ehind the age you are, to think that any one
plays set-pieces nowadays. It is not a piece, it is a 'tableau vivant',
'The judgment of Paris.' You know 'The Judgment of Paris'? I take the
part of Venus--I did not want to, but they all urged me--give me a
pin--on the mantelpiece--near the bag of bonbons--there to the left,
next to the jewel-case--close by the bottle of gum standing on my
prayer-book. Can't you see? Ah! at last. In short, the knife to my
throat to compel me to play Venus."

Turning to the screen on the right she said: "Pass me the red for the
lips, dear; mine are too pale." To the hairdresser, who is making his
way to the door: "Silvani, go to the gentlemen who are dressing in the
billiard-room, and in the Baron's dressing-room, they perhaps may need
you. Madame de S. and her daughters are in the boudoir--ah! see whether
Monsieur de V. has found his apple again--he plays Paris," added my
aunt, turning toward me once more; "the apple must not be lost--well,
dear, and that red for the lips I asked you for? Pass it to the Captain
over the screen."

"Here it is; but make haste, Captain, my cuirass cracks as soon as I
raise my arm."

I descried above the screen two slender fingers, one of which, covered
with glittering rings, held in the air a little pot without a cover.

"What,--is your cuirass cracking, Marchioness?"

"Oh! it will do, but make haste and take it, Captain."

"You may think it strange, but I tremble like a leaf," exclaimed my
aunt. "I am afraid of being ill. Do you hear the gentlemen who are
dressing in there in the Baron's dressing room? What a noise! Ha! ha!
ha! it is charming, a regular gang of strollers. It is exhilarating, do
you know, this feverish existence, this life in front of the footlights.
But, for the love of Heaven, shut the door, Marie, there is a frightful
draught blowing on me. This hourly struggle with the public, the hisses,
the applause, would, with my impressionable nature, drive me mad, I am
sure."

The old affair of the kiss recurred to me and I said to myself,
"Captain, you misunderstood the nature of your relative."

"But that is not the question at all," continued my aunt; "ten o'clock
is striking. Ernest, can you apply liquid white? As you are rather
experienced--"

"Rather--ha! ha! ha!" said some one behind the screen.

"On the whole," continued the Baroness, "it would be very singular
if, in the course of your campaigns, you had never seen liquid white