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