—
as
if
he
were
both
too
great
and
too
much
in
earnest
for
such
frivolities
.
He
was
evidently
a
sincere
bon
vivant
,
and
M
.
Gandrin
had
no
less
evidently
taken
all
requisite
pains
to
gratify
his
taste
.
The
Montrachet
served
with
the
oysters
was
of
precious
vintage
;
that
vin
de
madere
which
accompanied
the
potage
a
la
bisque
would
have
contented
an
American
.
And
how
radiant
became
Louvier’s
face
when
amongst
the
entrees
he
came
upon
laitances
de
carpes
!
“
The
best
thing
in
the
world
,
”
he
cried
,
“
and
one
gets
it
so
seldom
since
the
old
Rocher
de
Cancale
has
lost
its
renown
.
At
private
houses
,
what
does
one
get
now
?
blanc
de
poulet
,
flavourless
trash
.
After
all
,
Gandrin
,
when
we
lose
the
love-letters
,
it
is
some
consolation
that
laitances
de
carpes
and
sautes
de
foie
gras
are
still
left
to
fill
up
the
void
in
our
hearts
.
Marquis
,
heed
my
counsel
;
cultivate
betimes
the
taste
for
the
table
,
—
that
and
whist
are
the
sole
resources
of
declining
years
.
You
never
met
my
old
friend
Talleyrand
—
ah
,
no
!
he
was
long
before
your
time
.
He
cultivated
both
,
but
he
made
two
mistakes
.
No
man’s
intellect
is
perfect
on
all
sides
.
He
confined
himself
to
one
meal
a
day
,
and
he
never
learned
to
play
well
at
whist
.
Avoid
his
errors
,
my
young
friend
,
—
avoid
them
.
Gandrin
,
I
guess
this
pineapple
is
English
,
—
it
is
superb
.
”
“
You
are
right
,
—
a
present
from
the
Marquis
of
H
—
—
—
-
.
”
“
Ah
!
instead
of
a
fee
,
I
wager
.
The
Marquis
gives
nothing
for
nothing
,
dear
man
!
Droll
people
the
English
.
You
have
never
visited
England
,
I
presume
,
cher
Rochebriant
?
”
The
affable
financier
had
already
made
vast
progress
in
familiarity
with
his
silent
fellow-guest
.
When
the
dinner
was
over
and
the
three
men
had
reentered
the
salon
for
coffee
and
liqueurs
,
Gandrin
left
Louvier
and
Alain
alone
,
saying
he
was
going
to
his
cabinet
for
cigars
which
he
could
recommend
.
Then
Louvier
,
lightly
patting
the
Marquis
on
the
shoulder
,
said
with
what
the
French
call
effusion
,
“
My
dear
Rochebriant
,
your
father
and
I
did
not
quite
understand
each
other
.
He
took
a
tone
of
grand
seigneur
that
sometimes
wounded
me
;
and
I
in
turn
was
perhaps
too
rude
in
asserting
my
rights
—
as
creditor
,
shall
I
say
?
—
no
,
as
fellow-citizen
;
and
Frenchmen
are
so
vain
,
so
over-susceptible
;
fire
up
at
a
word
;
take
offence
when
none
is
meant
.
We
two
,
my
dear
boy
,
should
be
superior
to
such
national
foibles
.
Bref
—
I
have
a
mortgage
on
your
lands
.
Why
should
that
thought
mar
our
friendship
?
At
my
age
,
though
I
am
not
yet
old
,
one
is
flattered
if
the
young
like
us
,
pleased
if
we
can
oblige
them
,
and
remove
from
their
career
any
little
obstacle
in
its
way
.
Gandrin
tells
me
you
wish
to
consolidate
all
the
charges
on
your
estate
into
one
on
a
lower
rate
of
interest
.
Is
it
so
?
”
“
I
am
so
advised
,
”
said
the
Marquis
.
“
And
very
rightly
advised
;
come
and
talk
with
me
about
it
some
day
next
week
.
I
hope
to
have
a
large
sum
of
money
set
free
in
a
few
days
.
Of
course
,
mortgages
on
land
don’t
pay
like
speculations
at
the
Bourse
;
but
I
am
rich
enough
to
please
myself
.
We
will
see
,
we
will
see
.
”
Here
Gandrin
returned
with
the
cigars
;
but
Alain
at
that
time
never
smoked
,
and
Louvier
excused
himself
,
with
a
laugh
and
a
sly
wink
,
on
the
plea
that
he
was
going
to
pay
his
respects
—
as
doubtless
that
joli
garcon
was
going
to
do
likewise
—
to
a
belle
dame
who
did
not
reckon
the
smell
of
tobacco
among
the
perfumes
of
Houbigant
or
Arabia
.
“
Meanwhile
,
”
added
Louvier
,
turning
to
Gandrin
,
“
I
have
something
to
say
to
you
on
business
about
the
contract
for
that
new
street
of
mine
.
No
hurry
,
—
after
our
young
friend
has
gone
to
his
‘assignation.’
”
Alain
could
not
misinterpret
the
hint
;
and
in
a
few
moments
took
leave
of
his
host
,
more
surprised
than
disappointed
that
the
financier
had
not
invited
him
,
as
Graham
had
assumed
he
would
,
to
his
soiree
the
following
evening
.
When
Alain
was
gone
,
Louvier’s
jovial
manner
disappeared
also
,
and
became
bluffly
rude
rather
than
bluntly
cordial
.
“
Gandrin
,
what
did
you
mean
by
saying
that
that
young
man
was
no
muscadin
!
Muscadin
,
aristocrate
,
offensive
from
top
to
toe
.
”
“
You
amaze
me
;
you
seemed
to
take
to
him
so
cordially
.
”
“
And
pray
,
were
you
too
blind
to
remark
with
what
cold
reserve
he
responded
to
my
condescensions
;
how
he
winced
when
I
called
him
Rochebriant
;
how
he
coloured
when
I
called
him
‘dear
boy’
?
These
aristocrats
think
we
ought
to
thank
them
on
our
knees
when
they
take
our
money
,
and
”
here
Louvier’s
face
darkened
—
“
seduce
our
women
.
”
“
Monsieur
Louvier
,
in
all
France
I
do
not
know
a
greater
aristocrat
than
yourself
.
”
I
don’t
know
whether
M
.
Gandrin
meant
that
speech
as
a
compliment
,
but
M
.
Louvier
took
it
as
such
,
—
laughed
complacently
and
rubbed
his
hands
.
“
Ay
,
ay
,
millionnaires
are
the
real
aristocrats
,
for
they
have
power
,
as
my
beau
Marquis
will
soon
find
.
I
must
bid
you
good
night
.
Of
course
I
shall
see
Madame
Gandrin
and
yourself
to-morrow
.
Prepare
for
a
motley
gathering
,
—
lots
of
democrats
and
foreigners
,
with
artists
and
authors
,
and
such
creatures
.
”
“
Is
that
the
reason
why
you
did
not
invite
the
Marquis
?
”
“
To
be
sure
;
I
would
not
shock
so
pure
a
Legitimist
by
contact
with
the
sons
of
the
people
,
and
make
him
still
colder
to
myself
.
No
;
when
he
comes
to
my
house
he
shall
meet
lions
and
viveurs
of
the
haut
ton
,
who
will
play
into
my
hands
by
teaching
him
how
to
ruin
himself
in
the
quickest
manner
and
in
the
genre
Regence
.
Bon
soir
,
mon
vieux
.
”
CHAPTER
VI
.
The
next
night
Graham
in
vain
looked
round
for
Alain
in
M
.
Louvier’s
salons
,
and
missed
his
high-bred
mien
and
melancholy
countenance
.
M
.
Louvier
had
been
for
some
four
years
a
childless
widower
,
but
his
receptions
were
not
the
less
numerously
attended
,
nor
his
establishment
less
magnificently
monde
for
the
absence
of
a
presiding
lady
:
very
much
the
contrary
;
it
was
noticeable
how
much
he
had
increased
his
status
and
prestige
as
a
social
personage
since
the
death
of
his
unlamented
spouse
.
To
say
truth
,
she
had
been
rather
a
heavy
drag
on
his
triumphal
car
.
She
had
been
the
heiress
of
a
man
who
had
amassed
a
great
deal
of
money
,
—
not
in
the
higher
walks
of
commerce
,
but
in
a
retail
trade
.
Louvier
himself
was
the
son
of
a
rich
money-lender
;
he
had
entered
life
with
an
ample
fortune
and
an
intense
desire
to
be
admitted
into
those
more
brilliant
circles
in
which
fortune
can
be
dissipated
with
eclat
.
He
might
not
have
attained
this
object
but
for
the
friendly
countenance
of
a
young
noble
who
was
then
—
“
The
glass
of
fashion
and
the
mould
of
form
;
”
but
this
young
noble
,
of
whom
later
we
shall
hear
more
,
came
suddenly
to
grief
,
and
when
the
money-lender’s
son
lost
that
potent
protector
,
the
dandies
,
previously
so
civil
,
showed
him
a
very
cold
shoulder
.
Louvier
then
became
an
ardent
democrat
,
and
recruited
the
fortune
he
had
impaired
by
the
aforesaid
marriage
,
launched
into
colossal
speculations
,
and
became
enormously
rich
.
His
aspirations
for
social
rank
now
revived
,
but
his
wife
sadly
interfered
with
them
.
She
was
thrifty
by
nature
;
sympathized
little
with
her
husband’s
genius
for
accumulation
;
always
said
he
would
end
in
a
hospital
;
hated
Republicans
;
despised
authors
and
artists
,
and
by
the
ladies
of
the
beau
monde
was
pronounced
common
and
vulgar
.
So
long
as
she
lived
,
it
was
impossible
for
Louvier
to
realize
his
ambition
of
having
one
of
the
salons
which
at
Paris
establish
celebrity
and
position
.
He
could
not
then
command
those
advantages
of
wealth
which
he
especially
coveted
.
He
was
eminently
successful
in
doing
this
now
.
As
soon
as
she
was
safe
in
Pere
la
Chaise
,
he
enlarged
his
hotel
by
the
purchase
and
annexation
of
an
adjoining
house
;
redecorated
and
refurnished
it
,
and
in
this
task
displayed
,
it
must
be
said
to
his
credit
,
or
to
that
of
the
administrators
he
selected
for
the
purpose
,
a
nobleness
of
taste
rarely
exhibited
nowadays
.
His
collection
of
pictures
was
not
large
,
and
consisted
exclusively
of
the
French
school
,
ancient
and
modern
,
for
in
all
things
Louvier
affected
the
patriot
.
But
each
of
those
pictures
was
a
gem
;
such
Watteaus
,
such
Greuzes
,
such
landscapes
by
Patel
,
and
,
above
all
,
such
masterpieces
by
Ingres
,
Horace
Vernet
,
and
Delaroche
were
worth
all
the
doubtful
originals
of
Flemish
and
Italian
art
which
make
the
ordinary
boast
of
private
collectors
.
These
pictures
occupied
two
rooms
of
moderate
size
,
built
for
their
reception
,
and
lighted
from
above
.
The
great
salon
to
which
they
led
contained
treasures
scarcely
less
precious
;
the
walls
were
covered
with
the
richest
silks
which
the
looms
of
Lyons
could
produce
.
Every
piece
of
furniture
here
was
a
work
of
art
in
its
way
:
console-tables
of
Florentine
mosaic
,
inlaid
with
pearl
and
lapis-lazuli
;
cabinets
in
which
the
exquisite
designs
of
the
Renaissance
were
carved
in
ebony
;
colossal
vases
of
Russian
malachite
,
but
wrought
by
French
artists
.
The
very
knick-knacks
scattered
carelessly
about
the
room
might
have
been
admired
in
the
cabinets
of
the
Palazzo
Pitti
.
Beyond
this
room
lay
the
salle
de
danse
,
its
ceiling
painted
by
—
—
—
,
supported
by
white
marble
columns
,
the
glazed
balcony
and
the
angles
of
the
room
filled
with
tiers
of
exotics
.
In
the
dining-room
,
on
the
same
floor
,
on
the
other
side
of
the
landing-place
,
were
stored
in
glazed
buffets
not
only
vessels
and
salvers
of
plate
,
silver
and
gold
,
but
,
more
costly
still
,
matchless
specimens
of
Sevres
and
Limoges
,
and
mediaeval
varieties
of
Venetian
glass
.
On
the
ground-floor
,
which
opened
on
the
lawn
of
a
large
garden
,
Louvier
had
his
suite
of
private
apartments
,
furnished
,
as
he
said
,
“
simply
,
according
to
English
notions
of
comfort
;
”
—
Englishmen
would
have
said
,
“
according
to
French
notions
of
luxury
.
”
Enough
of
these
details
,
which
a
writer
cannot
give
without
feeling
himself
somewhat
vulgarized
in
doing
so
,
but
without
a
loose
general
idea
of
which
a
reader
would
not
have
an
accurate
conception
of
something
not
vulgar
,
—
of
something
grave
,
historical
,
possibly
tragical
,
—
the
existence
of
a
Parisian
millionaire
at
the
date
of
this
narrative
.
The
evidence
of
wealth
was
everywhere
manifest
at
M
.
Louvier’s
,
but
it
was
everywhere
refined
by
an
equal
evidence
of
taste
.
The
apartments
devoted
to
hospitality
ministered
to
the
delighted
study
of
artists
,
to
whom
free
access
was
given
,
and
of
whom
two
or
three
might
be
seen
daily
in
the
“
show-rooms
,
”
copying
pictures
or
taking
sketches
of
rare
articles
of
furniture
or
effects
for
palatian
interiors
.
Among
the
things
which
rich
English
visitors
of
Paris
most
coveted
to
see
was
M
.
Louvier’s
hotel
,
and
few
among
the
richest
left
it
without
a
sigh
of
envy
and
despair
.
Only
in
such
London
houses
as
belong
to
a
Sutherland
or
a
Holford
could
our
metropolis
exhibit
a
splendour
as
opulent
and
a
taste
as
refined
.
M
.
Louvier
had
his
set
evenings
for
popular
assemblies
.
At
these
were
entertained
the
Liberals
of
every
shade
,
from
tricolor
to
rouge
,
with
the
artists
and
writers
most
in
vogue
,
pele-mele
with
decorated
diplomatists
,
ex-ministers
,
Orleanists
,
and
Republicans
,
distinguished
foreigners
,
plutocrats
of
the
Bourse
,
and
lions
male
and
female
from
the
arid
nurse
of
that
race
,
the
Chaussee
d’Antin
.
Of
his
more
select
reunions
something
will
be
said
later
.
“
And
how
does
this
poor
Paris
metamorphosed
please
Monsieur
Vane
?
”
asked
a
Frenchman
with
a
handsome
,
intelligent
countenance
,
very
carefully
dressed
though
in
a
somewhat
bygone
fashion
,
and
carrying
off
his
tenth
lustrum
with
an
air
too
sprightly
to
evince
any
sense
of
the
weight
.
This
gentleman
,
the
Vicomte
de
Breze
,
was
of
good
birth
,
and
had
a
legitimate
right
to
his
title
of
Vicomte
,
—
which
is
more
than
can
be
said
of
many
vicomtes
one
meets
at
Paris
.
He
had
no
other
property
,
however
,
than
a
principal
share
in
an
influential
journal
,
to
which
he
was
a
lively
and
sparkling
contributor
.
In
his
youth
,
under
the
reign
of
Louis
Philippe
,
he
had
been
a
chief
among
literary
exquisites
;
and
Balzac
was
said
to
have
taken
him
more
than
once
as
his
model
for
those
brilliant
young
vauriens
who
figure
in
the
great
novelist’s
comedy
of
Human
Life
.
The
Vicomte’s
fashion
expired
with
the
Orleanist
dynasty
.
“
Is
it
possible
,
my
dear
Vicomte
,
”
answered
Graham
,
“
not
to
be
pleased
with
a
capital
so
marvellously
embellished
?
”
“
Embellished
it
may
be
to
foreign
eyes
,
”
said
the
Vicomte
,
sighing
,
“
but
not
improved
to
the
taste
of
a
Parisian
like
me
.
I
miss
the
dear
Paris
of
old
,
—
the
streets
associated
with
my
beaux
jours
are
no
more
.
Is
there
not
something
drearily
monotonous
in
those
interminable
perspectives
?
How
frightfully
the
way
lengthens
before
one’s
eyes
!
In
the
twists
and
curves
of
the
old
Paris
one
was
relieved
from
the
pain
of
seeing
how
far
one
had
to
go
from
one
spot
to
another
,
—
each
tortuous
street
had
a
separate
idiosyncrasy
;
what
picturesque
diversities
,
what
interesting
recollections
,
—
all
swept
away
!
Mon
Dieu
!
and
what
for
,
—
miles
of
florid
facades
staring
and
glaring
at
one
with
goggle-eyed
pitiless
windows
;
house-rents
trebled
,
and
the
consciousness
that
if
you
venture
to
grumble
underground
railways
,
like
concealed
volcanoes
,
can
burst
forth
on
you
at
any
moment
with
an
eruption
of
bayonets
and
muskets
.
This
maudit
empire
seeks
to
keep
its
hold
on
France
much
as
a
grand
seigneur
seeks
to
enchain
a
nymph
of
the
ballet
,
—
tricks
her
out
in
finery
and
baubles
,
and
insures
her
infidelity
the
moment
he
fails
to
satisfy
her
whims
.
”
“
Vicomte
,
”
answered
Graham
,
“
I
have
had
the
honour
to
know
you
since
I
was
a
small
boy
at
a
preparatory
school
home
for
the
holidays
,
and
you
were
a
guest
at
my
father’s
country-house
.
You
were
then
fete
as
one
of
the
most
promising
writers
among
the
young
men
of
the
day
,
especially
favoured
by
the
princes
of
the
reigning
family
.
I
shall
never
forget
the
impression
made
on
me
by
your
brilliant
appearance
and
your
no
less
brilliant
talk
.
”
“
Ah
!
ces
beaux
jours
!
ce
bon
Louis
Philippe
,
ce
cher
petit
Joinville
,
”
sighed
the
Vicomte
.
“
But
at
that
day
you
compared
le
bon
Louis
Philippe
to
Robert
Macaire
.
You
described
all
his
sons
,
including
,
no
doubt
,
ce
cher
petit
Joinville
,
in
terms
of
resentful
contempt
,
as
so
many
plausible
gamins
whom
Robert
Macaire
was
training
to
cheat
the
public
in
the
interest
of
the
family
firm
.
I
remember
my
father
saying
to
you
in
answer
,
‘No
royal
house
in
Europe
has
more
sought
to
develop
the
literature
of
an
epoch
and
to
signalize
its
representatives
by
social
respect
and
official
honours
than
that
of
the
Orleans
dynasty
.
You
,
Monsieur
de
Breze
,
do
but
imitate
your
elders
in
seeking
to
destroy
the
dynasty
under
which
you
flourish
;
should
you
succeed
,
you
hommes
de
plume
will
be
the
first
sufferers
and
the
loudest
complainers.’
”
“
Cher
Monsieur
Vane
,
”
said
the
Vicomte
,
smiling
complacently
,
“
your
father
did
me
great
honour
in
classing
me
with
Victor
Hugo
,
Alexandre
Dumas
,
Emile
de
Girardin
,
and
the
other
stars
of
the
Orleanist
galaxy
,
including
our
friend
here
,
M
.
Savarin
.
A
very
superior
man
was
your
father
.
”
“
And
,
”
said
Savarin
,
who
,
being
an
Orleanist
,
had
listened
to
Graham’s
speech
with
an
approving
smile
,
—
“
and
if
I
remember
right
,
my
dear
De
Breze
,
no
one
was
more
brilliantly
severe
than
yourself
on
poor
De
Lamartine
and
the
Republic
that
succeeded
Louis
Philippe
;
no
one
more
emphatically
expressed
the
yearning
desire
for
another
Napoleon
to
restore
order
at
home
and
renown
abroad
.
Now
you
have
got
another
Napoleon
.
”
“
And
I
want
change
for
my
Napoleon
,
”
said
De
Breze
,
laughing
.
“
My
dear
Vicomte
,
”
said
Graham
,
“
one
thing
we
may
all
grant
,
—
that
in
culture
and
intellect
you
are
far
superior
to
the
mass
of
your
fellow
Parisians
;
that
you
are
therefore
a
favourable
type
of
their
political
character
.
”
“
Ah
,
mon
cher
,
vous
etes
trop
aimable
.
”
“
And
therefore
I
venture
to
say
this
,
—
if
the
archangel
Gabriel
were
permitted
to
descend
to
Paris
and
form
the
best
government
for
France
that
the
wisdom
of
seraph
could
devise
,
it
would
not
be
two
years
—
I
doubt
if
it
would
be
six
months
—
before
out
of
this
Paris
,
which
you
call
the
Foyer
des
Idees
,
would
emerge
a
powerful
party
,
adorned
by
yourself
and
other
hommes
de
plume
,
in
favour
of
a
revolution
for
the
benefit
of
ce
bon
Satan
and
ce
cher
petit
Beelzebub
.
”
“
What
a
pretty
vein
of
satire
you
have
,
mon
cher
!
”
said
the
Vicomte
,
good-humouredly
;
“
there
is
a
sting
of
truth
in
your
witticism
.
Indeed
,
I
must
send
you
some
articles
of
mine
in
which
I
have
said
much
the
same
thing
,
—
les
beaux
,
esprits
se
rencontrent
.
The
fault
of
us
French
is
impatience
,
desire
of
change
;
but
then
it
is
that
desire
which
keeps
the
world
going
and
retains
our
place
at
the
head
of
it
.
However
,
at
this
time
we
are
all
living
too
fast
for
our
money
to
keep
up
with
it
,
and
too
slow
for
our
intellect
not
to
flag
.
We
vie
with
each
other
on
the
road
to
ruin
,
for
in
literature
all
the
old
paths
to
fame
are
shut
up
.
”
Here
a
tall
gentleman
,
with
whom
the
Vicomte
had
been
conversing
before
he
accosted
Vane
,
and
who
had
remained
beside
De
Breze
listening
in
silent
attention
to
this
colloquy
,
interposed
,
speaking
in
the
slow
voice
of
one
accustomed
to
measure
his
words
,
and
with
a
slight
but
unmistakable
German
accent
.
“
There
is
that
,
Monsieur
de
Breze
,
which
makes
one
think
gravely
of
what
you
say
so
lightly
.
Viewing
things
with
the
unprejudiced
eyes
of
a
foreigner
,
I
recognize
much
for
which
France
should
be
grateful
to
the
Emperor
.
Under
his
sway
her
material
resources
have
been
marvellously
augmented
;
her
commerce
has
been
placed
by
the
treaty
with
England
on
sounder
foundations
,
and
is
daily
exhibiting
richer
life
;
her
agriculture
had
made
a
prodigious
advance
wherever
it
has
allowed
room
for
capitalists
,
and
escaped
from
the
curse
of
petty
allotments
and
peasant-proprietors
,
a
curse
which
would
have
ruined
any
country
less
blessed
by
Nature
;
turbulent
factions
have
been
quelled
;
internal
order
maintained
;
the
external
prestige
of
France
,
up
at
least
to
the
date
of
the
Mexican
war
,
increased
to
an
extent
that
might
satisfy
even
a
Frenchman’s
amour
propre
;
and
her
advance
in
civilization
has
been
manifested
by
the
rapid
creation
of
a
naval
power
which
should
put
even
England
on
her
mettle
.
But
,
on
the
other
hand
—
”
“
Ay
,
on
the
other
hand
,
”
said
the
Vicomte
.
“
On
the
other
hand
there
are
in
the
imperial
system
two
causes
of
decay
and
of
rot
silently
at
work
.
They
may
not
be
the
faults
of
the
Emperor
,
but
they
are
such
misfortunes
as
may
cause
the
fall
of
the
Empire
.
The
first
is
an
absolute
divorce
between
the
political
system
and
the
intellectual
culture
of
the
nation
.
The
throne
and
the
system
rest
on
universal
suffrage
,
—
on
a
suffrage
which
gives
to
classes
the
most
ignorant
a
power
that
preponderates
over
all
the
healthful
elements
of
knowledge
.
It
is
the
tendency
of
all
ignorant
multitudes
to
personify
themselves
,
as
it
were
,
in
one
individual
.
They
cannot
comprehend
you
when
you
argue
for
a
principle
;
they
do
comprehend
you
when
you
talk
of
a
name
.
The
Emperor
Napoleon
is
to
them
a
name
,
and
the
prefects
and
officials
who
influence
their
votes
are
paid
for
incorporating
all
principles
in
the
shibboleth
of
that
single
name
.
You
have
thus
sought
the
well-spring
of
a
political
system
in
the
deepest
stratum
of
popular
ignorance
.
To
rid
popular
ignorance
of
its
normal
revolutionary
bias
,
the
rural
peasants
are
indoctrinated
with
the
conservatism
that
comes
from
the
fear
which
appertains
to
property
.
They
have
their
roots
of
land
or
their
shares
in
a
national
loan
.
Thus
you
estrange
the
crassitude
of
an
ignorant
democracy
still
more
from
the
intelligence
of
the
educated
classes
by
combining
it
with
the
most
selfish
and
abject
of
all
the
apprehensions
that
are
ascribed
to
aristocracy
and
wealth
.
What
is
thus
embedded
in
the
depths
of
your
society
makes
itself
shown
on
the
surface
.
Napoleon
III
.
has
been
compared
to
Augustus
;
and
there
are
many
startling
similitudes
between
them
in
character
and
in
fate
.
Each
succeeds
to
the
heritage
of
a
great
name
that
had
contrived
to
unite
autocracy
with
the
popular
cause
;
each
subdued
all
rival
competitors
,
and
inaugurated
despotic
rule
in
the
name
of
freedom
;
each
mingled
enough
of
sternness
with
ambitious
will
to
stain
with
bloodshed
the
commencement
of
his
power
,
—
but
it
would
be
an
absurd
injustice
to
fix
the
same
degree
of
condemnation
on
the
coup
d’etat
as
humanity
fixes
on
the
earlier
cruelties
of
Augustus
;
each
,
once
firm
in
his
seat
,
became
mild
and
clement
,
—
Augustus
perhaps
from
policy
,
Napoleon
III
.
from
a
native
kindliness
of
disposition
which
no
fair
critic
of
character
can
fail
to
acknowledge
.
Enough
of
similitudes
;
now
for
one
salient
difference
.
Observe
how
earnestly
Augustus
strove
,
and
how
completely
he
succeeded
in
the
task
,
to
rally
round
him
all
the
leading
intellects
in
every
grade
and
of
every
party
,
—
the
followers
of
Antony
,
the
friends
of
Brutus
;
every
great
captain
,
every
great
statesman
,
every
great
writer
,
every
mail
who
could
lend
a
ray
of
mind
to
his
own
Julian
constellation
,
and
make
the
age
of
Augustus
an
era
in
the
annals
of
human
intellect
and
genius
.
But
this
has
not
been
the
good
fortune
of
your
Emperor
.
The
result
of
his
system
has
been
the
suppression
of
intellect
in
every
department
.
He
has
rallied
round
him
not
one
great
statesman
;
his
praises
are
hymned
by
not
one
great
poet
.
The
celebrates
of
a
former
day
stand
aloof
;
or
,
preferring
exile
to
constrained
allegiance
,
assail
him
with
unremitting
missiles
from
their
asylum
in
foreign
shores
.
His
reign
is
sterile
of
new
celebrites
.
The
few
that
arise
enlist
themselves
against
him
.
Whenever
he
shall
venture
to
give
full
freedom
to
the
press
and
to
the
legislature
,
the
intellect
thus
suppressed
or
thus
hostile
will
burst
forth
in
collected
volume
.
His
partisans
have
not
been
trained
and
disciplined
to
meet
such
assailants
.
They
will
be
as
weak
as
no
doubt
they
will
be
violent
.
And
the
worst
is
,
that
the
intellect
thus
rising
in
mass
against
him
will
be
warped
and
distorted
,
like
captives
who
,
being
kept
in
chains
,
exercise
their
limbs
on
escaping
in
vehement
jumps
without
definite
object
.
The
directors
of
emancipated
opinion
may
thus
be
terrible
enemies
to
the
Imperial
Government
,
but
they
will
be
very
unsafe
councillors
to
France
.
Concurrently
with
this
divorce
between
the
Imperial
system
and
the
national
intellect
,
—
a
divorce
so
complete
that
even
your
salons
have
lost
their
wit
,
and
even
your
caricatures
their
point
,
—
a
corruption
of
manners
which
the
Empire
,
I
own
,
did
not
originate
,
but
inherit
,
has
become
so
common
that
every
one
owns
and
nobody
blames
it
.
The
gorgeous
ostentation
of
the
Court
has
perverted
the
habits
of
the
people
.
The
intelligence
abstracted
from
other
vents
betakes
itself
to
speculating
for
a
fortune
;
and
the
greed
of
gain
and
the
passion
for
show
are
sapping
the
noblest
elements
of
the
old
French
manhood
.
Public
opinion
stamps
with
no
opprobrium
a
minister
or
favourite
who
profits
by
a
job
;
and
I
fear
you
will
find
that
jobbing
pervades
all
your
administrative
departments
.
”
“
All
very
true
,
”
said
De
Breze
,
with
a
shrug
of
the
shoulders
and
in
a
tone
of
levity
that
seemed
to
ridicule
the
assertion
he
volunteered
;
“
Virtue
and
Honour
banished
from
courts
and
salons
and
the
cabinet
of
authors
ascend
to
fairer
heights
in
the
attics
of
ouvriers
.
”
“
The
ouvriers
,
ouvriers
of
Paris
!
”
cried
this
terrible
German
.
“
Ay
,
Monsieur
le
Comte
,
what
can
you
say
against
our
ouvriers
?
A
German
count
cannot
condescend
to
learn
anything
about
ces
petites
gens
.
”
“
Monsieur
,
”
replied
the
German
,
“
in
the
eyes
of
a
statesman
there
are
no
petites
gens
,
and
in
those
of
a
philosopher
no
petites
choses
.
We
in
Germany
have
too
many
difficult
problems
affecting
our
working
classes
to
solve
,
not
to
have
induced
me
to
glean
all
the
information
I
can
as
to
the
ouvriers
of
Paris
.
They
have
among
them
men
of
aspirations
as
noble
as
can
animate
the
souls
of
philosophers
and
poets
,
perhaps
not
the
less
noble
because
common-sense
and
experience
cannot
follow
their
flight
;
but
as
a
body
the
ouvriers
of
Paris
have
not
been
elevated
in
political
morality
by
the
benevolent
aim
of
the
Emperor
to
find
them
ample
work
and
good
wages
independent
of
the
natural
laws
that
regulate
the
markets
of
labour
.
Accustomed
thus
to
consider
the
State
bound
to
maintain
them
,
the
moment
the
State
fails
in
that
impossible
task
,
they
will
accommodate
their
honesty
to
a
rush
upon
property
under
the
name
of
social
reform
.
“
Have
you
not
noticed
how
largely
increased
within
the
last
few
years
is
the
number
of
those
who
cry
out
,
‘La
Propriete
,
cest
le
vol’
?
Have
you
considered
the
rapid
growth
of
the
International
Association
?
I
do
not
say
that
for
all
these
evils
—
the
Empire
is
exclusively
responsible
.
To
a
certain
degree
they
are
found
in
all
rich
communities
,
especially
where
democracy
is
more
or
less
in
the
ascendant
.
To
a
certain
extent
they
exist
in
the
large
towns
of
Germany
;
they
are
conspicuously
increasing
in
England
;
they
are
acknowledged
to
be
dangerous
in
the
United
States
of
America
;
they
are
,
I
am
told
on
good
authority
,
making
themselves
visible
with
the
spread
of
civilization
in
Russia
.
But
under
the
French
Empire
they
have
become
glaringly
rampant
,
and
I
venture
to
predict
that
the
day
is
not
far
off
when
the
rot
at
work
throughout
all
layers
and
strata
of
French
society
will
insure
a
fall
of
the
fabric
at
the
sound
of
which
the
world
will
ring
.
“
There
is
many
a
fair
and
stately
tree
which
continues
to
throw
out
its
leaves
and
rear
its
crest
till
suddenly
the
wind
smites
it
,
and
then
,
and
not
till
then
,
the
trunk
which
seems
so
solid
is
found
to
be
but
the
rind
to
a
mass
of
crumbled
powder
.
”
“
Monsieur
le
Comte
,
”
said
the
Vicomte
,
“
you
are
a
severe
critic
and
a
lugubrious
prophet
;
but
a
German
is
so
safe
from
revolution
that
he
takes
alarm
at
the
stir
of
movement
which
is
the
normal
state
of
the
French
esprit
.
”
“
French
esprit
may
soon
evaporate
into
Parisian
betise
.
As
to
Germany
being
safe
from
revolution
,
allow
me
to
repeat
a
saying
of
Goethe’s-but
has
Monsieur
le
Vicomte
ever
heard
of
Goethe
?
”
“
Goethe
,
of
course
,
—
tres
joli
ecrivain
.
”
“
Goethe
said
to
some
one
who
was
making
much
the
same
remark
as
yourself
,
‘We
Germans
are
in
a
state
of
revolution
now
,
but
we
do
things
so
slowly
that
it
will
be
a
hundred
years
before
we
Germans
shall
find
it
out
;
but
when
completed
,
it
will
be
the
greatest
revolution
society
has
yet
seen
,
and
will
last
like
the
other
revolutions
that
,
beginning
,
scarce
noticed
,
in
Germany
,
have
transformed
the
world.’
”
“
Diable
,
Monsieur
le
Comte
!
Germans
transformed
the
world
!
What
revolutions
do
you
speak
of
?
”
“
The
invention
of
gunpowder
,
the
invention
of
printing
,
and
the
expansion
of
a
monk’s
quarrel
with
his
Pope
into
the
Lutheran
revolution
.
”
Here
the
German
paused
,
and
asked
the
Vicomte
to
introduce
him
to
Vane
,
which
De
Breze
did
by
the
title
of
Count
von
Rudesheim
.
On
hearing
Vane’s
name
,
the
Count
inquired
if
he
were
related
to
the
orator
and
statesman
,
George
Graham
Vane
,
whose
opinions
,
uttered
in
Parliament
,
were
still
authoritative
among
German
thinkers
.
This
compliment
to
his
deceased
father
immensely
gratified
but
at
the
same
time
considerably
surprised
the
Englishman
.
His
father
,
no
doubt
,
had
been
a
man
of
much
influence
in
the
British
House
of
Commons
,
—
a
very
weighty
speaker
,
and
,
while
in
office
,
a
first-rate
administrator
;
but
Englishmen
know
what
a
House
of
Commons
reputation
is
,
—
how
fugitive
,
how
little
cosmopolitan
;
and
that
a
German
count
should
ever
have
heard
of
his
father
delighted
but
amazed
him
.
In
stating
himself
to
be
the
son
of
George
Graham
Vane
,
he
intimated
not
only
the
delight
but
the
amaze
,
with
the
frank
savoir
vivre
which
was
one
of
his
salient
characteristics
.
“
Sir
,
”
replied
the
German
,
speaking
in
very
correct
English
,
but
still
with
his
national
accent
,
“
every
German
reared
to
political
service
studies
England
as
the
school
for
practical
thought
distinct
from
impracticable
theories
.
Long
may
you
allow
us
to
do
so
!
Only
excuse
me
one
remark
,
—
never
let
the
selfish
element
of
the
practical
supersede
the
generous
element
.
Your
father
never
did
so
in
his
speeches
,
and
therefore
we
admired
him
.
At
the
present
day
we
don’t
so
much
care
to
study
English
speeches
;
they
may
be
insular
,
—
they
are
not
European
.
I
honour
England
;
Heaven
grant
that
you
may
not
be
making
sad
mistakes
in
the
belief
that
you
can
long
remain
England
if
you
cease
to
be
European
.
”
Herewith
the
German
bowed
,
not
uncivilly
,
—
on
the
contrary
,
somewhat
ceremoniously
,
—
and
disappeared
with
a
Prussian
Secretary
of
Embassy
,
whose
arm
he
linked
in
his
own
,
into
a
room
less
frequented
.
“
Vicomte
,
who
and
what
is
your
German
count
?
”
asked
Vane
.
“
A
solemn
pedant
,
”
answered
the
lively
Vicomte
,
—
“
a
German
count
,
que
voulez-vous
de
plus
?
”
CHAPTER
VII
.
A
LITTLE
later
Graham
found
himself
alone
amongst
the
crowd
.
Attracted
by
the
sound
of
music
,
he
had
strayed
into
one
of
the
rooms
whence
it
came
,
and
in
which
,
though
his
range
of
acquaintance
at
Paris
was
for
an
Englishman
large
and
somewhat
miscellaneous
,
he
recognized
no
familiar
countenance
.
A
lady
was
playing
the
pianoforte
—
playing
remarkably
well
—
with
accurate
science
,
with
that
equal
lightness
and
strength
of
finger
which
produces
brilliancy
of
execution
;
but
to
appreciate
her
music
one
should
be
musical
one’s
self
.
It
wanted
the
charm
that
fascinates
the
uninitiated
.
The
guests
in
the
room
were
musical
connoisseurs
,
—
a
class
with
whom
Graham
Vane
had
nothing
in
common
.
Even
if
he
had
been
more
capable
of
enjoying
the
excellence
of
the
player’s
performance
,
the
glance
he
directed
towards
her
would
have
sufficed
to
chill
him
into
indifference
.
She
was
not
young
,
and
with
prominent
features
and
puckered
skin
,
was
twisting
her
face
into
strange
sentimental
grimaces
,
as
if
terribly
overcome
by
the
beauty
and
pathos
of
her
own
melodies
.
To
add
to
Vane’s
displeasure
,
she
was
dressed
in
a
costume
wholly
antagonistic
to
his
views
of
the
becoming
,
—
in
a
Greek
jacket
of
gold
and
scarlet
,
contrasted
by
a
Turkish
turban
.
Muttering
“
What
she-mountebank
have
we
here
?
”
he
sank
into
a
chair
behind
the
door
,
and
fell
into
an
absorbed
revery
.
From
this
he
was
aroused
by
the
cessation
of
the
music
and
the
hum
of
subdued
approbation
by
which
it
was
followed
.
Above
the
hum
swelled
the
imposing
voice
of
M
.
Louvier
as
he
rose
from
a
seat
on
the
other
side
of
the
piano
,
by
which
his
bulky
form
had
been
partially
concealed
.
“
Bravo
!
perfectly
played
!
excellent
!
Can
we
not
persuade
your
charming
young
countrywoman
to
gratify
us
even
by
a
single
song
?
”
Then
turning
aside
and
addressing
some
one
else
invisible
to
Graham
he
said
,
“
Does
that
tyrannical
doctor
still
compel
you
to
silence
,
Mademoiselle
?
”
A
voice
so
sweetly
modulated
that
if
there
were
any
sarcasm
in
the
words
it
was
lost
in
the
softness
of
pathos
,
answered
,
“
Nay
,
Monsieur
Louvier
,
he
rather
overtasks
the
words
at
my
command
in
thankfulness
to
those
who
like
yourself
,
so
kindly
regard
me
as
something
else
than
a
singer
.
”
It
was
not
the
she-mountebank
who
thus
spoke
.
Graham
rose
and
looked
round
with
instinctive
curiosity
.
He
met
the
face
that
he
said
had
haunted
him
.
She
too
had
risen
,
standing
near
the
piano
,
with
one
hand
tenderly
resting
on
the
she-mountebank’s
scarlet
and
gilded
shoulder
,
—
the
face
that
haunted
him
,
and
yet
with
a
difference
.
There
was
a
faint
blush
on
the
clear
pale
cheek
,
a
soft
yet
playful
light
in
the
grave
dark-blue
eyes
,
which
had
not
been
visible
in
the
countenance
of
the
young
lady
in
the
pearl-coloured
robe
.
Graham
did
not
hear
Louvier’s
reply
,
though
no
doubt
it
was
loud
enough
for
him
to
hear
.
He
sank
again
into
revery
.
Other
guests
now
came
into
the
room
,
among
them
Frank
Morley
,
styled
Colonel
,
—
eminent
military
titles
in
the
United
States
do
not
always
denote
eminent
military
services
,
—
a
wealthy
American
,
and
his
sprightly
and
beautiful
wife
.
The
Colonel
was
a
clever
man
,
rather
stiff
in
his
deportment
,
and
grave
in
speech
,
but
by
no
means
without
a
vein
of
dry
humour
.
By
the
French
he
was
esteemed
a
high-bred
specimen
of
the
kind
of
grand
seigneur
which
democratic
republics
engender
.
He
spoke
French
like
a
Parisian
,
had
an
imposing
presence
,
and
spent
a
great
deal
of
money
with
the
elegance
of
a
man
of
taste
and
the
generosity
of
a
man
of
heart
.
His
high
breeding
was
not
quite
so
well
understood
by
the
English
,
because
the
English
are
apt
to
judge
breeding
by
little
conventional
rules
not
observed
by
the
American
Colonel
.
He
had
a
slight
nasal
twang
,
and
introduced
“
sir
”
with
redundant
ceremony
in
addressing
Englishmen
,
however
intimate
he
might
be
with
them
,
and
had
the
habit
(
perhaps
with
a
sly
intention
to
startle
or
puzzle
them
)
of
adorning
his
style
of
conversation
with
quaint
Americanisms
.
Nevertheless
,
the
genial
amiability
and
the
inherent
dignity
of
his
character
made
him
acknowledged
as
a
thorough
gentleman
by
every
Englishman
,
however
conventional
in
tastes
,
who
became
admitted
into
his
intimate
acquaintance
.
Mrs.
Morley
,
ten
or
twelve
years
younger
than
her
husband
,
had
no
nasal
twang
,
and
employed
no
Americanisms
in
her
talk
,
which
was
frank
,
lively
,
and
at
times
eloquent
.
She
had
a
great
ambition
to
be
esteemed
of
a
masculine
understanding
;
Nature
unkindly
frustrated
that
ambition
in
rendering
her
a
model
of
feminine
grace
.
Graham
was
intimately
acquainted
with
Colonel
Morley
;
and
with
Mrs.
Morley
had
contracted
one
of
those
cordial
friendships
,
which
,
perfectly
free
alike
from
polite
flirtation
and
Platonic
attachment
,
do
sometimes
spring
up
between
persons
of
opposite
sexes
without
the
slightest
danger
of
changing
their
honest
character
into
morbid
sentimentality
or
unlawful
passion
.
The
Morleys
stopped
to
accost
Graham
,
but
the
lady
had
scarcely
said
three
words
to
him
,
before
,
catching
sight
of
the
haunting
face
,
she
darted
towards
it
.
Her
husband
,
less
emotional
,
bowed
at
the
distance
,
and
said
,
“
To
my
taste
,
sir
,
the
Signorina
Cicogna
is
the
loveliest
girl
in
the
present
bee
,
*
and
full
of
mind
,
sir
.
”
[
*
Bee
,
a
common
expression
in
“
the
West
”
for
a
meeting
or
gathering
]
of
people
.
“
Singing
mind
,
”
said
Graham
,
sarcastically
,
and
in
the
ill-natured
impulse
of
a
man
striving
to
check
his
inclination
to
admire
.
“
I
have
not
heard
her
sing
,
”
replied
the
American
,
dryly
;
“
and
the
words
‘singing
mind’
are
doubtless
accurately
English
,
since
you
employ
them
;
but
at
Boston
the
collocation
would
be
deemed
barbarous
.
You
fly
off
the
handle
.
The
epithet
,
sir
,
is
not
in
concord
with
the
substantive
.
”
“
Boston
would
be
in
the
right
,
my
dear
Colonel
.
I
stand
rebuked
;
mind
has
little
to
do
with
singing
.
”
“
I
take
leave
to
deny
that
,
sir
.
You
fire
into
the
wrong
flock
,
and
would
not
hazard
the
remark
if
you
had
conversed
as
I
have
with
Signorina
Cicogna
.
”
Before
Graham
could
answer
,
Signorina
Cicogna
stood
