That is, however, a rather exaggerated boast. We do not precisely enjoy _liberty_ at the _Figaro_. M. de Latouche, our worthy director (ah! you ought to know the fellow), is always hanging over us, cutting, pruning, right or wrong, imposing upon us his whims, his aberrations, his fancies, and we have to write as he bids; for, after all, that is his affair. We are but his working tools. AURORE DUDEVANT: _Letter to M. Jules Boucoiran_, March, 1831, in ‘Letters of George Sand.’ * * * * * [Sidenote: Origin of her pseudonym.] The two young friends [Mme. Dudevant and Jules Sandeau] wrote a novel entitled ‘Rose et Blanche, ou la Comédienne et la Religieuse,’ which they sold for 400 francs.... But it was indispensable that the name of the author should be appended to the work. Madame Dudevant could not put her name to it for fear of a scandal; as for Sandeau, he was afraid of incurring the reproaches of his family, which objected to his pursuing a literary career. The name Sandeau was curtailed, and ‘Rose et Blanche’ appeared under the signature of _Jules Sand_. Shortly before the departure of Madame Dudevant for Nohant, where she was about to spend three months, it was arranged between herself and Sandeau that they should each contribute a portion of a novel, whose title was to be ‘Indiana.’ On her return to Paris our heroine called upon Sandeau in order to submit to him what she had done, and found that he had not yet written a single line of his allotted share of the work. He began to read the work of his collaborator, but had not proceeded beyond a few lines when he gave vent to enthusiastic expressions. “You have written a masterpiece!” “So much the better; let us go off at once to the publisher’s.” “Wait a moment; you wrote that work alone--you alone must sign it.” “Never! we will continue to sign _Jules Sand_.” “Not at all,” replied Sandeau; “I am too honest to rob you of your glory. My conscience would never fail to reproach me with such an action.” The young man was firm in his decision; and, in spite of the protests of M. de Latouche, declined to alter it. At last an idea struck the director of the _Figaro_. “You wrote ‘Rose et Blanche,’ and gave the name of its author as _Jules Sand_; Sand is, therefore, your common property. Madame needs only to select another Christian name. Now, madame, to-day is St. George’s Day. Call yourself _George Sand_, and the difficulty is solved.” Madame Dudevant assented, and thus assumed a name upon which her genius conferred more imperishable titles of nobility than had been bestowed upon her either by birth or marriage. RAPHAËL LEDOS DE BEAUFORT: _Biographical Sketch_, in ‘Letters of George Sand.’ * * * * * [Sidenote: Another account.]