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home…coming of victorious troops。 Paris； hungry for the spectacular； constructs it indifferently out of anything； civil war as readily as the burial of a statesman。
It was necessary for the cab to retrace its course again and to make a new circuit； and it is easy to imagine the bad temper of the driver and his beasts； all three of them Parisian in soul and passions； at having to deprive themselves of so fine a show。 Then； as all the life of Paris had been drawn into the great artery of the boulevard； there began through the deserted and silent streetsa capricious and irregular drivethe snail…like progress of a cab taken by the hour。 First touching the extreme points of the Faubourg Saint…Martin and the Faubourg Saint…Denis； returning again towards the centre； and at the conclusion of circuits and dodges finding always the same obstacle in ambush； the same crowd； some fragment of the black defile perceived for a moment at the branching of a street； unfolding itself in the rain to the sound of muffled drumsa dull and heavy sound； like that of earth falling on a coffin…lid。
What torture for Felicia！ It was her weakness and her remorse crossing Paris in this solemn pomp； this funeral train； this public mourning reflected by the very clouds； and the proud girl revolted against this affront done her by fate； and tried to escape from it to the back of the carriage； where she remained exhausted with eyes closed； while old Crenmitz； believing her nervousness to be grief； did her best to comfort her； herself wept over their separation； and hiding also； left the entire window of the cab to the big Algerian hound with his finely modelled head scenting the wind； and his two paws resting in the sash with an heraldic stiffness of pose。 Finally； after a thousand interminable windings； the cab suddenly came to a halt； jolted on again with difficulty amid cries and abuse； then； tossed about； the luggage on top threatening its equilibrium； it ended by coming to a full stop； held prisoner； as it were； at anchor。
〃/Bon Dieu！/ what a mass of people！〃 murmured the Crenmitz； terrified。
Felicia came out of her stupor。
〃Where are we？〃
Under a colourless； smoky sky； blotted out by a fine network of rain and stretched like gauze over everything； there lay an immense space filled by an ocean of humanity surging from all the streets that led to it； and motionless around a lofty column of bronze； which dominated this sea like the gigantic mast of a sunken vessel。 Cavalry in squadrons； with swords drawn； guns in batteries stood at intervals along an open passage； awaiting him who was to come by； perhaps in order to try to retake him； to carry him off by force from the formidable enemy who was bearing him away。 Alas！ all the cavalry charges； all the guns could be of no avail here。 The prisoner was departing； firmly guarded； defended by a triple wall of hardwood； metal； and velvet； impervious to grape…shot； and it was not from those soldiers that he could hope for his deliverance。
〃Get away from this。 I will not stay here；〃 said Felicia； furious； plucking at the wet box…coat of the driver； and seized by a wild dread at the thought of the nightmare which was pursuing her； of /that/ which she could hear coming in a frightful rumbling； still distant； but growing nearer from minute to minute。 At the first movement of the wheels； however； the cries and shouts broke out anew。 Thinking that he would be allowed to cross the square； the driver had penetrated with great difficulty to the front ranks of the crowd； it now closed behind him and refused to allow him to go forward。 There they had to remain； to endure those odours of common people and of alcohol； those curious glances； already fired by the prospect of an exceptional spectacle。 They stared rudely at the beautiful traveller who was starting off with so many trunks； and a dog of such size for her defender。 Crenmitz was horribly afraid； Felicia； for her part； could think of only one thing； and that was that /he/ was about to pass before her eyes； that she would be in the front rank to see him。
Suddenly a great shout 〃Here it comes！〃 Then silence fell on the whole square at last at the end of three weary hours of waiting。
It came。
Felicia's first impulse was to lower the blind on her side； on the side past which the procession was about to pass。 But at the rolling of the drums close at hand； seized by the nervous wrath at her inability to escape the obsession of the thing； perhaps also infected by the morbid curiosity around her； she suddenly let the blind fly up； and her pale and passionate little face showed itself at the window； supported by her two clinched hands。
〃There！ since you will have it： I am watching you。〃
As a funeral it was as fine a thing as can be seen； the supreme honours rendered in all their vain splendour； as sonorous； as hollow as the rhythmic accompaniment on the muffled drums。 First the white surplices of the clergy； amid the mourning drapery of the first five carriages； next； drawn by six black horses； veritable horses of Erebus； there advanced the funeral car； all beplumed； fringed and embroidered in silver； with big tears； heraldic coronets surmounting gigantic M's； prophetic initials which seemed those of Death himself； /La Mort/ made a duchess decorated with the eight waving plumes。 So many canopies and massive hangings hid the vulgar body of the hearse； as it trembled and quivered at each step from top to bottom as though crushed beneath the majesty of its dead burden。 On the coffin； the sword； the coat； the embroidered hat； parade undresswhich had never been wornshone with gold and mother…of…pearl in the darkened little tent formed by the hangings and among the bright tints of fresh flowers telling of spring in spite of the sullenness of the sky。 At a distance of ten paces came the household servants of the duke； then； behind； in majestic isolation； the cloaked officer bearing the emblems of honoura veritable display of all the orders of the whole world crosses； multicoloured ribbons； which covered to overflowing the cushion of black velvet with silver fringe。
The master of ceremonies came next； in front of the representatives of the Legislative Assemblya dozen deputies chosen by lot； among them the tall figure of the Nabob； wearing the official costume for the first time； as if ironical Fortune had desired to give to the representative on probation a foretaste of all parliamentary joys。 The friends of the dead man； who followed； formed a rather small group； singularly well chosen to exhibit in its crudity the superficiality and the void of that existence of a great personage reduced to the intimacy of a theatrical manager thrice bankrupt； of a picture…dealer grown wealthy through usuary； of a nobleman of tarnished reputation； and of a few men about town without distinction。 Up to this point everybody was walking on foot and bareheaded； among the parliamentary representatives there were only a few black skull…caps； which had been put on timidly as they approached the populous districts。 After them the carriages began。
At the death of a great warrior it is the custom for the funeral convoy to be followed by the favourite horse of the hero； his bat