ood profit to the _citoyen_ Blaise. From
the same sketches he had over-doors and panels executed, which sold as
well or better than the decorative works of Hubert Robert.

On this occasion he had invited the _citoyen_ Gamelin to accompany him
to sketch buildings after nature, so much had the juror's office
increased the painter's importance in his eyes. Two other artists were
of the party, the engraver Desmahis, who drew well, and an almost
unknown man, Philippe Dubois, an excellent designer in the style of
Robert. According to custom, the _citoyenne_ Elodie with her friend the
_citoyenne_ Hasard accompanied the artists. Jean Blaise, an adept at
combining pleasure with profit, had also extended an invitation to the
_citoyenne_ Thevenin, an actress at the Vaudeville, who was reputed to
be on the best of terms with him.

X

On Saturday at seven in the morning the _citoyen_ Blaise, in a black
cocked-hat, scarlet waistcoat, doe-skin breeches, and boots with yellow
tops, rapped with the handle of his riding-whip at the studio door. The
_citoyenne_ Gamelin was in the room in polite conversation with the
_citoyen_ Brotteaux, while Evariste stood before a bit of looking-glass
knotting his high white cravat.

"A pleasant journey, Monsieur Blaise!" the _citoyenne_ greeted him.
"But, as you are going to paint landscapes, why don't you take Monsieur
Brotteaux, who is a painter?"

"Well, well," said Jean Blaise, "will you come with us, _citoyen_
Brotteaux?"

On being assured he would not be intruding, Brotteaux, a man of a
sociable temper and fond of all amusements, accepted the invitation.

The _citoyenne_ Elodie had climbed the four storeys to embrace the widow
Gamelin, whom she called her good mother. She was in white from head to
foot, and smelt of lavender.

An old two-horsed travelling _berline_ stood waiting in the Place, with
the hood down. Rose Thevenin occupied the back seat with Julienne
Hasard. Elodie made the actress sit on the right, took the left-hand
place herself and put the slim Julienne between the two of them.
Brotteaux settled himself, back to the horses, facing the _citoyenne_
Thevenin; Philippe Dubois, opposite the _citoyenne_ Hasard; Evariste
opposite Elodie. As for Philippe Desmahis, he planted his athletic
figure on the box, on the coachman's left, and proceeded to amaze that
worthy with a traveller's tale about a country in America where the
trees bore chitterlings and saveloys by way of