He hesitated before answering. "I don't know much about music; but it seems to me, as Rossini said of the music of Wagner: 'Il y a de jolis moments, mais de mauvais quarts d'heures!' All the same, it was very pretty."
Every one praised the Marquis to the skies, and he was really in the seventh heaven of delight.
I am only afraid his head will be turned, and that he will write another chef-d'oeuvre.
I was glad when their Majesties bade us good night, for I was completely exhausted.
PARIS, December 5th.
It seems nice, all the same, to be at home again. We arrived in Paris at six o'clock, and at half-past seven I was in my bed, completely worn out. However, I must tell you how our visit ended the day before yesterday. Was it only the day before yesterday? It seems months ago. At déjeuner the Princess Metternich sat on the right of the Emperor, and the Empress's brother-in-law, Duke d'Albe, gave me his avant-le-déluge arm, and put me on the left of his Majesty.
I thought the Emperor looked tired and ill, and I noticed he frequently put his hand on his back, as if he was in pain. The Princess Metternich engrossed the Emperor's attention. She is so witty and lively that every one must listen when she talks. All the same, the Emperor talked with me a good deal, and thanked me for having done so much to amuse them. Never would they forget the pleasure they had had.
When we went up to our rooms to put on our cloaks there was no pretentious majordomo demanding his fee, and our particular valet looked sad, and did not meet my eye when I tried to catch his to give a smile of adieu, and persistently fixed his gaze on something at the other end of the corridor. I rather liked the old way better, as one felt that in a measure one had made some little compensation for all the delightful days spent there.
I asked my maid how the servants felt about this change. She said that in their salle à manger almost all the maids and valets belonging to the guests gave pourboires.
After we had made our adieux, and taken our seats in the different carriages, their Majesties came out on the balcony to see us depart. They waved their hands in farewell as we drove off.