Tes bracelets?... Mais, tes bras nus: Tu paraitras cent fois plus belle! Sur les bras polis de Vénus, Aucun cercle d’or n’étincelle! Garde ton charme si puissant! Ton parfum de plante sauvage! Laisse les bijoux, _O Passant_, A celles que le temps ravage! Avec ta guitare à ton cou, Va, par la France et par l’Espagne! Suis ton chemin; je ne sais où.... Par la plaine et par la montagne! Passe, comme la plume au vent! Comme le son de ta mandore! Comme un flot qui baise en rêvant Les flancs d’une barque sonore! The proprietor of one of the hotels now very much in vogue sent me the following letter, which I quote word for word: MADAME: If you would consent to dine every evening for a month in our large dining-room, I would place at your service a suite of rooms on the first floor, consisting of two bedrooms, a large drawing-room, a small boudoir and a bath room. It is of course, understood that this suite of rooms would be yours free of charge if you would consent to do as I ask. Yours truly, etc.... P. S.—You would only have to pay for the fresh supplies of plants for your drawing-room. This was the extent of the man’s coarseness. I asked one of my friends to go and give the low fellow his answer. I was in despair, though, for I felt that I could not live without comfort and luxury. I soon made up my mind as to what I must do, but not without great sorrow. I had been offered a magnificent engagement in Russia, and I should have to accept it. Mme. Guérard was my sole confidant, and I did not mention my plan to anyone else. The idea of Russia terrified her, for at that time my chest was very delicate and cold was my most cruel enemy. It was just as I had made up my mind to this that the lawyer arrived. His avaricious and crafty mind had schemed out the clever and, for him, profitable combination, which was to change my whole life once more.