Le Juif errant. English

by Eugène Sue

  CHAPTER XXXIV. ADRIENNE AT HER TOILET.

  About an hour had elapsed since Mrs. Grivois had seen or pretended tohave seen Adrienne de Cardoville re-enter in the morning the extensionof Saint-Dizier House.

  It is for the purpose, not of excusing, but of rendering intelligible,the following scenes, that it is deemed necessary to bring out into thelight some striking peculiarities in the truly original character ofMiss de Cardoville.

  This originality consisted in an excessive independence of mind, joinedto a natural horror of whatsoever is repulsive or deformed, and toan insatiable desire of being surrounded by everything attractive andbeautiful. The painter most delighted with coloring and beauty, thesculptor most charmed by proportions of form, feel not more thanAdrienne did the noble enthusiasm which the view of perfect beautyalways excites in the chosen favorites of nature.

  And it was not only the pleasures of sight which this young ladyloved to gratify: the harmonious modulations of song, the melody ofinstruments, the cadences of poetry, afforded her infinite pleasures;while a harsh voice or a discordant noise made her feel the same painfulimpression, or one nearly as painful as that which she involuntarilyexperienced from the sight of a hideous object. Passionately fond offlowers, too, and of their sweet scents, there are some perfumes whichshe enjoyed equally with the delights of music or those of plasticbeauty. It is necessary, alas, to acknowledge one enormity: Adrienne wasdainty in her food! She valued more than any one else the fresh pulpof handsome fruit, the delicate savor of a golden pheasant, cooked to aturn, and the odorous cluster of a generous vine.

  But Adrienne enjoyed all these pleasures with an exquisite reserve. Shesought religiously to cultivate and refine the senses given her. Shewould have deemed it black ingratitude to blunt those divine gifts byexcesses, or to debase them by unworthy selections of objects upon whichto exercise them; a fault from which, indeed, she was preserved by theexcessive and imperious delicacy of her taste.

  The BEAUTIFUL and the UGLY occupied for her the places which GOOD andEVIL holds for others.

  Her devotion to grace, elegance, and physical beauty, had led her alsoto the adoration of moral beauty; for if the expression of a low and badpassion render uncomely the most beautiful countenances, those whichare in themselves the most ugly are ennobled, on the contrary, by theexpression of good feelings and generous sentiments.

  In a word, Adrienne was the most complete, the most idealpersonification of SENSUALITY--not of vulgar, ignorant, non intelligent,mistaken sensuousness which is always deceit ful and corrupted by habitor by the necessity for gross and ill-regulated enjoyments, but thatexquisite sensuality which is to the senses what intelligence is to thesoul.

  The independence of this young lady's character was extreme. Certainhumiliating subjections imposed upon her success by its social position,above all things were revolting to her, and she had the hardihoodto resolve to withdraw herself from them. She was a woman, the mostwomanish that it is possible to imagine--a woman in her timidity as wellas in her audacity--a woman in her hatred of the brutal despotism ofmen, as well as in her intense disposition to self-devoting herself,madly even and blindly, to him who should merit such a devotion fromher--a woman whose piquant wit was occasionally paradoxical--a superiorwoman, in brief, who entertained a well-grounded disdain and contemptfor certain men either placed very high or greatly adulated, whom shehad from time to time met in the drawing-room of her aunt, the PrincessSaint-Dizier, when she resided with her.

  These indispensable explanations being given, we usher, the reader intothe presence of Adrienne de Cardoville, who had just come out of thebath.

  It would require all the brilliant colorings of the Venetian school torepresent that charming scene, which would rather seem to have occurredin the sixteenth century, in some palace of Florence or Bologna, than inParis, in the Faubourg Saint-Germain, in the month of February, 1832.

  Adrienne's dressing-room was a kind of miniature temple seemingly oneerected and dedicated to the worship of beauty, in gratitude to theMaker who has lavished so many charms upon woman, not to be neglected byher, or to cover and conceal them with ashes, or to destroy them bythe contact of her person with sordid and harsh haircloth; but in orderthat, with fervent gratitude for the divine gifts wherewith she isendowed, she may enhance her charms with all the illusions of grace andall the splendors of apparel, so as to glorify the divine work of herown perfections in the eyes of all. Daylight was admitted into thissemicircular apartment, through one of those double windows, contrivedfor the preservation of heat, so happily imported from Germany. Thewalls of the pavilion being constructed of stone of great thickness, thedepth of the aperture for the windows was therefore very great. That ofAdrienne's dressing-room was closed on the outside by a sash containinga single large pane of plate glass, and within, by another large plateof ground glass. In the interval or space of about three feet leftbetween these two transparent enclosures, there was a case or box filledwith furze mould, whence sprung forth climbing plants, which, directedround the ground glass, formed a rich garland of leaves and flowers. Agarnet damask tapestry, rich with harmoniously blended arabesques, inthe purest style, covered the walls and a thick carpet of similar colorwas extended over the floor: and this sombre ground, presented by thefloor and walls, marvellously enhanced the effects of all the harmoniousornaments and decorations of the chamber.

  Under the window, opposite to the south, was placed Adrienne's dressingcase, a real masterpiece of the skill of the goldsmith. Upon a largetablet of lapis-lazuli, there were scattered boxes of jewels, theirlids precisely enamelled; several scent boxes of rock crystal, and otherimplements and utensils of the toilet, some formed of shells, some ofmother-of-pearl, and others of ivory, covered with ornaments of gold inextraordinary taste. Two large figures, modelled in silver with antiquepurity; supported an oval swing mirror, which had for its rim, in placeof a frame curiously carved, a fresh garland of natural flowers, renewedevery day like a nosegay for a ball.

  Two enormous Japanese vases, of purple and gold, three feet each indiameter, were placed upon the carpet on each side of the toilet, and,filled with camellias, ibiscures, and cape jasmine, in full flowerformed a sort of grove, diversified with the most brilliant colors. Atthe farther end of the apartment, opposite the casement, was to be seen,surrounded by another mass of flowers, a reduction in white marble ofthe enchanting group of Daphnis and Chloe, the more chaste ideal ofgraceful modesty and youthful beauty.

  Two golden lamps burned perfumes upon the same pedestal which supportedthose two charming figures. A coffer of frosted silver, set off withsmall figures in jewelry and precious stones, and supported on fourfeet of gilt bronze, contained various necessaries for the toilette;two frosted Psyches, decorated with diamond ear-rings; some excellentdrawings from Raphael and Titian, painted by Adrienne herself,consisting of portraits of both men and women of exquisite beauty;several consoles of oriental jasper, supporting ewers and basins ofsilver and of silver gilt, richly chased and filled with scented waters;a voluptuously rich divan, some seats, and an illuminated gilt fable,completed the furniture of this chamber, the atmosphere of which wasimpregnated with the sweetest perfumes.

  Adrienne, whom her attendants had just helped from the bath, was seatedbefore her toilette, her three women surrounding her. By a caprice, orrather by a necessary and logical impulse of her soul, filled as itwas with the love of beauty and of harmony in all things, Adrienne hadwished the young women who served her to be very pretty, and be dressedwith attention and with a charming originality. We have already seenGeorgette, a piquante blonde, attired in her attractive costume of anintriguing lady's maid of Marivaux; and her two companions were quiteequal to her both in gracefulness and gentility.

  One of them, named Florine, a tall, delicately slender, and elegantgirl, with the air and form of Diana Huntress, was of a pale browncomplexion. Her thick black hair was turned up behind, where it wasfastened with a long golden pin. Like the two other girls, her arms wereuncovered to f
acilitate the performance of her duties about and upon theperson of her charming mistress. She wore a dress of that gay green sofamiliar to the Venetian painters. Her petticoat was very ample. Herslender waist curved in from under the plaits of a tucker of whitecambric, plaited in five minute folds, and fastened by five goldbuttons. The third of Adrienne's women had a face so fresh andingenuous, a waist so delicate, so pleasing, and so finished, that hermistress had given her the name of Hebe. Her dress of a delicate rosecolor, and Grecian cut, displayed her charming neck, and her beautifularms up to the very shoulders. The physiognomy of these three youngwomen was laughter loving and happy. On their features there was noexpression of that bitter sullenness, willing and hated obedience, oroffensive familiarity, or base and degraded deference, which are theordinary results of a state of servitude. In the zealous eagerness ofthe cares and attentions which they lavished upon Adrienne, there seemedto be at least as much of affection as of deference and respect. Theyappeared to derive an ardent pleasure from the services which theyrendered to their lovely mistress. One would have thought that theyattached to the dressing and embellishment of her person all the meritsand the enjoyment arising from the execution of a work of art, in theaccomplishing of which, fruitful of delights, they were stimulated bythe passions of love, of pride, and of joy.

  The sun beamed brightly upon the toilet-case, placed in front of thewindow. Adrienne was seated on a chair, its back elevated a littlemore than usual. She was enveloped in a long morning-gown of blue silk,embroidered with a leaf of the same color, which was fitted close to herwaist, as exquisitely slender and delicate as that of a child of twelveyears, by a girdle with floating tags. Her neck, delicately slenderand flexible as a bird's, was uncovered, as were also her shoulders andarms, and all were of incomparable beauty. Despite the vulgarity ofthe comparison, the purest ivory alone can give an idea of the dazzlingwhiteness of her polished satin skin, of a texture so fresh and so firm,that some drops of water, collected and still remaining about theroots of her hair from the bath, rolled in serpentine lines over hershoulders, like pearls, or beads, of crystal, over white marble.

  And what gave enhanced lustre to this wondrous carnation, known but toauburn-headed beauties, was the deep purple of her, humid lips,--theroseate transparency of her small ears, of her dilated nostrils, andher nails, as bright and glossy, as if they had been varnished. In everyspot, indeed, where her pure arterial blood, full of animation andheat, could make its way to the skin and shine through the surface, itproclaimed her high health and the vivid life and joyous buoyancy of herglorious youth. Her eyes were very large, and of a velvet softness. Nowthey glanced, sparkling and shining with comic humor or intelligenceand wit; and now they widened and extended themselves, languishing andswimming between their double fringes of long crisp eyelashes, of asdeep a black as her finely-drawn and exquisitely arched eyebrows; for,by a delightful freak of nature, she had black eyebrows and eyelashes tocontrast with the golden red of her hair. Her forehead, small like thoseof ancient Grecian statues, formed with the rest of her face a perfectoval. Her nose, delicately curved, was slightly aquiline; the enamel ofher teeth glistened when the light fell upon them; and her vermeilmouth voluptuously sensual, seemed to call for sweet kisses, and thegay smiles and delectations of dainty and delicious pleasure. It isimpossible to behold or to conceive a carriage of the head freer, morenoble, or more elegant than hers; thanks to the great distance whichseparated the neck and the ear from their attachment to her outspreadand dimpled shoulders. We have already said that Adrienne wasred-haired; but it was the redness of many of the admirable portraitsof women by Titian and Leonardo da Vinci,--that is to say, molten goldpresents not reflections more delightfully agreeable or more glittering,than the naturally undulating mass of her very long hair, as soft andfine as silk, so long, that, when let loose, it reached the floor; init, she could wholly envelop herself, like another Venus arising fromthe sea. At the present moment, Adrienne's tresses were ravishing tobehold; Georgette, her arms bare, stood behind her mistress, and hadcarefully collected into one of her small white hands, those splendidthreads whose naturally ardent brightness was doubled in the sunshine.When the pretty lady's-maid pulled a comb of ivory into the midst ofthe undulating and golden waves of that enormously magnificent skein ofsilk, one might have said that a thousand sparks of fire darted forthand coruscated away from it in all directions. The sunshine, too,reflected not less golden and fiery rays from numerous clusters ofspiral ringlets, which, divided upon Adrienne's forehead, fell over hercheeks, and in their elastic flexibility caressed the risings of hersnowy bosom, to whose charming undulations they adapted and appliedthemselves. Whilst Georgette, standing, combed the beautiful locks ofher mistress, Hebe, with one knee upon the floor, and having uponthe other the sweet little foot of Miss Cardoville, busied herself infitting it with a remarkably small shoe of black satin, and crossed itsslender ties over a silk stocking of a pale yet rosy flesh color, whichimprisoned the smallest and finest ankle in the world. Florine, a littlefarther back, presented to her mistress, in a jeweled box, a perfumedpaste, with which Adrienne slightly rubbed her dazzling handsand outspread fingers, which seemed tinted with carmine to theirextremities. Let us not forget Frisky, who, couched in the lap ofher mistress, opened her great eyes with all her might, and seemed toobserve the different operations of Adrienne's toilette with grave andreflective attention. A silver bell being sounded from without, Florine,at a sign from her mistress, went out and presently returned, bearinga letter upon a small silver-gilt salve. Adrienne, while her womencontinued fitting on her shoes, dressing her hair, and arranging her inher habiliments, took the letter, which was written by the steward ofthe estate of Cardoville, and read aloud as follows:

  "HONORED MADAME,

  "Knowing your goodness of heart and generosity, I venture to address youwith respectful confidence. During twenty years I served the late Countand Duke of Cardoville, your noble father, I believe I may truly say,with probity and zeal. The castle is now sold; so that I and my wife, inour old age, behold ourselves about to be dismissed, and left destituteof all resources: which, alas! is very hard at our time of life."

  "Poor creature!" said Adrienne, interrupting herself in reading: "myfather, certainly, always prided himself upon their devotion to him, andtheir probity." She continued:

  "There does, indeed, remain to us a means of retaining our placehere; but it would constrain us to be guilty of baseness; and, be theconsequences to us what they may, neither I nor my wife wish to purchaseour bread at such a price."

  "Good, very good," said Adrienne, "always the same--dignity even inpoverty--it is the sweet perfume of a flower, not the less sweet becauseit has bloomed in a meadow."

  "In order to explain to you, honored madame, the unworthy task exactedfrom us, it is necessary to inform you, in the first place, that M.Rodin came here from Paris two days ago."

  "Ah! M. Rodin!" said Mademoiselle de Cardoville, interrupting herselfanew; "the secretary of Abbe d'Aigrigny! I am not at all surprised athim being engaged in a perfidious or black intrigue. But let us see."

  "M. Rodin came from Paris to announce to us that the estate was sold,and that he was sure of being able to obtain our continuance in ourplace, if we would assist him in imposing a priest not of good characterupon the new proprietress as her future confessor; and if, the betterto attain this end, we would consent to calumniate another priest,a deserving and excellent man, much loved and much respected in thecountry. Even that is not all. I was required to write twice or thricea week to M. Rodin, and to relate to him everything that should occur inthe house. I ought to acknowledge, honored madame, that these infamousproposals were as much as possible disguised and dissimulated undersufficiently specious pretexts; but, notwithstanding the aspect whichwith more or less skill it was attempted to give to the affair, it wasprecisely and substantially what I have now had the honor of stating toyou."

  "Corruption, calumny, and false and treacherous impeachment!" saidAdrienne, with disgust: "
I cannot think of such wretches withoutinvoluntarily feeling my mind shocked by dismal ideas of black,venomous, and vile reptiles, of aspects most hideous indeed. How muchmore do I love to dwell upon the consoling thought of honest Dupont andhis wife!" Adrienne proceeded:

  "Believe me, we hesitated not an instant. We quit Cardoville, whichhas been our home for the last twenty years;--but we shall quit it likehonest people, and with the consciousness of our integrity. And now,honored madame, if, in the brilliant circle in which you move--you,who are so benevolent and amiable--could find a place for us by yourrecommendation, then, with endless gratitude to you, we shall escapefrom a position of most cruel embarrassment."

  "Surely, surely," said Adrienne, "they shall not in vain appeal to me.To wrest excellent persons from the grip of M. Rodin, is not only aduty but a pleasure: for it is at once a righteous and a dangerousenterprise; and dearly do I love to brave powerful oppressors!" Adrienneagain went on reading:

  "After having thus spoken to you of ourselves, honored madame, permitus to implore your protection for other unfortunates; for it would bewicked to think only of one's self. Three days ago, two shipwrecks tookplace upon our ironbound coast. A few passengers only were saved, andwere conducted hither, where I and my wife gave them all necessaryattentions. All these passengers have departed for Paris, except one,who still remains, his wounds having hitherto prevented him from leavingthe house, and, indeed, they will constrain him to remain for some daysto come. He is a young East Indian prince, of about twenty years of age,and he appears to be as amiable and good as he is handsome, which isnot a little to say, though he has a tawny skin, like the rest of hiscountrymen, as I understand."

  "An Indian prince! twenty years of age! young, amiable, and handsome!"exclaimed Adrienne, gayly; "this is quite delightful, and not at allof an ordinary or vulgar nature! Oh! this Indian prince has alreadyawakened all my sympathies! But what can I do with this Adonis fromthe banks of the Ganges, who has come to wreck himself upon the Picardycoast?"

  Adrienne's three women looked at her with much astonishment, though theywere accustomed to the singular eccentricities of her character.

  Georgette and Hebe even indulged in discreet and restrained smiles.Florine, the tall and beautiful pale brown girl, also smiled like herpretty companions; but it was after a short pause of seeming reflection,as if she had previously been entirely engrossed in listening to andrecollecting the minutest words of her mistress, who, though powerfullyinterested by the situation of the "Adonis from Ganges banks," as shehad called him, continued to read Dupont's letter:

  "One of the countrymen of the Indian prince, who has also remained toattend upon him, has given me to understand that the youthful princehas lost in the shipwreck all he possessed, and knows not how to get toParis, where his speedy presence is required by some affairs of thevery greatest importance. It is not from the prince himself that I haveobtained this information: no; he appears to be too dignified andproud to proclaim of his fate: but his countryman, more communicative,confidentially told me what I have stated, adding, that his youngcompatriot has already been subjected to great calamities, and that hisfather, who was the sovereign of an Indian kingdom, has been killed bythe English, who have also dispossessed his son of his crown."

  "This is very singular," said Adrienne, thoughtfully. "Thesecircumstances recall to my mind that my father often mentioned that oneof our relations was espoused in India by a native monarch; and thatGeneral Simon: (whom they have created a marshal) had entered into hisservice." Then interrupting herself to indulge in a smile, she added,"Gracious! this affair will be quite odd and fantastical! Such thingshappen to nobody but me; and then people say that I am the uncommoncreature! But it seems to me that it is not I, but Providence, which, intruth, sometimes shows itself very eccentric! But let us see if worthyDupont gives the name of this handsome prince?"

  "We trust, honored madame, that you will pardon our boldness: but weshould have thought ourselves very selfish, if, while stating to you ourown griefs, we had not also informed you that there is with us a braveand estimable prince involved in so much distress. In fine, lady, trustto me; I am old; and I have had much experience of men; and it wasonly necessary to see the nobleness of expression and the sweetnessof countenance of this young Indian, to enable me to judge that he isworthy of the interest which I have taken the liberty to request in hisbehalf. It would be sufficient to transmit to him a small sum of moneyfor the purchase of some European clothing; for he has lost all hisIndian vestments in the shipwreck."

  "Good heavens! European clothing!" exclaimed Adrienne, gayly. "Pooryoung prince! Heaven preserve him from that; and me also! Chance hassent hither from the heart of India, a mortal so far favored as neverto have worn the abominable European costume--those hideous habits, andfrightful hats, which render the men so ridiculous, so ugly, that intruth there is not a single good quality to be discovered in them, norone spark of what can either captivate or attract! There comes to me atlast a handsome young prince from the East, where the men are clothedin silk and cashmere. Most assuredly I'll not miss this rare andunique opportunity of exposing myself to a very serious and formidabletemptation! No, no! not a European dress for me, though poor Dupontrequests it! But the name--the name of this dear prince! Once more, whata singular event is this! If it should turn out to be that cousin frombeyond the Ganges! During my childhood, I have heard so much in praiseof his royal father! Oh! I shall be quite ravished to give his son thekind reception which he merits!" And then she read on:

  "If, besides this small sum, honored madame, you are so kind as togive him, and also his companion, the means of reaching Paris, youwill confer a very great service upon this poor young prince, who is atpresent so unfortunate.

  "To conclude, I know enough of your delicacy to be aware that it wouldperhaps be agreeable to you to afford this succor to the prince withoutbeing known as his benefactress; in which case, I beg that you will bepleased to command me; and you may rely upon my discretion. If, on thecontrary, you wish to address it directly to himself, his name is, as ithas been written for me by his countrymen, Prince Djalma, son of Radjasing, King of Mundi."

  "Djalma!" said Adrienne, quickly, and appearing to call up herrecollections, "Radja-sing! Yes--that is it! These are the very namesthat my father so often repeated, while telling me that there wasnothing more chivalric or heroic in the world than the old king, ourrelation by marriage; and the son has not derogated, it would seem, fromthat character. Yes, Djalma, Radja-sing--once more, that is it--suchnames are not so common," she added, smiling, "that one should eitherforget or confound them with others. This Djalma is my cousin! Braveand good--young and charming! above all, he has never worn thehorrid European dress! And destitute of every resource! This is quiteravishing! It is too much happiness at once! Quick, quick let usimprovise a pretty fairy tale, of which the handsome and beloved princeshall be the hero! The poor bird of the golden and azure plumage haswandered into our dismal climate; but he will find here, at least,something to remind him of his native region of sunshine and perfumes!"Then, addressing one of her women, she said: "Georgette, take paper andwrite, my child!" The young girl went to the gilt, illuminated table,which contained materials for writing; and, having seated herself, shesaid to her mistress: "I await orders."

  Adrienne de Cardoville, whose charming countenance was radiant with thegayety of happiness and joy, proceeded to dictate the following letterto a meritorious old painter, who had long since taught her the arts ofdrawing and designing; in which arts she excelled, as indeed she did inall others:

  "MY DEAR TITIAN, MY GOOD VERONESE, MY WORTHY RAPHAEL.

  "You can render me a very great service,--and you will do it, I amsure, with that perfect and obliging complaisance by which you are everdistinguished.

  "It is to go immediately and apply yourself to the skillful hand whodesigned my last costumes of the fifteenth century. But the presentaffair is to procure modern East Indian dresses for a young man--yes,sir--for a young man,--and acc
ording to what I imagine of him, I fancythat you can cause his measure to be taken from the Antinous, or rather,from the Indian Bacchus; yes--that will be more likely.

  "It is necessary that these vestments be at once of perfect proprietyand correctness, magnificently rich, and of the greatest elegance. Youwill choose the most beautiful stuffs possible; and endeavor, above allthings, that they be, or resemble, tissues of Indian manufacture; andyou will add to them, for turbans and sashes, six splendid long cashmereshawls, two of them white, two red, and two orange; as nothing suitsbrown complexions better than those colors.

  "This done (and I allow you at the utmost only two or three days), youwill depart post in my carriage for Cardoville Manor House, whichyou know so well. The steward, the excellent Dupont, one of your oldfriends, will there introduce you to a young Indian Prince, namedDjalma; and you will tell that most potent grave, and reverend signior,of another quarter of the globe, that you have come on the part of anunknown friend, who, taking upon himself the duty of a brother, sendshim what is necessary to preserve him from the odious fashionsof Europe. You will add, that his friend expects him with so muchimpatience that he conjures him to come to Paris immediately. If heobjects that he is suffering, you will tell him that my carriage is anexcellent bed-closet; and you will cause the bedding, etc., which itcontains, to be fitted up, till he finds it quite commodious. Rememberto make very humble excuses for the unknown friend not sending to theprince either rich palanquins, or even, modestly, a single elephant;for alas! palanquins are only to be seen at the opera; and there areno elephants but those in the menagerie,--though this must make us seemstrangely barbarous in his eyes.

  "As soon as you shall have decided on your departure, perform thejourney as rapidly as possible, and bring here, into my house, in theRue de Babylone (what predestination! that I should dwell in the streetof BABYLON,--a name which must at least accord with the ear of anOriental),--you will bring hither, I say, this dear prince, who is sohappy as to have been born in a country of flowers, diamonds, and sun!

  "Above all, you will have the kindness, my old and worthy friend, notto be at all astonished at this new freak, and refrain from indulging inextravagant conjectures. Seriously, the choice which I have made of youin this affair,--of you, whom I esteem and most sincerely honor,--isbecause it is sufficient to say to you that, at the bottom of all this,there is something more than a seeming act of folly."

  In uttering these last words, the tone of Adrienne was as serious anddignified as it had been previously comic and jocose. But she quicklyresumed, more gayly, dictating to Georgette.

  "Adieu, my old friend. I am something like that commander of ancientdays, whose heroic nose and conquering chin you have so often made medraw: I jest with the utmost freedom of spirit even in the momentof battle: yes, for within an hour I shall give battle, a pitchedbattle--to my dear pew-dwelling aunt. Fortunately, audacity and couragenever failed me, and I burn with impatience for the engagement with myaustere princess.

  "A kiss, and a thousand heartfelt recollections to your excellent wife.If I speak of her here, who is so justly respected, you will please tounderstand, it is to make you quite at ease as to the consequences ofthis running away with, for my sake, a charming young prince,--for it isproper to finish well where I should have begun, by avowing to you thathe is charming indeed!

  "Once more, adieu!"

  Then, addressing Georgette, said she, "Have you done writing, chit?"

  "Yes, madame."

  "Oh, add this postscript."

  "P.S.--I send you draft on sight on my banker for all expenses. Sparenothing. You know I am quite a grand seigneur. I must use this masculineexpression, since your sex have exclusively appropriated to yourselves(tyrants as you are) a term, so significant as it is of noblegenerosity."

  "Now, Georgette," said Adrienne; "bring me an envelope, and the letter,that I may sign it." Mademoiselle de Cardoville took the pen thatGeorgette presented to her, signed the letter, and enclosed in it anorder upon her banker, which was expressed thus:

  "Please pay M. Norval, on demand without grace, the sum of money he mayrequire for expenses incurred on my account.

  "ADRIENNE DE CARDOVILLE."

  During all this scene, while Georgette wrote, Florine and Hebe hadcontinued to busy themselves with the duties of their mistress'stoilette, who had put off her morning gown, and was now in full dress,in order to wait upon the princess, her aunt. From the sustained andimmovably fixed attention with which Florine had listened to Adrienne'sdictating to Georgette her letter to M. Norval, it might easily havebeen seen that, as was her habit indeed, she endeavored to retain in hermemory even the slightest words of her mistress.

  "Now, chit," said Adrienne to Hebe, "send this letter immediately to M.Norval."

  The same silver bell was again rung from without. Hebe moved towards thedoor of the dressing-room, to go and inquire what it was, and alsoto execute the order of her mistress as to the letter. But Florineprecipitated herself, so to speak, before her, and so as to prevent herleaving the apartment; and said to Adrienne:

  "Will it please my lady for me to send this letter? I have occasion togo to the mansion."

  "Go, Florine, then," said Adrienne, "seeing that you wish it. Georgette,seal the letter."

  At the end of a second or two, during which Georgette had sealed theletter, Hebe returned.

  "Madame," said she, re-entering, "the working-man who brought backFrisky yesterday, entreats you to admit him for an instant. He is verypale, and he appears quite sad."

  "Would that he may already have need of me! I should be too happy!" saidAdrienne gayly. "Show the excellent young man into the little saloon.And, Florine, despatch this letter immediately."

  Florine went out. Miss de Cardoville, followed by Frisky, entered thelittle reception-room, where Agricola awaited her.