The notary's nose;

12 THE NOTARY'S NOSE.
our liking for the ballet. The common
herd goes crazy over music; claps its
hands over Rossini's operas, and Donizetti's, and Auber's. It would seem as if a
million little notes, mixed up like a salad,
have something about them to tickle the
ears of such people. They carry the thing
to the ridiculous extent of sometimes singing themselves, with their great rasping
voices; and the police permit them to assemble in certain public halls, to murder
some of the minor airs. Much good may
it do them! As for me, I don't listen to
an opera at all; I watch it; I go in
time for the ballet, and after it I clear out.
My worthy grandmother has told me that
all the Court ladies of her time went to
the opera for nothing but the ballet. They
didn't refuse any encouragement to the
dancinggentlemen. Now our time is come.
It is our function to take care of the dancing ladies-" Honi soil qui maly pense!"