The twilight had faded into a velvet blue, sprinkled with stars.  The lantern which madame had hung against the arbor shed a yellow light, throwing into clear relief the sharply cut features of monsieur.  Up and down the silent stream drifted here and there a phantom boat, the gleam of its light following like a firefly.  From some came no sound but the muffled plash of the oars.  From others floated stray bits of song and laughter.  Far up the stream I heard the distant whistle of the down train.

“It is mine, monsieur.  Will you cross with me, and bring back the boat?”

Monsieur unhooked the lantern, and I followed through the garden and down the terrace steps.

At the water’s edge was a bench holding two figures.

Monsieur turned his lantern, and the light fell upon the face of young
Francois.

When the bow grated on the opposite bank I shook his hand, and said, in parting, pointing to the lovers,—­

“The same old story, Monsieur?”

“Yes; and always new.  You must come to the church.”

NOTES

=Harlem River=:—­Note that this river is in New York City, not in France as one might suppose from the name of the selection.

=Devonshire=:—­A very attractive county of southwestern England.

=filet=:—­A thick slice of meat or fish.

=charmant=:—­The French word for charming.

=Roquefort=:—­A kind of cheese.

=Sacre!  Vous etes le diable=:—­Curses!  You are the very deuce.

=passe-partouts=:—­Engraved ornamental borders for pictures.

=gendarme=:—­A policeman of France.

=Napoleon III=:—­Emperor of the French, 1852-1870.  He was elected president of the Republic in 1848; he seized full power in 1851; in 1852, he was proclaimed emperor.  He was a nephew of the great Napoleon.

=confrere=:—­A close associate.

=Garibaldi=:—­Giuseppe Garibaldi, an Italian patriot (1807-1882).

=Chianti=:—­A kind of Italian wine.

=Bronx=:—­A small river in the northern part of New York City.

=Restaurant Francais=:—­French restaurant.

=the painter=:—­A rope at the bow of a boat.

=C’est merveilleux=:—­It’s wonderful.

=Mon Dieu=:—­Good heavens!

=pate de fois gras=:—­A delicacy made of fat goose livers.

=Chateau Lamonte, ’62=:—­A kind of wine; the date refers to the year in which it was bottled.

=Oui, mon pere=:—­Yes, father.

=mon ami=:—­My friend.

=the little affair of December 2=:—­On December 2, 1851, Louis Napoleon overawed the French legislature and assumed absolute power.  Just a year later he had himself proclaimed Emperor.

=Louis=:—­Napoleon III.

=Victor Hugo=:—­French poet and novelist (1802-1885).

=Louis Blanc=:—­French author and politician (1812-1882).