During her apogee she had a neat little house in the Rue
Chauchat, and lived as Opera nymphs used to live in the old days. Du
Bruel was smitten with her about the time when the Duke's fancy came
to an end in 1823. Being a mere subordinate in the Civil Service, du
Bruel tolerated the Superintendent of Fine Arts, believing that he
himself was really preferred. After six years this connection was
almost a marriage. Tullia has always been very careful to say nothing
of her family; we have a vague idea that she comes from Nanterre. One
of her uncles, formerly a simple bricklayer or carpenter, is now, it
is said, a very rich contractor, thanks to her influence and generous
loans. This fact leaked out through du Bruel. He happened to say that
Tullia would inherit a fine fortune sooner or later. The contractor
was a bachelor; he had a weakness for the niece to whom he is
indebted.
"'He is not clever enough to be ungrateful,' said she.
"In 1829 Tullia retired from the stage of her own accord. At the age
of thirty she saw that she was growing somewhat stouter, and she had
tried pantomime without success.
Pages:
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52