Volume VIII Part 33 (2/2)

Her husband played the part of an obscure satellite To be the husband of a star is not an easy thing This husband had, however, an original idea, that of creating a State within a State, of possessing a merit of his own, a merit of the second order; it is true; but he did, in fact, in this fashi+on, on the days when his wife held receptions, hold receptions also on his own account He had his special set who appreciated him, listened to him, and bestowed on him more attention than they did on his brilliant partner

He had devoted hiriculture in the Chaenerals in the Chamber--those who are born, who live, and who die, on the round leather chairs of the War Office, are all of this sort, are they not? Sailors in the Chambers--viz, in the Admiralty--Colonizers in the Chariculture, indeed he had studied it deeply, in its relations with the other sciences, with political economy, with the Fine Arts--we dress up the Fine Arts with every kind of science, since we even call the horrible railway bridges ”works of art” At length he reached the point when it was said of him: ”He is a man of ability” He was quoted in the Technical Reviews; his wife had succeeded in getting hiriculture

This latest glory was quite sufficient for hi the expenses, he sent out invitations to his friends for the day when his wife received hers, so that they associated together, or rather they did not--they forroups

Madame, with her escort of artists, acadeallery, furnished and decorated in the style of the Ericulturists into a s-room and ironically described by Madariculture

The two camps were clearly separated Monsieur, without jealousy, moreover, sos were exchanged, but the Acadericulture, and it was rarely that one of the princes of science, of thought, or of anything else riculturists

These receptions occasioned little expense--a cup of tea, a cake, that was all Monsieur, at an earlier period, had clairiculturists, but Mada seemed to indicate two camps, two receptions, two parties, Monsieur did not press the matter, so that they used only one cake, of which Madame Anserre did the honors at the Acadericulture

Now, this cake was soon, for the Academy, a subject of observation well calculated to arouse curiosity Madame Anserre never cut it herself That function always fell to the lot of one or other of the illustrious guests The particular duty, which was supposed to carry with it honorable distinction, was perfor period, in one case for three months, scarcely ever forthe cake”

carried with it a heap of other marks of superiority--a sort of royalty, or rather very accentuated vice-royalty

The reigning cutter spoke in a haughty tone, with an air of marked command; and all the favors of the mistress of the house were for him alone

These happy individuals were in moments of intimacy described in hushed tones behind doors as the ”favorites of the cake,” and every change of favorite introduced into the Academy a sort of revolution

The knife was a scepter, the pastry an ericulturists never cut the cake Monsieur hih he ate his share

The cake was cut in succession by poets, by painters, and by novelists A greatthe portions of the cake for some time; an ambassador succeeded hiht after, one of those who are called according to the different epochs, ”true gentle else, seated himself, in his turn, before the syn, exhibited greater consideration towards the husband; then, when the hour of his fall had arrived, he passed on the knife towards the other and led once more with the crowd of followers and admirers of the ”beautiful Mada time, but comets do not always shi+ne with the saets worn out in society

One would have said that gradually the eagerness of the cutters grew feebler; they seemed to hesitate at times when the tray was held out to them; this office, once so much coveted, became less and less desired It was retained for a shorter time; they appeared to be less proud of it

Madaal of ser to cut it voluntarily The new comers seemed to decline the honor The ”old favorites” reappeared one by one like dethroned princes who have been replaced for a brief spell in power

Then, the chosen ones becay!) M Anserre cut open the cake; then he looked as if he were getting tired of it; and one evening Mada it herself But this appeared to be very wearisouests so strongly to do it that he did not dare to refuse

The syuests stared at one another with scared anxious faces To cut the cake was nothing, but the privileges to which this favor had always given a claihtened people; therefore, the moment the dish made its appearance the acadericulture, as if to shelter the

And when Madame Anserre, in a state of anxiety, presented herself at the door with a cake in one hand and the knife in the other, they all seemed to form a circle around her husband as if to appeal to him for protection

Some yearsto an old inveterate habit, the lady who had always been gallantly called ”the beautiful Mada for some devotee to take the knife, and each tiht, skillfully arranged, and full of coreat cleverness, in order to avoid the offer that was rising to her lips

But, one evening, a young man presented himself at her reception--an innocent, unsophisticated youth He knew nothing about the ly, when it appeared, and when all the rest ran ahen Madame Anserre took from the man-servant's hands the dish and the pastry, he reht that perhaps he knew about the matter; she smiled, and in a tone which showed some emotion, said: