The ceremony was very fine. It was at the church of Sainte Clotilde; all the Faubourg St. Germain was there, delighted at Kondje-Gul's conversion, and with her beauty, her charming manners, and the romance connected with our marriage. Everyone was there who has made any name in the world of art, not to speak of that of finance. There was Baron Rothschild, who had a long conversation with my uncle. Three special correspondents for London newspapers were present, and all our own Paris reporters. High Mass, full choral; Faure sang his _Pie Jesus_, Madame Carvalho and Adelina Patti the _Credo_. At the entrance, the crowd nearly crushed us. Barbassou-Pasha, Count of Monteclaro, gave his arm to the bride. Poor Kondje, what agitation, what emotion, what delight she evinced! I escorted Madame Murrah in a splendid costume, tamed but very dignified still, and playing her part with noble airs, like a fatalist. "It was written!" She started off the same day to Rhodes, where my uncle is finding a position for her--as head manager of his Botany Bay. The Countess of Monteclaro was there, and Anna Campbell was smiling all over as she acted, in company with Maud and Susannah Montague, as bridesmaid to her friend Kondje-Gul. It took them all exactly an hour to pass in procession through the vestry. We had to sign the register there, and my uncle headed it with his self-assumed title of "_The late_ Barbassou," to which he clings. Then came the deluge of congratulations, my beautiful Christian wife blushing in her emotion, with her garland of orange-flowers. (Well, yes! And why not? It's the custom, you know.) At two o'clock, back to the house, a family love-feast, and preparations for the flight of the young couple to Ferouzat. Peace and joy in all hearts. My uncle, at last admitted to absolution, quivering with pleasure at hearing my aunt Eudoxia calling him no longer "Pasha," but "Captain," as of old. Everywhere Love and Spring! Come now, Louis, quite seriously, are you, who have made the experiment, quite sure that one heart suffices for one veritable love? I am anxious to know. When evening arrived, the Count and Countess of Monteclaro accompanied us to the railway station. They will join us at the end of the month. I leave you to imagine for yourself all the kisses and salutations, promises and grandparents' advice. While my aunt was exhorting Kondje-Gul, my uncle favoured me with a few words on his part. "You see," he said to me quietly, standing by the side of our carriage, "there is one thing which it is indispensable for you not to forget, and that is never on any account to have _two wives_--in the same town!" Louis, I think my uncle is a little wanting in principle. [Illustration]