She had met me in the ante-room, and, taking my arm within hers, led me into the _salon_. It was already filled with company, the majority of which were gentlemen. Having found room for us on a sofa, and seated herself next to me, she said-- "I will present whomsoever you choose to know; but before I bring anybody up, I must explain who they all are." I expressed my gratitude, and she began:--"That tall gentleman is a great republican, and one of the most respectable that we have left of the _clique_. The party is very nearly worn out among the _gens comme il faut_. His father, however, is of the same party, and still more violent, I believe, than himself. Heaven knows what they would be at!... But they are both deputies, and if they died to-morrow, would have, either father or son, a very considerable mob to follow them to Père Lachaise; not to mention the absolute necessity which I am sure there would be to have troops out: c'est toujours quelque chose, n'est-ce pas? I know that you hate them all--and, to say truth, so do I too;--mais, chère amie! qu'est-ce que cela fait? I thought you would like to see them: they really begin to get very scarce in _salons_." I assured her that she was quite right, and that nothing in the whole Jardin des Plantes could amuse me better. "Ah ça!" she rejoined, laughing; "voilà ce que c'est d'être raisonnable. Mais regardez ce beau garçon leaning against the chimneypiece. He is one of _les fidèles sans tache_. Is he not handsome? I have him at all my parties; and even the ministers' ladies declare that he is perfectly charming." "And that little odd-looking man in black," said I, "who is he?... What a contrast!" "N'est-ce pas? Do they not group well together? That is just the sort of thing I like--it amuses everybody: besides, I assure you, he is a very remarkable person,--in short, it is M----, the celebrated atheist. He writes for the ----. But the Institute won't have him: however, he is excessively talked of--and that is everything.... Then I have two peers, both of them highly distinguished. There is M. de ----, who, you know, is King Philippe's right hand; and the gentleman sitting down just behind him is the dear old Duc de ----, who lived ages in exile with Louis Dix-huit.... That person almost at your elbow, talking to the lady in blue, is the Comte de P----, a most exemplary Catholic, who always followed Charles Dix in all religious processions. He was half distracted, poor man! at the last revolution; but they say he is going to dine with King Philippe next week: I long to ask him if it is true, but I am afraid, for fear he should be obliged to answer 'Yes;'--that would be so embarrassing!... Oh, by the way, that is a peer that you are looking at now;--he has refused to sit on the trial.... Now, have I not done _l'impossible_ for you?"