'A Parliamentary figure.'

'A very bad figure; literature has no cloak.'

Having made a report, as I may say,' resumed Colline, rising, 'I maintain the conclusions therein embodied. The jealousy which consumes him disturbs the reason of our friend Marcel; the great artist is beside himself.'

'So much so, that, able designer as he is, he has just introduced into his speech a figure the incorrectness of which has been ably pointed out by the talented orator who preceded me.'

Colline is an ass!' shouted Marcel, with a bang of his fist on the table that caused a lively sensation among the plates. Colline knows nothing in an affair of sentiment; he is incompetent to judge of such matters; he has an old book in place of a heart.'

Prolonged laughter from Schaunard. During the row, Colline kept gravely adjusting the folds of his white cravat as if to make way for the torrents of eloquence contained beneath them. When silence was reëstablished, he thus continued:

Gentlemen, I intend with one word to banish from your minds the chimerical apprehensions which the suspicions of Marcel may have engendered in them respecting Carolus.'

Oh yes!' said Marcel, ironically.

'It will be as easy as that,' continued Colline, blowing out the match with which he had lighted his pipe.

'Go on! go on!' cried Schaunard, Rodolphe, and the women together.

'Gentlemen! although I have been personally and violently attacked in this meeting; although I have been accused of selling for base liquors the influence which I possess; secure in a good conscience I shall not deign to reply to those assaults on my probity, my loyalty, my morality. [Sensation.] But there is one thing which I will have respected. [Here the orator, endeavoring to lay his hand on his heart, gave himself a rap in the stomach.] My well-tried and well-known prudence has been called in question. I have been accused of wishing to introduce among you a person whose intentions were hostile to your happiness—in matters of sentiment. This supposition is an insult to the virtue of these ladies nay more, an insult to their good taste. Carolus Barbemuche is decidedly ugly.' [Visible denial on the face of Phemy; row under the table, supposed to be Schaunard kicking her.]

'But,' proceeded Colline,' what will reduce to powder the contemptible argurnent with which my opponent has armed himself against Carolus by taking advantage of your terrors, is the fact that the said Carolus is a PLATONIST. [Sensation among the men; uproar among the women.] This declaration of Colline's produced a reäction in favor of Carolus. The philosopher wished to improve the effect of his eloquent and adrcit defence.

'Now, then,' he continued, 'I do not see what well-founded prejudices can exist against this young man, who, after all, has rendered us a service. As to myself, who am accused of acting thoughtlessly in wishing to introduce him among us, I consider this opinion an insult to my dig.

nity. I have acted in the affair with the wisdom of the serpent; if a formal vote does not maintain me this character for prudence, I offer my resignation.'

'Do you make it a cabinet-question?' said Marcel.

'I do.'

The three consulted, and agreed by common consent to restore to the philosopher that high reputation for prudence which he claimed. line then gave the floor to Marcel, who, somewhat relieved of his prejudices, declared that he might perhaps favor the adoption of the report. But before the decisive and final vote which should open to Carolus the intimacy of the club, he put to the meeting this amendment :

'WHEREAS, the introduction of a new member into our society is a grave matter, and a stranger might bring with him some elements of discord through ignorance of the habits, tempers, and opinions of his comrades,

RESOLVED, That each member shall pass a day with the said CAROLUS, and investigate his manner of life, tastes, literary capacity, and wardrobe. The members shall afterward communicate their several impressions, and ballot on his admission accordingly. Moreover, before complete admission, the said CAROLUS shall undergo a noviciate of one month, during which time he shall not have the right to call us by our first names or take our arm in the street. On the day of reception, a splendid banquet shall be given at the expense of the new member, at a cost of not less than twelve francs.'

The same

This amendment was adopted by three votes against one. night Colline went to the coffee-house early on purpose to be the first to see Carolus. He had not long to wait for him. Barbemuche soon appeared, carrying in his hand three huge bouquets of roses.

Hullo!' cried the astonished Colline; what do you mean to do with that garden?'

'I remember what you told me yesterday. Your friends will doubtless come with their ladies, and it is on their account that I bring these flowers very handsome ones.'

That they are; they must have cost fifteen sous, at least.'

'In the month of December! If you said fifteen francs, you would have come nearer.'

'Heavens!' cried Colline, 'three crowns for these simple gifts of Flora! You must be related to the Cordilleras. Well, my dear Sir, that is fifteen francs which we must throw out of the window.'

It was Barbemuche's turn to be astonished. Colline related the jealous suspicions with which Marcel had inspired his friends, and informed Carolus of the violent discussion which had taken place that morning on the subject of his admission. 'I protested,' said Colline, 'that your intentions were the purest, but there was a strong opposition, nevertheless. Beware of renewing these suspicions by much politeness to the ladies; and to begin, let us put these bouquets out of the way. He took the roses and hid them in a cupboard. But that is not all,' he resumed; 'before connecting themselves intimately with you, these gentlemen desire to make a private examination, each for himself, of your character, tastes, etc.' Then, lest Barbemuche might do something to shock his friends, Colline rapidly sketched a moral portrait of each of them. Contrive to agree with them separately,' added the philosopher, and they will end by all liking you.'

Carolus agreed to every thing. The three friends soon arrived with

their friends of the other sex. Rodolphe was polite to Carolus, Schaunard familiar with him, Marcel remained cold. Carolus forced himself to be gay and amiable with the men, and indifferent to the women. When they broke up for the night, he asked Rodolphe to dine with him next day, and to come as early as noon. The poet accepted, saying to himself Good! I am to begin the inquiry, then.'

Next morning, at the hour appointed, he called on Carolus, who did indeed live in a very handsome private house, where he occupied a sufficiently comfortable room. But Rodolphe was surprised to find at that time of day the shutters closed, the curtains drawn, and two lighted candles on the table. He asked Barbemuche the reason.

Study,' replied the other, 'is the child of mystery and silence.' They sat down and talked. At the end of an hour, Carolus, with infinite oratorial address, brought in a phrase which, despite its humble form, was neither more nor less than a summons made to Rodolphe to hear a little work, the fruit of Barbemuche's vigils.

The poet saw himself caught. Curious, however, to learn the color of the other's style, he bowed politely, assured him that he was enchanted, that

Carolus did not wait for him to finish the sentence. He ran to bolt the door, and then took up a small blank-book, the thinness of which brought a smile of satisfaction to the poet's face.

Is that the manuscript of your work?' he asked.

'No,' replied Carolus; it is the catalogue of my manuscripts; and I am looking for the one which you will allow me to read you. Here it is, Number fourteen: Don Lopez; or, Fatality. It's on the third shelf;' and he proceeded to open a small closet in which Rodolphe perceived, with terror, a great quantity of manuscripts. Carolus took out one of these, shut the closet, and seated himself in front of the poet. Rodolphe cast a glance at one of the four piles of elephant-paper of which the work was composed. Come,' said he to himself, 'it's not

in verse, but it's called Don Lopez.'

Carolus began to read:

'ON a cold winter night, two cavaliers, enveloped in large cloaks, and mounted on sluggish mules, were making their way side by side over one of the roads which traverse the frightful solitudes of the Sierra Morena.'

'May the LORD have mercy on me!' ejaculated Rodolphe, mentally. Carolus continued to read his first chapter, written in the style of the above throughout. Rodolphe listened vaguely, and tried to devise some

means of escape.

There is the window, but it's fastened; and, beside, we are in the fourth story. Ah, now I understand all these precautions.'

What do you think of my first chapter?' asked Carolus; 'do not spare criticism, I beg of you.'

Rodolphe thought he remembered having heard some scraps of philosophical declamation upon suicide, put forth by the hero of the romance, Don Lopez, to wit; so he replied at hazard:

The grand figure of Don Lopez is conscientiously studied; it reminds me of the Savoyard Vicar's Confession of Faith; the description of Don Alvar's mule pleases me exceedingly; it is like a sketch of Géri

cault's. There are good lines in the landscape; as to the thoughts, they are seeds of Rousseau planted in the ground of Lesage. Only allow me to make one observation: you use too many stops, and you work the word henceforward too hard. It is a good word, and gives color, but should not be abused.'

Carolus took up a second pile of paper, and repeated the title Don Lopez, or the Fatality.

I knew a Don Lopez once,' said Rodolphe; he used to sell cigarettes and Bayonne chocolate; 'perhaps he was a relation of your man. Go on.'

At the conclusion of the second chapter, the poet interrupted his host : Don't you feel your throat a little dry?' he inquired.

'Not at all, replied Carolus; we are coming to the history of Inesilla.'

'I am very curious to hear it; nevertheless, if you are tired

'Chapter third!' enunciated Carolus, in a voice that gave no signs of fatigue.

Rodolphe took a careful survey of Barbemuche, and perceived that he had a short neck and a ruddy complexion. 'I have one hope left,' thought the poet, on making this discovery. He may have an attack of apoplexy.'

'Will you be so good as to tell me what you think of the love-scene?' Carolus looked at Rodolphe to observe in his face what effect the dialogue produced upon him. The poet was bending forward on his chair, with his neck stretched out in the attitude of one who is listening for some distant sound.

'Hist!' said Rodolphe, 'don't you hear? I thought some body cried fire! Suppose we go and see.'

Carolus listened an instant, but heard nothing,

'It must have been a ringing in my ears,' said the other. 'Go on; Don Alvar interests me exceedingly; he is a noble youth.'

Carolus continued with all the music he could put into his voice :

'O INESILLA! whatever thou art, angel or demon; and whatever be thy country, my life is thine, and thee will I follow, be it to heaven or hell!'

Some one knocked at the door.

'It's my porter,' said Barbemuche, half opening. It was indeed the porter with a letter. What an unlucky chance!' cried Carolus. 'We must put off our reading till some other time; I have to go out immediately. If you please, we will execute this little commission together, as it is nothing private, and then we can come back to dinner.'

'There,' thought Rodolphe, ' is a letter that has fallen from heaven;

I recognize the seal of PROVIDENCE.'

When he rejoined the comrades that night, the poet was interrogated by Marcel and Schaunard.

'Did he treat you well?' they asked.

'Yes, but I paid dear for it.'

'How! Did Carolus make you pay?' demanded Schaunard, with rising choler.

'He read a novel at me, inside of which the people are named Don Lopez and Don Alvar; and the tenors call their mistresses angel, or demon.'

'How shocking!' cried the club, in chorus.

'But otherwise,' said Colline, literature apart, what is your opinion of him?'

'A very nice young man. You can judge for yourselves; Carolus means to treat us all in turn; he invites Schaunard to breakfast with him to-morrow. Only look out for the closet with the manuscripts in it.'

Schaunard was punctual and went to work with the minuteness of an auctioneer taking an inventory, or a sheriff levying an execution. Accordingly he came back full of notes; he had studied Carolus chiefly in respect of his movables and worldly goods.

This Barbemuche,' he said, on being asked his opinion, is a lump of good qualities. He knows the names of all the wines that ever were invented, and made me eat more nice things than my aunt ever did on her birth-day. He is on very good terms with the tailors in the Rue Vivienne, and the boot-makers of the Passage des Panoramas; and I have observed that he is nearly our size, so that, in case of need, we Ican lend him our clothes. His habits are less austere than Colline chose to represent them; he went wherever I pleased to take him, and gave me a breakfast in two acts, the second of which went off in a tavern by the fish-market where I am known for some Carnival orgies. Well, Carolus went in there as any ordinary mortal might, and that's all. Marcel goes to-morrow.'

Carolus knew that Marcel was the one who had made the most objections to his reception. Accordingly, he treated him with particular attention, and especially won his heart by holding out the hope of procuring him sitters in the family of his pupil. When it came to Marcel's turn to make his report, there were no traces of his original hostility to Carolus.

On the fourth day, Colline informed Barbemuche that he was admitted, but under conditions. 'You have a number of vulgar habits,' he said, 'which must be reformed.'

I shall do my best to imitate you,' said Carolus.

During the whole time of his noviciate the Platonic philosopher kept company with the Bohemians continually, and was thus enabled to study their habits more thoroughly, not without being very much astonished at times. One morning, Colline came to see him with a joyful face.

'My dear fellow,' he said, 'it's all over; you are now definitely one of us. It only remains to fix the day and the place of the grand entertainment; I have come to talk with you about it.'

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6

That can be arranged with perfect ease,' said Carolus; the parents of my pupil are out of town; the young viscount, whose mentor I am, will lend us the apartments for an evening, only we must invite him to the party.'

'That will be very nice,' replied Colline; 'we will open to him the vistas of literature: but do you think he will consent?