The Potiphar Papers

CAROLINE PETTITOES

, Oct

den that it seems like a delightful dream. You know at Mrs. Potiphar's supper last Augu

see one of our petits soupers in Paris, hey Croesus?" and then he and Mr. Timon Croesus

a party, and slip over. It's so easy now, you know. Come, come, Pot. I know you won't deny me. Just for two or three months, The truth is," said she, tur

Kurz Pacha, who was sitting at th

he Indian summer be

sey, laughingly, and emphasizing missed

tline of the landscape

rmth on the very edge of winter,

laugh rang ro

d Mrs. Gnu, smiling mischievously, and playing with her beautiful

d each other perfectly. I like her society immensely. The truth i

nt by talking about autumn. I was busy talking with Mr. Firkin about Daisy Clover's pretty morning dress at the Bowling Alley

it until to-morrow

ised them very much, and quietly glanced at her own, which were really splendid. Kurz Pacha showed them to a

othing autu

Gnu, at whom he had been constantly looking, and who was playing placidl

madame, would be to thr

then the young men sprang up together

cha, what do you mean?

hy, I'm afraid I have made some mistake. I meant to say s

muttered Mrs. Gnu, who was

you I meant only to use a proverb in a complimentary

irly lay down and screamed. Mr. Potiphar exploded in

ith dignity, "I didn't suppose I

ent towar

laughter as well as she could, "don't go. Kurz

he poor Sennaar Ambassador stood erect, an

pardon sincerely, madame." And he looked so humble and repentant that I was really sorry for him; but I saw Mr.

y that to offer flowers to a lady who has already so be

Pacha; "to Newcastle,"-a

's only a mistake,"

tried very hard to console her, saying as many bon mots as he

s. Gnu lik

ocent question; but they all fell to laughing a

t up?" asked

aid Mrs.

she will not

uestion-although Mrs. Potiphar said it was capital, a

y to amuse her. I think it was very hard she wouldn't be amused by such

honor, it is no epicure

his, however, and

in Sennaar, Mr. Boos

; w

ht have learned Englis

puzzled; but Mr.

er all, the remark of the Ambassador's was only what th

d whistling in the intervals, "Hail Columbia!" What shocking habits he has for a minister! I don't know how it was that Mr. Potiphar was in such good humor; but he promised his wife

usy, and hurrying from one place to another, that we had better leave little Fr

ober at this; but he sai

e ready to sail

n a week," we

are," said he. "I shall write for state

she went up to him, and took his arm tenderly. It was an unu

peculiar. I think people had

ely, as I have once or twice before heard that he did; but the world is such

sey," said I,

, he sort of winked at me, and said, under his voice, 'Good nigh

ning, Mr.

self up too

roline, you call

ht and severely at me,

ew he was not respon

ch a soft, pleading look in his eyes that seemed to say, "please forgive me," and put out his hand so humbly, and appeared

isons be all my s

he shook it tenderly, and said "tomorrow" in a way-well, dear M

wn everywhere we were going and everybody congratulated us. Our part

angements," said Mr. Boosey, noddin

resented to the Emperor

l enough what he wanted: they didn't want him, perhaps, but he did want them, and now he has them. A true nephew of his uncle, Kurz Pach

usiastic about the Empero

Boosey, "I have always

l bred to stare as he does sometimes, when somebody has made a remark. I saw nothing particular in tha

ppear in your manners and modes of life. Leaving to the children of a society based upon antique and aristocratic principles, to squander their lives in an aimless luxury, you will carry about with you, as it were the fresh airs and virgin character of a new country and civilization. When you go to Paris, it will be like a sweet country breeze blowing into a perfumer's shop. The customers will scent something finer than the most exquisite essence, and will prefer the fresh fragrance of the flower to the most elaborate distillation. Roses smell sweeter than attar of roses. You and your party, estimable lady, will be the roses. You will not (am I right this time?) carry coals to Newcastle; for if any of your companions think that the sharp eye of Paris wil

sked Mr. Firkin what was a good

re every tim

rs. Gnu, "what is a g

ow that?" inquired the

leasantly the game goes on, dear Mrs. Gnu," said the Pacha; "but Miss Mi

he once got a good hold of any hand,

houted Mr

roared Mr.

nuff placidly, a

ped my trick, and t

aken her," whispered Mr. Firk

ed his eyes wide, and offer

phars and the rest of us. Everybody had spoken of the difficulty of gett

be left in the lurch, my dear sir, it isn't my way." And then he marched on, Gauche Boosey

y. "Hope you've secured rooms, De Fami

n't my way; I don't mean to give myself trouble

rly on Monday afternoon Mr. De Famille and his family dr

port, and presently the boat came up. We bundled on board, and as soon a

em. He came on board at Fall Eiver and asked for y

mean?" demande

Familles all getting into a carriage for a little drive

sked he of the clerk, while the passengers hustled him, and punched him, a

hat Mr. Potiphar wants his stat

the messenger r

his family have retired for the night, but upon arriving in the

rubbing his hands, to Mr. Fir

phar?" inquired Kurz Pacha, blandly, Mrs. P.

e quotation and smile," s

har. "I'll have satisfaction. I'll go

on't be a fool. Remember that the De Familles are not people

ejaculated

ke; why not be cool about it? Besides, Mr. De Famille is an elderly gentleman and requires his re

et upon the floor in front of the ladi

g to sleep?" asked

don't know,"

ad to disarrange my position. It was horrid. But Mr. Potiphar was very good all night. He kept coming to see if Polly wanted anything, and if she were warm enough, and if she were well. Gauche Boosey, who was on the floor in

ained. I only know Mrs. P. charged o

"with whom it does not do to quarrel. It isn't christian to qu

people in Sennaar called it stealing. Shall I ever get through laughing at them when I return! There ought to be missionaries sent to Sennaar. Do you think the Rev. Cream Cheese would go? How gracefully he would say: 'Benighted brethren, in my country when a man buys a sheep or a state-room, and pays money for it, and another man appropriates it, depriving the rightful buyer of his chops and sheep, what does the buyer do? Does he swear? Does he rail? Does he complain? Does he even ask for the cold pickings? Not at all, brethren; he does none of these things. He sends Worcestershire sauce to the thief, or a pillow of poppie

ut where everybody, the porters, the coachmen, the chambermaids, can't speak anything else! Where the very beggars beg, and the commonest people swear, in French! Oh! it's inexpressibly delightful. Why, the dogs understand it, and the

but poor M

terrible

ey said Lord Brougham did, for he used to read it in Galignani and I suppose it is fashionabl

cheaper?" inquir

oked at him c

in the cars on the way from Boulogne to Paris that we held this consult

all the hotels who are perfect linguists,

d with the red bandanna that he always carrie

, a cicerone,"

pher, and friend,

rench?" inquired Mr. P. ner

s," rep

otiphar, looking disconso

ved soo

the Barrière" s

there?" asked

ected," said

w himself up wit

nto the room where all t

se à déclarer?" asked an offi

did you say?" said M

tside upon the pavement, and I confess that even I could not understand everything that was said by

t it?" said Mr. P

mark he made-in English) came bowing out. But before the door of the carriage was opened, Mr. P. th

clerk; and that was the remark

u may be sure. I didn't mean to, but I couldn't help it. The ne

k of your room it is numero quatre-vingt cinq" an

Kattery vang s

"au troisième; that means,

-Oh! dear me!" muttered

said

" sai

" said

syaim,"

out of the room. I joined them in the hall, and we ran on be

il prendre un

replied Mr. Potiphar,

?" said

Polly-seeaim-seea

ish," said the

you?" asked Mr. P.,

er, "and we will use the English, if you please.

English now?" as

e was,-and Mr. P. thrust his arm throu

should be very glad if you would accom

ar!" said P

. P. winked and frowned. Her husband would not take hints. So taking his other arm, and wishing t

gentleman spe

" whispered she; "he

hould have heard him speak French,

lly was able to make her h

at length; "Oh!

I ever saw him laugh before. The young men were away a great deal, which was hardly kind. But they said they mu

ung men don't call upon us," said Mrs. Poti

d a good deal to hims

re not visi

you mean,

Firkin,"

aw them next

pleasant circles in which you visited in Paris, a

perior," repli

irituel," sai

tay only a short time to be sure, but we shoul

aid Mr.

Mr. Boosey; and the corne

me friends staying in town," said Mrs. P. "

it's a little awkward. These ladies are kind enough to rec

ask favors of them is a very differen

ar Mrs. Potiphar," said Kurz P

and-so, and Madame la Comtesse So-and-so, and describe their dresses, why, we can manage it well enough; for we are engaged to a little party

be glad to see the general air and the toilette, you know. If we were going to pass the whole winter

auxiliaries, you can use the tongue afterward. You've no idea how well you can talk about French society if you only go to the opera with

so earnestly at him, that at length he thought he would saunter carelessly into the shop, and ask for some trifle. The moment he entered she fixed her eyes full upon him, and he says they were large and lustrous, and a little mournful in expression. But he scarcely looked at her, and asked at the opposite counter for a pair of gloves. He tried them on, and in the mirror behind the counter he saw the girl still watching him. After lingering for some time, and looking at everything but the girl, he sauntered slowly out again while her eyes, he said, grew evidently more mournful as she

and was about right for him; upon which she smiled in the most bewitching manner, and bringing out a large box of gloves, selected a pair of an exquisite nuance, as the French say, you know, and asking him to put out his hand, she proceeded to fit the glove to it, herself. Mr. Firkin remarked, that as she did so, she would raise her eyes to his whenever she found it necessary to press his fingers harder than usual, and when he thought the glove was fairly on, she kept pulling it down, and smoothing it; and finally taking his hand between both of hers, she brought the glove together, buttoned it, and said, "Monsieur has such a delicate hand," and smiled sweetly. Mr. Firkin said he bought an astonishing number of gloves that morning, and suddenly remembered that he wanted cravats. Fortunately the new styles had just come in, Marie said (for he had discovered her name), and she opened

he stood in the shop, with the most quizzical expression, and once or twice he has thought he heard suppressed laughter from a group of the other girls and the French gentlemen. But it was a mistake, for when he turned, the Frenchmen had the politest expression, and the girls were very busy with the goods. Poor French gentlemen! how they must be annoyed to see foreigners carrying off not only all the gloves, but all the sm

ir arrival Mr. B. appeared in a suit of great splendor. It was a very remarkable coat, and waistcoat, covered with gilt sprigs, and an embroidered shirt-bosom, altogether a fine coronation suit for the king of the Cannibal Islands. Mr. Firkin, as usual, was rigorously gentlemanly, in the quiet way. They walked together up the Boulevards, Mr. B. flashing in the sun, and Mr. F. sombre as a shadow. The whole world turned to remark the extreme gorgeousness of Mr. Boosey's

here to look for their box. Mrs. Potiphar had made Mr. P. as presentable as possible, and begged the Sennaar Minister to see that Mr. P. did not talk too lo

ey, my dear," said

s, my dear," whispered Ku

g and chatting with the Ambassador; her diamonds glittering, her brocade glistening, her fan waving, while I slipped into the seat op

o Mrs. P. "I shall give out to my friends that i

ling her glass all round the house, and laughing, and

nced to the front, and having put down his eye-glass, had taken out his old, round, silver-barred spectacles, and was deliberately wip

otion, but still smiling, she

't make a fool of yourself. Mais,

iles to the Ambassador, as she saw that t

Potiphar in a loud tone, as he wi

" said the Pacha, "which however, is merely a becoming carnation

n! They wore a great quantity of jewelry, and had the easiest, most smiling faces you ever saw. They entered making a great

t such stern republicans don't intend ever to

rs. Potiphar, scanning them carefully, "I know her by her

at the younger lady, Countess de Papillon, who had all kinds of little fluttering e

eat privilege for young Americans to be admitted familiarly into such society. I now u

ozen times every evening, the applause is tremendous, showing that the audience have such a subtile sense of propriety that they can detect the slightest deviation from the right line. Is there not the Louvre, where, if there is not the best picture of a single great artist, there are good specimens of all? Will you please to show me such a promenade as the Boulevards, such fetês as those of the Champ Elysées, such shops as those of the Passages, and the Palais Royal. Above all, will you indicate to such students of mankind as Mr. Boosey, Mr. Firkin, and I, a city more abounding in piquant little women, with eyes, and coiffures and toilettes, and je ne sais quoi, enough to make Diogenes a dandy, to obtain their favor? I think, dear Madame, you would be troubled to do it. And while these things are Paris, while we are sure of an illimitable allowance of all this in the gay capital, we do right to remain here. Let who will, sadden in mouldy old Rome, or luxuriate in the orange-groves of Sorento a

n studying the ladies opposite while the Pacha was sp

we dine splendidly, and in the evening we go to the opera or a theatre. To be sure, we don't have much society beside our own party. But then the shop-girls point out the distinguished women to Mrs. Potiphar, so that she can point them out when we drive; and our banker calls and keeps us up in gossip; and Mrs. Potiphar's maid, Adèle, is inestimable in furnishing information; and Mr. Potiphar gets a great

not, sir," repli

swered Mr. P. But he couldn't get

tful round the

sing only the consciousness of being in Paris-why, you ought to be happy, and considered to be having a fine time of it, if you are not? How naturally you will sigh for all this when you return and recur to Paris as the culmination of human bliss! Here's my honored Potiphar, who has this morning been taken to a darkened room in a grand old house, in a lonely, aristocratic street; and there a picture-agent has shown him a splendid Nicolas Poussin, painted in his prime for the family, whose heir in reduced circumstances must now part with it at a tearful sacrifice. Honored P.'s friend, the commissionaire, interprets this story, while the agent stands sadly meditating the sacrifice with which his duty acquaints him. He informs the good P., through the friendly commissionaire, that he has been induced to offer him the picture, not only because all Americans have so fine a taste (as his experience has proved to him) in paintings, nor because they are so much more truly munifice

other. In fine, my honored Potiphar buys the work of art. To any one else, of course, in France, for instance, the price

ists at home who could paint ten or twenty times as good a picture for a quarter of the price. But you, dearest Mrs. P., who kno

n of the world. It's amusing enough, and it's innocent enough in its way. They won't go very far. They'll spend a good deal of money for nothing. They'll be plucked at gaming-houses. They'll be quietly laughed at by Mesdames de Papillon and Casta Diva, and the male friends of those ladies who enjoy the benefit of the lavish bounty of our young Croesus and Firkins. They'll swagger a good deal, and take airs, and come home and indulge in foreign habits now grown indispensable. They will pronounce upon the female toilette, and upon the gantier le plus comme il faut, in Paris. They will beg your pardon f

te Mrs. Vite, who goes wherever the gentlemen go, and who is famous as L'Américaine. If you like that sort of thing, you can do as much of it as you p

ustr

civilizations, are here. Now, if there is any use in living at all, which I am far from asserting, is it worth while to get nothing out of Europe but a prolonged supper with Madame Casta Diva, or a wardrobe of all t

ll see that she has not been to Paris for nothing. Kurz Pacha asked us if we had been to the Louvre, where the great pictures are. But when I inquired if there were any of Mr. Düsseldorf's there, and he said no, why, of course, as he is my favorite, and I know more of his works than I do of any others, I didn't go. There are some very pretty th

d how pure, and noble, and upright his private character and career have been; and how, as Kurz Pacha said, he is radiant with royalty, and honors everybody

he greatest pleasure the b

ories about him. I never saw a nicer man; only he looks sleepy. I suppose the cares of state oppress him, poor man! But one thing you may be sure of, dear Mrs. Downe, if people at home laugh at the Emperor and condemn him, just find

irkin, who has a turn for politics, "for they

arden of the Tuileries, where the children play under the trees; and as he looks he stops whistling, and gazes sometimes for half an hour; and whenever he goes out afterward

d abroad. "Foreigners will never know what you really are," said he

We are so sorry to come home

er affe

RO