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〃Very strange！〃 echoed Amedee de Soulas； whose biography is here
necessary to the understanding of this tale。
In all ages France and England have carried on an exchange of trifles；
which is all the more constant because it evades the tyranny of the
Custom…house。 The fashion that is called English in Paris is called
French in London； and this is reciprocal。 The hostility of the two
nations is suspended on two pointsthe uses of words and the fashions
of dress。 /God Save the King/； the national air of England； is a tune
written by Lulli for the Chorus of Esther or of Athalie。 Hoops；
introduced at Paris by an Englishwoman； were invented in London； it is
known why； by a Frenchwoman； the notorious Duchess of Portsmouth。 They
were at first so jeered at that the first Englishwoman who appeared in
them at the Tuileries narrowly escaped being crushed by the crowd； but
they were adopted。 This fashion tyrannized over the ladies of Europe
for half a century。 At the peace of 1815； for a year； the long waists
of the English were a standing jest； all Paris went to see Pothier and
Brunet in /Les Anglaises pour rire/； but in 1816 and 1817 the belt of
the Frenchwoman； which in 1814 cut her across the bosom； gradually
descended till it reached the hips。
Within ten years England has made two little gifts to our language。
The /Incroyable/； the /Merveilleux/； the /Elegant/； the three
successes of the /petit…maitre/ of discreditable etymology； have made
way for the 〃dandy〃 and the 〃lion。〃 The /lion/ is not the parent of
the /lionne/。 The /lionne/ is due to the famous song by Alfred de
Musset：
Avez vou vu dans Barcelone
。 。 。 。 。 。
C'est ma maitresse et ma lionne。
There has been a fusionor； if you prefer it； a confusionof the two
words and the leading ideas。 When an absurdity can amuse Paris； which
devours as many masterpieces as absurdities； the provinces can hardly
be deprived of them。 So； as soon as the /lion/ paraded Paris with his
mane； his beard and moustaches； his waistcoats and his eyeglass；
maintained in its place； without the help of his hands； by the
contraction of his cheek； and eye…socket； the chief towns of some
departments had their sub…lions； who protested by the smartness of
their trouser…straps against the untidiness of their fellow…townsmen。
Thus； in 1834； Besancon could boast of a /lion/； in the person of
Monsieur Amedee…Sylvain de Soulas； spelt Souleyas at the time of the
Spanish occupation。 Amedee de Soulas is perhaps the only man in
Besancon descended from a Spanish family。 Spain sent men to manage her
business in the Comte； but very few Spaniards settled there。 The
Soulas remained in consequence of their connection with Cardinal
Granvelle。 Young Monsieur de Soulas was always talking of leaving
Besancon； a dull town； church…going； and not literary； a military
centre and garrison town； of which the manners and customs and
physiognomy are worth describing。 This opinion allowed of his lodging；
like a man uncertain of the future； in three very scantily furnished
rooms at the end of the Rue Neuve； just where it opens into the Rue de
la Prefecture。
Young Monsieur de Soulas could not possibly live without a tiger。 This
tiger was the son of one of his farmers； a small servant aged
fourteen； thick…set； and named Babylas。 The lion dressed his tiger
very smartlya short tunic…coat of iron…gray cloth； belted with
patent leather； bright blue plush breeches； a red waistcoat； polished
leather top…boots； a shiny hat with black lacing； and brass buttons
with the arms of Soulas。 Amedee gave this boy white cotton gloves and
his washing； and thirty…six francs a month to keep himselfa sum that
seemed enormous to the grisettes of Besancon： four hundred and twenty
francs a year to a child of fifteen； without counting extras！ The
extras consisted in the price for which he could sell his turned
clothes； a present when Soulas exchanged one of his horses； and the
perquisite of the manure。 The two horses； treated with sordid economy；
cost； one with another； eight hundred francs a year。 His bills for
articles received from Paris； such as perfumery； cravats； jewelry；
patent blacking； and clothes； ran to another twelve hundred francs。
Add to this the groom； or tiger； the horses； a very superior style of
dress； and six hundred francs a year for rent； and you will see a
grand total of three thousand francs。
Now； Monsieur de Soulas' father had left him only four thousand francs
a year； the income from some cottage farms which lent painful
uncertainty to the rents。 The lion had hardly three francs a day left
for food； amusements； and gambling。 He very often dined out； and
breakfasted with remarkable frugality。 When he was positively obliged
to dine at his own cost； he sent his tiger to fetch a couple of dishes
from a cookshop； never spending more than twenty…five sous。
Young Monsieur de Soulas was supposed to be a spendthrift； recklessly
extravagant； whereas the poor man made the two ends meet in the year
with a keenness and skill which would have done honor to a thrifty
housewife。 At Besancon in those days no one knew how great a tax on a
man's capital were six francs spent in polish to spread on his boots
or shoes； yellow gloves at fifty sous a pair； cleaned in the deepest
secrecy to make them three times renewed； cravats costing ten francs；
and lasting three months； four waistcoats at twenty…five francs； and
trousers fitting close to the boots。 How could he do otherwise； since
we see women in Paris bestowing their special attention on simpletons
who visit them； and cut out the most remarkable men by means of these
frivolous advantages； which a man can buy for fifteen louis； and get
his hair curled and a fine linen shirt into the bargain？
If this unhappy youth should seem to you to have become a /lion/ on
very cheap terms； you must know that Amedee de Soulas had been three
times to Switzerland； by coach and in short stages； twice to Paris；
and once from Paris to England。 He passed as a well…informed traveler；
and could say； 〃In England； where I went 。 。 。〃 The dowagers of the
town would say to him； 〃You； who have been in England 。 。 。〃 He had
been as far as Lombardy； and seen the shores of the Italian lakes。 He
read new books。 Finally； when he was cleaning his gloves； the tiger
Babylas replied to callers； 〃Monsieur is very busy。〃 An attempt had
been made to withdraw Monsieur Amedee de Soulas from circulation by
pronouncing him 〃A man of advanced ideas。〃 Amedee had the gift of
uttering with the gravity of a native the commonplaces that were in
fashion； which gave him the credit of being one of the most
enlightened of the nobility。 His person was garnished with fashionable
trinkets； and his head furnished with ideas hall…marked by the press。
In 1834 Amedee was a young man of five…and…twenty； of medium height；
dark； with a very prominent thorax； well…made shoulders； rather plump
legs； feet already fat； white dimpled hands； a beard under his chin；
moustaches worthy of the garrison； a good…natured； fat； rubicund face；
a flat nose； and brown expressionless eyes； nothing Spanish about him。
He was progressing rapidly in the d