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Leon； taking me in his arms；〃 related Gazonal on his return home。 〃The
breakfast was splendid。 I thought I was going blind when I saw the
number of bits of gold it took to pay that bill。 Those fellows must
earn their weight in gold； for I saw my cousin give the waiter THIRTY
SOUSthe price of a whole day's work！〃
During this monstrous breakfastadvisedly so called in view of six
dozen Osten oysters； six cutlets a la Soubise； a chicken a la Marengo；
lobster mayonnaise； green peas； a mushroom pasty； washed down with
three bottles of Bordeaux； three bottles of Champagne； plus coffee and
liqueurs； to say nothing of relishesGazonal was magnificent in his
diatribes against Paris。 The worthy manufacturer complained of the
length of the four…pound bread…loaves； the height of the houses； the
indifference of the passengers in the streets to one another； the
cold； the rain； the cost of hackney…coaches； all of which and much
else he bemoaned in so witty a manner that the two artists took a
mighty fancy to cousin Gazonal； and made him relate his lawsuit from
beginning to end。
〃My lawsuit；〃 he said in his Southern accent and rolling his r's； 〃is
a very simple thing； they want my manufactory。 I've employed here in
Paris a dolt of a lawyer； to whom I give twenty francs every time he
opens an eye； and he is always asleep。 He's a slug； who drives in his
coach； while I go afoot and he splashes me。 I see now I ought to have
had a carriage！ On the other hand； that Council of State are a pack of
do…nothings； who leave their duties to little scamps every one of whom
is bought up by our prefect。 That's my lawsuit！ They want my
manufactory！ Well； they'll get it！ and they must manage the best they
can with my workmen； a hundred of 'em； who'll make them sing another
tune before they've done with them。〃
〃Two years。 Ha！ that meddling prefect！ he shall pay dear for this；
I'll have his life if I have to give mine on the scaffold〃
〃Which state councillor presides over your section？〃
〃A former newspaper man；doesn't pay ten sous in taxes；his name is
Massol。〃
The two Parisians exchanged glances。
〃Who is the commissioner who is making the report？〃
〃Ha！ that's still more queer； he's Master of Petitions； professor of
something or other at the Sorbonne；a fellow who writes things in
reviews； and for whom I have the profoundest contempt。〃
〃Claude Vignon；〃 said Bixiou。
〃Yes； that's his name；〃 replied Gazonal。 〃Massol and Vignonthere you
have Social Reason； in which there's no reason at all。〃
〃There must be some way out of it；〃 said Leon de Lora。 〃You see；
cousin； all things are possible in Paris for good as well as for evil；
for the just as well as the unjust。 There's nothing that can't be
done； undone； and redone。〃
〃The devil take me if I stay ten days more in this hole of a place；
the dullest in all France！〃
The two cousins and Bixiou were at this moment walking from one end to
the other of that sheet of asphalt on which； between the hours of one
and three； it is difficult to avoid seeing some of the personages in
honor of whom Fame puts one or the other of her trumpets to her lips。
Formerly that locality was the Place Royale； next it was the Pont
Neuf； in these days this privilege had been acquired by the Boulevard
des Italiens。
〃Paris；〃 said the painter to his cousin； 〃is an instrument on which we
must know how to play； if we stand here ten minutes I'll give you your
first lesson。 There； look！〃 he said； raising his cane and pointing to
a couple who were just then coming out from the Passage de l'Opera。
〃Goodness！ who's that？〃 asked Gazonal。
THAT was an old woman； in a bonnet which had spent six months in a
show…case； a very pretentious gown and a faded tartan shawl； whose
face had been buried twenty years of her life in a damp lodge； and
whose swollen hand…bag betokened no better social position than that
of an ex…portress。 With her was a slim little girl； whose eyes；
fringed with black lashes； had lost their innocence and showed great
weariness； her face； of a pretty shape； was fresh and her hair
abundant； her forehead charming but audacious； her bust thin；in
other words； an unripe fruit。
〃That；〃 replied Bixiou； 〃is a rat tied to its mother。〃
〃A rat！what's that？〃
〃That particular rat；〃 said Leon； with a friendly nod to Mademoiselle
Ninette； 〃may perhaps win your suit for you。〃
Gazonal bounded； but Bixiou had held him by the arm ever since they
left the cafe； thinking perhaps that the flush on his face was rather
vivid。
〃That rat； who is just leaving a rehearsal at the Opera…house； is
going home to eat a miserable dinner； and will return about three
o'clock to dress； if she dances in the ballet this eveningas she
will； to…day being Monday。 This rat is already an old rat for she is
thirteen years of age。 Two years from now that creature may be worth
sixty thousand francs； she will be all or nothing； a great danseuse or
a marcheuse； a celebrated person or a vulgar courtesan。 She has worked
hard since she was eight years old。 Such as you see her； she is worn
out with fatigue； she exhausted her body this morning in the dancing…
class； she is just leaving a rehearsal where the evolutions are as
complicated as a Chinese puzzle； and she'll go through them again to…
night。 The rat is one of the primary elements of the Opera； she is to
the leading danseuse what a junior clerk is to a notary。 The rat is
hope。〃
〃Who produces the rat？〃 asked Gazonal。
〃Porters； paupers； actors； dancers；〃 replied Bixiou。 〃Only the lowest
depths of poverty could force a child to subject her feet and joints
to positive torture； to keep herself virtuous out of mere speculation
until she is eighteen years of age； and to live with some horrible old
crone like a beautiful plant in a dressing of manure。 You shall see
now a procession defiling before you； one after the other； of men of
talent； little and great； artists in seed or flower； who are raising
to the glory of France that every…day monument called the Opera； an
assemblage of forces； wills； and forms of genius； nowhere collected as
in Paris。
〃I have already seen the Opera；〃 said Gazonal； with a self…sufficient
air。
〃Yes； from a three…francs…sixty…sous seat among the gods；〃 replied the
landscape painter； 〃just as you have seen Paris in the rue Croix…des…
Petits…Champs； without knowing anything about it。 What did they give
at the Opera when you were there？〃
〃Guillaume Tell。〃
〃Well；〃 said Leon； 〃Matilde's grand DUO must have delighted you。 What
do you suppose that charming singer did when she left the stage？〃
〃Shewell； what？〃
〃She ate two bloody mutton…chops which her servant had ready for her。〃
〃Pooh！ nonsense！〃
〃Malibran kept up on brandybut it killed her in the end。 Another
thing！ You have seen the ballet； and you'll now see it defiling past
you in its every…day clothes； without knowing that