with the elderly gentleman, she laughed gaily and said—
"'Mon Dieu! who can know everybody. I know as little who he is as'———
"She silenced suddenly, for she certainly was about to say 'You'—for she saw me that even- ing for the first time.
"'Perhaps your husband,' I suggested, 'can give me some information. Where shall I look for him?'
"'Hunting at St. Germain,' replied Madame, with heartier laughter. 'He left this morning early, and will return to-morrow evening. But—wait—I know some one who has frequently conversed with the lady of whom you speak. I forget his name, but you can easily learn it if you will only inquire for the young gentleman who was kicked by M. Casimir Perier—I forget where.'
"Hard as it is to find a man who has been kicked out by a minister, I soon discovered mine, and begged him for some explanation of the marvellous being who so much interested me, and whom I depicted to him distinctly enough.
"'Yes,' said the young man; 'I know her well. I have conversed with her at several soirees.'
"And he repeated a lot of rubbish with which he had entertained the lady. What he had parti-
