Towardsthreeo\'clockintheafternoonofoneOctoberdayintheyear1844,amanofsixtyorthereabouts,whomanybodymighthavecreditedwithmorethanhisactualage,waswalkingalongtheBoulevarddesItalienswithhisheadbentdown,asifheweretrackingsomeone。
Therewasasmugexpressionaboutthemouth——helookedlikeamerchantwhohasjustdoneagoodstrokeofbusiness,orabacheloremergingfromaboudoirinthebestofhumorswithhimself;andinParisthisisthehighestdegreeofself-satisfactioneverregisteredbyahumancountenance。
Assoonastheelderlypersonappearedinthedistance,asmilebrokeoutoverthefacesofthefrequentersoftheboulevard,whodaily,fromtheirchairs,watchthepassers-by,andindulgeintheagreeablepastimeofanalyzingthem。ThatsmileispeculiartoParisians;itsayssomanythings——ironical,quizzical,pitying;butnothingsavetherarestofhumancuriositiescansummonthatlookofinteresttothefacesofParisians,satedastheyarewitheverypossiblesight。
AsayingrecordedofHyacinthe,anactorcelebratedforhisrepartees,willexplainthearchaeologicalvalueoftheoldgentleman,andthesmilerepeatedlikeanechobyalleyes。SomebodyonceaskedHyacinthewherethehatsweremadethatsetthehouseinaroarassoonasheappeared。“Idon\'thavethemmade,“hesaid;“Ikeepthem！”SoalsoamongthemillionactorswhomakeupthegreattroupeofParis,thereareunconsciousHyacintheswho“keep“alltheabsurdfreaksofvanishedfashionsupontheirbacks;andtheapparitionofsomebygonedecadewillstartleyouintolaughterasyouwalkthestreetsinbitternessofsouloverthetreasonofonewhowasyourfriendinthepast。
Insomerespectsthepasser-byadheredsofaithfullytothefashionsoftheyear1806,thathewasnotsomuchaburlesquecaricatureasareproductionoftheEmpireperiod。Toanobserver,accuracyofdetailinarevivalofthissortisextremelyvaluable,butaccuracyofdetail,tobeproperlyappreciated,demandsthecriticalattentionofanexpert/flaneur/;whilethemaninthestreetwhoraisesalaughassoonashecomesinsightisboundtobeoneofthoseoutrageousexhibitionswhichstareyouintheface,asthesayinggoes,andproducethekindofeffectwhichanactortriestosecureforthesuccessofhisentry。Theelderlyperson,athin,spareman,woreanut-brownspenceroveracoatofuncertaingreen,withwhitemetalbuttons。Amaninaspencerintheyear1844!itwasasifNapoleonhimselfhadvouchsafedtocometolifeagainforacoupleofhours。
Thespencer,asitsnameindicates,wastheinventionofanEnglishlord,vain,doubtless,ofhishandsomeshape。SometimebeforethePeaceofAmiens,thisnoblemansolvedtheproblemofcoveringthebustwithoutdestroyingtheoutlinesofthefigureandencumberingthepersonwiththehideousboxcoat,nowfinishingitscareeronthebacksofagedhackneycabmen;but,elegantfiguresbeingintheminority,thesuccessofthespencerwasshort-livedinFrance,Englishthoughitwas。
Atthesightofthespencer,menoffortyorfiftymentallyinvestedthewearerwithtop-boots,pistachio-coloredkerseymeresmallclothesadornedwithaknotofribbon;andbeheldthemselvesinthecostumesoftheiryouth。Elderlyladiesthoughtofformerconquests;buttheyoungermenwereaskingeachotherwhytheagedAlcibiadeshadcutofftheskirtsofhisovercoat。Therestofthecostumewassomuchinkeepingwiththespencer,thatyouwouldnothavehesitatedtocallthewearer“anEmpireman,“justasyoucallacertainkindoffurniture“Empirefurniture;“yetthenewcomeronlysymbolizedtheEmpireforthosewhohadknownthatgreatandmagnificentepochatanyrate/devisu/,foracertainaccuracyofmemorywasneededforthefullappreciationofthecostume,andevennowtheEmpireissofarawaythatnoteveryoneofuscanpictureitinitsGallo-Grecianreality。
Thestranger\'shat,forinstance,tippedtothebackofhisheadsoastoleavealmostthewholeforeheadbare,recalledacertainjauntyair,withwhichciviliansandofficialsattemptedtoswaggeritwithmilitarymen;butthehatitselfwasashockingspecimenofthefifteen-francvariety。Constantfrictionwithapairofenormousearshadlefttheirmarkswhichnobrushcouldeffacefromtheundersideofthebrim;thesilktissue(asusual)fittedbadlyoverthecardboardfoundation,andhunginwrinkleshereandthere;andsomeskin-disease(apparently)hadattackedthenapinspiteofthehandwhichrubbeditdownofamorning。
Beneaththehat,whichseemedreadytodropoffatanymoment,layanexpanseofcountenancegrotesqueanddroll,asthefaceswhichtheChinesealoneofallpeoplecanimaginefortheirquaintcuriosities。
Thebroadvisagewasasfullofholesasacolander,honeycombedwiththeshadowsofthedints,hollowedoutlikeaRomanmask。Itsetallthelawsofanatomyatdefiance。Closeinspectionfailedtodetectthesubstructure。Whereyouexpectedtofindabone,youdiscoveredalayerofcartilaginoustissue,andthehollowsofanordinaryhumanfacewereherefilledoutwithflabbybosses。Apairofgrayeyes,red-rimmedandlashless,lookedforlornlyoutofacountenancewhichwasflattenedsomethingafterthefashionofapumpkin,andsurmountedbyaDonQuixotenosethatroseoutofitlikeamonolithaboveaplain。Itwasthekindofnose,asCervantesmustsurelyhaveexplainedsomewhere,whichdenotesaninbornenthusiasmforallthingsgreat,atendencywhichisapttodegenerateintocredulity。
Andyet,thoughtheman\'suglinesswassomethingalmostludicrous,itarousednottheslightestinclinationtolaugh。Theexceedingmelancholywhichfoundanoutletinthepoorman\'sfadedeyesreachedthemockerhimselfandfrozethegibesonhislips;forallatoncethethoughtarosethatthiswasahumancreaturetowhomNaturehadforbiddenanyexpressionofloveortenderness,sincesuchexpressioncouldonlybepainfulorridiculoustothewomanheloved。InthepresenceofsuchmisfortuneaFrenchmanissilent;tohimitseemsthemostcruelofallafflictions——tobeunabletoplease!
Themansoill-favoredwasdressedafterthefashionofshabbygentility,afashionwhichtherichnotseldomtrytocopy。HeworelowshoesbeneathgaitersofthepatternwornbytheImperialGuard,doubtlessforthesakeofeconomy,becausetheykeptthesocksclean。
Therustytingeofhisblackbreeches,likethecutandthewhiteorshinylineofthecreases,assignedthedateofthepurchasesomethreeyearsback。Theroomygarmentsfailedtodisguisetheleanproportionsofthewearer,dueapparentlyrathertoconstitutionthantoaPythagoreanregimen,fortheworthymanwasendowedwiththicklipsandasensualmouth;andwhenhesmiled,displayedasetofwhiteteethwhichwouldhavedonecredittoashark。
Ashawl-waistcoat,likewiseofblackcloth,wassupplementedbyawhiteunder-waistcoat,andyetagainbeneaththisgleamedtheedgeofaredknittedunder-jacket,toputyouinmindofGarat\'sfivewaistcoats。Ahugewhitemuslinstockwithaconspicuousbow,inventedbysomeexquisitetocharm“thecharmingsex“in1809,projectedsofarabovethewearer\'schinthatthelowerpartofhisfacewaslost,asitwere,inamuslinabyss。Asilkwatch-guard,plaitedtoresemblethekeepsakesmadeofhair,meandereddowntheshirtfrontandsecuredhiswatchfromtheimprobabletheft。Thegreenishcoat,thougholderbysomethreeyearsthanthebreeches,wasremarkablyneat;theblackvelvetcollarandshiningmetalbuttons,recentlyrenewed,toldofcarefulnesswhichdescendedeventotrifles。
Theparticularmanneroffixingthehatontheocciput,thetriplewaistcoat,thevastcravatengulfingthechin,thegaiters,themetalbuttonsonthegreenishcoat,——allthesereminiscencesofImperialfashionswereblendedwithasortofafterwaftandlingeringperfumeofthecoquetryoftheIncroyable——withanindescribablefinicalsomethinginthefoldsofthegarments,acertainairofstiffnessandcorrectnessinthedemeanorthatsmackedoftheschoolofDavid,thatrecalledJacob\'sspindle-leggedfurniture。
Atfirstsight,moreover,yousethimdowneitherforthegentlemanbybirthfallenavictimtosomedegradinghabit,orforthemanofsmallindependentmeanswhoseexpensesarecalculatedtosuchanicetythatthebreakageofawindowpane,arentinacoat,oravisitfromthephilanthropicpestwhoasksyouforsubscriptionstoacharity,absorbsthewholeofamonth\'slittlesurplusofpocket-money。Ifyouhadseenhimthatafternoon,youwouldhavewonderedhowthatgrotesquefacecametobelightedupwithasmile;usually,surely,itmusthavewornthedispirited,passivelookoftheobscuretoilercondemnedtolaborwithoutceasingforthebarestnecessariesoflife。
Yetwhenyounoticedthattheodd-lookingoldmanwascarryingsomeobject(evidentlyprecious)inhisrighthandwithamother\'scare;
concealingitundertheskirtsofhiscoattokeepitfromcollisionsinthecrowd,andstillmore,whenyouremarkedthatimportantairalwaysassumedbyanidlerwhenintrustedwithacommission,youwouldhavesuspectedhimofrecoveringsomepieceoflostproperty,somemodernequivalentofthemarquise\'spoodle;youwouldhaverecognizedtheassiduousgallantryofthe“manoftheEmpire“returningintriumphfromhismissiontosomecharmingwomanofsixty,reluctantasyettodispensewiththedailyvisitofherelderly/attentif/。
InParisonlyamonggreatcitieswillyouseesuchspectaclesasthis;
forofherboulevardsParismakesastagewhereanever-endingdramaisplayedgratuitouslybytheFrenchnationintheinterestsofArt。
Inspiteoftherashlyassumedspencer,youwouldscarcelyhavethought,afteraglanceatthecontoursoftheman\'sbonyframe,thatthiswasanartist——thatconventionaltypewhichisprivileged,insomethingofthesamewayasaParisgamin,torepresentriotouslivingtothebourgeoisandphilistinemind,themost/mirific/
joviality,inshort(tousetheoldRabelaisianwordnewlytakenintouse)。Yetthiselderlypersonhadoncetakenthemedalandthetravelingscholarship;hehadcomposedthefirstcantatacrownedbytheInstitutatthetimeofthere-establishmentoftheAcademiedeRome;hewasM。SylvainPons,infact——M。SylvainPons,whosenameappearsonthecoversofwell-knownsentimentalsongstrilledbyourmothers,tosaynothingofacoupleofoperas,playedin1815and1816,anddiversunpublishedscores。Theworthysoulwasnowendinghisdaysastheconductorofanorchestrainaboulevardtheatre,andamusicmasterinseveralyoungladies\'boarding-schools,apostforwhichhisfaceparticularlyrecommendedhim。Hewasentirelydependentuponhisearnings。Runningabouttogiveprivatelessonsathisage!——
Thinkofit。Howmanyamysteryliesinthatunromanticsituation!
ButthelastmantowearthespencercarriedsomethingabouthimbesideshisEmpireAssociations;awarningandalessonwaswrittenlargeoverthattriplewaistcoat。Whereverhewent,heexhibited,withoutfeeorcharge,oneofthemanyvictimsofthefatalsystemofcompetitionwhichstillprevailsinFranceinspiteofacenturyoftrialwithoutresult;forPoissondeMarigny,brotherofthePompadourandDirectorofFineArts,somewhereabout1746inventedthismethodofapplyingpressuretothebrain。Thatwasahundredyearsago。Tryifyoucancountuponyourfingersthemenofgeniusamongtheprizemenofthosehundredyears。
Inthefirstplace,nodeliberateeffortofschoolmasteroradministratorcanreplacethemiraclesofchancewhichproducegreatmen：ofallthemysteriesofgeneration,thismostdefiestheambitiousmodernscientificinvestigator。Inthesecond——theancientEgyptians(wearetold)inventedincubator-stovesforhatchingeggs;
whatwouldbethoughtofEgyptianswhoshouldneglecttofillthebeaksofthecallowfledglings?YetthisispreciselywhatFranceisdoing。Shedoesherutmosttoproduceartistsbytheartificialheatofcompetitiveexamination;but,thesculptor,painter,engraver,ormusicianonceturnedoutbythismechanicalprocess,shenomoretroublesherselfaboutthemandtheirfatethanthedandycaresforyesterday\'sflowerinhisbuttonhole。AndsoithappensthatthereallygreatmanisaGreuze,aWatteau,aFelicienDavid,aPagnesi,aGericault,aDecamps,anAuber,aDavidd\'Angers,anEugeneDelacroix,oraMeissonier——artistswhotakebutlittleheedof/grandeprix/,andspringupintheopenfieldundertheraysofthatinvisiblesuncalledVocation。
Toresume。TheGovernmentsentSylvainPonstoRometomakeagreatmusicianofhimself;andinRomeSylvainPonsacquiredatastefortheantiqueandworksofart。Hebecameanadmirablejudgeofthosemasterpiecesofthebrainandhandwhicharesummedupbytheusefulneologism“bric-a-brac;“andwhenthechildofEuterpereturnedtoParissomewhereabouttheyear1810,itwasinthecharacterofarabidcollector,loadedwithpictures,statuettes,frames,wood-
carving,ivories,enamels,porcelains,andthelike。Hehadsunkthegreaterpartofhispatrimony,notsomuchinthepurchasesthemselvesasontheexpensesoftransit;andeverypennyinheritedfromhismotherhadbeenspentinthecourseofathree-years\'travelinItalyaftertheresidenceinRomecametoanend。HehadseenVenice,Milan,Florence,Bologna,andNaplesleisurely,ashewishedtoseethem,asadreamerofdreams,andaphilosopher;carelessofthefuture,foranartistlookstohistalentforsupportasthe/filledejoie/countsuponherbeauty。
AllthroughthosesplendidyearsoftravelPonswasashappyaswaspossibletoamanwithagreatsoul,asensitivenature,andafacesouglythatany“successwiththefair“(tousethestereotypedformulaof1809)wasoutofthequestion;therealitiesoflifealwaysfellshortoftheidealswhichPonscreatedforhimself;theworldwithoutwasnotintunewiththesoulwithin,butPonshadmadeuphismindtothedissonance。Doubtlessthesenseofbeautythathehadkeptpureandlivinginhisinmostsoulwasthespringfromwhichthedelicate,graceful,andingeniousmusicflowedandwonhimreputationbetween1810and1814。
Everyreputationfoundeduponthefashionorthefancyofthehour,orupontheshort-livedfolliesofParis,producesitsPons。Noplaceintheworldissoinexorableingreatthings;nocityoftheglobesodisdainfullyindulgentinsmall。Pons\'notesweredrownedbeforelonginfloodsofGermanharmonyandthemusicofRossini;andifin1824
hewasknownasanagreeablemusician,acomposerofvariousdrawing-
roommelodies,judgeifhewaslikelytobefamousin183l!In1844,theyearinwhichthesingledramaofthisobscurelifebegan,SylvainPonswasofnomorevaluethananantediluviansemiquaver;dealersinmusichadneverheardofhisname,thoughhewasstillcomposing,onscantypay,forhisownorchestraorforneighboringtheatres。
Andyet,theworthymandidjusticetothegreatmastersofourday;amasterpiecefinelyrenderedbroughttearstohiseyes;buthisreligionneverborderedonmania,asinthecaseofHoffmann\'sKreislers;hekepthisenthusiasmtohimself;hisdelight,liketheparadisereachedbyopiumorhashish,laywithinhisownsoul。
Thegiftofadmiration,ofcomprehension,thesinglefacultybywhichtheordinarymanbecomesthebrotherofthepoet,israreinthecityofParis,thatinnwhitherallideas,liketravelers,cometostayforawhile;sorareisit,thatPonssurelydeservesourrespectfulesteem。Hispersonalfailuremayseemanomalous,buthefranklyadmittedthathewasweakinharmony。Hehadneglectedthestudyofcounterpoint;therewasatimewhenhemighthavebegunhisstudiesafreshandheldhisownamongmoderncomposers,whenhemighthavebeen,notcertainlyaRossini,butaHerold。Buthewasalarmedbytheintricaciesofmodernorchestration;andatlength,inthepleasuresofcollecting,hefoundsuchever-renewedcompensationforhisfailure,thatifhehadbeenmadetochoosebetweenhiscuriositiesandthefameofRossini——willitbebelieved?——Ponswouldhavepronouncedforhisbelovedcollection。
PonswasoftheopinionofChenavard,theprint-collector,wholaiditdownasanaxiom——thatyouonlyfullyenjoythepleasureoflookingatyourRuysdael,Hobbema,Holbein,Raphael,Murillo,Greuze,SebastiandelPiombo,Giorgione,AlbrechtDurer,orwhatnot,whenyouhavepaidlessthansixtyfrancsforyourpicture。Ponsnevergavemorethanahundredfrancsforanypurchase。Ifhelaidoutasmuchasfiftyfrancs,hewascarefultoassurehimselfbeforehandthattheobjectwasworththreethousand。Themostbeautifulthingintheworld,ifitcostthreehundredfrancs,didnotexistforPons。Rarehadbeenhisbargains;buthepossessedthethreequalificationsforsuccess——astag\'slegs,anidler\'sdisregardoftime,andthepatienceofaJew。
Thissystem,carriedoutforfortyyears,inRomeorParisalike,hadborneitsfruits。SincePonsreturnedfromItaly,hehadregularlyspentabouttwothousandfrancsayearuponacollectionofmasterpiecesofeverysortanddescription,acollectionhiddenawayfromalleyesbuthisown;andnowhiscataloguehadreachedtheincrediblenumberof1907。WanderingaboutParisbetween1811and1816,hehadpickedupmanyatreasurefortenfrancs,whichwouldfetchathousandortwelvehundredto-day。Someforty-fivethousandcanvaseschangehandsannuallyinParispicturesales,andthesePonshadsiftedthroughyearbyyear。PonshadSevresporcelain,/patetendre/,boughtofAuvergnats,thosesatellitesoftheBlackBandwhosackedchateauxandcarriedoffthemarvelsofPompadourFranceintheirtumbrilcarts;hehad,infact,collectedthedriftedwreckoftheseventeenthandeighteenthcenturies;herecognizedthegeniusoftheFrenchschool,anddiscernedthemeritoftheLepautresandLavallee-PoussinsandtherestofthegreatobscurecreatorsoftheGenreLouisQuinzeandtheGenreLouisSeize。Ourmoderncraftsmennowdrawwithoutacknowledgmentfromthem,poreincessantlyoverthetreasuresoftheCabinetdesEstampes,borrowadroitly,andgiveouttheir/pastiches/fornewinventions。Ponshadobtainedmanyapiecebyexchange,andthereinliestheineffablejoyofthecollector。Thejoyofbuyingbric-a-bracisasecondarydelight;inthegive-and-takeofbarterliesthejoyofjoys。Ponshadbegunbycollectingsnuff-
boxesandminiatures;hisnamewasunknowninbric-a-bracology,forheseldomshowedhimselfinsalesroomsorintheshopsofwell-knowndealers;Ponswasnotawarethathistreasureshadanycommercialvalue。
ThelatelamentedDusommerardtriedhisbesttogainPons\'confidence,buttheprinceofbric-a-bracdiedbeforehecouldgainanentrancetothePonsmuseum,theoneprivatecollectionwhichcouldcomparewiththefamousSauvageotmuseum。PonsandM。Sauvageotindeedresembledeachotherinmorewaysthanone。M。Sauvageot,likePons,wasamusician;hewaslikewiseacomparativelypoorman,andhehadcollectedhisbric-a-bracinmuchthesameway,withthesameloveofart,thesamehatredofrichcapitalistswithwell-knownnameswhocollectforthesakeofrunninguppricesascleverlyaspossible。
Therewasyetanotherpointofresemblancebetweenthepair;Pons,likehisrivalcompetitorandantagonist,feltinhisheartaninsatiablecravingafterspecimensofthecraftsman\'sskillandmiraclesofworkmanship;helovedthemasamanmightloveafairmistress;anauctioninthesaleroomsintheRuedesJeuneurs,withitsaccompanimentsofhammerstrokesandbrokers\'men,wasacrimeof/lese-bric-a-brac/inPons\'eyes。Pons\'museumwasforhisowndelightateveryhour;forthesoulcreatedtoknowandfeelallthebeautyofamasterpiecehasthisincommonwiththelover——to-day\'sjoyisasgreatasthejoyofyesterday;possessionneverpalls;andamasterpiece,happily,nevergrowsold。Sotheobjectthatheheldinhishandwithsuchfatherlycarecouldonlybea“find,“carriedoffwithwhataffectionamateursaloneknow!
Afterthefirstoutlinesofthisbiographicalsketch,everyonewillcryatonce,“Why!thisisthehappiestmanonearth,inspiteofhisugliness！”And,intruth,nospleen,nodullnesscanresistthecounter-irritantsuppliedbya“craze,“theintellectualmoxaofahobby。Youwhocannolongerdrinkof“thecupofpleasure,“asithasbeencalledthroughallages,trytocollectsomething,nomatterwhat(peoplehavebeenknowntocollectplacards),soshallyoureceivethesmallchangeforthegoldingotofhappiness。Haveyouahobby?Youhavetransferredpleasuretotheplaneofideas。Andyet,youneednotenvytheworthyPons;suchenvy,likeallkindredsentiments,wouldbefoundeduponamisapprehension。
Withanaturesosensitive,withasoulthatlivedbytirelessadmirationofthemagnificentachievementsofart,ofthehighrivalrybetweenhumantoilandtheworkofNature——PonswasaslavetothatoneoftheSevenDeadlySinswithwhichGodsurelywilldealleasthardly;Ponswasaglutton。Anarrowincome,combinedwithapassionforbric-a-brac,condemnedhimtoaregimensoabhorrenttoadiscriminatingpalate,that,bachelorashewas,hehadcuttheknotoftheproblembydiningouteveryday。
Now,inthetimeoftheEmpire,celebritiesweremoresoughtafterthanatpresent,perhapsbecausethereweresofewofthem,perhapsbecausetheymadelittleornopoliticalpretension。Inthosedays,besides,youcouldsetupforapoet,amusician,orapainter,withsolittleexpense。Pons,beingregardedastheprobablerivalofNicolo,Paer,andBerton,usedtoreceivesomanyinvitations,thathewasforcedtokeepalistofengagements,muchasbarristersnotedownthecasesforwhichtheyareretained。AndPonsbehavedlikeanartist。Hepresentedhisamphitryonswithcopiesofhissongs,he“obliged“atthepianoforte,hebroughtthemordersforboxesattheFeydeau,hisowntheatre,heorganizedconcerts,hewasnotabovetakingthefiddlehimselfsometimesinarelation\'shouse,andgettingupalittleimpromptudance。Inthosedays,allthehandsomemeninFrancewereawayatthewarsexchangingsabre-cutswiththehandsomemenoftheCoalition。Ponswassaidtobe,notugly,but“peculiar-
looking,“afterthegrandrulelaiddownbyMoliereinEliante\'sfamouscouplets;butifhesometimesheardhimselfdescribedasa“charmingman“(afterhehaddonesomefairladyaservice),hisgoodfortunewentnofurtherthanwords。
Itwasbetweentheyears1810and1816thatPonscontractedtheunluckyhabitofdiningout;hegrewaccustomedtoseehishoststakingpainsoverthedinner,procuringthefirstandbestofeverything,bringingouttheirchoicestvintages,seeingcarefullytothedessert,thecoffee,theliqueurs,givinghimoftheirbest,inshort;thebest,moreover,ofthosetimesoftheEmpirewhenPariswasgluttedwithkingsandqueensandprinces,andmanyaprivatehouseemulatedroyalsplendours。
PeopleusedtoplayatRoyaltythenastheyplaynowadaysatparliament,creatingawholehostofsocietieswithpresidents,vice-
presidents,secretariesandwhatnot——agriculturalsocieties,industrialsocieties,societiesforthepromotionofsericulture,viticulture,thegrowthofflax,andsoforth。Somehaveevengonesofarastolookaboutthemforsocialevilsinordertostartasocietytocurethem。
ButtoreturntoPons。Astomachthuseducatedissuretoreactupontheowner\'smoralfibre;thedemoralizationofthemanvariesdirectlywithhisprogressinculinarysapience。Voluptuousness,lurkingineverysecretrecessoftheheart,laysdownthelawtherein。Honorandresolutionarebatteredinbreach。Thetyrannyofthepalatehasneverbeendescribed;asanecessityoflifeitescapesthecriticismofliterature;yetnooneimagineshowmanyhavebeenruinedbythetable。Theluxuryofthetableisindeed,inthissense,thecourtesan\'sonecompetitorinParis,besidesrepresentinginamannerthecreditsideinanotheraccount,whereshefiguresastheexpenditure。
WithPons\'declineandfallasanartistcamehissimultaneoustransformationfrominvitedguesttoparasiteandhanger-on;hecouldnotbringhimselftoquitdinnerssoexcellentlyservedfortheSpartanbrothofatwo-francordinary。Alas!alas!ashudderranthroughhimatthemerethoughtofthegreatsacrificeswhichindependencerequiredhimtomake。Hefeltthathewascapableofsinkingtoevenlowerdepthsforthesakeofgoodliving,iftherewerenootherwayofenjoyingthefirstandbestofeverything,ofguzzling(vulgarbutexpressiveword)nicelittledishescarefullyprepared。Ponslivedlikeabird,pilferinghismeal,flyingawaywhenhehadtakenhisfill,singingafewnotesbywayofreturn;hetookacertainpleasureinthethoughtthathelivedattheexpenseofsociety,whichaskedofhim——whatbutthetriflingtollofgrimaces?
Likeallconfirmedbachelors,whoholdtheirlodgingsinhorror,andliveasmuchaspossibleinotherpeople\'shouses,Ponswasaccustomedtotheformulasandfacialcontortionswhichdodutyforfeelingintheworld;heusedcomplimentsassmallchange;andasfarasotherswereconcerned,hewassatisfiedwiththelabelstheybore,andneverplungedatoo-curioushandintothesack。
Thisnotintolerablephaselastedforanothertenyears。Suchyears!
Pons\'lifewasclosingwitharainyautumn。Allthroughthoseyearshecontrivedtodinewithoutexpensebymakinghimselfnecessaryinthehouseswhichhefrequented。Hetookthefirststepinthedownwardpathbyundertakingahostofsmallcommissions;manyandmanyatimePonsranonerrandsinsteadoftheporterortheservant;manyapurchasehemadeforhisentertainers。Hebecameakindofharmless,well-meaningspy,sentbyonefamilyintoanother;buthegainednocreditwiththoseforwhomhetrudgedabout,andsooftensacrificedself-respect。
“Ponsisabachelor,“saidthey;“heisatalosstoknowwhattodowithhistime;heisonlytoogladtotrotaboutforus——Whatelsewouldhedo？”
Verysoonthecoldwhicholdagespreadsaboutitselfbegantosetin;
thecommunicablecoldwhichsensiblylowersthesocialtemperature,especiallyiftheoldmanisuglyandpoor。Oldanduglyandpoor——isnotthistobethriceold?Pons\'winterhadbegun,thewinterwhichbringsthereddenednose,andfrost-nippedcheeks,andthenumbedfingers,numbinhowmanyways!
InvitationsveryseldomcameforPonsnow。Sofarfromseekingthesocietyoftheparasite,everyfamilyacceptedhimmuchastheyacceptedthetaxes;theyvaluednothingthatPonscoulddoforthem;
realservicesfromPonscountedfornought。Thefamilycirclesinwhichtheworthyartistrevolvedhadnorespectforartorletters;
theywentdownontheirkneestopracticalresults;theyvaluednothingbutthefortuneorsocialpositionacquiredsincetheyear1830。Thebourgeoisieisafraidofintellectandgenius,butPons\'
spiritandmannerwerenothaughtyenoughtooverawehisrelations,andnaturallyhehadcomeatlasttobeaccountedlessthannothingwiththem,thoughhewasnotaltogetherdespised。
Hehadsufferedacutelyamongthem,but,likealltimidcreatures,hekeptsilenceastohispain;andsobydegreesschooledhimselftohidehisfeelings,andlearnedtotakesanctuaryinhisinmostself。
Manysuperficialpersonsinterpretthisconductbytheshortword“selfishness;“and,indeed,theresemblancebetweentheegoistandthesolitaryhumancreatureisstrongenoughtoseemtojustifytheharsherverdict;andthisisespeciallytrueinParis,wherenobodyobservesothersclosely,whereallthingspassswiftaswaves,andlastaslittleasaMinistry。
SoCousinPonswasaccusedofselfishness(behindhisback);andiftheworldaccusesanyone,itusuallyfindshimguiltyandcondemnshimintothebargain。Ponsbowedtothedecision。Doanyofusknowhowsuchatimidcreatureiscastdownbyanunjustjudgment?Whowilleverpaintallthatthetimidsuffer?Thisstateofthings,nowgrowingdailyworse,explainsthesadexpressiononthepooroldmusician\'sface;helivedbycapitulationsofwhichhewasashamed。
Everytimewesinagainstself-respectatthebiddingoftherulingpassion,werivetitsholduponus;themorethatpassionrequiresofus,thestrongeritgrows,everysacrificeincreasing,asitwere,thevalueofasatisfactionforwhichsomuchhasbeengivenup,tillthenegativesum-totalofrenouncementsloomsverylargeinaman\'simagination。Pons,forinstance,afterenduringtheinsolentlypatronizinglooksofsomebourgeois,incasedinbuckramofstupidity,sippedhisglassofportorfinishedhisquailwithbreadcrumbs,andrelishedsomethingofthesavorofrevenge,besides。“Itisnottoodearattheprice！”hesaidtohimself。
Afterall,intheeyesofthemoralist,therewereextenuatingcircumstancesinPons\'case。Manonlylives,infact,bysomepersonalsatisfaction。Thepassionless,perfectlyrighteousmanisnothuman;
heisamonster,anangelwantingwings。TheangelofChristianmythologyhasnothingbutahead。Onearth,therighteouspersonisthesufficientlytiresomeGrandison,forwhomtheveryVenusoftheCrosswordsissexless。
SettingasideoneortwocommonplaceadventuresinItaly,inwhichprobablytheclimateaccountedforhissuccess,nowomanhadeversmileduponPons。Plentyofmenaredoomedtothisfate。Ponswasanabnormalbirth;thechildofparentswellstrickeninyears,heborethestigmaofhisuntimelygenesis;hiscadaverouscomplexionmighthavebeencontractedintheflaskofspirit-of-wineinwhichsciencepreservessomeextraordinaryfoetus。Artistthoughhewas,withhistender,dreamy,sensitivesoul,hewasforcedtoacceptthecharacterwhichbelongedtohisface;itwashopelesstothinkoflove,andheremainedabachelor,notsomuchofchoiceasofnecessity。ThenGluttony,thesinofthecontinentmonk,beckonedtoPons;herushedupontemptation,ashehadthrownhiswholesoulintotheadorationofartandthecultofmusic。Goodcheerandbric-a-bracgavehimthesmallchangeforthelovewhichcouldspenditselfinnootherway。Asformusic,itwashisprofession,andwherewillyoufindthemanwhoisinlovewithhismeansofearningalivelihood?Foritiswithaprofessionaswithmarriage：inthelonglengthyouaresensibleofnothingbutthedrawbacks。
Brillat-Savarinhasdeliberatelysethimselftojustifythegastronome,butperhapsevenhehasnotdweltsufficientlyontherealityofthepleasuresofthetable。Thedemandsofdigestionuponthehumaneconomyproduceaninternalwrestling-boutofhumanforceswhichrivalsthehighestdegreeofamorouspleasure。Thegastronomeisconsciousofanexpenditureofvitalpower,anexpendituresovastthatthebrainisatrophied(asitwere),thatasecondbrain,locatedinthediaphragm,maycomeintoplay,andthesuspensionofallthefacultiesisinitselfakindofintoxication。Aboaconstrictorgorgedwithanoxissostupidwithexcessthatthecreatureiseasilykilled。Whatman,onthewrongsideofforty,israshenoughtoworkafterdinner?Andremarkinthesameconnection,thatallgreatmenhavebeenmoderateeaters。Theexhilaratingeffectofthewingofachickenuponinvalidsrecoveringfromseriousillness,andlongconfinedtoastintedandcarefullychosendiet,hasbeenfrequentlyremarked。ThesoberPons,whosewholeenjoymentwasconcentratedintheexerciseofhisdigestiveorgans,wasinthepositionofchronicconvalescence;helookedtohisdinnertogivehimtheutmostdegreeofpleasurablesensation,andhithertohehadprocuredsuchsensationsdaily。Whodarestobidfarewelltooldhabit?Manyamanonthebrinkofsuicidehasbeenpluckedbackonthethresholdofdeathbythethoughtofthecafewhereheplayshisnightlygameofdominoes。
Intheyear1835,chanceavengedPonsfortheindifferenceofwomankindbyfindinghimapropforhisdecliningyears,asthesayinggoes;andhe,whohadbeenoldfromhiscradle,foundasupportinfriendship。Ponstooktohimselftheonlylife-partnerpermittedtohimamonghiskind——anoldmanandafellow-musician。
ButforLaFontaine\'sfable,/LesDeuxAmis/,thissketchshouldhavebornethetitleof/TheTwoFriends/;buttotakethenameofthisdivinestorywouldsurelybeadeedofviolence,aprofanationfromwhicheverytruemanofletterswouldshrink。Thetitleoughttobebornealoneandforeverbythefabulist\'smasterpiece,therevelationofhissoul,andtherecordofhisdreams;thosethreewordsweresetonceandforeverbythepoetattheheadofapagewhichishisbyasacredrightofownership;foritisashrinebeforewhichallgenerations,allovertheworld,willkneelsolongastheartofprintingshallendure。
Pons\'friendgavelessonsonthepianoforte。Theymetandstruckupanacquaintancein1834,oneprizedayataboarding-school;andsocongenialweretheirwaysofthinkingandliving,thatPonsusedtosaythathehadfoundhisfriendtoolateforhishappiness。Never,perhaps,didtwosouls,somuchalike,findeachotherinthegreatoceanofhumanitywhichflowedforth,indisobediencetothewillofGod,fromitssourceintheGardenofEden。Beforeverylongthetwomusicianscouldnotlivewithouteachother。Confidenceswereexchanged,andinaweek\'stimetheywerelikebrothers。Schmucke(forthatwashisname)hadnotbelievedthatsuchamanasPonsexisted,norhadPonsimaginedthataSchmuckewaspossible。Herealreadyyouhaveasufficientdescriptionofthegoodcouple;butitisnoteverymindthattakeskindlytotheconcisesyntheticmethod,andacertainamountofdemonstrationisnecessaryifthecredulousaretoaccepttheconclusion。
Thispianist,likeallotherpianists,wasaGerman。AGerman,liketheeminentLisztandthegreatMendelssohn,andSteibelt,andDussek,andMeyer,andMozart,andDoelher,andThalberg,andDreschok,andHiller,andLeopoldHertz,Woertz,Karr,Wolff,Pixis,andClaraWieck——andallGermans,generallyspeaking。Schmuckewasagreatmusicalcomposerdoomedtoremainamusicmaster,soutterlydidhischaracterlacktheaudacitywhichamusicalgeniusneedsifheistopushhiswaytothefront。AGerman\'snaivetedoesnotinvariablylasthimthroughhislife;insomecasesitfailsafteracertainage;andevenasacultivatorofthesoilbringswaterfromafarbymeansofirrigationchannels,so,fromthespringsofhisyouth,doestheTeutondrawthesimplicitywhichdisarmssuspicion——theperennialsupplieswithwhichhefertilizeshislaborsineveryfieldofscience,art,orcommerce。AcraftyFrenchmanhereandtherewillturnaParisiantradesman\'sstupiditytogoodaccountinthesameway。ButSchmuckehadkepthischild\'ssimplicitymuchasPonscontinuedtowearhisrelicsoftheEmpire——allunsuspectingly。Thetrueandnoble-
heartedGermanwasatoncethetheatreandtheaudience,makingmusicwithinhimselfforhimselfalone。InthiscityofParishelivedasanightingalelivesamongthethickets;andfortwentyyearshesangon,mateless,tillhemetwithasecondselfinPons。[See/UneFilled\'Eve/。]
BothPonsandSchmuckewereabundantlygiven,bothbyheartanddisposition,tothepeculiarlyGermansentimentalitywhichshowsitselfalikeinchildlikeways——inapassionforflowers,inthatformofnature-worshipwhichpromptsaGermantoplanthisgarden-bedswithbigglassglobesforthesakeofseeingminiaturepicturesoftheviewwhichhecanbeholdabouthimofanaturalsize;intheinquiringturnofmindthatsetsalearnedTeutontrudgingthreehundredmilesinhisgaitersinsearchofafactwhichsmilesupinhisfacefromawaysidespring,orlurkslaughingunderthejessamineleavesintheback-yard;
or(totakeafinalinstance)intheGermancravingtoendoweveryleastdetailincreationwithaspiritualsignificance,acravingwhichproducessometimesHoffmann\'stipsinessintype,sometimesthefolioswithwhichGermanyhedgesthesimplestquestionsroundabout,lesthaplyanyfoolshouldfallintoherintellectualexcavations;
and,indeed,ifyoufathomtheseabysses,youfindnothingbutaGermanatthebottom。
BothfriendswereCatholics。TheywenttoMassandperformedthedutiesofreligiontogether;and,likechildren,foundnothingtotelltheirconfessors。Itwastheirfirmbeliefthatmusicistofeelingandthoughtasthoughtandfeelingaretospeech;andoftheirconverseonthissystemtherewasnoend。Eachmaderesponsetotheotherinorgiesofsound,demonstratingtheirconvictions,eachforeach,likelovers。
Schmuckewasasabsent-mindedasPonswaswide-awake。Ponswasacollector,Schmuckeadreamerofdreams;Schmuckewasastudentofbeautyseenbythesoul,Ponsapreserverofmaterialbeauty。PonswouldcatchsightofachinacupandbuyitinthetimethatSchmucketooktoblowhisnose,wonderingthewhilewithinhimselfwhetherthemusicalphrasethatwasringinginhisbrain——the/motif/fromRossiniorBelliniorBeethovenorMozart——haditsoriginoritscounterpartintheworldofhumanthoughtandemotion。Schmucke\'seconomieswerecontrolledbyanabsentmind,Ponswasaspendthriftthroughpassion,andforboththeresultwasthesame——theyhadnotapennyonSaintSylvester\'sday。
PerhapsPonswouldhavegivenwayunderhistroublesifithadnotbeenforthisfriendship;butlifebecamebearablewhenhefoundsomeonetowhomhecouldpourouthisheart。Thefirsttimethathebreathedawordofhisdifficulties,thegoodGermanhadadvisedhimtoliveashehimselfdid,andeatbreadandcheeseathomesoonerthandineabroadatsuchacost。Alas!Ponsdidnotdaretoconfessthatheartandstomachwereatwarwithinhim,thathecoulddigestaffrontswhichpainedhisheart,and,costwhatitmight,agooddinnerthatsatisfiedhispalatewasanecessitytohim,evenasyourgayLothariomusthaveamistresstotease。
IntimeSchmuckeunderstood;notjustatonce,forhewastoomuchofaTeutontopossessthatgiftofswiftperceptioninwhichtheFrenchrejoice;SchmuckeunderstoodandlovedpoorPonsthebetter。Nothingsofortifiesafriendshipasabeliefonthepartofonefriendthatheissuperiortotheother。AnangelcouldnothavefoundawordtosaytoSchmuckerubbinghishandsoverthediscoveryoftheholdthatgluttonyhadgainedoverPons。Indeed,thegoodGermanadornedtheirbreakfast-tablenextmorningwithdelicaciesofwhichhewentinsearchhimself;andeverydayhewascarefultoprovidesomethingnewforhisfriend,fortheyalwaysbreakfastedtogetherathome。
IfanyoneimaginesthatthepaircouldnotescaperidiculeinParis,wherenothingisrespected,hecannotknowthatcity。WhenSchmuckeandPonsunitedtheirrichesandpoverty,theyhitupontheeconomicalexpedientoflodgingtogether,eachpayinghalftherentoftheveryunequallydividedsecond-floorofahouseintheRuedeNormandieintheMarais。Andasitoftenhappenedthattheylefthometogetherandwalkedsidebysidealongtheirbeatofboulevard,theidlersofthequarterdubbedthem“thepairofnutcrackers,“anicknamewhichmakesanyportraitofSchmuckequitesuperfluous,forhewastoPonsasthefamousstatueoftheNurseofNiobeintheVaticanistotheTribuneVenus。
Mme。Cibot,portressofthehouseintheRuedeNormandie,wasthepivotonwhichthedomesticlifeofthenutcrackersturned;butMme。
Cibotplayssolargeapartinthedramawhichgrewoutoftheirdoubleexistence,thatitwillbemoreappropriatetogiveherportraitonherfirstappearanceinthisSceneofParisianLife。
Onethingremainstobesaidofthecharactersofthepairoffriends;
butthisonethingispreciselythehardesttomakecleartoninety-
ninereadersoutofahundredinthisforty-seventhyearofthenineteenthcentury,perhapsbyreasonoftheprodigiousfinancialdevelopmentbroughtaboutbytherailwaysystem。Itisalittlething,andyetitissomuch。Itisaquestion,infact,ofgivinganideaoftheextremesensitivenessoftheirnatures。Letusborrowanillustrationfromtherailways,ifonlybywayofretaliation,asitwere,fortheloanswhichtheylevyuponus。Therailwaytrainofto-day,tearingoverthemetals,grindsawayfineparticlesofdust,grainssominutethatatravelercannotdetectthemwiththeeye;butletasingleoneofthoseinvisiblemotesfinditswayintothekidneys,itwillbringaboutthatmostexcruciating,andsometimesfatal,diseaseknownasgravel。Andoursociety,rushinglikealocomotivealongitsmetaledtrack,isheedlessoftheallbutimperceptibledustmadebythegrindingofthewheels;butitwasotherwisewiththetwomusicians;theinvisiblegrainsofsandsankperpetuallyintotheveryfibresoftheirbeing,causingthemintolerableanguishofheart。Tenderexceedinglytothepainofothers,theyweptfortheirownpowerlessnesstohelp;andtheirownsusceptibilitieswerealmostmorbidlyacute。NeitheragenorthecontinualspectacleofthedramaofParislifehadhardenedtwosoulsstillyoungandchildlikeandpure;thelongertheylived,indeed,themorekeenlytheyfelttheirinwardsuffering;forsoitis,alas!withnaturesunsulliedbytheworld,withthequietthinker,andwithsuchpoetsamongthepoetsashaveneverfallenintoanyexcess。
Sincetheoldmenbeganhousekeepingtogether,theday\'sroutinewasverynearlythesameforthemboth。TheyworkedtogetherinharnessinthefraternalfashionofthePariscab-horse;risingeverymorning,summerandwinter,atseveno\'clock,andsettingoutafterbreakfasttogivemusiclessonsintheboarding-schools,inwhich,uponoccasion,theywouldtakelessonsforeachother。TowardsnoonPonsrepairedtohistheatre,iftherewasarehearsalonhand;butallhissparemomentswerespentinsaunteringontheboulevards。Nightfoundbothofthemintheorchestraatthetheatre,forPonshadfoundaplaceforSchmucke,anduponthiswise。
Atthetimeoftheirfirstmeeting,Ponshadjustreceivedthatmarshal\'sbatonoftheunknownmusicalcomposer——anappointmentasconductorofanorchestra。Ithadcometohimunasked,byafavorofCountPopinot,abourgeoisheroofJuly,atthattimeamemberoftheGovernment。CountPopinothadthelicenseofatheatreinhisgift,andCountPopinothadalsoanoldacquaintanceofthekindthatthesuccessfulmanblushestomeet。AsherollsthroughthestreetsofParisinhiscarriage,itisnotpleasanttoseehisboyhood\'schumdownatheel,withacoatofmanyimprobablecolorsandtrousersinnocentofstraps,andaheadfullofsoaringspeculationsontoograndascaletotemptshy,easilyscaredcapital。Moreover,thisfriendofhisyouth,Gaudissartbyname,haddonenotalittleinthepasttowardsfoundingthefortunesofthegreathouseofPopinot。
Popinot,nowaCountandapeerofFrance,aftertwiceholdingaportfoliohadnowishtoshakeoff“theIllustriousGaudissart。“Quiteotherwise。ThepompsandvanitiesoftheCourtoftheCitizen-Kinghadnotspoiledthesometimedruggist\'skindheart;hewishedtoputhisex-commercialtravelerinthewayofrenewinghiswardrobeandreplenishinghispurse。SowhenGaudissart,alwaysanenthusiasticadmirerofthefairsex,appliedforthelicenseofabankrupttheatre,PopinotgranteditonconditionthatPons(aparasiteoftheHotelPopinot)shouldbeengagedasconductoroftheorchestra;andatthesametime,theCountwascarefultosendcertainelderlyamateursofbeautytothetheatre,sothatthenewmanagermightbestronglysupportedfinanciallybywealthyadmirersoffemininecharmsrevealedbythecostumeoftheballet。
GaudissartandCompany,who,beitsaid,madetheirfortune,hituponthegrandideaofoperasforthepeople,andcarrieditoutinaboulevardtheatrein1834。Atolerableconductor,whocouldadaptorevencomposealittlemusicuponoccasion,wasanecessityforballetsandpantomimes;butthelastmanagementhadsolongbeenbankrupt,thattheycouldnotaffordtokeepatransposerandcopyist。PonsthereforeintroducedSchmucketothecompanyascopierofmusic,ahumblecallingwhichrequiresnosmallmusicalknowledge;andSchmucke,actingonPons\'advice,cametoanunderstandingwiththe/chef-de-service/attheOpera-Comique,sosavinghimselftheclericaldrudgery。
ThepartnershipbetweenPonsandSchmuckeproducedonebrilliantresult。SchmuckebeingaGerman,harmonywashisstrongpoint;helookedovertheinstrumentationofPons\'compositions,andPonsprovidedtheairs。Hereandthereanamateuramongtheaudienceadmiredthenewpiecesofmusicwhichservedasaccompanimenttotwoorthreegreatsuccesses,buttheyattributedtheimprovementvaguelyto“progress。“Noonecaredtoknowthecomposer\'sname;likeoccupantsofthe/baignoires/,losttoviewofthehouse,togainaviewofthestage,PonsandSchmuckeeclipsedthemselvesbytheirsuccess。InParis(especiallysincetheRevolutionofJuly)noonecanhopetosucceedunlesshewillpushhisway/quibuscumqueviis/andwithallhismightthroughaformidablehostofcompetitors;butforthisfeatamanneedsthewsandsinews,andourtwofriends,beitremembered,hadthataffectionoftheheartwhichcripplesallambitiouseffort。
Pons,asarule,onlywenttohistheatretowardseighto\'clock,whenthepieceinfavorcameon,andoverturesandaccompanimentsneededthestrictrulingofthebaton;mostminortheatresarelaxinsuchmatters,andPonsfeltthemoreateasebecausehehimselfhadbeenbynomeansgraspinginallhisdealingswiththemanagement;andSchmucke,ifneedbe,couldtakehisplace。Timewentby,andSchmuckebecameaninstitutionintheorchestra;theIllustriousGaudissartsaidnothing,buthewaswellawareofthevalueofPons\'
collaborator。Hewasobligedtoincludeapianoforteintheorchestra(followingtheexampleoftheleadingtheatres);theinstrumentwasplacedbesidetheconductor\'schair,andSchmuckeplayedwithoutincreaseofsalary——avolunteersupernumerary。AsSchmucke\'scharacter,hisutterlackofambitionorpretencebecameknown,theorchestrarecognizedhimasoneofthemselves;andastimewenton,hewasintrustedwiththeoftenneededmiscellaneousmusicalinstrumentswhichformnopartoftheregularbandofaboulevardtheatre。Foraverysmalladditiontohisstipend,Schmuckeplayedtheviolad\'amore,hautboy,violoncello,andharp,aswellasthepiano,thecastanetsforthe/cachucha/,thebells,saxhorn,andthelike。IftheGermanscannotdrawharmonyfromthemightyinstrumentsofLiberty,yettoplayallinstrumentsofmusiccomestothembynature。
Thetwooldartistswereexceedinglypopularatthetheatre,andtookitswaysphilosophically。Theyhadput,asitwere,scalesovertheireyes,lesttheyshouldseetheoffencesthatneedsmustcomewhena/corpsdeballet/isblendedwithactorsandactresses,oneofthemosttryingcombinationsevercreatedbythelawsofsupplyanddemandforthetormentofmanagers,authors,andcomposersalike。
EveryoneesteemedPonswithhiskindnessandhismodesty,hisgreatself-respectandrespectforothers;forapureandlimpidlifewinssomethinglikeadmirationfromtheworstnatureineverysocialsphere,andinParisafairvirtuemeetswithsomethingofthesuccessofalargediamond,sogreatararityitis。Noactor,nodancerhoweverbrazen,wouldhaveindulgedinthemildestpracticaljokeattheexpenseofeitherPonsorSchmucke。
Ponsveryoccasionallyputinanappearanceinthe/foyer/;butallthatSchmuckeknewofthetheatrewastheundergroundpassagefromthestreetdoortotheorchestra。Sometimes,however,duringaninterval,thegoodGermanwouldventuretomakeasurveyofthehouseandaskafewquestionsofthefirstflute,ayoungfellowfromStrasbourg,whocameofaGermanfamilyatKehl。Graduallyundertheflute\'stuitionSchmucke\'schildlikeimaginationacquiredacertainamountofknowledgeoftheworld;hecouldbelieveintheexistenceofthatfabulouscreaturethe/lorette/,thepossibilityof“marriagesattheThirteenthArrondissement,“thevagariesoftheleadinglady,andthecontrabandtrafficcarriedonbybox-openers。InhiseyesthemoreharmlessformsofvicewerethelowestdepthsofBabylonishiniquity;
hedidnotbelievethestories,hesmiledatthemforgrotesqueinventions。TheingeniousreadercanseethatPonsandSchmuckewereexploited,touseawordmuchinfashion;butwhattheylostinmoneytheygainedinconsiderationandkindlytreatment。
ItwasafterthesuccessoftheballetwithwhicharunofsuccessbeganfortheGaudissartCompanythatthemanagementpresentedPonswithapieceofplate——agroupoffiguresattributedtoBenvenutoCellini。Thealarmingcostlinessofthegiftcausedtalkinthegreen-
room。Itwasamatteroftwelvehundredfrancs!Pons,poorhonestsoul,wasforreturningthepresent,andGaudissarthadaworldoftroubletopersuadehimtokeepit。
“Ah！”saidthemanagerafterwards,whenhetoldhispartneroftheinterview,“ifwecouldonlyfindactorsuptothatsample。“
Intheirjointlife,outwardlysoquiet,therewastheonedisturbingelement——theweaknesstowhichPonssacrificed,theinsatiablecravingtodineout。WheneverSchmuckehappenedtobeathomewhilePonswasdressingfortheevening,thegoodGermanwouldbewailthisdeplorablehabit。
“Gifonlyhevasonyfattervorit！”hemanyatimecried。
AndSchmuckewoulddreamofcuringhisfriendofhisdegradingvice,foratruefriend\'sinstinctinallthatbelongstotheinnerlifeisunerringasadog\'ssenseofsmell;afriendknowsbyintuitionthetroubleinhisfriend\'ssoul,andguessesatthecauseandpondersitinhisheart。
Pons,whoalwaysworeadiamondringonthelittlefingerofhisrighthand,anornamentpermittedinthetimeoftheEmpire,butridiculousto-day——Pons,whobelongedtothe“troubadourtime,“thesentimentalperiodsofthefirstEmpire,wastoomuchachildofhisage,toomuchofaFrenchmantoweartheexpressionofdivineserenitywhichsoftenedSchmucke\'shideousugliness。FromPons\'melancholylooksSchmuckeknewthattheprofessionofparasitewasgrowingdailymoredifficultandpainful。And,infact,inthatmonthofOctober1844,thenumberofhousesatwhichPonsdinedwasnaturallymuchrestricted;reducedtomoveroundandroundthefamilycircle,hehadusedthewordfamilyinfartoowideasense,aswillshortlybeseen。
M。Camusot,therichsilkmerceroftheRuedesBourdonnais,hadmarriedPons\'firstcousin,Mlle。Pons,onlychildandheiressofoneofthewell-knownfirmofPonsBrothers,courtembroiderers。Pons\'ownfatherandmotherretiredfromafirmfoundedbeforetheRevolutionof1789,leavingtheircapitalinthebusinessuntilMlle。Pons\'fathersolditin1815toM。Rivet。M。Camusothadsincelosthiswifeandmarriedagain,andretiredfrombusinesssometenyears,andnowin1844hewasamemberoftheBoardofTrade,adeputy,andwhatnot。
ButtheCamusotclanwerefriendly;andPons,goodman,stillconsideredthathewassomekindofcousintothechildrenofthesecondmarriage,whowerenotrelations,orevenconnectedwithhiminanyway。
ThesecondMme。CamusotbeingaMlle。Cardot,PonsintroducedhimselfasarelativeintothetolerablynumerousCardotfamily,asecondbourgeoistribewhich,takenwithitsconnections,formedquiteasstrongaclanastheCamusots;forCardotthenotary(brotherofthesecondMme。Camusot)hadmarriedaMlle。Chiffreville;andthewell-
knownfamilyofChiffreville,theleadingfirmofmanufacturingchemists,wascloselyconnectedwiththewholedrugtrade,ofwhichM。
AnselmePopinotwasformanyyearstheundisputedhead,untiltheRevolutionofJulyplungedhimintotheverycentreofthedynasticmovement,aseverybodyknows。SoPons,inthewakeoftheCamusotsandCardots,reachedtheChiffrevilles,andthencethePopinots,alwaysinthecharacterofacousin\'scousin。
TheaboveconcisestatementofPons\'relationswithhisentertainersexplainshowitcametopassthatanoldmusicianwasreceivedin1844
asoneofthefamilyinthehousesoffourdistinguishedpersons——towit,M。leComtePopinot,peerofFrance,andtwiceinoffice;M。
Cardot,retirednotary,mayoranddeputyofanarrondissementinParis;M。Camusotsenior,amemberoftheBoardofTradeandtheMunicipalChamberandapeerage;andlastly,M。CamusotdeMarville,Camusot\'ssonbyhisfirstmarriage,andPons\'onegenuinerelation,albeitevenhewasafirstcousinonceremoved。
ThisCamusot,PresidentofaChamberoftheCourtofAppealinParis,hadtakenthenameofhisestateatMarvilletodistinguishhimselffromhisfatherandayoungerhalfbrother。
Cardottheretirednotaryhadmarriedhisdaughtertohissuccessor,whosenamewasBerthier;andPons,transferredaspartoftheconnection,acquiredarighttodinewiththeBerthiers“inthepresenceofanotary,“asheputit。
ThiswasthebourgeoisempyreanwhichPonscalledhis“family,“thatupperworldinwhichhesopainfullyreservedhisrighttoaknifeandfork。
Ofallthesehouses,someteninall,theoneinwhichPonsoughttohavemetwiththekindestreceptionshouldbyrightshavebeenhisowncousin\'s;and,indeed,hepaidmostattentiontoPresidentCamusot\'sfamily。But,alas!Mme。CamusotdeMarville,daughteroftheSieurThirion,usherofthecabinettoLouisXVIII。andCharlesX。,hadnevertakenverykindlytoherhusband\'sfirstcousin,onceremoved。
Ponshadtriedtosoftenthisformidablerelative;hewastedhistime;
forinspiteofthepianofortelessonswhichhegavegratuitouslytoMlle。Camusot,ayoungwomanwithhairsomewhatinclinedtored,itwasimpossibletomakeamusicianofher。
Andnow,atthisverymoment,ashewalkedwiththatpreciousobjectinhishand,PonswasboundforthePresident\'shouse,wherehealwaysfeltasifhewereattheTuileriesitself,soheavilydidthesolemngreencurtains,thecarmelite-brownhangings,thickpiledcarpets,heavyfurniture,andgeneralatmosphereofmagisterialseverityoppresshissoul。Strangeasitmayseem,hefeltmoreathomeintheHotelPopinot,RueBasse-du-Rempart,probablybecauseitwasfullofworksofart;forthemasterofthehouse,sinceheenteredpubliclife,hadacquiredamaniaforcollectingbeautifulthings,bywayofcontrastnodoubt,forapoliticianisobligedtopayforsecretservicesoftheugliestkind。
PresidentdeMarvillelivedintheRuedeHanovre,inahousewhichhiswifehadboughttenyearspreviously,onthedeathofherparents,fortheSieurandDameThirionlefttheirdaughteraboutahundredandfiftythousandfrancs,thesavingsofalifetime。Withitsnorthaspect,thehouselooksgloomyenoughseenfromthestreet,butthebacklookstowardsthesouthoverthecourtyard,witharatherprettygardenbeyondit。AsthePresidentoccupiedthewholeofthefirstfloor,oncetheabodeofagreatfinancierofthetimeofLouisXIV。,andthesecondwaslettoawealthyoldlady,thehouseworealookofdignifiedreposebefittingamagistrate\'sresidence。PresidentCamusothadinvestedallthatheinheritedfromhismother,togetherwiththesavingsoftwentyyears,inthepurchaseofthesplendidMarvilleestate;achateau(asfinearelicofthepastasyouwillfindto-dayinNormandy)standinginahundredacresofparkland,andafinedependentfarm,nominallybringingintwelvethousandfrancsperannum,though,asitcostthePresidentatleastathousandcrownstokeepupastatealmostprincelyinourdays,hisyearlyrevenue,“alltold,“asthesayingis,wasabareninethousandfrancs。Withthisandhissalary,thePresident\'sincomeamountedtoabouttwentythousandfrancs;butthoughtoallappearanceawealthyman,especiallyasone-halfofhisfather\'spropertywouldonedayreverttohimastheonlychildofthefirstmarriage,hewasobligedtoliveinParisasbefittedhisofficialposition,andM。andMme。deMarvillespentalmostthewholeoftheirincomes。Indeed,beforetheyear1834theyfeltpinched。
ThisfamilyschedulesufficientlyexplainswhyMlle。deMarville,agedthree-and-twenty,wasstillunwed,inspiteofahundredthousandfrancsofdowryandtemptingprospects,frequently,skilfully,butsofarvainly,heldout。ForthepastfiveyearsPonshadlistenedtoMme。laPresidente\'slamentationsasshebeheldoneyounglawyerafteranotherledtothealtar,whileallthenewlyappointedjudgesattheTribunalwerefathersoffamiliesalready;andshe,allthistime,haddisplayedMlle。deMarville\'sbrilliantexpectationsbeforetheundazzledeyesofyoungVicomtePopinot,eldestsonofthegreatmanofthedrugtrade,heofwhomitwassaidbytheenvioustonguesoftheneighborhoodoftheRuedesLombards,thattheRevolutionofJulyhadbeenbroughtaboutatleastasmuchforhisparticularbenefitasforthesakeoftheOrleansbranch。
ArrivedatthecorneroftheRuedeChoiseulandtheRuedeHanovre,Ponssufferedfromtheinexplicableemotionswhichtormentclearconsciences;forapanicterrorsuchastheworstofscoundrelsmightfeelatsightofapoliceman,anagonycausedsolelybyadoubtastoMme。deMarville\'sprobablereceptionofhim。Thatgrainofsand,gratingcontinuallyonthefibresofhisheart,sofarfromlosingitsangles,grewmoreandmorejagged,andthefamilyintheRuedeHanovrealwayssharpenedtheedges。Indeed,theirunceremonioustreatmentandPons\'depreciationinvalueamongthemhadaffectedtheservants;andwhiletheydidnotexactlyfailinrespect,theylookedonthepoorrelationasakindofbeggar。
Pons\'arch-enemyinthehousewastheladies\'-maid,athinandwizenedspinster,MadeleineVivetbyname。ThisMadeleine,inspiteof,nay,perhapsonthestrengthof,apimpledcomplexionandaviper-likelengthofspine,hadmadeuphermindthatsomedayshewouldbeMme。
Pons。Butinvainshedangledtwentythousandfrancsofsavingsbeforetheoldbachelor\'seyes;Ponshaddeclinedhappinessaccompaniedbysomanypimples。FromthattimeforththeDidooftheante-chamber,whofainhadcalledhermasterandmistress“cousin,“wreakedherspiteinpettywaysuponthepoormusician。Sheheardhimonthestairs,andcriedaudibly,“Oh!herecomesthesponger！”Shestintedhimofwinewhenshewaitedatdinnerinthefootman\'sabsence;shefilledthewater-glasstothebrim,togivehimthedifficulttaskofliftingitwithoutspillingadrop;orshewouldpasstheoldmanoveraltogether,tillthemistressofthehousewouldremindher(andinwhatatone!——itbroughtthecolortothepoorcousin\'sface);orshewouldspillthegravyoverhisclothes。Inshort,shewagedpettywarafterthemannerofapettynature,knowingthatshecouldannoyanunfortunatesuperiorwithimpunity。
MadeleineVivetwasMme。deMarville\'smaidandhousekeeper。ShehadlivedwithM。andMme。CamusotdeMarvillesincetheirmarriage;shehadsharedtheearlystrugglesintheprovinceswhenM。CamusotwasajudgeatAlencon;shehadhelpedthemtoexistwhenM。Camusot,PresidentoftheTribunalofMantes,cametoParis,in1828,tobeanexaminingmagistrate。Shewas,therefore,toomuchoneofthefamilynottowish,forreasonsofherown,torevengeherselfuponthem。
Beneathherdesiretopayatrickuponherhaughtyandambitiousmistress,andtocallhermasterhercousin,theresurelylurkedalong-stifledhatred,builtuplikeanavalanche,uponthepebbleofsomepastgrievance。
“HerecomesyourM。Pons,madame,stillwearingthatspencerofhis！”
MadeleinecametotellthePresidente。“Hereallymighttellmehowhemanagestomakeitlookthesameforfive-and-twentyyearstogether。“
Mme。CamusotdeMarville,hearingaman\'sfootstepinthelittledrawing-roombetweenthelargedrawing-roomandherbedroom,lookedatherdaughterandshruggedhershoulders。
“Youalwaysmaketheseannouncementssocleverlythatyouleavemenotimetothink,Madeleine。“
“Jeanisout,madame,Iwasallalone;M。Ponsrangthebell,Iopenedthedoor;andasheisalmostoneofthefamily,Icouldnotpreventhimfromcomingafterme。Thereheis,takingoffhisspencer。“
“Poorlittlepuss！”saidthePresidente,addressingherdaughter,“wearecaught。Weshallhavetodineathomenow——Letussee,“sheadded,seeingthatthe“dearpuss“woreapiteousface;“mustwegetridofhimforgood？”
“Oh!poorman！”criedMlle。Camusot,“deprivehimofoneofhisdinners？”
Somebodycoughedsignificantlyinthenextroombywayofwarningthathecouldhear。
“Verywell,lethimcomein！”saidMme。Camusot,lookingatMadeleinewithanothershrug。
“Youareheresoearly,cousin,thatyouhavecomeinuponusjustasmotherwasabouttodress,“saidCecileCamusotinacoaxingtone。ButCousinPonshadcaughtsightofthePresidente\'sshrug,andfeltsocruellyhurtthathecouldnotfindacompliment,andcontentedhimselfwiththeprofoundremark,“Youarealwayscharming,mylittlecousin。“
Then,turningtothemother,hecontinuedwithabow：
“Youwillnottakeitamiss,Ithink,ifIhavecomealittleearlierthanusual,dearcousin;Ihavebroughtsomethingforyou;youoncedidmethepleasureofaskingmeforit。“
PoorPons!EverytimeheaddressedthePresident,thePresident\'swife,orCecileas“cousin,“hegavethemexcruciatingannoyance。Ashespoke,hedrawalong,narrowcherry-woodbox,marvelouslycarved,fromhiscoat-pocket。
“Oh,didI?——Ihadforgotten,“theladyanswereddrily。
Itwasaheartlessspeech,wasitnot?Didnotthosefewwordsdenyallmerittothepainstakenforherbythecousinwhoseoneoffencelayinthefactthathewasapoorrelation?
“Butitisverykindofyou,cousin,“sheadded。“HowmuchtoIoweyouforthislittletrifle？”
Ponsquiveredinwardlyatthequestion。Hehadmeantthetrinketasareturnforhisdinners。
“Ithoughtthatyouwouldpermitmetoofferityou——“hefalteredout。
“What？”saidMme。Camusot。“Oh!butthereneedbenoceremonybetweenus;weknoweachotherwellenoughtowashourlinenamongourselves。
Iknowverywellthatyouarenotrichenoughtogivemorethanyouget。Andtogonofurther,itisquiteenoughthatyoushouldhavespentagooddealoftimeinrunningamongthedealers——“
“Ifyouwereaskedtopaythefullpriceofthefan,mydearcousin,youwouldnotcaretohaveit,“answeredpoorPons,hurtandinsulted;
“itisoneofWatteau\'smasterpieces,paintedonbothsides;butyoumaybequiteeasy,cousin,Ididnotgiveone-hundredthpartofitsvalueasaworkofart。“
Totellarichmanthatheispoor!youmightaswelltelltheArchbishopofGranadathathishomiliesshowsignsofsenility。Mme。
laPresidente,proudofherhusband\'sposition,oftheestateofMarville,andherinvitationstocourtballs,waskeenlysusceptibleonthispoint;andwhatwasworse,theremarkcamefromapoverty-
strickenmusiciantowhomshehadbeencharitable。
“Thenthepeopleofwhomyoubuythingsofthiskindareverystupid,arethey？”sheaskedquickly。
“StupiddealersareunknowninParis,“Ponsansweredalmostdrily。
“Thenyoumustbeveryclever,“putinCecilebywayofcalmingthedispute。
“CleverenoughtoknowaLancret,aWatteau,aPater,orGreuzewhenI
seeit,littlecousin;butanxious,mostofall,topleaseyourdearmamma。“
Mme。deMarville,ignorantandvain,wasunwillingtoappeartoreceivetheslightesttriflefromtheparasite;andhereherignoranceservedheradmirably,shedidnotevenknowthenameofWatteau。And,ontheotherhand,ifanythingcanmeasuretheextentofthecollector\'spassion,which,intruth,isoneofthemostdeeplyseatedofallpassions,rivalingtheveryvanityoftheauthor——ifanythingcangiveanideaofthelengthstowhichacollectorwillgo,itistheaudacitywhichPonsdisplayedonthisoccasion,asheheldhisownagainsthisladycousinforthefirsttimeintwentyyears。Hewasamazedathisownboldness。HemadeCecileseethebeautiesofthedelicatecarvingonthesticksofthiswonder,andashetalkedtoherhisfacegrewsereneandgentleagain。ButwithoutsomesketchofthePresidente,itisimpossiblefullytounderstandtheperturbationofheartfromwhichPonssuffered。
Mme。deMarvillehadbeenshortandfair,plumpandfresh;atforty-
sixshewasasshortasever,butshelookeddriedup。Anarchedforeheadandthinlips,thathadbeensoftlycoloredonce,lentasouredlooktoafacenaturallydisdainful,andnowgrownhardandunpleasantwithalongcourseofabsolutedomesticrule。Timehaddeepenedherfairhairtoaharshchestnuthue;theprideofoffice,intensifiedbysuppressedenvy,lookedoutofeyesthathadlostnoneoftheirbrightnessnortheirsatiricalexpression。Asamatteroffact,Mme。CamusotdeMarvillefeltalmostpoorinthesocietyofself-madewealthybourgeoiswithwhomPonsdined。Shecouldnotforgivetherichretaildruggist,ex-presidentoftheCommercialCourt,forhissuccessiveelevationsasdeputy,memberoftheGovernment,countandpeerofFrance。Shecouldnotforgiveherfather-in-lawforputtinghimselfforwardinsteadofhiseldestsonasdeputyofhisarrondissementafterPopinot\'spromotiontothepeerage。
AftereighteenyearsofservicesinParis,shewasstillwaitingforthepostofCouncilloroftheCourtofCassationforherhusband。ItwasCamusot\'sownincompetence,wellknownattheLawCourts,whichexcludedhimfromtheCouncil。TheHomeSecretaryof1844evenregrettedCamusot\'snominationtothepresidencyoftheCourtofIndictmentsin1834,though,thankstohispastexperienceasanexaminingmagistrate,hemadehimselfusefulindraftingdecrees。
ThesedisappointmentshadtolduponMme。deMarville,who,moreover,hadformedatolerablycorrectestimateofherhusband。Atempernaturallyshrewishwassouredtillshegrewpositivelyterrible。Shewasnotold,butshehadaged;shedeliberatelysetherselftoextortbyfearallthattheworldwasinclinedtorefuseher,andwasharshandraspingasafile。Caustictoexcessshehadfewfriendsamongwomen;shesurroundedherselfwithprim,elderlymatronsofherownstamp,wholenteachothermutualsupport,andpeoplestoodinaweofher。AsforpoorPons,hisrelationswiththisfiendinpetticoatswereverymuchthoseofaschoolboywiththemasterwhoseoneideaofcommunicationistheferule。
ThePresidentehadnoideaofthevalueofthegift。Shewaspuzzledbyhercousin\'ssuddenaccessofaudacity。
“Then,wheredidyoufindthis？”inquiredCecile,asshelookedcloselyatthetrinket。
“IntheRuedeLappe。Adealerinsecond-handfurnituretherehadjustbroughtitbackwithhimfromachateauthatisbeingpulleddownnearDreux,Aulnay。Mme。dePompadourusedtospendpartofhertimetherebeforeshebuiltMenars。Someofthemostsplendidwood-carvingeverknownhasbeensavedfromdestruction;Lienard(ourmostfamouslivingwood-carver)hadkeptacoupleofovalframesformodels,asthe/neplusultra/oftheart,sofineitis——Thereweretreasuresinthatplace。Mymanfoundthefaninthedrawerofaninlaidwhat-not,whichIshouldcertainlyhaveboughtifIwerecollectingthingsofthekind,butitisquiteoutofthequestion——asinglepieceofRiesener\'sfurnitureisworththreeorfourthousandfrancs!PeoplehereinParisarejustbeginningtofindoutthatthefamousFrenchandGermanmarquetryworkersofthesixteenth,seventeenth,andeighteenthcenturiescomposedperfectpicturesinwood。Itisacollector\'sbusinesstobeaheadofthefashion。Why,infiveyears\'
time,theFrankenthalware,whichIhavebeencollectingthesetwentyyears,willfetchtwicethepriceofSevres/patatendre/。“
“WhatisFrankenthalware？”askedCecile。
“ThatisthenameoftheporcelainmadebytheElectorofthePalatinate;itdatesfurtherbackthanourmanufactoryatSevres;justasthefamousgardensatHeidelberg,laidwastebyTurenne,hadthebadlucktoexistbeforethegardenofVersailles。SevrescopiedFrankenthaltoalargeextent——InjusticetotheGermans,itmustbesaidthattheyhavedoneadmirableworkinSaxonyandinthePalatinate。“
MotheranddaughterlookedatoneanotherasifPonswerespeakingChinese。NoonecanimaginehowignorantandexclusiveParisiansare;
theyonlylearnwhattheyaretaught,andthatonlywhentheychoose。
“AndhowdoyouknowtheFrankenthalwarewhenyouseeit？”
“Eh!bythemark！”criedPonswithenthusiasm。“Thereisamarkoneveryoneofthoseexquisitemasterpieces。FrankenthalwareismarkedwithaCandT(forCharlesTheodore)interlacedandcrowned。OnoldDresdenchinatherearetwocrossedswordsandthenumberoftheorderingiltfigures。Vincennesbearsahunting-horn;Vienna,aVclosedandbarred。YoucantellBerlinbythetwobars,Mayencebythewheel,andSevresbythetwocrossedL\'s。Thequeen\'sporcelainismarkedA
forAntoinette,witharoyalcrownaboveit。Intheeighteenthcentury,allthecrownedheadsofEuropehadrivalporcelainfactories,andworkmenwerekidnaped。WatteaudesignedservicesfortheDresdenfactory;theyfetchfranticpricesatthepresentday。Onehastoknowwhatoneisaboutwiththemtoo,fortheyareturningoutimitationsnowatDresden。Wonderfulthingstheyusedtomake;theywillnevermakethelikeagain——“
“Oh!pshaw！”
“No,cousin。Someinlaidworkandsomekindsofporcelainwillneverbemadeagain,justastherewillneverbeanotherRaphael,norTitian,norRembrandt,norVanEyck,norCranach……Well,now!
therearetheChinese;theyareveryingenious,veryclever;theymakemoderncopiesoftheir\'grandmandarin\'porcelain,asitiscalled。
Butapairofvasesofgenuine\'grandmandarin\'vasesofthelargestsize,areworth,six,eight,andtenthousandfrancs,whileyoucanbuythemodernreplicasforacoupleofhundred！”
“Youarejoking。“
“Youareastonishedattheprices,butthatisnothing,cousin。A
dinnerserviceofSevres/patetendre/(and/patetendre/isnotporcelain)——acompletedinnerserviceofSevres/patetendre/fortwelvepersonsisnotmerelyworthahundredthousandfrancs,butthatisthepricechargedontheinvoice。Suchadinner-servicecostfifteenthousandfrancsatSevresin1750;Ihaveseentheoriginalinvoices。“
“Butletusgobacktothisfan,“saidCecile。Evidentlyinheropinionthetrinketwasanold-fashionedthing。
“Youcanunderstandthatassoonasyourdearmammadidmethehonorofaskingforafan,IwentroundofallthecuriosityshopsinParis,butIfoundnothingfineenough。IwantednothinglessthanamasterpieceforthedearPresidente,andthoughtofgivingheronethatoncebelongedtoMarieAntoinette,themostbeautifulofallcelebratedfans。ButyesterdayIwasdazzledbythisdivine/chef-
d\'oeuvre/,whichcertainlymusthavebeenorderedbyLouisXV。
himself。DoyouaskhowIcametolookforfansintheRuedeLappe,amonganAuvergnat\'sstockofbrassandironandormolufurniture?
Well,Imyselfbelievethatthereisanintelligenceinworksofart;
theyknowart-lovers,theycalltothem——\'Cht-tt!\'“
Mme。deMarvilleshruggedhershouldersandlookedatherdaughter;
Ponsdidnotnoticetherapidpantomime。
“Iknowallthosesharpers,“continuedPons,“soIaskedhim,\'Anythingfreshto-day,DaddyMonistrol?\'——(forhealwaysletsmelookoverhislotsbeforethebigbuyerscome)——andatthathebegantotellmehowLienard,thatdidsuchbeautifulworkfortheGovernmentintheChapelledeDreux,hadbeenattheAulnaysaleandrescuedthecarvedpanelsoutoftheclutchesoftheParisdealers,whiletheirheadswererunningonchinaandinlaidfurniture——\'Ididnotdomuchmyself,\'hewenton,\'butImaymakemytravelingexpensesoutof/this/,\'andheshowedmeawhat-not;amarvel!Boucher\'sdesignsexecutedinmarquetry,andwithsuchart!——Onecouldhavegonedownonone\'skneesbeforeit——\'Look,sir,\'hesaid,\'Ihavejustfoundthisfaninalittledrawer;itwaslocked,Ihadtoforceitopen。YoumighttellmewhereIcansellit\'——andwiththathebringsoutthislittlecarvedcherry-woodbox——\'See,\'sayshe,\'itisthekindofPompadourthatlookslikedecoratedGothic。\'——\'Yes,\'Itoldhim,\'theboxispretty;theboxmightsuitme;butasforthefan,Monistrol,I
havenoMme。Ponstogivetheoldtrinketto,andtheymakeveryprettynewonesnowadays;youcanbuymiraclesofpaintingonvellumcheaplyenough。TherearetwothousandpaintersinParis,youknow。\'——
AndIopenedoutthefancarelessly,keepingdownmyadmiration,lookedindifferentlyatthosetwoexquisitelittlepictures,touchedoffwithaneasefittosendyouintoraptures。IheldMme。dePompadour\'sfaninmyhand!Watteauhaddonehisutmostforthis——
\'Whatdoyouwantforthewhat-not?\'——\'Oh!athousandfrancs;Ihavehadabidalready。\'——Iofferedhimapriceforthefancorrespondingwiththeprobableexpensesofthejourney。Welookedeachotherintheeyes,andIsawthatIhadmyman。IputthefanbackintotheboxlestmyAuvergnatshouldbegintolookatit,andwentintoecstasiesoverthebox;indeed,itisajewel——\'IfItakeit,\'saidI,\'itisforthesakeofthebox;theboxtemptsme。Asforthewhat-not,youwillgetmorethanathousandfrancsforthat。Justseehowthebrassiswrought;itisamodel。Thereisbusinessinit……Ithasneverbeencopied;itisauniquespecimen,madesolelyforMme。dePompadour\'——andsoon,tillmyman,allonfireforhiswhat-not,forgetsthefan,andletsmehaveitforameretrifle,becauseIhavepointedoutthebeautiesofhispieceofRiesener\'sfurniture。Sohereitis;butitneedsagreatdealofexperiencetomakesuchabargainasthat。Itisaduel,eyetoeye;andwhohassucheyesasaJeworanAuvergnat？”
Theoldartist\'swonderfulpantomime,hisvivid,eagerwayoftellingthestoryofthetriumphofhisshrewdnessoverthedealer\'signorance,wouldhavemadeasubjectforaDutchpainter;butitwasallthrownawayupontheaudience。Motheranddaughterexchangedcold,contemptuousglances——“Whatanoddity！”theyseemedtosay。
“Soitamusesyou？”remarkedMme。deMarville。ThequestionsentacoldchillthroughPons;hefeltastrongdesiretoslapthePresidente。
“Why,mydearcousin,thatisthewaytohuntdownaworkofart。Youarefacetofacewithantagoniststhatdisputethegamewithyou。Itiscraftagainstcraft!AworkofartinthehandsofaNorman,anAuvergnat,oraJew,islikeaprincessguardedbymagiciansinafairytale。“
“AndhowcanyoutellthatthisisbyWat——whatdoyoucallhim？”
“Watteau,cousin。OneofthegreatesteighteenthcenturypaintersinFrance。Look!doyounotseethatitishiswork？”(pointingtoapastoralscene,court-shepherdswainsandshepherdessesdancinginaring)。“Themovement!thelifeinit!thecoloring!Thereitis——see!——
paintedwithastrokeofthebrush,asawriting-mastermakesaflourishwithapen。Notatraceofefforthere!And,turnitover,look!——aballinadrawing-room。SummerandWinter!Andwhatornaments!andhowwellpreserveditis!Thehinge-pinisgold,yousee,andoncleaningit,Ifoundatinyrubyateitherside。“
“Ifitisso,cousin,Icouldnotthinkofacceptingsuchavaluablepresentfromyou。Itwouldbebettertolayupthemoneyforyourself,“saidMme。deMarville;butallthesame,sheaskednobetterthantokeepthesplendidfan。
“ItistimethatitshouldpassfromtheserviceofViceintothehandsofVirtue,“saidthegoodsoul,recoveringhisassurance。“Ithastakenacenturytoworkthemiracle。NoprincessatCourt,youmaybesure,willhaveanythingtocomparewithit;for,unfortunately,menwilldomoreforaPompadourthanforavirtuousqueen,suchishumannature。“
“Verywell,“Mme。deMarvillesaid,laughing,“Iwillacceptyourpresent——Cecile,myangel,gotoMadeleineandseethatdinnerisworthyofyourcousin。“
