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for M。 de Gery； he would have rushed off at once to punch Moessard's head。
〃And he would have done very well；〃 remarked M。 Noel； entering at these last words； very much excited。 〃There is not a line of truth in that rascal's article。 My master had never been in Paris before last year。 From Tunis to Marseilles； from Marseilles to Tunis； those were his only journeys。 But this knave of a journalist is taking his revenge because we refused him twenty thousand francs。〃
〃There you acted very unwisely；〃 observed M。 Francis upon this Monpavon's Francis； Monpavon the old beau whose solitary tooth shakes about in the centre of his mouth at every word he says； but whom the young ladies regard with a favourable eye all the same on account of his fine manners。 〃Yes； you were unwise。 One must know how to conciliate people； so long as they are in a position to be useful to us or to injure us。 Your Nabob has turned his back too quickly upon his friends after his success； and between you and me； /mon cher/； he is not sufficiently firmly established to be able to disregard attacks of this kind。〃
I thought myself able here to put in a word in my turn：
〃That is true enough； M。 Noel； your governor is no longer the same since his election。 He has adopted a tone and manners which I can hardly but describe as reprehensible。 The day before yesterday； at the Territorial； he raised a commotion which you can hardly imagine。 He was heard to exclaim before the whole board： 'You have lied to me； you have robbed me； and made me a robber as much as yourselves。 Show me your books； you set of rogues！' If he has treated Moessard in the same sort of fashion； I am not surprised any longer that the latter should be taking his revenge in his newspaper。〃
〃But what does this article say？〃 asked M。 Barreau。 〃Who is present that has read it？〃
Nobody answered。 Several had tried to buy it； but in Paris scandal sells like bread。 At ten o'clock in the morning there was not a single copy of the /Messenger/ left in the office。 Then it occurred to one of my niecesa sharp girl； if ever there was oneto look in the pocket of one of the numerous overcoats in the cloak…room； folded carefully in large pigeon…holes。 At the first which she examined：
〃Here it is！〃 exclaimed the charming child with an air of triumph； as she drew out a /Messenger/ crumpled in the folding like a paper that has just been read。
〃Here is another！〃 cried Tom Bois l'Hery； who was making a search on his own account。 A third overcoat； a third /Messenger/。 And in every one the same thing： pushed down to the bottom of a pocket； or with its titlepage protruding； the newspaper was everywhere； just as its article must have been in every memory； and one could imagine the Nabob up above exchanging polite phrases with his guests； while they could have reeled off by heart the atrocious things that had been printed about him。 We all laughed much at this idea； but we were anxious to make acquaintance in our own turn with this curious article。
〃Come； /pere/ Passajon； read it aloud to us。〃
It was the general desire； and I assented。
I don't know if you are like me； but when I read aloud I gargle my throat with my voice； I introduce modulations and flourishes to such an extent that I understand nothing of what I am saying； like those singers to whom the sense of the words matters little； provided the notes be true。 The thing was entitled 〃The Boat of Flowers〃a sufficiently complicated story； with Chinese names； about a very rich mandarin； who had at one time in the past kept a 〃boat of flowers〃 moored quite at the far end of the town near a barrier frequented by the soldiers。 At the end of the article we were not farther on than at the beginning。 We tried certainly to wink at each other； to pretend to be clever； but； frankly； we had no reason。 A veritable puzzle without solution； and we should still be stuck fast at it if old Francis； a regular rascal who knows everything； had not explained to us that this meeting place of the soldiers must stand for the Military School； and that the 〃boat of flowers〃 did not bear so pretty a name as that in good French。 And this name； he said it aloud notwithstanding the presence of the ladies。 There was an explosion of cries； of 〃Ah's！〃 and 〃Oh's！〃 some saying； 〃I suspected it！〃 others； 〃It is impossible！〃
〃Pardon me；〃 added Francis； formerly a trumpeter in the Ninth Lancers the regiment of Mora and of Monpavon〃pardon me。 Twenty years ago； during the last half year of my service； I was in barracks in the Military School； and I remember very well that near the fortifications there was a dirty dancing…hall known as the Jansoulet Rooms； with a little furnished flat above and bedrooms at twopence…halfpenny the hour； to which one could retire between two quadrilles。〃
〃You are an infamous liar！〃 said M。 Noel； beside himself with rage〃a thief and a liar like your master。 Jansoulet has never been in Paris before now。〃
Francis was seated a little outside our circle engaged in sipping something sweet； because champagne has a bad effect on his nerves and because； too； it is not a sufficiently distinguished beverage for him。 He rose gravely； without putting down his glass； and； advancing towards M。 Noel； said to him very quietly：
〃You are wanting in manners； /mon cher/。 The other evening I found your tone coarse and unseemly。 To insult people serves no good purpose； especially in this case； since I happen to have been an assistant to a fencing…master； and； if matters were carried further between us； could put a couple of inches of steel into whatever part of your body I might choose。 But I am good…natured。 Instead of a sword…thrust； I prefer to give you a piece of advice； which your master will do well to follow。 This is what I should do in your place： I should go and find Moessard； and I should buy him； without quibbling about price。 Hemerlingue has given him twenty thousand francs to speak； I would offer him thirty thousand to hold his tongue。〃
〃Never！ never！〃 vociferated M。 Noel。 〃I should rather go and knock the rascally brigand's head off。〃
〃You will do nothing of the kind。 Whether the calumny be true or false； you have seen the effect of it this evening。 This is a sample of the pleasures in store for you。 What can you expect； /mon cher/？ You have thrown away your crutches too soon； and thought to walk by yourselves。 That is all very well when one is well set up and firm on the legs； but when one had not a very solid footing； and has also the misfortune to feel Hemerlingue at his heels； it is a bad business。 Besides； your master is beginning to be short of money； he has given notes of hand to old Schwalbachand don't talk to me of a Nabob who gives notes of hand。 I know well that you have millions over yonder； but your election must be declared valid before you can touch them； a few more articles like to…day's； and I answer for it that you will not secure that declaration。 You set yourselves up to struggle against Paris； /mon bon/； but you are not big enough for such a match； you know nothing about it。 Here we are not in the East； and if we do not wring the necks of people who displease us； if we do not throw them into the water in a sack； we have other methods of effecting their disappearance。 Noel； let your master take care。 One of these mornings Paris will swallow him as I swallow this plum； without spitting out either the stone or skin。〃
He was terrible； this old man； and notwithstanding the paint on his face； I felt a certain respect for him。 While he was speaking； we could hear the music upstairs； and the horses of the municipal guards shaking their curb…chains in the square。 From without； our festivities must have seemed very brilliant； all lighted up by their thousands of candles； and with the great portico illuminated。 And when one reflected that ruin perhaps lay beneath it all！ We sat there in the vestibule like rats that hold counsel with each other at the bottom of a ship's hold； when the vessel is beginning to leak and before the crew has found it out； and I saw clearly that all the lackeys and chambermaids would not be long in decamping at the first note of alarm。 Could such a catastrophe indeed be possible？ And in that case what would become of me； and the Territorial； and the money I had advanced； and the arrears due to me？
That Francis has left me with a cold shudder down my back。
A PUBLIC MAN
The bright warmth of a clear May afternoon heated the lofty casement windows of the Mora mansion to the temperature of a greenhouse。 The blue silk curtains were visible from outside through the branches of the trees； and the wide terraces； where exotic flowers were planted out of doors for the first time of the season； ran in borders along the whole length of the quay。 The raking of the garden paths traced the light footprints of summer in the sand； while the soft fall of the water from the hoses on the lawns was its refreshing song。
All the luxury of the princely residence lay sunning itself in the soft warmth of the temperature； borrowing a beauty from the silence； the repose of this noontide hour； the only hour when the roll of carriages was not to be heard under the arches； nor the banging of the great doors of the antechamber； and