great things of this world. I shall be famous, I shall be great, or
I shall die!

It is impossible that God should have given me this _gloria
cupidatis_, like S----, for nothing, without an object; my time will
come. I am happy when I think as I do to-day. Oh, my voice!

We went to the opera house to get a box for this evening. They gave
the "Barber," my favourite little opera. I aspire to something
unheard of, fabulous; I want to be famous, I will sing. It is queer,
the whole Italian company saluted me. We were in No. 2. I wore my
Empire gown, in which I like myself best. Hair dressed like an
Olympian goddess, falling lower than the belt, and curled naturally
at the ends. The General, always charming, was with us.

"Come," I said, "do you know what I am going to do?"

"What are you going to do, Mademoiselle?"

"I am going to make a mirror."

"How?"

"Look."

I took the attitude of old A----, who sat opposite. He put his hand
on the balustrade; I did the same. He leaned on his hand; I leaned
on mine. He played with his chain; I played with my ribbon. He
pulled his ear; I pulled mine.