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to have secured from the State at the time when he was Receiver…General； but the testimony of his /valet de chambre/ was worse than all。 Ah！ if masters had any suspicion of how much servants know； of all the stories that are told in the servants' hall； if they could see their names dragged among the sweepings of the house and the refuse of the kitchen； they would never again dare to say even 〃shut the door〃 or 〃harness the horses。〃 Why； for instance； take Dr。 Jenkins； with the most valuable practice in Paris； ten years of life in common with a magnificent woman； who is sought after everywhere； it is in vain that he has done everything to dissimulate his position； announced his marriage in the newspapers after the English fashion； admitted to his house only foreign servants knowing hardly three words of French。 In those three words； seasoned with vulgar oaths and blows of his fist on the table； his coachman Joey； who hates him； told us his whole history during supper。
〃She is going to kick the bucket； his Irish wife； the real one。 Remains to be seen now whether he will marry the other。 Forty…five； she is； Mrs。 Maranne； and not a shilling。 You should see how afraid she is of being left in the lurch。 Whether he marries her or whether he does not marry herkss； ksswe shall have a good laugh。〃
And the more drink he was given； the more he told us about her； speaking of his unfortunate mistress as though she were the lowest of the low。 For my own part； I confess that she interested me； this false Mme。 Jenkins； who goes about weeping in every corner； implores her lover as though he were the executioner； and runs the chance of being thrown overboard altogether； when all society believes her to be married； respectable； and established in life。 The others only laughed over the story； the women especially。 Dame！ it is amusing when one is in service to see that the ladies of the upper ten have their troubles also and torments that keep them awake at night。
Our festal board at this stage presented the most lively aspect； a circle of gay faces stretched towards this Irishman whose story was adjudged to have won the prize。 The fact excited envy； the rest sought and hunted through their memories for whatever they might hold in the way of old scandals； adventures of deceived husbands； of those intimate privacies which are emptied on the kitchen…table along with the scraps from the plates and the dregs from the bottles。 The champagne was beginning to claim its own among the guests。 Joey wanted to dance a jig on the table…cloth。 The ladies； at the least word that was a little gay； threw themselves back with the piercing laughter of people who are being tickled； allowing their embroidered skirts to trail beneath the table； loaded with the remains of the food and covered with spilt grease。 M。 Louis had discreetly retired。 Glasses were filled up before they had been emptied； one of the housekeepers dipped a handkerchief in hers； filled with water； and bathed her forehead with it； because her head was swimming； she said。 It was time that the festivity should end； and； in fact； an electric bell ringing in the corridor warned us that the footman； on duty at the theatre； had come to summon the coachmen。 Thereupon Monpavon proposed the health of the master of the house； thanking him for his little party。 M。 Noel announced that he proposed to give another at Saint…Romans； in honour of the visit of the Bey； to which most of those present would probably be invited。 And I was about to rise in my turn； being sufficiently accustomed to social banquets to know that on such an occasion the oldest man present is expected to propose the health of the ladies； when the door opened abruptly； and a tall footman； bespattered with mud； a dripping umbrella in his hand； perspiring； out of breath； cried to us； without respect for the company：
〃But come on then； you set of idiots！ What are you sticking here for？ Don't you know it is over？〃
THE FESTIVITIES IN HONOUR OF THE BEY
In the regions of the Midi； of bygone civilization； historical castles still standing are rare。 Only at long intervals on the hillsides some old abbey lifts its tottering and dismembered front； perforated by holes that once were windows； whose empty spaces look now only to the sky。 A monument of dust； burnt up by the sun； dating from the time of the Crusades or of the Courts of Love； without a trace of man among its stones； where even the ivy no longer clings nor the acanthus； but which the dried lavenders and the ferns embalm。 In the midst of all those ruins the castle of Saint…Romans is an illustrious exception。 If you have travelled in the Midi you have seen it； and you are to see it again now。 It is between Valence and Montelimart； on a site just where the railway runs alongside the Rhone； at the foot of the rich slopes of Baume； Raucoule； and Mercurol； where the far…famed vineyards of l'Ermitage； spreading out for five miles in close…planted rows of vines； which seem to grow as one looks； roll down almost into the river； which is there as green and full of islands as the Rhine at Basle； but under a sun the Rhine has never known。 Saint…Romans is opposite on the other side of the river； and； in spite of the brevity of the vision； the headlong rush of the train； which seems trying to throw itself madly into the Rhone at each turning； the castle is so large； so well situated on the neighbouring hill； that it seems to follow the crazy race of the train； and stamps on your mind forever the memory of its terraces； its balustrades； its Italian architecture； two low stories surmounted by a colonnaded gallery and flanked by two slate…roofed pavilions dominating the great slopes where the water of the cascades rebounds； the network of gravel walks； the perspective of long hedges； terminated by some white statue which stands out against the blue sky as on the luminous ground of a stained…glass window。 Quite at the top； in the middle of the vast lawns whose green turf shines ironically under the scorching sun； a gigantic cedar uplifts its crested foliage； enveloped in black and floating shadowsan exotic silhouette； upright before this former dwelling of some Louis XIV farmer of revenue； which makes one think of a great negro carrying the sunshade of a gentleman of the court。
From Valence to Marseilles； throughout all the Valley of the Rhone； Saint…Romans of Bellaignes is famous as an enchanted palace； and； indeed； in that country burnt up by the fiery wind； this oasis of greenness and beautiful rushing water is a true fairy…land。
〃When I am rich； mamma；〃 Jansoulet used to say； as quite a small boy； to his mother whom he adored； 〃I shall give you Saint…Romans of Bellaignes。〃 And as the life of the man seemed the fulfilment of a story from the Arabian Nights； as all his wishes came true； even the most disproportionate； as his maddest chimeras came to lie down before him； to lick his hands like familiar and obedient spaniels； he had bought Saint…Romans to offer it； newly furnished and grandiosely restored； to his mother。 Although it was ten years since then； the dear old woman was not yet used to her splendid establishment。 〃It is the palace of Queen Jeanne that you have given me； my dear