FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147  
148   149   150   151   >>  
cover me with diamonds! Well, I mean to choose the oldest." "Quite right, my dear; only do not make him jealous." "I promise you to be faithful to him. But shall he find a situation for my brother? However, until I am at the opera, until I have met with my elderly lover, who will give me the means to support myself?" "I, my dear girl, my friend Baletti, and all my friends, without other interest than the pleasure of serving you, but with the hope that you will live quietly, and that we shall contribute to your happiness. Are you satisfied?" "Quite so; I have promised myself to be guided entirely by your advice, and I entreat you to remain always my best friend." We returned to Paris at night, I left Mdlle. Vesian at the hotel, and accompanied Baletti to his mother's. At supper-time, my friend begged Silvia to speak to M. Lani in favour of our 'protegee', Silvia said that it was a much better plan than to solicit a miserable pension which, perhaps, would not be granted. Then we talked of a project which was then spoken of, namely to sell all the appointments of ballet girls and of chorus singers at the opera. There was even some idea of asking a high price for them, for it was argued that the higher the price the more the girls would be esteemed. Such a project, in the midst of the scandalous habits and manners of the time, had a sort of apparent wisdom; for it would have ennobled in a way a class of women who with very few exceptions seem to glory in being contemptible. There were, at that time at the opera, several figurantes, singers and dancers, ugly rather than plain, without any talent, who, in spite of it all, lived in great comfort; for it is admitted that at the opera a girl must needs renounce all modesty or starve. But if a girl, newly arrived there, is clever enough to remain virtuous only for one month, her fortune is certainly made, because then the noblemen enjoying a reputation of wisdom and virtue are the only ones who seek to get hold of her. Those men are delighted to hear their names mentioned in connection with the newly-arrived beauty; they even go so far as to allow her a few frolics, provided she takes pride in what they give her, and provided her infidelities are not too public. Besides, it is the fashion never to go to sup with one's mistress without giving her notice of the intended visit, and everyone must admit that it is a very wise custom. I came back to the hotel towards ele
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   123   124   125   126   127   128   129   130   131   132   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147  
148   149   150   151   >>  



Top keywords:

friend

 

remain

 

singers

 

arrived

 

provided

 

project

 

wisdom

 
Silvia
 

Baletti

 

oldest


modesty

 

exceptions

 

clever

 

starve

 

noblemen

 

fortune

 
virtuous
 

choose

 

renounce

 

dancers


figurantes

 

contemptible

 

talent

 

enjoying

 

admitted

 

comfort

 
fashion
 

mistress

 

Besides

 

public


infidelities

 

giving

 

notice

 

custom

 

intended

 

delighted

 

virtue

 

frolics

 
diamonds
 

mentioned


connection
 
beauty
 

reputation

 
apparent
 

accompanied

 
mother
 

Vesian

 

returned

 

elderly

 

favour