CHAPTER III

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Alexandre Dumas pere -- Why he made himself particularly agreeable to Englishmen -- His way of silencing people -- The pursuit he loved best next to literature -- He has the privilege of going down to the kitchens of the Cafe de Paris -- No one questions his literary genius, some question his culinary capacities -- Dr. Veron and his cordon-bleu -- Dr. Veron's reasons for dining out instead of at home -- Dr. Veron's friend, the philanthropist, who does not go to the theatre because he objects to be hurried with his emotions -- Dr. Veron, instigated by his cook, accuses Dumas of having collaborateurs in preparing his dishes as he was known to have collaborateurs in his literary work -- Dumas' wrath -- He invites us to a dinner which shall be wholly cooked by him in the presence of a delegate to be chosen by the guests -- The lot falls upon me -- Dr. Veron and Sophie make the _amende honorable_ -- A dinner-party at Veron's -- A curious lawsuit in connection with Weber's "Freyschutz" -- Nestor Roqueplan, who became the successor of the defendant in the case, suggests a way out of it -- Leon Pillet virtually adopts it and wins the day -- A similar plan adopted years before by a fireman on duty at the opera, on being tried by court-martial for having fallen asleep during the performance of "Guido et Genevra" -- Firemen not bad judges of plays and operas -- They were often consulted both by Meyerbeer and Dumas -- Dumas at work -- How he idled his time away -- Dumas causes the traffic receipts of the Chemin de Fer de l'Ouest to swell during his three years' residence at Saint-Germain -- M. de Montalivet advises Louis-Philippe to invite Dumas to Versailles, to see what his presence will do for the royal city -- Louis-Philippe does not act upon the advice -- The relations between Dumas and the d'Orleans family -- After the Revolution of '48, Dumas becomes a candidate for parliament -- The story of his canvass and his address to the electors at Joigny -- Dumas' utter indifference to money matters -- He casts his burdens upon others -- Dumas and his creditors -- Writs and distraints -- How they are dealt with -- Dumas' indiscriminate generosity -- A dozen houses full of new furniture in half as many years -- Dumas' frugality at table -- Literary remuneration -- Dumas and his son -- "Leave me a hundred francs" 43

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