the Jacobin party, her receptions were a kind of neutral territory,
where each could come without compromise of dignity: for already, except
among the most starched adherents of the Bourbons, few of whom remained
in France, there was a growing spirit to side with the Napoleonists
in preference to the revolutionary section; while the latter, with all
their pretensions to simplicity and primitive tastes, felt no little
pride in mixing with the very aristocracy they so loudly inveighed
against. Besides all this, wealth had its prestige. Never, in the
palmiest days of the royalty, were entertainments of greater splendor;
and the Legitimists, however disposed to be critical on the company,
could afford to be just regarding the cuisine,--the luxury of these
modern dinners eclipsing the most costly displays of former times, where
hereditary rank and ancient nobility contributed to adorn the scene.
And, lastly, the admixture of every grade and class extended the field
of conversational agreeability, throwing in new elements and eliciting
new features in a society where peers, actors, poets, bankers, painters,
soldiers, speculators, journalists, and adventurers were confusedly
mixed together; making, as it were, a common fund of their principles
and their prejudices, and starting anew in life with what they could
seize in the scramble.

After following the long line of carriages for above an hour, we at last
turned into a large courtyard, lit up almost to the brightness of day.
Here the equipages of many of the ministers were standing,--a privilege
accorded to them above the other guests. I recognized among the number
the splendid liveries of Decres; and the stately carriage of Talleyrand,
whose household always proclaimed itself as belonging to a "seigneur"
of the oldest blood of France,--the most perfect type of a highbred
gentleman. Our progress from the vestibule to the stairs was a slow one.
The double current of those pressing upwards and downwards delayed us
long; and at last we reached a spacious antechamber, where even greater
numbers stood awaiting their turn, if happily it should come, to move
forward.

While here, the names of those announced conveyed tous a fair impression
of the whole company. Among the first was Le General Junot, Berthollet
(the celebrated chemist), Lafayette, Monges, Daru, Comte de Mailles (a
Legitimist noble), David (the regicide), the Ambassador of Prussia,
M. Pasquier, Talma. Such were the n