have lived their bachelor life; they have been over head and ears in
pleasure, and make the most adorable wives that could be wished; they
have nothing to learn, they are formed, they are not in the least
prudish; they are well broken in, and indulgent. So I strongly
recommend everybody to take the "remains of a racer." I am the most
fortunate man on earth.'

"Du Bruel said this to me himself with Bixiou there to hear it.

"'My dear fellow,' said the caricaturist, 'perhaps he is right to be
in the wrong.'

"About a week afterwards, du Bruel asked us to dine with him one
Tuesday. That morning I went to see him on a piece of theatrical
business, a case submitted to us for arbitration by the commission of
dramatic authors. We were obliged to go out again; but before we
started he went to Claudine's room, knocked, as he always does, and
asked for leave to enter.

"'We live in grand style,' said he, smiling; 'we are free. Each is
independent.'

"We were admitted. Du Bruel spoke to Claudine. 'I have asked a few
people to dinner to-day--"

"'Just like you!' cried she. 'You ask people without speaking to me;
I count for nothing here.--Now' (taking me as arbitrator by a glance)
'I ask you yourself. When a man has been so foolish as to live with a
woman of my sort; for, after all, I was an opera dancer--yes, I ought
always to remember that, if other people are to forget it--well, under