human
Do you know, my dear boy, there would not be so crowded or fashionable an audience to witness Racine's Athalia?
gpt
Undoubtedly. What is the beggarly howling of an actor, compared to the roaring of the lion?
human
I cannot understand how the authorities permit this Morok to fasten his panther with a chain to an iron ring in the corner of the stage. If the chain were to break?
gpt
Talking of broken chains--there's little Mme. de Blinville, who is no tigress. Do you see her in the second tier, opposite?
human
It becomes her very well to have broken, as you say, the marriage chain; she looks very well this season.
gpt
Oh! there is the beautiful Duchess de Saint-Prix; all the world is here to-night--I don't speak of ourselves.
human
It is a regular opera night--what a festive scene!
gpt
Well, after all, people do well to amuse themselves, perhaps it will not be for long.
human
Why so?
gpt
Suppose the cholera were to come to Paris?
human
Oh! nonsense!
gpt
Do you believe in the cholera?
human
To be sure I do! He's coming from the North, with his walking-stick under his arm.
gpt
The devil take him on the road! don't let us see his green visage here.
human
They say he's at London.
gpt
A pleasant journey to him.
human
Come, let us talk of something else; it may be a weakness, if you please, but I call this a dull subject.
gpt
I believe you.
human
Oh! gentlemen--I am not mistaken--no--it is she!
gpt
Who, then?
human
Mdlle. de Cardoville! She is coming into the stage-box with Morinval and his wife. It is a complete resuscitation: this morning on the Champs-Elysees; in the evening here.
gpt
Faith, you are right! It is Mdlle. de Cardoville.
human
Good heaven! how lovely she is!
gpt
Lend me your eyeglass.
human
Well, what do you think of her?
gpt
Exquisite--dazzling.
human
And in addition to her beauty, an inexhaustible flow of wit, three hundred thousand francs a year, high birth, eighteen years of age, and--free as air.
gpt
Yes, that is to say, that, provided it pleased her, I might be to morrow--or even to-day--the happiest of men.
human
It is enough to turn one's brain.
gpt
I am told that her mansion, Rue d'Anjou, is like an enchanted palace; a great deal is said about a bath-room and bedroom, worthy of the Arabian Nights.
human
And free as air--I come back to that.
gpt
Ah! if I were in her place!
human
My levity would be quite shocking.
gpt
Oh! gentlemen, what a happy man will he be who is loved first!
human
You think, then, that she will have many lovers?
gpt
Being as free as air--
human
All the boxes are full, except the stage-box opposite to that in which Mdlle. de Cardoville is seated. Happy the occupiers of that box!
gpt
Did you see the English ambassador's lady in the dress circle?
human
And the Princess d'Alvimar--what an enormous bouquet!
gpt
I should like to know the name--of that nosegay.
human
Oh!--it's Germigny.
gpt
How flattering for the lions and tigers, to attract so fashionable an audience.
human
Do you notice, gentlemen, how all the women are eye-glassing Mdlle. de Cardoville?
gpt
She makes a sensation.
human
She is right to show herself; they gave her out as mad.
gpt
Oh! gentlemen, what a capital phiz!
human
Where--where?
gpt
There--in the omnibus-box beneath Mdlle. de Cardoville's.
human
It's a Nuremburg nutcracker.
gpt
An ourang-outang!
human
Did you ever see such round, staring eyes?
gpt
And the nose!
human
And the forehead!
gpt
It's a caricature.
human
Order, order! the curtain rises.