"Very good, mademoiselle," said Reverchon. "The Diana prize especially was very well run. Plume de coq, that they reckoned at thirty-five, was beaten by Basilicate by two lengths. It was very exciting. The hacks was a very good race, too, although the ground was rather hard." "Who is the Russian lady who drives four-in-hand, M. Reverchon?" asked Mme. Davarande. "Mme. de Rissleff. She has some splendid horses, some thoroughbred Orloffs." "You ought to join the Jockey Club, Jules, for the races," said Mme. Davarande, turning to her husband. "I think it is so common to be with everybody. Really if one has any respect for one's self--a woman I mean--there is no place but the jockey stand." "Ah, a mushroom patty!" exclaimed M. Barousse. "Your cook is surpassing herself, she really is a veritable _cordon-bleu_. I shall have to pay her my compliments before leaving." "I thought you never eat that dish," said Mme. Mauperin. "I did not eat it in 1848--and I did not eat it up to the second of December. Do you think the police had time then to inspect mushrooms? But now that there is order again." "Henriette," said Mme. Mauperin to Mme. Davarande, "I must scold your husband. He neglects us. We have not seen you for three weeks, M. Davarande." "Oh, my dear mother, if you only knew all I have had to do! You know I am on very good terms with Georges. His father has his time taken up at the Chamber and the business falls on Georges as principal. There are hundreds of things that he can only trust to people in whom he has confidence--friends, in fact. There was that big affair--that _debut_ at the Opera. There was no end of interviews and parleyings and journeys backward and forward. It would not have done to have had any strife between the two ministries. Oh, we have been very busy lately. He is so considerate that I could not----" "So considerate?" put in Denoisel. "He might pay your cab-fares at least. It's more than two years since he promised you a sub-prefectship." "My dear Denoisel, it's more difficult than you imagine. And then, too, when one does not care about going too far from Paris. Besides, between ourselves, I can tell you that it's almost arranged. In about a month from now I have every reason to believe----" "What _debut_ were you speaking of?" asked Barousse. "Bradizzi's," answered Davarande. "Ah, Bradizzi! Isn't she astounding!" said Reverchon. "She has some runs that are wonderfully light. The other day I was in the manager's box on the stage and we couldn't hear her touch the ground when she was dancing." "We expected to see you yesterday evening, Henri," said Mme. Davarande to her brother. "Yesterday I was at my lecture," he answered. "Henri has been appointed reporter," said Mme. Mauperin proudly. "Ah," put in Denoisel, "the d'Aguesseau lecture? That's still going on then, your speechifying affair? How many are there in it?" "Two hundred." "And all statesmen? It's quite alarming. What were you to report on?"