"THE OPERA."
It is not to be supposed that Lady Tilney should keep a determination formed fully one hundred and forty-four hours before the season of its fulfilment, or retain on the Saturday evening the same degree of passionate admiration of the Sontag's powers, which she had expressed on the previous Wednesday to Lord Albert D'Esterre, when announcing her intention of being present at the first scene of the Opera. She did, however, reach the house, on the evening in question, before the conclusion of the third act, and found the Comtesse Leinsengen already in her box.
"Eh bien, ma chere, à la fin vous voilà! have you been ever since at dat tiresome dinner?"
"Oh no; I drove home immediately after you went away; but I had a thousand things of consequence to do, and could not positively arrive sooner. Amongst other things there was a great enormous card of invitation from the D'Hermantons. It is quite out of the question my going: and I think the affair ought to be overturned as much as possible—our cause should be established without offence directly given, but decidedly; and if we are engaged elsewhere, you know, our excuse of 'exceedingly sorry' will always effect this, and save us, in the present instance, from the extensive and moral acquaintances of the Duchess, and from the fadeur of her evenings. I would myself send out cards did I not think it would be too marked; but some of us might do so. There is Lady de Chére, I see, in her box; would you arrange the business with her to-night in the room—Do you agree with me, my dear Comtesse?" Her friend nodded assent; and in her abrupt rough voice said, "N'ayez pas peur! I can always hold up my head and tread down de plebe—we are used to dat; but for you, I fear in dis country, you do not understand de matter."—
"You know, my dear Comtesse, I have often explained to you, that our constitution—"
"Oh! trève de politiques I implore," said the Comtesse Leinsengen, turning her head away, and looking towards the stage: "trève de politiques je n'en puis plus; but fiez vous en à moi."—
"I am surely the last person you ought to suspect unequal to that task! It is quite unjust to me, dear Comtesse! Have you forgotten the woman whom Lady Ellersby and myself thought we could use? whom we actually paraded for a season, maintained she was a beauty, and a person 'qui feroit fureur;' and after all, when she failed, left her planté in the midst of the promised honours; actually ejected her from Almack's, and if we met, walked over her as a person whose face we had never seen!—Was not this carried with a proper spirit?"
"Yes, under my suggestion; but I could have told you from de first that her grand nigaud de mari would be always à ses trousses, and prevent her being of the least service to us. It is quite a mistake to attempt such a measure, ça sent le roman, and I do hate all romance—Dat young milor, (vat you name him?) dat was at your house de oder morning, Lor—Lor Albert D'Esterre; I don't think, upon my word, never I don't, dat he will do us any good, I have my doubts dat he is only un espion, and—" Whilst the Comtesse was speaking, the door of the box opened, and there entered, with an air of affected refinement, a person whose appearance ill suited with his outward show of courtliness—his face was red and large, with grey eyes, his hair inclining to flaxen, and his whole figure round and ill-formed.
This physiognomy, however, if Sir William Temple would have allowed himself to be natural, was an index to his disposition, for he was au fond good-natured; but an overweening vanity—a desire to be fine, and be considered one of the beau-monde, had spoilt the man, and he became insufferably pompous and conceited—in proportion as his exertions in good dinners in the season, a good country house out of it, and a vote in parliament, made him successful in obtaining the notice of people of rank, and of the minister. The first thought his cook good, his chateau, at an easy distance from London, convenient—and the last, remembering the old woman's adage, considered that every little helped, and that Sir William's vote, so long as it was on the right side, was as good as any other. He had made his way thus far with tolerable facility, but his ambition grew by feeding on, and was only to be satisfied by the attainment of the highest distinction of the ton of the day; such as in his estimate was conferred by the protecting smile of Lady Tilney, the Comtesse Leinsengen and others of that élite body.