This eBook was produced by Suzanne L Shell Charles Franksand the Online Distributed Proofreading TeamTHE IDOL OF PARISby SARAH BERNHARDT1921English EditionCONTENTSPART ONE PARISCHAPTER ONECHAPTER TWOCHAPTER THREECHAPTER FOURCHAPTER FIVECHAPTER SIXCHAPTER SEVENPART TWO BRUSSELSCHAPTER EIGHTCHAPTER NINECHAPTER TENCHAPTER ELEVENCHAPTER TWELVECHAPTER THIRTEENCHAPTER FOURTEENCHAPTER FIFTEENPART THREE THE COUNTRYCHAPTER SIXTEENCHAPTER SEVENTEENCHAPTER EIGHTEENCHAPTER NINETEENCHAPTER TWENTYCHAPTER TWENTYONECHAPTER TWENTYTWOPART FOUR THE CHÂTEAUCHAPTER TWENTYTHREECHAPTER TWENTYFOURCHAPTER TWENTYFIVECHAPTER TWENTYSIXCHAPTER TWENTYSEVENCHAPTER TWENTYEIGHTCHAPTER TWENTYNINECHAPTER THIRTYPART I PARISCHAPTER IIn the diningroom of a fine house on the Boulevard Raspail all theDarbois family were gathered together about the round table on whicha white oil cloth bordered with goldmedallioned portraits of the lineof French kings served as table cover at family mealsThe Darbois family consisted of François Darbois professor ofphilosophy a scholar of eminence and distinction of Madame Darboishis wife a charming gentle little creature without any pretentionsof Philippe Renaud brother of Madame Darbois an honest and ablebusiness man of his son Maurice Renaud twentytwo and a painter afine youth filled with confidence because of the success he had justachieved at the last Salon of a distant cousin the familycounsellor a tyrannical landlord and selfcentered bachelor AdhemarMeydieux and the child of whom he was godfather and around whom allthis particular little world revolvedEsperance Darbois the only daughter of the philosopher was fifteenyears old She was long and slim without being angular The flowerhead that crowned this slender stem was exquisitely fair with thefairness of a little child soft palegold fair Her face hadindeed no strictly sculptural beauty her long flaxcoloured eyeswere not large her nose had no special character only her sensitiveand clearcut nostrils gave the pretty face its suggestion of ancientlineage Her mouth was a little large and her full red lips opened onsingularly white teeth as even as almonds while a low Grecianforehead and a neck graceful in every curve gave Esperance a totaleffect of aristocratic distinction that was beyond dispute Her lowvibrant voice produced an impression that was almost physical on thosewho heard it Quite without intention she introduced into every wordshe spoke several inflections which made her manner of pronounciationpeculiarly her ownEsperance was kneeling on a chair leaning upon her arms on the tableHer blue dress cut like a blouse was held in at the waist by anarrow girdle knotted loosely Although the child was arguingvigorously with intense animation there was such grace in hergestures such charming vibrations in her voice that it wasimpossible to resent her combative attitudePapa my dear papa she was asserting to François Darbois You aresaying today just the opposite of what you were saying the other dayto mother at dinnerHer father raised his head Her mother on the contrary dropped hersa little Pray Heaven she was saying to herself that Françoisdoes not get angry with herThe godfather moved his chair forward Philippe Renaud laughedMaurice looked at his cousin with amazementWhat are you saying asked François DarboisEsperance gazed at him tenderly You remember my godfather was diningwith us and there had been a lot of talk my godfather was againstallowing any liberty to women and he maintained that children have noright to choose their own careers but must without reasoning giveway to their parents who alone are to decide their fatesAdhemar wished to take the floor and cleared his throat inpreparation but François Darbois evidently a little nonplusedmuttered And then after thatwhat are you coming toTo what you answered papaHer father looked at her a little anxiously but she met his glancecalmly and continued You said to my godfather My dear Meydieuxyou are absolutely mistaken It is the right and the duty of everyoneto select and to construct his future for himselfDarbois attempted to speakYou even told mama who had never known it that grandfather wantedto place you in business and that you rebelledAh rebelled murmured Darbois with a slight shrugYes rebelled And you added My father cut off my allowance for ayear but I stuck to it I tutored poor students who couldnt getthrough their examinations I lived from hand to mouth but I didlive and I was able to continue my studies in philosophyUncle Renaud was openly nodding encouragement Adhemar Meydieux roseheavily and straightening up with a succession of jerky movementscaught himself squarely on his heels and then with great convictionsaid See here child if I were your father I should take you bythe ear and put you out of the roomEsperance turned purpleI repeat children should obey without questionI hope to prove to my daughter by reasoning that she is probablywrong said M Darbois very quietlyNot at all You must order not persuadeNow M Meydieux exclaimed the young painter it seems to me thatyou are going a little too far Children should respect their parentswishes as far as possible but when it is a question of their ownfuture they have a right to present their side of the case If myuncle Darboiss father had had his way my uncle Darbois wouldprobably now be a mediocre engineer instead of the brilliantphilosopher who is admired and recognized by the entire worldGentle little Madame Darbois sat up proudly and Esperance looked ather father with a world of tenderness in her eyesBut my lad pursued Adhemar swelling with conviction your unclemight well have made a fortune at machinery while as it is he hasjust managed to existWe are very happyMadame Darbois slipped in her wordEsperance had bounded out of her chair and from behind her fatherencircled his head with her arms Oh yes very happy she murmuredin a low voice and you would not darling papa spoil the harmony ofour life togetherRemember my dear little Esperance what I said to your motherconcerned only mennow we are considering the future of a young girland that is a graver matterWhyBecause men are better armed against the struggle and life is alasone eternal combatThe armour of the intellect is the same for a young girl as for ayoung manAdhemar shook his shoulders impatiently Seeing that he was gettingangry and was like to explode Esperance cried out Wait godfatheryou must let me try to convince my parents Suppose father that Ihad chosen the same