Illustrations

Page

She had asked him to button her glove Frontispiece

It was the bird who made the first dash for liberty 5

Monsieur Bouchard’s back and legs looked about seventy-five 7

With an affectation of ease and debonairness, and told about the apartment near the Champs Élysées 11

He stood on one leg, and softly whispered, “Houp-là!” 20

Pierre, however, pretty soon solved the situation by putting his finger to the side of his nose 28

“I like the lively tunes they play at the music halls across the street” 30

“And the girls are permitted to come out in their stage costumes to have an ice or a glass of wine” 45

De Meneval pulled from his pocket a glittering string of diamonds 53

“Ta, ta!” called out the graceless dog of a captain 59

She looked like one of those brilliant white butterflies whose lives are spent dancing in the sun 62

“Does Captain de Meneval know of these bills?” he asked significantly 72

They went out like two sulky and disappointed children 91

Monsieur Bouchard tried to reassure her—her timidity was constitutional 98

Monsieur Bouchard sank or rather fell into a chair 100

As Léontine and her husband sat opposite each other—each felt like a criminal 111

Still, they really loved each other, and kissed affectionately 121

And there on the arbor hung a cage with a parrot in it 131

A flock of girls, each escorted by a young man, generally an officer 133

Monsieur Bouchard entered with an air of affected jauntiness 135

At that very moment Léontine and de Meneval were watching him 138

Papa Bouchard stuck pretty close to the champagne 146

Madame Vernet had not the slightest objection to be left in charge of this good-looking young officer 158

He took a seat close to where Madame Vernet was standing 163

The police officers seized him and dragged him out 171

“Go to the devil!” 179

All three of them bolted for the exit to the garden 185

Élise had that evening found her opportunity to go round to the Rue Bassano 198

And drove rapidly home 200

In the middle of the room was spread a table, with preparation for an elaborate supper 203

To tiptoe and actually chuck old P. M. P. under the chin 208

Léontine would motion as if to chuck him under the chin 214

Dragging in an elderly gentleman by main force and his coat tails 218

Papa Bouchard, much alarmed, ran from one to the other 220

“O-o-o-oh!” shrieked the three impish girls in chorus, “what an outrageous proposition!” 224

His ruddy complexion turned a sickly green 226

She sang 230

She even danced 231

“I am your own true, devoted Léontine” 234

The door was burst open and in rushed Pierre, pale and breathless 242

With much discretion, ranged themselves primly on a sofa 244

“Paul, stop those shocking demonstrations” 246

She clutched a flower pot and a gold-headed stick 247

Major Fallière ceremoniously offered her his arm 251

Folding his arms and turning up the whites of his eyes 255

Forcing the cage door open with almost human intelligence, flew out 257

“Free! Free! gay dogs are we!” 260

Papa Bouchard