How is it that you are not married?'
The poor girl appeared to be incapable of answering, so the Empress
gently remarked that it was to the young men that that question should
be addressed.
'Oh, that is the difficulty, is it?' said the Emperor. 'We must look
about and find a husband for you.' He turned, and to my horror I found
his eyes fixed with a questioning gaze upon my face.
'We have to find you a wife also, Monsieur de Laval,' said he. 'Well,
well, we shall see--we shall see. What is your name?' to a quiet
refined man in black.
'I am Gretry, the musician.'
'Yes, yes, I remember you. I have seen you a hundred times, but I can
never recall your name. Who are you?'
'I am Joseph de Chenier.'
'Of course. I have seen your tragedy. I have forgotten the name of it,
but it was not good. You have written some other poetry, have you not?'
'Yes, sire. I had your permission to dedicate my last volume to you.'
'Very likely, but I have not had time to read it. It is a pity that we
have no poets now in France, for the deeds of the last few years would
have given a subject for a Homer or a Virgil.
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