ritten "Plan for a mausoleum to be erected to
the memory of Madame Marie-Gaston, _nee_ Chaulieu, by her husband; from
the designs of Charles Dorlange, sculptor, 42 rue de l'Ouest."

It was impossible to let Monsieur de Rhetore know more delicately that
he had to do with a suitable adversary; and you will remark, my dear
Monsieur Gaston, that Monsieur Dorlange made this drawing the means of
enforcing his denial and giving proof of your disinterestedness and the
sincerity of your grief.

After the play was over, Monsieur de Rhetore parted from Monsieur
de Ronquerolles, and the latter went up to Monsieur Dorlange and
endeavored, very courteously, to bring about a reconciliation, remarking
to him that, while he was right in the subject-matter, his method of
proceeding was unusual and offensive; Monsieur de Rhetore, on the other
hand, had shown great moderation, and would now be satisfied with a mere
expression of regret; in short, Monsieur de Ronquerolles said all that
can be said on such an occasion.

Monsieur Dorlange would not listen to anything which seemed a submission
on his part, and the next day he received a visit from Monsieur de
Ronquerolles and General Montriveau on behalf of the Duc de Rhetore.
Again an effort was made to induce Monsieur Dorlange to give another
turn to his words. But your friend would not depart from this
ultimatum:--

"Will Monsieur de Rhetore withdraw the words I felt bound to notice; if
so, I will withdraw mine."

"But that is impossible," they said to him. "Monsieur de Rhetore has
been personally insulted; you, on the contrary, have not been. Right or
wrong, he has the conviction that Monsieur Marie-Gaston has done him
an injury. We must always make certain allowances for wounded
self-interests; you can never get absolute justice from them."

"It comes to this, then," replied Monsieur Dorlange, "that Monsieur de
Rhetore may continue to calumniate my friend at his ease; in the first
place, because he is in Italy; and secondly, because Marie-Gaston would
always feel extreme repugnance to come to certain extremities with the
brother of his wife. It is precisely that powerlessness, relatively
speaking, to defend himself, which constitutes my right--I will say
more--my duty to interfere. It was not without a special permission of
Providence that I was enabled to catch a few of the malicious words that
were said of him, and, as Monsieur de Rhetore declines to modify any of
them, we must,