appy are the elect, the great men
who enjoy renown in such a city! What an existence is theirs!"

And he made plans; he would have liked to know some of those
celebrated men, to talk about them in Vernon, and to spend an evening
with them from time to time in Paris.

But suddenly an idea struck him. He had heard allusions to little
_cafes_ in the outer boulevards at which well-known painters, men of
letters, and even musicians gathered, and he proceeded to go up to
Montmartre at a slow pace.

He had two hours before him. He wanted to have a look-round. He passed
in front of taverns frequented by belated Bohemians gazing at the
different faces, seeking to discover the artists. Finally, he came to
the sign of "The Dead Rat," and allured by the name, he entered.

Five or six women, with their elbows resting on the marble tables,
were talking in low tones about their love affairs, the quarrels of
Lucie and Hortense, and the scoundrelism of Octave. They were no
longer young, too fat or too thin, tired out, used up. You could see
that they were almost bald; and they drank bocks like men.

M. Saval sat down at some distance from them, and waited, for the hour
for taking absinthe was at hand.

A tall young man soon came in and took a seat beside him. The landlady
called him M. "Romantin." The notary quivered. Was this the Romantin
who had taken a medal at the last Salon?

The young man made a sign to the waiter:

"You will bring up my dinner at once, and then carry to my new studio,
15, Boulevard de Clinchy, thirty bottles of beer and the ham I ordered
this morning. We are going to have housewarming."

M. Saval immediately ordered dinner. Then, he took off his overcoat,
so that his dress coat and his white tie could be seen. His neighbor
did not seem to notice him. He had taken up a newspaper, and was
reading it. M. Saval glanced sideways at him, burning with the desire
to speak to him.

Two young men entered, in red vests, and peaked beards in the fashion
of Henry III. They sat down opposite Romantin.

The first of the pair said:

"It is for this evening?"

Romantin pressed his hand.

"T believe you, old chap, and everyone will be there, I have Bonnat,
Guillemet, Gervex, Beraud, Hebert, Duez, Clairin, and Jean-Paul
Laurens. It will be a glorious blow out! And women too! Wait till you
see! Every actress without exception--of course I mean, you know, all
those who have nothing to do this evening."

The landlo