r too
many chains and trinkets (though to be just, the boots and gloves were
irreproachable), constituted the apparel of the younger of these ladies.
As for the other, who seemed to be in the tow of her dressy companion,
she was short, squat, and high-colored, and wore a bonnet, shawl, and
gown which a practised eye would at once have recognized as second hand.
Mothers of actresses are always clothed by this very economical process.
Their garments, condemned to the service of two generations, reverse the
order of things, and go from descendants to ancestors.

Advancing two chairs, la Peyrade inquired, "To whom have I the honor of
speaking?"

"Monsieur," said the younger visitor, "I am a dramatic artist, and as I
am about to make my first appearance in this quarter, I allow myself to
hope that a journal of this locality will favor me."

"At what theatre?" asked la Peyrade.

"The Folies, where I am engaged for the Dejazets."

"The Folies?" echoed la Peyrade, in a tone that demanded an explanation.

"Folies-Dramatiques," interposed the agreeable Madame Cardinal, whom the
reader has doubtless recognized.

"When do you appear?" asked la Peyrade.

"Next week, monsieur,--a fairy piece in which I play five parts."

"You'll encourage her, monsieur, won't you?" said Madame Cardinal, in
a coaxing voice; "she's so young, and I can certify she works day and
night."

"Mother!" said Olympe, with authority, "the public will judge me; all I
want is that monsieur will kindly promise to notice my debut."

"Very good, mademoiselle," said la Peyrade in a tone of dismissal,
beginning to edge the pair to the door.

Olympe Cardinal went first, leaving her mother to hurry after her as
best she could.

"At home to no one!" cried Thuillier to the office-boy as he closed the
door and slipped the bolt. "Now," he said, addressing la Peyrade, "we
will talk. My dear fellow," he went on, starting with irony, for
he remembered to have heard that nothing was more confusing to an
adversary, "I have heard something that will give you pleasure. I know
now why MY pamphlet was seized."

So saying, he looked fixedly at la Peyrade.

"Parbleu!" said the latter in a natural tone of voice, "it was seized
because they chose to seize it. They wanted to find, and they found,
because they always find the things they want, what the king's adherents
call 'subversive doctrine.'"

"No, you are wrong," said Thuillier; "the seizure was planned,
concocte