The Parisians, Book 2.

arances. He has unconsciously acquired more of the easy grace of the Parisian in gait and bearing. You would no longer detect the Provincial-perhaps, however, because he is now dressed, though ve

But he was still so little the true Parisian that they got no smile, no look

e, when he was accosted by a voice behind, and turning r

d Lemercier, hooking

suspect we are g

and shall turn back to Paris;" addressing himself to the Englishman, he said with formal politeness, "I regret not to have fou

emercier, catching sight of me in the Rue de Rivoli, stopped his coupe and carried me off for a promenade in the Bois. The fineness of the day tempted

ht think me pedantic did I accentuate it as French) looked from

ne to achieve a conquest

e and envy the affectio

it

amant ne connait

ng," said the Marquis, with a c

the Bois at my suggestion on the chance of having another look at the pearl-coloured ange

to the galleys. Come, Marquis, let us walk back and submit to our fate. Even were the lady once more v

n beckoned his coachman, entered his carriage, and with a mocking g

Englishman's arm, and

impertinent enough

ave the opportunity to accost her. In the next place, it appears that when she did take her solitary walk, she did not stray far from her carriage, and was in reach of the protection of her laquais an

it. Such was his character at college, and such it still seems at Paris. But it is true that the lady has forsaken her former walk; at least I-I have not seen her since the day I

ed short, stammer

speak of used to select for her promenade, and there saw her. Something in her face impressed me; how shall I describe the impression? Did you ever open a poem, a romance, in some style wholly new to you, and before you were quite certain whether or not its merits justified the interest which the novelty inspired, you were summoned away, or the book was taken out of your hands? If so, did you not feel an intellectual longing to have another glimpse of the book? That illustration describes my impression, and I own that I twice again went to th

certained where she lived, and that she and an elder companion were Italians

an accomplished and beautiful American lady, who is more than an acquaintance. I may boast the honour of ranking among her friends. As Savarin's villa is at A---, I asked h

phan, and residing with a companion, a Signora Venosta, who was once a singer of some repute at the Neapolitan Theatre, in the orchestra of which her husband was principal performer; but she relinquished the stage several years ago on becoming a widow, and gave lessons as a teacher. She has the character of being a scientific musician, and of unblemished private respectability. Subsequently she was induced to give up general teaching, and undertake the musical education and the social charge of the young lady with her. This girl is said to have early

to have taken much pains t

you, Mademoiselle Cicogna, while she was yet a mystery to me, strangely interested my thoughts or

erstand Lemercier aright, you were going with him to the Bois on th

I preferred turning back with you to going on with him. Between you and me, Marquis, to men of our age, who have the business of life before them, and feel that if there be aught in which noblesse oblige it is a severe devotion to noble objects, there is nothing more fatal to such devotion than allowing the heart to be blown hither and thither at every breeze of mere fancy, and dreaming ourselves i

assent to the proposition, and, it may

the subject of conversation. "Lemercier tells me you decline going much into this world of

your words, I have the b

which does not admit of some holiday, and all business necessitates commerce with mankind. A propos, I was the other evening a

in

arrival at Paris. She replied, 'No; that though you were among her nearest connections, you had not called on her;' and bade Duplessis tell you that you were a monstre for not doing so. Whether or not Duplessis will take that

der those stars.

eally believe that they best serve their cause by declining any mode of competing with its opponents? Would there not be a fairer chance of the ultimate victory of their principles if they made their talents and energies individually prominent; if they were known as skilful generals, practical statesmen, eminent diplomatists, brilliant writers? Could they combi

ring countrymen the conviction that there will be no settled repose for France save under the sceptre of her right

struction commences; for by the law of reaction the minority is installed against it. It is the nature of things that minorities are always more intellectual than multitudes, and intellect is ever at work in sapping numerical force. What your party want is hope; because without hope there is no energy. I remember hearing my father say that when he met the Count de Chambord at Ems, that illustrious personage delivered himself of a belle phrase m

aid!" exclaime

is in its metaphor. A man is not a shore. Do you not think that the seamen on board the wrecks would be more grateful to him who did not complacently compare himself

h characterizes Frenchmen of every rank and persuasion, unless they belong to the In

litical divisions it is for Frenchmen to make their choice, and for Englishmen to accept for France that government which France has established. I view things here as a s

s, half mournfully, half haughtily, "and you

our friendship when that similarity was made known to me by Lemercier, who is not less garrulous than the true Parisian usually is. Permit me to say that, like you, I was reared in some pride of no inglorious ancestry. I was reared also

our most eminent personages said to me about that time, 'Whatever a clever man of your age determines to do or to be, the

ou had given me so rough a shake when I was in the midst of a dull

Champs Elysees, there was a halt, a sensation among the

Personage accustomed to respect, and then reined in his horse by the side of a barouche, and exchanged some words with a portly gentleman who was its sole occupant. The loungers, still halting, seemed

all his cleverness, the Prince has in any

hebriant, rousing hims

in

him by his wonderful

back talking to Louvie

ois in the carriage L

vie

? Well, he is rich enough to be

n. "I have promised my avoue to meet hi

ere the notabilities most interesting to study,-artists, authors, politicians, especially those who call themselves Republicans. He and the Prince agree in one thing; namely, th

! a dame of the haute volee; I believe she is a duchess. She was walking with a lap-dog, a pure Pomeranian. A strange poodle flew at the Pomeranian, I drove off the pood

ad not seen the lady in the pearl-coloured dress,