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seasoned players about the chances of the red or the black； and staked
ten francs when the lucky moment seemed to come； never playing more
than three times； win or lose。 If he won； which usually happened； he
drank a tumbler of punch and went home to his garret； but by that time
he talked of smashing the ultras and the Bourbon body…guard； and
trolled out； as he mounted the staircase； 〃We watch to save the
Empire！〃 His poor mother； hearing him； used to think 〃How gay Philippe
is to…night！〃 and then she would creep up and kiss him； without
complaining of the fetid odors of the punch； and the brandy； and the
pipes。
〃You ought to be satisfied with me； my dear mother；〃 he said； towards
the end of January； 〃I lead the most regular of lives。〃
The colonel had dined five times at a restaurant with some of his army
comrades。 These old soldiers were quite frank with each other on the
state of their own affairs； all the while talking of certain hopes
which they based on the building of a submarine vessel； expected to
bring about the deliverance of the Emperor。 Among these former
comrades； Philippe particularly liked an old captain of the dragoons
of the Guard； named Giroudeau； in whose company he had seen his first
service。 This friendship with the late dragoon led Philippe into
completing what Rabelais called 〃the devil's equipage〃； and he added
to his drams； and his tobacco； and his play； a 〃fourth wheel。〃
One evening at the beginning of February； Giroudeau took Philippe
after dinner to the Gaite； occupying a free box sent to a theatrical
journal belonging to his nephew Finot； in whose office Giroudeau was
cashier and secretary。 Both were dressed after the fashion of the
Bonapartist officers who now belonged to the Constitutional
Opposition； they wore ample overcoats with square collars； buttoned to
the chin and coming down to their heels； and decorated with the
rosette of the Legion of honor； and they carried malacca canes with
loaded knobs； which they held by strings of braided leather。 The late
troopers had just （to use one of their own expressions） 〃made a bout
of it；〃 and were mutually unbosoming their hearts as they entered the
box。 Through the fumes of a certain number of bottles and various
glasses of various liquors； Giroudeau pointed out to Philippe a plump
and agile little ballet…girl whom he called Florentine； whose good
graces and affection； together with the box； belonged to him as the
representative of an all…powerful journal。
〃But；〃 said Philippe； 〃I should like to know how far her good graces
go for such an iron…gray old trooper as you。〃
〃Thank God；〃 replied Giroudeau； 〃I've stuck to the traditions of our
glorious uniform。 I have never wasted a farthing upon a woman in my
life。〃
〃What's that？〃 said Philippe； putting a finger on his left eye。
〃That is so；〃 answered Giroudeau。 〃But； between ourselves； the
newspaper counts for a good deal。 To…morrow； in a couple of lines； we
shall advise the managers to let Mademoiselle Florentine dance a
particular step； and so forth。 Faith； my dear boy； I'm uncommonly
lucky！〃
〃Well！〃 thought Philippe； 〃if this worthy Giroudeau； with a skull as
polished as my knee； forty…eight years； a big stomach； a face like a
ploughman； and a nose like a potato； can get a ballet…girl； I ought to
be the lover of the first actress in Paris。 Where does one find such
luck？〃 he said aloud。
〃I'll show you Florentine's place to…night。 My Dulcinea only earns
fifty francs a month at the theatre；〃 added Giroudeau； 〃but she is
very prettily set up； thanks to an old silk dealer named Cardot； who
gives her five hundred francs a month。〃
〃Well； but？〃 exclaimed the jealous Philippe。
〃Bah！〃 said Giroudeau； 〃true love is blind。〃
When the play was over Giroudeau took Philippe to Mademoiselle
Florentine's appartement； which was close to the theatre； in the rue
de Crussol。
〃We must behave ourselves；〃 said Giroudeau。 〃Florentine's mother is
here。 You see； I haven't the means to pay for one； so the worthy woman
is really her own mother。 She used to be a concierge； but she's not
without intelligence。 Call her Madame； she makes a point of it。〃
Florentine happened that night to have a friend with her；a certain
Marie Godeschal； beautiful as an angel； cold as a danseuse； and a
pupil of Vestris； who foretold for her a great choregraphic destiny。
Mademoiselle Godeschal； anxious to make her first appearance at the
Panorama…Dramatique under the name of Mariette； based her hopes on the
protection and influence of a first gentleman of the bedchamber； to
whom Vestris had promised to introduce her。 Vestris； still green
himself at this period； did not think his pupil sufficiently trained
to risk the introduction。 The ambitious girl did； in the end； make her
pseudonym of Mariette famous； and the motive of her ambition； it must
be said； was praiseworthy。 She had a brother； a clerk in Derville's
law office。 Left orphans and very poor； and devoted to each other； the
brother and sister had seen life such as it is in Paris。 The one
wished to be a lawyer that he might support his sister； and he lived
on ten sous a day； the other had coldly resolved to be a dancer； and
to profit by her beauty as much as by her legs that she might buy a
practice for her brother。 Outside of their feeling for each other； and
of their mutual life and interests； everything was to them； as it once
was to the Romans and the Hebrews； barbaric； outlandish； and hostile。
This generous affection； which nothing ever lessened； explained
Mariette to those who knew her intimately。
The brother and sister were living at this time on the eighth floor of
a house in the Vieille rue du Temple。 Mariette had begun her studies
when she was ten years old； she was now just sixteen。 Alas！ for want
of becoming clothes； her beauty； hidden under a coarse shawl； dressed
in calico； and ill…kept； could only be guessed by those Parisians who
devote themselves to hunting grisettes and the quest of beauty in
misfortune； as she trotted past them with mincing step； mounted on
iron pattens。 Philippe fell in love with Mariette。 To Mariette；
Philippe was commander of the dragoons of the Guard； a staff…officer
of the Emperor； a young man of twenty…seven； and above all； the means
of proving herself superior to Florentine by the evident superiority
of Philippe over Giroudeau。 Florentine and Giroudeau； the one to
promote his comrade's happiness； the other to get a protector for her
friend； pushed Philippe and Mariette into a 〃mariage en detrempe；〃a
Parisian term which is equivalent to 〃morganatic marriage；〃 as applied
to royal personages。 Philippe when they left the house revealed his
poverty to Giroudeau； but the old roue reassured him。
〃I'll speak to my nephew Finot；〃 he said。 〃You see； Philippe； the
reign of phrases and quill…drivers is upon us； we may as well submit。
To…day； scribblers are paramount。 Ink has ousted gunpowder； and