One, an artistic-looking man, bearded, and with long hair, was a noted pianiste, and also the first music-teacher in Villette; he attended twice a week at Madame Beck's pensionnat, to give lessons to the few pupils whose parents were rich enough to allow their daughters the privilege of his instructions; his name was M.Josef Emanuel, and he was half-brother to M.Paul: which potent personage was now visible in the person of the second gentleman.
M.Paul amused me; I smiled to myself as I watched him, he seemed so thoroughly in his element--standing conspicuous in presence of a wide and grand assemblage, arranging, restraining, over-aweing about one hundred young ladies.

He was, too, so perfectly in earnest--so energetic, so intent, and, above all, so absolute: and yet what business had he there?
What had he to do with music or the Conservatoire--he who could hardly distinguish one note from another?
I knew that it was his love of display and authority which had brought him there--a love not offensive, only because so naive.

It presently became obvious that his brother, M.Josef, was as much under his control as were the girls themselves.

Never was such a little hawk of a man as that M.Paul! Ere long, some noted singers and musicians dawned upon the platform: as these stars rose, the comet-like professor set.
Insufferable to him were all notorieties and celebrities: where he could not outshine, he fled.
And now all was prepared: but one compartment of the hall waited to be filled--a compartment covered with crimson, like the grand staircase and doors, furnished with stuffed and cushioned benches, ranged on each side of two regal chairs, placed solemnly under a canopy.
A signal was given, the doors rolled back, the assembly stood up, the orchestra burst out, and, to the welcome of a choral burst, enter the King, the Queen, the Court of Labassecour.
Till then, I had never set eyes on living king or queen; it may consequently be conjectured how I strained my powers of vision to take in these specimens of European royalty.

By whomsoever majesty is beheld for the first time, there will always be experienced a vague surprise bordering on disappointment, that the same does not appear seated, en permanence, on a throne, bonneted with a crown, and furnished, as to the hand, with a sceptre.