3. Lake Pavin: A crater-type lake some four kilometres from Besse-en-Chandesse.

4. Château de Murol: Surrounded by spectacular Auvergnat scenery, the ruins of this château from the thirteenth to fourteenth century stand dramatically on a cliff and form a fitting analogy to the emotionally bruised and battered old lady.

5. Lake Chambon: A barrage lake created by a stream of volcanic lava interrupting the flow of the river Couze.

THE CHRISTENING

First published in 1884 as ‘Le baptême’.

This story was dedicated to Antoine Guillemet (1842–1918) a painter, disciple of Monet and of Corot. He was admired by Manet for his still-lifes. He initially used the Normandy coast as the inspiration for his studies of landscape and was considered by Maupassant to be a master.

1. sugared almonds: Known as dragées, from the Greek tragemata, meaning desserts, these sweetmeats have been known since earliest times. In 177 B.C. the illustrious Fabiani distributed them to the populace in celebration of special occasions within the family. Some are made with windfall almonds, some with hazelnuts or pistachios. Others contain a few drops of liqueur and a chocolate, almond or filbert paste. Coloured pale pink, pale blue or white, in France they are still offered in little presentation cornets at weddings, christenings and first communions.

COWARD

First published in 1884 as ‘Un lâche’.

1. a duel: Duels and duelling were topics dear to Maupassant’s literary heart and used by him as the subject of another short story (‘Un duel’) published the previous year. This was also the year he wrote the preface to a work on pistol-shooting (Les tireurs au pistolet) by a well-known boulevardier, the Baron Ludovic de Vaux. An excellent swordsman and crack shot himself, Maupassant’s own opinion of the custom is far from approving. Though illegal, duels were still fairly common and Maupassant narrowly escaped having to fight one with the symbolist poet and novelist Jean Lorrain, whom he accused of plagiarizing his own novel Bel-Ami.

2. Tortoni’s: One of the grander of the Parisian cafés the development of which during the nineteenth century as influential social and political venues it is difficult to overestimate. Founded in 1798 and situated on the corner of the boulevard des Italiens and the rue Taitbout, Tortoni’s had begun by catering to the needs of stockbrokers and businessmen. By Maupassant’s time, it had lost some of its lustre but remained popular with sportsmen. Famous for the delicacy of its ice cream.

3. Châteauvaillard’s duelling code: The Comte de Châteauvaillard published in 1836 his Essai sur le duel, translated into English in 1840 as ‘The Code of Duelling’.

4. Baron de Vaux’s book of marksmen: See note 1 above.

5. Gastine-Renette: To this day one of the best gunsmiths in Paris.

ROSE

First published in 1884.

1. landau: Designed to carry four passengers, this horse-drawn carriage has two hoods which may be raised or lowered as desired.