The Galley Slave's Ring

suggested it must have been constructed about the middle of the last century, and had done service as a city residence. The quarter of the Poissonnieres, or Fish-markets, as the n

readiness, at the suppers of which she always was the soul and often the queen also, in improvising upon all imaginable subjects, ditties that the celebrated improviser, whos

rl. After the hospitality came breakfast the following morning. The two companions were, accordingly, at table in a little boudoir fitted out in Louis XV style, and contiguous to the bed chamber. A good fire blazed in the marble-tipped hearth. Thick curtains

, was of a species of bold beauty, and strongly betrayed his German or Frankish stock, the characteristic traits of which Tacitus and Caesar

the Count of Plouernel seemed no l

t to her a glass of generous old Burgu

you think I

To the health

em to be jeal

d y

inking her glass with the blade of her knife she answered the Count of

cheeked Si

have du

gay lover

y done! He

la-fla, la rif

a-fla-fla-f

ried the colonel, l

line, he sang, also clinking his

gay lover

y done! He

la-fla, la rif

a-fla-fla-f

of the refrain, "since you are not jealous, give me some adv

t pos

f the world I would no

chance, not a woman? a

world, not t

t, my dear, and less creditable to me. But that matters n

ne gives me a les

I can give you lessons. Pro

d mother keep a shop. You surely know the ways of such folks, their customs

urself b

violent fancy seizes me, I

e greatly. Let's see. First of all is the shop-girl p

s hungry? What the

ions-you're handsome, you're brilliant, you're

ro

! But, in order for the poor girl to appreciate you duly, she must first be

time, in merry vein, but with marked bitterness, and keeping time

ungry and

d, and fa

l have plen

to me

la-fla-fla

y the melancholic accents of the young girl, who, however, quickly resumed her reckless bearing and

to be prinked? Does she like jewelry, or theate

a father and mother, and they probably keep a close

ave a plan of your

n to loan them money at a pinch, because I know those small t

they will be ready to sell

would then be able to dazzle the minx with presents, and pro

world in that manner, if parents sell their daughters, perhaps the thing is done in the same way among the

f Plouernel haughtily, "you are em

h a peal of laughter, which she interrupted t

that bol

of pride

a haug

eois bend

la-fla-fla

her refrain between the puffs of smoke that she blew out of her cherry lips. She then stretched herself at

efore, the Count of Plouernel could not avoid laughing

talk seriously. I am not aski

lly, turning over on the lounge. "The knowledge of the quarter is very important in such matters. What may be done in

n the virtue of its women is considerable. Without running any r

ing the clouds of smoke from her cigar before her, started at the mention of St. Denis Stree

evil has co

t has come over me is that your horrible cigar has burnt me-but that's no matter. You were saying, darling

t learn any more,

adeline, again shaking her head. "It wil

like some c

quite some difference between the head and the foot of a street, you must admit. The proof is, that the prices of the shops are dear at one end and cheap at the ot

shall confide to you that my love l

s at great pains to modulate into comical tones. Nevertheless, a closer observer than the Count

at is you

" but, suddenly breaking

s at the doo

think

tain. Listen! D

e rapping

" cried t

looking disconcerted, and s

Count, his

rnel, looking no less disconcerted than

e Cardinal arrived last night in t

matters that seemed to preoccupy her mind a minute before. "A Cardinal! That's a rare sight! That's a thing one do

h improvised to the tu

ng Queen

w a Ca

Let's have

him dance

la-fla, la rif

a-fla-fla-f

trained, all the while singing her latest improvisation, while the valet, standing motionless at the half-opened door was w

; that's fooli

ttle imagining him to be in such profane company, had followed upon the heels of the valet, and entere

us have

him dance

la-fla-fla

bracing his uncle, gently pushed him back into the salon from which he came. The valet, like the expe