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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 battle charger； regulating to the slow step of the procession that dancing step excited by the smell of powder and the pageantry of standards。 In this case； Mora's great brougham； that 〃C…spring〃 which used to bear him to fashionable or political gatherings； took the place of that companion in victory； its panels draped with black； its lamps veiled in long streamers of light crape； floating to the ground with undulating feminine grace。 These veiled lamps constituted a new fashion for funeralsthe supreme 〃chic〃 of mourning； and it well became this dandy to give a last lesson in elegance to the Parisians； who flocked to his obsequies as to a 〃Longchamps〃 of death。
Three more masters of ceremony； then came the impassive official procession； always the same for marriages； deaths； baptisms； openings of Parliament； or receptions of sovereigns； the interminable cortege of glittering carriages； with large windows and showy liveries bedizened with gilt； which passed through the midst of the dazzled people； to whom they recalled fairy…tales； Cinderella chariots； while evoking those 〃Oh's！〃 of admiration that mount and die away with the rockets on the evenings of firework displays。 And in the crowd there was always to be found some good…natured policeman； some learned little grocer sauntering round on the lookout for public ceremonies； ready to name in a loud voice all the people in the carriages； as they defiled past； with their regulation escorts of dragoons； cuirassiers； or Paris guards。
First the representatives of the Emperor； the Empress and all the Imperial family； after these； in the hierarchic order； cunningly elaborated； and the least infraction of which might have been the cause of grave conflicts between the various departments of the State the members of the Privy Council； the Marshals； the Admirals； the High Chancellor of the Legion of Honour； then the Senate； the Legislative Assembly； the Council of State； the whole organization of the law and of the university； the costumes； the ermine； the headgear of which took you back to the days of old Parisan air of something stately and antiquated； out of date in our sceptical epoch of the workman's blouse and the dress…coat。
Felicia； to avoid her thoughts； voluntarily fixed her eyes upon this monotonous defile； exasperating in its length； and little by little a torpor stole over her； as if on a rainy day she had been turning over the leaves of an album of engravings； a history of official costumes from the most remote times down to our own day。 All these people； seen in profile； still and upright； behind the large glass panes of the carriage windows； had indeed the appearance of personages in coloured plates； sitting well forward on the edge of the seats in order that the spectators should miss nothing of their golden embroideries； their palm…leaves； their galloons； their braidspuppets given over to the curiosity of the crowdand exposing themselves to it with an air of indifference and detachment。
Indifference！ That was the most special characteristic of this funeral。 It was to be felt everywhere； on people's faces and in their hearts； as well among these functionaries of whom the greater part had only known the duke by sight； as in the ranks on foot between his hearse and his brougham； his closest friends； or those who had been in daily attendance upon him。 The fat minister； Vice…President of the Council； seemed indifferent； and even glad； as he held in his powerful fist the strings of the pall and seemed to draw it forward； in more haste than the horses and the hearse to conduct to his six feet of earth the enemy of twenty years' standing； the eternal rival； the obstacle to all his ambitions。 The other three dignitaries did not advance with the same vigour； and the long cords floated loosely in their weary or careless hands with significant slackness。 The priests were indifferent by profession。 Indifferent were the servants of his household； whom he never called anything but 〃/chose/；〃 and whom he treated really like 〃things。〃 Indifferent was M。 Louis； for whom it was the last day of servitude； a slave become emancipated； rich enough to enjoy his ransom。 Even among the intimate friends of the dead man this glacial cold had penetrated。 Yet some of them had been deeply attached to him。 But Cardailhac was too busy superintending the order and the progress of the procession to give way to the least emotion； which would； besides； have been foreign to his nature。 Old Monpavon； stricken to the heart； would have considered the least bending of his linen cuirass and of his tall figure a piece of deplorably bad taste； totally unworthy of his illustrious friend。 His eyes remained as dry and glittering as ever； since the undertakers provide the tears for great mournings； embroidered in silver on black cloth。 Some one was weeping； however； away yonder among the members of the committee； but he was expending his compassion very naively upon himself。 Poor Nabob！ softened by that music and splendour； it seemed to him that he was burying all his ambitions of glory and dignity。 And his was but one more variety of indifference。
Among the public； the enjoyment of a fine spectacle； the pleasure of turning a week…day into a Sunday； dominated every other sentiment。 Along the line of the boulevards； the spectators on the balconies almost seemed disposed to applaud； here； in the populous districts； irreverence was still more frankly manifest。 Jests； blackguardly wit at the expense of the dead man and his doings； known to all Paris； laughter raised by the tall hats of the rabbis； the pass…word of the council experts； all were heard in the air between two rolls of the drum。 Poverty； forced labour； with its feet in the wet； wearing its blouse； its apron； its cap raised from habit； with sneering chuckle watched this inhabitant of another sphere pass by； this brilliant duke； severed now from all his honours； who perhaps while living had never paid a visit to that end of the town。 But there it is。 To arrive up yonder； where everybody has to go； the common route must be taken； the Faubourg Saint…Antoine； the Rue de la Roquette as far as that great gate where the /octroi/ is collected and the infinite begins。 And well！ it does one good to see that lordly persons like Mora； dukes； ministers； follow the same road towards the same destination。 This equality in death consoles for many of the injustices of life。 To…morrow bread will seem less dear； wine better； the workman's tool less heavy； when he will be able to say to himself as he rises in the morning； 〃That old Mora； he has come to it like the rest！〃
The procession still went on； more fatiguing even than lugubrious。 Now it consisted of choral societies； deputations from the army and the navy； officers of all descriptions； pressing on in a troop in advance of a long file of empty vehiclesmourning…coaches； private carriages present for reasons of etiquette。 Then the troops followed in their turn； and into the sordid suburb； that long Rue de la Roquette； already swarming with people as far as eye could reach； there plunged