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b saw vaguely through the glass doors； as the condemned man looks down from the scaffold on the howling crowd。 Then； after that terrible pause which precedes a supreme moment； the president made； amid deep silence； the simple pronouncement：
〃The election of M。 Bernard Jansoulet is annulled。〃
Never had a man's life been cut off with less solemnity or disturbance。
Up there in her gallery； Jansoulet's mother understood nothing； except that the seats were emptying near her； that people were rising and going away。 Soon there was no one else there save the fat man and the lady in the white hat； who leaned over the barrier； watching Bernard with curiosity； who seemed also to be going away； for he was putting up great bundles of papers in his portfolio quite calmly。 When they were in order； he rose and left his place。 Ah！ the life of public men had sometimes cruel situations。 Gravely； slowly； under the gaze of the whole assembly； he must descend those steps which he had mounted at the cost of so much trouble and money； to whose feet an inexorable fatality was precipitating him。
The Hemerlingues were waiting for this； following to its last stage this humiliating exit； which crushes the unseated member with some of the shame and fear of a dismissal。 Then； when the Nabob had disappeared； they looked at each other with a silent laugh； and left the gallery before the old woman had dared to ask them anything； warned by her instinct of their secret hostility。 Left alone； she gave all her attention to a new speech； persuaded that her son's affairs were still in question。 They spoke of an election； of a scrutiny； and the poor mother leaning forward in her red hood； wrinkling her great eyebrows； would have religiously listened to the whole of the report of the Sarigue election； if the attendant who had introduced her had not come to say that it was finished and she had better go away。 She seemed very much surprised。
〃Indeed！ Is it over？〃 said she； rising almost regretfully。
And quietly； timidly：
〃Has hehas he won？〃
It was innocent； so touching that the attendant did not even dream of smiling。
〃Unfortunately； no； madame。 M。 Jansoulet has not won。 But why did he stop in that way？ If it is true that he never came to Paris； and that another Jansoulet did everything they accuse him of； why did he not say so？〃
The old mother； turning pale； leaned on the balustrade of the staircase。 She had understood。
Bernard's brusque interruption on seeing her； the sacrifice he had made to her so simplythat noble glance as of a dying animal； came to her mind； and the shame of the elder； the favourite child； mingled itself with Bernard's disastera double…edged maternal sorrow； which tore her whichever way she turned。 Yes； yes； it was on her account he would not speak。 But she would not accept such a sacrifice。 He must come back at once and explain himself before the deputies。
〃My son； where is my son？〃
〃Below； madame； in his carriage。 It was he who sent me to look for you。〃
She ran before the attendant； walking quickly； talking aloud； pushing aside out of her way the little black and bearded men who were gesticulating in the passages。 After the waiting…hall she crossed a great round antechamber where servants in respectful rows made a living wainscotting to the high； blank wall。 From there she could see through the glass doors； the outside railing； the crowd in waiting； and among the other vehicles； the Nabob's carriage waiting。 As she passed； the peasant recognised in one of the groups her enormous neighbour of the gallery； with the pale man in spectacles who had attacked her son； who was receiving all sorts of felicitation for his discourse。 At the name of Jansoulet； pronounced among mocking and satisfied sneers； she stopped。
〃At any rate；〃 said a handsome man with a bad feminine face； 〃he has not proved where our accusations were false。〃
The old woman； hearing that； wrenched herself through the crowd； and facing Moessard said：
〃What he did not say I will。 I am his mother； and it is my duty to speak。〃
She stopped to seize Le Merquier by the sleeve； who was escaping：
〃Wicked man； you must listen； first of all。 What have you got against my child？ Don't you know who he is？ Wait a little till I tell you。〃
And turning to the journalist：
〃I had two sons； sir。〃
Moessard was no longer there。 She returned to Le Merquier： 〃Two sons； sir。〃 Le Merquier had disappeared。
〃Oh； listen to me； some one； I beg；〃 said the poor mother； throwing her hands and her voice round her to assemble and retain her hearers； but all fled； melted away； disappeareddeputies； reporters； unknown and mocking faces to whom she wished at any cost to tell her story； careless of the indifference where her sorrows and her joys fell； her pride and maternal tenderness expressed in a tornado of feeling。 And while she was thus exciting herself and strugglingdistracted； her bonnet awryat once grotesque and sublime； as are all the children of nature when brought into civilization； taking to witness the honesty of her son and the injustice of men； even the liveried servants； whose disdainful impassibility was more cruel than all； Jansoulet appeared suddenly beside her。
〃Take my arm； mother。 You must not stop there。〃
He said it in a tone so firm and calm that all the laughter ceased； and the old woman； suddenly quieted； sustained by this solid hold； still trembling a little with anger； left the palace between two respectful rows。 A dignified and rustic couple； the millions of the son gilding the countrified air of the mother； like the rags of a saint enshrined in a golden /chasse/they disappeared in the bright sunlight outside； in the splendour of their glittering carriagea ferocious irony in their deep distress； a striking symbol of the terrible misery of the rich。
They sat well back； for both feared to be seen； and hardly spoke at first。 But when the vehicle was well on its way； and he had behind him the sad Calvary where his honour hung gibbeted； Jansoulet； utterly overcome； laid his head on his mother's shoulder； hid it in the old green shawl； and there； with the burning tears flowing； all his great body shaken by sobs； he returned to the cry of his childhood： 〃Mother。〃
DRAMAS OF PARIS
Que l'heure est donc breve； Qu'on passe en aimant！ C'est moins qu'un moment； Un peu plus qu'un reve。
In the semi…obscurity of a great drawing…room filled with flowers； the seats of the furniture covered with holland； the chandeliers draped with muslin； the windows open； and the venetians lowered； Mme。 Jenkins is seated at the piano reading the new song of the fashionable musician； some melodic phrases accompanying exquisite verse； a melancholy /Lied/； unequally divided； which seems written for the tender gravities of her voice and the disturbed state of her soul。
Le temps nous enleve Notre enchantement
sighs the poor woman； moved by the sound of her own voice； and while the notes float away in the court…yard of the house； where the fountain falls drop by drop among a bed of rhododendrons； the singer breaks off； her hands holding the chord； her eyes fixed on the music； but her look far away。 The doctor is absent。 The care of hi