Man, and I grasped his variegated
and decorative hand with an emotion I have rarely felt. Without vanity I
may say that Philippa and my mother had a _succes fou_.

From the moment when they entered their box every _lorgnette_ was fixed
upon them.

All Paris was there, the _tout Paris_ of _premieres_, of _les courses_,
the _tout Paris_ of _clubsman_ of _belles petites_, of ladies _a chignon
jaune_. Here were the Booksmen, the _gommeux_, they who _font courir_,
the journalists, and here I observed with peculiar interest my great
masters, M. Fortune du Boisgobey and M. Xavier de Montepin.

In the intervals of the performance _tout le monde_ crowded into our
_loge_, and I observed that my mother and Lady Errand made an almost
equal impression on many a gallant and enterprising young _impresario_.

We supped at the _Cafe Bignon_; toasts were carried; I also was carried
home.

Next morning I partly understood the mental condition of Philippa. I had
absolutely forgotten the events of the later part of the entertainment.

Several bills arrived for windows, which, it seems, I had broken in a
moment of effusion.

Gendarmes arrived, and would have arrested me on a charge of having
knocked down some thirty-seven of their number.

This little matter was easily arranged.

I apologised separately and severally to each of the thirty-seven
_braves hommes_, and collectively to the whole corps, the French army,
the President, the Republic, and the statue of Strasbourg in the Place
de la Concorde. These duties over, I was at leisure to reflect on the
injustice of English law.

Certain actions which I had entirely forgotten I expiated at the cost of
a few thousand francs, and some dozen apologies.

For only one action, about which she remembered nothing at all, Philippa
had to fly from English justice, and give up her title and place in
society! Both ladies now charmed me with a narrative of the compliments
that had been paid them; both absolutely declined to leave Paris.

'I want to look at the shops,' said my mother.

'I want the _gommeux_ to look at me,' said Philippa.

Neither of them saw the least fun in my proposed expedition to Spain.

Weeks passed and found us still in the capital of pleasure.

My large fortune, except a few insignificant thousands, had passed away
in the fleeting exhilaration of baccarat.

We must do something to restore our wealth.

My mother had an idea.

'Basil,' she said, 'you speak of Sp