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Updated: June 11, 2025
"On the contrary, it is exceedingly easy," replied Valerie, smiling. "Ah ha! teach us sculpture!" said Stidmann. "You should take madame for your subject," replied Vignon, with a keen glance at Valerie. "Well," she went on, "this is my notion of the composition. Samson on waking finds he has no hair, like many a dandy with a false top-knot.
"I will send for him," said Hortense, offering Stidmann a chair. Thanking Heaven for this piece of luck, Hortense was glad to detain Stidmann to ask some questions about the evening before. Stidmann bowed in acknowledgment of her kindness. The Countess Steinbock rang; the cook appeared, and was desired to go at once and fetch her master from the studio.
He would have a tidy sum by now if he had stayed with us. What is to be done? Artists have a horror of not being free." "They have a proper sense of their value and dignity," replied Stidmann. "I do not blame Wenceslas for walking alone, trying to make a name, and to become a great man; he had a right to do so! But he was a great loss to me when he left."
Lulled by her own hopes, Hortense believed in a happy future; and she was chattering to her son of twenty months in the language of onomatopoeia that amuses babes when, at about eleven o'clock, the cook, who had not seen Wenceslas go out, showed in Stidmann. "I beg pardon, madame," said he. "Is Wenceslas gone out already?" "He is at the studio." "I came to talk over the work with him."
That Valerie has turned my head; but, my dear fellow, for her glory is well lost, misfortune well won! She really is! Good Heavens! But I am in a dreadful fix. Advise me. What can I say? How can I excuse myself?" "I! advise you! I don't know," replied Stidmann. "But your wife loves you, I imagine? Well, then, she will believe anything.
The story made Hortense reflect; she had a glimpse of the infernal dissipation which an artist must find in such vicious company. "Be honest, my Wenceslas; Stidmann was there, Claude Vignon, Vernisset. Who else? In short, it was good fun?" "I, I was thinking of nothing but our ten thousand francs, and I was saying to myself, 'My Hortense will be freed from anxiety."
Alas! at the exhibition of 1841, the disapprobation of the public soon took the form of abuse and mockery in the mouths of those who were indignant with the idol too hastily set up for worship. Stidmann tried to advise his friend, but was accused of jealousy. Every article in a newspaper was to Hortense an outcry of envy.
Stidmann asked me to make something out of them, as he is very busy." "But these," she said in a deep voice, "are Hortensias. How is it that you have never made anything in wax for me? Is it so difficult to design a pin, a little box what not, as a keepsake?" and she shot a fearful glance at the artist, whose eyes were happily lowered. "And yet you say you love me?"
Stidmann, Claude Vignon, and Count Steinbock arrived almost together, just at six. An ordinary, or, if you will, a natural woman would have hastened at the announcement of a name so eagerly longed for; but Valerie, though ready since five o'clock, remained in her room, leaving her three guests together, certain that she was the subject of their conversation or of their secret thoughts.
"That, you see," exclaimed Rivet, "is what all young students aim at as soon as they are hatched out of the school-egg. Begin by saving money, I say, and seek glory afterwards." "It spoils your touch to be picking up coin," said Stidmann. "It is Glory's business to bring us wealth." "And, after all," said Chanor to Rivet, "you cannot tether them." "They would eat the halter," replied Stidmann.
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