other；all this blazes forth and takes its place among the celestial glories。
Beautiful women waste themselves sweetly。
They think that this will never e to an end。Philosophers； poets； painters； observe these ecstasies and know not what to make of it； so greatly are they dazzled by it。
The departure for Cythera！ exclaims Watteau； Lancret； the painter of plebeians； contemplates his bourgeois； who have flitted away into the azure sky； Diderot stretches out his arms to all these love idyls； and d'Urfe mingles druids with them。
After breakfast the four couples went to what was then called the King's Square to see a newly arrived plant from India； whose name escapes our memory at this moment； and which； at that epoch； was attracting all Paris to Saint…Cloud。 It was an odd and charming shrub with a long stem； whose numerous branches； bristling and leafless and as fine as threads； were covered with a million tiny white rosettes； this gave the shrub the air of a head of hair studded with flowers。There was always an admiring crowd about it。
After viewing the shrub； Tholomyes exclaimed； 〃I offer you asses！〃 and having agreed upon a price with the owner of the asses； they returned by way of Vanvres and Issy。
At Issy an incident occurred。The truly national park； at that time owned by Bourguin the contractor； happened to be wide open。
They passed the gates； visited the manikin anchorite in his grotto； tried the mysterious little effects of the famous cabinet of mirrors； the wanton trap worthy of a satyr bee a millionaire or of Turcaret metamorphosed into a Priapus。They had stoutly shaken the swing attached to the two chestnut…trees celebrated by the Abbe de Bernis。
As he swung these beauties； one after the other； producing folds in the fluttering skirts which Greuze would have found to his taste； amid peals of laughter； the Toulousan Tholomyes； who was somewhat of a Spaniard； Toulouse being the cousin of Tolosa； sang； to a melancholy chant； the old ballad gallega； probably inspired by some lovely maid dashing in full flight upon a rope between two trees：
〃Soy de Badajoz；
〃Badajoz is my home；
Amor me llama；
And Love is my name；
Toda mi alma；
To my eyes in flame；
Es en mi ojos；
All my soul doth e；
Porque ensenas；
For instruction meet
A tuas piernas。
I receive at thy feet〃
Fantine alone refused to swing。
〃I don't like to have people put on airs like that；〃 muttered Favourite； with a good deal of acrimony。
After leaving the asses there was a fresh delight； they crossed the Seine in a boat； and proceeding from Passy on foot they reached the barrier of l'Etoile。 They had been up since five o'clock that morning； as the reader will remember； but bah！ there is no such thing as fatigue on Sunday； said Favourite； on Sunday fatigue does not work。
About three o'clock the four couples； frightened at their happiness； were sliding down the Russian mountains； a singular edifice which then occupied the heights of Beaujon； and whose undulating line was visible above the trees of the Champs Elysees。
From time to time Favourite exclaimed：
〃And the surprise？
I claim the surprise。〃
〃Patience；〃 replied Tholomyes。
BOOK THIRD。IN THE YEAR 1817
CHAPTER V
AT BOMBARDA'S
The Russian mountains having been exhausted； they began to think about dinner； and the radiant party of eight； somewhat weary at last； became stranded in Bombarda's public house； a branch establishment which had been set up in the Champs…Elysees by that famous restaurant…keeper； Bombarda； whose sign could then be seen in the Rue de Rivoli； near Delorme Alley。
A large but ugly room； with an alcove and a bed at the end （they had been obliged to put up with this acmodation in view of the Sunday crowd）； two windows whence they could survey beyond the elms； the quay and the river； a magnificent August sunlight lightly touching the panes； two tables； upon one of them a triumphant mountain of bouquets； mingled with the hats of men and women； at the other the four couples seated round a merry confusion of platters； dishes； glasses； and bottles； jugs of beer mingled with flasks of wine； very little order on the table； some disorder beneath it；
〃They made beneath the table A noise； a clatter of the feet that was abominable；〃
says Moliere。
This was the state which the shepherd idyl； begun at five o'clock in the morning； had reached at half…past four in the afternoon。The sun was setting； their appetites were satisfied。
The Champs…Elysees； filled with sunshine and with people； were nothing but light and dust； the two things of which glory is posed。The horses of Marly； those neighing marbles； were prancing in a cloud of gold。
Carriages were going and ing。
A squadron of magnificent body…guards； with their clarions at their head； were descending the Avenue de Neuilly； the white flag； showing faintly rosy in the setting sun； floated over the dome of the Tuileries。The Place de la Concorde； which had bee the Place Louis XV。once more； was choked with happy promenaders。
Many wore the silver fleur…de…lys suspended from the white…watered ribbon； which had not yet wholly disappeared from button…holes in the year 1817。Here and there choruses of little girls threw to the winds； amid the passersby； who formed into circles and applauded； the then celebrated Bourbon air； which was destined to strike the Hundred Days with lightning； and which had for its refrain： 〃Rendez…nous notre pere de Gand； Rendez…nous notre pere。〃 〃Give us back our father from Ghent； Give us back our father。〃
Groups of dwellers in the suburbs； in Sunday array； sometimes even decorated with the fleur…de…lys； like the bourgeois； scattered over the large square and the Marigny square； were playing at rings and revolving on the wooden horses； others were engaged in drinking； some journeyman printers had on paper caps； their laughter was audible。Every thing was radiant。
It was a time of undisputed peace and profound royalist security； it was the epoch when a special and private report of Chief of Police Angeles to the King； on the subject of the suburbs of Paris； terminated with these lines：
〃Taking all things into consideration； Sire； there is nothing to be feared from these people。
They are as heedless and as indolent as cats。The populace is restless in the provinces； it is not in Paris。These are very pretty men； Sire。
It would take all of two of them to make one of your grenadiers。
There is nothing to be feared on the part of the populace of Paris the capital。
It is remarkable that the stature of this population should have diminished in the last fifty years； and the populace of the suburbs is still more puny than at the time of the Revolution。
It is not dangerous。In short； it is an amiable rabble。〃
Prefects of the police do not deem it possible that a cat can transform itself into a lion； that does happen； however； and in that lies the miracle wrought by the populace of Paris。
Moreover； the cat so despised by Count Angles possessed the esteem of the republics of old。In their eyes it was liberty incarnat