I have to inform you, my dear fellow, that my uncle, who has always been

admired so far for his virtuous conduct, and whom I should certainly

have been ready to quote as a paragon of husbands, seems just now on the

way to forfeiting his character.

Here is what I have to relate: Two days ago I went to the Theâtre des Variétés to see for the second

time the play which is just now the rage. Not having obtained a good

place, I left my stall at the end of the first act with the intention of

not returning, when, as I passed a rather closely-curtained stage-box,

I was quite surprised by seeing Barbassou-Pasha, who had pretended to be

going out that evening to an important dinner with some business

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friends. He was accompanied by a lady whose features were obscured by

the darkness.

Being a discreet and respectful nephew, I was about to turn my eyes the

other way, when he beckoned me with an imperative gesture to join him in

his box. I immediately obeyed this peremptory summons, and, going round

by the passage, got the box-opener to usher me in.

"Come in, and sit down," said my uncle, pointing out to me a chair

behind him.

Once more I obeyed him, bowing politely to the lady, whose features I

could not clearly distinguish. I was hardly seated when I recognised the

fair heroine of the fainting fit last week.

Exquisitely attired in a perfectly ravishing costume, Madame Jean

Bonaffé replied to my compliments by a charming smile, and a pretty

glance from her fine Spanish eyes, which showed me clearly that she was

troubled by no remnants of that sudden indisposition which the too

unexpected encounter with my uncle had produced.

Our conversation turned upon the play. As she spoke French rather badly

(although she understood it very well), she asked my uncle from time to

time to tell her the words she was in need of. This he did, pronouncing

them with grammatical deliberation, and then leaving us to talk alone,

while he surveyed the audience like one superior to such frivolities as

feminine smalltalk.

My companion was very gay, and was crunching bonbons all the time.

I, as you may be sure, was gallant and attentive, and I followed her

example with the bonbons.

My former aunt, Christina de Portero, is at the happy age of between

twenty-eight and thirty. Or, possibly, she is as old as thirty-two. Her

figure is slender and supple, with those bold expansions of the hips

which, in dancing the fandango, make short work of the skirt. Add to

these fascinating details the accurate information with which I have

already supplied you on the subject of her exuberant bust, and you can

picture her very well for yourself.




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