re
beautiful than the Greek myth is that _replica_ of Hercules at Omphale's
feet.--Did Greece copy Judaea, or did Judaea borrow the symbolism from
Greece?"

"There, madame, you raise an important question--that of the date of
the various writings in the Bible. The great and immortal Spinoza--most
foolishly ranked as an atheist, whereas he gave mathematical proof
of the existence of God--asserts that the Book of Genesis and all
the political history of the Bible are of the time of Moses, and he
demonstrates the interpolated passages by philological evidence. And he
was thrice stabbed as he went into the synagogue."

"I had no idea I was so learned," said Valerie, annoyed at this
interruption to her _tete-a-tete_.

"Women know everything by instinct," replied Claude Vignon.

"Well, then, you promise me?" she said to Steinbock, taking his hand
with the timidity of a girl in love.

"You are indeed a happy man, my dear fellow," cried Stidmann, "if madame
asks a favor of you!"

"What is it?" asked Claude Vignon.

"A small bronze group," replied Steinbock, "Delilah cutting off Samson's
hair."

"It is difficult," remarked Vignon. "A bed----"

"On the contrary, it is exceedingly easy," replied Valerie, smiling.

"Ah ha! teach us sculpture!" said Stidmann.

"You should take madame for your subject," replied Vignon, with a keen
glance at Valerie.

"Well," she went on, "this is my notion of the composition. Samson on
waking finds he has no hair, like many a dandy with a false top-knot.
The hero is sitting on the bed, so you need only show the foot of it,
covered with hangings and drapery. There he is, like Marius among
the ruins of Carthage, his arms folded, his head shaven--Napoleon at
Saint-Helena--what you will! Delilah is on her knees, a good deal like
Canova's Magdalen. When a hussy has ruined her man, she adores him. As I
see it, the Jewess was afraid of Samson in his strength and terrors, but
she must have loved him when she saw him a child again. So Delilah is
bewailing her sin, she would like to give her lover his hair again. She
hardly dares to look at him; but she does look, with a smile, for she
reads forgiveness in Samson's weakness. Such a group as this, and one of
the ferocious Judith, would epitomize woman. Virtue cuts off your head;
vice only cuts off your hair. Take care of your wigs, gentlemen!"

And she left the artists quite overpowered, to sing her praises in
concert with the critic.

"It is