and to
the surname of "Uncle" which the younger among these delightful persons
saw fit to bestow upon me.

I fancy there was in the room a good deal of second-hand frippery in
the way of silk and lace, rather faded velvet, even, eight-button
gloves that had been cleaned several times, and perfumes abstracted from
madame's dressing-table, but the faces were happy, thoughts given wholly
to gaiety, and I was able to make a little corner for myself, which was
very lively, always within the bounds of propriety--that goes without
saying--and of a character suitable for an individual in my position.
This was, moreover, the general tone of the party. Until towards the end
of the entertainment I heard none of those unseemly jests, none of those
scandalous stories which give so much amusement to the gentlemen of
our Board; and I take pleasure in remarking that Bois l'Hery the
coachman--to cite only one example--is much more observant of the
proprieties than Bois l'Hery the master.

M. Noel alone was conspicuous by his familiar tone and by the liveliness
of his repartees. In him you have a man who does not hesitate to call
things by their names. Thus he remarked aloud to M. Francis, from one
end of the room to the other: "I say, Francis, that old swindler of
yours has made a nice thing out of us again this week." And as the other
drew himself up with a dignified air, M. Noel began to laugh.

"No offence, old chap. The coffer is solid. You will never get to the
bottom of it."

And it was on this that he told us of the loan of fifteen millions, to
which I alluded above.

I was surprised, however, to see no sign of preparation for the supper
which was mentioned on the cards of invitation, and I expressed my
anxiety on the point to one of my charming nieces, who replied:

"They are waiting for M. Louis."

"M. Louis?"

"What! you do not know M. Louis, the _valet de chambre_ of the Duc de
Mora?"

I then learned who this influential personage was, whose protection is
sought by prefects, senators, even ministers, and who must make them pay
stiffly for it, since with his salary of twelve hundred francs from
the duke he has saved enough to produce him an income of twenty-five
thousand, sends his daughters to the convent school of the Sacre Coeur,
his son to the College Bourdaloue, and owns a chalet in Switzerland
where all his family goes to stay during the holidays.

At this juncture the personage in question arrived; but not