Page 206 - les-miserables

of dentist’s instruments spread out before him, cleaning his
teeth, which were charming, while he dictated The Monar-
chy according to the Charter to M. Pilorge, his secretary.
Criticism, assuming an authoritative tone, preferred Lafon
to Talma. M. de Feletez signed himself A.; M. Hoffmann
signed himself Z. Charles Nodier wrote Therese Aubert.
Divorce was abolished. Lyceums called themselves colleges.
The collegians, decorated on the collar with a golden fleur-
de-lys, fought each other apropos of the King of Rome. The
counter-police of the chateau had denounced to her Royal
Highness Madame, the portrait, everywhere exhibited, of
M. the Duc d’Orleans, who made a better appearance in his
uniform of a colonel-general of hussars than M. the Duc
de Berri, in his uniform of colonel-general of dragoons—
a serious inconvenience. The city of Paris was having the
dome of the Invalides regilded at its own expense. Serious
men asked themselves what M. de Trinquelague would do
on such or such an occasion; M. Clausel de Montals dif-
fered on divers points from M. Clausel de Coussergues; M.
de Salaberry was not satisfied. The comedian Picard, who
belonged to the Academy, which the comedian Moliere had
not been able to do, had The Two Philiberts played at the
Odeon, upon whose pediment the removal of the letters still
allowed THEATRE OF THE EMPRESS to be plainly read.
People took part for or against Cugnet de Montarlot. Fab-
vier was factious; Bavoux was revolutionary. The Liberal,
Pelicier, published an edition of Voltaire, with the following
title: Works of Voltaire, of the French Academy. ‘That will
attract purchasers,’ said the ingenious editor. The general

206 Les Miserables