That the speculation, as such, has been successful, I have no doubt. This play, for instance, has been very generally talked of, and many have gone to see it, not only on its own account, but in order to behold the novel spectacle of Mademoiselle Mars _en lutte_ with an actress from La Porte St. Martin. As for Madame Dorval, I imagine she must be a very effective melodramatic performer when seen in her proper place; but, however it may have flattered her vanity, I do not think it can have added to her fame to bring her into this dangerous competition. As an actress, she is, I think, to Mademoiselle Mars much what Victor Hugo is to Racine,--and perhaps we shall hear that she has "heaved the ground from under her." Among various stories floating about on the subject of the new play and its author, I heard one which came from a gentleman who has long been in habits of intimacy with M. Hugo. He went, as in duty bound, to see the tragedy, and had immediately afterwards to face his friend. The embarrassment of the situation required to be met by presence of mind and a _coup de main_: he showed himself, however, equal to the exigency; he spoke not a word, but rushing towards the author, threw his arms round him, and held him long in a close and silent embrace. Another pleasantry on the same subject reached me in the shape of four verses, which are certainly droll enough; but I suspect that they must have been written in honour, not of "Angelo," but of some one of the tragedies in verse--"Le Roi s'amuse," perhaps, for they mimic the harmony of some of the lines to be found there admirably. "Où, ô Hugo! huchera-t-on ton nom? Justice encore rendu, que ne t'a-t-on? Quand donc au corps qu'académique on nomme, Grimperas-tu de roc en roc, rare homme?" And now farewell to Victor Hugo! I promise to trouble you with him no more; but the consequence which has been given to his name in England, has induced me to speak thus fully of the estimation in which I find him held in France. "RARE HOMME!" FOOTNOTE: [1] Vent-hole. LETTER LXV. Boulevard des Italiens.--Tortoni's.--Thunder-storm.--Church of the Madeleine.--Mrs. Butler's "Journal."