On reading it, he smothered a slight laugh; he remembered certain stories told at the Quai d'Orsay.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs was enamoured of Madame de Neuilles, an elderly lady with a lurid past, whom public rumour had raised to the status of adventuress and spy.

He was wont, it was whispered, to try on her the speeches which he was to deliver in the Chamber.

Ligny, who had formerly been to a certain small extent the lover of Madame de Neuilles, pictured to himself the statesman in his shirt reciting to his lady-love the following statement of principles: "Far be it from me to disregard the legitimate susceptibilities of the national sentiment.

Resolutely pacific, but jealous of France's honour, the Government will, etc." This vision put him in a merry mood.

He turned the page, and read: To-morrow at the Odeon, first performance (in this theatre) of _La Nuit du 23 octobre 1812_ with Messieurs Durville, Maury, Romilly, Destree, Vicar, Leon Clim, Valroche, Aman, Chevalier.....