was not confined to Greek and Latin; your talent for acting has been cultivated by a profound study of human nature.  You play high comedy to perfection, and you should not let your extreme modesty prevent your aspiring to a more brilliant theatre.  It is a pity that your fine acting should be wasted upon me alone.  You deserve a larger and more appreciative audience!  You do not know yourself.  I will hold a mirror before your eyes; you can affect astonishment, disinterestedness, magnanimity, and a constellation of other virtues, blooming like flowers in the gardens of the golden age.  You are a perfected comedian.  If you really possessed all the virtues you assume, you would, like Enoch, excite the jealousy of Heaven, and be translated to your proper sphere.  A man of your transcendent virtue would be a moral scourge in our corrupt society.  He would, by contrast, humiliate his neighbors.  In these degenerate days such a combination of gifts is antagonistic to nature.

Do relieve our anxiety by accepting the title of comedian.  Acknowledge yourself to be an actor, and our anxious fears are quieted.

I would have my mind set at rest upon one more point.  Courage is another virtue that can be assumed by a coward, and it would afford me great pleasure to see you act the part of a brave comedian.

While waiting for your answer I feel forced to insult you by thinking that this last talent is wanting in your rich repertory.  Be kind enough to deny this imputation, and prove yourself to be a thoroughly accomplished actor.

Your admiring audience,

ROGER DE MONBERT.

XXXVII.

EDGAR DE MEILHAN to the COUNT DE VILLIERS,
Chateau de Villiers, via Gueret (Creuse).

PARIS, Aug. 16th 18—.

Noble hidalgo, illustrious knight of la Mancha; you who are so fond of adventures and chivalric deeds, I am about to make you a proposition which, I hope, will suit your taste:  a fight with sharp weapons, be it lance, or axe, or dagger; a struggle to the death, showing neither pity nor quarter.  I know beforehand what you are going to say:  Your native generosity will prevent you from fighting a duel with your friend.  In the first place, I am not your friend; traitors have not that honor.  Do not let that scruple stop you, refined gentleman.

Your mask has fallen off, dear Tartuffe with the fine feelings.  We now know to what figures you devote yourself.  Before dragging English women out of the flames you are well aware of their social position.  You save friends from bankruptcy at a profit of eighty per cent., and when you make love to a grisette, you have her crest and the amount of her income in your pocket.  In coming to my house, you knew that Louise was Irene.  Madame de Braimes had acquainted you with all the circumstances during your interesting convalescence.  All this may seem very natural