after the Schut-Custos affair, an unlooked-for incident occurred to throw the population into fresh agitation.
It was on a Saturday, an opera day. It was not yet intended, as may well be supposed, to inaugurate the new illumination. No; the pipes had reached the hall, but, for reasons indicated above, the burners had not yet been placed, and the wax candles still shed their soft light upon the numerous spectators who filled the theater. The doors had been opened to the public at one o'clock, and by three the hall was half full. A queue had at one time been formed, which extended as far as the end of the Place Saint Ernuph, in front of the shop of Josse Lietrinck the apothecary. This eagerness was significant of an unusually attractive performance.
"Are you going to the theater this evening?" inquired the counselor the same morning of the burgomaster.
"I shall not fail to do so," returned Van Tricasse, "and I shall take Madame Van Tricasse, as well as our daughter Suzel and our dear Tatanemance, who all dote on good music."
"Mademoiselle Suzel is going then?"
"Certainly, Niklausse."
"Then my son Frantz will be one of the first to arrive," said Niklausse.
"A spirited boy, Niklausse," replied the burgomaster sententiously; "but hot-headed! He will require watching!"
"He loves, Van Tricasse,—he loves your charming Suzel."
"Well, Niklausse, he shall marry her. Now that we have agreed on this marriage, what more can he desire!"
"He desires nothing, Van Tricasse, the dear boy! But, in short—we'll say no more about it—he will not be the last to get his ticket at the box office."
"Ah, vivacious and ardent youth!" replied the burgomaster, recalling his own past. "We have also been thus, my worthy counselor. We have loved—we too! We have danced attendance in our day! Till to-night, then, till to-night! By-the-bye, do you know this Fiovaranti is a great artist? And what a welcome he has received among us! It will be long before he will forget the applause of Quiquendone!"
