Delsarte, feeling that he had overstepped the mark, said, "Perhaps, mon
Prince, you will sing something in French for me."
Prince Oscar, drawing himself up his whole six feet and four, glanced down at little Delsarte and said, "Mon cher Monsieur, have you ever read the English poets?"
Delsarte looked unutterable things; I blushed for my teacher.
"When I come again to Paris," the Prince continued, "I will come to see you. Adieu!" and left without further ceremony.
We followed him down the slippery stairs in silence.
Prince Oscar thought this little episode a great joke, and repeated it to many people.
That same evening there was a soirée musicale given for him by the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Marquis de Moustier) The Prince was begged to sing, which he did three or four times. Every one was delighted to hear the Swedish songs. Ambroise Thomas, who was there, said that he thought they were exquisite, especially the peasant song, which he had introduced into his new opera of "Hamlet." The Prince and I sang the duet, "I Rosens duft." He was the lion of the evening, and I think that he was very pleased. I hoped that he had forgotten the unpleasant incident of the morning and Delsarte, of whom Monsieur Dué cleverly remarked, "Qui s'y frotte s'y pique—."
PARIS, July, 1867.
The distribution of prizes for the Exposition took place last Thursday at the Palais de l'Industrie. It was a magnificent affair and a very hot one. You may imagine what the heat and glare must have been at two o'clock in the afternoon on a hot July day. I was glad that I was not old and wrinkled, for every imperfection shone with magnified intensity.
There was a vast platform erected in the middle of the building, which was covered with a red carpet, and over which hung an enormous canopy of red velvet and curtains of velvet with the eagle of Napoleon. The Emperor and Empress sat, of course, in the center, and on each side were the foreign sovereigns; behind them were their suites and the Imperial family. The diplomatic corps had their places on the right of the tribune.