The notary's nose;

THE NOTARY'S NOSE. 15
that the opera is a market for easy pleasure, and a school for libertinage. More
virtue can be found there than in any
other theatre in Paris. And why? Because virtue brings a better price there
than anywhere else.
Is it not interesting to make a close study
of this little populace of young girls, almost
all springing from very low origin, and
able in no time to rise so high by talent
or beauty? Fed upon dry bread and
green apples in some workman's garret or
porter's lodge, they come to the theatre in
gingham and old shoes, and slip off furtively to dress themselves. Half an hour
afterward, they come down to the greenroom, radiant, sparkling, covered with
silk and gauze and flowers, all at the expense of the state, and more brilliant than
the fairies, angels, the houris of our
dreams. Ministers and princes kiss their
hands, and whiten their own dress coats