On the appointed day, Madame de Marsan went to her country house, where all the actors were to report a week before the performance, in order to have plenty of time to rehearse and arrange the stage business. Raymond, who had left me in peace for some time, came to me now every morning to urge me to hear him repeat the rôle of Bartholo; and as he was to appear in _Fanchon_ also, in the part of the Abbé de Lattaignant, I must needs teach him the airs he had to sing; for, although he held himself out as a great musician, it took him a fortnight to learn a vaudeville couplet, even though he always had some score or other in his pocket. "They'd have done much better to give some short new play instead of this interminable _Fanchon_," my neighbor said to me every morning. "I'd have written one myself! indeed, I have some all written, which would be just the thing for amateurs!" "You ought to suggest them." "Pshaw! there's that Madame Saint-Marc, Madame de Marsan's friend, who's determined to play Fanchon, because, I suppose, she thinks she's very pretty _en marmotte_. And that tall thin fellow who wants to play Sainte-Luce--we shall see how it goes. I myself could have played the officer much better than the abbé; the part's better suited to my figure and style; however, I'm willing to take the other part to oblige; I sacrifice myself. I hope, however, that if we have time, before the fête, they'll play my little opera, _Les Amants Protégés par Vénus_; there are only three short acts, but very spectacular. Listen, this is the first----" "I'm studying my part." "Never mind, I want you to judge of the effect. The stage represents a magnificent country house, where preparations for the wedding of the lovers are in progress. The princess begins and says: "'Prince, 'tis here that we're to be united. How happy I am! how----'" I listened no longer; and although the fête was not to come off for ten days, I rid myself of Raymond by leaving Paris for Madame de Marsan's country house, where I was not sorry to arrive in advance of the rest of the guests. I hoped there to find a more favorable opportunity; and opportunity is such a precious thing! Many people have owed their happiness to it; all that is necessary is to know enough to grasp it. This time I had obtained such directions as were necessary to prevent my going astray, and in due time I arrived at Madame de Marsan's estate. It was almost a little château; the situation was delightful, the surroundings beautiful; the gardens seemed quite extensive and very well kept, the apartments decorated with refined taste, and so well arranged that a large number of guests could easily be accommodated. But I postponed my examination of these details, being in haste to present my respects to the mistress of the house. "Madame is alone," said the maid; "none of the guests have arrived yet." I had hoped that that would be the case. "And Monsieur de Marsan?"