Yvette

tiation

igny said to Leon Saval: "If you don't object, le

ed: "I would like

o'clock. We shall arrive much bef

patrons drinking at little tables on the sidewalk, which were covered with bottles and glasses, hindering the passing of the hurrying multitude. On the pavement the cabs with their red, blue, or green lights dashed by, showing for a

ats on their arms, with a flower in their buttonholes, and their hats a trifle on one side,

e lips, was a man who seemed born and bred upon the boulevard. He was tireless in spite of his languid air, strong in spite of his pallor, one of those slight Parisians to whom gymnastic exercise, fencing, cold shower a

erately upon his income, and amused himself with hygiene. Indifferent and passionate, he gave himself rein and drew back constantly, impelled by conflicting instincts, yielding to all, and then obe

gave the idea of a statue turned into a man, a type of a race, like those sculptured forms which are sent to the Salons. Too handsome, too tall

sked: "Have you warned that lady that you ar

bardi! Do you warn an omnibus driver that you sha

d, inquired: "What sort

ectly well how to take care of herself. Besides, what difference does it make to us? They say that her real name, her maiden name-for she still has every claim to the title of maiden

hout making some disturbance. Nevertheless I make bold to add that if there is free entrance to this house, just as there is in bazaars, you are not exactly c

years ago, and opened her drawing-room to that froth of the continents wh

ed, and all entirely unknown at their embassies, except to the spies. They are always dragging in the subject of honor, quoting the list of their ancestors on the slightest provocation, and telling the story of their life at every opportunity

n knavery, with the mystery of their past existence, half of which, perhaps, spent in a House of Correction. They generally have fine eyes and glorious hair, the true physique of the profession, an intox

arm, you can see that she is vicious to the marrow. Everybody has a good time at her house, with cards, danci

r are you now her lov

now, and I never shall be. I only g

as a daugh

ld, as fair as her mother is dark, always merry, always ready for an entertainment, always laughing, and ready to dance like mad. Who

her, the two charmers. No one knows just what they are planning. Perhaps they are waiting for a bette

ves in that atmosphere of infamy with a calm and triumphing ease which is either wonderfully profligate or entirely artless. Strange scion of an adventuress, cast upon the muck-heap of that set, like a magnificent plant nurtured upon corruption, or

h and said: "You ar

introduce you to my most serious rivals. But the chances are in my

love," Sav

I only approach her with the apprehension that I would feel concerning a man who was known to be a skillful thief. To her presence I have an irrational impulse toward belief in her possible purity and

e. You speak of her with the magniloquence of a poet and the f

steps without answer

ep and when I awake-that is surely a grave indication. Her face follows me, accompanies me ceaselessly, ever before me, around me, with me. Is this love, this physic

e idea of making her my wife would seem to me a folly, a piece of stupidity, a monstrous thing: An

parrot. She is at times so indiscreet and yet modest that I am forced to believe in her spotless purity, and again so incredibly artless that I must suspect that she has never been chaste. She allures me, excites me, like a woman of a

stand. Furthermore, she is a great novel reader. I am at present, while awaiting something better, her book purveyor. She calls me her 'librarian.' Every week the New Boo

ge light, and construct queer ideas about matters and things in general. As for me, I am waiting. It is certain at any rate that I never have had for any other woman the devotion which I have had for her

d of Octavia Bardin? Nobody, for a thousand reasons. Where would they ever find a husband for her? In society? Never. The mother

ible. And besides the Marquise is not the woman to make a bad bargain; she will

on of the problem, then. This young lady belongs neither to society, nor to the tradesmen'

ing a nun, which is not at all probable with her manners and tastes. She has only one possible career, a life of pleasure. She will come to it sooner or later, if indeed she has not already b

reali, who have all announced their candidacies and who are consequently maneuvering to the best of their ability. In addition to these there are several freeboo

everything. She has had one inspiration showing genius, and that is the knack of selecting especially those adventuresses who have children, generally girls. So that a fool might believe that in her house he was among respectable women!" They had reached the avenue of the Champs-Elysees. A gentle breeze

et in this lair," said Servigny, "By the way, I shall present y

ve anyone think me capable of borrowing a title, ev

began t

or why. But at any rate the Duke de Servigny I am and shall remain, without complaining or

ould not be

ll be the only common person in the drawing-room. So much the worse, or,

y was o

ragman at a meeting of emperors. Let me do as I like. I shall introduce you as the Vice-Roi du 'Haut-Mi

no, I do n

ce you. I defy you to get in without some one giving you a title, just as t

nd canes into the hands of four servants in knee-breeches. A warm odor, as of a festival assembly, filled the air, an odor of

ious, his face framed in white whiskers, approached the newcome

aval," Serv

man opening the door cried

the Duke d

the Baro

rst thing which attracted attention was the display

majestic step, with grace in her mien and a smile on her lips. Her forehead was narrow and ve

uty. Beneath that mass of hair, full of dreams and smiles, rendering her mysteriously captivating, were enormous

lear, that there was a physical pleasure in listening to it. It was a joy for the ear to hear the flexible words flow with the gra

on its little gold chain, she gave the other to Saval, saying to hi

seemed darker when she spoke. There was a pleasant odor about her, pervading, intoxicating, some perfume of America or of the Indies. Other people came in, marquesses, co

at Saval that smiling and fleeting glance which women use to

u understand all about that. At the lower end, dancing, the temple of innocence, the sanctuary, the market for young girls. They are shown off there in every light. Even legitimate marriages are tolerated. It is the future,

liment on his lips, sweeping each low-gowned

uples were whirling-the men with a serious expression, and the women with a fixed smile on their lips. They displayed a good deal of shoulde

hing against the dancers, and holding her long train in her left hand. She ran with quick lit

h seemed to shine, the golden-white flesh which goes with red hair. The mass of her tresses, twiste

e her gestures. A person felt a moral joy and physical pleasure in seeing her walk, stir a

he would a man's, and said: "Mademoi

ieur. Are you alway

hich he always used with her, in order to

greatest dimensions to please yo

en you come to see me you must diminish a little if you please. I prefe

? Come, let us waltz." Without replying, with a quick movement, passionately,

ealed beneath their feet, caused them to twirl. They appeared tireless. The other dancers stopped from time to time. They still danced on, alone. They seemed not to know where they were nor what they were doing, as if, th

oment before, troubled eyes, blue, yet with a pupil so black that they seemed hardl

, and devoured her with a look. His animal feelings revealed themselves in his eyes and in the curl of hi

you are like a tiger about to spring upon his prey.

arm and they went down the

ductiveness in her tones which intoxicated him. And, looking at her with his mental eye, it seemed to him that her lips, uttered wor

upon your coming to see me there, and upon your friend also. Listen. We take possession next Mond

smiled, saying with a decision whic

rday. We have only to ask him, for he and I in

romise in her smile, and in her voice

, black eyes upon Saval: "And yo

he bent toward her, saying, "I sh

ld by the ears down there, won't we, Muscade, and make my regiment of admirers fairly mad." An

As many follies as YOU

sed the word "Mademoiselle," by reason

Mademoiselle always call m

d a very fran

ys slips through my hands. Now I think

rid evidently preoccupied, said in a care

ny; I am simply frank. Muscade pleases me, and is

ever leave you any more, Mam'zelle, neither

You are all right during the day, b

mpertinence he a

udaciously, "Because you woul

"What extraordinary subjects for conversation. One would

added: "That is also

aid: "You are becoming very vulgar-just as you have been several times

me and defend

with an easy carr

t?" said he, with

t Servigny with a

m better than I do you, bec

lier Valr

elle. I may have less abil

h gray whiskers, saying in loud tones: "Madem

e Belvigne." Then turning tow

ll bigger than he. How shall I nickname you? Good! I have it. I shall call you 'M. Colossus of Rhodes, Junior,' from the Colossus who certa

g to the orchestra to make the

eoccupied. In a soft vo

You will warp her character a

hy, haven't you fini

way. But she noticed a solemn looking man, wearing a perfect constel

rince, what g

Saval's arm an

ious suitor, Prince Kra

b. The mother would suffice for

said: "At your dis

m aside, as they were f

arpers," said Servigny. And t

es the clink of gold coins, tossed upon the green cloth or hastily seized, added its sound to

and they all wore the same severe expression, with different co

the eyes, the Roman with that huge mustache which Italy copied from Victor Emmanuel, the Austrian with his whiskers and shaved chin, a Russian gen

n the game?" a

shall

e back some quieter day. There are too many p

let u

the hall. As soon as they were in the street S

, but I fancy the women's si

Don't you find that you breathe the odor of love among

o bakes them only knows how to make bread. Well! the love of a woman in ordinary society always reminds me of these bake-shop trifles, while the love you find at houses like the Marquise

of the house just

is shoulders, signi

or the gambling, perhaps, and on the gamblers, for she has her caprices. But tell me, it is understood that we dine with her on Satur

ter," replied Saval. "I ha

d what a serious matter at the same time! How commonplace and amusing love is, always the same and always different! And the beggar who gives his sweetheart tw

again: "All the same, it would be good to become

d Saval said good night to him as the