inme
if
I
entered
the
military
service
under
the
ruling
sovereign
?
”
“
Certainly
not
,
if
your
country
needed
you
.
”
“
And
it
may
,
may
it
not
?
I
hear
vague
rumours
of
coming
war
in
almost
every
salon
I
frequent
.
There
has
been
gunpowder
in
the
atmosphere
we
breathe
ever
since
the
battle
of
Sadowa
.
What
think
you
of
German
arrogance
and
ambition
?
Will
they
suffer
the
swords
of
France
to
rust
in
their
scabbards
?
”
“
My
dear
Marquis
,
I
should
incline
to
put
the
question
otherwise
.
Will
the
jealous
amour
propre
of
France
permit
the
swords
of
Germany
to
remain
sheathed
?
But
in
either
case
,
no
politician
can
see
without
grave
apprehension
two
nations
so
warlike
,
close
to
each
other
,
divided
by
a
borderland
that
one
covets
and
the
other
will
not
yield
,
each
armed
to
the
teeth
,
—
the
one
resolved
to
brook
no
rival
,
the
other
equally
determined
to
resist
all
aggression
.
And
therefore
,
as
you
say
,
war
is
in
the
atmosphere
;
and
we
may
also
hear
,
in
the
clouds
that
give
no
sign
of
dispersion
,
the
growl
of
the
gathering
thunder
.
War
may
come
any
day
;
and
if
France
be
not
at
once
the
victor
—
”
“
France
not
at
once
the
victor
?
”
interrupted
Alain
,
passionately
;
“
and
against
a
Prussian
!
Permit
me
to
say
no
Frenchman
can
believe
that
.
”
“
Let
no
man
despise
a
foe
,
”
said
Graham
,
smiling
half
sadly
.
“
However
,
I
must
not
incur
the
danger
of
wounding
your
national
susceptibilities
.
To
return
to
the
point
you
raise
.
If
France
needed
the
aid
of
her
best
and
bravest
,
a
true
descendant
of
Henri
Quatre
ought
to
blush
for
his
ancient
noblesse
were
a
Rochebriant
to
say
,
‘But
I
don’t
like
the
colour
of
the
flag.’
”
“
Thank
you
,
”
said
Alain
,
simply
;
“
that
is
enough
.
”
There
was
a
pause
,
the
young
men
walking
on
slowly
,
arm
in
arm
.
And
then
there
flashed
across
Graham’s
mind
the
recollection
of
talk
on
another
subject
in
that
very
path
.
Here
he
had
spoken
to
Alain
in
deprecation
of
any
possible
alliance
with
Isaura
Cicogna
,
the
destined
actress
and
public
;
singer
.
His
cheek
flushed
;
his
heart
smote
him
.
What
!
had
he
spoken
slightingly
of
her
—
of
her
?
What
if
she
became
his
own
wife
?
What
!
had
he
himself
failed
in
the
respect
which
he
would
demand
as
her
right
from
the
loftiest
of
his
high-born
kindred
?
What
,
too
,
would
this
man
,
of
fairer
youth
than
himself
,
think
of
that
disparaging
counsel
,
when
he
heard
that
the
monitor
had
won
the
prize
from
which
he
had
warned
another
?
Would
it
not
seem
that
he
had
but
spoken
in
the
mean
cunning
dictated
by
the
fear
of
a
worthier
rival
?
Stung
by
these
thoughts
,
he
arrested
his
steps
,
and
,
looking
the
Marquis
full
in
the
face
,
said
,
“
You
remind
me
of
one
subject
in
our
talk
many
weeks
since
;
it
is
my
duty
to
remind
you
of
another
.
At
that
time
you
,
and
,
speaking
frankly
,
I
myself
,
acknowledged
the
charm
in
the
face
of
a
young
Italian
lady
.
I
told
you
then
that
,
on
learning
she
was
intended
for
the
stage
,
the
charm
for
me
had
vanished
.
I
said
bluntly
that
it
should
vanish
perhaps
still
more
utterly
for
a
noble
of
your
illustrious
name
;
you
remember
?
”
“
Yes
,
”
answered
Alain
,
hesitatingly
,
and
with
a
look
of
surprise
.
“
I
wish
now
to
retract
all
I
said
thereon
.
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
is
not
bent
on
the
profession
for
which
she
was
educated
.
She
would
willingly
renounce
all
idea
of
entering
it
.
The
only
counterweight
which
,
viewed
whether
by
my
reason
or
my
prejudices
,
could
be
placed
in
the
opposite
scale
to
that
of
the
excellences
which
might
make
any
man
proud
to
win
her
,
is
withdrawn
.
I
have
become
acquainted
with
her
since
the
date
of
our
conversation
.
Hers
is
a
mind
which
harmonizes
with
the
loveliness
of
her
face
.
In
one
word
,
Marquis
,
I
should
deem
myself
honoured
,
as
well
as
blest
,
by
such
a
bride
.
It
was
due
to
her
that
I
should
say
this
;
it
was
due
also
to
you
,
in
case
you
should
retain
the
impression
I
sought
in
ignorance
to
efface
.
And
I
am
bound
,
as
a
gentleman
,
to
obey
this
twofold
duty
,
even
though
in
so
doing
I
bring
upon
myself
the
affliction
of
a
candidate
for
the
hand
to
which
I
would
fain
myself
aspire
,
—
a
candidate
with
pretensions
in
every
way
far
superior
to
my
own
.
”
An
older
or
a
more
cynical
man
than
Alain
de
Rochebriant
might
well
have
found
something
suspicious
in
a
confession
thus
singularly
volunteered
;
but
the
Marquis
was
himself
so
loyal
that
he
had
no
doubt
of
the
loyalty
of
Graham
.
“
I
reply
to
you
,
”
he
said
,
“
with
a
frankness
which
finds
an
example
in
your
own
.
The
first
fair
face
which
attracted
my
fancy
since
my
arrival
at
Paris
was
that
of
the
Italian
demoiselle
of
whom
you
speak
in
terms
of
such
respect
.
I
do
think
if
I
had
then
been
thrown
into
her
society
,
and
found
her
to
be
such
as
you
no
doubt
truthfully
describe
,
that
fancy
might
have
become
a
very
grave
emotion
.
I
was
then
so
poor
,
so
friendless
,
so
despondent
!
Your
words
of
warning
impressed
me
at
the
time
,
but
less
durably
than
you
might
suppose
;
for
that
very
night
as
I
sat
in
my
solitary
attic
I
said
to
myself
,
‘Why
should
I
shrink
,
with
an
obsolete
old-world
prejudice
,
from
what
my
forefathers
would
have
termed
a
mesalliance
?
What
is
the
value
of
my
birthright
now
?
None
,
—
worse
than
none
.
It
excludes
me
from
all
careers
;
my
name
is
but
a
load
that
weighs
me
down
.
Why
should
I
make
that
name
a
curse
as
well
as
a
burden
?
Nothing
is
left
to
me
but
that
which
is
permitted
to
all
men
,
—
wedded
and
holy
love
.
Could
I
win
to
my
heart
the
smile
of
a
woman
who
brings
me
that
dower
,
the
home
of
my
fathers
would
lose
its
gloom.’
And
therefore
,
if
at
that
time
I
had
become
familiarly
acquainted
with
her
who
had
thus
attracted
my
eye
and
engaged
my
thoughts
,
she
might
have
become
my
destiny
;
but
now
!
”
“
But
now
?
”
“
Things
have
changed
.
I
am
no
longer
poor
,
friendless
,
solitary
.
I
have
entered
the
world
of
my
equals
as
a
Rochebriant
;
I
have
made
myself
responsible
for
the
dignity
of
my
name
.
I
could
not
give
that
name
to
one
,
however
peerless
in
herself
,
of
whom
the
world
would
say
,
‘But
for
her
marriage
she
would
have
been
a
singer
on
the
stage
!
’
I
will
own
more
:
the
fancy
I
conceived
for
the
first
fair
face
,
other
fair
faces
have
dispelled
.
At
this
moment
,
however
,
I
have
no
thought
of
marriage
;
and
having
known
the
anguish
of
struggle
,
the
privations
of
poverty
,
I
would
ask
no
woman
to
share
the
hazard
of
my
return
to
them
.
You
might
present
me
,
then
,
safely
to
this
beautiful
Italian
,
—
certain
,
indeed
,
that
I
should
be
her
admirer
;
equally
certain
that
I
could
not
become
your
rival
.
”
There
was
something
in
this
speech
that
jarred
upon
Graham’s
sensitive
pride
;
but
on
the
whole
,
he
felt
relieved
,
both
in
honour
and
in
heart
.
After
a
few
more
words
,
the
two
young
men
shook
hands
and
parted
.
Alain
remounted
his
horse
.
The
day
was
now
declining
.
Graham
hailed
a
vacant
fiacre
,
and
directed
the
driver
to
Isaura’s
villa
.
CHAPTER
IX
.
ISAURA
.
The
sun
was
sinking
slowly
as
Isaura
sat
at
her
window
,
gazing
dreamily
on
the
rose-hued
clouds
that
made
the
western
borderland
between
earth
and
heaven
.
On
the
table
before
her
lay
a
few
sheets
of
manuscript
hastily
written
,
not
yet
reperused
.
That
restless
mind
of
hers
had
left
its
trace
on
the
manuscript
.
It
is
characteristic
perhaps
of
the
different
genius
of
the
sexes
,
that
woman
takes
to
written
composition
more
impulsively
,
more
intuitively
,
than
man
,
—
letter-writing
,
to
him
a
task-work
,
is
to
her
a
recreation
.
Between
the
age
of
sixteen
and
the
date
of
marriage
,
six
well-educated
clever
girls
out
of
ten
keep
a
journal
;
not
one
well-educated
man
in
ten
thousand
does
.
So
,
without
serious
and
settled
intention
of
becoming
an
author
,
how
naturally
a
girl
of
ardent
feeling
and
vivid
fancy
seeks
in
poetry
or
romance
a
confessional
,
—
an
outpouring
of
thought
and
sentiment
,
which
are
mysteries
to
herself
till
she
has
given
them
words
,
and
which
,
frankly
revealed
on
the
page
,
she
would
not
,
perhaps
could
not
,
utter
orally
to
a
living
ear
.
During
the
last
few
days
,
the
desire
to
create
in
the
realm
of
fable
beings
constructed
by
her
own
breath
,
spiritualized
by
her
own
soul
,
had
grown
irresistibly
upon
this
fair
child
of
song
.
In
fact
,
when
Graham’s
words
had
decided
the
renunciation
of
her
destined
career
,
her
instinctive
yearnings
for
the
utterance
of
those
sentiments
or
thoughts
which
can
only
find
expression
in
some
form
of
art
,
denied
the
one
vent
,
irresistibly
impelled
her
to
the
other
.
And
in
this
impulse
she
was
confirmed
by
the
thought
that
here
at
least
there
was
nothing
which
her
English
friend
could
disapprove
,
—
none
of
the
perils
that
beset
the
actress
.
Here
it
seemed
as
if
,
could
she
but
succeed
,
her
fame
would
be
grateful
to
the
pride
of
all
who
loved
her
.
Here
was
a
career
ennobled
by
many
a
woman
,
and
side
by
side
in
rivalry
with
renowned
men
.
To
her
it
seemed
that
,
could
she
in
this
achieve
an
honoured
name
,
that
name
took
its
place
at
once
amid
the
higher
ranks
of
the
social
world
,
and
in
itself
brought
a
priceless
dowry
and
a
starry
crown
.
It
was
,
however
,
not
till
after
the
visit
to
Enghien
that
this
ambition
took
practical
life
and
form
.
One
evening
after
her
return
to
Paris
,
by
an
effort
so
involuntary
that
it
seemed
to
her
no
effort
,
she
had
commenced
a
tale
,
—
without
plan
,
without
method
,
without
knowing
in
one
page
what
would
fill
the
next
.
Her
slight
fingers
hurried
on
as
if
,
like
the
pretended
spirit
manifestations
,
impelled
by
an
invisible
agency
without
the
pale
of
the
world
.
She
was
intoxicated
by
the
mere
joy
of
inventing
ideal
images
.
In
her
own
special
art
an
elaborate
artist
,
here
she
had
no
thought
of
art
;
if
art
was
in
her
work
,
it
sprang
unconsciously
from
the
harmony
between
herself
and
her
subject
,
—
as
it
is
,
perhaps
,
with
the
early
soarings
of
the
genuine
lyric
poets
,
in
contrast
to
the
dramatic
.
For
the
true
lyric
poet
is
intensely
personal
,
intensely
subjective
.
It
is
himself
that
he
expresses
,
that
he
represents
;
and
he
almost
ceases
to
be
lyrical
when
he
seeks
to
go
out
of
his
own
existence
into
that
of
others
with
whom
he
has
no
sympathy
,
no
rapport
.
This
tale
was
vivid
with
genius
as
yet
untutored
,
—
genius
in
its
morning
freshness
,
full
of
beauties
,
full
of
faults
.
Isaura
distinguished
not
the
faults
from
the
beauties
.
She
felt
only
a
vague
persuasion
that
there
was
a
something
higher
and
brighter
—
a
something
more
true
to
her
own
idiosyncrasy
—
than
could
be
achieved
by
the
art
that
“
sings
other
people’s
words
to
other
people’s
music
.
”
From
the
work
thus
commenced
she
had
now
paused
;
and
it
seemed
to
her
fancies
that
between
her
inner
self
and
the
scene
without
,
whether
in
the
skies
and
air
and
sunset
,
or
in
the
abodes
of
men
stretching
far
and
near
till
lost
amid
the
roofs
and
domes
of
the
great
city
,
she
had
fixed
and
riveted
the
link
of
a
sympathy
hitherto
fluctuating
,
unsubstantial
,
evanescent
,
undefined
.
Absorbed
in
her
revery
,
she
did
not
notice
the
deepening
of
the
short
twilight
,
till
the
servant
entering
drew
the
curtains
between
her
and
the
world
without
,
and
placed
the
lamp
on
the
table
beside
her
.
Then
she
turned
away
with
a
restless
sigh
;
her
eyes
fell
on
the
manuscript
,
but
the
charm
of
it
was
gone
.
A
sentiment
of
distrust
in
its
worth
had
crept
into
her
thoughts
,
unconsciously
to
herself
,
and
the
page
open
before
her
at
an
uncompleted
sentence
seemed
unwelcome
and
wearisome
as
a
copy-book
is
to
a
child
condemned
to
relinquish
a
fairy
tale
half
told
,
and
apply
himself
to
a
task
half
done
.
She
fell
again
into
a
revery
,
when
,
starting
as
from
a
dream
,
she
heard
herself
addressed
by
name
,
and
turning
round
saw
Savarin
and
Gustave
Rameau
in
the
room
.
“
We
are
come
,
Signorina
,
”
said
Savarin
,
“
to
announce
to
you
a
piece
of
news
,
and
to
hazard
a
petition
.
The
news
is
this
:
my
young
friend
here
has
found
a
Maecenas
who
has
the
good
taste
so
to
admire
his
lucubrations
under
the
nom
de
plume
of
Alphonse
de
Valcour
as
to
volunteer
the
expenses
for
starting
a
new
journal
,
of
which
Gustave
Rameau
is
to
be
editor-in-chief
;
and
I
have
promised
to
assist
him
as
contributor
for
the
first
two
months
.
I
have
given
him
notes
of
introduction
to
certain
other
feuilletonistes
and
critics
whom
he
has
on
his
list
.
But
all
put
together
would
not
serve
to
float
the
journal
like
a
short
roman
from
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
.
Knowing
your
intimacy
with
that
eminent
artist
,
I
venture
to
back
Rameau’s
supplication
that
you
would
exert
your
influence
on
his
,
behalf
.
As
to
the
honoraires
,
she
has
but
to
name
them
.
”
“
Carte
blanche
,
”
cried
Rameau
,
eagerly
.
“
You
know
Eulalie
too
well
,
Monsieur
Savarin
,
”
answered
Isaura
,
with
a
smile
half
reproachful
,
“
to
suppose
that
she
is
a
mercenary
in
letters
,
and
sells
her
services
to
the
best
bidder
.
”
“
Bah
,
belle
enfant
!
”
said
Savarin
,
with
his
gay
light
laugh
.
“
Business
is
business
,
and
books
as
well
as
razors
are
made
to
sell
.
But
,
of
course
,
a
proper
prospectus
of
the
journal
must
accompany
your
request
to
write
in
it
.
Meanwhile
Rameau
will
explain
to
you
,
as
he
has
done
to
me
,
that
the
journal
in
question
is
designed
for
circulation
among
readers
of
haute
classe
it
is
to
be
pleasant
and
airy
,
full
of
bons
mots
and
anecdote
;
witty
,
but
not
ill-natured
.
Politics
to
be
Liberal
,
of
course
,
but
of
elegant
admixture
,
—
champagne
and
seltzer-water
.
In
fact
,
however
,
I
suspect
that
the
politics
will
be
a
very
inconsiderable
feature
in
this
organ
of
fine
arts
and
manners
;
some
amateur
scribbler
in
the
beau
monde
will
supply
them
.
For
the
rest
,
if
my
introductory
letters
are
successful
,
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
will
not
be
in
bad
company
.
”
“
You
will
write
to
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
?
”
asked
Rameau
,
pleadingly
.
“
Certainly
I
will
,
as
soon
—
”
“
As
soon
as
you
have
the
prospectus
,
and
the
names
of
the
collaborateurs
,
”
interrupted
Rameau
.
“
I
hope
to
send
you
these
in
a
very
few
days
.
”
While
Rameau
was
thus
speaking
,
Savarin
had
seated
himself
by
the
table
,
and
his
eye
mechanically
resting
on
the
open
manuscript
lighted
by
chance
upon
a
sentence
—
an
aphorism
—
embodying
a
very
delicate
sentiment
in
very
felicitous
diction
,
—
one
of
those
choice
condensations
of
thought
,
suggesting
so
much
more
than
is
said
,
which
are
never
found
in
mediocre
writers
,
and
,
rare
even
in
the
best
,
come
upon
us
like
truths
seized
by
surprise
.
“
Parbleu
!
”
exclaimed
Savarin
,
in
the
impulse
of
genuine
admiration
,
“
but
this
is
beautiful
;
what
is
more
,
it
is
original
,
”
—
and
he
read
the
words
aloud
.
Blushing
with
shame
and
resentment
,
Isaura
turned
and
hastily
placed
her
hand
on
the
manuscript
.
“
Pardon
,
”
said
Savarin
,
humbly
;
“
I
confess
my
sin
,
but
it
was
so
unpremeditated
that
it
does
not
merit
a
severe
penance
.
Do
not
look
at
me
so
reproachfully
.
We
all
know
that
young
ladies
keep
commonplace
books
in
which
they
enter
passages
that
strike
them
in
the
works
they
read
;
and
you
have
but
shown
an
exquisite
taste
in
selecting
this
gem
.
Do
tell
me
where
you
found
it
.
Is
it
somewhere
in
Lamartine
?
”
“
No
,
”
answered
Isaura
,
half
inaudibly
,
and
with
an
effort
to
withdraw
the
paper
.
Savarin
gently
detained
her
hand
,
and
looking
earnestly
into
her
tell-tale
face
,
divined
her
secret
.
“
It
is
your
own
,
Signorina
!
Accept
the
congratulations
of
a
very
practised
and
somewhat
fastidious
critic
.
If
the
rest
of
what
you
write
resembles
this
sentence
,
contribute
to
Rameau’s
journal
,
and
I
answer
for
its
success
.
”
Rameau
approached
,
half
incredulous
,
half
envious
.
“
My
dear
child
,
”
resumed
Savarin
,
drawing
away
the
manuscript
from
Isaura’s
coy
,
reluctant
clasp
,
“
do
permit
me
to
cast
a
glance
over
these
papers
.
For
what
I
yet
know
,
there
may
be
here
more
promise
of
fame
than
even
you
could
gain
as
a
singer
.
”
The
electric
chord
in
Isaura’s
heart
was
touched
.
Who
cannot
conceive
what
the
young
writer
feels
,
especially
the
young
woman-writer
,
when
hearing
the
first
cheery
note
of
praise
from
the
lips
of
a
writer
of
established
fame
?
“
Nay
,
this
cannot
be
worth
your
reading
,
”
said
Isaura
,
falteringly
;
“
I
have
never
written
anything
of
the
kind
before
,
and
this
is
a
riddle
to
me
.
I
know
not
,
”
she
added
,
with
a
sweet
low
laugh
,
“
why
I
began
,
nor
how
I
should
end
it
.
”
“
So
much
the
better
,
”
said
Savarin
;
and
he
took
the
manuscript
,
withdrew
to
a
recess
by
the
farther
window
,
and
seated
himself
there
,
reading
silently
and
quickly
,
but
now
and
then
with
a
brief
pause
of
reflection
.
Rameau
placed
himself
beside
Isaura
on
the
divan
,
and
began
talking
with
her
earnestly
,
—
earnestly
,
for
it
was
about
himself
and
his
aspiring
hopes
.
Isaura
,
on
the
other
hand
,
more
woman-like
than
author-like
,
ashamed
even
to
seem
absorbed
in
herself
and
her
hopes
,
and
with
her
back
turned
,
in
the
instinct
of
that
shame
,
against
the
reader
of
her
manuscript
,
—
Isaura
listened
and
sought
to
interest
herself
solely
in
the
young
fellow-author
.
Seeking
to
do
so
she
succeeded
genuinely
,
for
ready
sympathy
was
a
prevalent
characteristic
of
her
nature
.
“
Oh
,
”
said
Rameau
,
“
I
am
at
the
turning-point
of
my
life
.
Ever
since
boyhood
I
have
been
haunted
with
the
words
of
Andre
Chenier
on
the
morning
he
was
led
to
the
scaffold
‘And
yet
there
was
something
here
,
’
striking
his
forehead
.
Yes
,
I
,
poor
,
low-born
,
launching
myself
headlong
in
the
chase
of
a
name
;
I
,
underrated
,
uncomprehended
,
indebted
even
for
a
hearing
to
the
patronage
of
an
amiable
trifler
like
Savarin
,
ranked
by
petty
rivals
in
a
grade
below
themselves
,
—
I
now
see
before
me
,
suddenly
,
abruptly
presented
,
the
expanding
gates
into
fame
and
fortune
.
Assist
me
,
you
!
”
“
But
how
?
”
said
Isaura
,
already
forgetting
her
manuscript
;
and
certainly
Rameau
did
not
refer
to
that
.
“
How
!
”
echoed
Rameau
;
“
how
!
But
do
you
not
see
—
or
at
least
,
do
you
not
conjecture
—
this
journal
of
which
Savarin
speaks
contains
my
present
and
my
future
?
Present
independence
,
opening
to
fortune
and
renown
.
Ay
,
—
and
who
shall
say
?
renown
beyond
that
of
the
mere
writer
.
Behind
the
gaudy
scaffolding
of
this
rickety
Empire
,
a
new
social
edifice
unperceived
arises
;
and
in
that
edifice
the
halls
of
State
shall
be
given
to
the
men
who
help
obscurely
to
build
it
,
—
to
men
like
me
.
”
Here
,
drawing
her
hand
into
his
own
,
fixing
on
her
the
most
imploring
gaze
of
his
dark
persuasive
eyes
,
and
utterly
unconscious
of
bathos
in
his
adjuration
,
he
added
:
“
Plead
for
me
with
your
whole
mind
and
heart
;
use
your
uttermost
influence
with
the
illustrious
writer
whose
pen
can
assure
the
fates
of
my
journal
.
”
Here
the
door
suddenly
opened
,
and
following
the
servant
,
who
announced
unintelligibly
his
name
,
there
entered
Graham
Vane
.
CHAPTER
X
.
The
Englishman
halted
at
the
threshold
.
His
eye
,
passing
rapidly
over
the
figure
of
Savarin
reading
in
the
window-niche
,
rested
upon
Rameau
and
Isaura
seated
on
the
same
divan
,
he
with
her
hand
clasped
in
both
his
own
,
and
bending
his
face
towards
hers
so
closely
that
a
loose
tress
of
her
hair
seemed
to
touch
his
forehead
.
The
Englishman
halted
,
and
no
revolution
which
changes
the
habitudes
and
forms
of
States
was
ever
so
sudden
as
that
which
passed
without
a
word
in
the
depths
of
his
unconjectured
heart
.
The
heart
has
no
history
which
philosophers
can
recognize
.
An
ordinary
political
observer
,
contemplating
the
condition
of
a
nation
,
may
very
safely
tell
us
what
effects
must
follow
the
causes
patent
to
his
eyes
;
but
the
wisest
and
most
far-seeing
sage
,
looking
at
a
man
at
one
o’clock
,
cannot
tell
us
what
revulsions
of
his
whole
being
may
be
made
ere
the
clock
strike
two
.
As
Isaura
rose
to
greet
her
visitor
,
Savarin
came
from
the
window-niche
,
the
manuscript
in
his
hand
.
“
Son
of
perfidious
Albion
,
”
said
Savarin
,
gayly
,
“
we
feared
you
had
deserted
the
French
alliance
.
Welcome
back
to
Paris
,
and
the
entente
cordiale
.
”
“
Would
I
could
stay
to
enjoy
such
welcome
!
but
I
must
again
quit
Paris
.
”
“
Soon
to
return
,
n’est
ce
pas
?
Paris
is
an
irresistible
magnet
to
les
beaux
esprits
.
A
propos
of
beaux
esprits
,
be
sure
to
leave
orders
with
your
bookseller
,
if
you
have
one
,
to
enter
your
name
as
subscriber
to
a
new
journal
.
”
“
Certainly
,
if
Monsieur
Savarin
recommends
it
.
”
“
He
recommends
it
as
a
matter
of
course
;
he
writes
in
it
,
”
said
Rameau
.
“
A
sufficient
guarantee
for
its
excellence
.
What
is
the
name
of
the
journal
?
”
“
Not
yet
thought
of
,
”
answered
Savarin
.
“
Babes
must
be
born
before
they
are
christened
;
but
it
will
be
instruction
enough
to
your
bookseller
to
order
the
new
journal
to
be
edited
by
Gustave
Rameau
.
”
Bowing
ceremoniously
to
the
editor
in
prospect
,
Graham
said
,
half
ironically
,
“
May
I
hope
that
in
the
department
of
criticism
you
will
not
be
too
hard
upon
poor
Tasso
?
”
“
Never
fear
;
the
Signorina
,
who
adores
Tasso
,
will
take
him
under
her
special
protection
,
”
said
Savarin
,
interrupting
Rameau’s
sullen
and
embarrassed
reply
.
Graham’s
brow
slightly
contracted
.
“
Mademoiselle
,
”
he
said
,
“
is
then
to
be
united
in
the
conduct
of
this
journal
with
M
.
Gustave
Rameau
?
”
“
No
,
indeed
!
”
exclaimed
Isaura
,
somewhat
frightened
at
the
idea
.
“
But
I
hope
,
”
said
Savarin
,
“
that
the
Signorina
may
become
a
contributor
too
important
for
an
editor
to
offend
by
insulting
her
favourites
,
Tasso
included
.
Rameau
and
I
came
hither
to
entreat
her
influence
with
her
intimate
and
illustrious
friend
,
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
,
to
insure
the
success
of
our
undertaking
by
sanctioning
the
announcement
of
her
name
as
a
contributor
.
”
“
Upon
social
questions
,
—
such
as
the
laws
of
marriage
?
”
said
Graham
,
with
a
sarcastic
smile
,
which
concealed
the
quiver
of
his
lip
and
the
pain
in
his
voice
.
“
Nay
,
”
answered
Savarin
,
“
our
journal
will
be
too
sportive
,
I
hope
,
for
matters
so
profound
.
We
would
rather
have
Madame
de
Grantmesnil’s
aid
in
some
short
roman
,
which
will
charm
the
fancy
of
all
and
offend
the
opinions
of
none
.
But
since
I
came
into
the
room
,
I
care
less
for
the
Signorina’s
influence
with
the
great
authoress
,
”
and
he
glanced
significantly
at
the
manuscript
.
“
How
so
?
”
asked
Graham
,
his
eye
following
the
glance
.
“
If
the
writer
of
this
manuscript
will
conclude
what
she
has
begun
,
we
shall
be
independent
of
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
.
”
“
Fie
!
”
cried
Isaura
,
impulsively
,
her
face
and
neck
bathed
in
blushes
,
—
“
fie
!
such
words
are
a
mockery
.
”
Graham
gazed
at
her
intently
,
and
then
turned
his
eyes
on
Savarin
.
He
guessed
aright
the
truth
.
“
Mademoiselle
then
is
an
author
?
In
the
style
of
her
friend
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
?
”
“
Bah
!
”
said
Savarin
,
“
I
should
indeed
be
guilty
of
mockery
if
I
paid
the
Signorina
so
false
a
compliment
as
to
say
that
in
a
first
effort
she
attained
to
the
style
of
one
of
the
most
finished
sovereigns
of
language
that
has
ever
swayed
the
literature
of
France
.
When
I
say
,
‘Give
us
this
tale
completed
,
and
I
shall
be
consoled
if
the
journal
does
not
gain
the
aid
of
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
,
’
I
mean
that
in
these
pages
there
is
that
nameless
charm
of
freshness
and
novelty
which
compensates
for
many
faults
never
committed
by
a
practised
pen
like
Madame
de
Grantmesnil’s
.
My
dear
young
lady
,
go
on
with
this
story
,
—
finish
it
;
when
finished
,
do
not
disdain
any
suggestions
I
may
offer
in
the
way
of
correction
,
—
and
I
will
venture
to
predict
to
you
so
brilliant
a
career
as
author
,
that
you
will
not
regret
should
you
resign
for
that
career
the
bravoes
you
could
command
as
actress
and
singer
.
”
The
Englishman
pressed
his
hand
convulsively
to
his
heart
,
as
if
smitten
by
a
sudden
spasm
.
But
as
his
eyes
rested
on
Isaura’s
face
,
which
had
become
radiant
with
the
enthusiastic
delight
of
genius
when
the
path
it
would
select
opens
before
it
as
if
by
a
flash
from
heaven
,
whatever
of
jealous
irritation
,
whatever
of
selfish
pain
he
might
before
have
felt
;
was
gone
,
merged
in
a
sentiment
of
unutterable
sadness
and
compassion
.
Practical
man
as
he
was
,
he
knew
so
well
all
the
dangers
,
all
the
snares
,
all
the
sorrows
,
all
the
scandals
menacing
name
and
fame
,
that
in
the
world
of
Paris
must
beset
the
fatherless
girl
who
,
not
less
in
authorship
than
on
the
stage
,
leaves
the
safeguard
of
private
life
forever
behind
her
,
who
becomes
a
prey
to
the
tongues
of
the
public
.
At
Paris
,
how
slender
is
the
line
that
divides
the
authoress
from
the
Bohemienne
!
He
sank
into
his
chair
silently
,
and
passed
his
hand
over
his
eyes
,
as
if
to
shut
out
a
vision
of
the
future
.
Isaura
in
her
excitement
did
not
notice
the
effect
on
her
English
visitor
.
She
could
not
have
divined
such
an
effect
as
possible
.
On
the
contrary
,
even
subordinate
to
her
joy
at
the
thought
that
she
had
not
mistaken
the
instincts
which
led
her
to
a
nobler
vocation
than
that
of
the
singer
,
that
the
cage-bar
was
opened
,
and
space
bathed
in
sunshine
was
inviting
the
new-felt
wings
,
—
subordinate
even
to
that
joy
was
a
joy
more
wholly
,
more
simply
woman’s
.
“
If
,
”
thought
she
,
in
this
joy
,
“
if
this
be
true
,
my
proud
ambition
is
realized
;
all
disparities
of
worth
and
fortune
are
annulled
between
me
and
him
to
whom
I
would
bring
no
shame
of
mesalliance
!
”
Poor
dreamer
,
poor
child
!
“
You
will
let
me
see
what
you
have
written
,
”
said
Rameau
,
somewhat
imperiously
,
in
the
sharp
voice
habitual
to
him
,
and
which
pierced
Graham’s
ear
like
a
splinter
of
glass
.
“
No
,
not
now
;
when
finished
.
”
“
You
will
finish
it
?
”
“
Oh
,
yes
;
how
can
I
help
it
after
such
encouragement
?
”
She
held
out
her
hand
to
Savarin
,
who
kissed
it
gallantly
;
then
her
eyes
intuitively
sought
Graham’s
.
By
that
time
he
had
recovered
his
self-possession
.
He
met
her
look
tranquilly
,
and
with
a
smile
;
but
the
smile
chilled
her
,
she
knew
not
why
.
The
conversation
then
passed
upon
books
and
authors
of
the
day
,
and
was
chiefly
supported
by
the
satirical
pleasantries
of
Savarin
,
who
was
in
high
good-spirits
.
Graham
,
who
,
as
we
know
,
had
come
with
the
hope
of
seeing
Isaura
alone
,
and
with
the
intention
of
uttering
words
which
,
however
guarded
,
might
yet
in
absence
serve
as
links
of
union
,
now
no
longer
coveted
that
interview
,
no
longer
meditated
those
words
.
He
soon
rose
to
depart
.
“
Will
you
dine
with
me
to-morrow
?
”
asked
Savarin
.
“
Perhaps
I
may
induce
the
Signorina
and
Rameau
to
offer
you
the
temptation
of
meeting
them
.
”
“
By
to-morrow
I
shall
be
leagues
away
.
”
Isaura’s
heart
sank
.
This
time
the
manuscript
was
fairly
forgotten
.
“
You
never
said
you
were
going
so
soon
,
”
cried
Savarin
.
“
When
do
you
come
back
,
vile
deserter
?
”
“
I
cannot
even
guess
.
Monsieur
Rameau
,
count
me
among
your
subscribers
.
Mademoiselle
,
my
best
regards
to
Signora
Venosta
.
When
I
see
you
again
,
no
doubt
you
will
have
become
famous
.
”
Isaura
here
could
not
control
herself
.
She
rose
impulsively
,
and
approached
him
,
holding
out
her
hand
,
and
attempting
a
smile
.
“
But
not
famous
in
the
way
that
you
warned
me
from
,
”
she
said
in
whispered
tones
.
“
You
are
friends
with
me
still
?
”
It
was
like
the
piteous
wail
of
a
child
seeking
to
make
it
up
with
one
who
wants
to
quarrel
,
the
child
knows
not
why
.
Graham
was
moved
,
but
what
could
he
say
?
Could
he
have
the
right
to
warn
her
from
this
profession
also
;
forbid
all
desires
,
all
roads
of
fame
to
this
brilliant
aspirant
?
Even
a
declared
and
accepted
lover
might
well
have
deemed
that
that
would
be
to
ask
too
much
.
He
replied
,
“
Yes
,
always
a
friend
,
if
you
could
ever
need
one
.
”
Her
hand
slid
from
his
,
and
she
turned
away
wounded
to
the
quick
.
“
Have
you
your
coupe
at
the
door
?
”
asked
Savarin
.
“
Simply
a
fiacre
.
”
“
And
are
going
back
at
once
to
Paris
?
”
“
Yes
.
”
“
Will
you
kindly
drop
me
in
the
Rue
de
Rivoli
?
”
“
Charmed
to
be
of
use
.
”
CHAPTER
XI
.
As
the
fiacre
bore
to
Paris
Savarin
and
Graham
,
the
former
said
,
“
I
cannot
conceive
what
rich
simpleton
could
entertain
so
high
an
opinion
of
Gustave
Rameau
as
to
select
a
man
so
young
,
and
of
reputation
though
promising
so
undecided
,
for
an
enterprise
which
requires
such
a
degree
of
tact
and
judgment
as
the
conduct
of
a
new
journal
,
—
and
a
journal
,
too
,
which
is
to
address
itself
to
the
beau
monde
.
However
,
it
is
not
for
me
to
criticise
a
selection
which
brings
a
god-send
to
myself
.
”
“
To
yourself
?
You
jest
;
you
have
a
journal
of
your
own
.
It
can
only
be
through
an
excess
of
good-nature
that
you
lend
your
name
and
pen
to
the
service
of
M
.
Gustave
Rameau
.
”
“
My
good-nature
does
not
go
to
that
extent
.
It
is
Rameau
who
confers
a
service
upon
me
.
Peste
!
mon
cher
,
we
French
authors
have
not
the
rents
of
you
rich
English
milords
.
And
though
I
am
the
most
economical
of
our
tribe
,
yet
that
journal
of
mine
has
failed
me
of
late
;
and
this
morning
I
did
not
exactly
see
how
I
was
to
repay
a
sum
I
had
been
obliged
to
borrow
of
a
money-lender
,
—
for
I
am
too
proud
to
borrow
of
friends
,
and
too
sagacious
to
borrow
of
publishers
,
—
when
in
walks
ce
cher
petit
Gustave
with
an
offer
,
for
a
few
trifles
towards
starting
this
new-born
journal
,
which
makes
a
new
man
of
me
.
Now
I
am
in
the
undertaking
,
my
amour
propre
and
my
reputation
are
concerned
in
its
success
;
and
I
shall
take
care
that
collaborateurs
of
whose
company
I
am
not
ashamed
are
in
the
same
boat
.
But
that
charming
girl
,
Isaura
!
What
an
enigma
the
gift
of
the
pen
is
!
No
one
can
ever
guess
who
has
it
until
tried
.
”
“
The
young
lady’s
manuscript
,
then
,
really
merits
the
praise
you
bestowed
on
it
?
”
“
Much
more
praise
,
though
a
great
deal
of
blame
,
which
I
did
not
bestow
,
—
for
in
a
first
work
faults
insure
success
as
much
as
beauties
.
Anything
better
than
tame
correctness
.
Yes
,
her
first
work
,
to
judge
by
what
is
written
,
must
make
a
hit
,
—
a
great
hit
.
And
that
will
decide
her
career
.
A
singer
,
an
actress
,
may
retire
,
—
often
does
when
she
marries
an
author
;
but
once
an
author
always
an
author
.
”
“
Ah
!
is
it
so
?
If
you
had
a
beloved
daughter
,
Savarin
,
would
you
encourage
her
to
be
an
author
?
”
“
Frankly
,
no
:
principally
because
in
that
case
the
chances
are
that
she
would
marry
an
author
;
and
French
authors
,
at
least
in
the
imaginative
school
,
make
very
uncomfortable
husbands
.
”
“
Ah
!
you
think
the
Signorina
will
marry
one
of
those
uncomfortable
husbands
,
—
M
.
Rameau
,
perhaps
?
”
“
Rameau
!
Hein
!
nothing
more
likely
.
That
beautiful
face
of
his
has
its
fascination
.
And
to
tell
you
the
truth
,
my
wife
,
who
is
a
striking
illustration
of
the
truth
that
what
woman
wills
heaven
wills
,
is
bent
upon
that
improvement
in
Gustave’s
moral
life
which
she
thinks
a
union
with
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
would
achieve
.
At
all
events
,
the
fair
Italian
would
have
in
Rameau
a
husband
who
would
not
suffer
her
to
bury
her
talents
under
a
bushel
.
If
she
succeeds
as
a
writer
(
by
succeeding
I
mean
making
money
)
,
he
will
see
that
her
ink-bottle
is
never
empty
;
and
if
she
don’t
succeed
as
a
writer
,
he
will
take
care
that
the
world
shall
gain
an
actress
or
a
singer
.
For
Gustave
Rameau
has
a
great
taste
for
luxury
and
show
;
and
whatever
his
wife
can
make
,
I
will
venture
to
say
that
he
will
manage
to
spend
.
”
“
I
thought
you
had
an
esteem
and
regard
for
Mademoiselle
Cicogna
.
It
is
Madame
your
wife
,
I
suppose
,
who
has
a
grudge
against
her
?
”
“
On
the
contrary
,
my
wife
idolizes
her
.
”
“
Savages
sacrifice
to
their
idols
the
things
they
deem
of
value
;
civilized
Parisians
sacrifice
their
idols
themselves
,
and
to
a
thing
that
is
worthless
.
”
“
Rameau
is
not
worthless
;
he
has
beauty
and
youth
and
talent
.
My
wife
thinks
more
highly
of
him
than
I
do
;
but
I
must
respect
a
man
who
has
found
admirers
so
sincere
as
to
set
him
up
in
a
journal
,
and
give
him
carte
blanche
for
terms
to
contributors
.
I
know
of
no
man
in
Paris
more
valuable
to
me
.
His
worth
to
me
this
morning
is
thirty
thousand
francs
.
I
own
I
do
not
think
him
likely
to
be
a
very
safe
husband
;
but
then
French
female
authors
and
artists
seldom
take
any
husbands
except
upon
short
leases
.
There
are
no
vulgar
connubial
prejudices
in
the
pure
atmosphere
of
art
.
Women
of
genius
,
like
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
,
and
perhaps
like
our
charming
young
friend
,
resemble
canary-birds
,
—
to
sing
their
best
you
must
separate
them
from
their
mates
.
”
The
Englishman
suppressed
a
groan
,
and
turned
the
conversation
.
When
he
had
set
down
his
lively
companion
,
Vane
dismissed
his
fiacre
,
and
walked
to
his
lodgings
musingly
.
“
No
,
”
he
said
inly
;
“
I
must
wrench
myself
from
the
very
memory
of
that
haunting
face
,
—
the
friend
and
pupil
of
Madame
de
Grantmesnil
,
the
associate
of
Gustave
Rameau
,
the
rival
of
Julie
Caumartin
,
the
aspirant
to
that
pure
atmosphere
of
art
in
which
there
are
no
vulgar
connubial
prejudices
!
Could
I
—
whether
I
be
rich
or
poor
—
see
in
her
the
ideal
of
an
English
wife
?
As
it
is
—
as
it
is
—
with
this
mystery
which
oppresses
me
,
which
,
till
solved
,
leaves
my
own
career
insoluble
,
—
as
it
is
,
how
fortunate
that
I
did
not
find
her
alone
;
did
not
utter
the
words
that
would
fain
have
leaped
from
my
heart
;
did
not
say
,
‘I
may
not
be
the
rich
man
I
seem
,
but
in
that
case
I
shall
be
yet
more
ambitious
,
because
struggle
and
labour
are
the
sinews
of
ambition
!
Should
I
be
rich
,
will
you
adorn
my
station
?
Should
I
be
poor
,
will
you
enrich
poverty
with
your
smile
?
And
can
you
,
in
either
case
,
forego
—
really
,
painlessly
forego
,
as
you
led
me
to
hope
—
the
pride
in
your
own
art
?
’
My
ambition
were
killed
did
I
marry
an
actress
,
a
singer
.
Better
that
than
the
hungerer
after
excitements
which
are
never
allayed
,
the
struggler
in
a
career
which
admits
of
no
retirement
,
—
the
woman
to
whom
marriage
is
no
goal
,
who
remains
to
the
last
the
property
of
the
public
,
and
glories
to
dwell
in
a
house
of
glass
into
which
every
bystander
has
a
right
to
peer
.
Is
this
the
ideal
of
an
Englishman’s
wife
and
home
?
No
,
no
!
—
woe
is
me
,
no
!
”
BOOK
VI
.
CHAPTER
I
.
A
few
weeks
after
the
date
of
the
preceding
chapter
,
a
gay
party
of
men
were
assembled
at
supper
in
one
of
the
private
salons
of
the
Maison
Doree
.
The
supper
was
given
by
Frederic
Lemercier
,
and
the
guests
were
,
though
in
various
ways
,
more
or
less
distinguished
.
Rank
and
fashion
were
not
unworthily
represented
by
Alain
de
Rochebriant
and
Enguerrand
de
Vandemar
,
by
whose
supremacy
as
“
lion
”
Frederic
still
felt
rather
humbled
,
though
Alain
had
contrived
to
bring
them
familiarly
together
.
Art
,
Literature
,
and
the
Bourse
had
also
their
representatives
in
Henri
Bernard
,
a
rising
young
portrait-painter
,
whom
the
Emperor
honoured
with
his
patronage
,
the
Vicomte
de
Braze
,
and
M
.
Savarin
.
Science
was
not
altogether
forgotten
,
but
contributed
its
agreeable
delegate
in
the
person
of
the
eminent
physician
to
whom
we
have
been
before
introduced
,
—
Dr
.
Bacourt
.
Doctors
in
Paris
are
not
so
serious
as
they
mostly
are
in
London
;
and
Bacourt
,
a
pleasant
philosopher
of
the
school
of
Aristippus
,
was
no
unfrequent
nor
ungenial
guest
at
any
banquet
in
which
the
Graces
relaxed
their
zones
.
Martial
glory
was
also
represented
at
that
social
gathering
by
a
warrior
,
bronzed
and
decorated
,
lately
arrived
from
Algiers
,
on
which
arid
soil
he
had
achieved
many
laurels
and
the
rank
of
Colonel
.
Finance
contributed
Duplessis
.
Well
it
might
;
for
Duplessis
had
just
assisted
the
host
to
a
splendid
coup
at
the
Bourse
.
“
Ah
,
cher
Monsieur
Savarin
,
”
says
Enguerrand
de
Vandemar
,
whose
patrician
blood
is
so
pure
from
revolutionary
taint
that
he
is
always
instinctively
polite
,
“
what
a
masterpiece
in
its
way
is
that
little
paper
of
yours
in
the
‘Sens
Commun
,
’
upon
the
connection
between
the
national
character
and
the
national
diet
!
so
genuinely
witty
!
—
for
wit
is
but
truth
made
amusing
.
”
“
You
flatter
me
,
”
replied
Savarin
,
modestly
;
“
but
I
own
I
do
think
there
is
a
smattering
of
philosophy
in
that
trifle
.
Perhaps
,
however
,
the
character
of
a
people
depends
more
on
its
drinks
than
its
food
.
The
wines
of
Italy
,
heady
,
irritable
,
ruinous
to
the
digestion
,
contribute
to
the
character
which
belongs
to
active
brains
and
disordered
livers
.
The
Italians
conceive
great
plans
,
but
they
cannot
digest
them
.
The
English
common-people
drink
beer
,
and
the
beerish
character
is
stolid
,
rude
,
but
stubborn
and
enduring
.
The
English
middle-class
imbibe
port
and
sherry
;
and
with
these
strong
potations
their
ideas
become
obfuscated
.
Their
character
has
no
liveliness
;
amusement
is
not
one
of
their
wants
;
they
sit
at
home
after
dinner
and
doze
away
the
fumes
of
their
beverage
in
the
dulness
of
domesticity
.
If
the
English
aristocracy
are
more
vivacious
and
cosmopolitan
,
it
is
thanks
to
the
wines
of
France
,
which
it
is
the
mode
with
them
to
prefer
;
but
still
,
like
all
plagiarists
,
they
are
imitators
,
not
inventors
;
they
borrow
our
wines
and
copy
our
manners
.
The
Germans
—
”
“
Insolent
barbarians
!
”
growled
the
French
Colonel
,
twirling
his
mustache
;
“
if
the
Emperor
were
not
in
his
dotage
,
their
Sadowa
would
ere
this
have
cost
them
their
Rhine
.
”
“
The
Germans
,
”
resumed
Savarin
,
unheeding
the
interruption
,
“
drink
acrid
wines
,
varied
with
beer
,
to
which
last
their
commonalty
owes
a
quasi
resemblance
in
stupidity
and
endurance
to
the
English
masses
.
Acrid
wines
rot
the
teeth
Germans
are
afflicted
with
toothache
from
infancy
.
All
people
subject
to
toothache
are
sentimental
.
Goethe
was
a
martyr
to
toothache
.
‘Werther’
was
written
in
one
of
those
paroxysms
which
predispose
genius
to
suicide
.
But
the
German
character
is
not
all
toothache
;
beer
and
tobacco
step
in
to
the
relief
of
Rhenish
acridities
,
blend
philosophy
with
sentiment
,
and
give
that
patience
in
detail
which
distinguishes
their
professors
and
their
generals
.
Besides
,
the
German
wines
in
themselves
have
other
qualities
than
that
of
acridity
.
Taken
with
sourkrout
and
stewed
prunes
,
they
produce
fumes
of
self-conceit
.
A
German
has
little
of
French
vanity
;
he
has
German
self-esteem
.
He
extends
the
esteem
of
self
to
those
around
him
;
his
home
,
his
village
,
his
city
,
his
country
,
—
all
belong
to
him
.
It
is
a
duty
he
owes
to
himself
to
defend
them
.
Give
him
his
pipe
and
his
sabre
,
and
,
Monsieur
le
Colonel
,
believe
me
,
you
will
never
take
the
Rhine
from
him
.
”
“
P-r-r
,
”
cried
the
Colonel
;
“
but
we
have
had
the
Rhine
.
”
“
We
did
not
keep
it
.
And
I
should
not
say
I
had
a
francpiece
if
I
borrowed
it
from
your
purse
and
had
to
give
it
back
the
next
day
.
”
Here
there
arose
a
very
general
hubbub
of
voices
,
all
raised
against
M
.
Savarin
.
Enguerrand
,
like
a
man
of
good
ton
,
hastened
to
change
the
conversation
.
“
Let
us
leave
these
poor
wretches
to
their
sour
wines
and
toothaches
.
We
drinkers
of
the
champagne
,
all
our
own
,
have
only
pity
for
the
rest
of
the
human
race
.
This
new
journal
‘Le
Sens
Commun’
has
a
strange
title
,
Monsieur
Savarin
.
”
“
Yes
;
‘Le
Sens
Commun’
is
not
common
in
Paris
,
where
we
all
have
too
much
genius
for
a
thing
so
vulgar
.
”
“
Pray
,
”
said
the
young
painter
,
“
tell
me
what
you
mean
by
the
title
‘Le
Sens
Commun.’
It
is
mysterious
.
”
“
True
,
”
said
Savarin
;
“
it
may
mean
the
Sensus
communis
of
the
Latins
,
or
the
Good
Sense
of
the
English
.
The
Latin
phrase
signifies
the
sense
of
the
common
interest
;
the
English
phrase
,
the
sense
which
persons
of
understanding
have
in
common
.
I
suppose
the
inventor
of
our
title
meant
the
latter
signification
.
”
“
And
who
was
the
inventor
?
”
asked
Bacourt
.
“
That
is
a
secret
which
I
do
not
know
myself
,
”
answered
Savarin
.
“
I
guess
,
”
said
Enguerrand
,
“
that
it
must
be
the
same
person
who
writes
the
political
leaders
.
They
are
most
remarkable
;
for
they
are
so
unlike
the
articles
in
other
journals
,
whether
those
journals
be
the
best
or
the
worst
.
For
my
own
part
,
I
trouble
my
head
very
little
about
politics
,
and
shrug
my
shoulders
at
essays
which
reduce
the
government
of
flesh
and
blood
into
mathematical
problems
.
But
these
articles
seem
to
be
written
by
a
man
of
the
world
,
and
as
a
man
of
the
world
myself
,
I
read
them
.
”
“
But
,
”
said
the
Vicomte
de
Breze
,
who
piqued
himself
on
the
polish
of
his
style
,
“
they
are
certainly
not
the
composition
of
any
eminent
writer
.
No
eloquence
,
no
sentiment
;
though
I
ought
not
to
speak
disparagingly
of
a
fellow-contributor
.
”
“
All
that
may
be
very
true
;
”
said
Savarin
;
“
but
M
.
Enguerrand
is
right
.
The
papers
are
evidently
the
work
of
a
man
of
the
world
,
and
it
is
for
that
reason
that
they
have
startled
the
public
,
and
established
the
success
of
‘Le
Sens
Commun.’
But
wait
a
week
or
two
longer
,
Messieurs
,
and
then
tell
me
what
you
think
of
a
new
roman
by
a
new
writer
,
which
we
shall
announce
in
our
impression
to-morrow
.
I
shall
be
disappointed
,
indeed
,
if
that
does
not
charm
you
.
No
lack
of
eloquence
and
sentiment
there
.
”
“
I
am
rather
tired
of
eloquence
and
sentiment
,
”
said
Enguerrand
.
“
Your
editor
,
Gustave
Rameau
,
sickens
me
of
them
with
his
‘Starlit
Meditations
in
the
Streets
of
Paris
,
’
morbid
imitations
of
Heine’s
enigmatical
‘Evening
Songs.’
Your
journal
would
be
perfect
if
you
could
suppress
the
editor
.
”
“
Suppress
Gustave
Rameau
!
”
cried
Bernard
,
the
painter
;
“
I
adore
his
poems
,
full
of
heart
for
poor
suffering
humanity
.
”
“
Suffering
humanity
so
far
as
it
is
packed
up
in
himself
,
”
said
the
physician
,
dryly
,
—
“
and
a
great
deal
of
the
suffering
is
bile
.
But
a
propos
of
your
new
journal
,
Savarin
,
there
is
a
paragraph
in
it
to-day
which
excites
my
curiosity
.
It
says
that
the
Vicomte
de
Mauleon
has
arrived
in
Paris
,
after
many
years
of
foreign
travel
;
and
then
,
referring
modestly
enough
to
the
reputation
for
talent
which
he
had
acquired
in
early
youth
,
proceeds
to
indulge
in
a
prophecy
of
the
future
political
career
of
a
man
who
,
if
he
have
a
grain
of
sens
common
,
must
think
that
the
less
said
about
him
the
better
.
I
remember
him
well
;
a
terrible
mauvais
sujet
,
but
superbly
handsome
.
There
was
a
shocking
story
about
the
jewels
of
a
foreign
duchess
,
which
obliged
him
to
leave
Paris
.
”
“
But
,
”
said
Savarin
,
“
the
paragraph
you
refer
to
hints
that
that
story
is
a
groundless
calumny
,
and
that
the
true
reason
for
De
Mauleon’s
voluntary
self-exile
was
a
very
common
one
among
young
Parisians
,
—
he
had
lavished
away
his
fortune
.
He
returns
,
when
,
either
by
heritage
or
his
own
exertions
,
he
has
secured
elsewhere
a
competence
.
”
“
Nevertheless
I
cannot
think
that
society
will
receive
him
,
”
said
Bacourt
.
“
When
he
left
Paris
,
there
was
one
joyous
sigh
of
relief
among
all
men
who
wished
to
avoid
duels
,
and
keep
their
wives
out
of
temptation
.
Society
may
welcome
back
a
lost
sheep
,
but
not
a
reinvigorated
wolf
.
”
“
I
beg
your
pardon
,
mon
cher
,
”
said
Enguerrand
;
“
society
has
already
opened
its
fold
to
this
poor
ill-treated
wolf
.
Two
days
ago
Louvier
summoned
to
his
house
the
surviving
relations
or
connections
of
De
Mauleon
—
among
whom
are
the
Marquis
de
Rochebriant
,
the
Counts
de
Passy
,
De
Beauvilliers
,
De
Chavigny
,
my
father
,
and
of
course
his
two
sons
—
and
submitted
to
us
the
proofs
which
completely
clear
the
Vicomte
de
Mauleon
of
even
a
suspicion
of
fraud
or
dishonour
in
the
affair
of
the
jewels
.
The
proofs
include
the
written
attestation
of
the
Duke
himself
,
and
letters
from
that
nobleman
after
De
Mauleon’s
disappearance
from
Paris
,
expressive
of
great
esteem
,
and
indeed
,
of
great
admiration
,
for
the
Vicomte’s
sense
of
honour
and
generosity
of
character
.
The
result
of
this
family
council
was
that
we
all
went
in
a
body
to
call
on
De
Mauleon
;
and
he
dined
with
my
father
that
same
day
.
You
know
enough
of
the
Comte
de
Vandemar
,
and
,
I
may
add
,
of
my
mother
,
to
be
sure
that
they
are
both
,
in
their
several
ways
,
too
regardful
of
social
conventions
to
lend
their
countenance
even
to
a
relation
without
well
weighing
the
pros
and
cons
.
And
as
for
Raoul
,
Bayard
himself
could
not
be
a
greater
stickler
on
the
point
of
honour
.
”
This
declaration
was
followed
by
a
silence
that
had
the
character
of
stupor
.
At
last
Duplessis
said
,
“
But
what
has
Louvier
to
do
in
this
galere
?
Louvier
is
no
relation
of
that
well-born
vaurien
;
why
should
he
summon
your
family
council
?
”
“
Louvier
excused
his
interference
on
the
ground
of
early
and
intimate
friendship
with
De
Mauleon
,
who
,
he
said
,
came
to
consult
him
on
arriving
at
Paris
,
and
who
felt
too
proud
or
too
timid
to
address
relations
with
whom
he
had
long
dropped
all
intercourse
.
An
intermediary
was
required
,
and
Louvier
volunteered
to
take
that
part
on
himself
;
nothing
more
natural
nor
more
simple
.
By
the
way
,
Alain
,
you
dine
with
Louvier
to-morrow
,
do
you
not
?
—
a
dinner
in
honour
of
our
rehabilitated
kinsman
.
I
and
Raoul
go
.
”
“
Yes
,
I
shall
be
charmed
to
meet
again
a
man
who
,
whatever
might
be
his
errors
in
youth
,
on
which
,
”
added
Alain
,
slightly
colouring
,
“
it
certainly
does
not
become
me
to
be
severe
,
must
have
suffered
the
most
poignant
anguish
a
man
of
honour
can
undergo
,
—
namely
,
honour
suspected
;
and
who
now
,
whether
by
years
or
sorrow
,
is
so
changed
that
I
cannot
recognize
a
likeness
to
the
character
I
have
just
heard
given
to
him
as
mauvais
sujet
and
vaurien
.
”
“
Bravo
!
”
cried
Enguerrand
;
“
all
honour
to
courage
!
—
and
at
Paris
it
requires
great
courage
to
defend
the
absent
.
”
“
Nay
,
”
answered
Alain
,
in
a
low
voice
.
“
The
gentilhomme
who
will
not
defend
another
gentilhomme
traduced
,
would
,
as
a
soldier
,
betray
a
citadel
and
desert
a
flag
.
”
“
You
say
M
.
de
Mauleon
is
changed
,
”
said
De
Breze
;
“
yes
,
he
must
be
growing
old
.
No
trace
left
of
his
good
looks
?
”
“
Pardon
me
,
”
said
Enguerrand
;
“
he
is
bien
conserve
,
and
has
still
a
very
handsome
head
and
an
imposing
presence
.
But
one
cannot
help
doubting
whether
he
deserved
the
formidable
reputation
he
acquired
in
youth
;
his
manner
is
so
singularly
mild
and
gentle
,
his
conversation
so
winningly
modest
,
so
void
of
pretence
,
and
his
mode
of
life
is
as
simple
as
that
of
a
Spanish
hidalgo
.
”
“
He
does
not
,
then
,
affect
the
role
of
Monte
Cristo
,
”
said
Duplessis
,
“
and
buy
himself
into
notice
like
that
hero
of
romance
?
”
“
Certainly
not
:
he
says
very
frankly
that
he
has
but
a
very
small
income
,
but
more
than
enough
for
his
wants
,
—
richer
than
in
his
youth
,
for
he
has
learned
content
.
We
may
dismiss
the
hint
in
‘Le
Sens
Commun’
about
his
future
political
career
,
—
at
least
he
evinces
no
such
ambition
.
”
“
How
could
he
as
a
Legitimist
?
”
said
Alain
,
bitterly
.
“
What
department
would
elect
him
?
”
“
But
is
he
a
Legitimist
?
”
asked
De
Breze
.
“
I
take
it
for
granted
that
he
must
be
that
,
”
answered
Alain
,
haughtily
,
“
for
he
is
a
De
Mauleon
.
”
“
His
father
was
as
good
a
De
Mauleon
as
himself
,
I
presume
,
”
rejoined
De
Breze
,
dryly
;
“
and
he
enjoyed
a
place
at
the
Court
of
Louis
Philippe
,
which
a
Legitimist
could
scarcely
accept
.
Victor
did
not
,
I
fancy
,
trouble
his
head
about
politics
at
all
,
at
the
time
I
remember
him
;
but
to
judge
by
his
chief
associates
,
and
the
notice
he
received
from
the
Princes
of
the
House
of
Orleans
,
I
should
guess
that
he
had
no
predilections
in
favour
of
Henri
V.
”
“
I
should
regret
to
think
so
,
”
said
Alain
,
yet
more
haughtily
,
“
since
the
De
Mauleons
acknowledge
the
head
of
their
house
in
the
representative
of
the
Rochebriants
.
”
“
At
all
events
,
”
said
Duplessis
,
“
M
.
de
Mauleon
appears
to
be
a
philosopher
of
rare
stamp
.
A
Parisian
who
has
known
riches
and
is
contented
to
be
poor
is
a
phenomenon
I
should
like
to
study
.
”
“
You
have
that
chance
to-morrow
evening
,
Monsieur
Duplessis
,
”
said
Enguerrand
.
“
What
!
at
M
.
Louvier’s
dinner
?
Nay
,
I
have
no
other
acquaintance
with
M
.
Louvier
than
that
of
the
Bourse
,
and
the
acquaintance
is
not
cordial
.
”
“
I
did
not
mean
at
M
.
Louvier’s
dinner
,
but
at
the
Duchesse
de
Tarascon’s
ball
.
You
,
as
one
of
her
special
favourites
,
will
doubtless
honour
her
reunion
.
”
“
Yes
;
I
have
promised
my
daughter
to
go
to
the
ball
.
But
the
Duchesse
is
Imperialist
.
M
.
de
Mauleon
seems
to
be
either
a
Legitimist
,
according
to
Monsieur
le
Marquis
,
or
an
Orleanist
,
according
to
our
friend
De
Breze
.
”
“
What
of
that
?
Can
there
be
a
more
loyal
Bourbonite
than
De
Rochebriant
?
—
and
he
goes
to
the
ball
.
It
is
given
out
of
the
season
,
in
celebration
of
a
family
marriage
.
And
the
Duchesse
de
Tarascon
is
connected
with
Alain
,
and
therefore
with
De
Mauleon
,
though
but
distantly
.
”
“
Ah
!
excuse
my
ignorance
of
genealogy
.
”
“
As
if
the
genealogy
of
noble
names
were
not
the
history
of
France
,
”
muttered
Alain
,
indignantly
.
CHAPTER
II
.
Yes
,
the
“
Sens
Commun
”
was
a
success
:
it
had
made
a
sensation
at
starting
;
the
sensation
was
on
the
increase
.
It
is
difficult
for
an
Englishman
to
comprehend
the
full
influence
of
a
successful
journal
at
Paris
;
the
station
—
political
,
