ties in the sort of soldered
joint which was formed between the two portions of the piece thus
abruptly cut short. Gringoire commented on it bitterly to himself.
Nevertheless, tranquillity was gradually restored, the scholar held his
peace, the mendicant counted over some coins in his hat, and the piece
resumed the upper hand.

It was, in fact, a very fine work, and one which, as it seems to us,
might be put to use to-day, by the aid of a little rearrangement. The
exposition, rather long and rather empty, that is to say, according to
the rules, was simple; and Gringoire, in the candid sanctuary of his own
conscience, admired its clearness. As the reader may surmise, the four
allegorical personages were somewhat weary with having traversed the
three sections of the world, without having found suitable opportunity
for getting rid of their golden dolphin. Thereupon a eulogy of the
marvellous fish, with a thousand delicate allusions to the young
betrothed of Marguerite of Flanders, then sadly cloistered in at
Amboise, and without a suspicion that Labor and Clergy, Nobility and
Merchandise had just made the circuit of the world in his behalf. The
said dauphin was then young, was handsome, was stout, and, above all
(magnificent origin of all royal virtues), he was the son of the Lion
of France. I declare that this bold metaphor is admirable, and that the
natural history of the theatre, on a day of allegory and royal marriage
songs, is not in the least startled by a dolphin who is the son of a
lion. It is precisely these rare and Pindaric mixtures which prove the
poet's enthusiasm. Nevertheless, in order to play the part of critic
also, the poet might have developed this beautiful idea in something
less than two hundred lines. It is true that the mystery was to last
from noon until four o'clock, in accordance with the orders of monsieur
the provost, and that it was necessary to say something. Besides, the
people listened patiently.

All at once, in the very middle of a quarrel between Mademoiselle
Merchandise and Madame Nobility, at the moment when Monsieur Labor was
giving utterance to this wonderful line,--

In forest ne'er was seen a more triumphant beast;

the door of the reserved gallery which had hitherto remained so
inopportunely closed, opened still more inopportunely; and the ringing
voice of the usher announced abruptly, "His eminence, Monseigneur the
Cardinal de Bourbon."

CHAPTER III. MONSIEUR THE C