p 



320 



AUDUBON 



and went out, but soon returned, and I advised Parker not 

 to keep him too long. The time was adjourned to Sun- 

 day next. In Connecticut this would be thought horrible, 

 in England it would be difficult to effect it, and in Paris it is 

 considered the best day for such things. Again I went to 

 the Louvre, and this evening went with young Geoffrey to 

 the celebrated Frascati. This house is a handsome hotel, 

 and we were introduced by two servants in fine livery into 

 a large wainscoted room, where a roulette table was at 

 work. Now none hut gentlemen gamble here. We saw, 

 and saw only ! In another room rouge et noir was going 

 on, and the double as well as the single Napoleons easily 

 changed hands, yet all was smiling and serene. Some 

 wealthy personage drew gold in handsful from his pock- 

 ets, laid it on a favorite spot, and lost it calmly, more than 

 once. Ladies also resort to this house, and good order is 

 always preserved ; without a white cravat, shoes instead 

 of boots, etc., no one is admitted. I soon became tired 

 of watching this and we left. 



September 10. Friend Swainson requested me to go 

 with him this morning to complete a purchase of skins, 

 and this accomplished I called on M. Milbert, to whom I 

 had a letter from my old friend Le Sueur,^ but he was 

 absent. I now went to the Jardin du Roi, and at the 



library saw the so-called fine drawings of Mr. H • 



Lucy, they were just such drawings as our boy Johnny 

 made before I left home, stiff and dry as a well-seasoned 

 fiddle-stick. The weather and the sky are most charm- 

 ing. This evening M. Cainard, whom I have met several 

 times, asked me to play billiards with him, but the want 

 of practice was such that I felt as if I never had played 

 before. Where is the time gone when I was considered 

 one of the best of players? To-morrow I will try to see 

 M. Redoute.2 



1 Charles Alexandre Le Sueur, French naturalist. 1778-1846. 



2 Pierre Joseph Redoute, French painter of flowers. 1759-1840. 



