saint,
had evidently cast him into a state of admiring ecstasy. He, with Nais,
were taking an inventory to prove the fidelity of the likeness--yes, it
was really my attitude, really my eyes, really my mouth, really those
two little dimples in my cheeks!

I felt it my duty to take up the role that Monsieur de l'Estorade laid
aside, so I said, very gravely, to the presuming artist:--

"Do you not think, monsieur, that to appropriate without permission,
or--not to mince my words--steal a person's likeness, may seem a very
strange proceeding?"

"For that reason, madame," he replied, in a respectful tone, "I was
fully determined to abide by your wishes in the matter. Although my
statue is fated to be buried in the oratory of a distant convent,
I should not have sent it to its destination without obtaining your
permission to do so. I could have known your name whenever I wished;
I already knew your address; and I intended, when the time came, to
confess the liberty I had taken, and ask you to visit my studio. I
should then have said what I say now: if the likeness displeases you
I can, with a few strokes of my chisel, so change it as to make it
unrecognizable."

My husband, who apparently thought the likeness not sufficiently close,
turned, at this moment, to Monsieur Dorlange, and said, with a delighted
air:--

"Do you not think, monsieur, that Madame de l'Estorade's nose is rather
more delicate than you have made it?"

All this _unexpectedness_ so upset me that I felt unfitted to intervene
on behalf of Monsieur Marie-Gaston, and I should, I believe, have
pleaded his cause very ill if Monsieur Dorlange had not stopped me at
the first words I said about it.

"I know, madame," he said, "all that you can possibly tell me about
my unfaithful friend. I do not forgive, but I forget my wrong. Things
having so come about that I have nearly lost my life for his sake, it
would certainly be very illogical to keep a grudge against him. Still,
as regards that mausoleum at Ville d'Avray, nothing would induce me to
undertake it. I have already mentioned to Monsieur de l'Estorade one
hindrance that is daily growing more imperative; but besides that, I
think it a great pity that Marie-Gaston should thus ruminate on his
grief; and I have written to tell him so. He ought to be more of a
man, and find in study and in work the consolations we can always find
there."

The object of our visit being thus disposed of, I saw no hope of ge