1 86 THE FIRESIDE SPHINX 



In reality, men were far more occupied with cats 

 about this time than they were with Chateaubriand, 

 though he managed to play throughout life so pro- 

 minent a part in the public eye. He followed the 

 trend of popular enthusiasm, and thought he led 

 it ; but it cannot be denied that his devotion to 

 his pets was sincere, intelligent, and interpretative. 

 He stood midway between the harsh depreciation 

 of Buffon and the ardent favouritism of M. F^e. 

 Buffon declared the cat to be selfish, treacherous, 

 and perverse ; thievish by instinct ; incapable of 

 either domesticity or affection ; and tolerated under 

 men's roofs only because she destroyed an animal 

 more disagreeable and more mischievous than her- 

 self. M. F^e, on the other hand, considered that 

 whatever seemed lacking in Pussy was due to the 

 stupidity or cruelty of her masters. She was, from 

 his point of view, not only the most beautiful of 

 beasts, but one of the most affectionate, if she could 

 but find an object worthy of her regard. "The 

 cat," he says proudly, " is not a commonplace crea- 

 ture when she loves." 



Chateaubriand, free alike from antagonism or 

 delusion, was the most clear-sighted of the three. 

 He, at least, valued at her true worth the little 

 Sphinx whose ways are gentle, whose heart is cold, 

 whose character is inscrutable. Vain though he 

 was, his vanity stopped short of any claim upon 



