it; laughter crossed the water from one boat to another,
calls, admonitions or imprecations. The boatmen exposed the bronzed and
knotted flesh of their biceps to the heat of the day; and similar to
strange flowers, which floated, the silk parasols, red, green, blue, or
yellow, of the ladies seated near the helm, bloomed in the sterns of the
boats.

A July sun flamed high in the heavens; the atmosphere seemed full of
burning merriment: not a breath of air stirred the leaves of the willows
or poplars.

Down there the inevitable Mont-Valerien erected its fortified ramparts,
tier above tier, in the intense light; while on the right the divine
slopes of Louveniennes following the bend of the river disposed
themselves in a semi-circle, displaying in their order across the rich
and shady lawns, of large gardens, the white walls of country seats.

Upon the outskirts of La Grenonillere a crowd of promenaders moved about
beneath the giant trees which make this corner of the island the most
delightful park in the world.

Women and girls with breasts developed beyond all measurement, with
exaggerated bustles, their complexions plastered with rouge, their eyes
daubed with charcoal, their lips blood-red, laced up, rigged out in
outrageous dresses--trailed the crying bad taste of their toilets over
the fresh green sward; while beside them young men postured in their
fashion-plate accouterments with light gloves, varnished boots, canes,
the size of a thread, and single eye-glasses punctuating the insipidity
of their smiles.

The island is narrow opposite La Grenonillere, and on its other side,
where also a ferry-boat plies, bringing people unceasingly across from
Croissy, the rapid branch of the river, full of whirlpools and eddies and
foam, rushes along with the strength of a torrent.

A detachment of pontoon-soldiers, in the uniform of artillerymen, is
encamped upon this bank, and the soldiers seated in a row on a long beam
watched the water flowing.

In the floating establishment there was a boisterous and uproarious
crowd. The wooden tables upon which the spilt refreshments made little
sticky streams, were covered with half empty glasses and surrounded by
half tipsy individuals. All this crowd shouted, sang and brawled. The
men, their hats at the backs of their heads, their faces red, with the
brilliant eyes of drunkards, moved about vociferously in need of a row
natural to brutes. The women, seeking their prey for the nig