The Parisians, Book 5.

the cafe, and was not to be found at his office, the ordinary business of which was transacted b

aintance with the ouvrier Armand Monnier, whose face and talk had before excited his interest. Indeed, the acquaintance had been commenced by the ouvrier, who seated himself

, but little of him. You, per

frequent this cafe, but you do not seem

liberty of saying that I overheard you defend the other night, against one of my countrymen, who seemed to me to talk great nonsense, the existence of le bon

um, it was a sort of Christianity, the main heads of which consisted in the removal of your neighbour's landmarks, in the right of the poor to appropriate the property of the rich, in the right of love to dispense with marriage, and the duty of the State to provide for any children that might

be my wife; legally, she is. I then met with another woman who suits me, who loves me. She lives with me; I cannot marry her; she has to submit to humiliations, to be called contemptuously an ouvrier's mistress. Then, though before I was only a Republican

ial institutions, including that of marriage, I am perfectly persuaded that she never designed to effect such complete overthrow of the system which all civilized communities have hitherto held in reverence as your doc

nuine poetry and romance touch the heart so much more than dry treatises. In a word, Madame de Grantmesnil's book set me thinking; and then I read other books, and talked with c

re came a slight knock at his door. He was so wrapped in thought that he did not hear the sound, though twice repeated. The d

the corner of the fireplace opposite to Graham before he spoke.

m raised his head, looked round, and beheld v

eur Le

accept my apologies that it has been deferred so long. I shall

ebeau, you

Monsieur!

on idioms. A brick means a jolly fellow, and it i

ted in another country, and it would not be worth my while to leave Paris on the chance of gaining so trifling a reward as you propose. Judge for yourself. In the year 184

le! What could

summer season with visitors from all countries. Sh

uld learn more at the Spa

t is so long,-tw

ave revisite

; but I kn

under the sam

sure o

others? You tell me she was awfully be

e parted soon, and the man is now dead. But, speaking frankly, I do not think Mademoiselle Duval would have thus compromised her honour and sacrificed her future. I believe she

had then a c

d any child; and I do not believe s

place, and might yet be discovered there. "Monsieur Lebeau," said Graham, "you know this lady by sight; you would recognize her in spite of the l

illing to serve her, and glad to know that she were alive. I have now business on hand which

to raise the reward to some higher amoun

-you would succeed quite as well as I should. You must judge for yourself if it be worth your trouble to attempt such a task; and if you do attempt

eau Lose an

ore strongly against tendering to her own relation a sum that might indeed secure his aid, but would unquestionably arouse his suspicions, and perhaps drag into light all that must be concealed. Oh, this cruel mission! I am, indeed, an impostor to myself till it be fulfilled. I will go to Aix,

en. In this picture the more brilliant qualities of Isaura found, perhaps, but faint presentation. Her glow of sentiment, her play of fancy, her artistic yearnings for truths remote, for the invisible fairyland of beautiful romance, receded into the background of the picture. It was all these, no doubt, that