Page:The Czar, A Tale of the Time of the First Napleon.djvu/279

Rh Such an outburst from Clémence was rare indeed. It would not have been possible, had not the newly-found balm of hope taken the sting out of the old wound, and brought the Moscow retreat within the category of things that could be spoken about.

"These are not the grounds upon which ladies form their estimates of character," Emile returned, a little superciliously. "Oh no! When Napoleon wished to see a lady, he simply ordered her to come to him. This Russian autocrat, in the like case, sends his aide-de-camp to inquire whether madame proposes remaining at home this afternoon, as, if so, he hopes to have the pleasure of waiting upon her. After that, what fair lady could suspend her judgment for a moment? Trust the dear creatures, one and all, to prefer the finely-polished pebble to the diamond in the rough."

"Does the polish prove the pebble, or the roughness the diamond?" asked Clémence demurely.

"The polish, at all events, takes with the multitude," resumed the indignant Emile. "High and low alike have gone out of their senses about this Alexander. The canaille of St. Antoine are as bad as the habitués of St. Germain. Every word he utters flies from lip to lip, as if it were inspired. 'Ah, sire, why did you not come to us before?' ask the deputies of the municipality. 'It was the valour of your armies that detained me,' says Alexander; and all Paris is delighted. I am bound to own he has kind words for all, and kind deeds as well—so far."

"There is but one question of absorbing interest for us, and for France," said Madame de Talmont. "Does he—do the Allies intend to use their influence for the restoration of our rightful king?"

"That I scarcely know," said Emile. "I do know, however, that the streets are full of white cockades; every hour one sees more of them. And I hear that the Emperor of Russia and the King of Prussia have been deep in consultation with that