"Why have you not one now?" "Ah! my dear fellow, ideas are capricious damsels which will not let themselves be taken except when they fancy, and the whim of my idea is not to produce anything until after the refusal of the grand-ducal censorship." "All right, we must humour your fancy I suppose." Doligny went away in despair at the probable refusal which threatened him, and yet with a certain degree of hopefulness in the idea that might spring up from that refusal. Three day later I saw him again. Owing to the protection of Belloc the ambassador, a delightful man, the refusal was only delayed for three days. This was a great favour; it might have been put off for a month, six weeks--for ever! "Well?" I said, when I caught sight of Doligny. "Well, as you said." "Refused?" "Refused." "What plays did you send?" "_Richard Darlington, Antony, Angèle, La Tour de Nesle._" "Heavens! You went to work with a vengeance! the four most immoral plays of an immoral author." "Do you think if I had sent others?" "Useless." "Then, the only thing left is to make use of your idea!" "You had set special store by those four plays?" "I believe they would have produced the best results. However, if you think you can obtain leave for others more easily...." "Oh! that does not matter." "Why?" "Well, I have taken upon me to obtain permission, that is all you mind about?" "Of course! will you undertake that." "I win." I picked up my hat. "You are going?" "Come with me." "I will follow you with confidence." "That is right." I was writing at that time a big 'work on painting, entitled _La Galerie des Offices._ I took Doligny to the printer's. "My dear Batelli," I said as I entered, "you must do me a service." "With pleasure, Monsou Doumasse." "This is it." "What is it?" "I want you to re-bind these four plays, to change the four titles and to put another author's name to them." "That is easy enough. Just tell me exactly what you want." "You see this one?" "_Richard Darlington,_ drama in three acts of seven scenes, by Monsou Alessandre Doumasse." "Just so. Very well, you must substitute _L'Ambitieux ou le Fils du bourreau,_ by M. Eugène Scribe." "Bene! Next?" "You see this?" "_Angèle,_ drama in five acts by Monsou Alessandre Doumasse." "You must put: _L'Échelle de femmes,_ by M. Eugène Scribe." "Bene! Next?" "You see this one?" "_Antony,_ drama in five acts by Monsou Alessandre Doumasse." "Put _L'Assassin par amour,_ by M. Eugène Scribe." "Bene! Next?" "You see this one?" _"La Tour de Nesle,_ by MM. Gaillardet et * * *." "Put: _L'Adultère puni,_ by M. Eugène Scribe." "Bene! bene!" In an hour's time, the bindings were set up, sewed, and glued; the same day the four plays were deposited on the censor's desk. Three days after they were returned signed for permission.