"What, my dear historian?"
"That the Théâtre-Français is going to the devil?"
"Surely that is no news?"
"No, I mention it merely as a misfortune."
"Pooh!..."
"What do you advise in the case of the Théâtre-Français?"
"What one applies to an old structure—a pontoon."
"Good! Do you believe, then, that it can no longer stand against the sea?"
"Oh! certainly, with a new keel, new sails and a different gear."
"Exactly my own opinion: it reminds me of the horse which, in his madness, Roland dragged by the bridle; it had all the attributes of a horse, only, all these attributes were useless on account of one small misfortune: it was dead!"