talk; but you'll find good wines, and I rely on my collection of
pictures to compensate an artist like you for the bore of dining with
mere merchants."

This form of idolatry, which stroked his innocent self-love, was
charming to our poor Pierre Grassou, so little accustomed to such
compliments. The honest artist, that atrocious mediocrity, that heart
of gold, that loyal soul, that stupid draughtsman, that worthy fellow,
decorated by royalty itself with the Legion of honor, put himself under
arms to go out to Ville d'Avray and enjoy the last fine days of the
year. The painter went modestly by public conveyance, and he could not
but admire the beautiful villa of the bottle-dealer, standing in a park
of five acres at the summit of Ville d'Avray, commanding a noble view
of the landscape. Marry Virginie, and have that beautiful villa some day
for his own!

He was received by the Vervelles with an enthusiasm, a joy, a
kindliness, a frank bourgeois absurdity which confounded him. It was
indeed a day of triumph. The prospective son-in-law was marched about
the grounds on the nankeen-colored paths, all raked as they should be
for the steps of so great a man. The trees themselves looked brushed and
combed, and the lawns had just been mown. The pure country air wafted
to the nostrils a most enticing smell of cooking. All things about the
mansion seemed to say:

"We have a great artist among us."

Little old Vervelle himself rolled like an apple through his park, the
daughter meandered like an eel, the mother followed with dignified step.
These three beings never let go for one moment of Pierre Grassou
for seven hours. After dinner, the length of which equalled its
magnificence, Monsieur and Madame Vervelle reached the moment of their
grand theatrical effect,--the opening of the picture gallery illuminated
by lamps, the reflections of which were managed with the utmost care.
Three neighbours, also retired merchants, an old uncle (from whom were
expectations), an elderly Demoiselle Vervelle, and a number of other
guests invited to be present at this ovation to a great artist followed
Grassou into the picture gallery, all curious to hear his opinion of the
famous collection of pere Vervelle, who was fond of oppressing them with
the fabulous value of his paintings. The bottle-merchant seemed to have
the idea of competing with King Louis-Philippe and the galleries of
Versailles.

The pictures, magnificently framed, each bore lab