the memoirs of victor hugo-第17部分

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The　other　day　there　was　a　masked　and　costumed　ball；　but　only　for　the　family　and　the　intimate　court　circlethe　princesses　and　ladies　of　honour。　　M。　de　Joinville　appeared　all　in　rags；　in　complete　Chicard　costume。　　He　was　extravagantly　gay　and　danced　a　thousand　unheard…of　dances。　　These　capers；　prohibited　elsewhere；　rendered　the　Queen　thoughtful。　　〃Wherever　did　he　learn　all　this？〃　she　asked；　and　added：　〃What　naughty　dances！　　Fie！〃　Then　she　murmured：　〃How　graceful　he　is！〃

Mme。　de　Joinville　was　dressed　as　a　bargee　and　affected　the　manner　of　a　street　gamin。　　She　likes　to　go　to　those　places　that　the　court　detests　the　most；　*the　theatres　and　concerts　of　the　boulevards*。

The　other　day　she　greatly　shocked　Mme。　de　Hall；　the　wife　of　an　admiral；　who　is　a　Protestant　and　Puritan；　by　asking　her：　〃Madame；　have　you　seen　the　〃Closerie　des　Genêts〃？〃



The　Prince　de　Joinville　had　imagined　a　nuisance　that　exasperated　the　Queen。　　He　procured　an　old　barrel　organ　somewhere；　and　would　enter　her　apartments　playing　it　and　singing　in　a　hoarse；　grating　voice。　　The　Queen　laughed　at　first。　　But　it　lasted　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　half　an　hour。　〃Joinville；　stop　it！〃　　He　continued　to　grind　away。　〃Joinville；　go　away！〃　　The　prince；　driven　out　of　one　door；　entered　by　another　with　his　organ；　his　songs　and　his　hoarseness。　　Finally　the　Queen　fled　to　the　King's　apartments。

The　Duchess　d'Aumale　did　not　speak　French　very　fluently；　but　as　soon　as　she　began　to　speak　Italian；　the　Italian　of　Naples；　she　thrilled　like　a　fish　that　falls　back　into　the　water；　and　gesticulated　with　Neapolitan　verve。　〃Put　your　hands　in　your　pockets；〃　the　Duke　d'Aumale　would　say　to　her。　　〃I　shall　have　to　have　your　hands　tied。　Why　do　you　gesticulate　like　that？〃

〃I　didn't　notice　it；〃　the　princess　would　reply。

〃That　is　true；　she　doesn't　notice　it；〃　said　the　Prince　to　me　one　day。　　〃You　wouldn't　believe　it；　but　my　mother；　who　is　so　dignified；　so　cold；　so　reserved　when　she　is　speaking　French；　begins　gesticulating　like　Punchinello　when　by　chance　she　speaks　Neapolitan。〃

The　Duke　de　Montpensier　salutes　passers…by　graciously　and　gaily。　　The　Duke　d'Aumale　does　not　salute　more　often　than　he　is　compelled　to；　at　Neuilly　they　say　he　is　afraid　of　ruffling　his　hair。　　The　Duke　de　Nemours　manifests　less　eagerness　than　the　Duke　de　Montpensier　and　less　negligence　than　the　Duke　d'Aumale；　moreover；　women　say　that　when　saluting　them　he　looks　at　them　in　a　most　embarrassing　way。



Donizetti's　〃Elixir　of　Love〃　was　performed　at　court　on　February　5；　1847；　by　the　Italian　singers；　the　Persiani；　Mario；　Tagliafico。　　Ronconi　acted　（acted　is　the　word；　for　he　acted　very　well）　the　role　of　Dulcamara；　usually　represented　by　Lablache。　　It　was　in　the　matter　of　size；　but　not　of　talent；　a　giant　in　the　place　of　a　dwarf。　　The　decoration　of　the　theatre　at　the　Tuileries　was　then　still　the　same　as　it　had　been　in　the　time　of　the　Empiredesigns　in　gold　on　a　grey　background；　the　ensemble　being　cold　and　pale。

There　were　few　pretty　women　present。　　Mme。　Cuvillier…Floury　was　the　prettiest；　Mme。　V。　H。　the　most　handsome。　The　men　were　in　uniform　or　full　evening　dress。　　Two　officers　of　the　Empire　were　conspicuous　in　their　uniforms　of　that　period。　　Count　Dutaillis；　a　one…armed　soldier　of　the　Empire；　wore　the　old　uniform　of　a　general　of　division；　embroidered　with　oak　leaves　to　the　facings。　　The　big　straight　collar　reached　to　his　occiput；　his　star　of　the　Legion　of　Honour　was　all　dented；　his　embroidery　was　rusty　and　dull。　　Count　de　Lagrange；　an　old　beau；　wore　a　white　spangled　waistcoat；　black　silk　breeches；　white；　or　rather　pink；　stockings；　shoes　with　buckles　on　them；　a　sword　at　his　side；　a　black　dress　coat；　and　a　peer's　hat　with　white　plumes　in　it。　　Count　Dutaillis　was　a　greater　success　than　Count　de　Lagrange。　　The　one　recalled　Monaco　and　Trenitz；　the　other　recalled　Wagram。

M。　Thiers；　who　the　previous　day　had　made　a　somewhat　poor　speech；　carried　opposition　to　the　point　of　wearing　a　black　cravat。

The　Duchess　de　Montpensier；　who　had　attained　her　fifteenth　birthday　eight　days　before；　wore　a　large　crown　of　diamonds　and　looked　very　pretty。　　M。　de　Joinville　was　absent。　　The　three　other　princes　were　there　in　lieutenant…general's　uniform　with　the　star　and　grand　cordon　of　the　Legion　of　Honour。　　M。　de　Montpensier　alone　wore　the　order　of　the　Golden　Fleece。

Mme。　Ronconi；　a　handsome　person；　but　of　a　wild　and　savage　beauty；　was　in　a　small　box　on　the　stage；　in　rear　of　the　proscenium。　　She　attracted　much　attention。

There　was　no　applause；　which　chilled　the　singers　and　everybody　else。

Five　minutes　before　the　piece　terminated　the　King　began　to　pack　up。　　He　folded　his　programme　and　put　it　in　his　pocket；　then　he　wiped　the　glasses　of　his　opera…glass；　closed　it　up　carefully；　looked　round　for　the　case　which　he　had　laid　on　his　chair；　placed　the　glass　in　it　and　adjusted　the　hooks　very　scrupulously。　　There　was　a　good　deal　of　character　in　his　methodical　manner。

M。　de　Rambuteau　was　there。　　His　latest　〃rambutisms〃　（the　word　was　Alexis　de　Saint…Priest's）　were　recounted　among　the　audience。　　It　was　said　that　on　the　last　day　of　the　year　M。　de　Rambuteau　wrote　on　his　card：　〃M。　de　Rambuteau　et　Venus；〃　or　as　a　variation：　〃M。　de　Rambuteau；　Venus　en　personne。〃



Wednesday；　February　24；　the　Duke　de　Nemours　gave　a　concert　at　the　Tuileries。　　The　singers　were　Mlle。　Grisi；　Mme。　Persiani；　a　Mme。　Corbari；　Mario；　Lablache　and　Ronconi。　　M。　Aubert；　who　conducted；　did　not　put　any　of　his　own　music　on　the　programme：　Rossini；　Mozart；　and　Donizetti；　that　was　all。

The　guests　arrived　at　half…past　eight。　　The　Duke　de　Nemours　lives　on　the　first　floor　of　the　Pavilion　de　Marsan；　over　the　apartments　of　the　Duchess　d'Orleans。　　The　guests　waited　in　a　first　salon　until　the　doors　of　the　grand　salon　were　opened；　the　women　seated；　the　men　standing。　　As　soon　as　the　prince　and　princess　appeared　the　doors　were　thrown　wide　open　and　everybody　went　in。　　This　grand　salon　is　a　very　fine　room。　　The　ceiling　is　evidently　of　the　time　of　Louis　XIV。　　The　wails　are　hung　with　green　damask　striped　with　gold。　　The　inner　window　curtains　are　of　red　damask。　　The　furniture　is　in　green　and　gold　damask。　　The　ensemble　is　royal。

The　King　and　Queen　of　the　Belgians　were　at　this　concert。　　The　Duke　de　Nemours　entered　with　the　Queen；　his　sister；　upon　his　arm；　the　King　giving　his　arm　to　the　Duchess　de　Nemours。　　Mmes。　d'Aumale　and　de　Montpensier　followed。　　The　Queen　of　the　Belgians　resembles　the　Queen　of　the　French；　save　in　the　matter　of　age。　　She　wore　a　sky…blue　toque；　Mme。　d'Aumale　a　wreath　of　roses；　Mme。　de　Montpensier　a　diadem　of　diamonds；　Mme。　de　Nemours　her　golden　hair。　　The　four　princesses　sat　in　high…backed　chairs　opposite　the　piano；　all　the　other　women　sat　behind　them；　the　men　were　in　the　rear；　filling　the　doorway　and　the　first　salon。　　The　King　of　the　Belgians　has　a　rather　handsome　and　grave　face；　and　a　delicate　and　agreeable　smile；　he　was　seated　to　the　left　of　the　princesses。

The　Duke　de　Brogue　sat　on　his　left。　　Next　to　the　Duke　were　Count　Mole　and　M。　Dupin　senior。　　M。　de　Salvandy；　seeing　an　empty　chair　to　the　right　of　the　King；　seated　himself　upon　it。　　All　five　wore　the　red　sash；　including　M。　Dupin。　　These　four　men　about　the　King　of　the　Belgians　represented　the　old　military　nobility；　the　parliamentary　aristocracy；　the　pettifogging　bourgeoisie；　and　moonshine　literature；　that　is　to　say；　a　little　of　what　France　possesses　that　is　illustrious；　and　a　little　of　what　she　possesses　that　is　ridiculous。

MM。　d'Aumale　and　de　Montpensier　were　to　the　right　in　the　recess　of　a　window　with　the　Duke　of　Wurtemberg；　whom　they　called　their　〃brother　Alexander。〃　All　the　princes　wore　the　grand　cordon　and　star　of　Leopold　in　honour　of　the　King　of　the　Belgians；　MM。　de　Nemours　and　de　Montpensier　also　wore　the　Golden　Fleece。　　The　Fleece　of　M。　de　Montpensier　was　of　diamonds；　and　magnificent。

The　Italian　singers　sang　standing　by　the　piano。　　When　seated　they　occupied　chairs　with　wooden　backs。

The　Prince　de　Joinville　was　absent；　as　was　also　his　wife。　It　was　said　that　lately　he　was　the　hero　of　a　love　affair。　　M。　de　Joinville　is　prodigiously　strong。　　I　heard　a　big　lackey　behind　me　say：　〃I　shouldn't　care　to　receive　a　slap　from　him。〃　　While　he　was　strolling　to　his　rendezvous　M。　de　Joinville　thought　he　noticed　that　he　was　being　followed。　He　turned　back；　went　up　to　the　fellow　and　struck　him。

After　the　first　part　of　the　concert　MM。　d'Aumale　and　de　Montpensier　came　into　the　other　salon　where　I　had　taken　refuge　with　Théophile　Gautier；　and　we　chatted　for　fully　an　hour。　　The　two　princes　spoke　to　me　at　length　about　literary　matters；　about　〃Les　Burgraves；〃　〃Ruy　Blas；〃　〃Lucrèce　Borgia；〃　Mme。　Halley；　Mlle。　Georges；　and　Frédérick　Lemaitre。　　Also　a　good　deal　about　Spain；　the　royal　wedding；　bull…fights；　hand…kissings；　and　etiquette；　that　M。　de　Montpensier　〃detests。〃　　〃The　Spaniards　love　royalty；〃　he　added；　〃and　especially　etiquette。　　In　politics　as　in　religion　they　are　bigots　rather　than　believers。　　They　were　greatly　shocked　during　the　wedding　fetes　because　the　Queen　one　day　dared　to　venture　out　afoot！〃

MM。　d'Aumale　and　de　Montpensier　are　charming　young　men；　bright；　gay；　gracious；　witty；　sincere；　full　of　that　ease　that　communicates　itself　to　others。　　They　have　a　fine　air。　They　are　princes；　they　are　perhaps　men　of　intellect。　　M。　de　Nemours　is　embarrassed　and　embarrassing。　　When　he　comes　towards　you　with　his　blond　whiskers；　his　blue　eyes；　his　red　sash；　his　white　waistcoat　and　his　melancholy　air　he　perturbs　you。　　He　never　looks　you　in　the　face。　　He　always　casts　about　for　something　to　say　and　never　knows　what　he　does　say。




November　5；　1847。

Four　years　ago　the　Duke　d'Aumale　was　in　barracks　at　Courbevoie　with　the　17th；　of　which　he　was　then　colonel。　During　the　summer；　in　the　morning；　after　the　manoeuvres　which　took　place　at　Neuilly；　he　frequently　strolled　back　along　the　river　bank；　alone；　his　hands　behind　his　back。　Nearly　every　day　he　happened　upon　a　pretty　girl　named　Adele　Protat；　who　every　morning　went　from　Courbevoie　to　Neuilly　and　returned　at　the　same　hour　as　M。　d'Aumale。　　The　young　girl　noticed　the　young　officer　in　undress　uniform；　but　was　not　aware　that　he　was　a　prince。　At　length　they　struck　up　an　acquaintance；　and　walked　and　chatted　together。　　Under　the　influence　of　the　sun；　the　flowers；　and　the　fine　mornings　something　very