A Court Chamberlain had hurried out to receive the distinguished messenger, ready after a due interchange of compliments to usher him into the Imperial presence.
"Your Excellency!" began the Chamberlain, in the most obsequious manner.
"I am not an Excellency!" replied Vivier.
"General, then—Monsieur le Général?"
"I am not a General!"
"Colonel, perhaps, and aide-de-camp to his Imperial Majesty?"
"I am not in the army. I have no official rank—no rank of any kind whatever."
"Good heavens! then what are you?" exclaimed the Chamberlain, indignant with himself for having treated as high-born and high-placed one who was apparently a mere nobody.
"I am a musician," said Vivier.
Bounding with rage, the Court functionary made an unbecoming gesture, such as Mephistopheles, according to the stage directions, should make in one of the passages of Goethe's Faust.