{{1832-01: KEATS //1836-02: Keats }} fell by a criticism. Who was it died of {{1832-01: ‘The Andromache?’ //1836-02: The Andromache?* }} Ignoble souls! {{1836-02: — }} De L’Omelette perished of an ortolan. L’histoire on {{1832-01: [[en]] //1836-02: en }} est brieve {{1832-01: . Assist //1836-02: — assist }} me {{1836-02: Spirit of }} Apicius!

A golden cage bore the {{1832-01: luxurious }} little {{1836-02: winged }} wanderer, {{1832-01: enamoured //1836-02: enamored }} , melting, indolent, to the {{1832-01: Chaussee D’Antin //1836-02: Chaussee D’Antin }} , from its home in far Peru. From its queenly possessor La Bellissima, to the Duc {{1832-01: de //1836-02: De }} L’Omelette, six peers of the empire conveyed the happy bird. It was {{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: “  }} All for Love. {{1832-01:  ’ //1836-02:  ” }}

That night the {{1832-01: Duke //1836-02: Duc }} was to sup alone. In the privacy of his bureau {{1836-02: , }} he reclined languidly on that ottoman for which he sacrificed his loyalty in outbidding his king — the notorious ottoman of {{1832-01: Cadet //1836-02: Cadêt }} .

He {{1832-01: buried //1836-02: buries }} his face in the pillow {{1832-01: . The //1836-02: — the }} clock {{1832-01: struck. //1836-02: strikes! }} Unable to restrain his feelings, his {{1832-01: grace swallowed //1836-02: Grace swallows }} an olive. {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] The //1836-02: At this moment the }} door {{1836-02: gently }} opens to the sound of soft music, and {{1836-02: lo! }} the most delicate of birds is before the most {{1832-01: enamoured //1836-02: enamored }} of men! {{1832-01: — horror! — dog! — Baptiste! //1836-02: But what inexpressible dismay now overshadows the countenance of the Duc? — “Horreur! — chien! — Baptiste! }} — l’oiseau {{1832-01: — //1836-02: ! ah, bon Dieu! }} cet oiseau modeste que tu as {{1832-01: deshabille //1836-02: deshabillé }} de ses plumes, et que tu as servi sans papier! {{1836-02:  ” }} {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} It is superfluous to say more {{1832-01: , //1836-02: — }} the {{1832-01: Duke //1836-02: Duc }} expired in a paroxysm of disgust.

{{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: “  }} Ha! ha! ha! {{1832-01:  ’ //1836-02:  ” }} — said his {{1832-01: grace //1836-02: Grace }} on the third day after his decease.

{{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: “  }} He! he! he! {{1832-01:  ’ //1836-02:  ” }} — replied the {{1832-01: devil //1836-02: Devil }} faintly, {{1832-01: and }} drawing himself up with an air of hauteur.

{{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: “  }} Why, surely you are not serious {{1832-01: ,’ //1836-02:  ” — }} retorted De l’Omelette — ‘you have no bona fide intentions of — of — putting such — such barbarous threats into execution.’

{{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: “  }} No what? come, sir, strip! {{1832-01:  ’ //1836-02:  ” }}

{{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: “  }} Strip {{1832-01: , }} indeed! very pretty {{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: i’ }} faith! {{1832-01: No //1836-02: — no }} , sir, I shall not strip. Who are {{1832-01: you //1836-02: you }} , pray, that I, {{1832-01: Due [[Duke]]de l’Omelette //1836-02: Duc De L’Omelette }} , Prince de {{1832-01: Fois-Gras //1836-02: Foie-Gras }} , just come of age, author of the {{1836-02: “  }} Mazurkiad, {{1836-02:  ” }} and Member of the Academy, should divest myself {{1832-01: , }} at your bidding {{1832-01: , }} of the sweetest pantaloons ever made by {{1832-01: Stultz //1836-02: Bourdon }} , the daintiest {{1832-01: robe de chambre //1836-02: robe-de-chambre }} ever put together by {{1832-01: Rombert //1836-02: Rombêrt }} — {{1832-01: not to mention //1836-02: to say nothing of }} the taking my hair out of paper — {{1832-01: all to gratify your blood-thirsty propensities!’ //1836-02: not to mention the trouble I should have in drawing off my gloves?” }}

{{1832-01: ‘  //1836-02: “  }} Who am I? — ah {{1832-01: ! //1836-02: , }} true! I am Baal-Zebub, Prince of the Fly. I took thee {{1832-01: , }} just now {{1832-01: , }} from {{1832-01: an //1836-02: a rose-wood coffin }} inlaid {{1832-01: coffin, //1836-02: with ivory. Thou wast }} curiously scented, and labelled as per invoice. Belial sent thee {{1832-01: , //1836-02: — }} my {{1832-01: inspector of cemeteries //1836-02: Inspector of Cemeteries }} . The pantaloons, which {{1832-01: , }} thou sayest {{1832-01: , }} were made by {{1832-01: Stultz //1836-02: Bourdon }} , are an excellent pair of linen drawers {{1832-01: ; //1836-02: , }} and thy {{1832-01: robe de chambre //1836-02: robe-de-chambre }} is a shroud of no scanty dimensions. {{1832-01: [[’]] //1836-02:  ” }}

‘Sir! {{1836-02:  ” replied the Duc, “  }} I am not to be insulted with impunity! — Sir! I shall take the earliest opportunity of avenging this insult! {{1836-02: — }} Sir! you shall hear from me! {{1832-01: in //1836-02: In }} the meantime au revoir {{1832-01: .’ And //1836-02: ![[”]] — and }} the {{1832-01: duke //1836-02: Duc }} was bowing himself out of the Satanic presence, when he was interrupted {{1832-01: , }} and brought back by a gentleman in waiting. {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] Upon this //1836-02: Hereupon }} his Grace rubbed his eyes {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} yawned {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} shrugged his shoulders {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} reflected {{1832-01: — and having //1836-02: . Having }} become satisfied of his identity, he took a bird's eye view of his whereabouts.

The apartment was superb. {{1832-01: De l’Omelette //1836-02: Even De l’Omelette }} pronounced it {{1832-01: ‘  }} bien comme il faut. {{1832-01:  ’ }} It was not very long, nor very broad {{1836-02: , }} — but its height {{1832-01: ! }} — ah, that was appalling! There was no ceiling — certainly none — but a dense {{1832-01: , }} whirling mass of fiery-colored clouds. His {{1832-01: grace's //1836-02: Grace's }} brain reeled as he glanced upwards. {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] There was //1836-02: From above, hung }} a chain of an unknown {{1832-01: , }} blood-red metal — its upper end lost, like {{1832-01: Col———e //1836-02: Col—— }} , parmi les nues. From its nether extremity hung a {{1832-01: huge //1836-02: large }} cresset. The {{1832-01: duke //1836-02: Duc }} knew it to be a ruby — but {{1836-02: from it }} there poured {{1832-01: from it }} a light so intense, so still, so terrible {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} Persia never worshipped such — Gheber never imagined such — Mussulman never dreamed of such {{1832-01: , }} when {{1832-01: , }} drugged with opium {{1832-01: , }} he has tottered to a bed of poppies {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} his back to the {{1832-01: earth //1836-02: flowers }} , and his face to the {{1832-01: god //1836-02: God }} Apollo {{1832-01: . //1836-02: ! }} The {{1832-01: duke murmured //1836-02: Duc muttered }} a slight oath decidedly approbatory.

The corners of the room were rounded into niches. Three of these were filled with statues of gigantic proportions. Their beauty was Grecian {{1832-01: — thair [[their]] //1836-02: , their }} deformity Egyptian {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} their tout ensemble French. {{1832-01: His grace could not understand them, and said ‘Bah!’ }} In the fourth niche the statue was veiled {{1832-01: . It //1836-02: — it }} was {{1832-01: not //1836-02: not }} colossal. {{1832-01: Then //1836-02: But then }} there was a taper ankle {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} a sandalled foot {{1832-01: ! //1836-02: . }} De {{1832-01: [[L’]]Omelette //1836-02: L’Omelette }} laid his hand upon his heart {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} closed his eyes {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} raised them {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} and caught his Satanic Majesty — in a blush.

But the paintings! {{1832-01: Rupris! [[Kupris!]] //1836-02: — Kupris! }} Astarte! Astoreth! {{1832-01: A //1836-02: — a }} thousand and the same! And Rafaelle has beheld them! Yes {{1832-01: ! //1836-02: , }} Rafaelle has been here {{1832-01: ! — //1836-02: ; }} for did he not paint the —— {{1832-01: , //1836-02: ? }} and was he not consequently damned? {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} The paintings! {{1836-02: — }} the paintings! O {{1832-01: luxury //1836-02: Luxury }} ! O {{1832-01: love //1836-02: Love }} ! {{1832-01: Who, //1836-02: — who }} gazing on those forbidden beauties {{1832-01: , }} shall have eyes for the dainty devices of the golden frames {{1832-01: , }} that lie imbedded {{1832-01: , }} and asleep {{1832-01: in //1836-02: against }} those {{1832-01: swelling //1836-02: swellings [[swelling]] }} walls of {{1832-01: eider-down //1836-02: eider down }} ?

The {{1832-01: Duke's //1836-02: Duc's }} heart is fainting within him {{1832-01: ! No — oh, no }} . He is not, {{1832-01: however, }} as you suppose, dizzy with magnificence {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} nor drunk with the {{1832-01: extatic //1836-02: ecstatic }} breath of those innumerable censers. C’est vrai {{1832-01: , }} que {{1832-01: , }} de toutes ces choses {{1832-01: , }} il a {{1832-01: fait un memorandum //1836-02: pensé beaucoup }} — mais! {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} The {{1832-01: Duke de l’Omelette //1836-02: Duc De L’Omelette }} is {{1832-01: horror-stricken //1836-02: terror-stricken }} — for through the lurid vista which a single uncurtained window is affording, lo! gleams the most ghastly of all fires!

Le pauvre Duc! {{1832-01: Could he have imagined //1836-02: He could not help imagining }} that the glorious, the voluptuous, the never-dying {{1832-01: symphonies of //1836-02: melodies that pervaded }} that {{1832-01: melodious }} hall, as they passed filtered {{1832-01: , }} and transmuted through the alchemy of {{1832-01: that //1836-02: the }} enchanted {{1832-01: glass //1836-02: window panes }} , were the wailings {{1832-01: , }} and the howlings of the hopeless and the damned {{1832-01: ? //1836-02: ! }} And there too — there {{1832-01: ! on //1836-02: — upon }} that ottoman! — who could {{1832-01: he //1836-02: he }} be? — he! {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} the {{1832-01: petit-maitre //1836-02: petit-maitre }} — no {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} the Deity {{1832-01: ! }} — who sat as if carved in marble {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} et qui sourit, with his pale countenance, si amerement {{1832-01: ? //1836-02: . }}

Mais il faut agir {{1832-01: . A //1836-02: — that is to say a }} Frenchman never faints outright. Besides {{1832-01: [[,]] //1836-02: , }} his {{1832-01: grace //1836-02: Grace }} hated a scene {{1832-01: . //1836-02: — }} De l’Omelette [[De L’Omelette]] [[is]] himself again! {{1836-02: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} There were some foils on a table — some points also. The {{1832-01: Duke //1836-02: Duc }} had studied under B——. Il avait tue ses six hommes. Now then! — il peut s’echapper! Horreur! His majesty does not fence!

Mais il joue! {{1832-01: What //1836-02: — what }} a thought! {{1832-01: His grace //1836-02: But his Grace }} has an excellent memory. {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] Have you //1836-02: He had }} dipped in the ‘Diable’ of Abbe Gualtier. {{1832-01: It //1836-02: Therein it }} is said ‘que le diable n’ose pas refuser [[un]] jeu d’ Ecarte. {{1836-02:  ’ {{1836-02:  ” [[new paragraph, indented]] }} But the chances {{1836-02: — the chances }} ! True {{1832-01: ! //1836-02: — }} desperate {{1832-01: . But //1836-02: : but }} not more than {{1832-01: himself //1836-02: the Duc }} . Besides, was he not in the secret? {{1832-01: Had //1836-02: — had }} he not skimmed over Pere {{1832-01: La Chaise //1836-02: Le Brun }} ? Was he not a member of the {{1832-01: Academy //1836-02: Club Vingt-un }} ? ‘Si {{1832-01: je //1836-02: Je }} perds {{1832-01: — [[’]] //1836-02: ,” }} said he {{1832-01: — [[‘]] //1836-02: , “  }} Je serai deux fois perdu {{1832-01: — //1836-02: ,” [[sic]] }} I shall be doubly dammed — voila tout {{1832-01:  ’ //1836-02: ! }} (Here {{1832-01: the duke //1836-02: his Grace }} shrugged his shoulders) {{1832-01: — Eh bein! si //1836-02: Si }} Je gagne! — que les cartes soient {{1832-01: preparees.’ //1836-02: preparées! }}

His {{1832-01: grace //1836-02: Grace }} was all care {{1832-01: — //1836-02: , }} all attention {{1832-01: . His majesty //1836-02: — his Majesty }} all confidence. A spectator would have thought of Francis and Charles. {{1832-01: De l’Omelette //1836-02: His Grace }} thought of his game. His {{1832-01: majesty //1836-02: Majesty }} did not think — he shuffled. The {{1832-01: grace //1836-02: Duc }} coupa.

The cards are dealt. The trump is turned {{1832-01: slowly mais avec un air de fierte. The corner appears }} — it is — it is — the king! {{1832-01: — no //1836-02: No — }} it was the queen. His Majesty cursed her masculine habiliments. De {{1832-01: l’Omelette //1836-02: L’Omelette }} laid his hand upon his heart. {{1836-02: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} They play. The {{1832-01: Duke //1836-02: Duc }} counts. {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} The hand is out. His {{1832-01: majesty //1836-02: Majesty }} counts heavily, smiles, and {{1832-01: has taken //1836-02: is taking }} wine. The {{1832-01: Duke //1836-02: Duc }} slips a card.

‘Cest a vous a faire’ — said his {{1832-01: majesty, //1836-02: Majesty }} cutting. {{1832-01: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} His grace bowed, dealt, and arose from the table, en presentant le roi. {{1836-02: [[new paragraph, indented]] }} His majesty looked chagrined.

Had the drunkard not been Alexander, he would have been Diogenes {{1832-01: — //1836-02: ; }} and the {{1832-01: Duke //1836-02: Duc }} assured his {{1832-01: majesty //1836-02: Majesty }} en partant, ‘que sit n’etait pas De l’Omelette il n’aurait point d’objection d’etre le Diable.’

[[Footnotes]]