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executioner； let them triumph over their enemies！〃
〃GO ON！ GO ON！〃
〃The ground flies beneath my feet； there is the city gate。 Lord； it is
yet time！ Oh； mercy for that sleeping town！ Let it not waken to cries of
terror； despair； and death！ Lord； I am on the threshold。 Must it be？
Yes； it is done。 Paris； the plague is in thy bosom。 The curseoh； the
eternal curse！〃
〃GO ON！ GO ON！ GO ON！〃
CHAPTER XVI。
THE LUNCHEON。
The morning after the doomed traveller； descending the heights of
Montmartre； had entered the walls of Paris； great activity reigned in St。
Dizier House。 Though it was hardly noon； the Princess de St。 Dizier；
without being exactly in full dress （she had too much taste for that）；
was yet arrayed with more care than usual。 Her light hair； instead of
being merely banded； was arranged in two bunches of curls； which suited
very well with her full and florid cheeks。 Her cap was trimmed with
bright rose…colored ribbon； and whoever had seen the lady in her tight…
fitting dress of gray…watered silk would have easily guessed that Mrs。
Grivois； her tirewoman； must have required the assistance and the efforts
of another of the princess's women to achieve so remarkable a reduction
in the ample figure of their mistress。
We shall explain the edifying cause of this partial return to the
vanities of the world。 The princess； attended by Mrs。 Grivois； who acted
as housekeeper； was giving her final orders with regard to some
preparations that were going on in a vast parlor。 In the midst of this
room was a large round table； covered with crimson velvet； and near it
stood several chairs； amongst which； in the place of honor； was an arm…
chair of gilded wood。 In one corner； not far from the chimney； in which
burned an excellent fire； was a buffet。 On it were the divers materials
for a most dainty and exquisite collation。 Upon silver dishes were piled
pyramids of sandwiches composed of the roes of carp and anchovy paste；
with slices of pickled tunny…fish and Lenigord truffles （it was in Lent）；
on silver dishes； placed over burning spirits of wine； so as to keep them
very hot； tails of Meuse crawfish boiled in cream； smoked in golden…
colored pastry； and seemed to challenge comparison with delicious little
Marennes oyster…patties； stewed in Madeira； and flavored with a seasoning
of spiced sturgeon。 By the side of these substantial dishes were some of
a lighter character； such as pineapple tarts； strawberry…creams （it was
early for such fruit）； and orange…jelly served in the peel； which had
been artistically emptied for that purpose。 Bordeaux； Madeira； and
Alicant sparkled like rubies and topazes in large glass decanters； while
two Sevres ewers were filled； one with coffee a la creme； the other with
vanilla chocolate； almost in the state of sherbet； from being plunged in
a large cooler of chiselled silver； containing ice。
But what gave to this dainty collation a singularly apostolic and papal
character were sundry symbols of religious worship carefully represented。
Thus there were charming little Calvaries in apricot paste； sacerdotal
mitres in burnt almonds； episcopal croziers in sweet cake； to which the
princess added； as a mark of delicate attention； a little cardinal's hat
in cherry sweetmeat； ornamented with bands in burnt sugar。 The most
important； however； of these Catholic delicacies； the masterpiece of the
cook； was a superb crucifix in angelica； with a crown of candied berries。
These are strange profanations； which scandalize even the least devout。
But； from the impudent juggle of the coat of Triers； down to the
shameless jest of the shrine at Argenteuil； people； who are pious after
the fashion of the princess； seem to take delight in bringing ridicule
upon the most respectable traditions。
After glancing with an air of satisfaction at these preparations for the
collation； the lady said to Mrs。 Grivois； as she pointed to the gilded
arm…chair； which seemed destined for the president of the meeting： 〃Is
there a cushion under the table； for his Eminence to rest his feet on？
He always complains of cold。〃
〃Yes； your highness；〃 said Mrs。 Grivois； when she had looked under the
table； 〃the cushion is there。〃
〃Let also a pewter bottle be filled with boiling water； in case his
Eminence should not find the cushion enough to keep his feet warm。〃
〃Yes； my lady。〃
〃And put some more wood on the fire。〃
〃But； my lady； it is already a very furnace。 And if his Eminence is
always too cold； my lord the Bishop of Halfagen is always too hot。 He
perspires dreadfully。〃
The princess shrugged her shoulders； and said to Mrs。 Grivois： 〃Is not
his Eminence Cardinal Malipieri the superior of his Lordship the Bishop
of Halfagen？〃
〃Yes； your highness。〃
〃Then； according to the rules of the hierarchy； it is for his Lordship to
suffer from the heat； rather than his Eminence from the cold。 Therefore；
do as I tell you； and put more wood on the fire。 Nothing is more
natural； his Eminence being an Italian； and his Lordship coming from the
north of Belgium； they are accustomed to different temperatures。〃
〃Just as your highness pleases；〃 said Mrs。 Grivois； as she placed two
enormous logs on the fire； 〃but in such a heat as there is here his
Lordship might really be suffocated。〃
〃I also find it too warm； but does not our holy religion teach us lessons
of self…sacrifice and mortification？〃 said the princess； with a touching
expression of devotion。
We have now explained the cause of the rather gay attire of the princess。
She was preparing for a reception of prelates； who； along with Father
d'Aigrigny and other dignitaries of the Church； had already held at the
princely house a sort of council on a small scale。 A young bride who
gives her first ball； an emancipated minor who gives his first bachelor's
dinner； a woman of talent who reads aloud for the first time her first
unpublished work； are not more joyous and proud； and； at the same time；
more attentive to their guests； than was this lady with her prelates。 To
behold great interests discussed in her house； and in her presence； to
hear men of acknowledged ability ask her advice upon certain practical
matters relating to the influence of female congregations； filled the
princess with pride； as her claims to consideration were thus sanctioned
by Lordships and Eminences； and she took the position； as it were； of a
mother of the Church。 Therefore； to win these prelates； whether native
or foreign； she had recourse to no end of saintly flatteries and
sanctified coaxing。 Nor could anything be more logical than these
successive transfigurations of this heartless woman； who only loved
sincerely and passionately the pursuit of intrigue and domination。 With
the progress of age； she passed naturally from the intrigues of love to
those of politics； and from the latter to those of religion。
At the moment she finished inspecting her preparations； the sound of
coaches was heard in the courtyard； apprising her of the arrival of the
persons she had been expecting。 Doubtless； these persons were of the
highest rank； for contrary to all custom； she went to receive them at the
door of her outer saloon。 It was； indeed； Cardinal Malipieri； who was
always cold； with the Belgian Bishop of Halfagen； who was always hot。
They were accompanied by Father d'Aigrigny。 The Roman cardinal was a
tall man； rather bony than thin； with a yellowish puffy countenance；
haughty and full of craft； he squinted a good deal； and his black eyes
were surrounded by a deep brown circle。 The Belgian Bishop was short；
thick； and fat； with a prominent abdomen； an apoplectic complexion； a
slow； deliberate look； and a soft； dimpled； delicate hand。
The company soon assembled in the great saloon。 The cardinal instantly
crept close to the fire； whilst the bishop； beginning to sweat and blow；
cast longing glances at the iced chocolate and coffee； which were to aid
him in sustaining the oppressive heat of the artificial dog…day。 Father
d'Aigrigny； approaching the princess； said to her in a low voice： 〃Will
you give orders for the admittance of Abbe Gabriel de Rennepont； when he
arrives？〃
〃Is that young priest then here？〃 asked the princess； with extreme
surprise。
〃Since the day before yesterday。 We had him sent for to Paris； by his
superiors。 You shall know all。 As for Father Rodin； let Mrs。 Grivois
admit him； as the other day； by the little door of the back stairs。〃
〃He will come to…day？〃
〃He has very important matters to communicate。 He desires that both the
cardinal and the bishop should be present for they have been informed of
everything at Rome by the Superior General； in their quality of
associates。〃
The princess rang the bell； gave the necessary orders； and； returning
towards the cardinal； said to him； in a tone of the most earnest
solicitude： 〃Does your Eminence begin to feel a little warmer？ Would
your Eminence like a bottle of hot water to your feet？ Shall we make a
larger fire for your Eminence？〃
At this proposition； the Belgian bishop； who was wiping the perspiration
from his forehead； heaved a despairing sigh。
〃A thousand thanks； princess；〃 answere