The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. TitmarshThackeray, William Makepeace
General
The Paris Sketch Book of Mr. M. A. Titmarsh
Thackeray, William Makepeace
Paris (France) -- Description and travel
The Baroness smiled most graciously—with such a look as Juno cast upon
unfortunate Jupiter when she wished to gain her wicked ends upon
him—the Baroness smiled; and, stealing her hand into a black velvet
bag, drew from it an ivory card-case, and from the ivory card-case
extracted a glazed card, printed in gold; on it was engraved a coronet,
and under the coronet the words
BARONNE DE FLORVAL-DELVAL,
NÉE DE MELVAL-NORVAL.
_Rue Taitbout_.
The grand Pitt diamond—the Queen’s own star of the garter—a sample of
otto-of-roses at a guinea a drop, would not be handled more curiously,
or more respectfully, than this porcelain card of the Baroness.
Trembling he put it into his little Russia-leather pocket-book: and
when he ventured to look up, and saw the eyes of the Baroness de
Florval-Delval, née de Melval-Norval, gazing upon him with friendly and
serene glances, a thrill of pride tingled through Pogson’s blood: he
felt himself to be the very happiest fellow “on the Continent.”
But Pogson did not, for some time, venture to resume that sprightly and
elegant familiarity which generally forms the great charm of his
conversation: he was too much frightened at the presence he was in, and
contented himself by graceful and solemn bows, deep attention, and
ejaculations of “Yes, my lady,” and “No, your ladyship,” for some
minutes after the discovery had been made. Pogson piqued himself on his
breeding: “I hate the aristocracy,” he said, “but that’s no reason why
I shouldn’t behave like a gentleman.”
A surly, silent little gentleman, who had been the third at the
ordinary, and would take no part either in the conversation or in
Pogson’s champagne, now took up his hat, and, grunting, left the room,
when the happy bagman had the delight of a tête-à-tête. The Baroness
did not appear inclined to move: it was cold; a fire was comfortable,
and she had ordered none in her apartment. Might Pogson give her one
more glass of champagne, or would her ladyship prefer “something hot.”
Her ladyship gravely said, she never took ANYTHING hot. “Some
champagne, then; a leetle drop?” She would! she would! O gods! how
Pogson’s hand shook as he filled and offered her the glass!
What took place during the rest of the evening had better be described
by Mr. Pogson himself, who has given us permission to publish his
letter.
“QUILLACQ’S HOTEL (pronounced KILLYAX), CALAIS.
“DEAR TIT,—I arrived at Cally, as they call it, this day, or, rather,
yesterday; for it is past midnight, as I sit thinking of a wonderful
adventure that has just befallen me. A woman in course; that’s always
the case with ME, you know: but oh, Tit! if you COULD but see her! Of
the first family in France, the Florval-Delvals, beautiful as an angel,
and no more caring for money than I do for split peas.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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