esitate on the course to take. He
transformed his quilt into a knotted rope, which he fastened firmly to
his own balcony, and in spite of the risk, descended by this extempore
ladder upon Mademoiselle Sidonia's.

"Who is there?" she cried, on hearing Rodolphe knock at her window.

"Hush!" he replied, "open!"

"What do you want? Who are you?"

"Can you ask? I am the author of 'The Avenger,' come to look for my
heart, which I dropped through the trap into your room."

"Rash youth!" said the actress, "you might have killed yourself!"

"Listen, Sidonia," continued Rodolphe, showing her the letter he just
received. "You see, wealth and glory smile on me, let love do the same!"

* * * * *

The following morning, by means of a masculine disguise, which Sidonia
procured for him, Rodolphe was enabled to escape from his uncle's
lodging. He ran to the secretary of the academy of floral games, to
receive a crown of gold sweetbrier, worth three hundred francs, which
lived

"--as live roses the fairest--
The space of a day."

A month after, Monsieur Monetti was invited by his nephew to assist at
the first representation of "The Avenger." Thanks to the talent of
Mademoiselle Sidonia, the piece had a run of seventeen nights, and
brought in forty francs to its author.

Some time later--it was in the warm season--Rodolphe lodged in the
Avenue St. Cloud, third tree as you go out of the Bois de Boulogne, on
the fifth branch.

CHAPTER V

THE CARLOVINGIAN COIN

Towards the end of December the messengers of Bidault's agency were
entrusted with the distribution of about a hundred copies of a letter of
invitation, of which we certify that the following to be a true and
genuine copy:--

-----

_M.M. Rodolphe and Marcel request the honor of your company on
Saturday next, Christmas Eve. Fun!_

_P.S. Life is short!_

_PROGRAM OF THE ENTERTAINMENT_

_PART I_

_7 o'clock--Opening of the saloons. Brisk and witty conversation._

_8.--Appearance of the talented authors of "The Mountain in Labor,"
comedy refused at the Odeon Theater._

_8:30.--M. Alexander Schaunard, the eminent virtuoso, will play
his imitative symphony, "The Influence of Blue in Art," on the
piano._

_9.--First reading of the essay on the "Abolition of the penalty of
tragedy."_

_9:30.--Philosop