of three generations； that scoffs at its progenitors； and makes merry
over a corpse； that will dissolve pearls and wreck thrones； turn old
men into boys； and make young men prematurely old； enjoyment only
possible to giants weary of their power； tormented by reflection； or
for whom strife has become a plaything。
〃What is your name？〃 asked Raphael。
〃Aquilina。〃
〃Out of Venice Preserved！〃 exclaimed Emile。
〃Yes；〃 she answered。 〃Just as a pope takes a new name when he is
exalted above all other men； I； too； took another name when I raised
myself above women's level。〃
〃Then have you； like your patron saint； a terrible and noble lover； a
conspirator； who would die for you？〃 cried Emile eagerlythis gleam
of poetry had aroused his interest。
〃Once I had；〃 she answered。 〃But I had a rival too in La Guillotine。 I
have worn something red about me ever since； lest any happiness should
carry me away。〃
〃Oh； if you are going to get her on to the story of those four lads of
La Rochelle； she will never get to the end of it。 That's enough；
Aquilina。 As if every woman could not bewail some lover or other；
though not every one has the luck to lose him on the scaffold； as you
have done。 I would a great deal sooner see a lover of mine in a trench
at the back of Clamart than in a rival's arms。〃
All this in the gentlest and most melodious accents； and pronounced by
the prettiest； gentlest； and most innocent…looking little person that
a fairy wand ever drew from an enchanted eggshell。 She had come up
noiselessly； and they became aware of a slender； dainty figure；
charmingly timid blue eyes； and white transparent brows。 No ingenue
among the naiads； a truant from her river spring； could have been
shyer； whiter； more ingenuous than this young girl； seemingly about
sixteen years old； ignorant of evil and of the storms of life； and
fresh from some church in which she must have prayed the angels to
call her to heaven before the time。 Only in Paris are such natures as
this to be found； concealing depths of depravity behind a fair mask；
and the most artificial vices beneath a brow as young and fair as an
opening flower。
At first the angelic promise of those soft lineaments misled the
friends。 Raphael and Emile took the coffee which she poured into the
cups brought by Aquilina； and began to talk with her。 In the eyes of
the two poets she soon became transformed into some sombre allegory；
of I know not what aspect of human life。 She opposed to the vigorous
and ardent expression of her commanding acquaintance a revelation of
heartless corruption and voluptuous cruelty。 Heedless enough to
perpetrate a crime； hardy enough to feel no misgivings； a pitiless
demon that wrings larger and kinder natures with torments that it is
incapable of knowing； that simpers over a traffic in love； sheds tears
over a victim's funeral； and beams with joy over the reading of the
will。 A poet might have admired the magnificent Aquilina； but the
winning Euphrasia must be repulsive to every onethe first was the
soul of sin； the second； sin without a soul in it。
〃I should dearly like to know；〃 Emile remarked to this pleasing being；
〃if you ever reflect upon your future？〃
〃My future！〃 she answered with a laugh。 〃What do you mean by my
future？ Why should I think about something that does not exist as yet？
I never look before or behind。 Isn't one day at a time more than I can
concern myself with as it is？ And besides； the future； as we know；
means the hospital。〃
〃How can you forsee a future in the hospital； and make no effort to
avert it？〃
〃What is there so alarming about the hospital？〃 asked the terrific
Aquilina。 〃When we are neither wives nor mothers； when old age draws
black stockings over our limbs； sets wrinkles on our brows； withers up
the woman in us； and darkens the light in our lover's eyes； what could
we need when that comes to pass？ You would look on us then as mere
human clay； we with our habiliments shall be for you like so much mud
worthless； lifeless； crumbling to pieces； going about with the
rustle of dead leaves。 Rags or the daintiest finery will be as one to
us then； the ambergris of the boudoir will breathe an odor of death
and dry bones； and suppose there is a heart there in that mud； not one
of you but would make mock of it； not so much as a memory will you
spare to us。 Is not our existence precisely the same whether we live
in a fine mansion with lap…dogs to tend； or sort rags in a workhouse？
Does it make much difference whether we shall hide our gray heads
beneath lace or a handkerchief striped with blue and red； whether we
sweep a crossing with a birch broom； or the steps of the Tuileries
with satins； whether we sit beside a gilded hearth； or cower over the
ashes in a red earthen pot； whether we go to the Opera or look on in
the Place de Greve？〃
〃Aquilina mia； you have never shown more sense than in this depressing
fit of yours；〃 Euphrasia remarked。 〃Yes； cashmere； point d'Alencon；
perfumes； gold； silks； luxury； everything that sparkles； everything
pleasant； belongs to youth alone。 Time alone may show us our folly；
but good fortune will acquit us。 You are laughing at me；〃 she went on；
with a malicious glance at the friends； 〃but am I not right？ I would
sooner die of pleasure than of illness。 I am not afflicted with a
mania for perpetuity； nor have I a great veneration for human nature；
such as God has made it。 Give me millions； and I would squander them；
I should not keep one centime for the year to come。 Live to be
charming and have power； that is the decree of my every heartbeat。
Society sanctions my life； does it not pay for my extravagances？ Why
does Providence pay me every morning my income； which I spend every
evening？ Why are hospitals built for us？ And Providence did not put
good and evil on either hand for us to select what tires and pains us。
I should be very foolish if I did not amuse myself。〃
〃And how about others？〃 asked Emile。
〃Others？ Oh； well； they must manage for themselves。 I prefer laughing
at their woes to weeping over my own。 I defy any man to give me the
slightest uneasiness。〃
〃What have you suffered to make you think like this？〃 asked Raphael。
〃I myself have been forsaken for an inheritance；〃 she said； striking
an attitude that displayed all her charms； 〃and yet I had worked night
and day to keep my lover！ I am not to be gulled by any smile or vow；
and I have set myself to make one long entertainment of my life。〃
〃But does not happiness come from the soul within？〃 cried Raphael。
〃It may be so；〃 Aquilina answered； 〃but is it nothing to be conscious
of admiration and flattery； to triumph over other women； even over the
most virtuous； humiliating them before our beauty and our splendor？
Not only so； one day of our life is worth ten years of a bourgeoise
existence； and so it is all summed up。〃
〃Is not a woman hateful without virtue？〃 Emile said to Raphael。
Euphrasia's glance was like a viper's； as she said； with an irony in
her voice that cannot be rendered：
〃Virtue！ we leave that to deformity and to ugly women。 What would the
poor things be without it？〃
〃Hush； be quiet；〃 Emile broke in。 〃Don't talk about something you have
never known。〃
〃That I have never known！〃 Euphrasia answered。 〃You give yourself for
life to some person you abominate； you must bring up children who will
neglect you； who wound your very heart； and you must say； 'Thank you！'
for it； and these are the virtues you prescribe to woman。 And that is
not enough。 By way of requiting her self…denial； you must come and add
to her sorrows by trying to lead her astray； and though you are
rebuffed； she is compromised。 A nice life！ How far better to keep
one's freedom； to follow one's inclinations in love； and die young！〃
〃Have you no fear of the price to be paid some day for all this？〃
〃Even then；〃 she said； 〃instead of mingling pleasures and troubles； my
life will consist of two separate partsa youth of happiness is
secure； and there may come a hazy； uncertain old age； during which I
can suffer at my leisure。〃
〃She has never loved；〃 came in the deep tones of Aquilina's voice。
〃She never went a hundred leagues to drink in one look and a denial
with untold raptures。 She has not hung her own life on a thread； nor
tried to stab more than one man to save her sovereign lord； her king；
her divinity。 。 。 。 Love； for her； meant a fascinating colonel。〃
〃Here she is with her La Rochelle；〃 Euphrasia made answer。 〃Love comes
like the wind； no one knows whence。 And； for that matter； if one of
those brutes had once fallen in love with you； you would hold sensible
men in horror。〃
〃Brutes are put out of the question by the Code；〃 said the tall；
sarcastic Aquilina。
〃I thought you had more kindness for the army；〃 laughed Euphrasia。
〃How happy they are in their power of dethroning their reason in this
way；〃 Raphael exclaimed。
〃Happy？〃 asked Aquilina； with dreadful look； and a smile full of pity
and terror。 〃Ah； you do not know what it is to be condemned to a life
of pleasure； with your dead hidden in your heart。 。 。 。〃
A moment's consideration of the rooms was like a foretaste of Milton's
Pandemonium。 The faces