"old
screw" in the eyes of his protegee; but as he had the sense to see that
a danseuse at the Gaiete had a certain rank to maintain, he raised the
monthly stipend to five hundred francs, for which, although he did not
again become an angel, he was, at least, a "friend for life," a second
father. This was his silver age.

From 1820 to 1823, Florentine had the experience of every danseuse
of nineteen to twenty years of age. Her friends were the illustrious
Mariette and Tullia, leading ladies of the Opera, Florine, and also poor
Coralie, torn too early from the arts, and love, and Camusot. As old
Cardot had by this time acquired five additional years, he had fallen
into the indulgence of a semi-paternity, which is the way with old men
towards the young talents they have trained, and which owe their success
to them. Besides, where could he have found another Florentine who knew
all his habits and likings, and with whom he and his friends could sing
"Mere Godichon"? So the little old man remained under a yoke that was
semi-conjugal and also irresistibly strong. This was the brass age for
the old fellow.

During the five years of silver and gold Pere Cardot had laid by eighty
thousand francs. The old gentleman, wise from experience, foresaw that
by the time he was seventy Florentine would be of age, probably engaged
at the Opera, and, consequently, wanting all the luxury of a theatrical
star. Some days before the party mentioned by Georges, Pere Cardot
had spent the sum of forty-five thousand francs in fitting up for his
Florentine the former apartment of the late Coralie. In Paris there
are suites of rooms as well as houses and streets that have their
predestinations. Enriched with a magnificent service of plate, the
"prima danseuse" of the Gaiete began to give dinners, spent three
hundred francs a month on her dress, never went out except in a hired
carriage, and had a maid for herself, a cook, and a little footman.

In fact, an engagement at the Opera was already in the wind. The
Cocon d'Or did homage to its first master by sending its most splendid
products for the gratification of Mademoiselle Cabirolle, now called
Florentine. The magnificence which suddenly burst upon her apartment
in the rue de Vendome would have satisfied the most ambitious
supernumerary. After being the master of the ship for seven years,
Cardot now found himself towed along by a force of unlimited caprice.
But the luckless old gentleman was fon