Volume I Part 7 (1/2)
”One may attract attention without being recognized. Suppose I should dress as a woman?”
”The devil fly away with you! As a woman? Why, a man can't make conquests in a woman's clothes; the fair s.e.x dislikes us when we a.s.sume its skirts, and it is quite right; when a man rigs himself up in that way he is good for nothing but to arouse laughter or contempt.”
”Yes, that's true; I won't dress as a woman; but how shall I dress, then?”
”You can decide at the costumer's and dress there; it's within a few steps of the Opera.”
”All right. But my clothes?”
”The costumer will send them to your concierge.”
”Deuce take it! no; I can't have that; I have no desire to go home in a Carnival costume, so that every one may know that I've been to the ball in disguise. A business agent--and sometimes clients call very early in the morning!--A Carnival costume would not inspire confidence.”
”Well then, as I live very near the costumer's, let him send your clothes to my apartment; then you can go there and put them on when you please.”
”Bravo! in that way, all the proprieties will be observed!”
”Come, messieurs, I trust that we may start now. It is nearly twelve o'clock, and before Chamoureau is dressed----”
”Yes, yes! let us start. Forward, and _vive la gaiete_!”
”Faith, yes! one must divert one's thoughts; it's an excellent thing.”
And the widower went dancing after the two young men.
IV
SCENES AT THE MASQUERADE
A few moments after the tall gentleman named Beauregard had left the box where the pearl-gray domino and her friend were seated, a Spaniard entered the ball-room, arm-in-arm with a short young man with a long, thin nose. The reader will at once recognize Chamoureau and Freluchon.
The widower wore a costume resplendent with spangles and gold braid. His cherry-colored doublet was heavily trimmed with very rich embroidery, his white satin shortclothes, slashed with red, were decorated with spangles and bows; a gold-fringed sash confined his waist; the flaps of his huge yellow top-boots fell a little too near his ankles, his leg being too deficient in calf to hold them in place. A large ruff about his neck did duty as a cravat; over his shoulder was thrown a small light-blue cloak, lined with white satin; and lastly, he wore on his head a little velvet cap, also blue, covered with false jewels, and surmounted by two enormous white plumes which drooped over the cavalier's left shoulder. To complete his disguise, Chamoureau had donned a brown wig with long curls falling over his neck. He had covered his face with rouge, and, in addition, he wore a false nose to which a pair of moustaches was attached, reaching from ear to ear.
All this formed such a unique whole that everyone in the room turned or stopped short, in order to have a longer look at the Spaniard; and Chamoureau, overjoyed by the effect he produced, and convinced that everybody considered him magnificent, said in Freluchon's ear:
”How they stare at me! eh? I am very glad I chose this costume. I must be superb; I read admiration in every eye! Say, Freluchon, am I not superb?”
”It is a fact that you are well worth looking at; if you should make them pay ten sous each, it would be none too much.”
”Oh! you are always joking! But I don't see so rich a costume as mine in the whole place; I am covered with spangles.”
”It's enough to make one's eyes ache to look at you; you produce the same effect as the sun!”
”Do my plumes float gracefully?”
”Like a swan on a lake.”
”Is my cap well placed?”
”Like a vane on a steeple.”