at he told me, but it was all in this
strain. He said that during the interview, which lasted an hour,
Dreyfus did not utter a word of reproach against his tormentors.

[Illustration:
BJOERNSON
From a photograph taken in 1901.]

Bjoernson gave a tea-party at his daughter's house in Passy, and
invited us. I hoped that possibly Dreyfus might be there, but he was
not. However, I had the pleasure of seeing Colonel Picquard again, and
we had a long talk together. Afterward, when I bade Bjoernson good-by,
he stooped down and kissed me on my forehead before the roomful of
people. Imagine my embarrassment at this unexpected and gratuitous
token of friendship, but, the kisser being Bjoernson, every one knew
that the accolade was merely the outpouring of a kind and good heart.

PARIS, _August 15, 1900_.

The hottest day we have had! The thermometer was way up in the clouds.
My maid, in doing my hair this morning, informed me of this fact. We
conferred about my toilet for the afternoon _fete_ in the Elysees
Gardens. We heard that twelve thousand people were invited. Certainly
I should be lost in a crowd like that and need not be dressed in my
best. My maid thought a rather flimsy gown of about year before last
would be good enough. Johan thought that he would be so entirely out
of sight that he was on the point of not going at all. Well, we had a
queer awakening. I was very much astonished when the master of
ceremonies met me at the entrance and led me into the garden, where
the vast lawn was one mass of humanity. He bade me take the first
seat. I said to myself, "It is only for the moment; I shall have to
move farther on later, when a higher-ranked lady arrives." Not at all!
I remained in the place of honor, to the right of Madame Loubet, to
the very end.

In the middle of the lawn were placed a dozen large red arm-chairs
before which a strip of carpet was stretched, where we sat.

Three performances were arranged for the afternoon. To the right was a
Japanese theater where Sadi-Jako and her troupe played their
_repertoire_. In the center was a Grecian temple, before which a
ballet of pretty girls danced on the grass in Grecian dresses. The
effect was charming. To the left was a little Renaissance theater
where people of different nationalities danced and sang in their
national costumes. I never saw anything so wonderfully complete. Only
the French can do things like that. When the moment arrived for the
official prome