napoleons might do it； and the remains of the recovered trousseau
would still produce that sum。 It is probable this intention would have
been carried out； but for a severe illness that attacked the dear girl；
during which her life was even despaired of。 I had the happiness of
hearing of her gradual recovery； however； before we commenced our
journey； though no more was said of the purchase。 Perhaps it was as
well。 as it was； for； by this time； such a feeling existed in our extreme
cote gauche； that it may be questioned if the handkerchiefs of that end
of the piece would have behaved themselves in the wardrobe of the
dauphine with the discretion and prudence that are expected from every
thing around the person of a princess of her exalted rank and excellent
character。 It is true； none of us understood the questions at issue； but
that only made the matter worse； the violence of all dissensions being
very generally in proportion to the ignorance and consequent confidence
of the disputants。
｛napoleon = French gold coin worth twenty francs｝
I could not but remember Adrienne； as the commissionaire laid us down
before the eyes of the wife of the head of the firm； in the rue de
。 We were carefully examined； and pronounced 〃parfaits；〃 still it was not
in the sweet tones； and with the sweeter smiles of the polished and
gentle girl we had left in Picardie。 There was a sentiment in HER
admiration that touched all our hearts； even to the most exaggerated
republican among us； for she seemed to go deeper in her examination of
merits than the mere texture and price。 She saw her offering in our
beauty； the benevolence of the dauphine in our softness； her own
gratitude in our exquisite fineness； and princely munificence in our
delicacy。 In a word； she could enter into the sentiment of a pocket…
handkerchief。 Alas！ how different was the estimation in which we were
held by Desiree and her employers。 With them； it was purely a question
of francs； and we had not been in the magazin five minutes； when there
was a lively dispute whether we were to be put at a certain number of
napoleons； or one napoleon more。 A good deal was said about Mad。 la
Duchesse； and I found that it was expected that a certain lady of that
rank； one who had enjoyed the extraordinary luck of retaining her
fortune； being of an old and historical family； and who was at the head
of fashion in the faubourg； would become the purchaser。 At all events； it
was determined no one should see us until this lady returned to town；
she being at the moment at Rosny； with madame； whence she was
expected to accompany that princess to Dieppe； to come back to her
hotel； in the rue de Bourbon； about the last of October。 Here； then；
were we doomed to three months of total seclusion in the heart of the
gayest capital of Europe。 It was useless to repine； and we determined
among ourselves to exercise patience in the best manner we could。
｛faubourg = neighborhood ； Rosny = Chateau of Rosny； country estate
of the Dukes of Berry at Rosny…sur…Seine； Madame = title of Princess
Marie Therese Charlotte； wife of the Dauphin Louis Antoine； heir to
Charles X｝
Accordingly； we were safely deposited in a particular drawer； along
with a few other favorite articles； that； like our family； were reserved for
the eyes of certain distinguished but absent customers。 These specialites
in trade are of frequent occurrence in Paris； and form a pleasant bond
of union between the buyer and seller； which gives a particular zest to
this sort of commerce； and not unfrequently a particular value to goods。
To see that which no one else has seen； and to own that which no one
else can own； are equally agreeable； and delightfully exclusive。 All minds
that do not possess the natural sources of exclusion； are fond of creating
them by means of a subordinate and more artificial character。
｛specialites = specialties ｝
On the whole； I think we enjoyed our new situation； rather than
otherwise。 The drawer was never opened； it is true； but that next it was
in constant use； and certain crevices beneath the counter enabled us to
see a little； and to hear more； of what passed in the magazin。 We were
in a part of the shop most frequented by ladies； and we overheard a few
tete…a…tetes that were not without amusement。 These generally related
to cancans。 Paris is a town in which cancans do not usually flourish；
their proper theatre being provincial and trading places； beyond a
question； still there ARE cancans at Paris； for all sorts of persons
frequent that centre of civilization。 The only difference is； that in the
social pictures offered by what are called cities； the cancans are in the
strongest light； and in the most conspicuous of the grouping； whereas in
Paris they are kept in shadow； and in the background。 Still there are
cancans at Paris； and cancans we overheard； and precisely in the
manner I have related。 Did pretty ladies remember that pocket…
handkerchiefs have ears； they might possibly have more reserve in the
indulgence of this extraordinary propensity。
｛cancans = scandals （French slang）｝
We had been near a month in the drawer； when I recognized a female
voice near us； that I had often heard of late； speaking in a confident and
decided tone； and making allusions that showed she belonged to the
court。 I presume her position there was not of the most exalted kind； yet
it was sufficiently so to qualify her； in her own estimation； to talk politics。
〃Les ordonnances〃 were in her mouth constantly； and it was easy to
perceive that she attached the greatest importance to these ordinances；
whatever they were； and fancied a political millennium was near。 The
shop was frequented less than usual that day； the next it was worse still；
in the way of business； and the clerks began to talk loud； also； about les
ordonnances。 The following morning neither windows nor doors were
opened； and we passed a gloomy time of uncertainty and conjecture。
There were ominous sounds in the streets。 Some of us thought we heard
the roar of distant artillery。 At length the master and mistress appeared
by themselves in the shop； money and papers were secured； and the
female was just retiring to an inner room； when she suddenly came back
to the counter； opened our drawer； seized us with no very reverent
hands； and； the next thing we knew； the whole twelve of us were thrust
into a trunk upstairs； and buried in Egyptian darkness。 From that
moment all traces of what was occurring in the streets of Paris were lost
to us。 After all； it is not so very disagreeable to be only a pocket…
handkerchief in a revolution。
｛Les ordonnances = four decrees establishing absolute rule； issued by
King Charles X on July 25； 1830； which touched off the July
Revolution； leading to his abdication on July 31； and the installation of
the Duke of Orleans as Louis Philippe I； King of the FrenchCooper
was living in Paris during this period； though he returned there from Italy
and Germany a few days after the July Revolution itself； and he was a
close friend of the Marquis de Lafayette who played a major part in the
Revolution and its aftermath； for Cooper and many others； the ultimate
results of the Revolution were a serious disappointment； since the new
King seemed rapidly to become almost as conservative as the old｝
Our imprisonment lasted until the following December。 As our feelings
had become excited on the questions of the day； as well as those of
other irrational beings around us； we might have passed a most
uncomfortable time in the trunk； but for one circumstance。 So great had
been the hurry of our mistress in thus shutting us up； that we had been
crammed in in a way to leave it impossible to say which was the cote
droit； and which the cote gauche。 Thus completely deranged as parties；
we took to discussing philosophical matters in general； an occupation
well adapted to a situation that required so great an exercise of
discretion。
One day； when we least expected so great a change； our mistress came
in person； searched several chests； trunks and drawers； and finally
discovered us where she had laid us； with her own hands； near four
months before。 It seems that； in her hurry and fright； she had actually
forgotten in what nook we had been concealed。 We were smoothed
with care； our political order reestablished； and then we were taken
below and restored to the dignity of the select circle in the drawer
already mentioned。 This was like removing to a fashionable square； or
living in a beau quartier of a capital。 It was even better than removing
from East Broadway into bona fide； real； unequaled； league…long； eighty
feet wide； Broadway！
｛beau quartier = swanky neighborhood ； Broadway = in New York
City； of course｝
We now had an opportunity of learning some of the great events that
had recently occurred in France； and which still troubled Europe。 The
Bourbons were again dethroned； as it was termed； and another
Bourbon seated in their place。 It would seem il y a Bourbon et
Bourbon。 The result has since shown that 〃what is bred in the bone will
break out in the flesh。〃 Commerce was at a standstill； our master passed
half his time under arms； as a national guard； in order to keep the
revolutionists from revolutionizing the revolution。 The great families had
laid aside their liveries； some of them their coaches； most of them their
arms。 Pocket…handkerchiefs of OUR calibre would be thought
decidedly aristocratic； and aristocracy in Paris； just at that moment； was
almost in as bad odor as it is in America； where it ranks as an eighth
deadly sin； though no one seems to know precisely what it means。 In
the latter country； an honest development of democracy is certain to be
stigmatized as tainted with this crime。 No governor would dare to
pardon it。
｛il y a Bourbon et Bourbon = there are Bourbons and Bourbons （i。e。；
they're all the same）； 〃What is bred in the bone。。。。〃 = a possibly
deliberate misquotation of 〃It will not out of the flesh that is bred in the
bone〃 from John Heywood； 〃Proverbes〃； Part II； Chapter VIII （1546）｝
The groans over the state of trade were loud and deep among those
who lived by its innocent arts。 Still； the holidays were n