world, there were diplomatists and deputies commixed with many fair
chiefs of _la jeunesse doree_; amongst the latter the brilliant
Enguerrand de Vandemar, who, deeming the acquaintance of every celebrity
essential to his own celebrity in either Carthage, the _beau monde_, or
the _demi-monde_, had, two Thursdays before, made Louvier attend her
soiree and present him. Louvier, though gathering to his own salons
authors and artists, very rarely favoured their rooms with his presence;
he did not adorn Isaura's party that evening. But Duplessis was there,
in compensation. It had chanced that Valerie had met Isaura at some
house in the past winter, and conceived an enthusiastic affection for
her: since then, Valerie came very often to see her, and made a point of
dragging with her to Isaura's Thursday reunions her obedient father.
Soirees, musical or literary, were not much in his line; but he had no
pleasure like that of pleasing his spoilt child. Our old friend Frederic
Lemercier was also one of Isaura's guests that night. He had become more
and more intimate with Duplessis, and Duplessis had introduced him to the
fair Valerie as "_un jeune homme plein de moyens, qui ira loin_."

Savarin was there of course, and brought with him an English gentleman of
the name of Bevil, as well known at Paris as in London--invited
everywhere--popular everywhere,--one of those welcome contributors to the
luxuries of civilised society who trade in gossip, sparing no pains to
get the pick of it, and exchanging it liberally sometimes for a haunch of
venison, sometimes for a cup of tea. His gossip not being adulterated
with malice was in high repute for genuine worth.

If Bevil said, "This story is a fact," you no more thought of doubting
him than you would doubt Rothschild if he said, "This is Lafitte of '48."

Mr. Bevil was at present on a very short stay at Paris, and, naturally