es who have been replaced for a brief spell in power.
Then, the chosen ones became few, very few. For a month (O, prodigy!)
M. Anserre cut open the cake; then he looked as if he were getting
tired of it; and one evening Madame Anserre, the beautiful Madame
Anserre, was seen cutting it herself. But this appeared to be very
wearisome to her, and, next day, she urged one of her guests so
strongly to do it that he did not dare to refuse.

The symbol was too well-known, however; the guests stared at one
another with scared anxious faces. To cut the cake was nothing, but
the privileges to which this favor had always given a claim now
frightened people; therefore, the moment the dish made its appearance
the academicians rushed pell-mell into the Salon of Agriculture, as if
to shelter themselves behind the husband, who was perpetually smiling.
And when Madame Anserre, in a state of anxiety, presented herself at
the door with a cake in one hand and the knife in the other, they all
seemed to form a circle around her husband as if to appeal to him for
protection.

Some years more passed. Nobody cut the cake now; but yielding to an
old inveterate habit, the lady who had always been gallantly called
"the beautiful Madame Anserre" looked out each evening for some
devotee to take the knife, and each time the same movement took place
around her, a general flight, skillfully arranged, and full of
combined maneuvers that showed great cleverness, in order to avoid the
offer that was rising to her lips.

But, one evening, a young man presented himself at her reception--an
innocent, unsophisticated youth. He knew nothing about the mystery of
the cake; accordingly, when it appeared, and when all the rest ran
away, when Madame Anserre took from the man-servant's hands the dish
and the pastry, he remained quietly by her side.

She thought that perhaps he knew about the matter; she smiled, and in
a tone which showed some emotion, said:

"Will you be kind enough, dear Monsieur, to cut this cake?"

He displayed the utmost readiness, and took off his gloves, flattered
at such an honor being conferred on him.

"Oh, to be sure Madame, with the greatest pleasure."

Some distance away in the corner of the gallery, in the frame of the
door which led into the Salon of the Agriculturists, faces which
expressed utter amazement were staring at him. Then, when the
spectators saw the new comer cutting without any hesitation, they
quickly came forwa