modestly beneath that coarse and preposterous canvass.
Suddenly a light tap visited my shoulder. Starting, turning, I met a face bent to encounter mine; a frowning, almost a shocked face it was.
"Que faites vous ici?" said a voice.
"Mais, monsieur, je m' amuse."
"Vous vous amusez! et à quoi, s'il vous plait? Mais d'abord, faites-moi le plaisir de vous lever: prenez mon bras, et allons de l'autre côté."
I did precisely as I was bid. M. Paul Emanuel (it was he) returned from Rome, and now a travelled man, was not likely to be less tolerant of insubordination now, than before this added distinction laurelled his temples.
"Permit me to conduct you to your party," said he, as we crossed the room.
"I have no party."
"You are not alone?"
"Yes, monsieur."
"Did you come here unaccompanied?"
"No, monsieur. Dr. Bretton brought me here."
"Dr. Bretton and Madame his mother, of course?"
