"This, messieurs and mesdames, shows you the interior of the palace of the great Kin-Kin-Li-King, Emperor of China and King of all the Pekins. You perceive him seated in his beautiful gilt armchair of state, in full ceremonial costume, surrounded by learned mandarins and national guardsmen. He is giving a public audience and receiving petitions from all the Chinese of the suburbs. Observe, in a corner, that father leaning on his daughter and a bamboo stick; he has come to demand justice upon a seducer who has made that poor innocent creature the mother of five little children, and who feeds them on blows alone. See, messieurs, how the ill-fated father's features gleam with wrath and indignation; read the sorrow, pain, and repentance in the girl's eyes. That man just to the left, wrapped in a brown cloak, with only his nose visible, is the seducer, awaiting his condemnation. See how pale and cadaverous his face is, how hollow his eyes, and how tremulous his gait; well he knows that he will not be let off cheap. Farther on, in the background----" A stout female appeared at this juncture, panting for breath, and interrupted the explanation of the picture. I presumed that it was Madame Trousquin, and the dialogue that ensued between her and the owner of the lantern proved to me that my conjecture was well founded. MONSIEUR TROUSQUIN. Ah! here you are at last, you cursed street walker!--Farther away, in the background--(_To his wife._) You'll pay me for this, that's all I've got to say to you!--Farther away, in the background, that wretched creature whom the guards are taking away, and who is struggling and writhing as if he had the colic, is a deserter, who has just deserted and was going to the enemy's camp on treason bent; his business will soon be settled; he'll be shot and then hung. MADAME TROUSQUIN. (_during her husband's explanation_). Hoity-toity! what are you making so much noise about? Didn't I have to put Fifi to bed and make the soup? And I'd like to know if it ain't a good, long walk from the Champs-Élysées to Rue Jean-Pain-Mollet! MONSIEUR TROUSQUIN. You lie, I tell you; you went off at five o'clock, and here it is nine. Where in the devil have you been? Pull the cord. Madame Trousquin placed on a stool a bowl which she had under her apron, then assumed her post on that side of the lantern from which the change of pictures was operated. MONSIEUR TROUSQUIN. This, messieurs and mesdames, represents a view of Athens, in Greece.--(_To his wife._) Put my soup on the charcoal and tell me where you've been. MADAME TROUSQUIN. Why, I've been at home, I tell you, you jealous fool! I met Angélique and talked with her a minute. Have you much of an audience? MONSIEUR TROUSQUIN.