good idea to
mention the discovery of Agricola Baudoin in the madcap's room, for it
made the Indian tiger roar with savage jealousy. Yes: but then the
dove began to coo, and hold out her pretty beak, and the foolish tiger
sheathed his claws, and rolled on the ground before her. It's a pity,
for there was some sense in the scheme."

The walk of Rodin became more and more agitated. "Nothing is more
extraordinary," continued he, "than the generative succession of ideas.
In comparing this red-haired jade to a dove (colombe), I could not
help thinking of that infamous old woman, Sainte-Colombe, whom that big
rascal Jacques Dumoulin pays his court to, and whom the Abbe Corbinet
will finish, I hope, by turning to good account. I have often remarked,
that, as a poet may find an excellent rhyme by mere chance, so the
germ of the best ideas is sometimes found in a word, or in some absurd
resemblance like the present. That abominable hag, Sainte-Colombo, and
the pretty Adrienne de Cardoville, go as well together, as a ring would
suit a cat, or a necklace a fish. Well, there is nothing in it."

Hardly had Rodin pronounced these words, than he started suddenly,
and his face shone with a fatal joy. Then it assumed an expression of
meditative astonishment, as happens when chance reveals some unexpected
discovery to the surprised and charmed inquirer after knowledge.

Soon, with raised head and sparkling eye, his hollow cheeks swelling
with joy and pride, Rodin folded his arms in triumph on his breast,
and exclaimed: "Oh! how admirable and marvellous are these mysterious
evolutions of the mind; how incomprehensible is the chain of human
thought, which, starting from an absurd jingle of words, arrives at
a splendid or luminous idea! Is it weakness? or is it strength?
Strange--very strange! I compare the red-haired girl to a dove--a
colombe. That makes me think of the hag, who traded in the bodies and
souls of so many creatures. Vulgar proverbs occur to me, about a ring
and a cat, a fish and a necklace--and suddenly, at the word NECKLACE,
a new light dawns upon me. Yes: that one word NECKLACE shall be to me a
golden key, to open the portals of my brain, so long foolishly closed."

And, after again walking hastily up and down, Rodin continued: "Yes, it
is worth attempting. The more I reflect upon it, the more feasible it
appears. Only how to get at that wretch, Saint-Colombe? Well, there
is Jacques Dumoulin, and the other--where to fin