English critics of
female writers, ground especially favoured by Continental, and, I am
grieved to say, by American journalists,--all this was to the sensitive
Englishman much what the minute inventory of Egeria's charms would have
been to Numa Pompilius. The nymph, hallowed to him by secret devotion,
was vulgarized by the noisy hands of the mob, and by the popular
voices, which said, "We know more about Egeria than you do." And when he
returned to England, and met with old friends familiar to Parisian life,
who said, "of course you have read the Cicogna's roman. What do you
think of it? Very fine writing, I dare say, but above me. I go in for
'Les Mysteres de Paris' or 'Monte Cristo;' but I even find Georges Sand
a bore," then as a critic Graham Vane fired up, extolled the roman he
would have given his ears for Isaura never to have written; but retired
from the contest muttering inly, "How can I--I, Graham Vane--how can
I be such an idiot; how can I in every hour of the twenty-four sigh to
myself, 'What are other women to me? Isaura, Isaura!'"

BOOK VII.

CHAPTER I.

It is the first week in the month of May, 1870. Celebrities are of rapid
growth in the salons of Paris. Gustave Rameau has gained the position
for which he sighed. The journal he edits has increased its hold on the
public, and his share of the profits has been liberally augmented by
the secret proprietor. Rameau is acknowledged as a power in literary
circles. And as critics belonging to the same clique praise each other
in Paris, whatever they may do in communities more rigidly virtuous, his
poetry has been declared by authorities in the press to be superior
to that of Alfred de Musset in vigour--to that of Victor Hugo in
refinement; neither of which assertions would much, perhaps, shock a
cultivated understanding.

It is true that it (Gustave's poetry) has not gained a wide audience
among the public. But with regard to poetry nowadays, there are plenty
of persons who say as Dr. Johnson said of the verse of Spratt, "I would
rather praise it than read."

At all events, Rameau was courted in gay and brilliant circles, and,
following the general example of French litterateurs in fashion,
lived well up to the income he received, had a delightful bachelor's
apartment, furnished with artistic effect, spent largely on the
adornment of his person, kept a coupe, and entertained profusely at the
cafe Anglais and the Maison Doree. A reputation th