"Ah, yes! you are right; there are two things I have never seen. It is true, in our days, these two things are becoming more and more rare."
"What are they, then?" demanded Maurice.
"The first," said Morand, gravely, "is a god."
"Ah!" said Maurice, "but in lieu of a god I shall be able to show you a goddess, Citizen Morand."
"How so?" interrupted Geneviève.
"Yes; a goddess of quite modern creation,—the Goddess Reason. I have a friend, of whom you have sometimes heard me speak,—my dear and brave Lorin,—with a heart of gold, whose only fault is that of making verses and vile puns."
"Well?"
"Well, he selected for Paris a Goddess Reason, in good condition, and in whom they can discover nothing at all objectionable. It is the Citizeness Arthémise, ex-dancer at the Opera, and at present dealer in perfumes, Rue Martin. As soon as she is definitely received as goddess, I will show her to you."
Morand bowed his head in token of thanks, and continued,—
"The other," said he gravely, "is a king."