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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/33804-8.txt b/33804-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..748f269 --- /dev/null +++ b/33804-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9425 @@ +Project Gutenberg's The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6, by Eugène Sue + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6 + +Author: Eugène Sue + +Illustrators: G. Mercier + Bicknell + Léon Poiteau + Adrian Marcel + +Release Date: September 22, 2010 [EBook #33804] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS, V.5 *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Christine Aldridge and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. + +2. Passages in Gothic Bold are surrounded by +plus+ signs. + +3. Other transcription notes appear at the end of this e-text. + + + + +[Illustration: "_'Cecily! Cecily!' Murmured a Voice_" +Original Etching by Adrian Marcel] + + + + ++The Mysteries of Paris.+ + + _ILLUSTRATED WITH ETCHINGS + BY MERCIER, BICKNELL, POITEAU, + AND ADRIAN MARCEL._ + + _BY EUGENE SUE_ + + + _IN SIX VOLUMES + VOLUME V._ + + + _PRINTED FOR + FRANCIS A. NICCOLLS & CO. + BOSTON_ + + + +Edition de Luxe+ + +_This edition is limited to one thousand copies, +of which this is_ + + No.______ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAP. PAGE + I. THE PRESENTATION 11 + II. MURPHY AND POLIDORI 35 + III. THE CLERK'S OFFICE 57 + IV. AVOID TEMPTATION 69 + V. LA FORCE 99 + VI. PIQUE-VINAIGRE 114 + VII. MAÎTRE BOULARD 139 + VIII. FRANÇOIS GERMAIN 148 + IX. THE LIONS' DEN 169 + X. THE STORY-TELLER 193 + XI. GRINGALET AND CUT-IN-HALF 211 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + PAGE + "'CECILY! CECILY!' MURMURED A VOICE" _Frontispiece_ + "SLOWLY DANCING AND WHIRLING AROUND ME" 26 + "THEN LEFT ME" 126 + "TOUCHED WITH HIS LIPS THROUGH THE GRATING" 167 + "THE SKELETON STAGGERED AT FIRST" 243 + + + + +THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PRESENTATION. + + +A few days after the murder of Madame Séraphin, the death of the +Chouette, and the arrest of the gang of desperadoes taken by surprise at +Bras-Rouge's house, Rodolph paid another visit to the house in the Rue +du Temple. + +We have already observed that, with the view of practising artifice for +artifice with Jacques Ferrand, discovering his hidden crimes, obliging +him to repair them, and inflicting condign punishment should the guilty +wretch, either by skill or hypocrisy, continue to evade the just +punishment of the laws, Rodolph had sent to fetch from one of the +prisons in Germany a young and beautiful creole, the unworthy wife of +the negro David. This female, lovely in person as depraved in mind, as +fascinating as dangerous, had reached Paris the preceding evening, and +had received the most minute instructions from Baron de Graün. + +The reader will recollect that in the last interview between Rodolph and +Madame Pipelet, the latter having very cleverly managed to propose +Cecily to Madame Séraphin, as a servant to the notary in place of Louise +Morel, her proposition had been so well received that the _femme de +charge_ had promised to speak to Jacques Ferrand on the subject; and +this she had done, in terms most flattering to Cecily, the very morning +of the day on which she (Madame Séraphin) had been drowned at the Isle +du Ravageur. + +The motive for Rodolph's visit was, therefore, to inquire the result of +Cecily's introduction. To his great astonishment, he found, on entering +the lodge, that although eleven o'clock in the morning had struck by all +the neighbouring dials, Pipelet had not yet risen, while Anastasie was +standing beside his bed, offering him some sort of drink. + +As Alfred, whose forehead and eyes were entirely concealed beneath his +huge cotton nightcap, did not reply to his wife's inquiries, she +concluded he slept, and therefore closed the curtains of his bed. +Turning around, she perceived Rodolph, and, as usual, gave him a +military salute, by lifting the back of her left hand up to her wig. + +"Ah, my king of lodgers! Service to you! How are you? As for me, I'm +upset--bewildered--stupefied. Pretty doings have there been in the house +since you was here. And my poor Alfred,--obliged to keep his bed ever +since yesterday!" + +"Why, what has happened?" + +"Positively, don't you guess? Still going on in the old way with that +monster of a painter, who is more bitter than ever against Alfred. He +has quite muddled his brains, till I declare I don't know what to do +with him." + +"Cabrion again?" + +"Oh, _he'll_ never leave off." + +"He must be the very devil!" + +"Really, M. Rodolph, I shall very soon think so; for he always knows the +very instant I quit the house. Scarcely is my back turned, than there he +is, in the twinkling of an eye, worrying and tormenting my poor old dear +of a husband, who is as helpless and frightened as a babby. Only last +night, when I had just stepped out as far as M. Ferrand's the +notary's--Ah, there's pretty work there, too!" + +"But Cecily?" said Rodolph, with some little impatience. "I called to +know--" + +"Hold hard, my king of lodgers! Don't be in such a hurry, or you'll put +me out. And I've such a deal to tell you, I don't know when I shall have +done; and if once I'm interrupted in a story, I never know when to begin +again." + +"There now, go on as fast as you can; I'm listening." + +"Well, then, first and foremost, what do you think has happened in the +house? Ah, you'll never guess, so I'll tell you. Only imagine, old +Mother Burette's being taken up!" + +"What, the female pawnbroker?" + +"Oh, Lord, she seems to have had a curious mixture of trades: for +besides being a money-lender, she was a receiver of stolen goods, a +melter of gold and silver, a fortune-teller, a cheat, a dealer in +second-hand clothes, and any sort of contraband articles. The worst of +the story is that M. Bras-Rouge, her old sweetheart and our principal +lodger, is also arrested. I tell you the house is thoroughly upset with +these strange doings." + +"Arrested! Bras-Rouge arrested?" + +"That he was, I can promise you. Why, even his mischievous little imp of +a son--the lame boy we call Tortillard--has also been locked up. They +say that lots of murders have been planned and managed at his house, +which was the well-known resort of a gang of ruffians; that the +Chouette, one of Mother Burette's most particular friends, has been +strangled; and that, if assistance had not arrived in time, Mother +Mathieu, the dealer in precious stones for whom Morel worked, would also +have been murdered. Come, I think there's a pretty penn'orth of news for +you,--and cheap, too, at the price!" + +"Bras-Rouge arrested and the Chouette dead!" murmured Rodolph to +himself, in deep astonishment at the tidings. "Well, the vile old hag +deserved her fate, and poor Fleur-de-Marie is at least avenged!" + +"So that is the state of things here," continued Anastasie. "As for M. +Cabrion and his devil's tricks, I'll tell you all about it. Oh, you +never knew such a bold howdacious willin as he is! But you shall +hear,--I'll go straight on with my story. But there never,--no, there +never was his feller for inperence! So when Mother Burette was took up, +and we heard how that M. Bras-Rouge, our principal lodger, was quodded +also, I says to my old boy, 'Alfred, darling,' says I, 'you must toddle +off to the landlord and let him know as M. Bras-Rouge is in the stone +jug.' Well, Alfred goes; but in about two hours' time back he comes--in +such a state!--such a state! White as a sheet and puffing like an ox!" + +"Why, what was the matter?" + +"I'm a-going to tell you. I suppose, M. Rodolph, you recollect the high +wall about ten steps from here? Well, my poor, dear, darling husband was +going along thinking of nothing, when, quite by chance, he just looked +upon this wall. And what do you think he saw written in great staring +letters with a piece of charcoal?--why, 'Pipelet and Cabrion!'--the two +names joined together by a sort of true-lover's knot. (Ah, it is that +true-lover's knot which sticks so tight in the gizzard of my poor old +chick!) That sight rather upset him; but still he tried to act like a +man and not mind it. So on he went. But hardly had he proceeded ten +steps farther when, on the principal entrance to the Temple, there again +were the same hateful words, 'Pipelet and Cabrion,' united as before! +Still he walked on; but at every turn he saw the same detestable writing +on the walls, doors, and even shutters of houses! Everywhere Pipelet +and Cabrion danced before his eyes, for ever bound in the same tender +tie of love or friendship! My poor dear Alfred's head began to turn +around, and his eyes to grow dizzy; all sorts of horrid objects seemed +to meet him and laugh him to scorn. He fancied the very people in the +streets were laughing at him. So, quite confused and ashamed, he pulled +his hat over his face, and took the road towards the Boulevards, +believing that the scamp Cabrion would have confined his abominations to +the Rue du Temple. But no--not he! All along the Boulevards, wherever a +blank spot remained or a place could be found to hold the words, had he +written 'Pipelet and Cabrion!'--sometimes adding, 'till death!' At last +my poor dear man arrived at the house of the landlord, but so bewildered +and stupefied that, after hammering and stammering and bodgering about +without being able to utter a clear sentence, the landlord, having tried +for nearly half an hour to bring him sufficiently to his senses to say +what had made him come to his house, got quite in a passion, and called +him a stupid old fool, and told him to go home and send his wife or +somebody who could speak common sense. Well, poor dear Alfred left as he +was ordered, thinking, at any rate, he would return by a different road, +so as to escape those dreadful words that had so overcome him going. Do +you believe he could get rid of them, though? No; there they were, large +as life, scrawled upon every place, and united by the lover's band as +before." + +"What, Pipelet and Cabrion still written along the walls?" + +"Precisely so, my king of lodgers. The end of it was that my poor +darling came home to me regularly brain-struck, talked in the wildest +and most desperate way of leaving France, exiling himself for ever, and +no one knows what. Well, I persuaded him to tell me all that had +happened; then I did my best to quiet him, and persuade him not to +worry himself about such a beggar as that Cabrion; and when I found he +had grown a little calmer, I left him, and went to take Cecily to the +notary's, before I proceeded on to the landlord to finish poor Alfred's +message. Now, perhaps, you think I've done? But I haven't, though. No; I +had hardly quitted the place, than that abominable Cabrion, who must +have watched me out, sent a couple of impudent great creatures, who +pursued Alfred with the most determined villainy. Oh, bless you, it +makes my very hair stand on end when I think of it! I'll tell you all +about their proceedings another time; let me first finish about the +notary. Well, off I started with Cecily in a hackney-coach,--as you told +me to do, you know. She was dressed in her pretty costume of a German +peasant; for having only just arrived, she had not had time to procure +any other, which I was to explain to M. Ferrand, and beg of him to +excuse. You may believe me or not, just as you please, my king of +lodgers, but though I have seen some pretty girls in my time,--myself, +for instance,--yet I never saw one (not even myself) comparable to +Cecily. And then she has such a way of using those wicked black eyes of +hers! She throws into them a look--a look--that seems--to mean--I know +not what--only they seem to pierce you through, and make you feel so +strange; I never saw such eyes in my life! Why, there's my poor, dear, +darling Alfred, whose virtue has never been suspected; well, the first +time that she fixed her looks on him, the dear fellow turned as red as a +carrot, and nothing in the world could have induced him to gaze in her +face a second time. I'm sure for more than an hour afterwards he kept +fidgeting about in his chair, as though he were sitting upon nettles. He +told me afterwards he could not account for it, but that somehow the +look Cecily bestowed on him seemed to bring to his thoughts all the +dreadful stories that shameless Bradamanti used to tell about the female +savages, and which used to make my poor dear simpleton of an Alfred +blush to his very fingers' ends." + +"But I want to hear what passed at the notary's. Never mind Alfred's +modesty just now, but tell me." + +"I was just going, M. Rodolph. It was just seven o'clock in the evening +when we arrived at M. Ferrand's, and I told the porter to let his master +know that Madame Pipelet was there with the young woman she had spoke to +Madame Séraphin about, and by whose orders she had brought her. Upon +which the porter heaved a deep sigh, and asked me if I knew what had +happened to Madame Séraphin? I told him, 'No; I hadn't heard of anything +being the matter with her.' Ah, M. Rodolph, prepare for another strange +event,--a most astounding circumstance!" + +"What can it be?" + +"Why, Madame Séraphin was drowned while on a party of pleasure to which +she had gone with her relations." + +"Drowned, and on a party of pleasure in the winter?" exclaimed Rodolph, +much surprised. + +"Yes, drowned, M. Rodolph. For my part I must say that I was more +astonished than distressed at the news; for since that affair of poor +Louise, who was taken to prison entirely through her information, I +downright hated Madame Séraphin. So when I heard what had befallen her, +all I did was to say to myself, 'Oh, she's drowned, is she,--drowned? +Well, I don't mean to make myself ill with crying, that's very sure. I +sha'n't die of grief,--that's my disposition.'" + +"And M. Ferrand?" + +"The porter said at first he did not think I could see his master, and +begged me to wait in his lodge while he went to see. But he almost +directly came back to fetch me. We crossed the courtyard, and entered an +apartment on the ground floor, where a single miserable candle was +twinkling its best to light it, but without success. The notary was +sitting beside the fireplace, and on the hearth a few smouldering ashes +still sent out a small degree of warmth. But such a wretched hole I +never saw! It was my first view of M. Ferrand. Oh, my stars, what a +downright ugly fellow he is! Such a man as he might have offered to make +me Queen of Arabia before I would have played Alfred false." + +"And tell me, did the notary appear much struck with Cecily when she +entered?" + +"Why, how can any one tell what he thinks while he keeps those great +green spectacles on? Besides, a godly saint such as he passes for has no +business to know whether a woman is handsome or ugly. However, when we +both walked into the room and stood before him, he gave quite a spring +up from his seat. Most likely, he was astonished at Cecily's dress, for +she looked for all the world (only a hundred thousand times better) like +one of those 'buy-a-broom' girls with her short petticoats and her +handsome legs set off by her blue stockings with red clocks. My +conscience, what a leg she has! Such a slender ankle!--and then, oh, +such a calf! With a foot as small and delicate as an opera dancer's. I +can tell you that the notary seemed almost speechless with surprise, +after he had looked at her through his green specs from head to toe." + +"Doubtless, as you say, he was struck by the whimsicality of Cecily's +costume." + +"Well, maybe so; however, I felt that the critical moment had arrived, +and began to feel rather queer; fortunately, just as my courage began to +fail me, M. Rodolph, I recollected a maxim I learned from you, and that +got me safe through my difficulty." + +"What maxim do you mean,--I don't remember teaching you any?" + +"Don't you know?--'It is always enough for one to wish, for the other to +refuse; or, for one to desire, for the other to be unwilling.' 'So,' +said I to myself, 'here goes to rid my king of lodgers of his German +niece, and to burthen the hard-hearted master of poor Louise with her. +Now, then, for a good piece of shamming;' and, without giving the notary +breathing time, I began by saying, in a polite and insinuating tone, 'I +hope, sir, you'll excuse my niece being dressed as she is, but she has +only just arrived, and has brought nothing with her but the costume of +her country; and I am sure it don't lay in my power to provide her with +others; and, besides, it would not be worth while, since we have merely +called to thank you for having allowed Madame Séraphin to say you would +see Cecily, in consequence of the favourable character I had given her. +Still, sir, I don't think, after all, she would suit you.'" + +"Capital, Madame Pipelet; go on." + +"'And why so?' inquired the notary, who had established himself by the +warmest corner of the fire, and seemed to be looking very attentively at +us from over his green spectacles, 'why should you suppose your niece +not likely to suit me?' 'Because, sir, Cecily is already quite homesick; +she has only been here three days and yet she wants to go back; and so, +she says, she will, too, if she is obliged to beg her way, or sing songs +and sell little brooms, like the rest of her countrywomen.' 'But bless +me!' answered M. Ferrand, 'do you, who are her principal relation, mean +to allow of that?' 'I don't see how I am to hinder her, sir,' said I. +'Certainly, I am the nearest relation she has, for the poor thing is an +orphan, as I told good Madame Séraphin; but then she is twenty years of +age, and, of course, mistress of her own actions.' 'Stuff and nonsense!' +interrupted he, quite impatiently; 'don't tell me about being her own +mistress; at her time of life she is bound to obey her relations, and +take their advice in all things.' Upon which Cecily began to cry and to +creep up to me, all of a tremble, as if she was quite afraid of the +notary." + +"And what said Jacques Ferrand further?" + +"Oh, he kept muttering in a grumbling tone, 'A young creature at that +age left to her own guidance! Why, it would be the ruin of her! And, as +for begging her way back to Germany--a pretty idea! And you mean to call +yourself her aunt, and say that you would sanction such conduct?' 'All +right,' says I to myself; 'you are falling into the trap as neat as +ninepence, you miserly old hunks, and if I do not saddle you with +Cecily, my name is not what it is!' 'Yes,' cried I, in a discontented +voice, 'I'm her aunt, sure enough, and worse luck to me for having such +an encumbrance; I have difficulty enough to earn my bread, without +having a great overgrown girl like that, to take it out of my mouth; and +I would much rather she went back to her own country than stop here to +be a burthen to me. The deuce take people who can't manage to maintain +their own children, but just send them for others to work for and keep +without even so much as paying their travelling expenses!' And then, as +if Cecily were up to my schemes, and desirous of playing into my hands, +she burst out into such a fit of crying and sobbing as quite touched the +notary, who began in a sniffling, whining tone, as though preaching a +sermon, 'Let me tell you that you are accountable before Providence for +the charge he has entrusted to your care and keeping, and you are +answerable for any false step this poor girl may take. Now I am willing +to join you in a charitable action; and if your niece will promise me to +be honest, industrious, virtuous, pious, and, above all, never upon any +occasion to desire to leave the house, I will take pity on her, and +receive her into my service.' 'No, no!' said Cecily, crying more +violently than ever, 'I don't want to stop here with this gentleman; I +wish to go back to my home; and I will, too!'" + +"Ah, ah," thought Rodolph, "her dangerous falsehood has not deserted +her,--the depraved creature has, evidently, fully comprehended the +instructions she received from Baron de Graün." Then, speaking aloud, +the prince continued, "Did Cecily's resistance appear to displease M. +Jacques Ferrand?" + +"Yes, M. Rodolph, it seemed to make him as savage as could be, and he +muttered something between his teeth I could not make out. Then he said, +abruptly, 'It is not what you would prefer, young woman, but what is +most suitable and creditable that is to be considered. Providence will +never forsake you, so long as you conduct yourself respectably and +virtuously, and carefully attend to your religious duties. You will be +here in a family as pious as it is strict in all such matters; and if +your aunt has any real regard for your welfare, she will take advantage +of my offer. Your wages will be trifling at first, but hereafter I may +be induced to increase them should your good behaviour render you +deserving of encouragement.' 'Bravo!' thinks I to myself, 'I've +regularly hooked the miser, and fixed him with Cecily as right as a +trivet. Why, you old curmudgeon! You old skinflint! You miserable, +hard-hearted old hypocrite! You know very well that Séraphin was your +slave for years, and yet you seem to have forgotten her death, and the +dreadful manner of it, as much as though nothing had happened.' Then I +said out loud, 'No doubt, sir, yours is a very good place, and one as +many would be thankful to have, but if this girl is so homesick, what am +I to do?' 'Oh, take no notice of it,' replied the notary, 'and it will +soon wear away. But make up your minds,--just say one way or the other; +if you decide upon your niece entering my service, bring her here +to-morrow evening at the same hour you came to-night; and my porter will +show her about the premises, and also explain her work to her. As for +her wages, I shall begin with twenty francs a month and her food.' 'Oh, +sir, I hope you will make it twenty-five francs,--twenty is really too +little!' 'No, no, not at present; by and by perhaps I may, if I am +satisfied. One thing, however, I must impress upon you, and that is, +that your niece will never go beyond these walls, neither will she be +allowed to receive any visitors.' 'Bless your heart, sir! Who could come +to see her? Why, she does not know a single soul in Paris, except +myself, and I am obliged to stay at home to mind my lodge. I have been +terribly put about to come out this evening, so you will see nothing of +me; and as for my niece, she will be as great a stranger to me as though +she was in her own country; and the best way to prevent her going out +will be to make her wear the costume of her country,--she could not +venture in the streets dressed in that manner.' 'You are quite right,' +replied the notary; 'it is, besides, always respectable to wear the +dress of our own country; your niece shall, therefore, continue to dress +as she now is.' 'Come, my girl,' said I to Cecily, who, with her head +hanging down, and her finger in the corner of her mouth, was keeping up +a continual weeping, 'come, make up your mind. A good place with a +worthy master is not to be found every day; so, if you choose to refuse +it, do, but don't look to me for any further support; I'll have nothing +to do with you, I can tell you!' Upon which Cecily, swelling as though +her heart would burst, replied, sobbing, 'Very well, then, if aunt was +so particular, she should stay, but only on condition that, if she did +not find herself comfortable, she might come away at the end of a +fortnight.' 'Don't be alarmed,' answered the notary, 'I shall not force +you to stop against your will. I can promise you there are too many +young persons would be thankful to have my situation; but I pity your +position as an orphan, and, therefore, give you the preference. There, +take your earnest money; and let your aunt bring you here about this +time to-morrow evening.' Cecily was too busy crying to take the two +francs' piece the old starvemouse offered, so I took it for her. We made +our courtesies and came away." + +"You have managed admirably, Madame Pipelet; and I do not forget my +promise; here is what I promised you, if you managed to get this girl +taken off my hands." + +"Wait till to-morrow before you give it me, my king of lodgers!" cried +Madame Pipelet, putting back the money Rodolph offered her; "perhaps, +when I go to take Cecily this evening, M. Ferrand may have changed his +mind." + +"Not he, depend upon it! But where is she?" + +"In the small room adjoining the apartments of the commandant; she will +not stir out after the orders you gave. She seems mild and gentle as a +lamb; but then, her eyes! Oh, dear! It is difficult to fancy her either +one or the other, when one looks at those--Talking of the commandant, +what a plotting, mysterious person he is! Would you believe it? When he +came here to superintend the packing up of his furniture, he told me +that if any letters came addressed to 'Madame Vincent,' they were for +him, and that I was to send them to the Rue Mondine, No. 5. The idea of +the pretty creature having his letters addressed as if for a female! +What a conceited jackanapes he is! But the best of it was, he asked me +what had become of his wood! 'Your wood?' said I, 'why don't you ask +after your forest when you are about it?' Oh, I said it so flat and +plain! A mean, grasping hound, to trouble himself to ask after two +pitiful loads of wood,--his wood, indeed! 'What has become of your +wood?' repeated I, still working him on, till he got quite white with +passion, 'why, I burnt it to keep your things from the damp, which would +otherwise have made mushrooms grow upon your fine embroidered cap, and +the mildew from rotting your smart, glittering _robe de chambre_, which +you must love so dearly, because you have put it on so many times when +you were fool enough to wait for those who never meant to come, but were +only laughing at you,--like the lady who made believe she was going to +pay you a visit, and then passed your door, though you had set it wide +open to show yourself decked in all your finery. Your wood, indeed! I +like that! You poor squeeze-penny of a commandant,--enough to disgust +one with men altogether.'" + +A deep, plaintive groan, something between a grunt and a sigh, from the +bed on which Alfred reposed, here interrupted Madame Pipelet. + +"Ah, there's the old duck beginning to stir; he will not be long before +he wakes now. Will you excuse me, my king of lodgers?" + +"Certainly; but I have yet some particulars to inquire of you." + +"Oh, very well," answered Madame Pipelet. Then going up to her husband, +she drew back the curtains, saying, "How are you by this time, my old +chick? Look! there's M. Rodolph, who has heard all about this fresh +villainy of Cabrion's, and is as sorry about it as can be." + +"Ah, M. Rodolph," murmured Alfred, languidly turning his head towards +the announced visitor, "this time the monster has struck at my heart; I +shall quit this bed no more. I am now the object of all the placards of +this vast city; my name is blazoned upon every wall in Paris, linked +with that of a wretch unworthy of mention. Yes, _môssieur_, there you +may see 'Pipelet and Cabrion,' bound together by an enormous band of +union. Yes, I--I--the injured Pipelet--united in bonds of seeming amity +and intimacy with that fellow Cabrion! Oh, _môssieur_, pity me! My name +joined with his in the eyes of all the dwellers of this great +capital,--the leading city of Europe!" + +"Ah, M. Rodolph knows all about that; but he has yet to be told of your +yesterday's adventures with those two singular women, or whatever they +were." + +"Alas, monsieur," sighed Alfred, in a mournful voice, "he reserved his +master-stroke of wickedness and fiendish malice till the last. This, +however, passes all bounds, and human patience can bear no more!" + +"Come, my dear M. Pipelet, calm yourself, and endeavour to relate this +fresh annoyance to me." + +"All that he has hitherto done to vex and insult me is as nothing +compared to his last malignant scheme to break my heart and ruin my +peace. But now the shameless monster has gone the full extent of +fiendish provocation. I know not whether I have the power of describing +to you the scene of last night; when I attempt to speak, shame, +confusion, and outraged modesty seem to deprive me of voice and breath." + +M. Pipelet, having managed with some difficulty to raise himself in his +bed, modestly buttoned his flannel waistcoat up to his throat, and began +in the following terms: + +"My wife had just gone out, absorbed in the bitter reflections arising +from the sight of my name so disgracefully prostituted on every wall in +Paris; I sought to while away my solitary hours by attending to the new +soling of a boot twenty times commenced and as often abandoned,--thanks +to the unceasing persecutions of my pitiless persecutor. Well, sir, I +was sitting at a table with the boot on my arm, though my thoughts were +far otherwise engaged, when I saw the lodge door open and a female +enter. The person who had just come in was wrapped in a large hooded +cloak, and, without thinking any harm, I civilly rose from my seat, and +put my hand to my hat. Then I observed another female, also attired in a +similar cloak, with a large hood, enter the lodge and shut the door +after her. Although somewhat astonished at the familiarity of such a +proceeding, and the silence maintained by both the women, I rose a +second time from my chair, and a second time I lifted my hand to my hat. +And then, sir,--but no, no, I can never finish the recital; my wounded +modesty chokes my utterance." + +"Come, come, old pet," said Madame Pipelet, encouragingly, "get on with +your story; we are all men here." + +"Well, then," stammered forth Alfred, his face becoming scarlet as the +fullest blown peony, "then their mantles fell to the ground. And what do +you think I saw? Why, a couple of sirens, or nymphs, or witches of one +kind or the other, with no sort of clothing except a petticoat made of +leaves, while a wreath of similar descriptions decorated their heads. +And then the two advanced towards me with outstretched arms, as though +inviting me to throw myself into them." + +"Oh, the impudent sluts!" exclaimed Anastasie. + +"Their impure advances disgusted me," continued Alfred, animated with a +chaste indignation; "and, in conformity with a habit which has ever +attended the most critical moments of my life, I remained still and +motionless on my chair. Then, profiting by my surprise and stupor, the +two sirens came gently forward to a sort of low music, turning and +twisting and extending their arms and legs in all directions. I became +petrified, as though changed to stone; I waited their approach in silent +agony. They came nearer and nearer, till at last they wrapped me tight +in their arms." + +"Did they, though?" cried Anastasie. "Oh, the hussies! I only wish I had +been there with my broomstick; I'd have taught them how to come hopping +and skipping, and holding out their arms for an innocent, virtuous, +married man to tumble into,--I would, the bold-faced beggars!" + +[Illustration: "_Slowly Dancing and Whirling around Me_" +Original Etching by Porteau] + +"When I felt myself in a manner half stifled between them, I gave myself +up for lost. My blood retreated from my heart,--I felt as if struck with +death; when one of the sirens--a great, fair girl, and the boldest of +the two--leaned upon my shoulder, took off my hat, and, still slowly +dancing and whirling around me, left me bald-headed and defenceless. +Then the other one, accompanying the action with all sorts of attitudes +and singular dances, and waving of the arms, draws out a pair of +scissors she must have hid somewhere,--for I'm quite sure she had no +pockets,--came close behind me, and grasping with one hand all my +remaining hair, snipped it all off with one cut of her huge scissors; +yes, all,--every lock,--every hair I had to cover my poor old head; +dancing, and wheeling, and balancing, first on one foot, then on the +other, swaying out legs and arms in all sorts of stage-struck ways; then +joining voices, the pair of audacious spirits began singing, ''Tis for +Cabrion,--for Cabrion; we take your locks for Cabrion,--your dear friend +Cabrion!' Whilst the second voice repeated in a louder strain, 'Your +head is shorn for Cabrion,--for Cabrion, your friend!'" + +After a pause, interrupted by repeated sighs and groans, Alfred resumed: + +"During this impudent spoliation I once ventured to raise my eyes, and +then I saw flat against the windows of the lodge the detestable +countenance of Cabrion, with his large beard and pointed-crowned hat. He +was laughing, too,--laughing with all his might. Oh, how I shuddered at +the horrible vision! To escape from so harrowing a sight I closed my +eyes. When I opened them again all had disappeared, and I found myself +seated on my chair, bald-headed and completely disfigured for life. You +see, monsieur, that, by dint of obstinacy, impudence, and cunning, +Cabrion has at length effected his fell design. But by what fearful, +what diabolical means, has he succeeded! He wishes the world to believe +he is my accepted friend; began by sticking up a notice here in my +immediate neighbourhood to the effect that he and I had entered into a +treaty of friendship! Then, not content with so infamous an assertion, +he has caused my name, in conjunction with his own, to be displayed on +every wall in Paris, binding them together with an enormous band of +union, so that at this moment the whole of this vast capital is +impressed with the most perfect belief of my close intimacy with this +scoundrel. Then he desired locks of my hair, and he has every hair off +my head,--no doubt with the view, the guilty view, of exhibiting them as +proofs of our sworn friendship. Thanks to the merciless exaction of his +bold-faced dancing women, my last lock is stolen. So now, monsieur, you +see plainly there is nothing left for me but to quit France,--my lovely +and beloved France,--in whose dear bosom I had hoped to live and die!" + +And with these pathetic words Alfred clasped his hands, closed his eyes, +and threw himself back upon his bed. + +"Oh, nonsense, you old duck!" cried Anastasie. "On the contrary, now the +villain has gained his point and stolen your hair, he will let you alone +for the future. He has no further cause to disturb and torment you." + +"Let me alone?" exclaimed M. Pipelet, with a convulsive spring upwards. +"Oh, you know him not; he is insatiable. True, he has got the hair he so +much desired to obtain; but who can say what he may further require of +me?" + +The appearance of Rigolette at the entrance to the lodge put a stop to +the lamentations of M. Pipelet. + +"Stay where you are, mademoiselle!" cried he, faithful to his habitual +chaste delicacy. "Pray don't think of coming in, for I am undressed and +in bed!" So saying, he covered himself up almost to his eyes, while +Rigolette, surprised and bewildered, remained at the threshold of the +door. + +"Oh, my pretty neighbour," said Rodolph, pitying her confusion, "I was +just coming up to speak with you. Can you wait for me one minute?" Then +addressing Anastasie, he said, "Pray let nothing prevent your taking +Cecily to Jacques Ferrand's this evening." + +"Make yourself perfectly easy, my king of lodgers; at seven o'clock +precisely she shall be duly placed there. Now that Morel's wife is able +to get about, I will ask her to mind the lodge for me while I am away; +for, bless you, Alfred would not stay by himself,--not for a 'varsal +crown!" + +The bright freshness of Rigolette's complexion was daily fading away, +while her once round, dimpled cheek had sunk and given place to a pale, +careworn countenance, the usually gay, mirthful expression of which had +changed into a grave, thoughtful cast, more serious and mournful still +since her meeting with Fleur-de-Marie at the gate of St. Lazare. + +"I am so glad to see you," said Rigolette to Rodolph, when they were at +a convenient distance from the lodge of Madame Pipelet. "I have so much +to say to you; I have, indeed." + +"Well, then, first of all, tell me of yourself and your health. Let me +look at this pretty face, and see whether it is as gay and blooming as +usual. No, indeed. I declare you have grown quite pale and thin; I am +sure you work too hard." + +"Oh, no, indeed, M. Rodolph, it is not that. On the contrary, my work +does me good; it hinders me from thinking too much, for I am obliged to +attend to what I am about. But it is grief, M. Rodolph, and nothing +else, that has altered me so much. And how can I help it? Every time I +see that poor Germain, I grieve more and more." + +"He is still as desponding as ever, then?" + +"Oh, worse than ever, M. Rodolph. And what is the most distressing is, +that, whatever I try to do to cheer him up, takes quite the contrary +effect; it seems as though a spell hung over me!" And here the large, +dark eyes of Rigolette were filled with tears. + +"How do you know, my dear neighbour?" + +"Why, only yesterday I went to see him, and to take him a book he was +desirous of having; it was a romance we read together when we lived +happily as near neighbours and dear friends. Well, directly he saw the +book, he burst into tears; but that did not astonish me,--it seemed +natural enough. Poor fellow! I dare say it brought back to his +recollection those happy evenings when he used to sit beside the fire in +my nice, pretty little room; while now he was in a horrid prison, the +companion of vile and wicked men, who only jeered at his melancholy. +Poor, dear Germain! It is very, very hard!" + +"Take courage, my dear friend," said Rodolph. "When Germain quits his +prison, and his innocence is proved, he will find his mother and many +dear friends, in whose society, as well as in yours, he will soon forget +his present sufferings, as well as the hard trials he has undergone." + +"That's all very pleasant when it arrives, but that won't stop his +tormenting himself till it does. But that is not all, neither." + +"What other uneasiness has he?" + +"Why, he being the only innocent man among all the bad people there, +they are always annoying and behaving ill to him, because he will not +join in their idle and vicious amusements. The head turnkey, who is a +very good sort of man, advised me to recommend Germain, for his own +sake, not to keep himself at quite such a distance from his companions, +but to try and familiarise himself with these bad men. However, it is no +use trying; he cannot bring himself to endure their company or +conversation. And I am constantly tormented with the dread that some of +these days they will do him some harm out of spite." + +Then all at once interrupting herself, and drying her tears, Rigolette +resumed: + +"But, dear me, how selfish I am! I keep talking of my own concerns +without ever recollecting to speak to you about the Goualeuse." + +"The Goualeuse!" exclaimed Rodolph, with surprise. + +"I met her the day before yesterday, when I went to see Louise at St. +Lazare." + +"The Goualeuse?" + +"Yes, indeed, M. Rodolph." + +"At St. Lazare?" + +"She was leaving the prison in company with an elderly female." + +"It cannot be," exclaimed Rodolph, in extreme astonishment; "you must be +mistaken." + +"I assure you it was herself, M. Rodolph." + +"You really must be in error." + +"Oh, no, I was not mistaken; although she was dressed as a country girl +I recollected her again directly. She looked beautiful as ever, though +pale; and she had just the same melancholy look she used to have." + +"How very strange that she should be in Paris without my having heard of +it! I can scarcely credit it. And what had she been doing at St. +Lazare?" + +"I suppose, like myself, she had been to see some one confined there; +but I had not time to ask her many questions, for the person who was +with her seemed so very cross, and to be in such a hurry! Then it seems +you know the Goualeuse as well as myself, M. Rodolph?" + +"I do, certainly." + +"Oh, then, that settles the matter! And it must have been of you she +spoke." + +"Of me?" + +"Yes, indeed, M. Rodolph. For, you see, I was just mentioning to her +what had happened to poor Louise and Germain,--both so good, yet so +persecuted by that wicked Jacques Ferrand,--taking care to do as you bid +me, and not say a word of your being interested in their welfare so then +the Goualeuse told me if a generous person she knew were once acquainted +with their hard fate, and how little they deserved it, he would be sure +to assist them. And then I asked her the name of the person she alluded +to, and she named you, M. Rodolph." + +"Oh, then, it was her, sure enough." + +"You can't imagine how much surprised we both were at this discovery, +either of resemblance or name; and before we parted we agreed to let +each other know whether our M. Rodolph was one and the same. And it +seems you are the very identical Rodolph both of La Goualeuse and +myself. Are you not, neighbour?" + +"I believe so; and I can, at least, assure you I take the greatest +possible interest in the fate of this poor girl,--still I am much +surprised to find, by what you say, that she is in Paris. And so great +is my astonishment that, had you not so faithfully related your +interview, I should have persisted in believing you were mistaken. But I +must say good-bye for the present,--what you tell me respecting La +Goualeuse obliges me to quit you. Be as careful as ever in not +mentioning to any one that there are certain unknown friends watching +over the welfare both of Louise and Germain, who will come forward at a +right moment and see them safe through their troubles; it is more +essential than ever that strict secrecy should be kept on this point. By +the way, how are the Morel family getting on?" + +"Oh, extremely well, M. Rodolph. The mother has quite got about again, +and the children are daily improving. Ah, the whole family owe their +life and happiness to you! You are so good and so generous to them." + +"And how is poor Morel himself? Does he get any better?" + +"Oh, dear, yes; I heard of him yesterday, he seems from time to time to +have some lucid moments, and hopes are entertained of his madness being +curable. So be of good heart, neighbour, take care of yourself, and +good-bye for the present." + +"But first tell me truly, are you quite sure you want for nothing? Are +you still able to maintain yourself with the profits of your needle?" + +"Oh, yes, thank you, M. Rodolph. I work rather later at night to make up +for my lost time during the day. But it does not matter much, for if I +go to bed I don't sleep." + +"Poor, dear neighbour! Why, you have grown sadly out of spirits. I am +afraid that Papa Crétu and Ramonette don't sing much, if they wait for +you to set them the example." + +"You are right enough, M. Rodolph, my birds have quite left off singing, +as well as myself. Now I know you will laugh at me, but I'll tell you +what I firmly think and believe,--the poor little creatures are aware +that I am dull and out of spirits, and instead of singing and warbling +as if their little throats would burst for joy when they see me, they +just give a little gentle twitter, as though they would not disturb me +for the world, but would be so glad to console me if they had the power. +It is very stupid of me to fancy such things, is it not, M. Rodolph?" + +"Not at all! And I am quite sure that your affectionate friends the +birds have observed your being less happy than usual." + +"Well, I'm sure I shouldn't wonder! The poor, dear things are so very +clever," said Rigolette, innocently, delighted to find her own opinion +as to the sagacity of her companions in solitude thus powerfully +confirmed. + +"Oh, I am quite sure about it, nothing is more intelligent than +gratitude. But once more, good-bye,--I shall see you again soon, I hope, +and by that time, I trust your pretty eyes will have grown brighter, +your cheeks regained their usual roses, and your merry voice have +recovered all its gaiety, till Papa Crétu and Ramonette will scarcely be +able to keep up with you." + +"Heaven grant you may prove a true prophet, M. Rodolph!" said Rigolette, +heaving a deep sigh. "But, good-bye, neighbour, don't let me keep you." + +"Fare you well, for the present!" + +Rodolph, wholly at a loss to understand why Madame Georges should have +brought or sent Fleur-de-Marie to Paris without giving him the least +intimation of her intention, hastened home for the purpose of +despatching a special messenger to the farm at Bouqueval. + +Just as he entered the Rue Plumet he observed a travelling carriage +drawn up before the entrance of his hotel. The vehicle contained Murphy, +who had that instant returned from Normandy, whither he had gone, as the +reader is already aware, to counteract the base schemes of the stepmother +of Madame d'Harville and her infamous confederate, Bradamanti. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MURPHY AND POLIDORI. + + +Sir Walter Murphy's features were beaming with satisfaction. When he +alighted from the carriage he gave a brace of pistols to one of the +prince's servants, took off his long travelling coat, and, without +giving himself time to change his clothes, followed Rodolph, who +impatiently had preceded him to his apartment. + +"Good news, monseigneur! Good news!" exclaimed the squire, when he was +alone with Rodolph; "the wretches are unmasked, M. d'Orbigny is saved. +You despatched me just in time; one hour later and another crime would +have been committed." + +"And Madame d'Harville?" + +"Is overjoyed at having again acquired her father's affection; and full +of happiness at having arrived, thanks to your advice, in time to snatch +him from certain death." + +"So, then, Polidori--" + +"Was, in this instance, the worthy accomplice of Madame d'Harville's +stepmother. But what a wretch is this stepmother! What _sang-froid_! +What audacity! And this Polidori! Ah, monseigneur, you have frequently +desired to thank me for what you call my proofs of devotion." + +"I have always said proofs of friendship, my dear Murphy." + +"Well, monseigneur, never--no, never--has this friendship been exposed +to a severer trial than in this present case!" said the squire, with an +air half serious, half pleasant. + +"What mean you?" + +"The disguises of the coalman, the peregrinations in the Cité, and all +that sort of thing, they have been as nothing, actually nothing, when +compared with the journey I have just made with that infernal Polidori." + +"What do you mean? Polidori?" + +"I have brought him back with me." + +"With you?" + +"With me: judge what company! During twelve hours side by side with the +man I most despise and hate in the world,--I'd as soon travel with a +serpent--any beast of antipathy!" + +"And where is Polidori now?" + +"In the house in the Allée des Veuves, under good and safe guard." + +"Then he made no resistance to following you?" + +"None. I offered him the choice between being apprehended at once by the +French authorities, or being my prisoner in the Allée des Veuves,--he +didn't hesitate for an instant." + +"You are right; it is best to have him thus in our grasp. You are worth +your weight in gold, my dear old Murphy. But tell me all about your +journey; I am impatient to know how this shameless woman, and her +equally shameless accomplice, were at last unmasked." + +"Nothing could be more simple. I had only to follow the letter of your +instructions in order to terrify and crush these wretches. Under these +circumstances, monseigneur, you have served, as you always do, persons +of worth, and punished the wicked, noble preserver that you are!" + +"Sir Walter! Sir Walter! Do you recollect the flatteries of the Baron de +Graün?" said Rodolph, smiling. + +"Well, then, monseigneur, I will begin,--or, perhaps, you would prefer +first reading this letter of the Marquise d'Harville's, which will +inform you on every point that occurred previous to my arrival, which so +completely confounded Polidori." + +"A letter! Pray let me have it immediately." + +Murphy gave the letter of the marquise to Rodolph, adding: + +"As we had agreed, instead of accompanying Madame d'Harville to her +father's, I alighted at a small inn quite close to the château, where I +was to wait until the marquise sent for me." + +Rodolph read what follows with tender and impatient solicitude: + + "MONSEIGNEUR:--After all I owe you already, I now owe to you my + father's life. I will allow facts to speak for themselves; they + will say better than I can what fresh accumulations of gratitude + to you I have added to those already amassed in my heart. + Understanding all the importance of the advice you sent to me by + Sir Walter Murphy, who overtook me on my way to Normandy a short + distance from Paris, I travelled as speedily as possible to the + Château des Aubiers. I know not why, but the countenances of the + persons who received me appeared to me sinister. I did not see + amongst them any one of the old servitors of our house; no one + knew me. I was obliged to tell them my name. + + "I learned that for several days my father had been suffering + greatly, and that my stepmother had just brought a physician + from Paris. I had no doubt but this was Doctor Polidori. + Desirous of being immediately conducted to my father, I inquired + for an old _valet de chambre_ to whom he was much attached; he + had quitted the château some time previously. This I learned + from a house-steward who had shown me to my apartment, saying + that he would inform my stepmother of my arrival. Was it + illusion or suspicion? It seemed to me that my coming annoyed + the people at the château where all was gloomy and sinister. In + the bent of mind in which I was we seek to draw inferences from + the slightest circumstances. I remarked in every part traces of + disorder and neglect, as if it had been too much trouble to take + care of a house which was so soon to be abandoned. My + uneasiness--my anxiety increased at every moment. + + "After having established my daughter and her governess in an + apartment, I was about to proceed to my father, when my + stepmother entered the apartment. In spite of her artfulness, + in spite of the control which she ordinarily exercised over + herself, she appeared alarmed at my sudden arrival. 'M. + d'Orbigny does not expect your visit, madame,' she said to me, + 'and he is suffering so much that a surprise may be fatal. I + think it, therefore, best that he should not be told of your + arrival, for he would be unable to account for it, and--' + + "I did not allow her to finish. 'A terrible event has occurred, + madame,' I said, 'M. d'Harville is dead, in consequence of a + fatal imprudence. After so deplorable a result, I could no + longer remain in Paris in my own house, and I have, therefore, + come to my father's, in order to pass the first days of my + mourning.' + + "'A widow! Ah, that, indeed, is unexpected happiness!' exclaimed + my stepmother, in a rage. From what you know, monseigneur, of + the unhappy marriage which this woman had planned in order to + avenge herself on me, you will comprehend the brutality of her + remark. + + "'It is because I fear you might be as unexpectedly happy as + myself, madame, that I came here,' was my (perhaps imprudent) + reply. 'I wish to see my father.' + + "'That's impossible, at this moment!' she replied, turning very + pale; 'the sight of you would cause a dangerous degree of + excitement.' + + "'If my father is so seriously ill,' I observed, 'why was I not + informed of it?' + + "'Such was M. d'Orbigny's will,' replied my stepmother. + + "'I do not believe you, madame! and I shall go and assure myself + of the truth,' I said, and turned towards the door of my + chamber. + + "'I tell you again that the unexpected sight of you may have a + most prejudicial effect on your father!' she cried, coming + before me so as to hinder my further progress; 'I will not allow + you to go into his room, until I have informed him of your + arrival with all the care and precaution which his situation + requires.' + + "I was in a cruel perplexity, monseigneur. A sudden surprise + might really be dangerous to my father, but this woman,--usually + so calm, so self-possessed--seemed to me so overcome by my + presence, I had so many reasons to doubt the sincerity of her + solicitude for the health of him whom she had married from + cupidity; and then, too, the presence of Doctor Polidori, the + murderer of my mother, caused me altogether such extreme alarm + that, believing my father's life menaced, I did not hesitate + between the hope of saving him and the fear of causing him + severe emotion. 'I will see my father, and that instantly!' I + said to my stepmother. And although she tried to retain me by + the arm, I went out of the room. Completely losing her presence + of mind, this woman tried a second time, and almost by force, to + prevent me from quitting the chamber. This incredible resistance + increased my alarm, I disengaged myself from her grasp, and, + knowing my father's apartment, I ran thither with all speed, and + entered the room. + + "Oh, monseigneur, during my life I never can forget that scene, + and the picture presented to my eyes. My father, scarcely to be + recognised, pale and meagre, with suffering depicted in every + feature, his head reclining on a pillow, was lying extended on a + large armchair. At the corner of the fireplace, standing close + to him, was Doctor Polidori, just about to pour into a cup, + which a nurse presented to him, some drops of a liquor contained + in a small glass bottle which he held in his hand. His long red + beard gave even a more than usually sinister appearance to his + physiognomy. I entered so hastily that he gave a look of + surprise at my stepmother, who followed me with hasty steps; and + instead of handing to my father the draught he had prepared for + him, he suddenly placed the phial on the mantelpiece. Guided by + an instinct for which I am unable to account, my first movement + was to seize the phial. Remarking instantly the surprise and + alarm of my stepmother and Polidori, I congratulated myself on + my promptitude. My father, amazed, seemed irritated at the sight + of me. I expected this. Polidori darted at me a ferocious scowl, + and, in spite of the presence of my father and the nurse, I + feared the wretch, seeing his crime so nearly disclosed, would + have recourse to violence with me. I felt the necessity of + support at a moment so decisive; and ringing the bell, one of my + father's servants came in, whom I requested to tell my _valet de + chambre_ (who had already been informed) to go and seek some + things I had left at the little inn. Sir Walter Murphy was aware + that, in order not to arouse my stepmother's suspicions, in case + it should be necessary to give my orders in her presence, I + should employ this means of requesting him to come to me. Such + was the surprise of my father and stepmother, that the servant + quitted the room before they could utter a word. I felt my + courage then rise, for, in a few minutes, Sir Walter Murphy + would be at my side. + + "'What does all this mean?' said my father to me, in a voice + feeble, but still angry and imperious. 'You here, Clémence + without my sending for you? Then, scarcely arrived, you seize + the phial containing the draught the doctor was about to give + me. Will you explain this madness?' + + "'Leave the room,' said my stepmother to the nurse. The woman + obeyed. 'Compose yourself, my dear!' said my stepmother, + addressing my father; 'you know how injurious the slightest + emotion is to you. Since your daughter will come here in spite + of you, and her presence is so disagreeable to you, give me your + arm. I will lead you into the small salon, and then our good + doctor will make Madame d'Harville comprehend how imprudent her + conduct has been, to say the least of it.' And she gave her + accomplice a meaning look. I at once saw through my stepmother's + design. She was desirous of leading my father away, and leaving + me alone with Polidori, who, in this extreme case, no doubt, + would have used force to obtain from me the phial which might + supply so evident a proof of his criminal designs. + + "'You are right,' said my father to my stepmother. 'Since I am + thus pursued, even in my private apartments, without respect for + my wishes, I will leave the place free to intruders.' And rising + with difficulty, he took the arm that was offered to him by my + stepmother, and went towards the salon. + + "At this moment Polidori advanced towards me; but I went close + up to my father and said to him, 'I will explain to you why I + have arrived so suddenly, and what may appear strange in my + conduct. I became yesterday a widow; and it was yesterday, + father, that I learned your life was threatened.' He was walking + very much bent, but at these words he stopped, threw himself + erect, and looking at me with intense surprise, said: + + "'You are a widow? My life is threatened? What does all this + mean?' + + "'And who dares threaten the life of M. d'Orbigny, madame?' + asked my stepmother, most audaciously. + + "'Yes, who threatens it?' added Polidori. + + "'You, sir!--you, madame!' I replied. + + "'What horror!' exclaimed my stepmother, advancing a step + towards me. + + "'What I assert I will prove, madame!' I replied. + + "'Such an accusation is most frightful!' cried my father. + + "'I will leave the house this very moment, since I am exposed to + such shameful calumnies,' said Doctor Polidori, with the + apparent indignation of a man whose honour has been outraged. + Beginning to feel the danger of his position, no doubt, he was + desirous of effecting his escape. At the moment when he was + trying to open the door, it opened, and he found himself face to + face with Sir Walter Murphy." + +Rodolph ceased reading, held out his hand to the squire, and said: + +"Well done, my good old friend; your presence must have crushed the +scoundrel!" + +"That's precisely the word, monseigneur. He turned livid, receded a +couple of paces, looking at me aghast; he seemed thunderstruck. To find +me at the further extremity of Normandy, in such a moment, he must have +thought he had a terrible dream. But go on, monseigneur; you will see +that this infernal Comtesse d'Orbigny had her share of the overwhelming +shame, thanks to what you told me as to her visit to the charlatan +Bradamanti--Polidori--in the house in the Rue du Temple; for, after all, +it was you who acted in this, I assure you, and you came in most happily +and opportunely to the rescue on this occasion." + +Rodolph smiled, and continued reading Madame d'Harville's letter: + + "At the sight of Sir Walter Murphy, Polidori was panic-struck; + my stepmother went on from one surprise to another; my father, + agitated at this scene, weakened by his malady, was compelled to + sit down in an armchair. Sir Walter double-locked the door by + which he had entered; and placing himself before that which led + to the next apartment, that Doctor Polidori might not escape, he + said to my poor father, with a tone of the utmost respect, 'A + thousand pardons, Monsieur le Comte, for the liberty I take, but + an imperious necessity, dictated by your interest alone (and + which you will speedily recognise), compels me to act thus. My + name is Sir Walter Murphy, as this wretch can testify, who at + the sight of me trembles in every limb. I am the private adviser + of his royal highness Monseigneur the Grand Duke Regnant of + Gerolstein.' + + "'Quite true!' stammered forth Doctor Polidori, overcome with + fright. 'But then, sir, what have you come here for? What seek + you?' + + "'Sir Walter Murphy,' I observed, addressing my father, 'is here + with me to unmask the wretches whose victim you have so nearly + been.' Then handing the phial to Sir Walter, I added, 'I was + suddenly tempted to seize on this phial at the moment when + Doctor Polidori was about to pour some drops of the liquor it + contains into a draught he was about to offer to my father.' + + "'A practitioner in the neighbouring village shall analyse + before you the contents of this bottle, which I will deposit in + your hands, M. le Comte; and if it is proved to contain a slow + and sure poison,' said Sir Walter Murphy to my father, 'you + cannot have any further doubt as to the dangers you have run, + and which the tender care of your daughter will most happily + have averted.' + + "My poor father looked by turns at his wife, Doctor Polidori, + and Sir Walter, with an air of doubt and anxiety; his features + betrayed indescribable anguish. No doubt but he resisted with + all his might increasing and terrible suspicions, fearing to be + obliged to confess the infamy of my stepmother. At length, + concealing his head in his hands, he exclaimed, 'Oh, this is, + indeed, horrible!--impossible! Am I in a dream?' + + "'No, it is no dream!' cried my stepmother, audaciously; + 'nothing can be more real than this atrocious calumny, concerted + beforehand to destroy an unhappy woman, whose only crime is that + of consecrating her whole existence to you. Come, come, my dear, + do not remain a moment longer here!' she continued, addressing + my father; 'I do not suppose that your daughter will have the + insolence to retain you here against your will.' + + "'Yes, yes, let me go!' said my father, highly excited; 'all + this is not true--cannot be true! I will not hear any more, my + brain cannot endure it. Fearful misgivings would arise in my + mind, which would embitter the few days I have still to live, + and nothing could console me for so horrible a discovery.' + + "My father seemed to suffer so much, to be so despairing that, + at all hazards, I resolved on putting an end to this scene, + which was so acutely trying for him. Sir Walter guessed my + desire, but desirous of full and entire justice, he replied to + my father, 'But a few words more, M. le Comte. You will, no + doubt, suffer chagrin of a most painful kind, when you detect in + the woman's conduct, whom you believe attached to you by + gratitude, a system of most atrocious ingratitude,--in herself a + hypocritical monster. But you will find your consolation in the + affections of your daughter, who has never failed you.' + + "'This passes all bounds!' cried my stepmother, with rage. 'And + by what right, sir, and on what proofs, dare you to base such + infamous calumnies? You say the phial contains poison? I deny + it, and will deny it until you prove the contrary. And even + supposing Doctor Polidori has by mistake confounded one medicine + with another, is that a reason why you should dare to accuse me + of having sought--desired to be his accomplice? Oh, no, no! I + cannot go on! An idea so horrible is already a crime! Once + again, sir, I defy you to say upon what proofs you and madame + here dare rely to support this shameful calumny!' said my + stepmother, with incredible audacity. + + "'Yes, on what proofs?' exclaimed my poor father; 'the torture I + undergo must have an end.' + + "'I am not here, sir, without proofs, M. le Comte,' replied Sir + Walter; 'and these proofs, the answer of this wretch shall + supply to you instantly.' Then Sir Walter spoke in German to + Doctor Polidori, who seemed to have suddenly assumed a little + assurance, but lost it as soon." + +"What did you say to him?" inquired Rodolph of the squire, pausing from +his perusal of the letter. + +"A few significant words, monseigneur, something like this: 'You have +escaped by flight from the sentence passed upon you by law and justice +in the Grand Duchy; you live in the Rue du Temple, under the false name +of Bradamanti; we know the infamous calling you pursue there. You +poisoned the count's first wife. Three days since Madame d'Orbigny went +to find you, in order to bring you here to poison her husband. His royal +highness is in Paris, and has proofs of all I now aver. If you confess +the truth in order to confound this wretched woman, you may hope, not +for pardon, but for an amelioration of the punishment you deserve. You +will accompany me to Paris, where I will deposit you in a safe place, +until his royal highness decides on what shall be done with you. If not, +one of two things: either his royal highness will demand and obtain your +delivery up to him, or this very moment I will send for the nearest +magistrate, this phial containing the poison shall be handed to him, you +will be apprehended on the spot, and a search be made instantly at your +domicile in the Rue du Temple; you know how utterly that must compromise +you, and then the justice of the French courts will take its course. +Choose therefore.' These disclosures, accusations, and threats, which he +knew to be so well founded, succeeding each other thus rapidly, +overwhelmed the scoundrel, who did not dream of my being so thoroughly +informed. In the hope of diminishing his expected punishment, he did not +hesitate to sacrifice his accomplice, and replied to me, 'Interrogate +me, and I will disclose the whole truth as regards this woman.'" + +"Capital! Excellent! my dear Murphy. I expected no less of you." + +"During my conversation with Polidori, the features of Madame +d'Harville's stepmother became greatly agitated. Although she did not +understand German, she saw, by the increasing dejection of her +accomplice, by his deprecating attitude, that I controlled him. In a +state of fearful anxiety, she endeavoured to catch Polidori's glance, in +order to inspire him with courage, or implore his discretion, but he +carefully avoided looking towards her." + +"And the count?" + +"His agitation was inexpressible! With his clenched hands he grasped +convulsively the arms of his chair, the perspiration stood on his brow, +and he scarcely breathed, whilst his burning and fixed eyes never +quitted mine; his agony was equal to his wife's. The remainder of Madame +d'Harville's letter will tell you the conclusion of this painful scene, +monseigneur." + +Rodolph continued the perusal of Madame d'Harville's letter: + + "After a conversation in German, which lasted for some minutes, + between Sir Walter Murphy and Polidori, Sir Walter said to the + latter, 'Now reply. Was it not madame,' and he looked towards my + stepmother, 'who, during the illness of the count's first wife, + introduced you to him as a physician?' + + "'Yes, it was!' replied Polidori. + + "'In order that you might serve the horrid projects of madame, + were you not criminal enough to render mortal, by your deadly + prescriptions, the malady of the Countess d'Orbigny, which was + but slight in the first instance?' + + "'Yes!' replied Polidori. My father heaved a painful sigh, + raised both his hands to heaven, and let them fall perfectly + overcome. + + "'Lies and infamies!' cried my stepmother; 'it is all false,--a + plot got up to destroy me!' + + "'Silence, madame!' said Sir Walter Murphy, in an authoritative + voice. Then continuing to address Polidori, 'Is it true that + three days since madame was at your residence in the Rue du + Temple, No. 17, where you lived under the assumed name of + Bradamanti?' + + "'That is true.' + + "'Did not madame propose to you to come here to assassinate the + Comte d'Orbigny, as you had assassinated his wife?' + + "'Alas! I cannot deny it!' said Polidori. + + "At this overwhelming revelation my father rose up, then, + extending his arms to me, he exclaimed, in a broken voice, 'In + the name of your unfortunate mother, pardon, pardon! I made her + suffer much, but I swear to you I was a stranger to the crime + which led her to the tomb!' and before I could prevent it, my + father fell at my knees. When Sir Walter and I raised him he had + fainted. I rang for the servants. Sir Walter took Polidori by + the arm and led him out of the room with him, saying to my + stepmother, 'Believe me, madame, it is best for you to leave + this house within an hour, otherwise I will deliver you up to + justice.' The wretched woman left the room in a state of rage + and affright, which you will easily conceive. When my father + recovered his senses, all that had occurred seemed to him a + horrid dream. I was under the sad necessity of imparting to him + my first suspicions as to my mother's premature death, + suspicions which your knowledge of Doctor Polidori's earlier + crimes had converted into certainty. I also told him how my + stepmother had persecuted me to the time of my marriage, and + what had been her object in making me marry M. d'Harville. In + proportion as my father had shown himself weak with respect to + this woman, so was he now pitiless towards her. He was desirous + of handing Madame d'Orbigny over to the tribunals. I represented + to him the horrible scandal of such a process, the publicity of + which must be so distressing to him; and I induced him to allow + her as much as was requisite for her to live upon. I had + considerable difficulty in persuading my father to these terms, + and he then wished me to dismiss her. This task was so painful + that I requested Sir Walter to perform it for me, which he did." + +"I consented with pleasure," interrupted Murphy. + +"And what said this woman?" + +"Madame d'Harville kindly solicited a pension of a hundred louis for +this woman: this appeared to me not only kindness, but weakness; it was +bad enough to allow her to escape from justice; and the count agreeing +with me, it was arranged that we should give her in all twenty-five +louis to maintain her until she should find some occupation. 'And to +what occupation can I, the Countess d'Orbigny, turn?' she asked me, +insolently. '_Ma foi!_ that is your affair,--you may do as a nurse or +housekeeper; but take my advice and seek some humbler, more obscure +occupation, for if you have the daring to mention your name--a name +which you owe to a crime--people will be astonished to see the Countess +d'Orbigny reduced to such a condition; they will then begin to make +inquiries, and you may judge what will be the result, if you are so +indiscreet as to say one word of the past. Hide yourself, therefore, at +a distance,--try and become forgotten; become Madame Pierre or Madame +Jacques, and repent if you can.' 'And do you suppose, sir,' she said, +having, no doubt, resolved on a piece of stage effect, 'do you suppose +that I shall not sue for the advantage which my marriage settlement +awards me?' 'Why, madame, nothing can be more just; it will be +dishonourable of M. d'Orbigny not to execute his promises, and forget +all you have done--and particularly all you wished to do towards him. Go +to law--go to law! Try for justice, and, no doubt, it will right you +with your husband.' A quarter of an hour after our conversation the +wretch of a woman was on the road to the neighbouring town." + +"You are right, it is painful to leave such an abandoned creature +unpunished, but a law proceeding is impossible." + + "I easily persuaded my father to leave Aubiers the same day," + +resumed Rodolph, continuing the perusal of Madame d'Harville's letter, + + "as too many painful feelings were excited by his being where he + was. His weak health will be benefited by a few days' change of + air and scene, as the doctor saw, whom Polidori had succeeded, + and for whom I sent from the neighbouring town. My father wished + him to analyse the contents of the phial, without giving him any + information as to what had passed. The doctor informed us that + he must do this at home, and that in two hours we should know + the result of his scrutiny; which was that several doses of this + liquor, composed with devilish skill, would, within a certain + time, cause death, without leaving any traces beyond those of an + ordinary malady, which he mentioned. In a few hours, + monseigneur, I go with my father and daughter to Fontainebleau, + where we shall remain for some time; then my father wishes to + return to Paris, but not to my house, for I could not reside + there after the late appalling event. As I mentioned in the + beginning of my letter, monseigneur, facts prove all I shall owe + to your inexhaustible care and solicitude. Forewarned by you, + aided by your advice, strong in the assistance of your excellent + and high-couraged Sir Walter, I have been enabled to snatch my + father from certain death, and am again assured of his love. + Adieu, monseigneur, it is impossible for me to say more; my + heart is too full, and I explain but faintly all I feel." + + "D'ORBIGNY D'HARVILLE." + + "I open my letter to repair something I had, I regret to say, + forgotten. According to your noble suggestion, I went to the + prison of St. Lazare, to visit the poor women prisoners, and I + found there an unhappy girl in whom you are interested. Her + angelic mildness, her pious resignation, were the admiration of + the respectable women who superintend the prisoners. To say that + she is called La Goualeuse is to urge you to obtain her liberty + instantly. The poor girl will tell you under what circumstances + she was carried off from the asylum in which you had placed her, + and was put in prison, where, at least, the candour and + sweetness of her disposition have been appreciated. Permit me, + also, to recall to you my two future protégées, the unhappy + mother and daughter despoiled by the notary Ferrand,--where are + they? I pray of you to try and discover them, so that, on my + return to Paris, I may pay the debt I have contracted towards + all unfortunate beings." + +"What! Has La Goualeuse, then, left the Bouqueval farm?" inquired +Murphy, as much astonished as Rodolph at this fresh discovery. + +"Just now I was informed that she had been seen quitting St. Lazare," +replied Rodolph. "I am quite bewildered on the subject; Madame Georges's +silence surprises and disturbs me. Poor little Fleur-de-Marie, what +fresh disasters can have befallen her? Send a man on horseback directly +to the farm, and write to Madame Georges that I beg of her to come to +Paris instantly. Request M. de Graün to procure for me a permission to +visit St. Lazare. By what Madame d'Harville says to me, Fleur-de-Marie +must be confined there. Yet, no," he added, "she cannot be there, for +Rigolette saw her leave the prison with an aged woman. Could it be +Madame Georges? If not, who could be the woman that accompanied La +Goualeuse?" + +"Patience, monseigneur; before the evening you will know all about it. +Then to-morrow you can interrogate that vagabond Polidori, who has, he +assures me, important disclosures to make,--but to you alone." + +"This interview will be most odious to me!" said Rodolph, sorrowfully; +"for I have never seen this man since the fatal day when I--" + +Rodolph, unable to finish, hid his face in his hands. + +"But, monseigneur, why accede to Polidori's request? Threaten him with +the justice of the French law, or immediate surrender to your authority, +and then he will reveal to me what he now declares he will only reveal +to you." + +"You are right, my worthy friend; for the presence of this wretch would +make my terrible recollections even still more distressing, connected as +they are with incurable griefs,--from my father's death to that of my +daughter. I know not how it is, but as I advance in life the more I seem +to miss that dear child. How I should have adored her! How very dear and +precious to me she would have been, this offspring of my first love, of +my earliest and purest beliefs--or, rather, my young illusions! I should +have poured out on this innocent creature those treasures of affection +of which her hateful mother is so unworthy; and it seems to me that, as +I have dreamt, this child, by the beauty of her mind, the charm of her +qualities, would have soothed and softened all my griefs, all these +pangs of remorse, which are, alas, attached to her fatal birth." + +"Monseigneur, I see with grief the increasing empire which these +regrets, as vain as they are bitter, assume over your mind." + +After some moments' silence, Rodolph said to Murphy: + +"I will now make a confession to you, my old friend. I love--yes, I +passionately love--a woman worthy of the noblest, the most devoted +affection. Since my heart has again expanded to all the sweetness of +love, since I am thus again affected by tender emotions, I feel more +deeply than ever the loss of my daughter. I might have feared that an +attachment of the heart would weaken the bitterness of my regrets. It is +not so; all my loving qualities--my affections--are but the keener. I +feel myself better, more charitable; and more than ever is it afflicting +to me not to have my daughter to adore." + +"Nothing more easily explained, monseigneur,--forgive me the +comparison,--but, as certain men have a joyous and benevolent +intoxication, so you have good and generous love." + +"Still, my hatred of the wicked has become more intense; my aversion for +Sarah increases, in proportion, no doubt, to the grief I experience at +my daughter's death. I imagine to myself that that wretched mother must +have neglected her, and that, when once her ambitious hopes were ruined +by my marriage, the countess, in her pitiless selfishness, abandoned our +daughter to mercenary hands, and, perhaps, my child died from actual +neglect. It is my fault, also. I did not then think of the sacred duties +which paternity imposes. When Sarah's real character was suddenly +revealed to me, I ought instantly to have taken my daughter from her, +and watched over her with love and anxiety. I ought to have foreseen +that the countess would make but a very unnatural mother. It is my +fault,--yes, indeed, my fault." + +"Monseigneur, grief distracts you! Could you, after the sad event you +know of, delay for a day the long journey imposed on you, as--" + +"As an expiator! You are right, my friend," said Rodolph, greatly +agitated. + +"You have not heard anything of the Countess Sarah since my departure, +monseigneur?" + +"No; since those infamous plots which twice nearly destroyed Madame +d'Harville, I have heard nothing of her. Her presence here is hateful to +me,--oppresses me; it seems as though my evil demon was near me, and +some new misfortune threatens me." + +"Patience, patience, monseigneur! Fortunately Germany is forbidden +ground to her, and Germany awaits us." + +"Yes, we shall go very soon. At least, during my short residence in +Paris, I shall have accomplished a sacred vow, and have made some steps +in the meritorious path which an august and merciful will has traced for +my redemption. As soon as Madame Georges's son is restored to her tender +arms, free and innocent; as soon as Jacques Ferrand shall be convicted +and punished for his crimes; as soon as I am assured of the good +prosperity of all the honest and hard-working creatures who, by their +resignation, courage, and probity, have deserved my interest, we will +return to Germany, and then my journey will not have been wholly +unfruitful." + +"Particularly if you achieve the exposure of that abominable wretch, +Jacques Ferrand, monseigneur,--the angular stone, the pivot on which +turn so many crimes." + +"Although the end justifies the means, and scruples with such a +scoundrel are absurd, yet I sometimes regret that I have allowed Cecily +to become an instrument in working out this just and avenging +reparation." + +"She ought to be here very shortly." + +"She has arrived." + +"Cecily?" + +"Yes; I refused to see her. De Graün has given her ample instructions, +and she has promised to comply with them." + +"Will she keep that promise?" + +"Why, everything conspires to make me think so. There is the hope of +ameliorating her future condition, and the fear of being instantly sent +back to Germany to prison; for De Graün will not lose sight of her, and +the least defection on her part will cause her being handed over to +justice." + +"True, she comes here as an escaped criminal, and when we know the +crimes that have led to her perpetual imprisonment, she would be at once +surrendered to our demand." + +"And then, even if it were not her interest to aid our schemes, the task +which is assigned to her being one which can only be effected by +stratagem, perfidy, and the most devilish seduction, Cecily must be (and +the baron assures me she really is) overjoyed at such an opportunity for +playing off those infernal advantages with which she is so liberally +endowed." + +"Is she as handsome as she was, monseigneur?" + +"De Graün declares that she is more attractive than ever; he told me +that he was really quite dazzled at her beauty, to which the Alsatian +costume she had chosen gave even more piquancy. The glance of this devil +in petticoats, he says, has still the same really magic expression." + +"Why, monseigneur, I have never been what is called a dissipated fellow, +a man without heart or conduct, but if at twenty years of age I had met +with Cecily, even knowing her then to be as dangerous, as wicked as I do +now, I assure you I would not have answered for myself, if I had been +for any time exposed to the fire of her large, black, and brilliant +eyes, sparkling in the centre of her pale and ardent countenance. Yes, +by heaven! I dare not think of the extremities into which so fatal an +amour might have urged me." + +"I am not astonished, my dear Murphy, for I know this woman. Moreover, +the baron was really frightened at the quickness with which Cecily +understood--or, rather guessed--the part, at once inciting and platonic, +which she was to play with the notary." + +"But will she, think you, be introduced as easily as you wish, +monseigneur, by the intervention of Madame Pipelet? Individuals like +Jacques Ferrand are so suspicious." + +"I had relied, with reason, on the sight of Cecily to overcome and +dissipate the notary's distrust." + +"What! Has he already seen her?" + +"Yesterday. And from what Madame Pipelet told me, I have no doubt but he +was fascinated by the creole, for he instantly took her into service." + +"Then, monseigneur, the game is won, and ours." + +"I hope so. A ferocious cupidity, a brutal passion, have impelled the +injurer of Louise Morel to the most odious crimes. It is in his passion +and his cupidity that he shall find the terrible punishment of his +crimes,--a punishment which, moreover, shall not be without fruit for +his victims, for you know the aim of all the Creole's wiles." + +"Cecily! Cecily! Never did greater wickedness, never more dangerous +corruption, never blacker soul have served for the accomplishment of a +more strict morality, a more just result! And David, monseigneur, what +does he say to this arrangement?" + +"Approves of everything. At the pitch of contempt and horror which he +has reached for this creature, he sees in her only the instrument of a +just vengeance. 'If this accursed woman ever could deserve any +commiseration after all the ill she has done me,' he said to me, 'it +would be by devoting herself to the remorseless punishment of this +scoundrel, whose exterminating demon she may become.'" + +A servant having knocked at the door, Murphy went out, but soon returned +with two letters, only one of which was for Rodolph. + +"A line from Madame Georges," he said, as he hastily perused it. + +"Well, monseigneur, and La Goualeuse?" + +"There can be no further doubt," exclaimed Rodolph, after having read, +"there is some dark plot afoot. On the evening of the day when the poor +girl disappeared from the farm, and at the instant when Madame Georges +was about to inform me of this event, a man unknown to her, sent express +and on horseback, came as from me to tell her that I was aware of the +sudden disappearance of Fleur-de-Marie, and that in a few days I should +take her back to the farm. In spite of this, Madame Georges, uneasy at +my silence with respect to her protégée, cannot, as she says, resist the +desire to hear how her dear daughter is, for so she calls her." + +"It is very strange, monseigneur." + +"What could be the motive for carrying off Fleur-de-Marie?" + +"Monseigneur!" said Murphy, suddenly, "the Countess Sarah is no stranger +to this carrying off." + +"Sarah! And what makes you think so?" + +"Compare this event with her denunciations against Madame d'Harville." + +"You are right!" cried Rodolph, struck with a sudden light, "it is +evident--now I understand. Yes, constantly the one calculation. The +countess persists in thinking that by breaking down all the affections +which she supposes me to form, she will make me feel the necessity of +attaching myself to her. This is as odious as it is absurd. Still, such +unworthy persecution must be put a stop to. It is not only myself, but +all that deserve respect, interest, and pity, that this woman assails. +Send M. de Graün instantly and officially to the countess and let him +say that I have the certain assurance that she has been instrumental in +carrying off Fleur-de-Marie, and if she does not give me at once such +information as is necessary for me to find the poor girl, I will show no +mercy; and then M. de Graün will go to the law officers of the crown." + +"According to Madame d'Harville's letter, La Goualeuse must be in St. +Lazare." + +"Yes, but Rigolette declares that she saw her free, and quit the prison. +There is some mystery which I must clear up." + +"I will instantly go and give the Baron de Graün your orders, +monseigneur. But allow me to open this letter, which comes from my +correspondent at Marseilles, to whom I had recommended the Chourineur, +as he was to facilitate the passage of the poor devil to Algeria." + +"Well, has he set sail?" + +"Monseigneur, it is really singular!" + +"What is it?" + +"After having waited for a long time at Marseilles for a ship to convey +him to Algeria, the Chourineur, who seemed every day more sad and +serious, suddenly protested, on the very day fixed for his embarkation, +that he should prefer returning to Paris." + +"What a whim!" + +"Although my correspondent had, as agreed, placed a considerable sum at +the disposal of the Chourineur, he had only taken sufficient for his +return to Paris, where he must shortly arrive." + +"Then he will explain to us his change of resolution. But despatch De +Graün immediately to the Countess Macgregor, and go yourself to St. +Lazare, and inquire about Fleur-de-Marie." + + * * * * * + +After the lapse of an hour, the Baron de Graün returned from the +Countess Sarah Macgregor's. In spite of his habitual and official +_sang-froid_, the diplomatist seemed overwhelmed; the groom of the +chambers had scarcely admitted him before Rodolph observed his paleness. + +"Well, De Graün, what ails you? Have you seen the countess?" + +"Your royal highness must prepare for very painful intelligence--so +unexpected--the Countess Macgregor--" + +"The countess, then, is dead?" + +"No, but her life is despaired of; she has been stabbed with a +stiletto." + +"Horrible!" exclaimed Rodolph. "Who committed the crime?" + +"That is not ascertained; the murder was accompanied with robbery; a +large quantity of jewels have been stolen." + +"And how is she now?" + +"She has not recovered her senses yet; her brother is in despair." + +"Send some one daily to make inquiries, my dear De Graün." + +At this moment Murphy entered, having returned from St. Lazare. + +"Sad news!" said Rodolph to him; "Sarah has been stabbed." + +"Ah, monseigneur, though very guilty, one must still pity her." + +"Yes, such a fearful end! And La Goualeuse?" + +"Set at liberty by the intercession of Madame d'Harville." + +"That is impossible! for Madame d'Harville entreats me to take the +necessary steps for getting the poor, unhappy girl out of prison." + +"Yet an elderly woman came to St. Lazare, bringing an order to set +Fleur-de-Marie at liberty, and they both quitted the prison together." + +"As Rigolette said. But this elderly woman, who can she be? The Countess +Sarah alone can clear this up, and she is in no state to afford us +particulars." + +"But her brother, Tom Seyton, may throw some light on it, he has always +been in his sister's confidence." + +"His sister is dying, and if there is any fresh plot, he will not say a +word. But," added Rodolph, "we must learn the name of the person who +liberated Fleur-de-Marie, and then we shall arrive at something." + +"True, monseigneur." + +"Try, then, and find out this person, my dear De Graün; and if you do +not succeed, put your M. Badinot on the scent." + +"Your royal highness may rely on my zeal." + +"Upon my word, monseigneur," said Murphy, "it is, perhaps, fortunate +that the Chourineur returns to us, his services may be useful." + +"You are right; and now I am impatient to see my brave preserver arrive +in Paris, for I never can forget that I owe my life to him." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE CLERK'S OFFICE. + + +Several days had elapsed since Jacques Ferrand had taken Cecily into his +service. We will conduct the reader (who already knows the place) into +the notary's office, whilst his clerks are at breakfast. Unheard of, +extravagant, wonderful thing! Instead of the meagre and repulsive broth +brought each morning to these young men by the late Madame Séraphin, an +enormous cold roast turkey, placed in a large box, was enthroned in the +centre of one of the office-tables, flanked by two new loaves, a Dutch +cheese, and three bottles of wine; an ancient leaden inkstand served to +hold a mixture of pepper and salt. Each clerk, provided with a knife and +a strong appetite, awaited the arrival of the head clerk with hungry +impatience, without whom they could not, without a breach of etiquette, +begin to breakfast. A revolution so radical in Jacques Ferrand's office +bespoke some extraordinary domestic mutation. The following conversation +may throw some light on this phenomenon: + +"Here is a turkey who did not expect when he was ushered into life ever +to appear on the breakfast-table of our governor's clerks." + +"No more than the governor, when he was ushered into the life of a +notary, expected to give his clerks a turkey for breakfast." + +"But, at least, the turkey is ours!" said the junior fag of the office, +with a greedy grin. + +"Hop-the-Gutter, my friend, you forget yourself; this poultry is and +must be a stranger to you." + +"And, like a good Frenchman, you should have a wholesome hatred of the +stranger." + +"All that will come to your share may be his feet." + +"Emblem of the velocity with which you run on the office errands." + +"I thought I might at least have a right to the carcass to pick!" +muttered Hop-the-Gutter. + +"Perchance, as an excessive favour, but not as a right; just as with the +Charter of 1814, which was but another carcass of liberty!" said the +Mirabeau of the office. + +"Talking of carcasses," observed one youth, with brutal insensibility, +"may heaven receive the soul of Madame Séraphin! For since she was +drowned in her water-party of pleasure, we are no longer condemned to +eternal 'cag-mag.'" + +"And, for a whole week, the governor, instead of giving us breakfast--" + +"Allows us each two francs a day." + +"It was that which made me say, 'Heaven receive the soul of Mother +Séraphin!'" + +"Talking of Madame Séraphin, who has seen the servant who has come in +her place?" + +"The Alsatian girl whom the portress of the house in which poor Louise +lived brought one evening, as the porter told us?" + +"Yes." + +"_Parbleu!_ It is quite impossible to get a glimpse of her; for the +governor is more resolute than ever in preventing us from entering into +the pavilion in the courtyard." + +"And besides, as it is the porter who now cleans out the office, how can +one see this damsel?" + +"Well, I've seen her." + +"You?" + +"When I say I've seen her, I've seen her cap; such a rum cap!" + +"Oh, pooh! What sort?" + +"It was cherry-coloured velvet, I think; a kind of skull-cap like the +'buy-a-broom' girls wear." + +"Like the Alsaciennes? Why, that's simple enough, as she is an +Alsacienne!" + +"I was passing across the yard the day before yesterday, and she was +leaning with her back against one of the windows of the ground floor." + +"What! The yard?" + +"No, donkey, no,--the servant! The panes of the lower part are so dirty +that I could not see much of the Alsacienne; but those in the middle of +the window were not so grubby, and I saw her cherry-coloured cap and a +profusion of curling hair as black as jet, for she had her head dressed +_à la Titus_." + +"I'm sure the governor has not seen even as much as that through his +spectacles; for he is one who, as they say, if he were left alone with +one woman on the earth, then the world would end." + +"That is not astonishing. 'He laughs best who laughs last!' And the more +so, as 'Punctuality is the politeness of monarchs!'" + +"Jupiter! How stupid Chalamel is when he likes!" + +"Deuce take it! Tell me where you go, and I'll tell you who you are!" + +"Beautiful!" + +"As for me, I think it is superstition which makes our governor more and +more hoggish." + +"And, perhaps, it is as a penitence that he gives us forty sous a day +for our breakfast." + +"He must, indeed, have taken leave of his senses." + +"Or be ill." + +"I have thought him very much bewildered these many days past." + +"It is not that we see so much of him. He who, for our misery, was in +his study at sunrise, and always at our backs, is now two days without +even poking his nose into the office." + +"That gives the head clerk so much to do." + +"And we are obliged to die of hunger waiting for him this morning." + +"What a change in the office!" + +"How poor Germain would be astonished if any one told him, 'Only think, +old fellow, of the governor giving us forty sous for our breakfast.' +'Pooh! Impossible!' 'Quite possible! And I, Chalamel, announce the fact +in my own proper person.' 'What, you want to make me laugh?' 'Yes. Well, +this is the way it came about. For the two or three days which followed +the death of Madame Séraphin we had no breakfast at all; and, in one +respect, that was an improvement, because it was less nasty, but, in +another, our refection cost us money. Still we were patient, saying, +"The governor has no servant or housekeeper; as soon as he gets one we +shall resume the filthy paste gruel." No, by no means, my dear Germain; +the governor has a servant, and yet our breakfast continued buried in +the wave of oblivion. Then I was appointed as a deputation to inform the +governor of the griefs of our stomachs. He was with the chief clerk. "I +will not feed you any longer in the morning," he replied, in his harsh +tone, and as if thinking of something else; "my servant has no time to +prepare your breakfast." "But, sir, it was agreed that you should find +us in breakfasts." "Well, send for your breakfasts from some house, and +I will pay for it. How much is sufficient,--forty sous each?" he added; +all the time evidently thinking of something else, and saying forty sous +as he would say twenty sous or a hundred sous. "Yes, sir, forty sous +will be sufficient," cried I, catching the ball at the bound. "Be it so; +the head clerk will pay you and settle with me." And so saying, the +governor respectfully slammed the door in my face.' You must own, +messieurs, that Germain would be most extraordinarily astonished at the +liberality of the governor." + +"Seriously, I think the governor is ill. For the last ten days he has +scarcely been recognisable; his cheeks are so furrowed you could hide +your fist in them." + +"And so absent; you should just see him. The other day he lifted his +spectacles to read a deed, and his eyes were as red and glaring as fiery +coals." + +"He was right. 'Short reckonings make long friends!'" + +"Let me say a word. I will tell you, gentlemen, something very strange. +I handed this deed to the governor, and it was topsy-turvy." + +"The governor? How strange! What could he mean by topsy-turvying thus? +Enough to choke him, unless, as you say, his habits are so completely +altered." + +"Oh, what a fellow you are, Chalamel! I say I gave him the deed wrong +end up'ards." + +"Wasn't he in a rage?" + +"Not the slightest. He did not even notice it, but kept his great red +eyes fixed upon it for at least ten minutes, and then handed me back the +deed, saying, 'Very good!'" + +"What, still topsy-turvy?" + +"Yes." + +"Then he couldn't have read it?" + +"_Pardieu!_ not unless he can read upside down." + +"How odd!" + +"The governor looked so dull and cross at the moment that I did not dare +to say a word, and so I left him, just as if nothing had occurred." + +"Well, four days ago I was in the head clerk's office; there came a +client, then two or three clients with whom the governor had +appointments. They got tired of waiting; and, at their request, I went +and knocked at his study door. No answer; so in I went." + +"Well?" + +"M. Jacques Ferrand had his arms crossed on his desk, and his bald and +not overdelicate forehead leaning on his hands. He never stirred." + +"Was he asleep?" + +"I thought so, and went towards him: 'Sir, there are clients waiting +with whom you have made appointments.' He didn't stir. 'Sir!' No answer. +Then I touched his shoulder, and he bounced up as if the devil had +bitten him. In his start his large green spectacles fell from his eyes +on to his nose, and I saw--you'll never believe it--" + +"Well, what?" + +"Tears." + +"Oh, what nonsense!" + +"Quite true." + +"What! the governor snivel? No, I won't have that." + +"When that's the case why cockchafers will play the cornet-à-piston." + +"And cocks and hens wear top-boots." + +"Ta, ta, ta, ta; all your folly will not prevent my having seen what I +did see as plain as I see you." + +"Weeping?" + +"Yes, weeping. And he was in such a precious rage at being surprised in +this lachrymose mood that he adjusted his spectacles in great haste, and +said to me, 'Get out--get out!' 'But, sir--' 'Get out!' 'Three clients +are waiting to whom you have given appointments, and--' 'I have not +time; let them go to the devil along with you!' Then he got up in a +desperate rage to turn me out, but I didn't wait, but went and dismissed +the clients, who were not by any means satisfied; but, for the honour of +the office, I told them that the governor had the whooping-cough." + +This interesting conversation was interrupted by the head clerk, who +entered apparently quite overcome. His arrival was hailed by general +acclamation, and all eyes were sympathetically turned towards the +turkey with impatient anxiety. + +"Without saying a word, seigneur, you have kept us waiting an infernally +long while," said Chalamel. + +"Take care! Another time our appetite will not remain so subordinate." + +"Well, gents, it was no fault of mine. I have had much to annoy +me,--more than you have. On my word and honour, the governor must be +going mad." + +"Didn't I say so?" + +"But that need not prevent one eating." + +"On the contrary." + +"We can talk just as well with something in our mouths." + +"We can talk better," cried Hop-the-Gutter; whilst Chalamel, dissecting +the turkey, said to the head clerk: + +"What makes you think that the governor is mad?" + +"We have a right to suppose he is perfectly beside himself when he +allows us forty sous a head for our daily breakfast." + +"I confess that has surprised me as much as yourselves, gents. But that +is nothing--absolutely nothing--to what has just now occurred." + +"Really?" + +"What! has the unhappy old gent become so decidedly lunatic that he +insists on our dining at the Cadran Bleu every day at his expense?" + +"Theatre in the evening?" + +"Then coffee, with punch to follow?" + +"And then--" + +"Gents, laugh as much as you please; but the scene I have just witnessed +is rather alarming than pleasant." + +"Well, then, relate this scene to us." + +"Yes, do. Don't mind your breakfast," observed Chalamel; "we are all +ears." + +"And jaws, my lads. I think I see you whilst I am talking working away +with your teeth; and the turkey would be finished before my tale. By +your leave, patience, and the story shall come in with the dessert." + +Whether it was the spur of appetite or curiosity which incited the young +men we will not decide, but they went through their gastronomic +operation with such celerity that the moment for the head clerk's +history came in no time. In order that they might not be surprised by +their employer, they sent Hop-the-Gutter into the adjoining room as a +sentinel, having liberally supplied him with the carcass and drumsticks +of the bird. + +The head clerk then said to his colleagues, "You must know, in the first +place, the porter has been very uneasy, for he has frequently seen M. +Ferrand, in spite of the cold and rain, pace the garden at night for a +considerable time. Once he ventured to ask his master if he wanted +anything; but he sent him about his business in such a manner that he +has not again ventured to intrude himself." + +"Perhaps the governor is a sleep-walker?" + +"That is not probable. But, to continue; a short time since I wanted his +signature to several papers. As I was turning the handle of his door, I +thought I heard some one speaking. I stopped, and made out two or three +repressed sounds, like stifled groans. After pausing an instant in fear, +I opened the door, and saw the governor kneeling on the floor, his +forehead buried in his hands, and his elbows resting on the seat of one +of his old armchairs." + +"Oh, it's all plain enough: he has turned pious, and was saying an extra +prayer." + +"Well, then, it was a strong prayer enough. I heard stifled groans, and +every now and then he murmured between his teeth '_Mon Dieu! mon Dieu! +mon Dieu!_' like a despairing man. Then,--and this is very singular,--in +a movement which he made as if to tear his breast with his nails, his +shirt came partly open, and I saw on his hairy chest a small red +pocketbook fastened around his neck by a steel chain. When I saw that I +did not really know whether I ought to retreat or advance. I remained, +however, very much embarrassed, when he rose and suddenly turned around, +holding between his teeth an old check pocket-handkerchief; his +spectacles were left on the chair. Let me say, gents, that I never in my +life saw such a figure; he looked like one of the damned. I retreated +really in alarm. Then he--" + +"Seized you by the throat?" + +"You are quite wrong. He looked at me first with a bewildered air; then +letting fall his handkerchief, he threw himself into my arms, +exclaiming, 'Oh, I am very unhappy!'" + +"What a farce!" + +"Well, but that did not prevent his voice--in spite of his death's-head +look--from being so distressing, I may say so imploring--" + +"Imploring! Come, come, no gammon! Why, there is no night-owl with a +cold in her head which is not music to the governor's voice." + +"That may be; but yet at this moment his voice was so plaintive that I +was almost affected. 'Sir,' I said to him, believe me--' 'Let me!--let +me!' replied he, interrupting me. 'It is so consoling to be able to say +to any one that we are suffering!' He evidently mistook me for some +other person. You may suppose that when he thus addressed me I felt sure +it was a mistake, or that he had a brain fever. I disengaged myself from +him, saying, 'Sir, compose yourself, it is I!' Then he looked at me with +a stupid air, and exclaimed, 'Who is it? Who's there? What do you want +with me?' And he passed, at each question, his hand over his brow, as if +to dispel the cloud which obscured his mind." + +"Which obscured his mind! Capital! Well spoken! We'll get up a melodrama +amongst us! + + "'Methinks a man with such a power of words, + Should try his hand at melodrame!'" + +"Chalamel, will you be quiet?" + +"What could ail the governor?" + +"_Ma foi!_ How can I tell? But of this I'm sure, that when he recovers +he'll sing to another tune, for he frowned terribly, and said to me +sharply, without giving me time to reply, 'What did you come for? Have +you been here long? Am I to be surrounded with spies? What did I say? +Reply--answer!' _Ma foi!_ he looked so savage that I replied, 'I heard +nothing, sir; I only this moment entered.' 'You are not deceiving me?' +'No, sir.' 'Well, what do you want?' 'Some signatures, sir.' 'Give me +the papers!' And then he signed and signed--without reading--half a +dozen notarial deeds; he who never put his initials to a deed without +spelling it over word by word, and twice over from one end to the other. +I remarked that from time to time his hand relaxed in the middle of his +signature, as if he were absorbed in some fixed idea; then he went on +signing very quick, and, as it were, convulsively. When all were signed +he told me to retire, and I heard him descend the small staircase which +leads from his room to the courtyard." + +"I still ask what can be the matter with him?" + +"Gentlemen, it is perhaps Madame Séraphin whom he regrets." + +"He? What, he regret any one?" + +"Now I think of it, the porter said that the curé of Bonne Nouvelle and +the vicar had called several times to see the governor, and he was +denied to them. Is not that surprising?--they who almost lived here!" + +"What puzzles me is to know what the workpeople are at." + +"They have been working at the pavilion three days running." + +"And one evening they brought furniture covered up with a carpet." + +"Perhaps he feels remorse for having put Germain into prison?" + +"Talking of Germain, he will have some fine recruits in his prison, poor +fellow! For I read in the _Gazette des Tribunaux_ that the band of +robbers and assassins, whom they seized in the Champs Elysées, in one of +the small underground public-houses, had been locked up in La Force." + +"Poor Germain! What society for him!" + +"Louise Morel, too, will have her share of the recruits; for in this +gang, they say, there is a whole family of thieves." + +"Then they will send the women to St. Lazare, where Louise is?" + +"Perhaps it was some of that gang who stabbed the countess, one of the +governor's clients. He has often sent me to inquire after the state of +this countess, and seems much interested in her recovery." + +"Did they let you enter the house and see the spot where the +assassination was committed?" + +"Oh, no! I could not go farther than the entrance; and the porter was +not at all a person inclined to talk." + +"Gents, gents, take your places; here's the gov'nor coming up!" shouted +Hop-the-Gutter, coming into the office with the carcass still in his +hand. + +The young men instantly took their seats at their respective desks, over +which they bent, handling their pens with great dexterity; whilst +Hop-the-Gutter deposited his turkey's skeleton in a box filled with law +papers. + +Jacques Ferrand entered the room. His red hair, mingled with gray, +escaping from beneath an old black silk cap, fell in disorder down each +side of his temples. Some of the veins which marbled his head appeared +injected with blood, whilst his face, his flat nose, his furrowed +cheeks, were all of ghastly paleness. The expression of his look, +concealed by his large green spectacles, could not be seen; but the +great alteration in the man's features announced the ravages of a +consuming passion. + +He crossed the office slowly, without saying a word to one of the +clerks, or without even appearing to notice that they were there; then +went into the room in which the chief clerk was employed, traversed it +as well as his own cabinet, and again instantly descended the small +staircase which led to the courtyard. + +Jacques Ferrand having left all the doors open behind him, the clerks +had a right to be astonished at the strange demeanour of their employer, +who had come up one staircase and gone down another without pausing for +a moment in any of the apartments he had mechanically traversed. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AVOID TEMPTATION! + + +It is night. Profound silence reigns in the pavilion inhabited by +Jacques Ferrand, interrupted only at intervals by gusts of wind and the +dashing of rain, which falls in torrents. These melancholy sounds seemed +to render still more complete the solitude of this abode. In a +sleeping-room in the first floor, very nicely and newly furnished, and +covered with a thick carpet, a young female is standing up before a +fireplace, in which there is a cheerful blaze. It is strange, but in the +centre of the door, carefully bolted, and which is opposite to the bed, +is a small glass door, five or six inches square, which opens from the +outside. A small reflecting lamp casts a half shadow in this chamber, +hung with garnet-coloured paper; the curtains of the bed and the window, +as well as the cover of the large sofa, are of silk and woollen damask +of the same colour. We are precise in the details of this demi-luxury so +recently imported into the notary's residence, because it announces a +complete revolution in the habits of Jacques Ferrand, who, until now, +was of the most sordid avarice, and of Spartan disregard (especially as +it concerned others) to everything that respected comfortable existence. +It is on this garnet-coloured ground that was shadowed forth the figure +of Cecily, which we will now attempt to paint. + +Tall and graceful, the creole was in the full flower of her age. Her +spreading shoulders and hips made her waist appear so singularly small +that it seemed as if it could be easily spanned. As simple as it was +coquettish, her Alsatian costume was of singular taste, somewhat +theatrical,--but for that reason more capable of producing the effect +she desired. Her bodice, of black cassimere, half open on her full +bosom, was very long-waisted, with tight sleeves, plain back, and +slightly embroidered with purple wool down the seams, perfected by a row +of small cut silver buttons. A short petticoat, of orange merino, which +seemed of vast fullness, descended little lower than the knee; her +stockings were of scarlet, with blue clocks, as we see them in the +drawings of the old Flemish painters, who so complacently show us the +garters of their robust heroines. + +No artist ever drew more perfect legs than were those of Cecily: +symmetrical and slim beneath the swelling calf, they terminated in a +small foot, quite at ease, and yet restrained in a small slipper of +black morocco, with silver buckles. Cecily was looking into the glass +over the mantelpiece. The slope of her bodice displayed her elegant and +dimpled neck of dazzling but not transparent whiteness. + +Taking off her cap of cherry-coloured velvet to replace it with a +kerchief, she displayed her thick, magnificent head of hair, of lustrous +black, which, divided over her brows, and naturally curling, came down +only to the necklace of Venus, which unites the neck and shoulders. + +It is necessary to know the inimitable taste with which the Creoles +twist around their heads their kerchiefs of bright hues, to have an idea +of the graceful head-dress of Cecily, and the piquant contrast of this +variegated covering of purple, blue, and orange, with the black silky +tresses, which, escaping from beneath the tight fold of the +nightkerchief, surrounded her pale but round and firm cheeks. With her +two arms raised above her head, she proceeded with the ends of her +fingers, as slender as spindles of ivory, to arrange a large rosette, +placed very low on the left side, almost over the ear. + +Cecily's features were such as once seen it is impossible ever to +forget. A bold forehead, somewhat projecting, surmounts her face, which +was a perfect oval; her pearly white complexion, the satiny freshness of +the camelia leaf slightly touched by a sun-ray; her eyes, of almost +disproportionate size, have a singular expression, for their irises, +extremely large, black, and brilliant, hardly allow the blue +transparency of the orbits, at the two extremities of the lids, fringed +with long lashes, to be visible; her chin is very distinctly prominent; +her nose, straight and thin, ends in two delicate nostrils, which dilate +on the least emotion; her mouth, insolent and amorous, is of bright +purple. + +We must imagine this colourless countenance, with its bright black +glance, its two red, pulpy, and humid lips, which glisten like wet +coral. Such was Cecily. Her infamous instincts, at first repressed by +her real attachment for David, not being developed till she reached +Europe, civilisation and the influence of northern climates had tempered +their violence. + +We have already said that Cecily had scarcely reached Germany, when, +first seduced by a man of desperately depraved habits, she, unknown to +David, who loved her with equal idolatry and blindness, exercised and +turned to account, for a considerable time, all her seductive powers; +but soon the scandal of her adventures was raised abroad, and such +exposures ensued that she was sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. + +To all this let there be joined a plastic, adroit, insinuating mind, an +intelligence so wonderful that in a year she spoke French and German +with perfect ease, sometimes even with natural eloquence; then add a +corrupted heart worthy of the courtesan queen of ancient Rome, an +audacity and courage proof against everything, instincts of diabolical +wickedness, and then we may understand the new servant of Jacques +Ferrand, the resolute being who had dared to venture into the wolf's +den. + +Yes, strange anomaly! On learning from M. de Graün the inciting and +platonic part she was to play with the notary, and what avenging ends +were to be derived from her seductions, Cecily had promised to go +through the character with love, or, rather, terrible hatred against +Jacques Ferrand, being sincerely indignant at the recital of the +infamous violence he had exercised against Louise,--a recital necessary +to be unfolded to the creole, to put her on her guard against the +hypocritical attempts of this monster. A few retrospective words as to +this latter are indispensable. + +When Cecily was presented by Madame Pipelet as an orphan over whom she +did not desire to maintain any right, any control, the notary was, +perhaps, less smitten by the beauty of the creole than fascinated by her +irresistible look,--a look which, at the first interview, disturbed the +reason of Jacques Ferrand. + +We have already said, in reference to the insensate boldness of some of +his words when conversing with Madame de Lucenay, that this man, usually +so completely master of himself, so calm, so cunning, so subtle, forgot +the cold calculations of his deep dissimulation when the demon of desire +darkened his better sense. + +Besides, he had no cause to distrust the protégée of Madame Pipelet. +After her conversation with Alfred's spouse, Madame Séraphin had +proposed to Jacques Ferrand a young girl, almost destitute, to replace +Louise, and he had eagerly accepted the offer, in the hopes of taking +advantage of the isolated and precarious position of his new servant. +Moreover, far from being predisposed to mistrust, Jacques Ferrand found, +in the march of events, fresh motives for security. + +All succeeded to his utmost wishes. The death of Madame Séraphin +released him from a dangerous accomplice; the death of Fleur-de-Marie +(he believed her dead) delivered him from a living proof of one of his +earliest crimes. Finally, thanks to the death of the Chouette, and the +unexpected murder of the Countess Macgregor (whose life was despaired +of), he no longer had these two women to fear, whose disclosures and +attacks might have been most disastrous to him. + +The disposition, habits, and former life of Jacques Ferrand known and +displayed, the exciting beauty of the creole admitted, as we have +endeavoured to paint her, together with other facts we shall detail as +we proceed, will account, we presume, for the sudden passion, the +unbridled desire of the notary for this seductive and dangerous +creature. Then we must add, that if women of Cecily's stamp inspire +nothing but repugnance and disgust to men endued with tender and +elevated sentiments, with delicate and pure tastes, they exercise a +sudden action, a magic omnipotence, over men of brutal sensuality like +Jacques Ferrand. Thus a just, an avenging fatality, brought the creole +into contact with the notary, and a terrible expiation was beginning for +him. A fierce passion had urged him on to persecute, with pitiless +malice, an indigent and honest family, and to spread amongst them +misery, madness, and death. This passion was now to be the formidable +chastisement of this great culprit. + +Although Jacques Ferrand was never to have his desires realised, the +creole took care not to deprive him of all hope; but the vague and +distant prospects she held out were so coloured by caprices that they +were an additional torture, and more completely enslaved him. + +If we are astonished that a man of such vigour and audacity had not +recourse to stratagem or violence to triumph over the calculating +resistance of Cecily, we forget that Cecily was not a second Louise. +Besides, the day after her presentation to the notary, she had played +quite another part from that by aid of which she had been introduced to +her master, for he had not been the dupe of his servant two days. + +Forewarned of the fate of Louise by the Baron de Graün, and knowing +besides by what abominable means she had become the prey of the notary, +the creole, on entering this solitary house, had taken excellent +precautions for passing her first night there in perfect security. The +evening of her arrival, being alone with Jacques Ferrand, he, in order +not to alarm her, pretended scarcely to look at her, and rudely ordered +her to bed. She told him, _naïvely_, that she was afraid of thieves in +the night, but that she was resolute, and capable of defending herself; +at the same time drawing from her large woollen pelisse a small but +exceedingly keen stiletto, the sight of which set the notary thinking. + +Believing that Cecily was afraid of robbers only, he showed her to the +late chamber of Louise; after having examined it, Cecily said, +trembling, she would sleep in a chair, because the door had neither lock +nor bolt. Jacques Ferrand, unwilling to compromise himself by rousing +Cecily's suspicions, promised a bolt should be fixed. The creole did not +go to bed. + +In the morning the notary sent to her to show her how to set about her +work. He had promised himself to preserve for the first few days a +hypocritical reserve with respect to his new servant, in order to +inspire her with confidence; but smitten by her beauty, which by +daylight was even more striking, blinded, maddened by his desires, which +already got the better of him, he stammered out some compliments as to +the figure and beauty of Cecily. She, with keen sagacity, had judged +that, from her first interview with the notary, he was completely caught +in her spells; at the confession he made of his flame, she thought it +policy to cast aside at once her feigned timidity, and, as we have said, +to change her mask. The creole suddenly assumed a bold air. Jacques +Ferrand again complimented her beauty and her graceful figure. + +"Look at me well!" said Cecily to him, in a bold tone. "Although I am +dressed as an Alsatian peasant, do I look like a servant?" + +"What do you mean?" cried Jacques Ferrand. + +"Look at this hand, does it appear accustomed to hard labour?" and she +presented a white, delicate hand, with long and slender fingers, with +nails as rosy and polished as agate, but whose root, slightly browned, +betrayed the creole blood. "And this foot, is it that of a servant?" and +she protruded a beautiful small foot, coquettishly shod, which the +notary had not before remarked, and from which he only removed his eyes +to gaze on Cecily with amazement. "I told my Aunt Pipelet what story I +chose; she knew nothing of my former life, and believes me reduced to my +present condition through the death of my parents, and takes me for a +servant,--but you, I hope, have too much sagacity to show her error, +dear master." + +"Who, then, are you?" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, more and more surprised +at her language. + +"That is my secret. For reasons best known to myself I was obliged to +quit Germany in this attire. I wished to remain concealed in Paris for +some time, being as secluded as possible. My aunt, supposing me reduced +to misery, proposed to me your service, telling me of the solitary life +which I must of compulsion lead in your house, informing me that I +should never have leave to quit it. I accepted the offer +unhesitatingly,--without knowing it my aunt had anticipated my most +earnest desire. Who would think of looking for and finding me here?" + +"And what have you done to compel you to seek concealment?" + +"Agreeable sins, perhaps; but that is, also, my secret." + +"And what are your intentions, mademoiselle?" + +"What they always have been. But for your significant compliments as to +my shape and beauty, perhaps I should not have confessed so much to you; +although, no doubt, your clear-sightedness would, sooner or later, have +induced my confession. Now listen to me, my dear master. I have for the +moment accepted the condition--or, rather, the character--of a servant; +circumstances compelled me. I have courage enough to sustain the +character to the end, and will risk all the consequences. I will serve +you with zeal, activity, and respect, in order to retain my situation, +that is to say, a sure and unknown asylum. But on the least word of +gallantry, the least liberty you take with me, I will leave you,--not +from prudery, there is nothing of the prude about me, I fancy." And she +darted a look at the notary which had full effect. "No, I am no prude!" +she continued, with a provoking smile, which displayed her teeth of +dazzling whiteness. "Indeed, no, when I love, I do love! But be +discreet, and you will see that your unworthy servant has no desire but +honestly to discharge her duty as a servant. + +"Now you have my secret, or, at least, a portion of it. But should you, +by any chance, desire to act as a gentleman, should you find me too +handsome to serve you, should you like to change parts, and become my +slave, be it so! Frankly speaking, I should prefer it, and had rather +you should feel paternally disposed towards me. That would not prevent +you from saying that you found me charming; this will be the recompense +of your devotion and discretion." + +"The only one? The only one?" stammered Jacques Ferrand. + +"The only one, unless solitude make me mad,--which is impossible, for +you will keep me company. Come, make up your mind,--no ambiguity. I +either serve you, or you shall serve me; if not, I leave your house, and +beg my aunt to find me another place. All this may, perhaps, appear +strange to you; but if you take me for an adventuress, without any means +of existence, you are wrong. In order that my aunt should be my +accomplice without knowing it, I have made her believe that I was so +poor that I could not purchase any other garments than those I now wear. +I have, however, as you see, a tolerably well filled purse; on this side +gold, on the other diamonds" (and Cecily displayed before the notary's +eyes a long, red silk purse, filled with gold, and through the meshes of +which he could also see several sparkling gems). "Unfortunately all the +money in the world could not purchase for me a retreat so secure as your +house,--so isolated, from the very solitude in which you live. Accept, +then, one or other of my offers, and you will do me a kindness. You see +I place myself almost at your discretion; for to say to you, I conceal +myself, is to say to you I am sought for. But I am sure you will not +betray me, even if you could." + +This romantic confidence, this sudden change of character, completely +upset all Jacques Ferrand's ideas. Who was this woman? Why did she +conceal herself? Was it chance alone that had brought her to him? If she +came with some secret aim, what could it be? Amongst all the ideas which +this singular adventure gave rise to in the notary's mind, the real +motive of the creole's presence did not occur to him. He had not, or, +rather, he believed he had no other enemies than the victims of his +licentiousness and his cupidity, and all these were in such miserable +circumstances that he could not suspect them capable of spreading any +net for him, of which Cecily should be the bait. + +And then, moreover, what could be the motive of any such snare? No, the +sudden transformation of Cecily inspired Jacques Ferrand with one fear +only--he believed that this woman did not tell the truth, and was, +perhaps, an adventuress, who, thinking him rich, had introduced herself +into his house to wheedle and get money from him, and, perhaps, induce +him to marry her. But although his avarice at once revolted at this +idea, he perceived (and trembled) that his suspicions and reflections +were too late, for he might by one word have calmed his distrust by +sending away this woman from his house,--but this word he could not say. + +These thoughts hardly occupied him a moment, so fascinated had he +become. He already loved, after his own fashion, and the idea of being +separated from this enchanting creature seemed impossible; and he felt +also a jealousy, which made him say to himself, "So long as she is +immured in my house, she can have no other lover." The boldness of her +language, the wantonness of her look, the freedom of her manner, all +revealed that she was not (as she had said) a prude. This conviction, +giving vague hopes to the notary, still more assured Cecily's empire. In +a word, Jacques Ferrand's passion choking the calm voice of reason, he +blindly resigned himself to all that might result. + + * * * * * + +It was agreed that Cecily should only be the servant in appearance; thus +there would be no scandal. Besides, in order the more completely to +render his guest at her ease, he was not to engage any other servant, +but make up his mind to wait on her and on himself. The meals were +brought from a neighbouring tavern, the porter swept out and attended to +the office, and he paid for his clerks' breakfast. Then the notary would +furnish at once an apartment on the first floor, as Cecily wished. She +desired to pay for it, but he refused, and spent two thousand francs +(80_l._). This was enormous generosity, and proved the unheard-of +violence of his passion. + +Then began the terrible life of this miserable wretch. Enclosed in the +impenetrable solitude of this house, inaccessible to all, more and more +under the galling yoke of his mad love, careless of penetrating the +secret of this singular woman; from a master he was made a slave,--he +was Cecily's valet, served her at meal-times, and took care of her +apartment. Forewarned by the baron that Louise had been overcome by a +narcotic, the creole drank only pure water, eating only of dishes with +which it was impossible to tamper. She had selected the apartment she +was to occupy, assuring herself that there was there no concealed +entrance. Besides, Jacques Ferrand soon discovered that Cecily was not a +woman whom he could assail with impunity; she was vigorous, agile, and +dangerously armed; thus a frenzied delirium alone could have incited him +to attempt force, and she was quite protected from this peril. + +Yet, that she might not weary and utterly repulse the notary's passion, +the creole seemed sometimes touched by his assiduities, and flattered by +the control which she exercised over him. And, perceiving that he hoped, +by dint of proofs of devotion and self-denial, he should contrive to +make her overlook his age and ugliness, she amused herself with telling +him that, if she ever could love him, how excessive that love would be. +With this Jacques Ferrand's reason wandered, and he would frequently +walk in his garden at night absorbed in his own reflections. Sometimes +he gazed for hours into the bedroom of the creole; for she had allowed a +small window to be made in the door, which she frequently and +intentionally left open. Absorbed, lost, wandering, indifferent to his +most important interests, or the preservation of his reputation as an +austere, serious, and pious man,--a reputation usurped, it is true, but, +at the same time, acquired after long years of dissimulation and +chicanery,--he amazed his clerks by his aberration of mind, offended his +clients by his refusals to receive them, and abruptly refused the visits +of the priests, who, deceived by his hypocrisy, had been until then his +warmest champions. + +We have said that Cecily was dressing her head before her glass. At a +slight noise in the corridor she turned her head towards the door. In +spite of the noise she had heard, Cecily continued her night toilet +tranquilly. She drew from her corsage, where it was placed almost like a +busk, a stiletto five or six inches long, enclosed in a case of black +shagreen, having a small ebony handle, with silver threads,--a plain +handle, but very fit for use; it was not a mere weapon for show. Cecily +took the dagger from its scabbard with excessive precaution, and laid it +on the marble mantelpiece. The blade, of finest temper and Damascus +steel, was triangular, with keen edges; and the point, as sharp as a +needle, would have pierced a shilling without turning the edge. +Impregnated with a subtle and rapid poison, the slightest puncture of +this poniard was mortal. Jacques Ferrand having one day alluded to the +danger of this weapon, the creole made in his presence an experiment, +_in animâ vita_,--that is to say, on the unfortunate house-dog, which, +slightly pricked on the nose, fell and died in horrible convulsions. The +stiletto placed on the mantelpiece, Cecily took off her black bodice, +and was then, with her shoulders, neck, and arms denuded, like a lady in +her ball-dress. Like most of the creole women, she wore, instead of +stays, another bodice of stout linen, which fitted her figure very +closely; her orange-coloured petticoat, remaining attached to this sort +of white spencer, with short sleeves, and cut very low, formed a costume +less precise than the other, and harmonised wonderfully with the scarlet +stocking, and the coloured handkerchief, so coquettishly arranged around +the creole's head. Nothing could be more perfect, more beautifully +defined, than the graceful contour of her arms and shoulders. A heavy +sigh aroused Cecily's attention. She smiled, as she twisted around her +finger one of her curling tresses, which had escaped from beneath her +head-dress. + +"Cecily! Cecily!" murmured a voice, which was plaintive though coarse. +And through the wicket was visible the pale and flat face of Jacques +Ferrand. + +Cecily, silent until then, began to hum a creole air; the words of this +melody were sweet and expressive. Although repressed, the full +contra-alto of Cecily was heard above the noise of the torrents of the +rain and gusts of wind, which seemed to shake the old house to its very +foundation. + +"Cecily! Cecily!" repeated Jacques Ferrand, in a tone of supplication. + +The creole paused suddenly and turned her head around quickly, as if, +for the first time, she then heard the notary's voice; and going towards +the door,-- + +"What, dear master (she called him so in derision), you there?" she +said, with a slight foreign accent, which gave additional charm to her +full and sarcastic voice. + +"Oh, how beautiful you are!" murmured the notary. + +"You think so?" said Cecily. "Doesn't my head-dress become me?" + +"I think you handsomer every day." + +"Only see how white my arm is." + +"Monster, begone! Begone!" shouted Jacques Ferrand, furious. + +Cecily burst into a loud fit of laughter. + +"No, no, it is too much to suffer! Oh, if I were not afraid of death!" +said the notary, gloomily. "But to die is to renounce you altogether, +and you are so beautiful! I would rather, then, suffer--and look at +you." + +"Look at me? Why, that's what the wicket was made for; and so we can +thus chat, like two friends in our solitude, which really is not irksome +to me, you are such a good master! What a dangerous confession I make +through the door!" + +"Will you never open this door? You see how submissive I am; this +evening I might have tried to enter into your chamber with you, but I +did not do so." + +"You are submissive for two reasons: in the first place, because you +know that, having, from the necessity of my wandering life, always had +the precaution to carry a stiletto, I can manage with a strong hand this +inestimable jewel, whose tooth is sharper than a viper's; and you know, +too, that, from the day in which I have to complain of you, I will quit +this roof for ever, leaving you a thousand times more enamoured than +ever,--since you have so greatly honoured your unworthy servant as to +say that you are enamoured of her." + +"My servant? It is I who am your slave,--your mocked, derided, despised +slave!" + +"That's true enough." + +"And yet it does not move you?" + +"It amuses me; the days, and especially the nights, are so long!" + +"Accursed creature!" + +"But, seriously, you look so perfectly wretched, your features have so +sensibly altered, that I am quite flattered at it. It is a poor triumph, +but you are the only one here." + +"To hear that, and me consume in impotent rage!" + +"Have you really any understanding? Why, I never said anything more +tender." + +"Jeer at me,--jeer at me!" + +"I do not jeer. I never before saw a man of your age in love after your +fashion; and, I must confess, a young and handsome man would be +incapable of these outrageous passions. An Adonis admires himself as +much as he admires us; he likes us, and we choose to notice +him,--nothing more simple. He has a claim to our love, but is hardly +grateful; but to show favour to a man like you, my master dear, would be +to take him from earth to heaven, to fulfil his wildest dreams, his most +insensate hopes. For if some being were to say to you, 'You love Cecily +to distraction, if I chose she should be yours next minute,' you would +suppose such a being endued with supernatural power, shouldn't you, +master dear?" + +"Yes! Ah, yes!" + +"Well, if you could convince me more satisfactorily of your passion, I +might, perchance, have the whimsical fancy to enact this supernatural +part myself in your favour. Do you comprehend?" + +"I comprehend that you are still fooling me,--that you are still +pitiless." + +"Perhaps,--for solitude creates so many singular fancies." + +Until this moment Cecily's accent had been sarcastic, but she pronounced +these last words with a serious, reflecting tone, and accompanied them +with a look which made the notary start. + +"Silence! Do not look at me thus,--you will drive me mad! I would rather +you denied me,--at least, I could then hate you,--drive you from my +house!" cried Jacques Ferrand, who again gave himself up to a vain hope. +"Yes, for I should then hope nothing from you. But, misery! Misery! I +know you well enough now to hope, in spite of myself, that one day I +might, from your very hate or proud caprice, obtain what I shall never +owe to your love. You bid me convince you of my passion,--do you not see +how unhappy I am? I will do all I can to please you. You desire to, be +concealed from all eyes, and from all eyes I conceal you, perchance at +the risk of compromising myself most seriously; for, indeed, I know not +who you are. I respect your secret,--I never speak to you of it. I have +interrogated you as to your past life, and you have given me no answer." + +"Well, then, I was very wrong. I'll give you a mark of blind confidence, +oh, master, dear! And so, listen." + +"Another bitter jest, no doubt." + +"No, a serious tale. You ought, at least, to know the life of her to +whom you afford such generous hospitality." Then Cecily continued, in a +tone of hypocritical and lachrymose earnestness, "Daughter of a brave +soldier, brother of my Aunt Pipelet, I received an education, beyond my +condition. I was seduced, and then abandoned, by a rich young gentleman; +then, to escape the anger of my father, whose notions of honour were +most strict, I fled my native country." Then bursting into a loud fit of +laughter, Cecily added, "Now I hope that's what you call a very pretty +and particularly probable tale, for it has been very often told. Amuse +your curiosity with that until you get hold of some other story more +interesting." + +"I was certain it was some cruel jest," said the notary, with +concentrated rage; "nothing touches you,--nothing. What must I do? Tell +me. I serve you like the lowest footboy, for you I neglect my dearest +interests,--I no longer know what I do. I am a subject of astonishment +and derision to my own clerks; my clients hesitate any longer to entrust +me with their affairs; I have severed my connection with some religious +persons whom I knew intimately. I dare not think of what the world will +say of my change of demeanour and habits. But you do not know,--no, you +do not know the fatal consequences my mad passion for you may entail on +me. Yet I give you ample proof of my devotion. Will you have more? +Speak! Is it gold you would have? They think me richer than I am, but +I--" + +"What could I do with your gold?" asked Cecily, interrupting the notary, +and shrugging her shoulders; "living in this chamber, what is the use of +gold? Your invention is at fault." + +"It is no fault of mine if you are a prisoner. Is this chamber +displeasing to you? Will you have one more splendid? Speak! Order!" + +"Once more, what is the use? What is the use? Oh, if I might here +expect a beloved one, full of the love he inspires and participates, I +would have gold, silks, flowers, perfumes, all the wonders of luxury; +nothing could be too sumptuous, too enchanting to enshrine my love," +said Cecily, with an impassioned voice. + +"Well, these wonders of luxury, say but a word, and--" + +"What's the use? What's the use? Why make a frame for which there is no +picture? And the adored one! Where is he,--where is he, master, dear?" + +"True," exclaimed the notary, with bitterness, "I am old, I am ugly, I +can only inspire disgust and aversion. She overwhelms me with contempt, +jests at me,--and yet I have not the resolution, the power to send her +away. I have only the resolution to suffer!" + +"Oh, silly old mourner! And what an absurd elderly gentleman, with his +sufferings!" cried Cecily, in a contemptuous and sarcastic tone; "he +only knows how to groan, to despair,--and yet he has been for ten days +shut up alone with a young woman in a lone house." + +"But this woman scorns me,--this woman is armed,--this woman is shut +up!" groaned the notary, furiously. + +"Well, conquer her scorn, make the dagger fall from her hands, compel +her to open the door which separates her from yourself! But not by brute +force, that would be useless." + +"How, then?" + +"By the strength of your passion." + +"Passion! And can I inspire it?" + +"Why, you are nothing but a lawyer, affecting piety,--I really pity you. +Is it for me to teach you your part? You are ugly,--be terrible, and one +may forget your ugliness. You are old,--be energetic, and one may forget +your age. You are repulsive,--become menacing. Since you cannot be the +noble steed that neighs proudly in the midst of his harem, do not +become the stupid camel that bends the knee and offers his back; be the +tiger! The old tiger, that roars in the midst of carnage, still excites +admiration; his tigress responds to him from the deepest recesses of the +desert." + +At this language, which was not deficient in a sort of natural and hardy +eloquence, Jacques Ferrand shuddered; struck by the expression, wild and +almost fierce, which Cecily's features displayed, as, with her bosom +palpitating, her nostrils open, her mouth defying, she fastened on him +her large and brilliant black eyes. Never had she seemed to him more +fascinating, or more resplendently beautiful than at this moment. + +"Speak,--speak again!" he exclaimed, with excitement. "For now you speak +in earnest. Oh, if I could--" + +"One can do what one wishes," replied Cecily, sternly. + +"But--" + +"But I tell you, old as you are, if I were in your place I would +undertake to engage the affections of a young and handsome woman, and +once having achieved this result, what had been against me would turn to +my advantage. What pride, what triumph to say to oneself, I have made my +age and ugliness forgotten! The love that is shown me I do not owe to +pity, but to my spirit, my courage, and my skill. Yes, and now if there +were here some handsome young fellows, brilliant with grace and +attractions, the lovely woman, whom I have subdued by proofs of a +resistless and unbounded devotion, would not deign to cast a look at +them. No; for she would know that these elegant effeminates would fear +to compromise the tie of their cravat, or a curl of their hair, in +obedience to her caprices; whilst if she cast her handkerchief in the +midst of flames, on a signal from her her old tiger would rush into the +furnace with a roar of ecstasy." + +"Yes, I would do it! Try! Try!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, more and more +excited. + +Cecily continued drawing nearer to the aperture, and fixing on Jacques +Ferrand a steadfast and penetrating look. + +"For this woman would well know," continued the creole, "that she would +have some exorbitant caprice to satisfy,--that these dandies would look +at their money, if they had any, or, if they had not, at some other low +consideration, whilst her old tiger--" + +"Would consider nothing,--nothing, I tell you. +Fortune,--honour,--he--he--would sacrifice all!" + +"Really?" said Cecily, putting her lovely fingers on the bony fingers of +Jacques Ferrand, whose clutched hands, passed through the small glass +door, were clasping the top of the ledge. "Would not this woman be +ardently loved?" added Cecily. "If she had an enemy, and with a gesture +pointed him out to her old tiger, and said to him, Strike--" + +"And he would strike!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, attempting to press +Cecily's fingers with his parched lips. + +"Really, the old tiger would strike?" said the creole, placing her hand +gently on the hand of Jacques Ferrand. + +"To possess you," cried the wretch, "I could commit a crime--" + +"Ah, master," said Cecily, suddenly, and withdrawing her hand, +"go--go,--in my turn I scarcely know you,--you do not seem to me so ugly +as you did just now. But go--go!" and she left the aperture abruptly. + +The artful creature gave to her gestures and these last words an +appearance of truth so perfect, and a look of such surprise, as if angry +and disappointed with herself for having for an instant only appeared to +forget the ugliness of Jacques Ferrand, that he, transported by frenzied +hope, cried, as he clung convulsively to the ledge of the aperture: + +"Cecily, come back,--come back! Bid me do what you will, I will be your +tiger." + +"No, no, master!" said Cecily, still retreating. "And in order to forget +you, I will sing a song of my country." + +"Cecily, return!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, in a supplicating tone. + +"No, no! Later, when I can without danger. But the light of this lamp +hurts my eyes,--a soft languor overcomes my senses!" and Cecily +extinguished the lamp, took down a guitar, and made up the fire, whose +increased blaze then lighted up the whole apartment. + +From the narrow window, where he stood motionless, such was the picture +that Jacques Ferrand perceived. In the midst of the luminous circle +formed by the flickering blaze on the fire Cecily, in a position full of +softness and _abandonnement_, half reclining on a large sofa of garnet +damask, held a guitar, on which she ran over several harmonious +preludes. The fire-light threw its red tints on the creole, who appeared +thus in strong relief. To complete the tableau, the reader must call to +mind the mysterious and singular appearance of a room in which the fire +from the grate struggles with the deep and large black shadows, which +tremble on the ceiling and the walls. The storm without increased, and +roared loudly. + +Whilst she preludised on her guitar, Cecily fixed her eyes immovably on +Jacques Ferrand, who, fascinated, could not take his look from her. + +"Now, master mine," said the creole, "listen to a song of my country. We +do not understand how to make verses, but have a simple recitative, +without rhyme, and between each rest we improvise, as well as we can, a +symphony appropriate to the idea of the couplet; it is very simple and +pastoral, and I am sure, master, it will please you." + +And Cecily began a kind of recitative, much more accentuated by the +expression of the voice than the modulation of the music. Some soft and +vibrating chords served as accompaniment. This was Cecily's song: + + "Flowers--still flowers, everywhere. + My lover is coming--my hope of happiness unnerves me. + Let us subdue the glare of daylight, pleasure seeks the softer + shade. + My lover prefers my breath to the perfume of the sweetest + flowers. + The brightness of day will not affect his eyelids, for my kisses + will keep them closed. + Come--come--come--come, love! Come--come--come!" + +These words, uttered with animation, as if the creole was addressing an +unseen lover, were rendered by her the theme of a delicious melody; her +charming fingers produced from the guitar, an instrument of no great +power, vibrations full of harmony. The impassioned look of Cecily, her +half closed, humid eyes fastened on Jacques Ferrand, were full of the +expression of expectation. Words of love, delicious music, together +conspired at the moment to bereave Jacques Ferrand of his reason; and, +half frenzied, he exclaimed: + +"Mercy, Cecily, mercy! You will drive me distracted! Oh, be silent, or I +die! Oh, that I were mad!" + +"Listen to the second couplet, master," said the creole, again touching +the chords; and she thus continued her impassioned recitative: + + "If my lover were here, and his hand touched my bare shoulder, I + should tremble and die. + If he were here, and his curly hair touched my cheek, my pale + cheek would become purple--my pale cheek would be on fire. + Soul of my Soul, if thou wert here, my parched lips would not + utter a word. + Life of my Life, if thou wert here, I should expiring ask thy + pardon. + 'Tis sweet to die for and with those we love. + Angel, come--come to my heart--come--come--come!" + +If the creole had rendered the first strophe with languid pleasure, she +put in her last words all the enthusiasm of antique love; and as if the +music had been powerless to express her intense passion, she threw her +guitar from her, and, half rising and extending her arms towards the +door, where Jacques Ferrand stood, she repeated, in a faltering, dying +tone, "Oh, come--come--come!" It would be impossible to depict the +electric look with which she accompanied these words. Jacques Ferrand +uttered a terrible cry. + +"Oh, death! Death to him whom you could thus love!" he cried, shaking +the door in a burst of jealousy and furious rage. + +Agile as a panther, Cecily was at the door with one bound; and, as if +she with difficulty repressed her feigned transports, she said to +Jacques Ferrand, in a low, concentrated, palpitating voice: + +"Well, then, I will confess I am excited by my song. I did not mean to +approach the door again, yet here I am, in spite of myself; for I hear +still the words you said just now, 'If you bade me strike, I would +strike.' You love me, then?" + +"Will you have gold,--all my gold?" + +"No, I have enough." + +"Have you an enemy? I will kill him." + +"I have no enemy." + +"Will you be my wife? I'll marry you." + +"I am married." + +"What would you, then? Oh, what would you?" + +"Prove to me that your passion for me is blind,--furious! And that you +would sacrifice all to it." + +"Ah!--yes--all. But how?" + +"I do not know,--but a moment since your eyes fascinated me. If again +you give me one of those marks of intense love, which excite the +imagination of a woman to madness, I know not of what I should not be +capable. Make haste, then, for I am capricious, and to-morrow, perhaps, +all the impression will be effaced." + +"But what proof can I give you at this moment?" cried the notary. + +"You are but a fool, after all!" replied Cecily, retreating from the +aperture with an air of disdain. "I was deceived,--I believed you +capable of energetic devotion. Goodnight! It's a pity!" + +"Cecily, do not leave me! Return! What can I do?" + +"I was but too much disposed to listen to you; you will never have such +another opportunity." + +"But oh, tell me what you would have!" cried the notary, half mad. + +"Eh! If you were as passionately in love as you say, you would find +means to persuade me. Good night!" + +"Cecily." + +"I will shut the door, instead of opening it." + +"Cecily,--listen! I will give you yet another proof of my devotion." + +"What is this proof of your love?" said the creole, who, having +approached the mantelpiece to resume her dagger, returned slowly towards +the door, lighted by the flame of the hearth. Then, unobserved by the +notary, she made sure of the action of an iron chain, which terminated +in two small knobs, one of which was screwed into the door, and the +other into the door-post. + +"Listen!" said Jacques Ferrand, in a hoarse and broken voice, "listen! +If I place my honour, my fortune, my life, at your mercy,--now, this +very instant,--will you then believe I love you?" + +"Your honour, your fortune, your life! I do not comprehend you." + +"If I confide to you a secret which may bring me to the scaffold, will +you then believe me?" + +"You a criminal? You do but jest. What, then, of your austere +life,--your piety,--your honesty?" + +"All--all a lie!" + +"You pass for a saint, and yet you boast of these iniquities! No, there +is no man so craftily skilful, so fortunately bold, as thus to captivate +the confidence and respect of men; that were, indeed, a fearful defiance +cast in the teeth of society!" + +"I am that man,--I have cast that sarcasm, that defiance, in the face of +society!" exclaimed the monster, in a tone of ecstatic pride. + +"Jacques! Jacques! Do not speak thus!" said Cecily, with a tone of +emotion. "You make me mad!" + +"My head for your love,--will you have it so?" + +"Ah, this, indeed, is love! Here, take my poniard,--you disarm me!" + +Jacques Ferrand took, through the wicket, the dangerous weapon, with due +precaution, and flung it from him to a distance in the corridor. + +"Cecily, you believe me, then!" he exclaimed with transport. + +"Do I believe you?" said the creole, energetically pressing her +beautiful fingers on the clasped hands of Jacques Ferrand. "Oh, yes, I +do! For now, again, you look as you did a short time since, when my very +soul seemed fascinated by your gaze." + +"Cecily, you will speak the words of, truth--and truth only--to me?" + +"And can you doubt it for a moment? Ah, you will soon have ample proof +of my sincerity. But what you are about to tell me is quite true,--is it +not?" + +"I repeat that you may believe each word I utter." + +"So much the better, since you are enabled to prove your passion by the +avowal of them." + +"And if I tell you all?" + +"Then will I, in return, withhold nothing from you; for if, indeed, you +have this blind, this courageous confidence in me, Jacques, I will call +no more for the ideal lover of my song, but you,--my hero, my tiger! to +whom I will sing, 'Come--come--oh, come!'" + +As Cecily uttered these words, with an air and voice of seductive +tenderness, she drew so close to the wicket that Jacques Ferrand could +feel the hot breath of the creole pass over his cheek, while her fresh, +full lip lightly touched his coarse, vulgar hand. "Call me your +tiger,--your slave,--what you will,--and if after that you but divulge +what I entrust to you, my life will be the consequence. Yes, +enchantress, a word from you, and I perish on a scaffold. My honour, +reputation, nay, my very existence, are henceforward in your hands." + +"Your honour?" + +"Yes, even so. But listen. About ten years ago I was entrusted with the +care of a child, and a sum of money for her use, amounting to two +hundred thousand francs; well, I wronged the little creature by +spreading a false report of her death, and then appropriated the money +to my own purposes." + +"It was boldly and cleverly done! Who would ever have believed you +capable of such conduct?" + +"Again. I had a cashier whom I detested, and I determined upon ruining +him one way or other. Well, one evening, under some great emergency, he +took from my cash-box a trifling amount of gold, which he paid back the +next day; but to wreak my malice on the object of my dislike, I accused +him of having stolen a large sum. Of course my testimony was believed, +and the wretched man was thrown into prison. Now is not my honour--my +very safety--at your will and pleasure? At your word both would be in +peril." + +"Then you love me, Jacques,--oh, truly, blindly love me! Since you thus +surrender to me the most precious secrets of your heart, how plainly +does it prove the empire I must have over you! Ah, believe me, I will +not be niggardly in repaying you. Stoop that brow, from which have +emanated so many infernal schemes, that I may press it with my lips." + +"Were the scaffold erected for me," cried the excited notary, "did death +stare me in the face, I would not now recall my words. But hearken to +what I have still to confess. The child I formerly wronged and forsook +has again crossed my path, her reappearance disquieted me, and I have +had her murdered." + +"Murdered! and by your orders? But how--in what manner?" + +"A few days since; it occurred thus: Near the bridge of Asnières, at the +Isle du Ravageur, a man named Martial, for a bribe, contrived to sink +her in a boat made purposely with a false bottom. Are these particulars +sufficient? Will you believe me now?" + +"Oh, fiend! demon! You terrify while you fascinate me! In what consists +your marvellous power and influence?" + +"But listen further, for I have not yet finished my catalogue of crimes. +Previously to that a man had entrusted me with one hundred thousand +crowns. I contrived to waylay and blow out his brains, making it appear +he had fallen by his own hand. Afterwards, when his sister claimed the +money entrusted to my charge, I denied all knowledge of it. Now, then, I +have proclaimed myself a malefactor, guilty of every crime. Will you not +open your door, and admit a lover so ardent, so impatient as myself?" + +"Jacques," exclaimed the creole, with much excitement, "I +admire,--love,--nay, adore you!" + +"Let a thousand deaths come!" cried the notary, in a state of +enthusiastic delight impossible to describe, "I will brave them all! Oh, +you are right! Were I ever so young, so handsome, or so seducing, I +could not hope for joy such as now swells my heart. But delay not, +charmer of my soul,--give me the key, or yourself undo the bolts which +separate us. I can endure this torturing suspense no longer!" + +The creole took from the lock, which she had carefully secured +beforehand, the key so ardently prayed for, and, handing it to the +notary through the aperture, said, in a languishing tone of utter +abandonnement: + +"Jacques, my senses seem forsaking me,--my brain is on fire,--I know not +what I do or say." + +"You are mine, then, at length, my adorable beauty!" cried he, with a +wild shout of savage exultation, and hastily turning the key in the +lock. But the firmly bolted door yielded not yet. + +"Come, beloved of my heart!" murmured Cecily, in a languid voice; "bless +me with your presence,--come!" + +"The bolt! The bolt!" gasped out Jacques Ferrand, breathless with his +exertions to force open the door. + +"But what if you have been deceiving me?" cried the creole, as though a +sudden thought had seized her; "if you have only invented the secrets +with which you affect to entrust me, to mock at my credulity, to ensnare +my confidence?" + +The notary appeared thunderstruck with surprise at this fresh expression +of doubt, at the very moment when he believed himself upon the point of +attaining his wishes; to find a new obstacle arise when he considered +success certain drove him almost furious. He rapidly thrust his hand +into his breast, opened his waistcoat, impatiently snapped a steel +chain, to which was suspended a small red morocco pocketbook, took it, +and showing it to Cecily, through the aperture, cried, in a thick, +palpitating voice: + +"This book contains papers that would bring me to a scaffold; only undo +the bolts which deny me entrance to your presence, and this book, with +all its precious documents, is yours." + +"Oh, then, let us seal the compact!" exclaimed Cecily, as, drawing back +the bolt with as much noise as possible with one hand, with the other +she seized the pocketbook. + +But Jacques Ferrand permitted it not to leave his possession till he +felt the door yield to his pressure. But though it partially gave way, +it was but to leave an opening about half a foot wide, the solid chain +which passed across it above the lock preventing any person's entering +as completely as before. At this unexpected obstacle Jacques Ferrand +precipitated himself against the door and shook it with desperate fury, +while Cecily, with the rapidity of thought, took the pocket-book between +her teeth, opened the window, threw a large cloak out into the yard +below, and, light and agile as bold and daring, seized a knotted cord +previously secured to the balcony, and glided from her chamber on the +first floor to the court beneath, descending with the swiftness of an +arrow shot from a bow. Then wrapping herself hastily in the mantle, she +flew to the porter's lodge, opened the door, drew up the string, ran +into the street, and sprang into a hackney-coach, which, ever since +Cecily had been with Jacques Ferrand, came regularly every evening, in +case of need, by Baron Graün's orders, and took up its station a short +distance from the notary's house. Directly she had entered the vehicle +it drove off at the topmost speed of the two strong, powerful horses +that drew it, and had reached the Boulevards ere Jacques Ferrand had +even discovered Cecily's flight. + +We will now return to the disappointed wretch. From the situation of the +door he was unable to perceive the window by which the creole had +contrived to prepare and make good her flight; but concentrating all his +powers, by a vigorous application of his brawny shoulders Jacques +Ferrand succeeded in forcing out the chain which kept the door from +opening. + +With furious impatience he rushed into the chamber,--it was empty. The +knotted cord was still suspended to the balcony of the window from which +he leaned; and then, at the other extremity of the courtyard, he saw by +means of the moon, which just then shone out from behind the stormy +clouds which had hitherto obscured it, the dim outline of the outer gate +swinging to and fro as though left open by some person having hastily +passed through. Then did Jacques Ferrand divine the whole of the scheme +so successfully laid to entrap him; but a glimmer of hope still +remained. Determined and vigorous, he threw his leg over the balcony, +let himself down in his turn by the cord, and hastily quitted the house. + +The street was quite deserted,--not a creature was to be seen; and the +only sound his ear could detect was the distant rumbling of the wheels +of the vehicle that bore away the object of his search. The notary, who +supposed it to be the carriage of some person whose business or pleasure +took them late from home, paid no attention to this circumstance. + +There was then no chance of finding Cecily, whose absence was the more +disastrous, as she carried with her the positive proof of his crimes. As +this fearful certainty came over him, he fell, struck with +consternation, on a bench placed against his door, where he long +remained, mute, motionless, and as though petrified with horror. His +eyes fixed and haggard, his teeth clenched, and his lips covered with +foam, tearing his breast, as though unconsciously, till the blood +streamed from it, he felt his very brain dizzy with thought, till his +ideas were lost in a fathomless abyss. + +When he recovered from his stupor he arose and staggered onwards with an +unsteady and faltering step, like a person just aroused from a state of +complete intoxication. He violently shut the entrance door and returned +to the courtyard. The rain had by this time ceased, but the wind still +continued strong and gusty, and drove rapidly along the heavy gray +clouds which veiled without entirely excluding the brightness of the +moon, whose pale and sickly light shone on the house. + +Somewhat calmed by the clear freshness of the night air, Jacques +Ferrand, as though hoping to find relief from his internal agitation by +the rapidity of his movements, plunged into the muddy paths of his +garden, walking with quick, hurried steps, and from time to time +pressing his clenched hands against his forehead. Heedless of the +direction he proceeded in, he at length reached the termination of a +walk, adjoining to which was a dilapidated greenhouse. + +Suddenly he stumbled heavily against a mass of newly disturbed earth. +Mechanically he stooped down to examine the nature of the impediment +which presented itself; the deep hole which had been dug, and morsels of +torn garments lying by, told him with awful certainty that he stood by +the grave dug by poor Louise Morel to receive the remains of her dead +infant,--her infant, which was also the child of the heartless, hardened +wretch who now stood trembling and conscience-stricken beside this +fearful memento of his sensuality and brutal persecution of a poor and +helpless girl. And spite of his hardihood, his long course of sin and +seared conscience, a deadly tremor shook his frame, he felt an +instinctive persuasion that the hour of deep retribution was at hand. + +Under other circumstances Jacques Ferrand would have trampled the humble +grave beneath his feet without remorse or concern, but now, exhausted by +the preceding scene, he felt his usual boldness forsake him, while fear +and trembling came upon him. A cold sweat bedewed his brow, his +tottering knees refused to support him, and he fell motionless beside +the open grave. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LA FORCE. + + +We may, perhaps, be accused, from the space accorded to the following +scenes, of injuring the unity of our story by some episodical pictures; +but it seems to us that, at this moment particularly, when important +questions of punishment are engaging the attention of the legislature, +that the interior of a prison--that frightful pandemonium, that gloomy +thermometer of civilisation--will be an opportune study. In a word, the +various physiognomies of prisoners of all classes, the relations of kin +or affection, which still bind them to the world from which their gaol +walls separate them, appear to us worthy of interest and attention. We +hope, therefore, to be excused for having grouped about many prisoners +known to the readers of this history other secondary characters, +intended to put in relief certain ideas of criticism, and to complete +the initiation of a prison life. + + * * * * * + +Let us enter La Force. There is nothing sombre or repulsive in the +aspect of this house of incarceration in the Rue du Roi de Sicile, in +the Marais. In the centre of one of the first courts there are some +clumps of trees, thickened with shrubs, at the roots of which there are +already, here and there, the green, precocious shoots of primroses and +snowdrops. A raised ascent, surmounted by a porch covered with +trellis-work, in which knotty stalks of the vine entwine, leads to one +of the seven or eight walks assigned to the prisoners. The vast +buildings which surround these courts very much resemble those of +barrack or manufactory kept with exceeding care. There are lofty façades +of white stone, pierced with high and large windows, which admit of the +free circulation of pure air. + +The stones and pavement of the enclosures are kept excessively clean. On +the ground floor, the large apartments, warmed during the winter, are +kept well ventilated during the summer, and are used during the day as +places of conversation, work, or for the meals of the prisoners. The +upper stories are used as immense dormitories, ten or twelve feet high, +with dry and shining floors; two rows of iron beds are there arranged, +and excellent bedding it is, consisting of a palliasse, a soft and thick +mattress, a bolster, white linen sheets, and a warm woollen blanket. At +the sight of these establishments, comprising all the requisites for +comfort and health, we are much surprised, in spite of ourselves, being +accustomed to suppose that prisons are miserable, dirty, unwholesome, +and dark. This is a mistake. + +It is such dogholes as that occupied by Morel the lapidary, and in which +so many poor and honest workmen languish in exhaustion, compelled to +give up their truckle-bed to a sick wife, and to leave, with hopeless +despair, their wretched, famishing children, shuddering with cold in +their infected straw--that is miserable, dark, dirty, and pestilent! The +same contrast holds with respect to the physiognomy of the inhabitants +of these two abodes. Incessantly occupied with the wants of their +family, which they can scarcely supply from day to day, seeing a +destructive competition lessen their wages, the laborious artisans +become dejected, dispirited; the hour of rest does not sound for them, +and a kind of somnolent lassitude alone breaks in upon their overtasked +labour. Then, on awakening from this painful lethargy, they find +themselves face to face with the same overwhelming thoughts of the +present, and the same uneasiness for the future. + +But the prisoner, indifferent to the past, happy with the life he leads, +certain of the future (for he can assure it by an offence or a crime), +regretting his liberty, doubtless, but finding much compensation in the +actual enjoyment, certain of taking with him when he quits prison a +considerable sum of money, gained by easy and moderate labour, esteemed, +or rather dreaded, by his companions, in proportion to his depravity and +perversity, the prisoner, on the contrary, will always be gay and +careless. + +Again, we ask, what does he want? Does he not find in prison good +shelter, good bed, good food, high wages,[1] easy work, and, especially, +society at his choice,--a society, we repeat, which measures his +consideration by the magnitude of his crimes? A hardened convict knows +neither misery, hunger, nor cold. What is to him the horror he inspires +honest persons withal? He does not see, does not know them. His crimes +made his glory, his influence, his strength, with the ruffians in the +midst of whom he will henceforward pass his life. Why should he fear +shame? Instead of the serious and charitable remonstrances which might +compel him to blush for and repent the past, he hears the ferocious +applauses which encourage him to theft and murder. Scarcely imprisoned, +he plans fresh crimes. What can be more logical? If discovered, and at +once apprehended, he will find the repose, the bodily supplies of a +prison, and his joyous and daring associates of crime and debauchery. If +his experience in crimes be less than that of others, does he for that +evince the less remorse? It follows that he is exposed to brutal +scoffing, infernal taunts, and horrible threats. And--a thing so rare +that it has become the exception to the rule--if the prisoner leaves +this fearful pandemonium with the firm resolution to return to the paths +of honesty by excessive labour, courage, patience, and honesty, and has +been able to conceal the infamy of his past career, the meeting with one +of his old comrades in gaol is sufficient to overturn this good +intention for the restoration of his character, so painfully struggled +for. + + [1] High wages, if we reflect that, with all expenses paid, a + prisoner may gain from five to ten sous a day. How many workmen + are there who can save such a sum? + +And in this way: A hardened, discharged convict proposes a job to a +repentant comrade; the latter, in spite of bitter menaces, refuses this +criminal association; forthwith an anonymous information reveals the +life of the unfortunate fellow who was desirous, at every sacrifice, of +concealing and expiating a first fault by honourable behaviour. Then, +exposed to the contempt, or, at least, the distrust, of those whose +good-will he had acquired by dint of industry and probity, this man, +reduced to distress, and urged by want, yielding at length to incessant +temptations, although nearly restored to society, will again fall, and +for ever, into the depths of that abyss whence he had escaped with such +difficulty. + +In the following scenes we shall endeavour to demonstrate the monstrous +and inevitable consequences of confinement in masses. After ages of +barbarous experiments and pernicious hesitations, it seemed suddenly +understood how irrational it is to plunge into an atmosphere of deepest +vice persons whom a pure and salubrious air could alone save. How many +centuries to discover that, in placing in dense contact diseased beings, +we redouble the intensity of their malignity, which is thus rendered +incurable! How many centuries to discover that there is, in a word, but +one remedy for this overwhelming leprosy which threatens +society,--isolation! + +We should esteem ourselves happy if our feeble voice could be, if not +relied upon, at least spread amongst all those which, more imposing, +more eloquent than our own, demand with such just and impatient urgency +the entire and unqualified application of the cell system. + +One day, perchance, society will know that wickedness is an accidental, +not an organic malady; that crimes are almost always the results of +perverted instincts, impulses, still good in their essence, but +falsified, rendered evil, by ignorance, egotism, or the carelessness of +governments; and that the health of the soul, like that of the body, is +unquestionably kept subordinate to the laws of a healthy and preserving +system of control. + +God bestows on all passions that strive for predominance, strong +appetites, the desire to be at ease, and it is for society to balance +and satisfy these wants. The man who only participates in strength, +good-will, and health has a right--a sovereign right--to have his labour +justly remunerated, in a way that shall assure to him not the +superfluities, but the necessaries of life,--the means of continuing +healthy and strong, active and industrious, and, consequently, honest +and good, because his condition is rendered happy. The gloomy regions of +misery and ignorance are peopled with morbid beings with withered +hearts. Purify these moral sewers, spread instruction, the inducement to +labour, fair wages, just rewards, and then these unhealthy faces, these +perishing frames, will be restored to virtue, which is the health, the +life of the soul. + + * * * * * + +Let us now introduce the reader into the room in the prison of La Force +in which the prisoners are allowed to see persons who visit them. It is +a dark place, partitioned in its length into two equal parts, by a +narrow grated division. One of these divisions communicates with the +interior of the prison, and is the place for the prisoners. The other +communicates with the turnkey's lobby, and is devoted to the persons +admitted to visit the prisoners. These interviews and conversations take +place through the double iron grating of the reception room, in presence +of the turnkey, who remains in the interior, at the extremity of the +passage. + +The appearance of the prisoners, who were in this room on the day in +question, offered great contrasts. Some were clad in wretched attire, +others seemed to belong to the working class, and some to the wealthy +citizen body. The same contrasts were remarkable amongst the visitors to +the prisoners, who were nearly all women. The prisoners generally appear +less downcast than the visitors, for, strange and sad to say, yet proved +by experience, there is but little sorrow or shame left after the +experience of three or four days spent in prison in society. Those who +most dreaded this hideous community habituate themselves to it quickly; +the contagion gains upon them. Surrounded by degraded beings, hearing +only the language of infamy, a kind of ferocious rivalry excites them; +and, either to emulate their companions in the struggle for brutalism, +or to make themselves giddy by the usual drunkenness, the newcomers +almost invariably display as much depravity and recklessness as the +_habitués_ of the prison. + +Let us return to the reception-room. Notwithstanding the noisy hum of a +great many conversations carried on in undertones on each side of the +divisions, prisoners and visitors, after some experience, are able to +converse with each other without being for a moment disturbed by, or +attentive to, the conversation of their neighbours, which creates a kind +of secrecy in the midst of this noisy interchange of words, each being +compelled to hear the individual who addressed him, but not to hear a +word of what was said around him. + +Amongst the prisoners called into the reception-room by visitors, the +one the farthest off from the turnkey was Nicholas Martial. To the +extreme depression with which he was seized on his apprehension, had +succeeded the most brazen assurance. Already the detestable and +contagious influence of a prison in common bore its fruits. No doubt, +had he been at once conveyed to a solitary cell, this wretch, still +under the influence of his first terror, and alone with the thought of +his crimes, fearful of impending punishment, might have experienced, if +not repentance, at least that wholesome dread from which nothing would +have distracted him. + +And who knows what incessant, compulsory meditation may produce on a +guilty mind, reflecting on the crimes committed and the punishment that +is to follow? Far from this, thrown into the midst of a horde of +bandits, in whose eyes the least sign of repentance is cowardice,--or, +rather, treason,--which they make him dearly expiate; for, in their +savage obduracy, their senseless bravado, they consider every man as a +spy on them, who, sad and disconsolate, regretting his fault, does not +join in their audacious recklessness, and trembles at their contact. +Thrown into the midst of these miscreants, Nicholas Martial, who had for +a long time, by report, known the prison manners, overcame his weakness, +and wished to appear worthy of a name already celebrated in the annals +of robbery and murder. + +Several old offenders had known his father, who had been executed, and +others his brother, who was at the galleys; he was received and +instantly patronised by these veterans in crime with savage interest. +This fraternal reception between murderer and murderer elevated the +widow's son; the praises bestowed on the hereditary infamy of his family +intoxicated him. Soon forgetting, in this horrible mood, the future that +threatened him, he only remembered his past crimes to glory in them, and +elevate himself still higher in the eyes of his companions. The +expression of Nicholas's physiognomy was then as insolent as that of his +visitor was disturbed and alarmed. + +This visitor was Daddy Micou, the receiver and lodging-house keeper in +the Passage de la Brasserie, into whose abode Madame de Fermont and her +daughter, victims of Jacques Ferrand's cupidity, had been compelled to +retreat. Father Micou knew the penalties to which he was amenable for +having many a time and oft obtained at low prices the fruits of the +robberies of Nicholas and many others of his stamp. The widow's son +being apprehended, the receiver felt he was almost at the mercy of the +ruffian, who might impeach him as a regular buyer. Although this +accusation could not be supported by flagrant proofs, still it was not +the less dangerous, the less dreaded by Daddy Micou, and he had thus +instantly obeyed the orders which Nicholas had transmitted to him by a +discharged prisoner. + +"Ah, ah! how goes it, Daddy Micou?" said the brigand. + +"At your service, my good fellow," replied the receiver, eagerly. "As +soon as I saw the person you sent to me, I directly--" + +"Oh, you are becoming ceremonious, daddy!" said Nicholas, with +impatience. "Why is this, because I'm in trouble?" + +"No, no, my lad,--no, no!" replied the receiver, who was not anxious to +seem on terms of familiarity with this ruffian. + +"Come, come, be as familiar as usual, or I shall think you have +forgotten our intimacy, and that would break my heart." + +"Well, well," said Micou, with a groan, "I directly went about your +little commissions." + +"That's all right, daddy. I knew well enough that you would not forget +your friends. And my tobacco?" + +"I have left two pounds at the lodge, my boy." + +"Is it good?" + +"Cannot be better." + +"And the knuckle of ham?" + +"Left at the lodge, also, with a four-pound white loaf; and I have added +something that will surprise you, in the shape of a dozen hard eggs and +a Dutch cheese." + +"This is what I call doing the thing like a friend! And the wine?" + +"Six bottles of capital. But, you know, you will only have one bottle a +day." + +"Well, that can't be helped, and so one must make up one's mind to it." + +"I hope you are satisfied with me, my boy?" + +"Certain, and I shall be so again, and for ever, Father Micou; for the +ham, the cheese, the eggs, and the wine will only last just so long as +it takes to swallow them; but, as a friend of mine remarked, when they +are gone there'll be more where they came from, thanks to you, who will +always do the handsome thing so long as I do the same." + +"What! You expect--" + +"That in two or three days you will renew my little stock, daddy dear." + +"Devil burn me if I do! It's all very good for once--" + +"For once! What d'ye mean, man? Why, ham and wine are always good, you +know that very well." + +"Certainly, but I have not undertaken to feed you in delicacies." + +"Oh, Daddy Micou, that's shabby--indecent. What, refuse me ham! One who +has so often brought you 'double tresse' (stolen lead)!" + +"Hush, hush! You mischievous fellow," cried the alarmed receiver. + +"No, I'll put the question to the big-wig (the judge). I'll say to him, +only imagine now, sir, that Daddy Micou--" + +"Hush, hush!" exclaimed the receiver, seeing with equal alarm and anger +that Nicholas was much disposed to abuse the influence which their +guilty companionship gave him. "I'll agree--I will renew your provision +when it is consumed." + +"That's all right, and what's fair. And you mustn't forget, too, to send +some coffee to mother and Calabash, who are at St. Lazare; they like a +cup in a morning, and they'll miss it." + +"What more? Would you ruin me, you extortionate fellow?" + +"Oh, just as you like, Daddy Micou,--don't say another word, but I shall +ask the big-wig--" + +"Well, then, they shall have the coffee," said the receiver, +interrupting him. "But devil take you! Accursed be the day when I first +knew you!" + +"Old boy, I say quite the contrary. I am delighted to have your valuable +acquaintance at this particular moment. I revere you as a nursing +father." + +"I hope you have nothing more to ask of me?" said Micou, with +bitterness. + +"Yes; say to my mother and sister that, if I was frightened when they +apprehended me, I am no longer so, but as determined as they two are." + +"I'll say so. Anything more?" + +"Stay another moment or two. I forgot to ask you for a couple of pairs +of warm woollen stockings,--you'd be sorry if I caught cold, shouldn't +you?" + +"I should be glad if you were dead." + +"Thank ye, daddy, thank ye! But that pleasure is yet to come, and to-day +I'm alive and kicking, and inclined to take things easy. If they serve +me as they did my father, at least I shall have enjoyed my life while it +lasted." + +"It's a nice life, yours is!" + +"Superb! Since I have been here I've enjoyed myself like a king. If we +had lamps and fireworks, they would have lighted them up, and fired them +off in my honour, when they knew I was the son of the famous Martial who +was guillotined." + +"How affecting! What a glorious parentage!" + +"Why, d'ye see, there are many dukes and marquises. Why, then, shouldn't +we have our nobility, too?--such as us!" said the ruffian, with bitter +irony. + +"To be sure, and Charlot (the headsman) will give you your letters of +nobility on the Place du Palais." + +"You may be sure it won't be the gaol chaplain. But in prison we should +have the nobility of top-sawyers (noted robbers) to be thought much of; +if not, you are looked upon as nobody at all. You should only see how +they behave to those who are not tip-tops and give themselves airs. Now +there's in here a chap called Germain, a young fellow, who appears +disgusted with us, and seems to despise us all. Let him take care of his +hide! He's a sulky hound, and they say he is a 'nose' (a spy); if he is, +they'll screw his nose around, just by way of warning." + +"Germain? A young man called Germain?" + +"Yes; d'ye know him? Is he one of us? If so, in spite of his looks, +we--" + +"I don't know him; but if he is the Germain I have heard speak of, his +affair is settled." + +"How?" + +"Why, he has only just escaped from a plot which Velu and the +Stout-Cripple laid for him lately." + +"Why?" + +"I don't know, but they said that in the country somewhere he had +tricked one of their pals." + +"I was sure of it, Germain is a spy. Well, we'll spy him! I'll go and +tell our friends; that'll set them sharper against him. By the way, how +does Gros-Boiteux get on with your lodgers?" + +"Thank heaven, I have got rid of him,--a blackguard! You'll see him here +to-day or to-morrow." + +"All right; how we shall laugh! He's a boy who is never taken aback!" + +"It's because I knew that he would find this Germain here that I said +his affair was settled,--if it's the same chap." + +"Why have they got hold of the Gros-Boiteux?" + +"For a robbery committed with a discharged convict, who wanted to turn +honest and work. Well, you see, the Gros-Boiteux soon got him in a +string; he is such a vicious devil, the Boiteux! I am certain it was he +who broke open the trunk of the two women who live in the little room +on my fourth floor." + +"What women?--ah, yes, two women! You was smitten by the young 'un, I +remember, you old vagabond, because you thought her so nice." + +"They'll not smite anybody any more, for by this time the mother must be +dead, and the daughter is scarcely alive. I shall lose a fortnight's +rent, and I sha'n't give a sou to pay for their burial. I've had so many +losses, without talking of the little matters you entreat me to give you +and your family, that my affairs are quite disarranged. I've had the +luck of it this year." + +"Pooh, pooh! You are always complaining, old gentleman; you who are as +rich as Croesus. But don't let me detain you." + +"You're polite." + +"You'll call and tell me how mother and Calabash are when you bring me +my other provisions?" + +"Yes, if I must." + +"Ah, I'd nearly forgot; whilst you're about it, bring me a new cap, of +plaid velvet, with an acorn at top; mine's regularly done for." + +"Come, now, you're laughing at me." + +"No, daddy, by no means; I want a plaid velvet cap. That's my wish." + +"Then you're resolved to make a beggar of me?" + +"Come, I say, Micou, don't get out of temper about it. It's only yes or +no,--I do not force you, but--you understand?" + +The receiver, reflecting that he was at the mercy of Nicholas, rose, +fearing that if he prolonged his visit he would be exposed to fresh +demands. + +"You shall have your cap," he replied; "but mind, if you ask me for +anything more, I will give you nothing,--let what will occur, you'll +suffer as much as I shall." + +"Make your mind easy, I'll not make you sing (force you to give money +under the threat of certain disclosures) more than is sufficient for you +not to lose your voice; for that would be a pity, you sing so well." + +The receiver went away, shrugging his shoulders with rage, and the +turnkey conducted Nicholas back to the interior of the prison. + +At the moment when Micou quitted the reception-room, Rigolette entered +it. The turnkey, a man about forty years of age, an old soldier, with +stern and marked features, was dressed in a round jacket, with a blue +cap and trousers; two silver stars were embroidered on the collar and +facings of his jacket. At the sight of the grisette the face of this man +brightened up, and assumed an expression of benevolence. He had always +been struck by the grace, gentleness, and touching kindness with which +Rigolette consoled Germain when she came there to see him. Germain was, +besides, not an ordinary prisoner; his reserve, his peaceable demeanour, +and his melancholy inspired the persons about the prison with deep +interest,--an interest which they did not manifest, for fear of exposing +him to the ill-treatment of his brutal companions, who, as we have said, +looked upon him with mistrusting hate. It was raining in torrents, but, +thanks to her goloshes and umbrella, Rigolette had boldly faced the wind +and rain. + +"What a shocking day, my poor girl!" said the turnkey, kindly. "It +requires a good deal of courage to leave home such weather as this." + +"When we think as we come along of the pleasure we shall give a poor +prisoner, we don't think much about the weather, sir." + +"I need not ask you whom you have come to see?" + +"Certainly not. And how is poor Germain?" + +"Why, my dear, I have seen many prisoners; they have been sad for a +day,--two days, perhaps,--and then gradually got into the same way as +the others; and those who were most out of sorts at first often ended +by becoming the merriest of all. But M. Germain, is not one of these, he +has still that melancholy air." + +"How sorry I am to hear it!" + +"When I'm on duty in the yards, I look at him from the corner of my eye, +he is always alone. I have already told you that you should advise him +not to do so, but to resolve on conversing with the others, or it will +end with his becoming suspected and ill-used by them. We keep a close +look-out, but a mischievous blow is soon given." + +"Oh, sir, is there any danger threatens him?" cried Rigolette. + +"Not precisely, but these ruffians see that he is not one of them, and +hate him because he has an honest and proud look." + +"Yet I advised him to do what you told me, sir, and make up his mind to +talk to some of the least wicked! But he cannot help it, he cannot get +over his repugnance." + +"He is wrong--wrong! A struggle is so soon begun." + +"Can't he, then, be separated from the others?" + +"For the last two or three days, since I have seen their ill-will +towards him, I advised him to place himself what we call _à la +pistole_,--that is, in a room." + +"Well?" + +"I had not thought of one thing. A whole row of cells is undergoing +repair, and the others are full." + +"But these wretches may kill him!" said Rigolette, her eyes filling with +tears. "And if, by chance, he had any protectors, what could they do for +him, sir?" + +"Nothing, but enable him to obtain what these debtors who can pay for it +obtain,--a chamber, _à la pistole_." + +"Alas, then, he is lost, if they hate him in prison." + +"Oh, don't be downhearted, we will look well to him. But I repeat, my +dear, do advise him to familiarise himself a little,--the first step is +half the battle." + +"I will advise him as strongly as I can, sir. But for a good and honest +heart it is very hard, you know, to familiarise itself with such +people." + +"Of two evils we must choose the least. Now I will fetch M. Germain. But +now I think of it," said the turnkey, "there are only two visitors; wait +until they are gone, there'll not be any more to-day, for it is two +o'clock. I will then fetch M. Germain, and you can talk at your ease. I +can then, when you are alone, let him come into the passage, so that you +will be separated by one grating instead of two. Won't that be better?" + +"Ah, sir, how kind you are, and how much I thank you!" + +"Hush! Do not let any one hear you, or they may be jealous. Sit down +there at the end of the bench, and when this man and woman have gone, I +will tell M. Germain." + +The turnkey returned to his post inside the grating, and Rigolette sat +down very melancholy at the end of the visitors' bench. + +Whilst the grisette is awaiting the coming of Germain, we will allow the +reader to overhear the conversation of the prisoners who remained there +after the departure of Nicholas Martial. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +PIQUE-VINAIGRE. + + +The prisoner who was beside Barbillon was a man about forty-five years +of age, thin, mean-looking, with a keen, intelligent, jovial, merry +face. He had an enormous mouth, almost entirely toothless; and, when he +spoke, he worked it from side to side, very much after the style of +those orators who are accustomed to harangue from booths at fairs. His +nose was flat, his head disproportionately large and nearly bald; he +wore an old gray knit worsted waistcoat, a pair of trousers of +indescribable colour, torn and patched in a thousand places; his feet, +half wrapped up in pieces of old linen, were thrust into wooden shoes. + +This man, Fortuné Gobert, called Pique-Vinaigre, formerly a juggler, a +convict freed after condemnation for the crime of uttering false money, +was charged with having broken from gaol and committed violent burglary. +Having been confined but very few days in La Force, Pique-Vinaigre +already filled the office of story-teller, to the general satisfaction +of his fellow prisoners. Now story-tellers have become very rare, but +formerly each ward had usually, for a slight general subscription, its +official story-teller, who, by his narrations, made the long winter +evenings appear less tedious when the prisoners went to bed at sunset. + +If it be curious to note the desire for these fictions which these +outcasts display, it is yet a more singular thing to reflect upon the +hearing of these recitals. Men corrupted to the very marrow, thieves, +and murderers, prefer especially the histories in which are expressed +generous, heroic sentiments, recitals in which weakness and goodness are +avenged in fierce retribution. It is the same thing with women of lost +reputation; they are singularly fond of simple, touching, and +sentimental details, and almost invariably refuse to read obscene books. + +Pique-Vinaigre excelled in that kind of heroic tales in which weakness, +after a thousand trials, concludes by triumphing over persecution. He +possessed, besides, a deep fund of satire, which had procured for him +his name, his repartees being very frequently ironical or merry. He had +just entered the reception-room. Opposite to him, on the other side of +the grating, was a female of about thirty-five years of age, of pale, +mild, and interesting countenance, meanly but cleanly clad. She was +weeping bitterly, and held a handkerchief to her eyes. Pique-Vinaigre +looked at her with a mixture of impatience and affection. + +"Come, Jeanne," he said, "do not play the child. It is sixteen years +since we met, and to keep your handkerchief up to your eyes is not the +way for us to know each other again." + +"Brother--my poor, dear Fortuné! I am choking--I cannot speak." + +"Ah, nonsense! What ails you?" + +His sister repressed her sobs, wiped her eyes, and, looking at him with +astonishment, replied, "What ails me? What, when I find you again in +prison, where you have already been fifteen years!" + +"True. It is six months to-day since I left Melun; and I didn't call +upon you in Paris because the capital was forbidden to me." + +"Why did you leave Beaugency when you were under surveillance?" + +"In the first place, Jeanne, since the gratings are between us, you +must fancy I have embraced you, squeezed you in my arms, as a man ought +to do who has not seen his sister for an eternity. Now let us talk. A +prisoner at Melun, who is called the Gros-Boiteux, told me that there +was at Beaugency an old convict of his acquaintance, who employed the +freed prisoners in a factory of white lead. Those who work at it in a +month or two catch the lead-colic. One in three of those attacked die. +It is true that others die also; but they take their time about it and +get on, sometimes as long as a year or even eighteen months. Then the +trade is better paid than most others, and there are fellows who hold +out at it for two or three years. But they are elders--patriarchs--of +the white-leaders. They die, it is true, but that is all." + +"And why did you choose a trade so dangerous that they die at it?" + +"What could I do? When I went to Melun for that well-known job of the +forged coin I was a thimble-rigger. As in gaol there was no scope for my +line of business, and I am not stronger than a good stout flea, they put +me to making children's toys. There was a tradesman in Paris who found +it very advantageous to have his wooden trumpets and swords made by the +prisoners. Why, I must have made half the wooden swords used by the +children of Paris; and I was great in the trumpet line. Rattles, +too,--why, with two of my manufacture I could have set on edge the teeth +of a whole battalion! Well, when my time was up I was a first-rate maker +of penny trumpets, and my only resource was making child's playthings. +Now, supposing that a whole town, young and old, were inclined to play +tur-tu-tu-tu on my trumpets, I should still have had a good deal of +trouble to earn a livelihood; and then I could not have induced a whole +population to continue playing the trumpet from morning to night." + +"You are still such a jester!" + +"Better joke than cry. Well, then, seeing that at forty leagues from +Paris my trade of juggler was no more useful to me than my trumpets, I +requested the surveillance at Beaugency, intending to become a +white-leader. It is a trade that gives you indigestion enough to send +you mad; but until one bursts one lives, and that is always something, +and it was better than turning thief. I am neither brave nor strong +enough to thieve, and it was from pure accident that I did the thing I +have just mentioned to you." + +"And yet you had the courage to take up with a deadly trade! Come now, +Fortuné, you wish to make yourself out worse than you are." + +"I thought that the malady would have so little to take hold of in me +that it would go elsewhere, and that I should become one of the +patriarchal white-leaders. Well, when I came out of prison, I found my +earnings had considerably increased by telling stories." + +"So you told us. You remember how it amused poor old mother?" + +"Dear soul! She never suspected that I was at Melun?" + +"Never. She thought you had gone abroad." + +"Why, my girl, my follies were my father's fault, who dressed me up as a +clown to help in his mountebank displays, to swallow tow and spit fire, +which did not allow me spare time to form acquaintance with the sons of +the peers of France; and so I fell into bad company. But to return to +Beaugency. When once I had left Melun, like the rest, I thought I must +see some fun; if not, what was the use of my money? Well, I reached +Beaugency, with scarcely a sou in my pocket. I asked for Velu, the +friend of Gros-Boiteux, the head of the manufactory. Your servant! There +was no longer any white-lead factory; it had killed eleven persons in +the year, and the old convict had shut up shop. So here I was in the +middle of this city, with my talent for trumpet-making as my only means +of existence, and my discharge from prison as my only certificate of +recommendation. I did my best to procure work, but in vain. One called +me a thief, another a beggar, a third said I had escaped from gaol; all +turned their backs upon me. So I had nothing to do but die of hunger in +a city which I was not to leave for five years. Seeing this, I broke my +ban, and came to Paris to utilise my talents. As I had not the means to +travel in a coach and four, I came begging and tramping all the way, +avoiding the _gens-d'armes_ as I would a mad dog. I had luck, and +reached Auteuil without accident. I was very tired, hungry as a wolf, +and dressed, as you may see, not in the height of the fashion." And +Pique-Vinaigre glanced comically at his rags. "I had not a sou, and was +liable to be taken up as a vagabond. Well, _ma foi!_ an occasion +presented itself; the devil tempted me, and, in spite of my cowardice--" + +"Enough, brother,--enough!" said his sister, fearing lest the turnkey +might hear his dangerous confession. + +"Are you afraid they listen?" he said. "Be tranquil; I have nothing to +conceal. I was taken in the act." + +"Alas!" said Jeanne, weeping bitterly; "how calmly you say this!" + +"If I spoke warmly what should I gain by it? Come, listen to reason, +Jeanne. Must I have to console you?" + +Jeanne wiped her eyes and sighed. + +"Well, to go back to my affair," continued Pique-Vinaigre. "I had nearly +reached Auteuil, in the dusk. I could not go any farther, and I did not +wish to enter Paris but at night; so I sat down behind a hedge to rest +myself, and reflect on my plan of campaign. My reflections sent me to +sleep, and when the sound of voices awoke me it was night. I listened. +It was a man and woman, who were talking as they went along on the other +side of the hedge. The man said to the woman, 'Who do you think would +come and rob us? Haven't we left the house alone a hundred times?' +'Yes,' replied the woman; 'but then we hadn't a hundred francs in the +drawers.' 'Who knows that, you fool?' says the husband. 'You are right,' +replies the wife; and on they went. _Ma foi!_ the occasion seemed to me +too favourable to lose, and there was no danger. I waited until they got +a little farther on, and then came from behind the hedge, and, looking +twenty paces behind me, I saw a small cottage, which I was sure must be +the house with the hundred francs, as it was the only habitation in +sight. Auteuil was about five hundred yards off. I said to +myself,'Courage, old boy,--there is no one. Then it is night; if there +is no watch-dog (you know I was always afraid of dogs), why, the job is +as good as done.' Luckily there was no dog. To make sure I knocked at +the door. Nothing. This encouraged me. The shutters were closed on the +ground floor, but I put my stick between and forced them. I got into the +window, and in the room the fire was still alight. So I saw the drawers, +but no key. With the tongs I forced the lock, and under a heap of linen +I found the prize, wrapped in an old woollen stocking. I did not think +of taking anything else, but jumping out of the window, I alighted on +the back of the garde-champêtre, who was returning home." + +"What a misfortune!" + +"The moon had risen. He saw me jump from the window and seized me. He +was a fellow who could have eaten a dozen such as I was. Too great a +coward to resist, I surrendered quietly. I had the stocking still in my +hand, and he heard the money chink, took it, put it in his game bag, and +made me accompany him to Auteuil. We reached the mayor's with a crowd of +blackguards and _gens-d'armes_. The owners of the cottage were fetched, +and they made their depositions. There was no means of denial; so I +confessed everything and signed the depositions, and they put on me +handcuffs, and I was brought here." + +"In prison again, and for a long time, perhaps?" + +"Listen to me, Jeanne, for I will not deceive you. I may as well tell +you at once; for it is no longer an affair of prison." + +"Why not?" + +"Why, the relapse, the breaking in and entry into a dwelling-house at +night, the lawyer told me, is a complete affair, and I shall have +fifteen or twenty years at the galleys, and the public exposure into the +bargain." + +"The galleys,--and you so weak? Why, you'll die!" + +"And suppose I had been with the white-lead party?" + +"But the galleys,--the galleys!" + +"It is a prison in the open air, with a red shirt instead of a brown +one; and then I have always had a curiosity to see the sea!" + +"But the public exposure! To be subject to the contempt of all the +world! Oh, my poor brother!" And the poor woman wept bitterly. + +"Come, come, Jeanne, be composed; it is an uncomfortable quarter of an +hour to pass. But you know I am used to see crowds. When I played with +my cups and balls, I always had a crowd around me; so I'll fancy I am +thimble-rigging, and if it has too much effect on me I'll close my eyes, +and that will seem as if no one was looking at me." + +Speaking with this derision, the unhappy man affected this +insensibility, in order to console his sister. For a man accustomed to +the manners of prisons, and in whom all shame is utterly dead, the +_bagne_ (galleys) is, in fact, only a change of shirt, as Pique-Vinaigre +said, with frightful truth. Many prisoners in the central prisons even +prefer the _bagne_, because of the riotous life they lead, often +committing attempts at murder in order to be sent to Brest or Toulon. + +"Twenty years at the galleys!" repeated Pique-Vinaigre's poor sister. + +"Take comfort, Jeanne, they will only pay me as I deserve. I am too weak +to be put to hard labour, and if there is no manufactory of wooden +trumpets and swords as at Melun, why, I shall be set to some easy work; +they will employ me at the infirmary. I am not a troublesome fellow, but +a good, easy chap; and I shall tell my stories as I do here, and shall +be esteemed by my chiefs, and adored by my comrades, and I will send you +carved cocoanuts and straw boxes for my nephews and nieces." + +"If you had only written to me that you were coming to Paris, I would +have tried to conceal you until you found work." + +"_Pardieu!_ I meant to have gone to you, but I preferred arriving with +my hands full,--for I see you do not ride in your carriage. Well, and +your children,--and your husband?" + +"Has left me these three years, after having sold off every stick, not +leaving me or the children one single thing but a straw palliasse." + +"Poor Jeanne! How have you managed alone with three children?" + +"Why, I have suffered very much. I worked at my business as a +trimming-maker as well as I could, the neighbours helping me a little, +watching my children when I went out. And then I, who haven't much luck, +had a bit of good fortune once in my life; but it was no avail, because +of my husband." + +"How was that?" + +"My employer had spoken of my trouble to one of his customers, telling +him how my husband had left me with nothing, after having sold all our +furniture, and that, in spite of this, I was working as hard as I could +to bring up my children. One day when I returned what did I find? Why, +my room fitted up again, a good bed, furniture, and linen; it was the +kind customer of my employer." + +"Poor sister! Why didn't you write and tell me of your misfortune; and +then, instead of spending my money, I would have sent you some." + +"What! I free to ask of you a prisoner?" + +"Why not? I was fed, clothed, lodged, at the cost of government; all I +gained was so much profit. But knowing my brother-in-law was a good +workman, and you a good manager and worker, I was quite easy, and melted +my 'tin' with my eyes shut, and my mouth open." + +"My husband was a good workman, that is true; but he became dissipated. +However, thanks to this unexpected aid, I took courage again. My eldest +girl began to earn a little, and we were happy, except when we +remembered that you were at Melun. Work went well with us, and my +children were well clad, and wanted for nothing hardly, and that gave me +good heart; and I had actually saved thirty-three francs, when suddenly +my husband returned. I had not seen him for a year; and when he found me +so well off and tidily dressed, he stood for nothing, but took my money +and lived with us without working, getting drunk every day, and beating +me when I complained. And that is not all. He gave up a small room +adjoining ours to a woman with whom he lived openly as his mistress; so +I had that indignity to endure for the second time. He soon began to +make away with the few poor things I had managed to get together; so, +foreseeing what would be the end of such conduct, I went to a lawyer who +lived in the same house, and begged him to advise me how to act to +prevent my husband from taking the very bed from me and my children." + +"Why, there needed no lawyer, I should think, to tell you that the only +thing you had to do was to turn your husband out of your doors." + +"Ah, but I could not,--the law gave me no power to do so. The lawyer +told me that, as 'head of the family,' my husband could take up his +abode wherever I dwelt, and was not compelled to labour unless he liked; +that it was very hard for me to have to maintain him, and endure his +ill-treatment into the bargain, but that he recommended me to submit to +it, though certainly the circumstance of his having a mistress living +under the same roof entitled me to demand separation from 'bed and +board,' as he called it; and further, that as I would bring witnesses to +prove his having repeatedly struck me, and otherwise ill-treated me, I +could institute a suit against him, but that it would cost me, at the +very least, from four to five hundred francs to obtain a perfect +separation from him. Only think what a sum,--as much as I should earn in +a year! And who would lend me so much money, which would have to be +repaid heaven knows how? For four or five hundred francs is a perfect +fortune." + +"Yet there is one very simple means of amassing the money," replied +Pique-Vinaigre, bitterly; "that of living upon air during the twelve +months it would take you to earn that sum, working all the same, but +denying yourself even the necessaries of life; and I am only surprised +the lawyer did not advise you to starve yourself and your children, or +any other kind-hearted expediency." + +"You always make a jest of everything, brother!" + +"This time, however, I am not in a jesting humour. It is scandalous that +the law should be so expensive to poor creatures such as we. Now, just +look at yourself,--a good and affectionate mother, striving by every +means in your power to bring up your children honestly and creditably; +your husband, a bad, lazy fellow, who, not content with stripping you of +all you earn, that he may spend his time in drinking and all sorts of +loose pleasures, beats and ill-uses you into the bargain. Well, you +apply to the justice of your country for protection for yourself and +your children. 'Ah,' say the lawyers, 'yours is a hard case, and your +husband is a worthless vagabond, and you shall have justice. But then +you must pay five hundred francs for that same justice,--five hundred +francs, mind; precisely all your utmost labour can obtain to nourish +yourself and family for a year. I tell you what, Jeanne, all this proves +the truth of the old saying, that 'There are but two sorts of +people,--those who are hanged, and those who deserve to be!'" + +Rigolette, alone and pensively inclined, had not lost a word of all that +tale of woe breathed by the poor, suffering, and patient wife into her +brother's ear; while her naturally kind heart deeply sympathised with +all she heard, and she fully resolved upon relating the whole history to +Rodolph the very first time she saw him, feeling quite sure of his ready +and benevolent aid in succouring them. Deeply interested in the mournful +fate of the sister of Pique-Vinaigre, she could not take her eyes from +the poor woman's face, and was endeavouring to draw a little closer to +her; but unluckily, just at that moment, a fresh visitant, entering the +room, inquired for a prisoner, and while the person he wished to see was +sent for, he very coolly seated himself on the bench between Jeanne and +the grisette, who, at the sight of the individual who so unceremoniously +interrupted her making closer acquaintance with her neighbour, felt a +degree of surprise almost amounting to fear, for in him she recognised +one of the bailiffs sent by Jacques Ferrand to arrest poor Morel, the +lapidary. This circumstance, recalling as it did to the mind of +Rigolette the implacable enemy of Germain, redoubled her sadness, which +had been in some manner diverted while listening to the touching recital +of the unfortunate sister of Pique-Vinaigre. + +Retreating from the fresh arrival as far as she could, the grisette +leaned her back against the wall, and once more relapsed into her +mournful ruminations. + +"Look here, Jeanne!" cried Pique-Vinaigre, whose mirthful, +pleasure-loving countenance was suddenly overcast by a deep gloom; "I am +by nature neither very strong nor very courageous; but, certainly, if I +had chanced to have been by when your husband so shamefully treated you, +I don't think I should have let him slip through my fingers without +leaving my mark. But you were too good for him, and you put up with more +than you ought!" + +"Why, what would you have had me do? I was obliged to endure what I +could not avoid. So long as there remained an article that would fetch +money did my husband sell it, even to the frock of my little girl, and +then repair to the alehouse with his mistress." + +"But why did you give him your daily earnings?--you should have hid them +from him." + +"So I did; but he beat me so dreadfully that I was obliged to give them +to him. I cared less for the blows he gave me than because I dreaded his +doing me some bodily injury, such as breaking my arm and dislocating my +wrist, that would have hindered me from working; and then, what would +have become of my poor children? Suppose I had been compelled to go to a +hospital, they must have perished with hunger. So, you see, brother, I +thought it was better to give up my earnings to my husband than run the +risk of being lamed by him." + +"Poor woman! People talk of martyrs, but what martyrdom can exceed what +you have endured?" + +"And yet I can truly say I never injured a living creature, and my only +desire was to work hard and do my duty to my husband and children. But +it is no use thinking about it; there are fortunate and unfortunate +persons, just the same as there are good people and bad people in the +world!" + +"True; and it is a beautiful sight to see how happy and prosperous the +good always are,--aren't they, sister? And do you now believe yourself +for ever freed from your scoundrel of a husband?" + +"I trust so. He staid till he had sold even my bedstead and the cradle +in which my youngest child lay. But when I think that, even more than +that, he wished--" + +"What did he wish?" + +"When I say he, I ought rather to tell you that it was rather that +wicked woman who urged him on. One day he said to me, 'I tell you what, +when folks have a pretty girl of fifteen belonging to them, they are +cursed fools if they do not turn her to good account.'" + +"Oh, to be sure! When he had sold the poor girl's clothes, he was +willing to sell her also." + +"When I heard him say those dreadful words I lost all command over +myself, and, I promise you, I did not spare him all the reproaches he +merited. And when his vile paramour took upon herself to interfere, and +say that my husband had a right to do what he liked with his own child, +I could contain myself no longer; but I fell with all my fury on the +wretched creature. This obtained for me a severe beating from my +husband, who then left me; and I have never seen him since." + +"I tell you, Jeanne, that there are men condemned to ten years' +punishment and imprisonment who have not done so much to deserve it as +your husband has done." + +"Still he had not a bad heart. It was his frequenting alehouses, and the +bad companions he met there who made him the lost creature he is." + +"True, he would not hurt a child; but a grown-up person he was not so +very particular." + +[Illustration: "_Then Left Me_" +Original Etching by Adrian Marcel] + +"Alas, it is no use repining! We must take life as we find it. Well, +when my husband had left me I seemed to regain my courage, for I had no +longer the constant dread of being crippled by him, and so prevented +from earning bread for my children. For want of money to buy a mattress +(for one must live and pay one's rent before thinking of other things), +and poor Catherine (my eldest girl) working with me fifteen hours a day, +we could scarcely earn twenty pence a day both together, and my other +two children were too young to be able to earn anything; so, as I was +saying, for want of a mattress we slept upon straw we picked up from +time to time before the door of a large furniture packer in the +neighbourhood." + +"And to think that I have spent and squandered all my money as I have +done!" + +"Pray do not reproach yourself. How could you possibly imagine I was in +want or difficulties when I never said a word to lead you to conclude +so? So poor dear Catherine and I set to work again with redoubled +courage and determination. If you only knew what a dear, good child she +is, so honest, industrious, and good, watching me with her eyes to try +and find out what I wish her to do. Never has a murmur escaped her lips; +and yet she has seen much want and misery, though scarcely fifteen years +of age! She has consoled me in the midst of my severest troubles. Oh, +brother," added Jeanne, drying her eyes, "such a child is enough to +repay one for the severest trials!" + +"You were just such another yourself at her age; and it is but fair you +should have some consolation amidst your troubles!" + +"Believe me, 'tis rather on her account than mine I grieve; for it +really seems out of nature to see a young creature like her slaving +herself to death. For months together she has never quitted her work, +except once a week, when she goes to wash the trifle of linen we possess +in the river, near the Pont-au-Charge, where they only charge three sous +an hour for the use of the boats, beaters, etc. All the rest of her time +she is working like a galley-slave. Ah, she has known misfortune too +early! I know well that troubles must come; but then a poor girl should +be able to look back upon a happy childhood, at least! And another +thing that grieves and vexes me almost as much as that, is not being +able to render you any assistance. Still I will endeavour." + +"Nonsense; don't talk so! Do you suppose I would accept of anything from +you? On the contrary, I'll tell you what I'll do to help you. From this +time forward I'll insist upon being paid for my amusing tales and +wonderful recitals; and those who object to pay from one to two sous for +hearing shall no more be treated to the entertaining histories of +Pique-Vinaigre. I shall soon collect a pretty little sum for you, I +know. But why don't you take furnished lodgings, so that your husband +could not molest you by selling your little possessions?" + +"Furnished lodgings! Only consider, there are four, and for such a +number we should have to pay at least twenty sous (ten pence) a day. +What should we have to live upon if we paid all that for rent? And now +we give but fifty francs a year for the rooms we occupy." + +"True, my girl," replied Pique-Vinaigre, with bitter irony. "That's +right,--work, slave, begrudge yourself necessary rest or food, in order +to refurnish your place. And directly you have once more got things +comfortably about you, your husband will come and strip you of +everything; and when he has deprived you almost of the garments you +wear, he will take your dear Catherine from you and sell her also." + +"No, no, brother; he should take my life ere I would suffer him to +injure my good, my virtuous child." + +"Oh, but he does not wish to do her any bodily harm; he only wants to +sell her. And then, remember, as the lawyer said, he is master until you +can find five hundred francs to be legally separated from him. So, as +that is not the case, at present you must make up your mind to submit to +what cannot be helped. It seems that, by law, your husband has a right +to take his child from you and send her where he pleases. And if he and +his mistress are bent upon the ruin of the poor girl, doubtless they +will stop at nothing to achieve it." + +"Merciful God!" exclaimed the almost frantic mother, "surely such +wickedness can never be tolerated in a Christian land! Justice itself +would interpose if a father could insist upon selling his daughter's +honour." + +"Justice!" repeated Pique-Vinaigre, with a sardonic laugh, "justice! No, +no, that meat is too dear for poor folks like you and I. Only, do you +see, if it refers to sending a parcel of poor wretches to prison or the +galleys, then it is quite a different affair; and they have justice +without its costing them anything,--nay, it becomes a matter of life and +death. An unhappy criminal gets his head shaved off by the guillotine +for nothing; not a single farthing are they or their friends, whether +rich or poor, tailed upon to pay for this act of impartial justice. The +object of it only gives his head! All other expenses are defrayed by a +liberal and justice-loving legislature. But the justice that would +protect a worthy and ill-treated mother of a family from being beaten +and pillaged to support the vices of a man who seeks even to sell the +honour of his innocent child,--such justice as that costs five hundred +francs! So, my dear Jeanne, you must do without it." + +"Brother, brother," exclaimed the poor woman, bursting into tears, "you +break my heart by such words as these!" + +"Well, and my own heart aches even to bursting as I think of your fate +and that of your children, while I recollect that I am powerless to help +you. I seem always gay and merry; but don't you be deceived by +appearances, Jeanne! I tell you what, I have two descriptions of gaiety, +my gay gaiety, and my sad gaiety. I have neither the strength or the +courage to indulge in envy, hatred, or malice, like the other prisoners; +I never go beyond words, more or less droll as occasion requires. My +cowardice and bodily weakness would never have allowed me to be worse +than I am. And nothing but the opportunity presenting itself of robbing +that poor little lone house, where there was neither a cat nor a dog to +frighten one, would have drawn me into the scheme that brought me here. +And then, again, by chance it was a brilliant moonlight night; for if +ever there was a poor devil afraid of being alone in the dark it is me." + +"Ah, dear brother, I have always told you you are better than you +yourself think! Well, I trust the judges will be of my opinion and deal +mercifully with you." + +"Mercy! What, for me, a liberated convict? Don't reckon too much on that +or you'll be disappointed. But, hang it, what care I? Here or elsewhere +is all the same to me! Let my judges do as they will with me, I shall +bear them no ill-will. For you are right; I am not a bad sort of fellow +at heart; and those who are worse than myself I hate with all the hatred +of a good man, and show my dislike by raillery of every sort. You can +imagine, can you not, that, by dint of relating stories in which, to +please my auditors, I always make those who wantonly torment others +receive the reward of their wickedness in the end, I get into the habit +of feeling all the indignation and virtuous desire for vengeance I +relate?" + +"I should never have thought such persons as your prison companions +would have been interested in such recitals!" + +"Oh, but I'm awake to how to tickle their fancies. If I were to relate +to them the story of a man who committed no end of crimes, robbery and +murder being among the mildest, and got scragged at last, they would get +into a downright passion and not allow me to go on; but if I make up a +tale of a woman or child, or a poor, cowardly fellow like myself, that a +breath of wind would knock over, being pursued by an atrocious +persecutor,--a sort of Blackbeard, who torments them to death, for the +pure pleasure of the thing! Oh, how they roar and stamp for joy when I +make Mr. Blackbeard in the end served out as he deserves. I have got a +story they have never yet heard, called 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,' +which used to delight all the folks at Melun. I have promised to tell it +to them here to-night. But, before I begin, I shall see that they come +down pretty handsome when I send the box around collecting; and you may +depend upon being all the better for its contents. And, besides that, I +will write out the story itself to amuse your children. Poor dears! How +pleased they will be with it! 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,'--there's a +title for you! And, bless you, it is so virtuous and moral that an abbé +might read it from his pulpit! So make yourself quite happy in every +respect." + +"One thing gives me great pleasure, dear brother, and that is to see +that your disposition keeps you from being as unhappy as the rest of +your companions here." + +"Why, I am quite sure if I were like a poor fellow who is a prisoner in +our ward, I should be tempted to lay violent hands on myself. Poor young +man! I really am sorry for him,--he seems so very wretched; and I am +seriously afraid that before the day is over he will have sustained some +serious mischief at the hands of the other prisoners, whom he refuses to +associate with, and they owe him a grudge for it; and I know that a plan +is arranged to serve him out this very evening." + +"Dear me, how shocking! But you, brother, do not mean to take any part +in it, I hope?" + +"No, thank you, I am not such a fool; I should be sure to catch some of +the good things intended for another. All I know about it I picked up +while going to and fro. I heard them talking among themselves of gagging +him to hinder him from crying out, and in order to prevent any one from +seeing what is going on they mean to form a circle around him, making +believe to be listening to one of their party, who should pretend to be +reading a newspaper or anything they liked out loud." + +"But why should they thus ill-treat the poor man?" + +"Because, as he is always alone, never speaks to any person, and seems +to hold everybody in disgust, they have taken it into their heads he is +a spy, which is immensely stupid on their parts, because a spy would +naturally hook on with them the better to find out all they said and +did; but I believe that the principal cause of their spite against him +is that he has the air of a gentleman, which is a thing they hold in +abhorrence. It is the captain of the dormitory, who is known by the name +of the Walking Skeleton, who is at the head of this plot; and he is like +a wild beast after this Germain, for so the object of their dislike is +called. But let them all do as they like; it is no affair of mine. I can +be of no use, therefore let them go their own way. But then you see, +Jeanne, it is of no use being dull and mopish in prison, or the others +are sure to suspect you of something or other. They never had to find +fault with my want of sociability, and for that reason never suspected +me or owed me a grudge. But come, my girl, you had better return home; +we have gossiped long enough. I know very well how it takes up your time +to come hither. I have nothing to do but to idle away my days; it is +very different with you; so good night. Come and see me again when you +can; you know how happy it always makes me." + +"Nay, but, brother, pray do not go yet; I wish you to stay." + +"Nonsense, Jeanne; your children are wanting you at home. I say--I hope +you have not told the poor, dear, little innocent things that their +'nunky' is in prison?" + +"No, indeed, I have not; the children believe you are abroad, and as +such I can always talk to them of you." + +"That's all right. Now then, be off, and get back to your family and +your employment as fast as you can." + +"But listen to me, brother,--my poor Fortuné. I have not much to give, +God knows! but still I cannot bear to see you in so deplorable a plight +as you are at present. Your feet must be half frozen without any +stockings; and that wretched old waistcoat you have on makes my heart +ache to see it. Catherine and I together will manage to get a few things +together for you. You know, Fortuné, that at least we do not want for +good will--to--" + +"To what--to give me better clothes? Lord love you, I've got boxes full +of everything you can mention, and directly they come I shall be able to +dress like a prince! There, now; come, give me one little +smile,--there's a good girl! You won't? Well, then, you shall make me +and bring me what you like; only remember, directly the tale of +'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half' has replenished my money-box, I am to return +all you expend upon me. And now once more, dear Jeanne, fare you well! +And the next time you come to see me, may I lose the name of +Pique-Vinaigre if I don't make you laugh! But be off now; cut your +stick, there's a good girl! I know I have kept you too long already." + +"No, no, dear brother, indeed you have not. Pray hear what I have to +say!" + +"Hallo, here! I say, my fine fellow," cried Pique-Vinaigre to the +turnkey, who was waiting in the lobby, "I have said my say, and I want +to go in again. I've talked till I'm tired." + +"Oh, Fortuné," cried Jeanne, "how cruel you are to send me thus from +you!" + +"No, no; on the contrary, I am kinder than you give me credit for." + +"Good-bye; keep up your spirits; and to-morrow morning tell the children +you have been dreaming of their uncle who is abroad, and that he desired +you to give his kind love to them. There--good-bye--good-bye!" + +"Good-bye, Fortuné!" replied the poor woman, bursting into tears, as her +brother entered the interior of the prison. + +From the moment when the bailiff seated himself between her and Jeanne, +Rigolette had been unable to overhear a word more of the conversation +between Pique-Vinaigre and his sister; but she continued to gaze +intently on the latter, her thoughts busied with devising some plausible +pretext for obtaining the poor woman's address, for the purpose of +recommending her as a fit object for Rodolph's benevolence. As Jeanne +rose from her seat to quit the place, Rigolette timidly approached her, +and said, in a kind voice: + +"Pray excuse my addressing you, but a little while ago I could not avoid +overhearing your conversation, and by that I found that you were a maker +of fringe and fancy trimmings." + +"You heard rightly," replied Jeanne, somewhat surprised, but, at the +same time, much prepossessed in favour of the open, frank expression of +Rigolette's charming countenance, as well as won to confidence by her +kind and friendly manner. + +"And I," continued Rigolette, "am a dressmaker. And just now that +fringes and gimps are so much worn, I am frequently requested by my +customers to get a particular sort for them; so it occurred to me that +perhaps you who make at home could supply me with what I required +cheaper than the shops, while, on the other hand, you might obtain a +better price from me than you get from the warehouse you work for." + +"Certainly, I should make a small profit by buying the silk myself, and +then making it up to order. You are very kind to have made me the +proposal; but I own I feel unable to account for your being so well +acquainted with my manner of gaining a living." + +"Oh, I will soon explain all that to you. You must know I am waiting to +see the person I came here to visit. Being quite alone, I could not +help hearing all you said to your brother,--of your many trials, also of +your dear children. So then, thinks I to myself, poor people should +always be ready to assist each other. I hope you believe that I did not +try to listen? And after that gentleman came and placed himself between +us, I lost all that passed between your brother and yourself. So I tried +to hit upon some way of being useful to you, and then it struck me that +you being a fancy trimming-maker, I might be able to put work in your +way more profitable than working for shops,--they pay so very little. +So, if you are agreeable, we will take each other's address. This is +where I live; now please to tell me where to send to you directly I have +any work for you." + +With these words Rigolette presented one of her businesslike cards to +the sister of Pique-Vinaigre, who, deeply touched by the words and +conduct of the grisette, exclaimed with much feeling: + +"Your face does not belie your kind heart; and pray do not set it down +for vanity if I say that there is something about you that reminds me so +forcibly of my eldest daughter that when you first came in I could not +help looking at you several times. I am very much obliged to you; and +should you give me any work, you may rely on my doing it in my best +possible manner. My name is Jeanne Duport, and I live at No. 1 Rue de la +Barillerie,--No. 1, that is not a difficult number to recollect." + +"Thank you, madame." + +"Nay, 'tis rather for me to express thanks for having had the goodness +even to think of serving a stranger like myself. But still I cannot help +saying it does surprise me to be taken notice of by a young person like +you, who most likely has never known what trouble was." + +"But, my dear Madame Duport," cried Rigolette, with a winning smile, +"there is really nothing so astonishing in the affair. Since you fancy I +bear some resemblance to your daughter Catherine, why should you be +surprised at my wish to do a good action?" + +"What a dear, sweet creature it is!" cried Madame Duport, with +unaffected warmth. "Well, thanks to you, I shall return home less sad +than I expected; and perhaps we may have the pleasure of meeting here +again before long, for I believe you, like me, come to this dreadful +place to visit a prisoner?" + +"Yes, indeed, I do," replied Rigolette, with a sigh, which seemed to +proceed from the very bottom of her heart. + +"Then farewell for the present; we shall very shortly meet again, I +hope, Mlle.--Rigolette!" said Jeanne Duport, after having referred for +the necessary information to the card she held in her hand. + +"Oh, yes, I'm sure I trust so, too. Good-bye, then, till we meet again, +Madame Duport." + +"Well," thought Rigolette, as she returned and reseated herself on the +bench, "at least I know this poor woman's address; and I feel quite sure +M. Rodolph will assist her directly he knows what trouble she is in, for +he always told me whenever I heard of a case of real distress to let him +know, and I am sure this is one if ever there was." And here Rigolette +suddenly changed the current of her ideas by wondering when it would be +her turn to ask to see Germain. + +A few words as to the preceding scene. Unfortunately it must be +confessed that the indignation of the unhappy brother of Jeanne Duport +was quite legitimate. Yes, when he said that the law was too dear for +the poor he spoke the truth. To plead before the civil tribunals incurs +enormous expenses, impossible for workpeople to meet when they can +scarcely subsist on the wages they earn. + +Ought not civil as well as criminal justice to be accessible to all? +When persons are too poor to be able to invoke the benefits of any law +which is eminently preservative and beneficial, ought not society at its +own cost to enable them to attain it out of respect for the honour and +repose of families? + +But let us speak no longer of the woman who must be, for all her life, +the victim of a brutal and depraved husband, and speak of Jeanne +Duport's brother. This freed prisoner leaves a den of corruption to +reënter the world; he had submitted to his punishment, payed his debt by +expiation. What precaution has society taken to prevent him from falling +again into crime? None! If the freed convict has the courage to resist +evil temptations, he will give himself up to one of those homicidal +trades of which we have spoken. + +Then the condition of the freed convict is much more terrible, painful, +and difficult than it was before he committed his first fault. He is +surrounded by perils and rocks,--he must have refusal, disdain, and +often even the deepest misery. And if he relapses and commits a second +crime, you are more severe towards him than for his first fault a +thousand times. This is unjust, for it is always the necessity you +impose on him that makes him commit the second crime. Yes, for it is +demonstrated that, instead of correcting, your penitentiary system +depraves; instead of ameliorating, it renders worse; instead of curing +slight moral defects, it renders them incurable. + +The severe punishment inflicted on offenders for the second time would +be just and logical if your prisons, rendered moral, purified the +prisoners, and if, at the termination of their punishment, good conduct +was, if not easy, at least possible for them. If we are astonished at +the contradictions of the law, what is it when we compare certain +offences with certain crimes, either from the inevitable consequences, +or from the immense disproportions which exist between the punishments, +awarded to each? + +The conversation of the prisoner who came to see the bailiff will +present one of these overwhelming contrasts. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MAÎTRE BOULARD. + + +The prisoner who entered the reception-room at the moment when +Pique-Vinaigre left it was a man about thirty, with reddish brown hair, +a jovial countenance, florid and full; and his short stature made his +excessive fatness still more conspicuous. This prisoner, so rosy and +plump, was attired in a long and warm dressing-gown of gray kersey, with +pantaloons of the same down to his feet. A kind of cap of red velvet, +called _Perinet-Leclerc_, completed this personage's costume, when we +add that his feet were thrust into comfortable furred slippers. His gold +chain supported a number of handsome seals with valuable stones, and +several rings with real stones shone on the red fingers of the _détenu_, +who was called Maître Boulard, a _huissier_ (a law-officer), and accused +of breach of trust. + +The person who had come to see him was, as we have said, Pierre Bourdin, +one of the _gardes de commerce_ (bailiffs) employed to arrest poor +Morel, the lapidary. This bailiff was usually employed by Maître +Boulard, the _huissier_ of M. Petit-Jean, the man of straw of Jacques +Ferrand. + +Bourdin, shorter and quite as stout as the _huissier_, formed himself on +the model of his employer, whose magnificence he greatly admired. Very +fond as he was of jewelry, he wore on this occasion a superb topaz pin, +and a long gilt chain was visible through the buttonholes of his +waistcoat. + +"Good day, my faithful friend, Bourdin, I was sure you would not fail +to come at my summons!" said Maître Boulard, in a joyful tone, and in a +small, shrill voice, which contrasted singularly with his large carcass +and full-moon face. + +"Fail at your summons!" replied the bailiff; "I am incapable of such +behaviour, _mon général_." + +This was the appellation by which Bourdin, with a joke at once familiar +and respectful, called the _huissier_, under whose orders he acted; this +military appellation being very frequently used amongst certain classes +of clerks and civil practitioners. + +"I observe with pleasure that friendship remains faithful to +misfortune!" said Maître Boulard, with gay cordiality. "However, I was +getting a little uneasy, as three days had elapsed, and no Bourdin." + +"Only imagine, _mon général_!--it is really quite a history. You +remember that dashing vicomte in the Rue de Chaillot?" + +"Saint-Remy?" + +"Yes; you know how he laughed at all our attempts to 'nab' him?" + +"Yes; he behaved very ill in that way." + +"Well, this vicomte has got another title." + +"What, is he a comte?" + +"No, but from swindler he has become thief!" + +"Ah, bah!" + +"They are after him for some diamonds he has stolen; and, by the way, +they belonged to the jeweller who used to employ that vermin of a Morel, +the lapidary we were going to arrest in the Rue du Temple, when a tall, +thin chap, with black moustaches, paid for this half-starved devil, and +very nearly pitched me and Malicorne headlong down-stairs." + +"Ah, yes, yes, I remember; you told me all about it, Bourdin,--it was +really very droll! But as to this dashing vicomte?" + +"Why, as I tell you, Saint-Remy was charged with robbery, after having +made his worthy old father believe that he wished to blow out his +brains. A police agent of my acquaintance, knowing that I had been long +on the traces of the vicomte, asked me if I could not give him +information so that he could 'grab' the dandy. I had learned (too late +for myself) that he had 'run to earth' in a farm at Arnouville, five +leagues from Paris; but when we got there the bird had flown!" + +"But next day he paid that acceptance,--thanks, as I have heard say, to +some rich woman!" + +"Yes, general; but still I knew the nest, and he might have gone there +again, and so I told my friend in the police. He proposed to me to give +him a friendly cast of my office and show him the farm, and as I had +nothing to do and it was a rural trip, I agreed." + +"Well, and the vicomte?" + +"Not to be found. After having lurked about the farm for some time, we +gained admittance, and returned as wise as we went; and this is why I +could not come to your orders sooner, general." + +"I was sure it was something of this sort, my good fellow." + +"But, if I may be allowed to ask, how the devil did you get here?" + +"Wretches, my dear fellow, a set of wretches who, for a miserable sixty +thousand francs of which they declare I have wronged them, have charged +me with a breach of trust and compelled me to resign my office." + +"Really, general! Well, that's unfortunate! And shall I then work for +you no longer?" + +"I am on half pay now, Bourdin,--on the retired list." + +"But who are these vindictive persons?" + +"Why, only imagine, one of the most savage of all is a liberated +convict, who employed me to recover the amount of a bill of seven +hundred miserable francs, for which it was requisite to bring an action. +Well, I brought the action, and got the money and used it; and because, +in consequence of some unsuccessful speculations, I swamped that money +and several other sums, all these blackguards have assailed me with +warrants; and so you find me here, my dear fellow, neither more nor less +than a malefactor." + +"And does it not alarm you, general?" + +"Yes; but the oddest thing of all is that this convict wrote me word +some days ago that this money being his sole resource for bad times, and +these bad times having arrived (I don't know what he means by that), I +was responsible for the crimes he might commit in order to escape from +starvation." + +"Amusing, 'pon my soul!" + +"Very; and the fellow is capable of saying this, but fortunately the law +does not recognise any such accompliceships." + +"After all, you are only charged with breach of trust?" + +"That is all. Do you take me for a thief, Maître Bourdin?" + +"Oh, dear general! I meant to say there was nothing very serious in +this." + +"Why, I don't look very down, do I, my boy?" + +"By no means; never saw you looking better. Indeed, if you are found +guilty, you will only have two or three months, imprisonment and +twenty-five francs fine. I know the law, you see!" + +"And these two or three months I shall contrive, I know, to pass quietly +in some infirmary. I have a deputy at my elbow." + +"Oh, then, you're all right." + +"Yes, Bourdin; and I can scarcely help laughing to think what little +good the fools who put me here have done themselves,--they will not +recover a sou of the money they claim. They compel me to sell my +post,--what do I care?" + +"True, general; it is only so much the worse for them." + +"Yes, my boy. And now for the subject on which I was anxious to see you, +Bourdin; it is a very delicate affair,--there is a lady in the case!" +said Maître Boulard, with mysterious self-complacency. + +"Oh, you gay deceiver! But, be it what it may, you may rely on me." + +"I am greatly interested in the welfare of a young actress at the +theatre of the Folies-Dramatiques. I pay her rent; but, you know, the +absent are always in the wrong! Alexandrine has applied to me for money. +Now I have never been a very gay fellow, but yet I do not like to be +made a fool of; so, before I comply, I should like to know if the lady +is faithful. I know there is nothing more absurd and uncommon than +fidelity, and so you will do me a friendly service if you could just +watch her for a few days and let me know your opinion, either by a talk +with the porter at her abode or--" + +"I understand, general," said Bourdin; "this is no worse than watching a +debtor. Rely on me; I will have an eye to Mlle. Alexandrine,--although, +I should say, you are too generous and too good-looking not to be +adored!" + +"My good looks are no use, my friend, so long as I am absent; and so I +rely on you to discover the truth." + +"Rely on me." + +"How can I, my dear fellow, prove my gratitude?" + +"Don't mention it, general." + +"Pray understand, my dear Bourdin, that your fees in this case will be +the same as if you were after an arrest." + +"I can't allow it, general. As long as I act under your orders, have you +not allowed me to shear the debtor to his very skin,--to double, treble, +the costs of arrests? And have you not sued for those costs for me as +eagerly as if they were due to yourself?" + +"But, my dear fellow, this is very different; and, in my turn, I declare +I will not allow it." + +"_Mon général_, you will really make me quite ashamed if you do not +allow me to make these inquiries as to Mlle. Alexandrine as a poor proof +of my gratitude." + +"Well, well; be it so. I will no longer contend with your generosity; +and your devotion will be a sweet reward to me for considerations I have +always mixed up in our transactions." + +"Very good, general; and now we understand each other. Is there anything +else I can do for you? You must be very uncomfortable here. I hope you +are _à la pistole_ (in a private room)?" + +"Yes; I came just in time to get the only empty room,--the others are +being repaired. I have made myself as comfortable as possible in my +cell, and am not so very miserable. I have a stove and a very nice easy +chair; I make three long meals a day, and my digestion is good; then I +walk and go to sleep. Except my uneasiness about Alexandrine I have not +so much to complain of." + +"But for you who were such an epicure, general, the prison diet is very +poor." + +"Why, there is an excellent cookshop in my street, and I have a running +account with him, and so every two days he sends me a very nice supply. +And, by the way, I would get you to ask his wife--a nice little woman is +Madame Michonneau--to put into the basket a bit of pickled thunny. It is +in season now, and relishes one's wine." + +"Capital idea!" + +"And tell Madame Michonneau to send me a basket of various +wines,--burgundy, champagne, and bordeaux,--like the last; she'll know +what I mean. And tell her to put in two bottles of old cognac of 1817, +and a pound of pure Mocha, fresh roasted and ground." + +"I'll put down the date of the cognac, lest I should forget it," said +Bourdin, taking a memorandum-book from his pocket. + +"As you are writing, my good fellow, be so good as make a minute of my +wish to have an eider-down quilt from my house." + +"All shall be done to the letter, general; make your mind easy. And now +I shall be comfortable about your living. But your walks; you are +compelled to take them along with those ruffians confined here?" + +"Yes; and it's really very lively and animated. I go down after +breakfast; sometimes I go into one yard, sometimes another, and I mix +with the mob. Really they appear very good sort of fellows! Some of them +are very amusing. The most ferocious are collected in what is called the +Fosse aux Lions. Ah, my good fellow, what hang-dog-looking fellows there +are amongst them. There's one they call the Skeleton,--I never saw such +a creature." + +"What a singular name!" + +"He is so thin, or rather bare of flesh, that this is the nickname which +has been given to him; he is really frightful. He is, besides, director +of his ward, and, moreover, an infernal villain. He has just left the +galleys, and went directly to murder and assassination. But his last +murder was really horrible, as he knew he should be condemned to death +without chance of remission; but he laughs at it." + +"What a scoundrel!" + +"All the prisoners admire and tremble before him. I got into his good +graces at once by offering him some cigars, and so he made a friend of +me at once, and offered to teach me slang; and I have made considerable +progress." + +"Oh, what an idea!--my general learning slang!" + +"I amuse myself as much as I can, and all these fellows adore me. I am +not proud like a young fellow they call Germain, who gives himself the +airs of a lord." + +"But he must be delighted at meeting with such a gentleman as you, even +if he is disgusted with the others." + +"Why, really, he did not seem even to notice that I was there; but, if +he had, I should have taken care how I took any notice of him. He is the +_bête noire_ of the whole prison, and some day or other they'll play him +a slippery trick; and, _pardieu!_ I have no wish to come in for my share +of what may befall him." + +"You're right." + +"It would interfere with my pleasures, for my walk with the prisoners is +really a pleasure to me; only these ruffians have no great opinion of me +morally. You see, my accusation of a simple breach of trust is +contemptible in the eyes of these out-and-outers; and they look on me as +a nobody." + +"Why, really, with such criminals you are--" + +"A mere chicken, my dear fellow. But do not forget my commissions." + +"Make your mind easy, general. First, Mlle. Alexandrine; second, the +fish-pie and basket of wine; third, the old cognac of 1817, the ground +coffee, and the eider-down quilt; you shall have it all. Is there +anything else?" + +"Yes, I forgot. You know the address of M. Badinot?" + +"The agent? Yes." + +"Well, be so kind as to call on him, and say that I rely on his +friendship to find me a barrister such as my case requires, and that I +shall not stand for forty or fifty pounds." + +"I'll see M. Badinot, depend upon it, general; and all your commissions +shall be attended to this evening, and to-morrow you shall receive all +you wish for. So good day, and a happy meeting to us soon, _mon +général_." + +"Good-bye, my worthy friend!" And the prisoner quitted the parlour at +one door, and the visitor by the other. + + * * * * * + +Let us now compare the crime of Pique-Vinaigre with that of M. Boulard, +the _huissier_. Compare the beginning of the two, and the reasons, the +necessities, which impelled them to evil. Compare, too, the punishment +which awaited them respectively. The one, driven by his hunger and need, +robs. He is apprehended, judged, and sentenced to fifteen or twenty +years of hard labour and exposure. Property is sacred, and he who, in +the night, breaks for plunder should undergo sacred punishment. But +ought not the well-informed, intelligent, rich man who robs--not to +satisfy hunger, but his caprices or gambling in the stocks--to be +punished? Yet for the public spoliator there is two months' +imprisonment; for the relapsed convict twenty years' hard labour and +exposure. What can we add to these facts, which speak for themselves? + + * * * * * + +The old turnkey kept his word; and when Boulard left the parlour, +Germain entered, and Rigolette was only separated from him by a light +wire grating. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FRANÇOIS GERMAIN. + + +Although the features of Germain could not be styled regular, it was +scarcely possible to see a more interesting countenance. There was an +air of ease and elegance about him, while his slight, graceful figure, +plain but neatly arranged dress (consisting of a pair of gray trousers +and black frock coat, buttoned up to the chin), formed a striking +contrast to the slovenliness and neglect to which the occupants of the +prison generally gave themselves up; his white hands and well-trimmed +nails evinced an attention to his personal appearance which had still +further excited the ill-will of the prisoners against him, for bodily +neglect is almost invariably the accompaniment of moral perversion. He +wore his long and naturally curling chestnut hair parted on one side of +his forehead, according to the fashion of the day, a style that well +became his pale and melancholy countenance, and large, clear blue eyes, +beaming with truth and candour; his smile, at once sweet and mournful, +expressed benevolence of heart, mingled with a habitual dejection, for, +though young, the unfortunate youth had already deeply tasted +affliction. + +Nothing could be imagined more touching than the look of suffering +impressed on his features, while the gentle and resigned cast of his +whole physiognomy was but a fair transcript of the mind within, for a +better, purer, or more upright heart could scarcely have beaten in human +form. + +The very cause of his imprisonment (divested of the calumnious +aggravations affixed to it by Jacques Ferrand) proved the goodness of +his nature, and left him worthy of blame only for suffering himself to +be led astray by his feelings to commit an action decidedly wrong, but +still excusable if it be remembered that the son of Madame Georges felt +perfectly sure of replacing on the following morning the sum temporarily +taken from the notary's cash-box, for the purpose of saving Morel the +lapidary, from being dragged from his family and confined in a prison. + +Germain coloured slightly as he perceived, through the grating of the +visitor's room, the bright and charming countenance of Rigolette, who +strove, as usual, to appear gay, in hopes of encouraging and enlivening +her protégé a little; but the poor girl was too bad a dissembler to +conceal the sorrow and agitation she invariably experienced upon +entering the prison. She was seated on a bench at the outside of the +grating, holding her straw basket on her lap. + +Instead of remaining in the adjoining passage, from whence every word +could be heard, the old turnkey retired to the stove placed at the very +extremity of the visiting-room, closed his eyes, and in a very few +seconds was (as his breathing announced) fast asleep, leaving Germain +and Rigolette at perfect liberty to converse at their ease. + +"Now then, M. Germain," cried the grisette, placing her pretty face as +closely as she could to the grate, the better to examine the features of +her friend, "let me see what sort of a countenance you have got to-day, +and whether it is less sad than it was? Humph, humph--only middling! +Now, do you know that I've a great mind to be very angry with you?" + +"Oh, no, you are too good for that. But how very kind of you to come +again so soon!" + +"So soon! Does it seem to you so soon? You mean by those words to +reproach me for coming so frequently. Well--" + +"Have I not good cause to find fault with you for taking so much pains +and trouble for me, while I, alas! can merely thank you for all your +goodness?" + +"That is a little mistake of yours, my fussy friend, because the little +services in my power to render you afford me quite as much pleasure as +they do you; so that, you see, I am as much bound to say 'Thank you for +all favours,' as you are. So, you see, I am not to be cheated that way. +And now I think of it, the best way to punish you for such very improper +ideas will be not to give you what I have brought for you." + +"What! Another proof of your thoughtful care of me? Oh, you spoil +me--you do, indeed! I shall be fit for nothing but to be somebody's pet +when (if ever, alas!) I get out of prison. A thousand thanks! Nay, you +must pardon my using that word, although it does displease you. But, +indeed, you leave me nothing else to say." + +"Ah, but don't be in such a hurry to thank me, before you even know what +I have brought!" + +"Why, what do I care what it is?" + +"Well, I'm sure that's very civil, M. Germain!" + +"Nay, I only meant to say that, be it what it may, it must needs be dear +and precious to me, since it comes from you. Oh, Mlle. Rigolette, your +unwearied kindness, your touching sympathy, fills me with the deepest +gratitude, and--and--" But finding it impossible to conclude the +sentence, Germain cast down his eyes and remained silent. + +"Well," said Rigolette, "and what else?" + +"And--devotion!" stammered out Germain. + +"Why could you not have said 'respect,' as people write at the end of a +letter?" asked Rigolette, impatiently. "Ah, but I know very well that +was not what you were going to say, else why did you stop all of a +sudden?" + +"I assure you--" + +"There, don't endeavour to assure me of anything; I can see you are +blushing through this grating. Now why can't you speak out, and tell me +every thought and wish of your heart? Am I not your true and faithful +friend as well as old companion?" continued the grisette, timidly, for +she but waited the confession of Germain's love for her to tell him +frankly and sincerely how truly she returned his affection with a +passion as true and as generous as his own. + +"I assure you Mlle. Rigolette," said the poor prisoner with a sigh, +"that I had nothing else to say, and that I am concealing nothing +whatever from you." + +"For shame for shame," cried Rigolette, stamping her foot; "don't tell +such stories. Now, look here," continued she, drawing a large, white, +woollen neck wrapper from her basket; "do you see this beautiful thing? +Well, I brought it on purpose for you. But now--to punish you for being +so deceitful and sly--I will not give it to you. I knitted it on purpose +for you, too; for, said I, it must be so damp and cold in those yards in +the prison. And this nice, soft, woollen handkerchief is just the thing +to keep him warm; he is so delicate!" + +"And is it possible you--" + +"Yes, sir, I said you were delicate--and so you are," cried Rigolette, +interrupting him. "I suppose I may recollect, if I please, how chilly +you used to be of an evening, though all the time you tried to conceal +it, that you might hinder me from putting more wood on my fire when you +came to sit with me. I've got a good memory, I can tell you; so don't +contradict me." + +"And so have I," replied Germain, in a voice of deep feeling "far too +good for my present position;" and, with these words, he passed his hand +across his eyes. + +"Now then, I declare, I believe you are falling into low spirits again, +though I so strictly forbade it." + +"How is it possible for me to avoid being moved even to tears, when I +recollect all you have done for me ever since I entered this prison? And +is not your last kind attention another proof of your amiable care for +me? And do I not know that you are obliged to work at night to make up +for the time it occupies for you to visit me in my misfortunes, and that +on my account you impose additional labour and fatigue on yourself?" + +"Oh, if that be all you have to be miserable about I beg you will make +very short work of it. Truly, I deserve a great deal of pity for taking +a nice refreshing walk two or three times a week just to see a friend--I +who so dearly love walking--and having a good stare at all the pretty +shops as I come along." + +"And see, to-day, too, what weather you have ventured out in! Such wind +and rain! Oh, it is too selfish of me to permit you thus to sacrifice +your health for me!" + +"Oh, bless you, the wind and rain only make the walk more amusing. You +have no idea what very droll sights one sees,--first comes a party of +men holding on their hats with both hands, to prevent the storm from +carrying them away; then you see an unfortunate individual with his +umbrella blown inside out, making the most ludicrous grimaces, and +shutting his eyes while the wind drives him about like a peg-top. I +declare, all the way I came along this morning, it was more diverting +than going to a play. I thought I should make you laugh by telling you +of it; but there you are looking more dull, and solid, and serious than +ever!" + +"Pray forgive me if I cannot be as mirthful as your kind heart would +have me; you know I never have what is styled high spirits, and just now +I feel it impossible even to affect them." + +Rigolette was very desirous of concealing that, spite of her lively +prattle, she was to the full as sad and heavy-hearted as Germain +himself could be. She therefore hastened to change the conversation by +saying: + +"You say it is impossible for you to conquer your low spirits, but there +are other things you choose to style impossibilities I have begged and +prayed of you to do, because I very well know you could, if you chose." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean your obstinate avoidance of all the other prisoners, and never +speaking to one of them; the turnkey has just been talking to me about +it, and he says that for your own sake you ought to associate with them +a little. I am sure it would not do you any harm; you do not speak; it +is always the way. I see very well you will never be satisfied till +these dreadful men have played you some dangerous trick in revenge." + +"You know not the horror with which they inspire me, any more than you +can guess the personal reasons I have for avoiding and execrating them, +and all who resemble them." + +"Indeed, but I do know your reasons! I read the accounts you wrote for +me, and which I went to fetch away from your lodgings after your +imprisonment; from them I learned all the dangers you had incurred upon +your arrival in Paris, because, when you were in the country, you +refused to participate in the crimes of the bad man who had brought you +up; and that it was in consequence of the last snare they laid to catch +you that you quitted the Rue du Temple, without telling any one but me +where you had gone to. And I read something else, too, in those papers," +said Rigolette, casting down her eyes, while a bright blush dyed her +cheeks; "I read things that--that--" + +"You would never have known, I solemnly declare," exclaimed Germain, +eagerly, "had it not been for the misfortune which befell me. But let me +ask you to be as generous as you are good; forget and pardon my past +follies, my insane hopes. 'Tis true, in times past I ventured to +indulge such dreams, wild and unfounded as they were." + +Rigolette had endeavoured a second time to draw a confession of his love +from the lips of Germain by alluding to those tender and passionate +effusions written by him, and dedicated to the remembrance of the +grisette, for whom, as we have before stated, he had always felt the +sincerest affection; but, the better to preserve the confiding +familiarity with which he was treated by his pretty neighbour, he +concealed his regard under the semblance of friendship. + +Rendered more timid and sensitive by imprisonment, he could not for an +instant believe it possible for Rigolette to reciprocate the attachment +of a poor prisoner like himself, whose character was, moreover, +tarnished by so foul an accusation as he laboured under, while previous +to this calamity she had never manifested more than a sisterly interest +in him. The grisette, finding herself so little understood, stifled a +sigh, and awaited with hopeful eagerness a better opportunity of opening +the eyes of Germain to the real state of her heart. She contented +herself, therefore, with merely replying: + +"To be sure, it is quite natural the sight of these wicked men should +fill you with horror and disgust; but that is no reason for your +exposing yourself to unnecessary dangers." + +"I assure you that, in order to follow your advice, I have endeavoured +to force myself to converse with such as seemed the least depraved among +them; but you can form no notion what dreadful men they are, or what +shocking language they talk." + +"I dare say they do, poor unfortunate creatures! It must be horrid to +hear them." + +"But there is something more terrible than that, the getting gradually +used to the disgusting conversations which, in spite of yourself, you +are compelled to hear all day long. Yes, I am sorry to say, I now hear +with gloomy indifference horrible remarks and speeches that would have +excited my utmost indignation when I first came here. So, you see," +continued Germain, bitterly, "I begin to be more afraid of myself than I +am of them." + +"Oh, M. Germain!" + +"I am sure of it," pursued the unfortunate young man. "After a residence +within a prison in company with such as are always to be found assembled +there, the mind becomes accustomed to guilty thoughts, in the same +manner as the ear gets inured to the coarse and vulgar expressions +continually in use. Oh, God, I can well believe how possible it is to +enter these walls innocent of the crimes ascribed to one, and to leave +them with principles utterly and irretrievably perverted!" + +"But you never could be so changed! Oh, no, not you!" + +"Ay, me, and others twenty times better than myself! Alas, alas! those +who condemn men to this fearful association little think that they +expose their fellow creatures to breathe an air laden with the direst +moral contagion, and inevitably fatal to every right or honourable +feeling!" + +"Pray do not go on so! You know not how you grieve me!" + +"Nay, I but wished to explain to you why I am daily more and more +melancholy. I wished not to have said so much, but I have only one way +of repaying the pity you have evinced for me." + +"Pity? Pity? Indeed--" + +"Pardon me for interrupting you, but the only way by which I can acquit +myself towards you is to speak with perfect candour; and, with +shuddering alarm, I confess that I am no longer the same person I was. +In vain do I fly these unfortunate wretches, their very presence, their +contact seems to take effect on me; in spite of myself, I seem to feel a +fatal influence in breathing the same atmosphere, as though the moral +pestilence entered at every pore, and rested not till it had mingled +with the heart's blood. Should I even be acquitted on my trial, the very +sight of, and association with, good and virtuous men would cover me +with shame and confusion; for, though I have not yet been able to find +pleasure in the society of my companions, I have, at least, learned to +dread the day when I shall again mix with persons of respectability, +because now I am conscious of my weakness and cowardice; for is not he +guilty of both who dares to make a compromise with his duties or his +honesty? And have not I done so? When I first came here I did not +deceive myself as to the extent of my fault, however excusable the +circumstances under which it was committed might have seemed to make it; +but now it appears to me an offence of a trifling description when +compared with the crimes of which the robbers and murderers by whom I am +surrounded make daily boast. And I sometimes surprise myself envying +their audacious indifference, and blaming myself with my own weak +regrets for so insignificant an action." + +"And so it was an insignificant action, far more generous than wrong. +Why, what did you do but borrow for a few hours a sum of money you knew +you could replace on the following morning; and that, too, not for +yourself, but to save a whole family from ruin, perhaps death." + +"That matters not, it was a theft in the eyes of the law and all honest +men. Doubtless it is better to rob with a good motive than a bad one, +but it is a fearful thing to be obliged to seek an excuse for oneself by +comparing one's own guilt with that of persons far beneath ourselves. I +can no longer venture to compare my actions with those of upright +persons, consequently, then, I am compelled to institute a comparison +between myself and the degraded beings with whom I live; so that I +plainly perceive in the end the conscience becomes hardened and is put +to sleep. The next theft I commit, probably without the prospect of +replacing the money, but from mere cupidity, I might still find an +excuse for myself by comparing my conduct with that of a man who adds +murder to theft; and yet at this moment there is as great a difference +between me and a murderer as there is between a person of untainted +character and myself. So, because there are beings a thousand times more +degraded and debased than I am, by degrees my own degradation would +become diminished in my estimation; instead of being able to say, as I +once could, 'I am as honest a man as any I meet with,' I shall be +obliged to content myself with saying I am the least guilty of the vile +wretches among whom I am condemned for ever to live." + +"Oh, do not say for ever! Once released from this place--" + +"What should I gain even then? The lost creatures by whom I am +surrounded are perfectly well acquainted with my person, and, were I +even to be set free, I am exposed to the chance of meeting them again, +and being hailed as a prison associate; and even though the fact of my +imprisonment might be unknown, these unprincipled beings would be for +ever threatening me to divulge it, thereby holding me completely in +their power, by bands too firm for me to hope to break; while, on the +other hand, had I been kept confined in my cell until my trial, they +would have known nothing of me, or I of them; so that I should have +escaped the fears which may paralyse my best resolutions. And, besides, +had I been permitted to contemplate my fault in the solitude of my cell, +instead of decreasing in my eyes, its enormity would have appeared still +greater; and in the same proportion would the expiation I proposed to +make have been augmented; and as my sin grew more and more apparent to +my unbiassed view, so also would my earnest determination to atone for +it by every means my humble sphere afforded have been strengthened; for +well I know it takes a hundred good deeds to efface the recollection of +one bad. + +"But how can I ever expect to turn my thoughts towards expiating a crime +which scarcely awakens in me the smallest remorse? I tell you again--and +I feel what I say--that I seem acting under some irresistible influence, +against which I have long and fruitlessly struggled. I was brought up +for evil, and, alone, friendless, and powerless to resist, I yield to my +destiny. What matters it whether that destiny be accomplished by honest +or dishonest means? Yet Heaven knows my thoughts and intentions were +ever pure and upright; and I felt the greater satisfaction in the +possession of an unsullied reputation, from recollection of all the +attempts that had been made to lead me to a life of infamy; and mine has +been a course of infinite difficulty while seeking to free myself from +the odious wretches who wished to degrade me, and render me as vile as +themselves. + +"But what avails my having been a person of unblemished honour and +unspotted reputation? What am I now? Oh, dreadful, dreadful contrast!" +exclaimed the unhappy prisoner, in an agony of tears and sobs, which +drew a plenteous shower of sympathising drops from the tender-hearted +grisette, who, guided by her natural right-mindedness, her woman's wit, +as well as warmed by her deep affection for Germain, clearly perceived +that, although as yet her protégé had lost none of the scrupulous +notions of honour and probity he had ever entertained, yet that he spoke +truly when he expressed his dread that the day might come when he would +behold with guilty indifference those words and actions he now shuddered +even to think of. + +Drying her eyes, therefore, and addressing Germain, who was still +leaning his forehead against the grating, she said, in a voice and +manner more touchingly serious than Germain had ever before observed: + +"Listen to me, Germain! I shall not, perhaps, be able to express myself +as I could wish, for I am not a good speaker like you, but what I do say +is uttered in all sincerity and truth; but first I must tell you you +have no right to call yourself alone and friendless." + +"Oh, think not I can ever forget all your generous compassion has +induced you to do to serve me!" + +"Just now, when you used the word pity, I did not interrupt you; but now +that you repeat the word, or at least one quite as bad, I must tell you +quite plainly that I feel neither pity nor compassion for you, but quite +a different--Stay, I will try and explain myself as well as I can. While +we were next-door neighbours, I felt for you all the regard due to one I +esteemed as a friend and brother. We mutually aided each other; you +shared with me all your Sunday amusements, and I did my very best to +look as well and be as gay and entertaining as I could, in order to show +how much I was gratified; so there again we were quits." + +"Quits? Oh, no, no! I--" + +"Now, do hold your tongue, and let me speak! I'm sure you have had all +the talk to yourself this long while. When you were obliged to quit the +house we lodged in, I felt more sorrow at your departure than I had ever +done before." + +"Is it possible?" + +"Yes, indeed, for all the other persons who had lived in your apartments +were careless creatures, whom I did not care a pin for; while you, from +the very first of our acquaintance, seemed just the sort of person I +wanted to be my neighbour, because you could understand that I wished us +to be good friends, and nothing more. Then you were so ready to pass all +your spare time with me, teaching me to write, giving me good advice,--a +little serious, to be sure, but all the better for that. You were ever +kind and good, yet never presumed upon it in any way; and even when +compelled to change your lodging, you confided to me a secret you would +not have trusted to any one else,--the name of your new abode; and that +made me so proud and happy, to think you should have so much reliance on +the silence and friendship of a giddy girl like myself. I used to think +of you so constantly that at last every other person seemed to be +banished from my recollection, and you alone to occupy my memory. Pray +don't turn away as if you did not believe me. You know I always speak +the truth." + +"Indeed, indeed, I can scarcely believe that you were kind enough thus +to remember me." + +"Oh, but I did, though; and I should have been very ungrateful had I +acted otherwise. Sometimes I used to say to myself, 'M. Germain is the +very nicest young man I know, though he is rather too serious at times; +but never mind that. If I had a friend whom I wished to be very, very +happy when she was married, I certainly should recommend her marrying M. +Germain, who would make just such a husband as a good wife deserves to +meet with.'" + +"You remembered me then, it seems, for the sake of bestowing me on +another," murmured poor Germain, almost involuntarily. + +"Yes, and I should have been delighted to have helped you to obtain a +good wife, because I felt a real and friendly interest in your +happiness. You see I speak without any reserve; you know I never could +disguise my thoughts." + +"Well, I can but thank you for caring enough about me even to wish to +dispose of me in marriage to one of your acquaintances." + +"This was the state of things when your troubles came upon you, and you +sent me that poor, dear letter in which you acquainted me with what you +styled your fault, but which, to an ignorant mind like my own, seemed a +noble and generous action. That letter directed me to go and fetch away +your papers, among which I found the confession of your love for me,--a +love you had never ventured to reveal; and there, too," continued +Rigolette, unable longer to restrain her tears, "I learned that, kindly +considering my future prospects (illness or want of employ might render +so distressing), you wished, in the event of your dying a violent death +(as your fears foretold might be the case), to secure to me the trifle +you had accumulated by industry and care." + +"I did; and surely if, during my lifetime, you had been overtaken by +sickness or any other misfortune, you would sooner have accepted +assistance from me than from any other living creature, would you not? I +flattered myself so, at least. Tell me, tell--I was right, that to me +you would have turned for succour and support as to any true and devoted +friend?" + +"Of course I should! Who else should I have thought of in any hour of +need or sorrow but you, M. Germain?" + +"Thanks, thanks! Your words fall like healing drops upon my heart, and +console me for all I have suffered." + +"But how shall I attempt to describe to you what I felt while reading +that--oh, it is a dreadful word to utter!--that will, each word of which +breathed only care and solicitude for my future welfare? And yet these +tender, touching proofs of your sincere regard were to have been +concealed from me till your death. Surely it was not strange that +conduct so generous and delicate should at once have converted my +feelings towards you into those of an affection sincere and fervent as +your own for me. That is easily understood, is it not, M. Germain?" + +The large dark eyes of Rigolette were fixed on Germain with an +expression so earnest and tender, her sweet voice pronounced the simple +confession of her love in a tone so touchingly true to nature, that +Germain, who had never for one instant flattered himself with having +awakened so warm an interest in the heart of the grisette, gazed on her +for an instant in utter inability to believe the words he heard; then, +as the bright beaming look he encountered conveyed the truth to his +mind, his colour varied from deepest red to deadly pale, he cried out in +a voice quivering with emotion: + +"Can it be? Do I hear aright? Ah, repeat those dear words that I may +feel convinced of their reality." + +"Why should I hesitate to assure you again and again that when I learned +your kind consideration for me, and remembered how miserable and +wretched you were, I no longer felt for you the calm feelings of +friendship? And certainly, M. Germain," added Rigolette, smilingly, +while a rosy blush mantled her intelligent features, "if I had a friend +now I wished to see well married, I should be very sorry indeed to +recommend her choosing you, because, because--" + +"You would marry me yourself!" exclaimed the delighted young man. + +"You compel me to tell you so myself, since you will not ask it of me." + +"Can this be possible?" + +"It is not from not having put you in the direct path more than once to +make you understand. But you will not take a hint, and so, sir, I am +compelled to confess the thing myself. It is wrong, perhaps; but, as +there is no one but yourself to reprove my boldness, I have less fear; +and then," added Rigolette, in a more serious tone, and with tender +emotion, "you just now appeared to me so greatly overcome, so +despairing, that I could no longer repress my feelings; and I had vanity +enough to believe that this avowal, frankly made and from my heart, +would prevent you from being unhappy in future. I said to myself, 'Until +now I had been able to amuse or comfort him--' Ah, _mon Dieu!_ what is +the matter?" exclaimed Rigolette, seeing Germain conceal his face in +his hands. "Is not this cruel?" she added; "whatever I do, whatever I +say, you are still as wretched as ever, and that is being too +unkind--too selfish; it is as if it were you only who suffered from +sorrows!" + +"Alas, what misery is mine!" exclaimed Germain, with despair; "you love +me when I am no longer worthy of you." + +"Not worthy of me? Why, how can you talk so absurdly? It is just as if I +said that I was not formerly worthy of your friendship because I had +been in prison; for, after all, I have been a prisoner also; but am I +the less an honest girl?" + +"But you were in prison because you were a poor forsaken girl; whilst +I--alas, what a difference!" + +"Well, then, as to prison, we shall neither of us ever have anything to +reproach each other with. It is I who am the more ambitious of the two; +for, in my position, I have no right to think of any person but a +workman for my husband. I was a foundling, and have nothing but my small +apartment and my good spirits, and yet I come and boldly offer myself to +you as a wife." + +"Alas, formerly such a destiny would have been the dream--the happiness +of my life! But now I am under the odium of an infamous accusation; and +should I take advantage of your excessive generosity, your +commiseration, which no doubt misleads you? No, no!" + +"But," exclaimed Rigolette, with pained impatience, "I tell you that it +is not pity I feel for you, it is love! I think of you only; I no longer +sleep or eat. Your sad and gentle countenance follows me everywhere. Can +that be pity only? Now, when you speak to me, your voice, your look, go +to my very heart. There are a thousand things in you now which please +me, and which I had not before marked. I like your face, I like your +eyes, your appearance, your disposition, your good heart. Is that pity? +Why, after having loved you as a friend, do I love you as a lover? I +cannot say. Why was I light and gay when I liked you as a friend? Why am +I quite a different being now I love you as a lover? I do not know. Why +have I been so slow in finding you at once handsome and good,--in loving +you at once with eyes and heart? I cannot say--or rather, yes--I can; it +is because I have discovered how much you love me without having told me +of it,--how generous and devoted you were. Then love mounted from my +heart to my eyes, as a tear does when the heart is softened." + +"Really, I seem to be in a dream when I hear you speak thus!" + +"And I never could have believed that I could have told you all this, +but your despair has forced me to it. Well, sir, now you know I love you +as my friend, my lover--as my husband! Will you still call it pity?" + +The generous scruples of Germain were overcome in an instant before this +plain and devoted confession, a hopeful joy prevailed over his painful +reflections. + +"You love me?" he cried; "I believe you; your accent, your +look,--everything proclaims it! I will not ask how I have merited such +happiness, but I abandon myself to it blindly; my life, my whole life, +will not suffice to pay my debt to you! Oh, I have greatly suffered +already, but this moment effaces all!" + +"Then you will be comforted at last? Oh, I was sure I should contrive to +do so!" cried Rigolette, in a transport of joy. + +"And it is in the midst of the horrors of a prison, and when all +conspires to overwhelm me, that such happiness--" + +Germain could not conclude. This thought reminded him of the reality of +his position. His scruples, for a moment lost sight of, returned more +severe than ever, and he said, with despair: + +"But I am a prisoner--I am accused of robbery; I shall be +sentenced--dishonoured, perhaps! And I cannot accept of your generous +sacrifice--profit by your noble excitement. Oh, no, no; I am not such a +villain as that!" + +"What do you say?" + +"I may be sentenced to several years' imprisonment." + +"Well," replied Rigolette, with calmness and firmness, "they shall see +that I am an honest girl, and they will not refuse to marry us in the +prison chapel." + +"But I may be put in prison at a distance from Paris." + +"Once your wife, I will follow you and settle in the city where you may +be. I shall find work there, and can see you every day." + +"But I shall be disgraced in the eyes of all." + +"You love me better than any one--don't you?" + +"Can you ask me such a question?" + +"Then of what consequence is it? So far from considering you as +disgraced in my eyes, I shall consider you as the victim of your own +kind heart." + +"But the world will accuse, condemn, calumniate your choice." + +"The world! Are not you the world to me--I to you? So let it say as it +may!" + +"Well, quitting prison at length, my life will be precarious--miserable. +Repulsed on all sides, I may, perhaps, find no employment, and then it +is appalling to think! But if this corruption which besets me should +seize on me in spite of myself, what a future for you!" + +"You will never grow corrupted. No; for now you know that I love you, +this thought will give you the power of resisting bad examples. You will +reflect that if all repulse you when you quit your prison, your wife +will receive you with love and gratitude, assured, as she will be, that +you will still be an honest man. This language astonishes you, does it +not? It astonishes even myself. I do not know whence I derive all I say +to you; from the bottom of my soul, assuredly--and that must convince +you! That is, if you do not reject an offer made you most unreservedly, +if you do not desire to reject the love of a poor girl who has only--" + +Germain interrupted Rigolette with impassioned voice: + +"Yes, indeed--I do accept--I do accept! Yes, I feel it. I am assured it +is sometimes cowardly to refuse certain sacrifices; it is to avow +oneself unworthy of them. I accept them, noble, brave girl!" + +"Really, really--are you really in earnest?" + +"I swear to you; and you have, too, said something which greatly struck +me, and gives me the courage I want." + +"Delightful! And what did I say?" + +"That, for your sake, I should in future continue an honest man. Yes, in +this thought I shall find strength to resist the detestable influences +which surround me. I shall brave contagion, and know how to keep worthy +of your love the heart which belongs to you." + +"Oh, Germain, how happy I am! If I have ever done anything for you, how +you recompense me now!" + +"And then, observe, although you excuse my fault I shall never forget +it. My future task will be double: to expiate the past and deserve the +happiness I owe to you. For that I will do my best, and, as poor as I +may be, the opportunity will not fail me, I am sure." + +"Alas! that is true; for we always find persons more unfortunate than +ourselves." + +"And if we have no money, why--" + +"We give our tears, as I did for the poor Morels." + +"And that is holy alms. 'Charity of the soul is quite equal to that +which bestows bread.'" + +"You accept, then, and will never retract?" + +"Never, never, my love--my wife! My courage returns to me, and I seem as +though awaking from a dream, and no longer doubt myself. My heart would +not beat as it does if it had lost its noblest energies." + +"Oh, Germain, how you delight me in speaking so! How you assure me, not +for yourself but for myself. So you will promise me, now you have my +love to urge you on, that you will no longer be afraid to speak to these +wicked men, so that you may not excite their anger against you?" + +[Illustration: "_Touched with His Lips through the Grating_" +Original Etching by Mercier] + +"Take courage! When they saw me sad and sorrowful, they accused me, no +doubt, of being a prey to my remorse; but when they see me proud and +joyous, they will believe their pernicious example has gained on me." + +"That's true; they will no longer suspect you, and my mind will be easy. +So mind, no rashness, no imprudence, now you belong to me,--for I am +your little wife." + +At this moment the turnkey awoke. + +"Quick," said Rigolette, in a low voice, and with a smile full of grace +and modest tenderness, "quick, my dear husband, and give me a loving +kiss on my forehead through the grating; that will be our betrothing." +And the young girl, blushing, bowed her forehead against the iron +trellis. + +Germain, deeply affected, touched with his lips through the grating her +pure and white forehead. + + * * * * * + +"Oh, oh! What, three o'clock already?" said the turnkey; "and visitors +ought to leave at two! Come, my dear little girl," he added, addressing +the grisette, "it's a pity, but you must go." + +"Oh, thanks, thanks, sir, for having allowed us thus to converse alone! +I have given Germain courage, and now he will look livelier, and need +not fear his wicked companions." + +"Make yourself easy," said Germain, with a smile; "I shall in future be +the gayest in the prison." + +"That's all right, and then they will no longer pay any attention to +you," said the guardian. + +"Here is a cravat I have brought for Germain, sir," said Rigolette. +"Must I leave it at the entrance?" + +"Why, perhaps you should; but still it is such a very small matter! So, +to make the day complete, give him your present yourself." And the +turnkey opened the door of the corridor. + +"This good man is right, and the day will be complete," said Germain, +receiving the cravat from Rigolette's hands, which he pressed tenderly. + +"Adieu; and to our speedy meeting! Now I am no longer afraid to ask you +to come and see me as soon as possible." + +"Nor I to promise you. Good-bye, dear Germain!" + +"Good-bye, my dear girl!" + +"Wear the cravat, for fear you should catch cold; it is so damp!" + +"What a pretty cravat! And when I reflect that you knitted it for me! +Oh, I will never let it leave me!" said Germain, pressing it to his +lips. + +"Now, then, your spirits will revive, I hope! And so good-bye, once +more. Thank you, sir. And now I go away, much happier and more assured. +Good-bye, Germain!" + +"Farewell, my dear little wife!" + +"Adieu!" + +A few minutes afterwards, Rigolette, having put on her goloshes and +taken her umbrella, left the prison more joyfully than she had entered +it. During the conversation of Germain and the grisette, other scenes +were passing in one of the prison yards, to which we will now conduct +the reader. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE LIONS' DEN. + + +If the appearance of a house of confinement, constructed with every +attention to salubrity and humanity, has nothing repulsive in its +aspect, the sight of the prisoners causes a very different feeling. At +the sight of the criminals who fill the gaols, we are at first seized +with a shudder of fear and horror. It is only after some reflection that +this is overcome, and feelings of pity mixed with bitterness overcome +us. + +To understand the feeling of horror and fear, our reader must follow us +to the Fosse aux Lions (the Lions' Den), one of the yards in La Force so +called. In this are usually placed the most dangerous criminals, whose +ferocity, or the charges against whom, are most serious. At this time +they had been compelled to place there, in consequence of the +alterations making in the prison, many other prisoners. These, although +equally under accusations and awaiting the assizes, were almost all +respectable persons in comparison with the usual occupants of the Lions' +Den. The sky, gloomy, gray, and rainy, cast a dull light over the scene +we are about to depict, and which took place in the centre of the yard +of considerable extent, square, and enclosed by high white walls, having +here and there several grated windows. + +At one end of this yard was a narrow door with a wicket; at the other +end, at the entrance to the day-room, a large apartment with a stove in +the centre, surrounded by wooden benches, on which were sitting and +lying several prisoners conversing together. Others, preferring +exercise, were walking up and down the walks, four or five in a row, arm +in arm. It requires the pencil of Salvator or Goya, in order to sketch +the different specimens of physical and moral ugliness, to render in its +hideous fantasy the variety of costumes worn by these men, for the most +part covered with squalid rags,--for being only accused, _i. e._ +supposed innocent, they were not clad in the usual uniform of the +central houses. Some, however, wore it; for on their entrance into gaol, +their rags appeared so filthy and infected that, after the usual washing +and bath, they had the frock and trousers of coarse gray cloth, as worn +by the criminals, assigned to them. + +A phrenologist would have observed attentively those embrowned and +weather-beaten countenances, those flat or narrow foreheads, those cruel +or crafty looks, the wicked or stupid mouth, the enormous neck,--they +nearly all presented frightful resemblances to brutes. In the cunning +looks of one was seen the perfidious subtlety of the fox, in another was +the sanguinary rapacity of the bird of prey, in a third, the ferocity of +a tiger; and, in all, the animal stupidity of the brute. We will sketch +one or two of the most striking physiognomies in the Fosse aux Lions. + +Whilst the turnkey was watching his charge, a sort of council was being +held in the day-room. Amongst the prisoners there assembled were +Barbillon and Nicholas Martial. The prisoner who appeared to preside and +lead in this debate was a scoundrel called the Skeleton, whose name has +been often mentioned by the Martial family in the Isle du Ravageur. The +Skeleton was _prévôt_, or captain, of the day-room. This fellow was tall +and about forty years of age, fully justifying his sinister nickname by +a meagreness impossible to describe, but which might almost be termed +osteologic. + +If the countenance of the Skeleton presented more or less analogy with +that of the tiger, the vulture, or the fox, the shape of his forehead, +receding as it did, his bony, flat, and lengthened jaws, supported by a +neck of disproportioned length, instantly reminded you of the +conformation of a serpent. Complete baldness increased still more this +hideous resemblance, for beneath the corded skin of his forehead, nearly +as flat as a reptile's, might be distinguished the smallest +protuberances, the smallest sutures of his skull. His beardless face was +exactly like old parchment tightly distended over the bones of his face, +and only somewhat stretched from the projection of the cheek-bone to the +angle of the lower jaw, the working of which was distinctly visible. His +eyes, small and lowering, were so deeply imbedded, and the rim of his +brow so prominent, that under his yellow brow, when the light fell, were +seen two orbits literally filled with shadows; and, a little further on, +the eyes seemed to disappear in the depths of these two dark cavities, +these two black holes, which gave so sinister an aspect to the skeleton +head. His long teeth, whose alveolar projections were to be accurately +traced beneath the tanned skin of his bony and flat jaws, were almost +continually developed by a habitual sneer. + +Although the stiffened muscles of this man were almost reduced to +tendons, he possessed extraordinary strength, and the strongest resisted +with difficulty the grasp of his long arms, his long and lean fingers. +He had the formidable clutch of a skeleton of iron. He wore a blue +smock-frock, very short, and which exposed (and he was vain of it) his +knotted hands and half his forearm, or rather two bones, the radius and +the ulna (this anatomy will be excused us), two bones enveloped in a +coarse and black skin, separated by a deep groove, in which were some +veins hard and dry as cords. When he placed his hands on a table he +seemed, as Pique-Vinaigre justly remarked, as if he were spreading out a +game of knuckle-bones. + +The Skeleton, after having passed fifteen years of his life at the +galleys for an attempt at robbery and murder, had broken his ban and +been taken in the very act of theft and murder. The last assassination +had been committed with circumstances of such ferocity that the ruffian +made up his mind, and with reason, that he should be condemned to death. +The influence which the Skeleton exercised over the other prisoners, +from his strength, energy, and wickedness, had caused him to be chosen +by the director of the prison as _prévôt_ of the dormitory,--that is to +say, the Skeleton was charged with the police of the chamber as far as +concerned its order, arrangement, and the cleanliness of the room and +the beds, a duty which he discharged perfectly; and no prisoner dared to +fail in the cares and duties which he superintended. The Skeleton was +discoursing with several prisoners, amongst whom were Barbillon and +Nicholas Martial. + +"Are you sure of what you say?" inquired the Skeleton of Martial. + +"Yes, yes,--a hundred times, yes! Father Micou heard it from the +Gros-Boiteux, who has already tried to knock this hound on the head +because he peached about some one." + +"Then let's do for him,--brush him up!" said Barbillon. The Skeleton was +already inclined to give that skulking Germain a turn of his hand. + +The _prévôt_ took his pipe from his mouth for a moment, and then said, +in a tone so low and husky as to be scarcely audible: + +"Germain kept aloof from us, gave himself airs, watched us,--for the +less one talks the more one listens. We meant to get rid of him out of +the Fosse aux Lions, and if we had given him a quiet squeeze, they'd +have taken him away." + +"Well, then," inquired Nicholas, "what alteration need there be now?" + +"This alteration," replied the Skeleton; "that if he has turned +informer, as the Gros-Boiteux declares, he mustn't get off with a quiet +squeeze." + +"By no manner o' means!" said Barbillon. + +"We must make an example of him," continued the Skeleton, warming as he +went on. "It is not now the nabs who look out for us, but the noses. +Jacques and Gauthier, who were guillotined the other day, were informed +against,--nosed; Rousillon, sent to the galleys for life,--nosed." + +"And me, and my mother, and Calabash, and my brother at Toulon," cried +Nicholas; "have we not all been nosed by Bras-Rouge? To be sure we have; +because, instead of shutting him up here with us, he has been sent to La +Roquette. They daren't put him with us; he knew he had done us wrong, +the old--" + +"Well," added Barbillon, "and didn't Bras-Rouge nose upon me, too?" + +"And I, too," said a young prisoner, in a thin voice, and lisping +affectedly. "I was split upon by Jobert, who had proposed to me a little +affair in the Rue St. Martin." + +The latter personage, with a fluty voice, pale, fat, and effeminate +face, and with a sly and treacherous glance, was singularly attired. He +wore as a head-dress a red pocket-handkerchief, which exposed two locks +of light brown hair close to his temples; the two ends of his +handkerchief formed a projecting rosette over his forehead; his cravat +was a merino shawl, with a large pattern, which crossed over his chest; +his mulberry-coloured waistcoat almost disappeared beneath the tight +waistband of a very large pair of trousers of plaid, with very large and +different-coloured checks. + +"And was not that shameful? Such a man to turn against me!" he added, in +his shrill voice. "Yet, really, nothing in the world would have made me +distrust Jobert." + +"I know very well that he sold you, Javatte," replied the Skeleton, who +seemed to protect the prisoner peculiarly; "and as a proof that they +have done for thy nose the same as they have done for Bras-Rouge, they +have not dared to leave Jobert here, but sent him to the stone jug of +the Conciergerie. Well, there must be an end put to this! There must be +an example; for traitors are doing the work of the police, and believe +themselves safe in their skins because they are put in a different +prison from those on whom they have nosed." + +"That's true." + +"To prevent this, every prisoner should consider every nose as his +deadly enemy. Whether he informs against Peter or James, here or there, +that's nothing; fall on him tooth and nail. When we have made cold meat +of four or five in the prisons, the others will think twice before they +turn 'snitch.'" + +"You're right, Skeleton," said Nicholas; "and let Germain be number +one." + +"And no mistake," replied the _prévôt_; "but let us wait until the +Gros-Boiteux arrives. When, for instance, he has proved to all the world +that Germain is a nose the thing shall be settled out of hand; the calf +shall bleat no more, we'll stop his wind." + +"And what shall we do with the turnkeys who watch us?" inquired the +prisoner whom the Skeleton called Javatte. + +"I have my plan, which Pique-Vinaigre will aid." + +"He! He's a coward." + +"And no stronger than a flea." + +"I'm awake. Where is he?" + +"He had come out of the visiting-room, but went back again to see his +lawyer." + +"And is Germain still in the visiting-room?" + +"Yes, with the little wench who comes to see him." + +"When he returns be on your guard. But we must wait for Pique-Vinaigre, +without him we can do nothing." + +"No?" + +"No." + +"And Germain shall be done for?" + +"I'll take care of that." + +"But with what? They have taken all our knives away." + +"What do you think of these nippers, would you like to have your neck in +their clutch?" asked the Skeleton, opening his long bony fingers, hard +as iron. + +"You'll choke him?" + +"Decidedly." + +"But if they find out that it is you?" + +"Well, what if they do? Am I a calf with two heads, such as they show at +the fair?" + +"No, that's true; a man has but one throat, and yours--" + +"Is sentenced; my lawyer told me so yesterday. I was taken with my hand +in the bag, and my knife in the weasand of the stiff'un. I'm a 'return +horse,' too; so nothing can be more certain. I'll drop my head into +Charlot's (the headsman's) basket, and I shall see if it's true that he +does his customers, and puts sawdust into his basket instead of the bran +which government allows us." + +"True, the guillotine has a right to its bran. Now, I remember my father +was robbed in the same way," said Nicholas Martial, with a ferocious +grin. + +This horrid jest created immense laughter amongst the prisoners. This is +fearful, but far from exaggeration; we give but a faint idea of these +conversations, so common in prisons. The prisoners were all laughing +joyously. + +"Thousand thunders!" cried the Skeleton. "I wish they who punish us +would come and see how we bear it. If they will come to the Barrière St. +Jacques the day of my benefit they will hear me address the audience in +a neat and appropriate speech, and say to Charlot, in a gentlemanly +tone, 'Père Sampson, the cord if you please.'"[1] + + [1] To understand this horrid jest the English reader must know + that the doors in France are usually opened by the porter, who + sits in his room and pulls a cord to allow the person going out + to have free egress; and the blade of the guillotine glides + down the grooves of the machine, after a spring has been set in + motion, by touching a cord that acts upon it. + +Fresh bursts of laughter hailed this jest. + +"And then Charlot opens the baker's (the devil's) door," continued the +Skeleton, still smoking his pipe. + +"Ah, bah! Is there a devil?" + +"You fool, I was only joking. There's a sharp blade, and they put a head +under it, and that's all. And now that I know my road, and must stay at +the abbey of _Mont-à-Regret_ (guillotine), I would rather go there +to-day than to-morrow," said the Skeleton, with savage excitement. "I +wish I was there now,--my blood comes into my mouth when I think what a +crowd there'll be to see me; there'll be, at least, I should say, from +four to five thousand who will push and squeeze to get good places, and +they'll hire seats and windows, as if for a grand procession. I hear 'em +now crying, 'Seats to let! Seats to let!' And then there'll be troops of +soldiers, cavalry and infantry, and all for me,--for the Skeleton! +That's enough to rouse a man if he was as big a coward as +Pique-Vinaigre, that would make you walk like a hero. All eyes on you, +and that makes a fellow pluck up; then--'tis but a moment--a fellow dies +game, and that annoys the big-wigs and curs, and gives the knowing ones +pluck to face the chopper." + +"That's true, on Gospel!" added Barbillon, trying to imitate the fearful +audacity of the Skeleton; "they think to make us funky when they set +Charlot to work to get his shop open at our expense." + +"Ah, bah!" said Nicholas, in his turn; "we laugh at Charlot and his +shop; it is like the prison or the galleys,--we laugh at them, too; and +so, that we may be all friends together, let's be jolly as long as we +can." + +"The thing that would do us," said the shrill-voiced prisoner, "would be +to put us in solitary cells day and night. They do say they mean to do +so at last." + +"In solitary cells!" exclaimed the Skeleton, with repressed rage; "don't +talk of it! Solitary cell--alone! Hold your tongue! I would rather have +my arms and legs cut off! Alone within four walls! Quite alone--without +having our pals to laugh with! Oh, that will never be! I like the +galleys a hundred times better than the central prison, because at the +galleys, instead of being shut up, one is out-of-doors, sees the world, +people going and coming, and has his jokes and fun. Well, I'd rather be +done for at once than be put in a solitary cell, if only for a year. +Yes, for at this moment I am sure to be guillotined--ain't I? Well, if +they said to me, 'Would you rather have a year of solitary confinement?' +I should hold out my neck. A year all alone! Why, is it possible? What +do they suppose a man thinks of when he is alone?" + +"Suppose you were carried there by main force?" + +"Well, I wouldn't stay; I would make such use of my hands and feet that +I should escape," replied the Skeleton. + +"But if you couldn't,--if you were unable to escape?" + +"Then I'd kill the first person who came near me, in order to have my +head chopped off." + +"But if, instead of sentencing such as us to death, they condemned us to +be in solitary confinement for life?" + +The Skeleton appeared struck at this remark, and, after a moment's +silence, replied: + +"Why, then, I'll tell you what I should do,--I should dash out my brains +against the walls. I would starve rather than be in a solitary cell. +What, all alone! all my life alone with myself,--and no chance of +escape! I tell you it is impossible. Well, you know, there's no man more +reckless than I am--I'd kill a man for a dollar, and for nothing if my +honour was concerned; they believe I have only killed two persons, but +if the dead could tell tales there are five tongues could say what I +have done." + +The ruffian was boasting. The sanguinary declarations are still another +trait of the hardened criminals. A governor of a prison said to us, "If +the assassinations boasted of by these scoundrels were really committed, +the population would be decimated." + +"And I, too," said Barbillon, desirous of bragging in his turn; "they +think I only silenced the husband of the milk-woman in the Cité, but I +did many others with tall Robert, who suffered last year." + +"I was going to say," continued the Skeleton, "that I fear neither fire +nor devil. Well, if I were in a solitary cell, and certain I could not +escape,--thunder! I believe I should be frightened!" + +"And so, if you had to begin your time over again as prig and throttler, +and if, instead of central houses, galleys, and guillotine, there were +only solitary cells, you would hesitate before such a chance?" + +"_Ma foi!_ I believe I really should!" replied the Skeleton. + +And he said truly. It is impossible to describe the vast terror which +such ruffians experience at the very idea of being in solitary +confinement. And is not this very terror an eloquent plea in favour of +this punishment? + + * * * * * + +An uproarious noise made by the prisoners in the yard interrupted the +Skeleton's council. Nicholas rose hastily, and went to the door of the +room to discover the cause of this unusual tumult. + +"It is the Gros-Boiteux," said Nicholas, returning. + +"The Gros-Boiteux!" exclaimed the _prévôt_. "And has Germain come down +from the visiting-room?" + +"Not yet," replied Barbillon. + +"Then let him make haste," said the Skeleton, "and I'll give him an +order for a new coffin." + +The Gros-Boiteux, whose arrival was so warmly hailed by the prisoners in +the lions' den, and whose information might be so fatal to Germain, was +a man of middle stature; but, in spite of being fat and crippled, he was +nimble and vigorous. His countenance, brutal like that of most of his +companions, was of the bulldog character; his low forehead, his small +yellow eyes, his flaccid cheeks, his heavy jaws, the lower being very +projecting, and armed with long teeth, or, rather, broken fangs, which +in places projected beyond his lips, made his resemblance to that animal +the more striking. He wore a felt cap, and over his clothes a blue cloak +with a fur collar. + +The Gros-Boiteux was accompanied into the prison by a man about thirty +years of age, whose tanned and freckled face appeared less dissolute +than that of the other prisoners, although he affected to appear as +dogged as his companion. From time to time his features became overcast, +and he smiled bitterly. The Gros-Boiteux soon found himself amongst his +boon companions and acquaintances, and he could scarcely reply to the +congratulations and kind words which came to him from all sides. + +"What, is it you, old boy? All right! Now we shall have some fun." + +"You haven't hurried yourself." + +"Still I have done all I could to see my friends again as soon as +possible, and it was no fault of mine if the stone jug didn't claim me +sooner." + +"Don't doubt you, old boy! And a man doesn't pick out a gaol as his +favourite residence; but once trapped he does his best to be jolly." + +"And so we shall be, for Pique-Vinaigre is here." + +"Is he? What, one of the old customers of Melun? Why, that's capital! +For he'll help us to pass the time with his stories, and his customers +will not fail him, for there are more recruits coming in." + +"Who are they?" + +"Why, just now at the entrance, whilst I came in, I saw two fresh chaps +brought in; one I didn't know, but the other, who wore a blue cotton cap +and a gray blouse, I have seen before somewhere. He is a +powerful-looking man, and I think I have met him at the Ogress's of the +White Rabbit." + +"I say, Gros-Boiteux, don't you remember at Melun I bet you a wager that +in less than a year you would be nabbed again?" + +"To be sure I do, and you've won. But what are you here for?" + +"Oh, I was caught on the prigging lay--_à la Americaine_." + +"Ah, always in the same line." + +"Yes, I continue in my usual small way. The rig is common, but there are +always 'culls'; and but for the stupidity of a pal I should not be here. +However, once caught twice warned; and when I begin again I will be more +careful,--I have my plan." + +"Ah, here's Cardillac!" said the Boiteux, going to a little man +wretchedly dressed, with ill-looking aspect, full of craft and +malignity, and with features partaking of the wolf and fox. "Ah, old +chap, how are you?" + +"Ah, old limper," replied the prisoner nicknamed Cardillac to the +Gros-Boiteux; "they said every day, 'He's coming--he's not coming!' But +you are like the pretty girls, you do as you like." + +"Yes, to be sure." + +"Well," replied Cardillac, "is it for something spicy that you are here +now?" + +"Yes, my dear fellow, I had done one or two good things, but the last +was a failure; it was an out-and-out-go, and may still be done. +Unfortunately, Frank and I overshot the mark." + +And the Gros-Boiteux pointed to his companion, towards whom all eyes now +turned. + +"Ah, so it is--it's Frank!" said Cardillac; "I didn't know him again +because of his beard. What, Franky! Why, I thought you'd turned honest, +and was, at least, mayor of your village." + +"I was an ass, and I've suffered for it," said Frank, quickly; "but +every sin has its repentance. I was good once, and now I'm a prig for +the rest of my days. Let 'em look out when I get out." + +"What happened to you, Frank?" + +"What happens to every free convict who is donkey enough to think he can +turn honest. Fate is just! When I left Melun I'd saved nine hundred and +odd francs." + +"Yes, that's true," said the Gros-Boiteux, "all his misfortunes have +come from his keeping his savings, instead of spending 'em jolly when he +left the 'jug.' You see what repentance leads to!" + +"They sent me, _en surveillance_, to Etampes," replied Frank; "being a +locksmith by trade, I went to a master in my line and said to him, 'I am +a freed convict, I know no one likes to employ such, but here are nine +hundred francs of my savings, give me work, my money will be your +guarantee, for I want to work and be honest.'" + +"What a joke!" + +"Well, you'll see how it answered. I offered my savings as a guarantee +to the master locksmith that he might give me work. 'I'm not a banker to +take money on interest,' says he to me, 'and I don't want any freed +convicts in my shop. I go to work in houses to open doors where keys are +lost, I have a confidential business, and if it were known that I +employed a freed convict amongst my workmen I should lose my customers. +Good day, my man.'" + +"Wasn't that just what he deserved, Cardillac?" + +"Exactly." + +"You simpleton!" said the Gros-Boiteux to Frank, with a paternal air; +"instead of breaking your ban at once, and coming to Paris to melt your +mopusses, so that you might not have a sou left, but be compelled to +return to robbing. You see the end of your fine ideas." + +"That's what you are always saying," said Frank, with impatience; "it is +true I was wrong not to spend my 'tin,' for I have not even enjoyed it. +Well, as there were only four locksmiths in Etampes, he whom I had first +addressed had soon told all the others, and they said to me as had said +their fellow tradesman, 'No, thank ye.' All sung the same song." + +"Only see, now, what it all comes to! You must see that we are all +marked for life." + +"Well, then, I was on the idle of Etampes, and my money melted and +melted," continued Frank, "but no work came. I left Etampes, in spite of +my surveillance, and came to Paris, where I found work immediately, for +my employer did not know who or what I was, and it's no boast to say I +am a first-rate workman. Well, I put my seven hundred francs which I had +remaining into an agent's hands, who gave me a note for it; when that +was due he did not pay me, so I took my note to a _huissier_, who +brought an action against him, and recovered the money, which I left in +his hands, saying to myself there's something for a rainy day. Well, +just then I met the Gros-Boiteux." + +"True. Well, Frank was a locksmith and made keys, I had a job in which +he could be of service, and I proposed it to him. I had the prints, and +he had only to go to work, when, only imagine, he refused,--he meant to +turn honest. So, says I, I'll arrange about that, I'll make him work, +for his own interest. So I wrote a letter, without any signature, to his +master, and another to his fellow workmen, to inform them that Frank was +a liberated convict,--so the master turned him away. He went to another +employer and worked there for a week,--same game again; and if he had +gone to a dozen I'd have served him in the same way." + +"And if I had suspected that it was you who had informed against me," +answered Frank, "I'd have given you a pleasant quarter of an hour to +pass. Well, I was at length driven away from my last employer as a scamp +only fit to be hanged. Work, then,--be respectable,--so that people may +say, not 'What are you doing?' but 'What have you done?' Once on the +_pavé_ I said, 'Fortunately I have my savings to fall back upon.' So I +went to the _huissier_, but he had cut his stick, and spent my 'tin'; +and here was I without a feather to fly with, not even enough to pay for +a week's lodging. What a precious rage I was in! Well, at this moment +comes the Gros-Boiteux, and he took advantage of my situation. I saw it +was useless trying to be honest, and that once on the prig there's no +leaving it. But, old Gros, I owe you a turn." + +"Come, Frank, no malice!" replied the Gros-Boiteux. "Well, he did his +part like a man, and we entered upon the business, which promised +royally; but, unfortunately, at the moment when we opened our mouths to +swallow the dainty bit, the 'traps' were down upon us. Couldn't be +helped, you know, lad! If it wasn't for that, why, our profession would +be too good." + +"Yet if that vagabond of a _huissier_ had not robbed me I should not +have been here," said Frank, with concentrated rage. + +"Well, well," continued the Gros-Boiteux, "do you mean to say that you +were better off when you were breaking your back with work?" + +"I was free," retorted Frank. + +"Yes, on Sundays and when you were out of work, but the rest of the week +you were tied up like a dog, and never sure of employ. Why, you don't +know when you are well off." + +"Will you teach me?" said Frank, bitterly. + +"Well, you've a right to be vexed, for it was shameful to miss such a +good stroke; but it is still to be done in a month or two. The people +will become reassured, and it is a rich, very rich house. I shall be +sentenced for breaking my ban, and so cannot resume the job, but if I +find an amateur I will hand it over to him a bargain. My woman has the +prints, and there is nothing to do but make new keys, and with the +information I can give it must succeed. Why, there must be, at least, +400_l._ to lay hands on, and that ought to console you, Frank." + +Frank shook his head, crossed his hands over his chest, and made no +reply. + +Cardillac took the Gros-Boiteux by the arms, led him into a corner of +the yard, and said to him, after a moment's silence: + +"Is the affair you have failed in still good?" + +"In two months as good as new." + +"Can you prove it?" + +"Of course." + +"And what do you ask for it?" + +"A hundred francs as earnest; and I will give you the word arranged with +my woman, on which she will hand you the prints, from which you can make +the false keys. And, moreover, if the thing comes off, I shall expect a +fifth share of the swag to be handed over to my woman." + +"That's not unreasonable." + +"As I shall know to whom she has given the prints, if I am done out of +my share I shall know whom to inform against." + +"And very right, too, if you were choused; but amongst prigs and +cracksmen there's honour,--we must rely on each other, or all business +would be impossible." + +Another anomaly in this horrid existence. This villain spoke the truth. +It is very seldom that thieves fail in their faith in such arrangements +as these, but they usually act with a kind of good faith,--or, rather, +that we may not prostitute the word, we will say that necessity compels +these ruffians to keep their words; for if they failed, as the companion +of the Gros-Boiteux said, "All business would be impossible." A great +number of robberies are arranged, bought, and plotted in this way in +gaol,--another pernicious result of confinement in common. + +"If what you say is sure," continued Cardillac, "I can agree for the +job. There are no proofs against me, I am sure to be acquitted, and in a +fortnight I shall be out; let us add three weeks in order to turn +oneself about, to get the false keys, and lay our plans, and then in six +weeks from this--" + +"You'll go to the job in the very nick of time." + +"Well, then, it's a bargain." + +"But how about the earnest? I must have something down." + +"Here is my last button, and when I have no more,--yet there are others +left," said Cardillac, tearing off a button covered with cloth from his +ragged blue coat, and then tearing off the covering with his nails, he +showed the Gros-Boiteux that, instead of a button-mould, it contained a +piece of forty francs. "You see I can pay deposit," he added, "when the +affair is arranged." + +"That's the ticket, old fellow!" said the Gros-Boiteux. "And as you are +soon going out, and have got rhino to work with, I can put you up to +another thing,--a real good go,--the cheese,--a regular affair which my +woman and myself have been cooking up, and which only wants the +finishing stroke. Only imagine a lone street in a deserted quarter, a +ground floor, looking on one side into an obscure alley, and on the +other a garden, and here two old people, who go to roost with the cocks +and hens since the riots, and, for fear of being robbed, they have +concealed behind a panel, in a pot of preserves, a quantity of gold; my +woman found it out by gossiping with the servant. But I tell you this +will be a dearer job than t'other, for it is in hard cash, and all +cooked ready to eat and drink." + +"We'll arrange it, be assured. But you haven't worked over well since +you left the central." + +"Yes, I have had a pretty fair chance. I got together some trifles which +brought me nearly sixty pounds. One of my best bites was a pull at two +women who lodged in the same house with me in the Passage de la +Brasserie." + +"What, at Daddy Micou's?" + +"Yes." + +"And your Josephine?" + +"Just the same; a real ferret as ever. She cooks with the old couple I +have mentioned to you, and so smelt out the pot with the golden honey in +it." + +"She's nothing but a trump!" + +"I flatter myself she is. But, talking of trumps, you know the +Chouette?" + +"Yes; Nicholas has told me the Schoolmaster did for her, and he has gone +mad." + +"Perhaps from losing his sight through some accident. But I say, old +fellow, it's quite understood that you will buy my two bargains, and so +I shall not speak to any one else." + +"Don't; and we will talk them over this evening." + +"Well, and how are you getting on here?" + +"Oh, we laugh and play the fool." + +"Who's _prévôt_ of the chamber?" + +"The Skeleton." + +"He's not to be joked with. I have seen him at Martial's, in the Isle du +Ravageur. We had a flare-up with Josephine and La Boulotte." + +"By the way, Nicholas is here." + +"So Micou told me when he made a lament that Nicholas was putting the +screw on--an old hunks! Why, what else were receivers made for?" + +"Here is the Skeleton," said Cardillac, as the _prévôt_ appeared at the +door of the room. + +"Young 'un, come forward," said the Skeleton to the Gros-Boiteux. + +"Here I am," he replied, going into the apartment, accompanied by Frank, +whose arm he held. + +During the conversation between the Gros-Boiteux, Frank, and Cardillac, +Barbillon had been, by order of the _prévôt_, to select twelve or +fifteen of the choicest prisoners, who (in order to avoid the suspicions +of the turnkey) had come separately into the day-room. The other +_détenus_ had remained in the yard, and some of them, by Barbillon's +advice, had appeared to be disputing, in order to take off the attention +of the turnkey from the room in which were now assembled the Skeleton, +Barbillon, Nicholas, Frank, Cardillac, the Gros-Boiteux, and some +fifteen other prisoners, all awaiting with impatient curiosity until the +_prévôt_ should open the business. + +Barbillon, charged with the look-out, placed himself near the door. The +Skeleton, taking his pipe from his mouth, said to the Gros-Boiteux: + +"Do you know a slim young man named Germain, with blue eyes, brown hair, +and the look of a noodle?" + +"What! Is Germain here?" inquired the Gros-Boiteux, with surprise, hate, +and anger in his looks. + +"What, then, you know him?" said the Skeleton. + +"Know him?" replied the Gros-Boiteux. "Why, my lads, I denounce him as a +nose, and he must be punished!" + +"Yes, yes!" replied the prisoners. + +"Are you sure it was he who informed against you?" asked Frank; "suppose +it was a mistake,--we mustn't ill-use a man who's innocent." + +This remark was displeasing to the Skeleton, who leaned over to the +Gros-Boiteux, and said in his ear: + +"Who is this man?" + +"One with whom I have worked." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Yes--but he hasn't gull enough--too much treacle in him." + +"Good, I'll keep an eye on him." + +"Tell us how Germain turned nose," said a prisoner. + +"Yes, let us know all about it, Gros-Boiteux," continued the Skeleton, +who did not take his eyes off Frank. + +"Well, then," said Gros-Boiteux, "a man of Nantes, named Velu, a freed +convict, brought up the young fellow, whose birth no one is acquainted +with. When he had reached the proper age they put him into a +banking-house at Nantes, thinking they had put a wolf to watch the +money-box, and make use of Germain to do a bold and great stroke which +had been meditated for a very long time. There were to be two _coups_, a +forgery and a dip into the strong chest at the bank, something like a +hundred and fifty thousand francs. All was arranged, and Velu relied on +the young fellow as on himself, for the chap slept in the room in which +the iron safe was. Velu told him his plans; Germain neither says yes or +no, but reveals all to his employer, and the very same evening cuts his +stick and mizzles to Paris." + +The prisoners burst into various murmurs of indignation and threats. + +"He's a spy--nose--informer!--and we'll have the bones out of his body!" + +"If it's agreeable, I'll seek a quarrel with him, and settle his hash!" + +"Silence in the stone jug!" exclaimed the Skeleton, in a tone of +command. + +The prisoners were silent. + +"Go on," said the _prévôt_ to Gros-Boiteux, and he went on smoking. + +"Believing that Germain had consented, and relying on his assistance, +Velu and two of his friends attempted the job that same night. The +banker was on the watch; one of Velu's friends was taken as he was +entering a window, he himself escaping with difficulty. He reached Paris +enraged at having been sold by Germain, and foiled in a splendid affair. +One fine day he met the young fellow; it was in the open daylight, and +he didn't dare do anything, but he followed him, found out where he +lived, and one night we two, Velu and little Ledru, fell on Germain. +Unfortunately he escaped, and then changed his residence in the Rue du +Temple, where he lived; we were unable to find him afterwards. But if he +is here, I demand--" + +"You have nothing to demand," said the Skeleton, in a tone of authority. + +The Gros-Boiteux was instantly silent. + +"I take the bargain off your hands; you will concede to me Germain's +skin, and I'll flay him alive. I am not called the Skeleton for nothing. +I am dead-alive, my grave is dug, and I run no risk in working for the +stone jug. The informers destroy us faster than the police; they put +noses of La Force into La Roquette, and the noses of La Roquette in the +Conciergerie, and they think themselves safe. Now, mind you, when each +prison shall have killed its informer, no matter when he may have +informed, that will take away the others' appetite. I will set the +example, and let others follow it." + +All the prisoners, admiring the Skeleton's resolution, closed around +him. Barbillon himself, instead of remaining near the door, joined the +group, and did not perceive another prisoner, who had entered the room. +This individual, clothed in a gray blouse, and wearing a blue cotton cap +with a red worsted border, pulled down over his eyes, started as he +heard the name of Germain mentioned, and then, mingling with the +Skeleton's admirers, gave out loud tones of approbation at the deadly +determination of the _prévôt_. + +"What an out-and-outer the Skeleton is!" said one. + +"The devil himself is a fool to him!" + +"This here's what I call a man!" + +"If all were like him, wouldn't the flats be afeard?" + +"He'll do a real service to the stone jug, and when they see this, the +noses will look blue." + +"And no mistake!" + +"And since the Skeleton is safe to suffer, why, it'll cost him nothing +to put a nose out of joint!" + +"Well, I think it's too bad," said Frank, "to kill the young chap." + +"Why? Why?" exclaimed the Skeleton, in a savage tone; "no one has a +right to protect a traitor." + +"Yes, to be sure, he is a traitor,--so much the worse for him," said +Frank, after a moment's reflection. + +These latter words, and Gros-Boiteux's assurance, put the doubts which +the other prisoners had entertained against Frank to rest. + +The Skeleton alone continued to mistrust him. + +"And what are we to do with the turnkey? Tell us, Dead-Alive, for that +is your name as well as the Skeleton," said Nicholas, with a grin. + +"We must draw off his attention somehow." + +"No; we'll hold him down by main force." + +"Yes!" + +"No!" + +"Silence in the stone jug!" said the Skeleton. + +There was complete silence. + +"Listen to me!" said the _prévôt_, in his hoarse voice. "There is no +means of doing the thing so long as the turnkey remains in the day-room +or the walking-yard. I have no knife, and there must be a few groans, +for the sneak will struggle." + +"Well, what then?" + +"Why, this. Pique-Vinaigre has promised to tell us to-day after dinner +his story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' It rains, and we shall all +come here, and the sneak will come and sit down there in the corner, as +he always does. We'll give Pique-Vinaigre some sous that he may begin +his tale. It will be dinner-time in the gaol; the turnkey will see us +quietly employed in listening to the miraculous mystery of 'Gringalet +and Cut-in-Half,' and will, suspecting no harm, make off to the tap. As +soon as he has left the yard we shall have a quarter of an hour to +ourselves, and the nose will be cold meat before the turnkey can return. +I will undertake it,--I who have done for stouter fellows in my day; and +mind, I'll have no assistance!" + +"Mind your eye!" cried Cardillac; "and what about the _huissier_ who +will always come for a gossip amongst us at dinner-time? If he comes +into the room to listen to Pique-Vinaigre, and sees Germain done for, he +will cry out for help. He's not one of us, the _huissier_,--he's in a +private cell, and we should mistrust him." + +"Is there a _huissier_ here?" said Frank, the victim as we know of a +breach of trust, by Maître Boulard. "Is there a _huissier_ here?" he +repeated, with astonishment, "and what is his name?" + +"Boulard," replied Cardillac. + +"The very man! The identical villain!" cried Frank, clenching his fists. +"It is he who has stolen my savings!" + +"The _huissier_?" inquired the _prévôt_. + +"Yes, seven hundred francs of mine." + +"You know him? And has he seen you?" inquired the Skeleton. + +"I have seen him, worse luck! But for him I should not be here." + +These regrets sounded ill in the Skeleton's ears, and he fixed his +malignant eyes steadfastly on Frank, who replied to several of his +comrade's questions. Then stooping towards the Gros-Boiteux, he said, in +a low voice: + +"This is a fresh 'un who might tell the turnkey." + +"No, I'll answer for his not informing against any one; yet still he has +his scruples about going the whole hog, and he might aid Germain in +defending himself. It would be best to get him out of the yard." + +"I'll do it," said the Skeleton; and then aloud he said, "I say, Frank, +won't you pitch into this thief of a lawyer?" + +"Won't I, that's all!" + +"Well, he's coming, and so look out." + +"I'm ready, and he shall bear my marks!" + +"We shall have a row, and they will send the _huissier_ to his room and +Frank to the black-hole," said the Skeleton, in an undertone, to the +Gros-Boiteux; "we shall thus get rid of both." + +"What a lucky pitch! Why, this Skeleton is a prime minister!" said the +Boiteux, admiringly; and then he added, in a loud tone, "I say, shall we +tell Pique-Vinaigre that we shall avail ourselves of his history to come +over the turnkey and throttle the sneak?" + +"By no means; Pique-Vinaigre is too soft and too cowardly. If he was up +to the thing he wouldn't tell the story, but when the job is done and +over he'll bear his share." + +The dinner-bell sounded at this moment. + +"To your puddings, dogs!" said the Skeleton; "Pique-Vinaigre and Germain +will soon be in the yard. Now mind your eyes, my boys! They call me +Dead-Alive, but the sneak is also dead-alive!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE STORY-TELLER. + + +The new prisoner of whom we have spoken, and who was dressed in a gray +blouse, with a cotton cap on his head, had attentively listened to and +energetically applauded the scheme for punishing the reserve of Germain, +even at the expense of his life. This individual, whose form betokened +strength and power of no ordinary description, quitted the day-room with +the rest of the prisoners without being noticed, and soon mingled with +the different groups assembled in the courtyard to receive their +rations, crowding around the persons employed in the distribution like +so many hungry cormorants. + +Each prisoner received a piece of the meat employed in making the day's +soup, with about half a loaf of tolerably good bread. Such of the +_détenus_ as possessed the means were allowed to purchase drink at the +wineshop belonging to the prison, and even to go thither to regale +themselves with their lush; while persons who, like Nicholas, had +received provisions from their friends, generally made a sort of feast, +to which they invited their most intimate acquaintances. The guests +selected by the son of the executed felon upon the present occasion were +the Skeleton, Barbillon, and, at the suggestion of the latter, +Pique-Vinaigre, in order that good eating and drinking might quicken his +talent for "storytelling." + +The ham, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and delicate white bread, wrung from +the forced generosity of Micou the receiver, were arranged most +temptingly on a bench in the day-room, and the Skeleton prepared himself +to do ample justice to the repast, without in the slightest degree +disturbing his appetite by the thoughts of the cold-blooded murder that +was to follow it. + +"Just go and see whether Pique-Vinaigre is coming, will you, my fine +fellow?" cried he, addressing an individual who stood near him. "I tell +you what it is, while I'm waiting to choke that stuck-up young fool they +call Germain, I'm blowed if hunger and thirst won't choke me, if I have +to dawdle about much longer. And here; don't forget to work old Frank up +to do for the bum-bailiff, so that we may kill two birds with one stone, +as the saying is." + +"Don't you be afraid, old Dead-Alive! If Frank don't make a stiff'un of +the bailey, it won't be our fault, that you may take your oath of!" And, +while uttering these words, Nicholas went forth from the day-room. + +At this moment Maître Boulard entered the yard, smoking a cigar, his +hands buried in the pockets of his gray duffle dressing-gown, his peaked +cap pulled down well over his ears, and a look of chuckling satisfaction +upon his fat, full-blown countenance. He quickly espied Nicholas, who +was busily occupied gazing around in search of Frank. That person was at +that precise period of time busily occupied, in company with his friend +Gros-Boiteux, in eating his dinner, and, from the position in which they +sat on one of the benches, they perceived not the presence of the +bailiff. Acting in implicit obedience to the directions given him by the +Skeleton, directly Nicholas, from the corner of his eye, descried the +approach of Maître Boulard, he feigned entire ignorance of his vicinity, +but made for the place where Frank and his companions were seated. + +"How are you, my ticket?" inquired the bailiff of Nicholas. + +"Bless me!" answered he; "I declare I didn't see you. I suppose you're +like me, come out to take a sniff of fresh air and have your daily +walk?" + +"Why, that's about it. But I happen to have more reasons than one +to-day; and I tell you how it is. But, first of all, catch hold of one +of these cigars; they're deuced good ones. Come, don't be so missy and +shy about it; take as many as you like. Hang it all, when men are shut +up together in a place like this, they oughtn't to be stingy." + +"You are very good, and so are your cigars. But you were saying you had +several reasons for walking out to-day?" + +"Well, and so I have. First and foremost, I don't feel as hungry as +usual; so, thinks I, I'll go and look on while those chaps eat their +dinner. Who knows but the sight of their jaws all working away together +may screw me up a bit, and give me a relish against feeding-time?" + +"A famous idea!" said Nicholas. "But if you really do want to see a +couple of feeders, just draw this way. There!" added he, pointing to the +bench on which Frank was sitting; "what do you think of a pair of +grubbers like those? I should say we were better behind than before +them, or they might even swallow us instead of those huge lumps of bread +and cheese and onions so rapidly stowed away in their capacious jaws." + +"Let's have a look at them!" said Maître Boulard. + +"Well, to be sure!" cried Nicholas, with feigned surprise; "I declare +one of them is Gros-Boiteux!" + +Gros-Boiteux and Frank both turned around at these words. Stupefied and +speechless, the bailiff continued to gaze in utter amazement at the man +he had so wronged, while, starting up with a sudden spring, Frank threw +down the morsel he had been eating, and darting on Maître Boulard, he +seized him by the throat, exclaiming, "My money--my money; give me my +money!" + +"Hallo! Who are you? What do you mean? Hands off, or you'll strangle me! +I--" + +"My money, I say!" + +"My good man, only calm yourself and listen to reason!" + +"No, not till you give me back my money. What, aren't you satisfied with +having brought me here? Can you not restore me what you stole from me?" + +"But I--I--I--never--" + +"I tell you again, if I get sent to the galleys 'tis all along of you; +for had you not taken my little all from me, I should not have been +driven to the necessity of robbing others; I might have lived and died +an honest man. You may be acquitted, you may escape the punishment you +deserve, but, at least, you shall carry my marks away with you. Ha, ha! +You can come it grand, and swagger about here dressed up with your gold +chains and trinkets, bought, no doubt, with the money of other poor +devils who have been cheated by you as I have been. Take that for your +pains--and that--that--and that! Now, have you had enough? No! Then +here's for you again!" + +"Help, help!" screamed the bailiff, as he rolled on the ground at +Frank's feet, while his infuriated antagonist continued to belabour him +with all his force. + +The rest of the prisoners took little or no interest in this affray, but +contented themselves with forming a circle around the two combatants, or +rather the assailant and the assailed; for Maître Boulard, frightened +and out of breath, made not the slightest resistance, but contented +himself with warding off his adversary's blows as well as he could. +Fortunately, the repeated cries of the poor maltreated bailiff reached +the ears of one of the superintending officers, by whose intervention he +was rescued from the rough hands of Frank. Pale, terrified, and almost +speechless with terror, Maître Boulard arose. One eye was wholly closed +by the severe beating he had received, and without giving himself time +to pick up his cap, he wildly cried, as he rushed towards the officer: + +"Open the door! Let me out--let me out! I can't and I won't stay here +another minute. Help, here! Help, help!" + +"As for you," exclaimed the officer, grasping Frank by the collar, "do +you come along with me before the governor. I know you'll catch it, too, +for fighting; two days in the black-hole is the very least you'll get, I +promise you." + +"I've paid him off, at any rate," returned Frank; "and I don't care for +the rest." + +"I say," whispered Gros-Boiteux, while affecting to be merely helping to +arrange his dress, "I say, you won't breathe a word of what's going to +happen to the sneak, of course?" + +"Oh, don't be afraid; 'tis just likely, had I been by, I might have +stood up in his defence, because to kill a man in that manner +is--hard--at least--and for such a trifle! But as for telling of it, or +betraying you all--oh, no!" + +"Now, then," called out the officer, "I say, are you coming or are you +not?" + +"That's all right!" said Nicholas. "We've got well rid of Frank and the +bailiff, now let's go to work without further loss of time upon the +sneak!" + +As Frank was being led from the prison yard, Germain and Pique-Vinaigre +entered it. It was scarcely possible to recognise Germain, for his +hitherto melancholy and dejected countenance was radiant with joy and +exulting happiness. He walked proudly erect, casting around him a look +of certain and assured content; he knew himself to be beloved, and with +that consciousness all the horrors of his prison seemed to disappear. +Pique-Vinaigre followed him with a timid, confused air, and, after much +hesitation, at length plucked up sufficient courage to venture to +address Germain, whose arm he gently touched, ere the intended victim +had reached the group of prisoners, who, from a distance, were examining +him with looks of deadly hatred. Spite of himself, Germain shuddered at +thus being brought into contact with a person of Pique-Vinaigre's +appearance, whose wretched person and ragged attire were ill-calculated +to impress any one with a favourable opinion of him; but recollecting +the earnest advice of Rigolette, and feeling altogether too happy +himself to act with any want of benevolence, Germain stopped, and said +to Pique-Vinaigre, in a gentle tone of voice: + +"What do you want with me, my friend?" + +"I want to thank you." + +"For what?" + +"For the kindness shown to my sister by the pretty young woman who +visited you to-day." + +"I really do not understand you," said Germain, much surprised. + +"Well, then, I'll try and make you. Just now, when I was in the lodge of +the prison, I saw the man who was on duty in the visitors' room a little +while ago." + +"Ah, yes, a very good-hearted sort of man, too. I recollect him well." + +"It is not often you can apply that term to the gaolers of a prison, but +the man I mean (Rousel is his name) is really deserving of being styled +a kind, good-hearted man. So, all of a sudden, he whispers in my ear, 'I +say, Pique-Vinaigre, my lad,' he says, 'do you know M. Germain?' 'Yes,' +says I, 'I do,' says I; 'he's the _bête noire_ of the prison yard.'" +Then suddenly interrupting himself, Pique-Vinaigre said to Germain, "I +beg your pardon for calling you a _bête noire_. Don't, think anything of +that, but listen to the end of my story." + +"Oh, I'm listening; go on." + +"'Yes,' says I, 'I know who you mean very well,' says I. 'You mean M. +Germain, the _bête noire_ of the prison yard.' 'And of you, too, I +suppose?' said the officer, in a severe and serious manner. 'Oh, bless +you,' says I, 'I am too good-natured, as well as too much of a coward, +to venture to call any one disagreeable; and less M. Germain than any +one else,' says I, 'for I don't see any harm in him, and other folks +appear to me very cruel and unjust towards him.' 'That's all right, +then,' answers the officer; 'and I can tell you that you are bound to +side with M. Germain, for he has been very kind to you,' he says. 'To +me?' says I; 'how do you mean?' 'Well,' he answers, 'I don't mean M. +Germain exactly, and it ain't to you altogether he's been kind; but +still, for all that,' says Rousel, 'you are bound to show him your +gratitude.'" + +"Try," said Germain, smilingly, "and make me understand what it is you +do mean." + +"That's precisely what I said to the officer. 'Speak more clearly,' I +says. So then he makes answer, 'Why, it was not M. Germain, but the very +pretty young person that was here just now to see him, who loaded your +sister with all sorts of kindnesses. She overheard the poor thing +telling you all her troubles; and directly as the creature went out, the +charming young woman as come visiting to M. Germain went and offered to +serve her in every way she could.'" + +"Dear, good Rigolette!" murmured Germain, deeply affected by this little +incident; "she said not one word to me of all this." + +"'Well, to be sure!' I says to the officer; 'what a poor stupid goose I +am!' 'You are quite right--you are!' M. Germain--leastways, his +friend--has been good to me,--that is to say to my sister Jeanne, which +is the same thing, only much more than if the favour had been done to +myself." + +"Poor, dear Rigolette!" said Germain; "ever the same tender, +compassionate, generous-hearted creature!" + +"So then the officer goes on to say how he heard all that passed between +your nice young woman and my poor sister Jeanne. 'And now,' he says, +'Pique-Vinaigre, that you are aware of the fact, if you don't try to +show kindness by every means in your power to M. Germain, and more +especially, if you should know of any plot got up against him and not +warn him of it, why,' he says, 'Pique-Vinaigre, you would be a regular +scamp and a blackguard.' 'I tell you what,' I makes answer and says, +'I'm an unfinished scamp as yet, but I'm no blackguard, and, what's +more, I never will be worse than I am, for the sake of my poor dear +Jeanne and her children; and so because M. Germain's friend has taken +notice of my Jeanne, who is one of the best and worthiest creatures that +ever lived,--I may venture to boast of my sister, though I am ashamed of +myself, but for that reason I will do all in my power to save or serve +M. Germain; unfortunately, I can do but little, after all!' 'Never mind! +Do your best; that is all I ask of you. But I will give you the pleasure +of being the pleasing bearer of news to M. Germain, which, indeed, I +have only just learned myself.'" + +"What is it?" inquired Germain. + +"That to-morrow morning there will be a vacant chamber you can have for +paying for, then you will be all to yourself. The officer desired me to +tell you so." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Germain; "how truly glad I am to hear it! That +worthy man was right in saying you would be the bearer of pleasant +news." + +"Well, I do think so myself; for it is quite easy to perceive that you +do not feel comfortable among such poor wretches as we are." Then +suddenly breaking off, Pique-Vinaigre hastily added, in a low whisper, +while feigning to stoop, as though searching for something he had +dropped, "Hark ye, M. Germain, the prisoners are all looking at us, +wondering what we are talking about. I must go. But be on your guard; +and if any one tries to quarrel with you, don't make any answer; they +want a pretext for all attacking you at once. Barbillon is the one +chosen to provoke you, so take especial care of him. I will try and turn +the attention of the others from being directed towards you in a +spiteful manner." And, with these words, Pique-Vinaigre rose up from his +stooping position, with the air of one who had found the object of his +search. + +"Thanks, my good fellow!" said Germain, eagerly, as he separated from +his companion; "rely on my prudence!" + +Only that morning aware of the plot against Germain, which, as far as he +knew, consisted merely in an intention of involving him in some affray +which should compel the governor of the prison to remove him to some +other yard in the building, Pique-Vinaigre was not only ignorant of the +murderous designs so recently projected by the Skeleton, but equally so +that the conspirators intended to avail themselves of his recital of +"Gringalet and Cut-in-Half" to deceive the vigilance of the officer on +duty, as well as to beguile his attention from what was going on. + +"Come on, old Make-believe!" said Nicholas to Pique-Vinaigre, as he +advanced to meet him. "Throw away that lump of dog's-meat you have got +in your hand; we have got a regular feast among us, and you are invited +to it!" + +"A feast? La, how nice! What, out of the Panier Fleuri, or the Petit +Ramponneau?--tell us which it is! But they are both such nice places, +there isn't a pin to choose." + +"Oh, you fool! Our feast is prepared in the day-room; all laid out so +temptingly on a bench. There you'll see ham and eggs, and cheese, +and--It's my treat, mind!" + +"Well, I'm one of the right sort to walk into it. But it seems a pity to +throw away this good ration I have just received! I only wish my poor +sister and her children could have the benefit of it. Ah, poor things! +It's not often they see meat, unless, indeed, when they find a few +scraps thrown out before the butcher's door." + +"Oh, bother about your sister and her brats! Let's go in, or Barbillon +and the Skeleton will leave nothing but empty trenchers for us!" + +Nicholas and Pique-Vinaigre entered together into the day-room, where +they found the Skeleton sitting astride on the bench on which the +savoury viands were displayed, swearing and grumbling at the absence of +the founder of the feast. + +"Oh, there you are, you creeping animal!" exclaimed the ruffian, as he +caught sight of the story-teller. "What the deuce hindered you from +bringing your blessed carcass here a little sooner?" + +"He was spinning a yarn with Germain when I found him," answered +Nicholas, helping himself to a large slice of the ham. + +"Ho, ho!" cried the Skeleton, gazing earnestly on Pique-Vinaigre, +without, however, diminishing the ardour with which he devoured the +provisions; "so you were gossiping with Germain, were you?" + +"Yes, I was," returned Pique-Vinaigre. "But what a fool that Germain is! +I used to think that he was a sort of spy in the yard; but, Lord love +you, he is too much of a simpleton for that!" + +"Oh, you think so, do you?" said the Skeleton, exchanging a rapid and +significant glance with Nicholas and Barbillon. + +"I'm as sure of it as I am that I see a capital ham before me. Besides, +how the devil can he be a spy when he is always by himself? He speaks to +no one, and nobody ever changes a word with him; and you all know that +he runs from us as if we carried the plague in our pockets. Now, how a +man can tell many tales who acts as he does, is more than I can +conceive. However, spy or not, he will not be able to do us much more +harm, as to-morrow he will obtain a room for himself." + +"The deuce he will!" replied the Skeleton. Then taking advantage of a +conversation which had commenced between Barbillon and Pique-Vinaigre, +he leaned towards Nicholas, and said, whisperingly, "You see, we have +not an instant to lose. After four o'clock to-day all chance of serving +him out is over; it is now nearly three. You see, unfortunately, he does +not sleep in my dormitory, or I would settle him in the night; and +to-morrow he will be out of our reach." + +"Well, I don't care!" answered Nicholas, as though replying to some +observation of his companions; "I say--and I'll stick to it--Germain +always seems to look down upon us as though we were not as good as he." + +"No, no!" interposed Pique-Vinaigre; "you are quite wrong as regards +this young man--you are, indeed. You frighten him--you do; and I know +that he considers himself not fit to hold a candle to you. Why, if you +only knew what he was saying to me just now--" + +"Let's hear what it was!" + +"'Why,' says he, 'you are a lucky fellow, Pique-Vinaigre, you are,' he +says, 'to take the liberty of speaking to the celebrated Skeleton (that +was the very word he used), just for all the world as if you were his +equal! But whenever I meet him,' he says, 'I feel myself overcome with +so much awe and respect that, though I would give my eyes out of my head +to know him and converse with him, I no more dare do it than I should +make bold to accost the _préfet de police_ if he were in his chair of +office, and me beholding him body and bones.'" + +"He said that, did he?" returned the Skeleton, feigning to believe the +well-meant fiction of Pique-Vinaigre, as well as to feel gratified by +the deep admiration he was reported to have excited in the breast of +Germain. + +"As true as that you are the cleverest ruffian upon earth, he said those +very words; and, more than that, he--" + +"Oh, then, if that is the case," said the Skeleton, "I shall make it up +with him. Barbillon wanted to pick a quarrel with him, but I shall +advise him to be quiet." + +"That's right!" exclaimed Pique-Vinaigre, fully persuaded that he had +effectually diverted from Germain the danger that threatened him; "that +would be much the best way! For this poor chicken-hearted fellow would +never quarrel,--simply because, like me, he has not pluck enough to +fight; therefore it is no use getting into a dispute." + +"Still," cried the Skeleton, "I am sorry, too, that we shall not have +our fun; we had quite reckoned upon getting up a fight with Germain to +amuse us after dinner. I don't know now what we shall do to kill the +time." + +"Ah, to be sure!" chimed in Nicholas. "What the deuce shall we do with +ourselves? Can anybody tell me?" + +"Well, then, I'll settle it!" said Barbillon. "Since you seem to +recommend my leaving Germain alone, I'll agree to do so, on condition +that Pique-Vinaigre tells us one of his best stories." + +"Done!" exclaimed the story-teller. "But I must make one condition as +well as you, and, without both are agreed to, I don't open my lips." + +"Well, then, say what your other condition is. I dare say it is not more +difficult than the former, and we soon agreed about that." + +"It is that this honourable company, which is overstocked with riches," +said the Pique-Vinaigre, resuming his old tone when addressing his +audiences preparatory to commencing his juggling tricks, "will have the +trifling kindness to club together and present me with the small sum of +twenty sous,--a mere trifle, gents, when you are about to listen to the +celebrated Pique-Vinaigre, who has had the honour of appearing before +the most celebrated prigs of the day--he who is now expected at Brest or +Toulon, by the special command of his majesty's government." + +"Well, then, we'll stand the twenty sous after you have finished your +story." + +"After?--no--before!" said Pique-Vinaigre. + +"What! Do you suppose us capable of doing you out of twenty sous?" asked +the Skeleton, with an air of disdain. + +"By no means!" replied Pique-Vinaigre. "I honour the stone jug with my +confidence, and it is in order to economise its purse that I ask for +twenty sous in advance." + +"On your word and honour?" + +"Yes, gentlemen; for, after my story, you will be so satisfied, that it +is not twenty sous but twenty francs--a hundred francs--you will force +me to take! I know that I should be shabby enough to accept them; and +thus, you see, it is from consideration, and you will do wisely to give +me twenty sous in advance." + +"You don't want for the gift of the gab!" + +"I have nothing but my tongue, and I must make use of that. And +then,--if it must be told,--my sister and her children are in terrible +distress, and, in a small house, even twenty sous is a consideration." + +"Then why doesn't your sister prig, and her kids, too, if they're old +enough?" asked Nicholas. + +"Don't ask me; it distresses--dishonours me! I am too kind--" + +"What do you mean, you fool? Why, you encourage her!" + +"True; I encourage her in the vice of being honest, and that is the only +line in which she shines. But come, it is agreed that I shall tell you +my famous story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' But you must hand out +twenty sous, and Barbillon shall not pick a quarrel with this simpleton +of a Germain!" + +"Well, you shall have twenty sous, and Barbillon shall not pick a +quarrel with that simpleton of a Germain," said the Skeleton. + +"Then open your ears, and you will hear what you will hear! But it is +raining, which will make the customers tumble in, and there will be no +occasion to go out and seek them." + +And the rain began to fall, and the prisoners, quitting the yard, took +refuge in the day-room, the turnkey being still in attendance. + +We have said that this room was large and long, with a pavement, and +lighted by three windows, which looked out into the yard. In the centre +was the stove, near which were the Skeleton, Barbillon, Nicholas, and +Pique-Vinaigre. At a signal from the _prévôt_, the Gros-Boiteux joined +this group. Germain was one of the last to enter, absorbed in most +delightful thoughts, and he went mechanically to seat himself on the +ledge at the lowest window in the apartment, a place he usually +occupied, and which no one disputed with him, for it was at a distance +from the stove around which the prisoners were assembled. + +We have already said that some fifteen of the prisoners had been +informed in the first instance of the treachery attributed to Germain, +and the murder which was to avenge it. But, soon whispered to one +another, the plan comprised as many adherents as there were prisoners; +these ruffians, in their blind cruelty, considering this fearful plot as +legitimate revenge, and viewing therein a certain guarantee against the +future disclosure of spies. Germain, Pique-Vinaigre, and the turnkey +were alone ignorant of what was about to take place. General attention +was divided between the executioner, the victim, and the story-teller, +who was about innocently to deprive Germain of the only succour he could +hope for; for it is nearly sure that the turnkey, when he saw the +prisoners attentive to the story of Pique-Vinaigre, would think his +surveillance useless, and take advantage of that moment of tranquillity +to go and take his meal. And when the prisoners had entered, the +Skeleton said to the turnkey: + +"Old fellow, Pique-Vinaigre has a capital idea; he is going to tell us +his story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' It is weather in which one +would not put a policeman out-of-doors, and we shall quietly wait in +till it is time to go to roost." + +"Why, you are always pretty quiet when he begins his talk, and have no +need for me to be at your heels." + +"Yes," said the Skeleton; "but Pique-Vinaigre asks a high price,--he +wants twenty sous for his story." + +"Yes, the trifle of twenty sous,--a mere nothing!" cried Pique-Vinaigre. +"Yes, gents, nothing; for who that had a liard would not bestow it to +hear the adventures of poor little Gringalet, Cut-in-Half, and the +wicked Gargousse? It will rend your hearts, and make your hair stand on +end! And, gents, who is there that would not dispose of the paltry sum +of four liards--or, if you prefer counting my mites, of five +centimes--to have their hearts rent and their hair standing on end?" + +"There are two sous," said the Skeleton, throwing down the piece of +money before Pique-Vinaigre. "Come, is the stone-jug too niggardly to +enjoy this pastime?" he added, looking at his accomplices with a +significant air. + +Several sous fell around him, to the great joy of Pique-Vinaigre, who +thought of his sister as he collected the money. + +"Eight--nine--ten--eleven--twelve--thirteen!" he said, as he picked up +the money. "Now, my rich friends, my capitalists, and others of the +cash interest, try once more. You cannot stop at thirteen, for it is an +unlucky number! Only seven sous deficient, the trifle of seven sous! +What, gents, shall it be said that the Fosse aux Lions could not produce +seven sous--seven miserable sous? Oh, gents, gents, you would make me +believe that you have been brought here very unjustly or that you have +all had a sad run of ill luck." + +The shrill voice and broad jests of Pique-Vinaigre had brought Germain +from his reverie, and, as much to follow Rigolette's advice and make +himself popular with the prisoners as to give a trifle to the poor devil +who had testified some desire to be of service to him, he rose and threw +a piece of ten sous at the tale-teller's feet, who exclaimed, as he +pointed at his generous benefactor: + +"Ten sous, gents! You see, I was speaking of capitalists! Honour to that +gentleman! He behaves like one of the monied interest, as an ambassador +to be agreeable to the company! Yes, gents; for it is to him that you +will owe the greater portion of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,' and you +will thank him for it. As to the three sous over, why, I shall earn them +by imitating the voices of the personages, instead of speaking like you +and me. That will be another obligation you will owe to this wealthy +capitalist, whom you ought to adore." + +"Come, no more blarney, but begin!" said the Skeleton. + +"One moment, gents!" said Pique-Vinaigre. "It is but right that the +capitalist who has given me ten sous should be the best situated, except +our _prévôt_, who has first choice." + +This proposal squared so well with the Skeleton's project that he +exclaimed: + +"True; after me he ought to be best placed!" And again he looked +significantly at the prisoners. + +"Yes, yes; let him come nearer," said the prisoners. + +"Let him sit on the front bench." + +"You see, young man, your liberality is recompensed; the honourable +company sees that you have a right to the front seat," said +Pique-Vinaigre to Germain. + +Believing that his liberality had really better disposed his hateful +companions in his favour, and delighted thus to follow up Rigolette's +earnest desires, Germain, in spite of considerable repugnance, left the +place of his choice, and went towards the story-teller, who, having +arranged four or five benches around the stove, by the aid of Nicholas +and Barbillon, said, with emphasis: + +"Here are the dress-boxes. All respect to the worthy--the capitalist +first." + +"Now, then, let those who have paid take their seats," added +Pique-Vinaigre, gaily, firmly believing that, thanks to himself, Germain +had nothing now to fear. "And those who have not paid," he added, "will +sit down or stand up, which they please." + +Let us sum up the arrangement of his scene. Pique-Vinaigre was standing +up near the stove ready to commence; near him was the Skeleton, also +standing up, and with his eyes intently fixed on Germain, ready to rush +upon him the moment the turnkey left the cell. At some distance from +Germain, Nicholas, Barbillon, Cardillac, and other prisoners, amongst +whom was the man with the blue cotton nightcap and gray blouse, +occupying the remoter benches. The majority of prisoners, grouped here +and there, some sitting on the ground, others standing and leaning +against the wall, composed the secondary figures of this picture, +lighted, à la Rembrandt, by three lateral windows, which threw strong +light and deep shadows on forms so variously characterised and so +strongly marked. The turnkey, whose departure was to be, unknown to +himself, the signal for Germain's murder, kept close to the door, which +was ajar. + +"Are we all ready?" asked Pique-Vinaigre of the Skeleton. + +"Silence in the stone-jug!" said the latter, turning half around; and +then addressing Pique-Vinaigre, "Now, begin; we are all attention!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GRINGALET AND CUT-IN-HALF. + + +Pique-Vinaigre began his recital thus, in the midst of the profound +silence of his auditory: + +"It is no inconsiderable time ago that the story occurred which I am +about to relate to this honourable company. What was called La Petite +Pologne was not then destroyed. The honourable society knows (or does +not know) what was called La Petite Pologne?" + +"Well enough!" said the prisoner in the blue cap; "they were some small +houses near the Rue du Rocher and the Rue de la Pépinière?" + +"Exactly so, my dear sir," replied Pique-Vinaigre; "and the Quartier of +the Cité, which, at the same time, does not consist of palaces, would be +in comparison to La Petite Pologne the Rue de la Paix or the Rue de +Rivoli. What a rookery! but, at the same time, very convenient for gents +in our line. There were no streets but narrow alleys, no houses but +ruins, no pavement but a small carpet of mud and dungheaps, which would +have destroyed all the noise of wheels,--that is, supposing any +carriages passed by that way; but none did! From morn till night, and, +particularly, from night till morn, there were only heard cries of +'Watch! Watch! Help! Murder!' but the watch took no notice. The more +persons were knocked on the head in La Petite Pologne, the fewer persons +there were to apprehend. You should have seen the respectable +inhabitants who lived there! There were very few jewellers, goldsmiths, +and bankers; but then, on the other hand, there were quantities of +organ-grinders, puppet-showmen, punches, and showers of remarkable +animals. Amongst the latter was one well known as Cut-in-Half,--he was +so cruel, and especially to children. He acquired this name because it +was reported that he had cut a small Savoyard in two with a blow of his +hatchet." + +At this moment the prison clock struck a quarter past three o'clock. The +prisoners being made to return to their cells at four o'clock, the +Skeleton's murderous design must be carried into execution before that +hour. + +"_Mille tonnerres!_ The turnkey won't go!" he said, in a low tone, to +Gros-Boiteux. + +"Be easy! He'll go when once the story is begun." + +Pique-Vinaigre continued: "No one knew where Cut-in-Half came from. Some +said he was an Italian, others a Bohemian, others a Turk, others an +African; the gossips called him a magician, although a magician in our +times would be something to look at. What made them believe this was, +that he always had with him a large red monkey called Gargousse, and who +was so cunning and savage that he seemed as if possessed by the devil. I +shall mention this beauty again presently; as to Cut-in-Half, I shall +soon describe him. His complexion was like the old tops of a pair of +jockey-boots, his hair as red as the hair of his monkey, his eyes green, +and (what made the women think he was a conjuror) he had a black +tongue." + +"A black tongue!" exclaimed Barbillon. + +"Black as ink!" replied Pique-Vinaigre. + +"And how did that happen?" + +"Because, no doubt, when his mother was in the family way she had, +perhaps, talked of a negro," said Pique-Vinaigre, with modest assurance. +"To these attractions Cut-in-Half joined the profession of having a +multitude of tortoises, monkeys, guinea-pigs, white mice, foxes, and +marmosettes, corresponding to an equivalent total of Savoyards and +forsaken children. Every morning he distributed his animal to each, and +a morsel of black bread, and then despatched them to beg for 'Only one +ha'penny!' or dance the Catarina. Those who only brought in at night +fifteen sous were beaten, soundly beaten, so that their shrieks might be +heard from one end of La Petite Pologne to the other. I should also say +that there was in La Petite Pologne a man called Le Doyen (the Dean), +because he was the 'oldest inhabitant,' and, as it were, mayor, provost, +magistrate, for it was in his room (he kept a Tom and Jerry shop) that +all went when they could not otherwise decide their quarrels. Although +rather aged, yet Le Doyen was as strong as Hercules, and very generally +feared. They swore by him in La Petite Pologne; and when he said 'Very +good!' all the world said 'Very good!' When he said 'That's bad!' all +the world said 'That's bad!' He was a good fellow at bottom, but very +fierce, particularly when the strong misused the weak,--then look out +for squalls! As he was Cut-in-Half's nearest neighbour, he had heard the +children cry very frequently from the blows which the shower of beasts +gave them. He had said to him, 'If I hear the children cry, I will make +you cry in your turn; and, as you have the stronger voice, I will give +you the severer beating.'" + +"Well done, Le Doyen! I like Le Doyen!" said the prisoner in the blue +nightcap. + +"So do I!" added the turnkey, as he approached the group. + +The Skeleton could not repress a movement of angry impatience. + +Pique-Vinaigre proceeded: + +"Thanks to Le Doyen, who had threatened Cut-in-Half, the cries of the +children were heard no more in the night-time in La Petite Pologne; but +the poor, unhappy little fellows did not suffer the less, for if they +cried no longer when their master beat them, it was because they were +afraid of being more cruelly beaten. As to complaining to Le Doyen, they +had no idea of that. For the fifteen sous which each little fellow was +obliged to bring in, Cut-in-Half lodged, boarded, and clothed them. In +the evening a bit of black bread, as at breakfast,--this was their food. +He never gave them clothes,--that was the way he clothed them; and he +shut them up at night with their animals, on the same straw in a garret, +to which they mounted by a ladder and a trap,--this was the lodging. +When once all had ascended, and the tale of children and animals was +complete, he took away the ladder and locked the trap. + +"You may judge of the life and row which these monkeys, guinea-pigs, +foxes, mice, tortoises, marmosettes, and children made all in the dark +in this cock-loft, which was as big as a barn. Cut-in-Half slept in a +room underneath, with his great ape, Gargousse, fastened to the foot of +his bed. When the brute growled, because there was too much noise in the +loft, the beast-shower went up the ladder without any light, and, going +into the loft, laid about him right and left with a heavy whip, without +seeing or counting his blows. As there were always some fifteen +children, and some of the poor dears brought him in twenty sous a day, +Cut-in-Half having defrayed all his outlay, which was by no means +excessive, had left for himself some four or five francs a day, with +which he enjoyed himself, for it must be told that he was one of the +greatest tipplers that ever lived, and was regularly blind drunk once a +day. That was his rule; and he declared that, but for that, he should +have the headache every day. We should add, that out of his gains he +used to buy some sheeps' hearts for Gargousse, who ate raw flesh like a +cannibal. But I see the honourable society are anxious to be introduced +to Gringalet! Here he is, gents!" + +"Let's have Gringalet, and I'll go and eat my soup," said the turnkey. + +The Skeleton exchanged a look of savage satisfaction with the +Gros-Boiteux. + +"Amongst the children to whom Cut-in-Half distributed his animals," +continued Pique-Vinaigre, "was a poor little devil named Gringalet. +Without father or mother, brother or sister, without fire, food, or +shelter, he was alone in the world,--quite alone in a world which he had +not asked to enter, and which he might leave without attracting any +one's attention. He was not called Gringalet for any pleasure he had in +the name, for he was meagre, lean, and pallid; he did not look above +seven or eight years old, but was really thirteen. If he did not seem +more than half his name, it was not because of his own will, but because +he only fed perhaps every other day, and then so scantily, so poorly, +that it was really an exertion to make him pass for seven years old." + +"Poor little brat! I think I see him!" said the prisoner in the blue +cotton nightcap; "there are so many children like him on the streets of +Paris dying of hunger!" + +"They must begin to learn that way of living very young in order to get +accustomed to it," said Pique-Vinaigre, with a bitter smile. + +"Come, get on!" said the Skeleton, suddenly; "the turnkey is getting +impatient--his soup is getting cold." + +"Oh, never mind that!" said the _surveillant_. "I wish to know something +more of Gringalet; it is very amusing!" + +"Yes, it is really very interesting!" added Germain, who was very +attentive to the story. + +"Ah, thank ye for saying that, my capitalist," said Pique-Vinaigre; +"that gives me more satisfaction than your ten-sous' piece." + +"_Tonnerre!_" exclaimed the Skeleton, "will you have done with your +delays?" + +"Well, then," replied Pique-Vinaigre, "one day Cut-in-Half had picked up +Gringalet in the streets, dying with cold and hunger; perhaps it would +have been best if he had let him die. As Gringalet was weak, he was a +coward; as he was a coward, he became the jest and sport of the other +lads, who beat him and used him so ill that he would have become wicked +if he had not been deficient in strength and courage. But no; when he +had been heartily thumped, he cried, and said, 'I have not done any harm +to anybody, and everybody is unkind to me,--that's very cruel; oh, if I +were strong and bold!' You will, perhaps, imagine that Gringalet was +about to add, 'I would return to others the ill they do to me?' By no +means. He said,' Oh, if I were strong and bold, I would defend the weak +against the strong, for I am weak, and the strong have made me suffer!' +In the meanwhile, as he was too small a boy to prevent the strong from +ill-using the weak, beginning with himself, he prevented the larger +brutes from eating the smaller ones." + +"What a strange idea!" said the prisoner in the blue cap. + +"And, what is stranger still," said the tale-teller, "it was this idea +that consoled Gringalet for being beaten; which proves that his heart +was not bad at bottom." + +"_Pardieu!_ Quite the contrary," said the guardian. "What an amusing +devil that Pique-Vinaigre is!" + +At this instant the chimes went half past three o'clock. The Skeleton +and Gros-Boiteux exchanged significant glances. The time was drawing on, +and the _surveillant_ did not go; and some of the less hardened +prisoners seemed almost to forget the sinister projects of the Skeleton +against Germain, as they listened attentively to Pique-Vinaigre's +recital. + +"When I say," he continued, "that Gringalet prevented the larger brutes +from eating the smaller, you must understand that Gringalet did not mix +himself up with tigers, and lions, and wolves, or even foxes and +monkeys, in the menagerie of Cut-in-Half,--he was too much of a coward +for that; but if he saw, for instance, a spider hidden in his web, in +wait for a poor foolish fly flying gaily in the sunshine of the good +God, without hurting any one, why, in a moment, Gringalet smashed the +web, freed the fly, and did for the spider like a regular Cæsar,--a real +Cæsar; for he turned as white as a sheet in touching such nasty +reptiles; and then it required resolution in him, who was afraid of a +cockchafer, and had been a long while in forming an intimacy with the +tortoise which Cut-in-Half handed to him every morning. Thus Gringalet, +overcoming the fear which the spider caused him, in order to prevent +flies from being eaten, proved himself--" + +"As plucky in his way as a man who attacks a wolf to take a lamb from +his jaws," said the prisoner in the blue cap. + +"Or a man who would have attacked Cut-in-Half to take Gringalet from his +clutches," added Barbillon, who was deeply interested. + +"As you say," continued Pique-Vinaigre; "so that after one of these +onslaughts Gringalet did not feel himself so unhappy. He who never +laughed, smiled, looked about him, cocked his cap on one side (when he +had one), and hummed the 'Marseillaise' with the air of a conqueror. At +this moment, there was not a spider that dared to look him in the face. +Another time it was a grasshopper which was swimming and struggling in a +brook; in a moment, Gringalet put his two fingers boldly in the water +and rescued the grasshopper, which he put on the grass. A first-class +swimmer, who had fished up his tenth drowning man at fifty francs a +head, could not have been prouder than Gringalet when he saw his +grasshopper bend his legs and jump away. And yet the grasshopper gave +him neither money nor medal, nor uttered any more thanks than did the +fly. But then, Pique-Vinaigre, worthy friend, the honourable company +will say to me, what the devil pleasure could Gringalet, whom all the +world thumped and buffeted, find in freeing grasshoppers and destroying +spiders? Since people were unkind to him, why did he not take his +revenge by doing all the evil in his power? For instance, in giving +spiders flies to eat, leaving grasshoppers to drown, or even drowning +them on purpose?" + +"Yes, why not? Why did he not revenge himself in that way?" asked +Nicholas. + +"What good would that have been?" inquired another. + +"Why, to do ill, as ill was done to him." + +"No! Well, then, I understand he liked to save the flies, poor little +chap!" said the man in a blue cap. "He said, perhaps, 'Who knows if some +day they mayn't save me in the same way?'" + +"My right worthy friend is right," cried Pique-Vinaigre, "and has read +in his heart what I was about to narrate to the honourable assembly. +Gringalet was not wicked; he did not see beyond the end of his nose; but +he said,'Cut-in-Half is my spider, and perhaps some day some one will do +for me what I do for the other poor little flies,--break his web and +take me from his clutches;' for till then nothing could have induced him +to run away from his master; he would as soon have thought of killing +himself. However, one day, when neither he nor his tortoise had had a +chance, and had not gained between either of them more than three sous, +Cut-in-Half beat the poor child very severely, so severely that, _ma +foi!_ Gringalet could not stand it any longer; and, tired of being the +butt and martyr of everybody, he watched a moment when the trap was +open, and, whilst Cut-in-Half was feeding his animals, he slid down the +ladder." + +"Oh, so much the better," said a prisoner. + +"But why didn't he go and complain to the Doyen?" inquired the blue cap; +"he would have served Cut-in-Half out." + +"Yes, but he dared not; he was too much afraid, and preferred trying to +escape. Unfortunately, Cut-in-Half had seen him, and, seizing him by the +wrist, lugged him up again into the loft. Poor Gringalet, thinking of +what must befall him, shuddered all over, although he was by no means at +the end of his troubles. Apropos of Gringalet's troubles, I must now +mention to you Gargousse, the large and favourite ape of Cut-in-Half. +This mischievous brute was, _ma foi!_ taller than Gringalet; only +imagine what a size for a monkey! I must tell you why he was never taken +into the streets to be shown, like the other animals of the menagerie: +it was because Gargousse was so wicked and powerful that there was not +one amongst all the show-boys, except an Auvergnat of fourteen, a +determined chap, who, after many skirmishes and contests with Gargousse, +had mastered him, and could lead him about with a chain; and even with +him Gargousse frequently got up some fights, which ended in bloodshed +produced by Gargousse's bites. Enraged at this, the little Auvergnat +said, one fine day, 'Very well, I will revenge myself on this infernal +monkey;' and so, one morning, having gone out with the brute as usual, +he, in order to appease its savageness, bought a sheep's heart. Whilst +Gargousse was eating it, he put a rope through the end of his chain, +tied it to a tree, and, when he had got the brute quite at his mercy, he +gave it an outrageous walloping." + +"Well done! Bravo the Auvergnat! Go it, my lad! Skin the beast alive!" +said the prisoners. + +"He did whack him gloriously!" continued Pique-Vinaigre. "And you should +have seen how Gargousse cried, ground his teeth, leaped, danced, and +skipped hither and thither; but the Auvergnat used his stick famously! +Unfortunately, monkeys, like cats, are very tenacious of life. Gargousse +was as crafty as he was vicious; and when he saw, as they say, how the +wood was on fire, at a heavy blow he made a final bound, and fell flat +at the foot of a tree, shook for a moment, and then shammed dead, lying +as motionless as a log. The Auvergnat believed he had done for him, and, +thinking the ape dead, he cut away, resolved never again to return to +Cut-in-Half. But the beast Gargousse watched him out of the corner of +his eye, and, bruised and wounded as he was, as soon as he saw himself +alone he rent the cord asunder with his teeth. The Boulevard Monceaux, +where he had had this hiding, was close to La Petite Pologne, and the +monkey knew his way as easy as his paternoster; and, making off in that +direction, arrived at his master's, who roared and foamed when he saw +how his monkey had been served. This is not all. From this moment +Gargousse entertained such a furious revenge against all children that +Cut-in-Half, who was not the tenderest soul alive, dared not trust him +to any one for fear of an accident; for Gargousse was capable of +strangling or devouring a child, and all the little brute-showers, +knowing that, would rather be thrashed by Cut-in-Half than go near the +monkey." + +"I must really go and eat my soup," said the turnkey, turning towards +the door; "this devil of a Pique-Vinaigre would wheedle a bird down from +a tree to hear him! I can't tell where the deuce he fishes up all he +tells!" + +"Now, then, the turnkey will go," said the Skeleton, in a whisper to the +Gros-Boiteux. "I'm in such a rage I shake all over! Mind and form a wall +all around the informer,--I will take care of the rest!" + +"Mind, now, and be good boys!" said the turnkey, turning towards the +door. + +"As good as images!" replied the Skeleton, coming closer to Germain, +whilst the Gros-Boiteux and Nicholas, after having agreed on a signal, +made two steps in the same direction. + +"Ah, worthy turnkey, you are going at the most interesting moment!" said +Pique-Vinaigre, with an air of reproach. + +Had it not been for the Gros-Boiteux, who anticipated his intention, and +seized him suddenly by the arm, the Skeleton would have rushed on +Pique-Vinaigre. + +"What! The most interesting moment?" replied the turnkey, turning +towards the story-teller. + +"Decidedly," said Pique-Vinaigre; "you do not know all you will +lose,--the most delightful portion of the history is now about to +commence." + +"Don't attend to him," exclaimed the Skeleton, who with difficulty +repressed his rage; "he is not in good trim to-day; for my part I think +his story very stupid." + +"My story very stupid?" cried Pique-Vinaigre, wounded in his pride as a +tale-teller. "Well, turnkey, I beg of you,--I entreat you to remain till +the conclusion, which, at most, will not be longer than a quarter of an +hour, and as by this time your soup must be cold, why, you haven't much +to lose by a little delay. I will go ahead with my narrative, so that +you may still have time to eat your soup before we are locked up for the +night." + +"Well, then, I'll stay, but make haste," said the turnkey, coming closer +towards him. + +"You are wise to stay, turnkey," continued Pique-Vinaigre; "without +bragging, you never heard anything like it before, especially the +finale, which is the triumph of the ape, and Gringalet escorted in +procession by all the little beast-showers and inhabitants of La Petite +Pologne. On my word and honour, it is not for the sake of boasting, but +it is really superb." + +"Then tell it speedily, my boy," said the turnkey, returning towards the +stove. + +The Skeleton shook with rage. He almost despaired of accomplishing his +crime. If bedtime arrived, Germain must escape, for he was not in the +same dormitory with his implacable enemy, and on the following day +Germain was to be in a separate cell. + +"So it's very stupid!" continued Pique-Vinaigre. "Well, the honourable +company shall be the judge of that. There could not exist a more +vicious brute than the big ape Gargousse, who was even more savage with +children than his master. What does Cut-in-Half do to punish Gringalet +for trying to run away? You shall know by and by. Well, in the meantime, +he seizes on the unhappy child, and locks him into the cock-loft for the +night, saying, 'To-morrow morning, when all your companions are gone +out, I will let you see what I do with vagabonds who try to run away +from me.' You may imagine what a wretched night Gringalet passed. He did +not close an eye, but kept asking himself what Cut-in-Half meant to do +with him, and then he fell asleep. He had a dream,--such a horrid +dream,--that is, the beginning of it was, as you shall see. He dreamed +that he was one of the very poor flies that he had so often rescued from +the spiders' webs, and that he had fallen into a large and strong web, +where he was struggling,--struggling with all his might, without being +able to escape. He then saw coming towards him, stealthily and +treacherously, a kind of monster, which looked like Cut-in-Half turned +into a spider. Poor Gringalet began to struggle again, as you may +suppose, but the more he struggled the more he got entangled, like the +poor flies. At last the spider came up to him, touched him, and he felt +the cold and hairy paws of the horrid beast curl around him and enclose +him, intending to devour him. He believed he was dead, when suddenly he +heard a kind of clear, ringing, sharp sort of buzzing, and he saw a +beautiful golden fly, with a kind of brilliant dart, like a diamond +needle, which flew around the spider with a furious air, and a voice +(when I say a voice you must imagine a fly's voice) which said, 'Poor +little fly! You have saved flies! The spider shall not--' Unfortunately +Gringalet jumped up at this moment, and did not see the end of his +dream; but yet he was at first somewhat assured, and said to himself, +'Perhaps the golden fly with the diamond dart would have killed the +spider if I had finished the dream.' But in vain did Gringalet +endeavour to make himself easy and take comfort; in proportion as the +night ended, his fears renewed, so strongly, that at last he forgot his +dream, or, rather, he only remembered the portion which affrighted him, +the large web in which he had been caught and enfolded by the spider +which resembled Cut-in-Half. You may imagine what a fright he was in; +only think--only think--alone,--quite alone, and no one to defend him! +In the morning, when he saw daybreak gradually appear through the +skylight of the cock-loft, his fears redoubled, and the moment was at +hand when he would be alone with Cut-in-Half. He then threw himself on +his knees in the middle of the garret, and, weeping bitterly, entreated +his comrades to ask Cut-in-Half to forgive him, or else to help him to +escape if possible. But some from fear of their master, others from +disregard, and some from ill nature, refused what poor Gringalet +requested so earnestly." + +"Young scamps!" said the prisoner in the blue cap; "he is to be pitied, +so helpless. If he could have defended himself, tooth and nail, it would +have been very different, _ma foi!_ If you have fangs, show 'em, boy, +and defend your tail!" + +"To be sure!" said several prisoners. + +"Holloa, there!" exclaimed the Skeleton, unable to conceal his rage, and +addressing the Blue Cap; "won't you hold your jaw? Didn't I say silence +in the stone-jug? Am I captain of the ward or not?" + +The Blue Cap's answer was to look the Skeleton full in the face, and +then make that low-lived gesture of the blackguards, which consists in +applying the thumb of the right hand to the end of the nose, opening the +fingers like a fan, and putting the little finger on the thumb of the +left hand, similarly extended. He accompanied this mute reply with so +odd a look that many of the prisoners laughed heartily, whilst others, +on the contrary, were actually stupefied at the audacity of the new +prisoner, so greatly was the Skeleton feared. The latter shook his fist +at the new prisoner, and said to him, grinding his teeth: + +"We'll settle this to-morrow!" + +"I'll make the calculation on your nob! I'll put down seventeen and +carry nothing!" + +For fear the turnkey should have fresh motive for staying, in order to +repress any row, the Skeleton quietly replied: + +"That is not what I mean; I am the captain of this room, and ought to be +attended to,--ought not I, turnkey?" + +"Certainly," replied the superintendent; "no interruption; and go on, +Pique-Vinaigre, and make haste, will you, my lad?" + +"Then," resumed Pique-Vinaigre, "Gringalet, seeing how all the world +forsook him, resigned himself to his miserable fate. It was broad day, +and all the boys were going out with their animals. Cut-in-Half opened +the trap, and called each to give him his morsel of bread. They all +descended the ladder, and Gringalet, more dead than alive, squeezed up +in a corner of the cock-loft with his tortoise, did not move, but +watched his companions as they descended one after the other, and would +have given everything he had to have done as they did. At length the +last quitted the loft, and then his heart beat quick as he thought his +master might forget him. But Cut-in-Half, who was standing at the foot +of the ladder, exclaimed in a loud voice, 'Gringalet! Gringalet!' 'Here +I am, master.' 'Come down directly, or I'll fetch you!' added +Cut-in-Half; and Gringalet believed his last hour was come. 'Oh,' said +he to himself as he trembled in all his limbs, and recollected his +dream, 'you are in the web, little fly, the spider is going to eat you!' +After having put his tortoise quietly down on the ground, he said +farewell to it, for he had become fond of the creature, and went to the +trap, and put his leg on the ladder to go down, when Cut-in-Half, taking +hold of his miserable little leg, as thin as a stick, pulled him down so +suddenly that Gringalet lost his hold, and fell with his face all down +the rounds of the ladder." + +"What a pity it was that the Doyen of La Petite Pologne was not there at +that moment! What a dance he could have played to Cut-in-Half!" said the +blue nightcap; "it is at such moments as these that a man is always +happy and contented to feel how useful it is sometimes to be strong." + +"That's all right, my lad, but, unfortunately, the Doyen was not there, +so Cut-in-Half seized hold of the child by the waistband of his little +breeches, and carried him to his own hole of a chamber, where the huge +monkey was kept fastened to the foot of his bed. Directly the spiteful +beast saw the boy, he began to jump and spring about, grinding his teeth +like a mad thing, and darting towards Gringalet as near as his chain +permitted him, as though he meant to devour him." + +"Poor Gringalet! How ever will he be able to escape? If that beast of a +monkey once gets hold of him he is safe to strangle him! I declare," +exclaimed the man in the blue cap, "the very thoughts of a poor innocent +child being in such a dangerous situation makes me shiver from head to +foot, and I seem as though I couldn't hurt a worm. How do you feel, good +friends?" + +"The very same!" replied a burst of voices. "No more could we!" + +At this moment the prison clock chimed forth the first quarter past +three, and the Skeleton, becoming momentarily more and more apprehensive +that the time would slip away without their being able to accomplish +their design, and furious at the continued interruptions, as well as +irritated at the evident sympathy and compassion awakened in the +breasts of the prisoners by Pique-Vinaigre's recital, called out in +angry voice: + +"Silence in the stone jug, I say! We shall never get to the end of this +unlucky history if you persist in chiming in." + +The buzz of voices died away at these words, and Pique-Vinaigre thus +continued: + +"When it is recollected how much poor little Gringalet had had to endure +before he could get used to his tortoise, and that even the boldest of +his companions trembled and turned pale even at the mention of +Gargousse's name, it may very easily be imagined what deadly terror he +experienced when he found himself placed by his master within the reach +of the horrible monkey. 'Oh, master, master!' he cried, as his teeth +rattled and shook in his head, as though he were under the influence of +an ague fit, 'pray--pray forgive me! Pray have mercy on me! I will never +do so any more. Indeed, indeed, I never will! Oh, I promise you, master; +only let me off this time, and I will never do so again!' But all these +prayers and supplications escaped almost unconsciously from the poor +child, who had indeed committed no fault that called for such promises. +Cut-in-Half, however, laughed at the boy's terrors, and, spite of the +struggles and resistance of the unhappy child, he dragged him within the +grasp of Gargousse, who sprang upon him, and seized him with a savage +grasp." + +A cry of execration passed throughout the assembly, which had been +listening with the profoundest attention to the progress of the tale. + +"I should have been a rare fool had I gone away," said the officer on +duty, as he drew nearer to the listening groups. + +"Oh, but," said Pique-Vinaigre, "you've heard nothing as yet,--the best +is still to come. Directly poor Gringalet felt the cold hairy paws of +the ape seize him by the head and neck, he imagined it was with the +intention of devouring him, and driven almost mad by his agony, he began +shrieking and groaning in a manner that would have moved a stone to pity +him, while he wildly exclaimed, 'Oh, send help! Send help from heaven, +God of goodness and of little children! Oh, little golden fly, come and +preserve me! Come, little fly, and save me from the horrible spider I +dreamed about!' 'Will you hold your noise?' exclaimed Cut-in-Half, as he +gave him several hard kicks, for he was fearful lest his cries should be +heard; but in a minute's time there was no further danger of that, for +the poor boy neither cried or struggled further, but pale and cold as +marble, he remained kneeling, while the devilish monkey clawed and +scratched and buffeted the trembling victim, who, closing his eyes, +resigned himself to his fate. After Gargousse had tired himself with +thus tormenting poor Gringalet, he suddenly paused, and looked up to his +master's countenance, as though asking what he should do next. And +really it seemed as though the ape and his master understood each +other's thoughts, for Gargousse immediately renewed the attack by +plucking out handfuls of the shuddering boy's hair, upon which +Cut-in-Half burst into fits of laughter, so long and so loud that, had +poor Gringalet tried ever so hard, he could not have made himself heard +amid these wicked and malicious rejoicings. They had, however, the +effect of encouraging Gargousse, who proceeded to attack the unfortunate +child with redoubled fierceness." + +"Ah, you beggar of a monkey!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet, "I only wish I had +been near enough to catch hold of your tail! I'd have swung you round +and round like a windmill, and finished by knocking out your dirty +brains against the hardest stone I could find! That beastly ape was as +cruel as if he had been a man!" + +"Oh!" cried a simultaneous burst of voices, "no man ever was, or ever +will be, so cruel as that, I'm sure!" + +"Hallo!" interrupted Pique-Vinaigre, "you forget Cut-in-Half when you +make that remark. However, just listen to what he did next. He +unfastened the long chain of Gargousse from the leg of his bed, around +which it was generally secured, and tied it to the waist of the poor +trembling child, who by this time was more dead than alive; so that the +monkey and the boy were thus placed at the opposite ends of the chain." + +"There was a devil's own invention! Ay, ay, it is quite certain that +some human creatures are more cruel than the most savage wild beast!" + +"When Cut-in-Half had completed this arrangement, he said to the monkey, +who appeared to understand every word he said,--and certainly these were +such a precious pair it would have been a thousand pities they should +have had any difficulty in the matter: 'Now, then, Gargousse, attention! +You have been exhibited with all your clever tricks, but it is now your +turn to be showman. You shall be master, and Gringalet shall be +monkey,--yes, your monkey. So up with you, Gringalet, or I shall set +Gargousse on you, and let him tear you to pieces!' The unhappy child, +unable to utter a word, had again fallen on his knees, holding up his +clasped hands in mute supplication, while the only sound he could utter +proceeded from the convulsive rattling of his teeth. 'Make him stand +upright, Gargousse!' said Cut-in-Half to his ape, 'and if he is +obstinate do as I am doing;' and with these words he belaboured the +child with a switch he held in his hand. Then passing the stick to the +monkey, he added, 'Make him stand up! Hit harder!--harder!' You all know +what close imitators all monkeys are, but Gargousse was ever remarkable +for his extreme quickness in copying the actions of others. He was not +long, therefore, in bestowing so severe a flagellation on the shoulders +of his terrified victim as soon compelled him to try at least to stand +upon his feet, and once up, the unhappy child became as nearly as +possible the same height as the ape. Then Cut-in-Half went out of the +room, and descended the staircase, calling out to Gargousse to follow +him, which he did, tugging violently at the end of the chain to which +Gringalet was fastened, and compelling him to follow like a slave, at +the same time beating him as hard as he could with his cane; and thus +they reached the small courtyard belonging to the miserable tenement +occupied by Cut-in-Half and his live stock. + +"Now, then, Cut-in-Half reckoned on having good sport, so, first +securing the door that opened into the lane, he made signs to Gargousse +to play Gringalet round and round the yard as fast as he could. The ape +loved the fun as well as his master, and coursed the frightened boy +round the yard, beating him with all the strength the switch admitted +of, while Cut-in-Half laughed till his sides ached. Perhaps you may +think this malicious nature was now satisfied,--not a bit of it! This +was a mere beginning! + +"So far Gringalet had merely endured excessive fright, been torn and +scratched by the sharp teeth and claws of Gargousse, and severely beaten +with the stick. This, however dreadful, was far from contenting +Cut-in-Half's savage nature. He therefore devised another scheme, +equally diabolical with his other proceedings. In order to enrage the +monkey still more against the unhappy boy, who by this time was more +dead than alive, he seized Gringalet by the hair of his head, and, after +feigning to overwhelm him with blows, he pushed him towards the monkey, +saying, 'Tear him! Worry him!' showing Gargousse at the same time a +great lump of sheep's heart, as much as to say, Do as I bid you, and +here is your reward. + +"And then began a fearful sight! Just imagine a huge red ape, with a +black muzzle, grinding his teeth like a mad thing, and throwing +himself, in a state of savage fury, on the poor helpless object of his +cruelty, who, unable to defend himself, had no other means of preserving +his face and eyes from being torn to pieces than by throwing himself +down on the ground, flat on his face. Seeing this, Gargousse, wrought up +by his master to a state of frenzied hatred against poor Gringalet, +bestrode him as he lay on the ground, seized him by the neck, and bit +him on the back of his head till the blood came. 'Oh, the spider! The +spider I dreamed of!' cried poor Gringalet, firmly believing now that he +should be devoured. All at once a noise was heard at the gate that +opened from the lane into the yard. Knock! knock! knock!" + +"Ha, ha!" exclaimed all the prisoners at once. "How delightful! 'Tis Le +Doyen come to set the boy free! Oh, tell us if it was not!" + +"Yes, my good friends, you have guessed right; it was Le Doyen, and he +cried out, 'Now then, Cut-in-Half, will you open the door or no? Don't +pretend to be deaf; I see you through the keyhole.' The exhibitor of +beasts was obliged to answer, and went grumblingly along to open the +gate for Le Doyen, who was a regular brick of a man, as strong and +sturdy as a mountain for all his age, and, moreover, he was one of those +persons with whose displeasure it was anything but safe to trifle. +'Well, what do you want with me?' asked Cut-in-Half, half opening the +yard door. 'I have something to say to you,' answered Le Doyen, entering +almost forcibly into the little courtyard. Then observing the savage +conduct of the monkey, he ran towards him, seized him by the scruff of +the neck, and sought to fling him to the other end of the yard; but +perceiving that the boy and the animal were chained together, Le Doyen +cast a stern and fearful glance on Cut-in-Half, as he called out in a +severe tone, 'Let this unfortunate child loose directly!' Only conceive +the joyful surprise experienced by Gringalet, who, nearly dead with +terror, found himself so unexpectedly preserved, and by means which +seemed to him so miraculous that he could not help turning his eyes on +his preserver, with a recollection of the golden-winged fly he had seen +in his dream, though he saw merely a stout, square-built, elderly +gentleman, looking more like a creature of earth than air." + +"Well, now then," said the officer on duty, "now that Gringalet is safe, +I will go and take my soup." + +"Safe!" exclaimed Pique-Vinaigre, "not a bit of it! Bless you, poor +little Gringalet has not got to the worst of his troubles yet." + +"No?" cried several prisoners, with the deepest interest. "No; hasn't +he, though?" + +"But what else happened to him then?" inquired the officer. + +"Wait a bit and you'll hear," answered the story-teller. + +"What a fellow that Pique-Vinaigre is!" cried the officer; "he makes you +do just as he pleases! Well, I'll stay a little longer, at any rate!" + +The Skeleton spoke not, but he actually foamed with rage, as +Pique-Vinaigre thus continued his recital: + +"Cut-in-Half, who feared Le Doyen as the devil fears holy water, had, in +a grumbling manner, unfastened the chain from Gringalet's waist, which +done, Le Doyen tossed Gargousse up in the air, and when he fell to the +ground he gave him so desperate a kick in his ribs that he sent him +rolling ten feet off. The monkey screamed with passion, chattered, and +ground his teeth with rage; then, fearing a repetition of the rough +usage he had experienced, scampered away, and, climbing to the roof of a +small shed, manifested his hatred of Le Doyen by a variety of +threatening gestures. 'What do you mean by ill-using my monkey?' +inquired Cut-in-Half of Le Doyen. 'You ought rather to ask me why I do +not beat you instead of your spiteful beast there; for shame! Thus to +torture and ill-use a poor helpless boy! Is it possible you can be drunk +at this early hour of the morning?' 'I am no more drunk than you are! I +was teaching my monkey a trick I wish him to learn. I want to get up a +scene between Gringalet and my monkey. I attend to my business, and I +only wish other people would do the same, and not trouble themselves +with what does not concern them.' 'And I tell you that I have a right to +interfere in the present case, and that it is my duty so to do. This +morning when I missed Gringalet from among the other children who passed +by my window, I inquired of them where he was. They did not make me any +answer, but hung down their heads, and seemed confused. I know you, +therefore suspected the boy was kept back for some bad purpose, and it +seems I was not mistaken. + +"'Now, just listen to me. Every day that I do not see Gringalet pass my +door with the other lads, I will come here to know the reason, whether +you like it or not; and what's more, you shall produce him alive and +well, or--or--or--I'll--I'll knock you down!' 'I shall do precisely as I +please with the boy, without asking your leave,' answered Cut-in-Half, +excessively irritated by this threat of keeping him under surveillance; +'you'll just please to keep your hands to yourself; and if you do not +take yourself off, and if ever you presume to show your face here again, +I'll--I'll--' 'Take that, then, as an earnest of the future!' cried Le +Doyen, interrupting Cut-in-Half by a couple of blows heavy enough to +knock down a rhinoceros; 'you deserve that and more, too, for presuming +to answer Le Doyen of La Petite Pologne in so impertinent a manner.'" + +"O Lord! Lord!" groaned forth the man in the blue cap, "only two blows! +I wish I had had the handling of him. He should have had a round dozen +to begin with, and afterwards I would have knocked all his teeth down +his throat!" + +"As far as strength went," continued Pique-Vinaigre, "Le Doyen could +have killed and eaten a score of such fellows as the beast-master, so +Cut-in-Half was compelled to pocket the affront. But he was not the less +incensed at being struck in the presence of Gringalet, and well did he +promise himself to be richly avenged for the indignity he had sustained; +and an idea suddenly suggested itself to him, which could only have +originated in the mind of a fiend of malice like himself. While he was +meditating on his diabolical scheme, Le Doyen said, 'Bear in mind that +if you torment this poor boy any more I will just make you and your +menagerie turn out and quit La Petite Pologne, or I will bring the whole +neighbourhood to pull your house about your ears. You know very well how +universally you are hated already, and you may rest assured you will +have such an escort to conduct you hence as shall leave you marks enough +on your back to serve as a remembrancer of your parting, let you live as +long as you may, that I promise you!' + +"Like a treacherous, mean-spirited wretch as he was, Cut-in-Half, the +better to effect his villainous design, instead of quarrelling further +with Le Doyen, feigned to submit to his decision, and replied, in a +false, wheedling tone, 'You were wrong to strike me, my worthy +neighbour, or to imagine I had any intention of harming Gringalet; on +the contrary, I tell you again I was merely teaching my monkey a new +trick; he is rather awkward when he is put out in any way, and, while +trying to manage him, the boy got a few trifling bites, which I very +much regret.' 'Humph!' said Le Doyen, casting a scrutinising look on +him; 'now is this all gospel you are telling me? And why, if you only +wished to teach a thing to your monkey, did you fasten him to +Gringalet?' 'Because the boy has to learn the trick as well as the +animal. Now this is what I want to do,--to dress up Gargousse in a red +coat and a hat with a feather in it, like a barber, and then Gringalet +is to sit in a little chair, with a cloth tucked under his chin, while +the monkey affects to shave him with a large wooden razor.' The joke +appeared so very droll to Le Doyen that he could not forbear laughing. +'Isn't that a funny idea?' inquired Cut-in-Half, in a crafty and +malicious manner. 'Why, upon my word,' answered Le Doyen, 'it does +strike me as a very amusing device, and one which, I doubt not, your +monkey would carry into execution most admirably, that is, if he be as +clever and skilful in imitation as he is represented.' 'Oh, bless you!' +continued Cut-in-Half, 'when he has seen me for five or six times make +believe to shave Gringalet, he will imitate me exactly with his large +wooden razor; but for that purpose it is absolutely necessary he should +become habituated to the boy, and that was my reason for fastening them +both together.' 'But why did you select Gringalet more than any other of +your boys?' 'Because he was the least among 'em, so that, you see, when +he sat down the monkey was the taller of the two. + +"'To be sure I had another reason besides, M. le Doyen, although I know +a man oughtn't to own such a thing as making a difference with his boys, +but, for all that, I'll own the truth, whatever comes of it, and that +is, that I made choice of this here little chap because I meant to give +half the profits from the performance to whoever it was acted the scene +with the animal, because I knew, in course, it was disagreeable.' +'Well,' said Le Doyen, completely gulled by this false and hypocritical +manner of accounting for the conduct which had first attracted his +displeasure,--'well, if such be the case, I can only say, I'm very sorry +I gave you such a very hard thump; however, it does not matter, just +consider it as "paid on account," so that--' While Cut-in-Half was +talking with Le Doyen, poor little Gringalet durst scarcely breathe,--he +trembled like an aspen leaf, and, though dying with eagerness to throw +himself at the feet of Le Doyen, and to supplicate of him to take him +away from his cruel master, he had not courage to make the attempt, and +in a low despairing voice he murmured to himself, 'I shall be like the +poor fly I dreamed about, and the horrid spider will eat me up; it was +folly of me to expect that any golden fly would come to save me!' + +"'Come, my lad, since your master means to let you share his profits, +you ought to try and get used to acting with the monkey; never mind +being tied to him, he won't hurt you, I dare say, and then, you know, +when you have earned a large sum of money by doing this trick with him, +you will have nothing to complain of.' 'Complain, indeed!' exclaimed his +master, giving him at the same time a side-look that froze poor +Gringalet's blood, 'what should he know of complaining? Now then, speak +up, and tell this worthy gentleman whether you ever have had anything to +complain of.' 'Come, let's hear all about it,--have you any cause of +complaint, you are asked?' 'No--no--master,' stammered out the unhappy +child. 'You hear what he says?' said Cut-in-Half, turning to Le Doyen, +'he never has had anything to complain of. No; I should rather think +not! Why, bless you, I was only thinking of his good when I tied him to +the monkey, and if he has got a bit of a scratch from Gargousse, why, +I'll take care it does not happen again. The monkey is just a little +awkward at first, but I'll see to it for the future,--take my word for +it, it won't happen again.' 'That's all right, then, and now everybody's +satisfied, are they not?' 'Gringalet is, most especially; are you not, +my fine fellow?' asked Cut-in-Half, casting a savage glance on the poor +child. 'Yes--yes--master,' sobbed forth the wretched boy. 'And I'll tell +you what I'll do further, to make up for the scratches you have got from +the monkey, I'll let you share in a good breakfast I meant to order +from our worthy Doyen's excellent larder; I intend having a dish of +mutton-chops and pickles, four bottles of wine, and a pint of brandy.' +'Much obliged to you,' answered Le Doyen; 'all shall be sent as you +desire. Few men have a better cellar or more tempting larder, and the +contents of both are at the service of all who can pay for them.' + +"Le Doyen was not a bad sort of a man, but it must be remembered that he +had his living to get, and, therefore, so that he disposed of his +eatables and drinkables at a sufficient profit, he cared but little who +it was in that case,--friend or foe were quite alike to him. The beggar, +Cut-in-Half, knew well enough where his weak side lay, so he hit upon +this method of getting rid of him, in high good humour at having by his +visit not only ascertained the safety of Gringalet, but also obtained a +good order. And now was the unfortunate child thrown into the hands of +his master, past all hopes of safety; for no sooner had Le Doyen turned +his back than Cut-in-Half, pointing to the staircase with a dreadful +frown, bade the trembling lad betake himself to his garret without loss +of time; and the frightened child, glad at any rate to be freed from the +monkey and his master, did not require a second bidding, but made off as +fast as his strength permitted him. When Gringalet reached his own +wretched chamber, he threw himself on the dirty straw allotted him for a +bed beside his tortoise, and wept as though his heart were breaking. 'He +will surely kill me!' cried the miserable boy, as he reflected on the +cruelty of his master and his own inability to escape from him. 'What +shall I do? Oh, how I wish I were dead and in my grave!' Thus he +remained sobbing and lamenting for more than an hour, when he was roused +by hearing the coarse voice of Cut-in-Half calling upon him to descend. +And the terror of the boy was still further increased by discovering a +considerable alteration in the rough tones of his master. 'Now, then!' +roared out the brutal man, with a torrent of oaths, 'are you coming +down, or must I fetch you?' The unhappy child almost slid down the +ladder in his haste to descend, but scarcely had he reached the bottom +than Cut-in-Half seized hold of him, and dragged him to his own room, +stumbling at every step he took; for the fellow had been drinking so +hard that he could scarcely stand on his legs, while his body swung to +and fro like the sails of a windmill. + +"Almost bereft by extreme intoxication of the power of speech, he +continued to gaze on the shrinking child with eyes full of dreadful +meaning, though his tongue was unable to declare the murderous designs +he meditated. Never had the poor boy endured such horror at the sight of +his master. Gargousse was chained as usual to the foot of the bed, and +in the middle of the room stood a chair, from the back of which hung a +strong cord. 'S--s--sit down--there!' cried the tyrant, as he pointed to +the seat. Gringalet obeyed in silence, and Cut-in-Half, without another +word, twisted the rope around him, and finally secured him in the chair +so firmly that, even if poor Gringalet had dared to struggle, it would +have been impossible for him to have extricated himself. 'Great and good +God!' murmured the wretched child, 'this time no one will come to +deliver me from my danger!' And the poor little fellow was right, for, +indeed, it was utterly impossible, and for this reason, that no sooner +had Le Doyen gone away with the idea of all being comfortably arranged +between the boy and his master than Cut-in-Half hastened to double-lock +and bolt the entrance to his premises, so that no person could gain +admission without his knowledge." + +"Oh, poor little Gringalet!" exclaimed all the prisoners, deeply excited +by the recital, "it's all up with him, that's quite sure." + +"I'd give my last franc-piece to get him out of the hands of that +blackguard--that I would!" cried a multitude of voices, as though one +unanimous sympathy actuated each breast. + +"I wonder what that beggar of a Cut-in-Half is going to do with the poor +little chap!" added they, in almost breathless interest; "come, push on, +and let's hear." + +Pique-Vinaigre continued: + +"When Gringalet was well secured in the chair, his master said to him" +(and here the narrator imitated most naturally the thick speech and +stammering tones of a drunken man): 'Ah--you scoundrel!--you--you are +the--cause of--my being thrashed by Le Doyen!--you shall--die--for +it--you shall--you--young--devil!' Then he took from his pocket a +freshly sharpened razor, opened it, and seized Gringalet by the hair of +his head. At the sight of the razor the child began to weep. 'Pardon, +master! Pardon! Do not kill me!' 'Cry away, you infernal brat! You shall +not cry long!' replied Cut-in-Half. 'Golden fly, golden fly, come to my +help!' exclaimed poor Gringalet, almost mad, and remembering the dream +that had had such an effect upon him, 'for the spider is going to kill +me!' 'What!--you call--call--me a spider--do you?' said Cut-in-Half; +'for this--and--other--many other things--you shall die--die, I tell +you--but not by my hand--because that wouldn't do--and besides--they'd +"scrag" me--and so I'll say and prove that it was the ape. I have +managed it all--and so--never mind--for that's all about it!' he added, +preserving his equilibrium with the greatest difficulty. Then calling +the monkey, which, at the end of his chain, was grinning and looking at +his master and the boy, 'Here, Gargousse,' he said, pointing to the +razor, and then to Gringalet, whom he had seized by the hair of his +head, 'do so to him;' and then drawing the back of the razor several +times over Gringalet's throat, he feigned to cut his throat. The devil +of a monkey was such a close imitator--so wicked and so sly--that he +understood what his master desired, and as if to prove to him that he +did so, he took his chin in his left paw, put his head back, and, with +his right paw, pretended to cut his throat. 'That's it, +Gargousse--that's it!' said Cut-in-Half, stammering, with his eyes half +closed, and staggering so much that he almost fell with Gringalet and +the chair. 'Yes, that's it! I'll unfas--unfasten you, and you'll slice +his weasand--won't you, Gargousse?' The ape shrieked as he ground his +teeth, as much as to say yes, and put out his paw as if to take the +razor that Cut-in-Half handed to him. 'Golden fly, come to my rescue!' +murmured Gringalet, in a faint voice, and assured that his last hour was +come. Alas! he called the golden fly without any hopes of its coming to +his rescue; he did so as a drowning man exclaims, '_Mon Dieu! mon +Dieu!_' Yet at this very moment Gringalet saw enter into the room one of +those small gold and green flies, which look like a spangle of gold +flying and flitting around and about; and at the very moment when +Cut-in-Half was going to give the razor to Gargousse, the gold fly went +plump into the eye of this horrible ruffian. A fly in the eye is no +great thing, but at the moment it hurts like the prick of a pin, and +thus Cut-in-Half, who could scarcely support himself, raised his hand to +his eye so suddenly that he staggered and fell at full length, rolling +on the ground like a log to the foot of the bed, to which Gargousse was +fastened. 'Golden fly, many thanks! You have saved me!' cried Gringalet, +who, seated and fastened to the chair, had observed all." + +"_Ma foi!_ It really was true, then, and the golden fly prevented his +having his throat cut," exclaimed the prisoners, overjoyed. + +"The golden fly for ever!" cried the Blue Cap. + +"Listen now," continued the story-teller, "for this is the most +beautiful and terrible of the history I had promised you. Cut-in-Half +had fallen like a lump of lead, and was so drunk that he could move no +more than a log,--he was dead drunk and perfectly senseless; but in his +fall he very nearly crushed Gargousse, and almost broke his hind paw. +You know how savage and revengeful this infernal brute was, and he still +held in his paw the razor which his master had given him to cut +Gringalet's throat. What do you suppose the animal did when he saw his +master on his back and within his reach? Why, he jumped upon him, +squatted on his breast, and whilst with one paw he pushed up his chin to +expose his neck, with the other he cut his throat as clean as a whistle, +just as Cut-in-Half had taught him to do with poor Gringalet a few +minutes before." + +"Bravo, bravo! Well done!" + +"Gargousse for ever!" + +"The little golden fly for ever!" + +"Gringalet for ever! Gargousse for ever!" + +"Well, my friends, I assure you, as you shout now, so did the whole +population of La Petite Pologne shout an hour afterwards," said +Pique-Vinaigre, delighted at the success of his story and the enthusiasm +of his hearers. + +"In what way?" + +"I told you that, in order to complete his wicked purpose at his ease, +the vagabond Cut-in-Half had closed the door inside. Towards the +evening, the boys came in one after the other with their animals. The +first rapped, but no answer; then, when they had all arrived, they +knocked at the door, but no reply; so one went to find Le Doyen to tell +him how they had knocked in vain, and that their master did not open to +them. 'The fellow must be as drunk as an Englishman,' said he; 'I sent +him some wine just now. We must break open the door, for the children +cannot pass the night out-of-doors.' So they burst in the door, and then +they went up the stairs, and what should they see but Gargousse chained +and crouching on his master's body, playing with the razor! Poor +Gringalet was fortunately out of Gargousse's reach and still on the +chair, not daring to look on Cut-in-Half's body, but gazing at,--guess +what, the little golden fly, which, after having flitted round and round +the child as if to congratulate him, had, at last, come and settled on +his poor little hand. + +"Gringalet related all to Le Doyen and the crowd that came in, and, as +it really appeared like the interposition of Providence, Le Doyen cried, +'A triumph for Gringalet! A triumph to Gargousse who killed the infamous +Cut-in-Half! He cut others, it was his turn to be cut himself.' 'Yes, +yes,' cried the assembled mob, for the beast-shower was universally +detested, 'a triumph to Gargousse! A triumph for Gringalet!' It was +night, and they lighted straw torches, fastened Gargousse to a bench, +which four chaps carried on their shoulders; and the blackguard of an +ape seemed as if he felt his consequence, and gave himself the airs of a +conquering hero, by showing his teeth to the multitude. After the ape +came Le Doyen, carrying Gringalet in his arms; then all the little +fellows, each carrying his beast, followed him, one with his fox, +another his marmotte, another his guinea-pig; and those who played on +the hurdy-gurdy played now; then there were the charcoal-sellers who had +their bells, and there was such an uproar, such joy, such a fête as can +be scarcely imagined. Behind the musicians and animal-showers came all +the dwellers in La Petite Pologne, men, women, and children, all holding +straw torches, and halloaing like mad, 'Vive Gringalet! Vive Gargousse!' +The procession advanced in this way around the place in which +Cut-in-Half dwelt. It was a very singular sight to see the old buildings +lighted up by the red light of the straw torches, which flared and +flared. As to Gringalet, the first thing he did when he was at liberty +was to put the little golden fly in a paper bag, and he exclaimed during +his triumph, 'Little flies, I did very right in preventing the spiders +from eating you, for--'" + +Pique-Vinaigre was interrupted by a voice from without, exclaiming: + +"Père Roussel, come to your soup; it only wants ten minutes to four!" + +"_Ma foi!_ The story is nearly finished, and I must go. Many thanks, my +lad, you have amused me very much, and that you may tell everybody," +said the superintendent to Pique-Vinaigre, going to the door; then +pausing, "Mind and be quiet," he said, turning towards the prisoners. + +"We shall hear the end of the story," said the Skeleton, breathless with +suppressed rage; then, adding in a whisper to Gros-Boiteux, "Follow him +to the door, and, when you see him leave the yard, cry Gargousse, and +the informer is a dead man." + +"All right," said Le Gros-Boiteux, who accompanied the guardian, and +remained at the door watching his steps as he went away. + +"I tell you, then," resumed Pique-Vinaigre, "that Gringalet, during the +whole time of his triumph, said, 'Little flies, I have--'" + +"Gargousse!" cried Gros-Boiteux, as the turnkey quitted the yard. + +"I'm here, Gringalet, and I will be your spider!" cried the Skeleton, +instantly, and darting so suddenly on Germain that he could not make a +struggle or utter a cry. His voice expired under the tremendous gripe of +the Skeleton's iron fingers. + +"If you are the spider, I'm the golden fly, Skeleton of evil," cried a +voice, at the moment when Germain, surprised at the violent and sudden +attack of his implacable enemy, had fallen back on the bench entirely at +the mercy of the ruffian, who, with his knee on his breast, held him by +the neck. "Yes, I will be the fly, and a fly of the right sort!" +repeated the man in the blue cap, of whom we have already spoken, and +then, with a fierce spring, he dashed upon the Skeleton, and assailed +him on the skull and between his eyes with a shower of blows from his +fist, so tremendous that it sounded like the noise of a smith's hammer +ringing on an anvil. + +[Illustration: "_The Skeleton Staggered at First_" +Original Etching by Marcel] + +The man in the blue cap, who was no other than the Chourineur, added, as +he redoubled the quickness of his hammering on the Skeleton's head: + +"It is the shower of blows which M. Rodolph drummed on my sconce, and I +have recollected them." + +At this unexpected assault the prisoners were all struck with surprise, +and did not take part either for or against the Chourineur. Several of +them, still under the influence of the salutary impression made on them +by Pique-Vinaigre's story, were even glad of an event which saved +Germain. The Skeleton staggered at first, and, reeling like an ox under +the butcher's poleaxe, mechanically extended his hands to try and ward +off his adversary's blows, and Germain, thus freed from the deadly +clutch of the Skeleton, half raised himself. + +"What does this mean? Who is this scoundrel?" exclaimed Le Gros-Boiteux, +and, rushing at the Chourineur, he endeavoured to seize his arms from +behind, whilst the latter was making violent efforts to keep the +Skeleton down on the bench. Germain's defender replied to Le +Gros-Boiteux's attack by a kind of kick, so violent that it sent the +cripple rolling on the ground to the farther end of the circle formed by +the prisoners. + +Germain, whose face was livid and purple, half suffocated, and on his +knees by the bench, seemed unconscious of all that was passing around +him. The strangulation had been so violent that he could scarcely +breathe. + +After his first surprise was over, the Skeleton, by a desperate effort, +contrived to keep the Chourineur off and regain his feet. Breathless, +drunk with rage and hatred, he was fearful to look upon. His cadaverous +face streamed with blood, his upper lip curled like that of a furious +wolf, exposed his teeth clenched against each other. At last he +exclaimed, in a voice palpitating with anger and exertion, for his +struggle had been very violent: + +"Stab him,--the ruffian!--you cowards, who let me be traitorously +attacked, or the informer will escape!" + +During this momentary truce, the Chourineur, raising Germain half +fainting, had managed very cleverly to put him in an angle of the wall, +and, availing himself of this advantageous position of defence, he was +able, without fear of surprise from behind, to resist any attack of the +prisoners, on whom the skill and herculean powers he had displayed had +imposed considerable respect. + +Pique-Vinaigre, greatly alarmed, had disappeared without his absence +being remarked. + +Seeing hesitation amongst the majority of prisoners, the Skeleton +exclaimed: + +"Aid me now, let us do for both, the big 'un as well as the little 'un!" + +"Look out for squalls, then," replied the Chourineur, preparing for a +struggle, with his two hands squared, and standing well-balanced on his +loins; "and mind your eye, Skeleton! If you mean to play the +Cut-in-Half, I'll serve you as Gargousse did, and slit your weasand." + +"Fall on him!" said Le Gros-Boiteux, getting up. + +"Why does this vagabond defend spies? Death to the informer, and to him, +too! If he defends Germain he is a traitor!" + +"Yes, yes, death to the spy! Death!" + +"Yes, and death to the traitor who defends him!" + +Such were the cries uttered by the fiercest of the _détenus_. Another +party, more merciful, exclaimed: + +"No, let's hear him first!" + +"Yes, let him explain; we mustn't kill a man without a hearing!" + +"And without means of defence, too! Must we be Cut-in-Halfs?" + +"So much the better!" replied the Skeleton's partisans. + +"Nothing's too bad for a spy!" + +"Let's fall on him! Let us support the Skeleton!" + +"Yes, let's at the Blue Cap!" + +"No, let's support the Blue Cap, and let's at the Skeleton!" retorted +the Chourineur's party. + +"No, down with the Blue Cap!" + +"Down with the Skeleton!" + +"Well done, my boys!" cried the Chourineur, addressing the prisoners who +sided with him. "You're good fellows, and would not massacre a half dead +man; none but cowards would do that. The Skeleton does not care what +evil he does; he is sentenced beforehand, and that is why he urges you +on; but if you help to kill Germain, you will be severely punished for +it. Besides, I have something to propose. The Skeleton is desirous of +doing for this young man; well, let him come and take him if he thinks +he has the pluck to do it; let us two settle it; leave us to ourselves, +and see what turns up. But he's afraid; he's like Cut-in-Half, only +strong with the weak." + +The vigour, energy, and rough manner of the Chourineur had powerful +effect on the prisoners, and a considerable number of them had ranged +themselves on his side, and surrounded Germain, whilst the Skeleton's +party drew around that ruffian. A bloody fray would have ensued, when +there was heard in the yard the sonorous and measured tread of a piquet +of infantry, always on guard in the prison. Pique-Vinaigre, profiting by +the general stir and noise, had gained the yard, and, having knocked at +the wicket of the entrance, had told the turnkeys what was passing in +the day-room. The arrival of the soldiers put an end to this scene. +Germain, the Skeleton, and the Chourineur were taken before the +governor of La Force; the first to make his complaint, the two others to +answer for creating a disturbance inside the gaol. + +The fright and suffering of Germain had been so great, his weakness so +extreme, that he was obliged to lean on two of the turnkeys, in order to +reach a chamber next to the governor's room. There he was very ill. His +neck, excoriated as it was, bore the livid and bleeding imprint of the +Skeleton's iron grasp; a few minutes more, and Rigolette's betrothed +would have been strangled. The turnkey, who had taken an interest in +Germain, gave him first assistance. When he had recovered, his first +thought was of his deliverer. + +"Thanks for your kind cares, sir," he said to the turnkey. "But for that +brave man, I must have been killed. Where is he?" + +"In the governor's room, telling him how the disturbance arose. It +appears that but for him--" + +"I must have been killed. Oh, tell me his name! Who is he?" + +"His name I do not know, but they call him the Chourineur; he is an old +offender." + +"And is his crime now very serious?" + +"Very; burglary in the night in an inhabited house," replied the +turnkey. "He will probably have a similar dose to Pique-Vinaigre, +fifteen or twenty years of hard labour." + +Germain shuddered; he would have preferred being bound by gratitude to a +man less criminal. + +"How dreadful!" he said. "And yet this man without knowing me defended +me; such courage, such generosity!" + +"Ah, these men have sometimes a touch of good! The main point is that +you are saved. To-morrow you will have your private cell, and to-night +you will sleep in the infirmary. So, courage, sir. The bad time is over; +and when your pretty little visitor comes to see you, you can comfort +her, for once in a cell you have nothing to fear; only you will do +wisely, I think, not to tell her of this affair." + +"Certainly not; but I should like to thank my defender." + +"I have just been leaving the governor, who will now interrogate the +Skeleton, and I shall take them both, the Skeleton to his dungeon +directly, and the Chourineur to the Fosse aux Lions; he will be, +besides, somewhat rewarded for what he has done for you; as he is a +determined and stout fellow, he will probably replace the Skeleton as +captain of the ward." + +The Chourineur, having crossed a small passage from the governor's +apartment, entered the room in which Germain was. + +"Wait for me here," said the turnkey to the Chourineur. "I will go and +ask the governor what he decides upon as to the Skeleton, and I will +return and let you know. Our young man has quite recovered, and wishes +to thank you, and so he should, for otherwise it would have been all +over with him." And the turnkey went out. + +The Chourineur's countenance was very joyous, and he advanced towards +Germain, saying, with a cheerful air: + +"Thunder! How glad I am! How glad I saved you!" and he extended his hand +to Germain, who, by a feeling of involuntary repulsion, withdrew +somewhat, instead of taking the hand which the Chourineur offered to +him; then, remembering that he owed his life to this man, he was +desirous of repairing this display of repugnance. But the Chourineur +perceived it; his features became overcast, and, retreating in his turn, +he said, with bitter sorrow, "Oh, it is right; your pardon, sir!" + +"No, it is I who ought to ask your pardon; am I not a prisoner like +yourself? Ought I not to think of the service you have rendered me? You +have saved my life. Your hand, sir, I beg--I entreat--your hand!" + +"Thanks; but it is useless now. The first feeling is everything. If you +had directly given me a grasp of the hand, it would have afforded me +pleasure, but, when I reflect, I would not desire it. Not because I am a +prisoner like you," he added, with a sombre and hesitating air, +"because, before I came here, I have been--" + +"The turnkey told me all," said Germain, interrupting him; "but yet you +saved my life." + +"I have done no more than my duty and pleasure, for I know who you +are--Monsieur Germain." + +"You know me!" + +"A little, my lad," said the Chourineur, resuming his usual tone of +habitual carelessness; "and, _pardieu!_ you would have been very wrong +to have attributed my arrival at La Force to chance. If I had not known +you, I should not have been in prison." + +Germain looked at the Chourineur with amazement. + +"What! It was because you knew me?" + +"That I am here a prisoner in La Force." + +"I, who owe you--" + +"A candle to the Virgin, for having procured me the advantage of being +in La Force." + +"Really," said Germain, passing his hand over his brow. "I do not know +whether the terrible shock I have just undergone has weakened my senses, +but it is impossible for me to understand you. The turnkey told me you +were here under a charge of--of--" said Germain, with hesitation. + +"Robbery, _pardieu_! And robbery with forcible entry, and moreover at +night; nothing could be more complete!" cried the Chourineur, with a +hearty laugh. + +Germain, painfully excited at the bold hardihood of the Chourineur, +could not forbear saying to him: + +"What, you, so brave, so generous, and speak in this way! Are you not +aware of the terrible punishment to which you are exposed?" + +"Twenty years at the galleys; I know that. I am an out-and-out +scoundrel, I know that, for taking it so easy. But what's the use when +one has been and done it? And then, for me to say that it was you, M. +Germain," added the Chourineur, heaving a tremendous sigh, and with an +air of assumed contrition, "who are the cause of my misfortune." + +"When you explain yourself more clearly, I shall understand you. Just as +much as you please, but my gratitude for the service you have rendered +me will never cease or diminish," added Germain, sorrowfully. + +"Oh, pardon me, M. Germain!" replied the Chourineur, becoming serious. +"You do not like to see me laugh at this; do not let us add another +word. I must let all out with you, and so, perhaps, force you to shake +my hand." + +"I have no doubt of that; for, in spite of the crime of which you are +accused, and of which you accuse yourself, all in you bespeaks so much +courage and frankness that I am convinced you are charged unjustly; +strong suspicions may exist, but I am sure that is all." + +"Oh, as to that you are mistaken, M. Germain!" said the Chourineur, +hastily; "on my word as a man, and as true as I have a protector,"--the +Chourineur took off his cap,--"who is more than all the world to me, I +robbed at night by forcing the shutter, and was caught in the fact and +deprived of all I was endeavouring to carry off." + +"But want--hunger--pushed you to such an extremity?" + +"Hunger! I had one hundred and twenty francs when they apprehended me, +the remains of a note of one thousand francs, without including the +protector I have mentioned to you, who, by the way, does not know that I +am here, but will not let me want for anything. Since, however, I have +mentioned him to you, you must suppose I am in earnest, for you must +know that he is a man to go on your knees before. So I must tell you, +too, that the shower of blows which I drummed on the Skeleton's sconce +was a sketch after his style, copied from nature. The idea of the +robbery was on his account; and, in fact, if you were not strangled by +the Skeleton, it is through him." + +"But this protector?" + +"Is yours also." + +"Mine!" + +"Yes, M. Rodolph protects you. When I say monsieur, I should say +monseigneur, for he is at least a prince; but I have a habit of calling +him M. Rodolph, which he permits me to do." + +"You are under some mistake," said Germain, more and more surprised; "I +do not know the prince." + +"Yes, but he knows you. You don't believe it? Well, that's possible, for +that's his way. He knows that there is some worthy fellow in trouble, +and then, in an instant, the good fellow is comforted, and, without +being seen or known, he is at work, and kindness falls from the skies, +like a tile from a house on your head. So patience, and one day or other +you will have your tile." + +"Really, what you say amazes me!" + +"Ah, you'll have a great deal more to amaze you yet! To return to my +protector: Some time ago, after a service which he persisted I had done +him, he procured me a splendid position, I need not say where, or any +more about it, for it would be a long tale to tell. Well, he sends me to +Marseilles to embark and go to a capital appointment in Algeria. I left +Paris as happy as a child; but, all of a sudden, a change comes over +me." + +"That was singular!" + +"Why, you must know that once separated from M. Rodolph I was uneasy, +disturbed, as fidgety as a dog who has lost his master. It was very +stupid; but so are dogs, sometimes, but that does not prevent them from +being at least attached, and as well mindful of the nice bits given them +as of the thumps and kicks they have had, and M. Rodolph had given me +many nice bits, and, in truth, M. Rodolph is everything to me. From +being a riotous, dare-devil, good-for-nothing blackguard, he made an +honest man of me by only saying two words, just for all the world like +magic." + +"What were the words he said?" + +"He said I had still heart and honour, although I have been at the +galleys, not for having stolen, it is true,--ah, never that,--but what +perhaps is worse, for having killed,--yes," said the Chourineur, in a +gloomy tone, "killed in a moment of passion, because formerly growing up +like a brute beast, or, rather, as a vagabond, without father or mother, +and left abandoned in the streets of Paris, I knew neither God nor +devil--neither good nor evil. Sometimes the blood mounted to my eyes, +and I saw red, and if I had a knife in my hands I slashed and hacked,--I +was a real savage--a beast, and only lived amongst thieves and +scoundrels. I was in the mud, and in the mud I lived as well as I could. +But when M. Rodolph said to me that since, in spite of the contempt of +all the world and my misery, instead of plundering like others I had +preferred working as long as I could, and for what I could, that showed +I had still heart and honour--thunder!--you see these two words had the +same effect on me as if I had been seized by the hair of my head and +lifted a thousand feet into the air above the vermin with whom I dwelt, +and showed me the filth in which my life was spent. So I said, 'Thank +ye, I've had enough of this!' Then my heart beat with something else +besides anger, and I took an oath to myself always to preserve that +honour which M. Rodolph spoke of. You see, M. Germain, that when M. +Rodolph told me so kindly that I was not so bad as I believed myself to +be, that encouraged me, and, thanks to him, I became better than I had +been." + +When he heard this language, Germain comprehended less and less how the +Chourineur had committed the robbery of which he accused himself. + +"No," he said to himself, "it is impossible; the man who was so exalted +at the two words honour and heart cannot have committed the robbery of +which he talks with so much self-complacency." + +The Chourineur continued, without remarking the astonishment of Germain: + +"To say the truth, what made me be like a dog to his master to M. +Rodolph was that he raised me in my own opinion. Before I knew him I +never felt but on my skin, but he moved me inwardly, and to the bottom +of my heart. Once away from him and the place he inhabited, I felt like +a body without a soul. In proportion as I proceeded farther I said to +myself, 'He leads such a strange life,--mixes with such scamps (I can +answer for that), that he risks his body twenty times a day, and, under +some such circumstances, I may be his dog and defend my master, for I am +strong in the jaws;' but then he had said to me,'My good fellow, you +must become useful to others, therefore go where you can be +serviceable.' I was very nearly replying, 'I have no one to serve but +you, M. Rodolph,' but I daredn't. He said to me, 'Go,' and I went, and +have gone as far as I could; but, thunder! when I ought to have gone on +board the ship, left France, and put the sea between M. Rodolph and +myself, I had not the courage. He had desired his correspondent to give +me a great lump of money when I sailed, so I went to the gentleman, and +said to him, 'Sir, I can't do it--I'd rather do anything, so please to +give me enough to pay my journey on foot; I have good legs, and I will +return to Paris, for I cannot leave France. M. Rodolph will be angry, +and, perhaps, refuse to see me,--that's possible; but I shall see him, +know where he is, and if he goes on as usual, sooner or later I may, +perhaps, arrive in time to come between him and a stab with a knife; and +then I really cannot go so far away from him! Something I cannot account +for attracts me to his side.' Well, they gave me sufficient to pay my +way, and I reached Paris. Then I really was frightened. What could I say +to M. Rodolph to excuse myself? But, after all, he would not eat me up; +so I went to find his friend, a tall, bald-headed man, but a right sort +of fellow as ever broke bread. When I saw M. Murphy, I said,'Now my fate +will be decided;' and my throat was dry, and my heart beat such a pace! +I expected to catch it pretty handsomely, but, what d'ye think? Why, the +worthy gentleman received me just as if we had only parted the previous +evening, and told me that M. Rodolph, instead of being angry, wished to +see me as soon as possible. Well, so I went at once to my +protector,--him with such a stout fist and good heart,--and when I was +face to face with him he who is as terrible as a lion and as gentle as a +child--he who is a prince, and yet puts on a blouse like me--and once on +a time (I bless the day, or night, rather) laid on me such a shower of +blows that I saw nothing but fire, why, M. Germain, when I reflected on +all the agreeable qualities he is master of, I felt completely overcome, +and I snivelled like a woman. Well, instead of laughing at me, for I +must be a rum-looking lot when I pipe my eye, M. Rodolph said to me, +seriously, 'Here you are back again, my good fellow, eh?' 'Yes, M. +Rodolph, and pray excuse me if I have done wrong, but I could not help +it. Give me some corner in your courtyard, give me a crust and a glass, +or let me earn it here,--that's all I ask, and pray don't be angry with +me for coming back.' 'So far from it, my man, you have come back just in +time to do me a service.' 'I, M. Rodolph? Is that possible? Well, there +must have been something above, for if not, how could I explain how it +was I must come back here at the very moment when you wanted me? What +can I do for you, M. Rodolph?' 'An honest, worthy young man, in whom I +take the interest I should do in a son, has been unjustly accused of +robbery, and is a prisoner in La Force. His name is Germain; he is of a +gentle, quiet disposition. The wretches with whom he is confined have +conceived a great aversion for him, and he is in great danger. You +unfortunately have known what a prison life is, and a great many +prisoners; could not you, in case there may be any of your old +companions in La Force (we will find that out), go and see them, and, by +promises of money, which shall be duly performed, induce them to protect +this unfortunate young man?'" + +"But who can this generous and unknown man be, who takes so much +interest in my fate?" asked Germain, more and more surprised. + +"You will learn, perhaps, hereafter,--as for me, I do not know. To +return to my conversation with M. Rodolph. Whilst he was speaking to me +there came an idea into my head, so curious, so whimsical, that I could +not forbear laughing outright before him. 'What is it, my lad?' said he. +'Why, M. Rodolph, I laugh because I am so happy, and I am happy because +I have the means of putting your M. Germain quite safe from any ill-will +on the part of the prisoners, of giving him a protector who will defend +him boldly, for when once the young fellow is under the care of the man +I mean, not one will dare look at him impertinently.' 'Very good--one of +your old comrades, no doubt?' 'Exactly so, M. Rodolph; he has been in La +Force some days, that I know. But I must have some money.' 'How much +shall you require,--a note for a thousand francs? Here it is.' 'Thank +ye, M. Rodolph; in two days you will have some news.'" + +"I begin to understand, or, rather, I'm afraid to understand," exclaimed +Germain. "To come and protect me in this prison you have, perhaps, +committed a robbery? Oh, what remorse will beset all my life!" + +"Hold hard! M. Rodolph had said I had heart and honour,---these words +are my law, you must know; and he may still say it to me, for if I am +no better than I was before, at least I am no worse." + +"But this robbery, if you have not committed it, why are you here?" + +"Listen! There is a capital joke with my thousand francs, I bought +myself a black wig, shaved my whiskers, put on blue spectacles, bent my +head on one side, and made up my back as if it were humped, and then +went in search of two apartments to let, on the ground floor, in a +bustling part of the city. I found what I looked for in the Rue de +Provence, and paid a month in advance, under the name of M. Grégoire. +Next day I went to the Temple to buy furniture for my two rooms, with my +black wig, my hump, and blue glasses, so that I might be easily +recognised. Well, I sent the goods to the Rue de Provence, and, +moreover, six silver spoons, which I bought in the Boulevard St. Denis, +still disguised with my hump. I returned then to arrange all my affairs +in my residence. I told the porter I should not sleep there until the +following night, and took away my key. The windows of the two rooms were +closed with strong shutters. Before I went away I had purposely left one +with the bolt undrawn. The night came, and I put off my wig, my +spectacles, my hump, and the clothes in which I had made my purchases +and hired my apartments, putting this suit in a portmanteau, which I +forwarded to M. Murphy, M. Rodolph's friend, begging him to take care of +it for me. I then bought this blouse, and the blue cotton cap, and a bar +of iron two feet long; and at one o'clock in the morning I went into the +Rue de Provence, where I lurked about before my lodging, awaiting the +moment when the patrol would pass and prevent my robbing +myself,--committing a burglary on my own premises, in order to be caught +and apprehended." + +And the Chourineur burst into a fit of hearty laughter. + +"I begin to understand," cried Germain. + +"But I was nearly getting in a 'fix,' for no patrol passed. I might have +robbed myself twenty times with the greatest ease and safety. At last, +about two o'clock in the morning, I heard the tread of the soldier boys, +and then I pushed open the window, jumped into the room, pocketed the +silver spoons and some other trifles. Fortunately the lively patrol had +heard the smash of the windows, and just as I leaped out of the window +they laid hands upon me. They knocked at the door, which the porter +opened, they sent for the sergeant of police, who came. The porter told +him that the two rooms had been hired that morning by a humpbacked +gentleman, with black hair and blue spectacles, whose name was Grégoire. +I had the thick head of hair which you now see, and my eyes were as wide +open as a hare's on the watch, was as upright as a Russian sentinel, and +could not be taken for a humpbacked gentleman, with blue glasses and +black hair. I confessed all, and was conducted to the station, and from +the station to this prison, where I arrived in the nick of time to +snatch from the clutch of the Skeleton the young man of whom M. Rodolph +had said to me, 'I am interested in him as much as if he were my own +son.'" + +"What do I not owe you for such devotion?" + +"Not to me,--you owe it to M. Rodolph." + +"But whence arises his interest in me?" + +"That is for him to tell you, or, perhaps, he will not tell you, for he +very often chooses to do good, and if you ask him why, he will not let +you know." + +"M. Rodolph, then, knows you are here?" + +"I'm not such a fool as to tell him my plans; perhaps he would not have +consented to my whim, and, really, I must say it was capital." + +"But what risks you have run,--indeed, still run." + +"Oh, what risk? I might not have been brought to La Force,--that was the +worst risk,--but I relied on M. Rodolph's interest to have my prison +changed, so that I might have got to you." + +"But at your trial?" + +"Well, I shall beg M. Murphy to send me the portmanteau. Before the +judge I shall appear in my black wig, blue spectacles, and hump, and +shall be again M. Grégoire for the porter who let me the chambers and +the tradespeople who sold me the goods. So much for the robbery. If they +wish to see the thief again, I'll put off my suit, and then it will be +as clear as daylight that the robber and the robbed together only make a +total of the Chourineur and no more. And what the devil would you expect +when it is proved that I robbed myself?" + +"Why, indeed," said Germain, more assured; "but since you take so much +interest in me, why did you not speak to me when you came first into the +prison?" + +"I knew instantly of the scheme against you by the prisoners, and I +might have denounced them before Pique-Vinaigre began or ended his +story; but to denounce such ruffians did not suit my ideas,--I preferred +trusting only to my fist in order to snatch you from the clutch of the +Skeleton; and when I saw that scoundrel I said to myself, 'This is a +fine opportunity for putting in practice that shower of blows to which I +owe the honour of M. Rodolph's acquaintance.'" + +"But if all the prisoners had taken part against you, alone, what could +you have done?" + +"Why, then, I should have shrieked like an eagle and called lustily for +help. But I preferred having my little affair all to myself, that I +might be able to say to M. Rodolph, 'I was all alone in the matter. I +have defended and will defend your friend,--be easy on that subject.'" + +At this moment the turnkey suddenly returned to the apartment. + +"Monsieur Germain, go to the governor; he wishes to speak to you +immediately. And you, Chourineur, go down into the Fosse-aux-Lions; you +are to be _prévôt_, if you like, for you have all the qualifications for +that duty, and the prisoners will not joke with a man of your sort." + +"It is all the same to me, I'd as soon be captain as private." + +"Will you refuse my hand now?" said Germain, cordially. + +"_Ma foi!_ no, M. Germain! I'll shake hands with all my heart." + +"We shall see one another again, for I am now under your protection. I +shall have nothing more to fear, and shall, therefore, come down every +day from my cell into the yard." + +"Make yourself quite easy on that score. But now I think of it, write a +line to M. Rodolph, who will then no longer be uneasy about you, and +will also learn that I am here for a good reason, for if he were to hear +that I had committed a robbery, and did not know all the real +facts,--thunder! That would not do by any means." + +"Make your mind easy. I will write this very evening to my unknown +protector. Once more, good-bye, and thanks most heartily, my worthy +friend." + +"Good-bye, M. Germain. I must return to those scoundrels, and I'll make +them go right; if not, let them look out for squalls!" + +"When I reflect that it is on my account that you must remain some time +longer with these wretches--" + +"What consequence is that? There is no fear of their turning on me;" and +the Chourineur followed the turnkey. + +Germain went to the governor. What was his surprise to find Rigolette +there! pale, agitated, and her eyes bathed in tears; and yet smiling +through her tears, her countenance expressing unutterable happiness. + +"I have good news for you, sir," said the governor to Germain; "justice +has declared that no prosecution can be instituted against you; and in +consequence of the withdrawing of this, and explanations that have taken +place, I have received an order to set you at liberty immediately." + +"Sir! What do you say? Can it be possible?" + +Rigolette tried to speak, but her extreme emotion prevented her, and she +could only make an affirmative sign to Germain with her head, and clasp +her hands. + +"Mademoiselle arrived a few minutes after I had received the order to +set you at liberty," added the governor. "A very powerful letter of +recommendation which she brought to me informed me of the touching +devotion she had shown to you in prison; and it is with extreme pleasure +that I sent for you, certain that you will be very happy to offer your +arm to mademoiselle, and lead her hence." + +"A dream! It must be a dream!" said Germain. "Ah, sir, how can I thank +you? Excuse my astonishment,--joy prevents me from thanking you as I +ought." + +"And I, too, M. Germain,--I cannot find a word to say," said Rigolette; +"only imagine my delight when I left you on finding the friend of M. +Rodolph, who was waiting for me." + +"Again M. Rodolph!" exclaimed Germain, astonished. + +"Yes, and M. Murphy said to me, 'Germain is free--here is a letter for +the governor of the prison; when you arrive there he will have received +the order for Germain's release, and you may take him away with you.' I +could not believe what I heard, and yet it was true. Well, as quick as +possible, I took a hackney-coach, and came here; it is waiting for us at +the gate." + +We will not attempt to paint the delight of the two lovers when they +quitted La Force, and the evening they passed together in Rigolette's +small apartment, which Germain quitted at eleven o'clock to go to a +humble furnished room. + + +END OF VOLUME V. + + + * * * * * +Transcriber's Notes: + + +This e-text was prepared from numbered edition 505 of the 1000 printed. + +Minor punctuation and capitalization corrections have been made without +comment. + +Minor typographical errors of single words, otherwise spelled correctly +throughout the text have been made without comment. + +Word Variations appearing in the original text which have been retained: + +"pocket-book" (1) and "pocketbook" (3) +"protégé" (2) and "protégée" (3) + +Words using the [oe] ligature, which have been herein represented as +"oe": "Croesus." + +Throughout the text, illustrations and their captions were placed on +facing pages. For the purpose of this e-text these pages have been +combined into one entry. + +Footnotes, originally at the bottom of a printed page, have been placed +directly below the paragraph in which their anchor symbol appears. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6, by +Eugène Sue + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS, V.5 *** + +***** This file should be named 33804-8.txt or 33804-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/8/0/33804/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Christine Aldridge and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6 + +Author: Eugène Sue + +Illustrators: G. Mercier + Bicknell + Léon Poiteau + Adrian Marcel + +Release Date: September 22, 2010 [EBook #33804] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS, V.5 *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Christine Aldridge and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 320px;"><a name="Frontispiece" id="Frontispiece"></a> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="320" height="500" alt=""'Cecily! Cecily!' Murmured a Voice" +Original Etching by Adrian Marcel" title=""'Cecily! Cecily!' Murmured a Voice"" /> +<span class="caption">"<i>'Cecily! Cecily!' Murmured a Voice</i>"<br /> +<span class="artist">Original Etching by Adrian Marcel</span></span> +</div> + + + + +<div class="frontmatter"> +<h1>The Mysteries of Paris.</h1> + +<p class="title"><i>ILLUSTRATED WITH ETCHINGS<br /> +BY MERCIER, BICKNELL, POITEAU,<br /> +AND ADRIAN MARCEL.</i><br /> +<span class="pad8"><span class="smcap"><i>By</i></span> <i>EUGENE SUE</i></span></p> + + +<p class="volume"><i>IN SIX VOLUMES<br /> +VOLUME V.</i></p> + + +<p class="center"><i>PRINTED FOR<br /> +FRANCIS A. NICCOLLS & CO.<br /> +BOSTON</i></p> +</div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p class="edition"><i>Edition De Luxe.</i></p> + +<p class="center"><i>This edition is limited to one thousand copies, +of which this is</i></p> + +<p class="edition">No.______</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="tcol1"><span class="allcaps">CHAP.</span></td><td class="tcol2"> </td><td class="tcol3"><span class="allcaps">PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">I.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">The Presentation</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">II.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">Murphy and Polidori</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">III.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">The Clerk's Office</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_57">57</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">IV.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">Avoid Temptation</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_69">69</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">V.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">La Force</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">VI.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">Pique-Vinaigre</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_114">114</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">VII.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">Maître Boulard</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_139">139</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">VIII.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">François Germain</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">IX.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">The Lions' Den</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_169">169</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">X.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">The Story-teller</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol1">XI.</td><td class="tcol2"><span class="smcap">Gringalet and Cut-in-half</span></td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Page_211">211</a></td></tr> +</table> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2>LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> + + +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="tcol2"> </td><td class="tcol3"><span class="allcaps">PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol2">"<span class="smcap">'Cecily! Cecily!' murmured a voice</span>"</td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#Frontispiece"><i>Frontispiece</i></a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol2">"<span class="smcap">Slowly dancing and whirling around me</span>"</td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#image26">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol2">"<span class="smcap">Then left me</span>"</td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#image126">126</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol2">"<span class="smcap">Touched with his lips through the grating</span>"</td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#image167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="tcol2">"<span class="smcap">The Skeleton staggered at first</span>"</td><td class="tcol3"><a href="#image243">243</a></td></tr> +</table> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span></p> +<h2>THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS.</h2> + + + +<hr style="width: 10%;" /> +<h3>CHAPTER I.</h3> + +<h5>THE PRESENTATION.</h5> + + +<p>A few days after the murder of Madame Séraphin, +the death of the Chouette, and the arrest of the gang +of desperadoes taken by surprise at Bras-Rouge's house, +Rodolph paid another visit to the house in the Rue du +Temple.</p> + +<p>We have already observed that, with the view of practising +artifice for artifice with Jacques Ferrand, discovering +his hidden crimes, obliging him to repair them, and +inflicting condign punishment should the guilty wretch, +either by skill or hypocrisy, continue to evade the just +punishment of the laws, Rodolph had sent to fetch from +one of the prisons in Germany a young and beautiful +creole, the unworthy wife of the negro David. This +female, lovely in person as depraved in mind, as fascinating +as dangerous, had reached Paris the preceding +evening, and had received the most minute instructions +from Baron de Graün.</p> + +<p>The reader will recollect that in the last interview +between Rodolph and Madame Pipelet, the latter having +very cleverly managed to propose Cecily to Madame +Séraphin, as a servant to the notary in place of Louise +Morel, her proposition had been so well received that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +the <i>femme de charge</i> had promised to speak to Jacques +Ferrand on the subject; and this she had done, in terms +most flattering to Cecily, the very morning of the day +on which she (Madame Séraphin) had been drowned at +the Isle du Ravageur.</p> + +<p>The motive for Rodolph's visit was, therefore, to +inquire the result of Cecily's introduction. To his great +astonishment, he found, on entering the lodge, that although +eleven o'clock in the morning had struck by all +the neighbouring dials, Pipelet had not yet risen, while +Anastasie was standing beside his bed, offering him some +sort of drink.</p> + +<p>As Alfred, whose forehead and eyes were entirely concealed +beneath his huge cotton nightcap, did not reply +to his wife's inquiries, she concluded he slept, and therefore +closed the curtains of his bed. Turning around, she +perceived Rodolph, and, as usual, gave him a military +salute, by lifting the back of her left hand up to her wig.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my king of lodgers! Service to you! How +are you? As for me, I'm upset—bewildered—stupefied. +Pretty doings have there been in the house since +you was here. And my poor Alfred,—obliged to keep +his bed ever since yesterday!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what has happened?"</p> + +<p>"Positively, don't you guess? Still going on in the +old way with that monster of a painter, who is more +bitter than ever against Alfred. He has quite muddled +his brains, till I declare I don't know what to do with +him."</p> + +<p>"Cabrion again?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, <i>he'll</i> never leave off."</p> + +<p>"He must be the very devil!"</p> + +<p>"Really, M. Rodolph, I shall very soon think so; for +he always knows the very instant I quit the house. +Scarcely is my back turned, than there he is, in the +twinkling of an eye, worrying and tormenting my poor +old dear of a husband, who is as helpless and frightened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +as a babby. Only last night, when I had just stepped +out as far as M. Ferrand's the notary's—Ah, there's +pretty work there, too!"</p> + +<p>"But Cecily?" said Rodolph, with some little impatience. +"I called to know—"</p> + +<p>"Hold hard, my king of lodgers! Don't be in such a +hurry, or you'll put me out. And I've such a deal to +tell you, I don't know when I shall have done; and if +once I'm interrupted in a story, I never know when to +begin again."</p> + +<p>"There now, go on as fast as you can; I'm listening."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, first and foremost, what do you think +has happened in the house? Ah, you'll never guess, so +I'll tell you. Only imagine, old Mother Burette's being +taken up!"</p> + +<p>"What, the female pawnbroker?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Lord, she seems to have had a curious mixture +of trades: for besides being a money-lender, she was a +receiver of stolen goods, a melter of gold and silver, a +fortune-teller, a cheat, a dealer in second-hand clothes, +and any sort of contraband articles. The worst of the +story is that M. Bras-Rouge, her old sweetheart and our +principal lodger, is also arrested. I tell you the house +is thoroughly upset with these strange doings."</p> + +<p>"Arrested! Bras-Rouge arrested?"</p> + +<p>"That he was, I can promise you. Why, even his +mischievous little imp of a son—the lame boy we call +Tortillard—has also been locked up. They say that +lots of murders have been planned and managed at his +house, which was the well-known resort of a gang of +ruffians; that the Chouette, one of Mother Burette's +most particular friends, has been strangled; and that, +if assistance had not arrived in time, Mother Mathieu, +the dealer in precious stones for whom Morel worked, +would also have been murdered. Come, I think there's +a pretty penn'orth of news for you,—and cheap, too, at +the price!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bras-Rouge arrested and the Chouette dead!" +murmured Rodolph to himself, in deep astonishment +at the tidings. "Well, the vile old hag deserved her +fate, and poor Fleur-de-Marie is at least avenged!"</p> + +<p>"So that is the state of things here," continued +Anastasie. "As for M. Cabrion and his devil's +tricks, I'll tell you all about it. Oh, you never knew +such a bold howdacious willin as he is! But you shall +hear,—I'll go straight on with my story. But there +never,—no, there never was his feller for inperence! +So when Mother Burette was took up, and we heard +how that M. Bras-Rouge, our principal lodger, was +quodded also, I says to my old boy, 'Alfred, darling,' +says I, 'you must toddle off to the landlord and +let him know as M. Bras-Rouge is in the stone jug.' +Well, Alfred goes; but in about two hours' time +back he comes—in such a state!—such a state! +White as a sheet and puffing like an ox!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what was the matter?"</p> + +<p>"I'm a-going to tell you. I suppose, M. Rodolph, you +recollect the high wall about ten steps from here? +Well, my poor, dear, darling husband was going along +thinking of nothing, when, quite by chance, he just +looked upon this wall. And what do you think he +saw written in great staring letters with a piece of +charcoal?—why, 'Pipelet and Cabrion!'—the two +names joined together by a sort of true-lover's knot. +(Ah, it is that true-lover's knot which sticks so +tight in the gizzard of my poor old chick!) That +sight rather upset him; but still he tried to act like +a man and not mind it. So on he went. But +hardly had he proceeded ten steps farther when, on +the principal entrance to the Temple, there again +were the same hateful words, 'Pipelet and Cabrion,' +united as before! Still he walked on; but at every +turn he saw the same detestable writing on the walls, +doors, and even shutters of houses! Everywhere<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +Pipelet and Cabrion danced before his eyes, for ever +bound in the same tender tie of love or friendship! +My poor dear Alfred's head began to turn around, and +his eyes to grow dizzy; all sorts of horrid objects +seemed to meet him and laugh him to scorn. He +fancied the very people in the streets were laughing +at him. So, quite confused and ashamed, he pulled +his hat over his face, and took the road towards the +Boulevards, believing that the scamp Cabrion would +have confined his abominations to the Rue du Temple. +But no—not he! All along the Boulevards, wherever +a blank spot remained or a place could be found +to hold the words, had he written 'Pipelet and Cabrion!'—sometimes +adding, 'till death!' At last my poor dear +man arrived at the house of the landlord, but so bewildered +and stupefied that, after hammering and stammering +and bodgering about without being able to utter a clear +sentence, the landlord, having tried for nearly half an +hour to bring him sufficiently to his senses to say what +had made him come to his house, got quite in a passion, +and called him a stupid old fool, and told him to go +home and send his wife or somebody who could speak +common sense. Well, poor dear Alfred left as he was +ordered, thinking, at any rate, he would return by a +different road, so as to escape those dreadful words +that had so overcome him going. Do you believe he +could get rid of them, though? No; there they were, +large as life, scrawled upon every place, and united by +the lover's band as before."</p> + +<p>"What, Pipelet and Cabrion still written along the +walls?"</p> + +<p>"Precisely so, my king of lodgers. The end of it was +that my poor darling came home to me regularly brain-struck, +talked in the wildest and most desperate way of +leaving France, exiling himself for ever, and no one +knows what. Well, I persuaded him to tell me all that +had happened; then I did my best to quiet him, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +persuade him not to worry himself about such a beggar +as that Cabrion; and when I found he had grown a +little calmer, I left him, and went to take Cecily to the +notary's, before I proceeded on to the landlord to finish +poor Alfred's message. Now, perhaps, you think I've +done? But I haven't, though. No; I had hardly quitted +the place, than that abominable Cabrion, who must have +watched me out, sent a couple of impudent great creatures, +who pursued Alfred with the most determined villainy. +Oh, bless you, it makes my very hair stand on end +when I think of it! I'll tell you all about their proceedings +another time; let me first finish about the notary. +Well, off I started with Cecily in a hackney-coach,—as +you told me to do, you know. She was dressed in her +pretty costume of a German peasant; for having only just +arrived, she had not had time to procure any other, +which I was to explain to M. Ferrand, and beg of him +to excuse. You may believe me or not, just as you +please, my king of lodgers, but though I have seen some +pretty girls in my time,—myself, for instance,—yet I +never saw one (not even myself) comparable to Cecily. +And then she has such a way of using those wicked +black eyes of hers! She throws into them a look—a +look—that seems—to mean—I know not what—only +they seem to pierce you through, and make you feel so +strange; I never saw such eyes in my life! Why, there's +my poor, dear, darling Alfred, whose virtue has never +been suspected; well, the first time that she fixed her +looks on him, the dear fellow turned as red as a carrot, +and nothing in the world could have induced him to gaze +in her face a second time. I'm sure for more than an +hour afterwards he kept fidgeting about in his chair, as +though he were sitting upon nettles. He told me afterwards +he could not account for it, but that somehow the +look Cecily bestowed on him seemed to bring to his +thoughts all the dreadful stories that shameless Bradamanti +used to tell about the female savages, and which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +used to make my poor dear simpleton of an Alfred blush +to his very fingers' ends."</p> + +<p>"But I want to hear what passed at the notary's. +Never mind Alfred's modesty just now, but tell me."</p> + +<p>"I was just going, M. Rodolph. It was just seven +o'clock in the evening when we arrived at M. Ferrand's, +and I told the porter to let his master know that Madame +Pipelet was there with the young woman she had spoke +to Madame Séraphin about, and by whose orders she had +brought her. Upon which the porter heaved a deep sigh, +and asked me if I knew what had happened to Madame +Séraphin? I told him, 'No; I hadn't heard of anything +being the matter with her.' Ah, M. Rodolph, prepare +for another strange event,—a most astounding circumstance!"</p> + +<p>"What can it be?"</p> + +<p>"Why, Madame Séraphin was drowned while on a +party of pleasure to which she had gone with her +relations."</p> + +<p>"Drowned, and on a party of pleasure in the winter?" +exclaimed Rodolph, much surprised.</p> + +<p>"Yes, drowned, M. Rodolph. For my part I must +say that I was more astonished than distressed at the +news; for since that affair of poor Louise, who was taken +to prison entirely through her information, I downright +hated Madame Séraphin. So when I heard what had +befallen her, all I did was to say to myself, 'Oh, she's +drowned, is she,—drowned? Well, I don't mean to +make myself ill with crying, that's very sure. I sha'n't +die of grief,—that's my disposition.'"</p> + +<p>"And M. Ferrand?"</p> + +<p>"The porter said at first he did not think I could see +his master, and begged me to wait in his lodge while he +went to see. But he almost directly came back to fetch +me. We crossed the courtyard, and entered an apartment +on the ground floor, where a single miserable candle +was twinkling its best to light it, but without success.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> +The notary was sitting beside the fireplace, and on the +hearth a few smouldering ashes still sent out a small +degree of warmth. But such a wretched hole I never +saw! It was my first view of M. Ferrand. Oh, my +stars, what a downright ugly fellow he is! Such a man +as he might have offered to make me Queen of Arabia +before I would have played Alfred false."</p> + +<p>"And tell me, did the notary appear much struck with +Cecily when she entered?"</p> + +<p>"Why, how can any one tell what he thinks while he +keeps those great green spectacles on? Besides, a godly +saint such as he passes for has no business to know +whether a woman is handsome or ugly. However, when +we both walked into the room and stood before him, he +gave quite a spring up from his seat. Most likely, he +was astonished at Cecily's dress, for she looked for all +the world (only a hundred thousand times better) like +one of those 'buy-a-broom' girls with her short petticoats +and her handsome legs set off by her blue stockings with +red clocks. My conscience, what a leg she has! Such +a slender ankle!—and then, oh, such a calf! With a +foot as small and delicate as an opera dancer's. I can +tell you that the notary seemed almost speechless with +surprise, after he had looked at her through his green +specs from head to toe."</p> + +<p>"Doubtless, as you say, he was struck by the whimsicality +of Cecily's costume."</p> + +<p>"Well, maybe so; however, I felt that the critical +moment had arrived, and began to feel rather queer; +fortunately, just as my courage began to fail me, M. +Rodolph, I recollected a maxim I learned from you, and +that got me safe through my difficulty."</p> + +<p>"What maxim do you mean,—I don't remember +teaching you any?"</p> + +<p>"Don't you know?—'It is always enough for one to +wish, for the other to refuse; or, for one to desire, for +the other to be unwilling.' 'So,' said I to myself, 'here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +goes to rid my king of lodgers of his German niece, and +to burthen the hard-hearted master of poor Louise with +her. Now, then, for a good piece of shamming;' and, +without giving the notary breathing time, I began by +saying, in a polite and insinuating tone, 'I hope, sir, +you'll excuse my niece being dressed as she is, but she +has only just arrived, and has brought nothing with her +but the costume of her country; and I am sure it don't +lay in my power to provide her with others; and, besides, +it would not be worth while, since we have merely called +to thank you for having allowed Madame Séraphin to +say you would see Cecily, in consequence of the favourable +character I had given her. Still, sir, I don't think, +after all, she would suit you.'"</p> + +<p>"Capital, Madame Pipelet; go on."</p> + +<p>"'And why so?' inquired the notary, who had established +himself by the warmest corner of the fire, and +seemed to be looking very attentively at us from over +his green spectacles, 'why should you suppose your niece +not likely to suit me?' 'Because, sir, Cecily is already +quite homesick; she has only been here three days and +yet she wants to go back; and so, she says, she will, too, +if she is obliged to beg her way, or sing songs and sell +little brooms, like the rest of her countrywomen.' 'But +bless me!' answered M. Ferrand, 'do you, who are her +principal relation, mean to allow of that?' 'I don't see +how I am to hinder her, sir,' said I. 'Certainly, I am +the nearest relation she has, for the poor thing is an +orphan, as I told good Madame Séraphin; but then she +is twenty years of age, and, of course, mistress of her +own actions.' 'Stuff and nonsense!' interrupted he, +quite impatiently; 'don't tell me about being her own +mistress; at her time of life she is bound to obey her +relations, and take their advice in all things.' Upon +which Cecily began to cry and to creep up to me, all of +a tremble, as if she was quite afraid of the notary."</p> + +<p>"And what said Jacques Ferrand further?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, he kept muttering in a grumbling tone, 'A young +creature at that age left to her own guidance! Why, it +would be the ruin of her! And, as for begging her way +back to Germany—a pretty idea! And you mean to +call yourself her aunt, and say that you would sanction +such conduct?' 'All right,' says I to myself; 'you are +falling into the trap as neat as ninepence, you miserly +old hunks, and if I do not saddle you with Cecily, my +name is not what it is!' 'Yes,' cried I, in a discontented +voice, 'I'm her aunt, sure enough, and worse luck +to me for having such an encumbrance; I have difficulty +enough to earn my bread, without having a great overgrown +girl like that, to take it out of my mouth; and I +would much rather she went back to her own country +than stop here to be a burthen to me. The deuce take +people who can't manage to maintain their own children, +but just send them for others to work for and keep +without even so much as paying their travelling expenses!' +And then, as if Cecily were up to my schemes, +and desirous of playing into my hands, she burst out into +such a fit of crying and sobbing as quite touched the +notary, who began in a sniffling, whining tone, as though +preaching a sermon, 'Let me tell you that you are +accountable before Providence for the charge he has +entrusted to your care and keeping, and you are answerable +for any false step this poor girl may take. Now I +am willing to join you in a charitable action; and if +your niece will promise me to be honest, industrious, +virtuous, pious, and, above all, never upon any occasion +to desire to leave the house, I will take pity on her, and +receive her into my service.' 'No, no!' said Cecily, crying +more violently than ever, 'I don't want to stop here +with this gentleman; I wish to go back to my home; +and I will, too!'"</p> + +<p>"Ah, ah," thought Rodolph, "her dangerous falsehood +has not deserted her,—the depraved creature has, +evidently, fully comprehended the instructions she received<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +from Baron de Graün." Then, speaking aloud, +the prince continued, "Did Cecily's resistance appear to +displease M. Jacques Ferrand?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, M. Rodolph, it seemed to make him as savage +as could be, and he muttered something between his +teeth I could not make out. Then he said, abruptly, +'It is not what you would prefer, young woman, but +what is most suitable and creditable that is to be considered. +Providence will never forsake you, so long as +you conduct yourself respectably and virtuously, and +carefully attend to your religious duties. You will be +here in a family as pious as it is strict in all such +matters; and if your aunt has any real regard for your +welfare, she will take advantage of my offer. Your +wages will be trifling at first, but hereafter I may be +induced to increase them should your good behaviour +render you deserving of encouragement.' 'Bravo!' +thinks I to myself, 'I've regularly hooked the miser, +and fixed him with Cecily as right as a trivet. Why, +you old curmudgeon! You old skinflint! You miserable, +hard-hearted old hypocrite! You know very well +that Séraphin was your slave for years, and yet you +seem to have forgotten her death, and the dreadful +manner of it, as much as though nothing had happened.' +Then I said out loud, 'No doubt, sir, yours is a very +good place, and one as many would be thankful to have, +but if this girl is so homesick, what am I to do?' 'Oh, +take no notice of it,' replied the notary, 'and it will soon +wear away. But make up your minds,—just say one +way or the other; if you decide upon your niece entering +my service, bring her here to-morrow evening at the +same hour you came to-night; and my porter will show +her about the premises, and also explain her work to +her. As for her wages, I shall begin with twenty francs +a month and her food.' 'Oh, sir, I hope you will make +it twenty-five francs,—twenty is really too little!' 'No, +no, not at present; by and by perhaps I may, if I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span> +satisfied. One thing, however, I must impress upon you, +and that is, that your niece will never go beyond these +walls, neither will she be allowed to receive any visitors.' +'Bless your heart, sir! Who could come to see her? +Why, she does not know a single soul in Paris, except +myself, and I am obliged to stay at home to mind my +lodge. I have been terribly put about to come out this +evening, so you will see nothing of me; and as for my +niece, she will be as great a stranger to me as though +she was in her own country; and the best way to prevent +her going out will be to make her wear the costume +of her country,—she could not venture in the +streets dressed in that manner.' 'You are quite right,' +replied the notary; 'it is, besides, always respectable to +wear the dress of our own country; your niece shall, +therefore, continue to dress as she now is.' 'Come, my +girl,' said I to Cecily, who, with her head hanging down, +and her finger in the corner of her mouth, was keeping up +a continual weeping, 'come, make up your mind. A good +place with a worthy master is not to be found every +day; so, if you choose to refuse it, do, but don't look to +me for any further support; I'll have nothing to do +with you, I can tell you!' Upon which Cecily, swelling +as though her heart would burst, replied, sobbing, +'Very well, then, if aunt was so particular, she should +stay, but only on condition that, if she did not find herself +comfortable, she might come away at the end of a +fortnight.' 'Don't be alarmed,' answered the notary, 'I +shall not force you to stop against your will. I can +promise you there are too many young persons would be +thankful to have my situation; but I pity your position +as an orphan, and, therefore, give you the preference. +There, take your earnest money; and let your aunt +bring you here about this time to-morrow evening.' +Cecily was too busy crying to take the two francs' piece +the old starvemouse offered, so I took it for her. We +made our courtesies and came away."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You have managed admirably, Madame Pipelet; and +I do not forget my promise; here is what I promised you, +if you managed to get this girl taken off my hands."</p> + +<p>"Wait till to-morrow before you give it me, my king +of lodgers!" cried Madame Pipelet, putting back the +money Rodolph offered her; "perhaps, when I go to +take Cecily this evening, M. Ferrand may have changed +his mind."</p> + +<p>"Not he, depend upon it! But where is she?"</p> + +<p>"In the small room adjoining the apartments of the +commandant; she will not stir out after the orders you +gave. She seems mild and gentle as a lamb; but then, +her eyes! Oh, dear! It is difficult to fancy her either +one or the other, when one looks at those—Talking +of the commandant, what a plotting, mysterious person +he is! Would you believe it? When he came here to +superintend the packing up of his furniture, he told +me that if any letters came addressed to 'Madame Vincent,' +they were for him, and that I was to send them to +the Rue Mondine, No. 5. The idea of the pretty creature +having his letters addressed as if for a female! +What a conceited jackanapes he is! But the best of it +was, he asked me what had become of his wood! 'Your +wood?' said I, 'why don't you ask after your forest +when you are about it?' Oh, I said it so flat and plain! +A mean, grasping hound, to trouble himself to ask after +two pitiful loads of wood,—his wood, indeed! 'What +has become of your wood?' repeated I, still working +him on, till he got quite white with passion, 'why, I +burnt it to keep your things from the damp, which +would otherwise have made mushrooms grow upon your +fine embroidered cap, and the mildew from rotting +your smart, glittering <i>robe de chambre</i>, which you must +love so dearly, because you have put it on so many +times when you were fool enough to wait for those who +never meant to come, but were only laughing at you,—like +the lady who made believe she was going to pay you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +a visit, and then passed your door, though you had set it +wide open to show yourself decked in all your finery. +Your wood, indeed! I like that! You poor squeeze-penny +of a commandant,—enough to disgust one with +men altogether.'"</p> + +<p>A deep, plaintive groan, something between a grunt +and a sigh, from the bed on which Alfred reposed, here +interrupted Madame Pipelet.</p> + +<p>"Ah, there's the old duck beginning to stir; he will +not be long before he wakes now. Will you excuse me, +my king of lodgers?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly; but I have yet some particulars to inquire +of you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very well," answered Madame Pipelet. Then +going up to her husband, she drew back the curtains, +saying, "How are you by this time, my old chick? +Look! there's M. Rodolph, who has heard all about this +fresh villainy of Cabrion's, and is as sorry about it as +can be."</p> + +<p>"Ah, M. Rodolph," murmured Alfred, languidly turning +his head towards the announced visitor, "this time +the monster has struck at my heart; I shall quit this +bed no more. I am now the object of all the placards +of this vast city; my name is blazoned upon every wall +in Paris, linked with that of a wretch unworthy of mention. +Yes, <i>môssieur</i>, there you may see 'Pipelet and +Cabrion,' bound together by an enormous band of union. +Yes, I—I—the injured Pipelet—united in bonds of +seeming amity and intimacy with that fellow Cabrion! +Oh, <i>môssieur</i>, pity me! My name joined with his in +the eyes of all the dwellers of this great capital,—the +leading city of Europe!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, M. Rodolph knows all about that; but he has +yet to be told of your yesterday's adventures with those +two singular women, or whatever they were."</p> + +<p>"Alas, monsieur," sighed Alfred, in a mournful voice, +"he reserved his master-stroke of wickedness and fiendish<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +malice till the last. This, however, passes all bounds, +and human patience can bear no more!"</p> + +<p>"Come, my dear M. Pipelet, calm yourself, and +endeavour to relate this fresh annoyance to me."</p> + +<p>"All that he has hitherto done to vex and insult me +is as nothing compared to his last malignant scheme +to break my heart and ruin my peace. But now the +shameless monster has gone the full extent of fiendish +provocation. I know not whether I have the power of +describing to you the scene of last night; when I attempt +to speak, shame, confusion, and outraged modesty seem +to deprive me of voice and breath."</p> + +<p>M. Pipelet, having managed with some difficulty to +raise himself in his bed, modestly buttoned his flannel +waistcoat up to his throat, and began in the following +terms:</p> + +<p>"My wife had just gone out, absorbed in the bitter +reflections arising from the sight of my name so disgracefully +prostituted on every wall in Paris; I sought +to while away my solitary hours by attending to the new +soling of a boot twenty times commenced and as often +abandoned,—thanks to the unceasing persecutions of my +pitiless persecutor. Well, sir, I was sitting at a table +with the boot on my arm, though my thoughts were far +otherwise engaged, when I saw the lodge door open and +a female enter. The person who had just come in was +wrapped in a large hooded cloak, and, without thinking +any harm, I civilly rose from my seat, and put my hand +to my hat. Then I observed another female, also attired +in a similar cloak, with a large hood, enter the lodge +and shut the door after her. Although somewhat astonished +at the familiarity of such a proceeding, and the +silence maintained by both the women, I rose a second +time from my chair, and a second time I lifted my hand +to my hat. And then, sir,—but no, no, I can never +finish the recital; my wounded modesty chokes my +utterance."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Come, come, old pet," said Madame Pipelet, encouragingly, +"get on with your story; we are all men +here."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," stammered forth Alfred, his face +becoming scarlet as the fullest blown peony, "then +their mantles fell to the ground. And what do you +think I saw? Why, a couple of sirens, or nymphs, or +witches of one kind or the other, with no sort of clothing +except a petticoat made of leaves, while a wreath +of similar descriptions decorated their heads. And +then the two advanced towards me with outstretched +arms, as though inviting me to throw myself into them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the impudent sluts!" exclaimed Anastasie.</p> + +<p>"Their impure advances disgusted me," continued +Alfred, animated with a chaste indignation; "and, in +conformity with a habit which has ever attended the +most critical moments of my life, I remained still and +motionless on my chair. Then, profiting by my surprise +and stupor, the two sirens came gently forward to a +sort of low music, turning and twisting and extending +their arms and legs in all directions. I became petrified, +as though changed to stone; I waited their approach +in silent agony. They came nearer and nearer, till at +last they wrapped me tight in their arms."</p> + +<p>"Did they, though?" cried Anastasie. "Oh, the +hussies! I only wish I had been there with my +broomstick; I'd have taught them how to come hopping +and skipping, and holding out their arms for an +innocent, virtuous, married man to tumble into,—I +would, the bold-faced beggars!"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 319px;"><a name="image26" id="image26"></a> +<img src="images/i026.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt=""Slowly Dancing and Whirling around Me" +Original Etching by Porteau" title=""Slowly Dancing and Whirling around Me"" /> +<span class="caption">"<i>Slowly Dancing and Whirling around Me</i>"<br /> +<span class="artist">Original Etching by Porteau</span></span> +</div> + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When I felt myself in a manner half stifled between +them, I gave myself up for lost. My blood retreated +from my heart,—I felt as if struck with death; when +one of the sirens—a great, fair girl, and the boldest of +the two—leaned upon my shoulder, took off my hat, +and, still slowly dancing and whirling around me, left +me bald-headed and defenceless. Then the other one, +accompanying the action with all sorts of attitudes and +singular dances, and waving of the arms, draws out a +pair of scissors she must have hid somewhere,—for I'm +quite sure she had no pockets,—came close behind me, +and grasping with one hand all my remaining hair, +snipped it all off with one cut of her huge scissors; yes, +all,—every lock,—every hair I had to cover my +poor old head; dancing, and wheeling, and balancing, +first on one foot, then on the other, swaying out legs +and arms in all sorts of stage-struck ways; then joining +voices, the pair of audacious spirits began singing, ''Tis +for Cabrion,—for Cabrion; we take your locks for +Cabrion,—your dear friend Cabrion!' Whilst the +second voice repeated in a louder strain, 'Your head +is shorn for Cabrion,—for Cabrion, your friend!'"</p> + +<p>After a pause, interrupted by repeated sighs and +groans, Alfred resumed:</p> + +<p>"During this impudent spoliation I once ventured to +raise my eyes, and then I saw flat against the windows +of the lodge the detestable countenance of Cabrion, with +his large beard and pointed-crowned hat. He was laughing, +too,—laughing with all his might. Oh, how I +shuddered at the horrible vision! To escape from so +harrowing a sight I closed my eyes. When I opened +them again all had disappeared, and I found myself +seated on my chair, bald-headed and completely disfigured +for life. You see, monsieur, that, by dint of obstinacy, +impudence, and cunning, Cabrion has at length +effected his fell design. But by what fearful, what +diabolical means, has he succeeded! He wishes the +world to believe he is my accepted friend; began by +sticking up a notice here in my immediate neighbourhood +to the effect that he and I had entered into a treaty +of friendship! Then, not content with so infamous an +assertion, he has caused my name, in conjunction with +his own, to be displayed on every wall in Paris, binding +them together with an enormous band of union, so that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +at this moment the whole of this vast capital is impressed +with the most perfect belief of my close intimacy +with this scoundrel. Then he desired locks of my hair, +and he has every hair off my head,—no doubt with the +view, the guilty view, of exhibiting them as proofs of +our sworn friendship. Thanks to the merciless exaction +of his bold-faced dancing women, my last lock is stolen. +So now, monsieur, you see plainly there is nothing left +for me but to quit France,—my lovely and beloved +France,—in whose dear bosom I had hoped to live +and die!"</p> + +<p>And with these pathetic words Alfred clasped his +hands, closed his eyes, and threw himself back upon +his bed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nonsense, you old duck!" cried Anastasie. "On +the contrary, now the villain has gained his point and +stolen your hair, he will let you alone for the future. +He has no further cause to disturb and torment you."</p> + +<p>"Let me alone?" exclaimed M. Pipelet, with a convulsive +spring upwards. "Oh, you know him not; he +is insatiable. True, he has got the hair he so much +desired to obtain; but who can say what he may further +require of me?"</p> + +<p>The appearance of Rigolette at the entrance to the +lodge put a stop to the lamentations of M. Pipelet.</p> + +<p>"Stay where you are, mademoiselle!" cried he, faithful +to his habitual chaste delicacy. "Pray don't think +of coming in, for I am undressed and in bed!" So +saying, he covered himself up almost to his eyes, while +Rigolette, surprised and bewildered, remained at the +threshold of the door.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my pretty neighbour," said Rodolph, pitying her +confusion, "I was just coming up to speak with you. +Can you wait for me one minute?" Then addressing +Anastasie, he said, "Pray let nothing prevent your +taking Cecily to Jacques Ferrand's this evening."</p> + +<p>"Make yourself perfectly easy, my king of lodgers;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +at seven o'clock precisely she shall be duly placed there. +Now that Morel's wife is able to get about, I will ask +her to mind the lodge for me while I am away; for, +bless you, Alfred would not stay by himself,—not for a +'varsal crown!"</p> + +<p>The bright freshness of Rigolette's complexion was +daily fading away, while her once round, dimpled cheek +had sunk and given place to a pale, careworn countenance, +the usually gay, mirthful expression of which had +changed into a grave, thoughtful cast, more serious and +mournful still since her meeting with Fleur-de-Marie at +the gate of St. Lazare.</p> + +<p>"I am so glad to see you," said Rigolette to Rodolph, +when they were at a convenient distance from the lodge +of Madame Pipelet. "I have so much to say to you; I +have, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, first of all, tell me of yourself and your +health. Let me look at this pretty face, and see whether +it is as gay and blooming as usual. No, indeed. I declare +you have grown quite pale and thin; I am sure +you work too hard."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, indeed, M. Rodolph, it is not that. On the +contrary, my work does me good; it hinders me from +thinking too much, for I am obliged to attend to what I +am about. But it is grief, M. Rodolph, and nothing else, +that has altered me so much. And how can I help it? +Every time I see that poor Germain, I grieve more and +more."</p> + +<p>"He is still as desponding as ever, then?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, worse than ever, M. Rodolph. And what is the +most distressing is, that, whatever I try to do to cheer +him up, takes quite the contrary effect; it seems as +though a spell hung over me!" And here the large, +dark eyes of Rigolette were filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"How do you know, my dear neighbour?"</p> + +<p>"Why, only yesterday I went to see him, and to take +him a book he was desirous of having; it was a romance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +we read together when we lived happily as near neighbours +and dear friends. Well, directly he saw the book, +he burst into tears; but that did not astonish me,—it +seemed natural enough. Poor fellow! I dare say it +brought back to his recollection those happy evenings +when he used to sit beside the fire in my nice, pretty +little room; while now he was in a horrid prison, the +companion of vile and wicked men, who only jeered at +his melancholy. Poor, dear Germain! It is very, very +hard!"</p> + +<p>"Take courage, my dear friend," said Rodolph. +"When Germain quits his prison, and his innocence +is proved, he will find his mother and many dear +friends, in whose society, as well as in yours, he will +soon forget his present sufferings, as well as the hard +trials he has undergone."</p> + +<p>"That's all very pleasant when it arrives, but that +won't stop his tormenting himself till it does. But +that is not all, neither."</p> + +<p>"What other uneasiness has he?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he being the only innocent man among all the +bad people there, they are always annoying and behaving +ill to him, because he will not join in their idle and +vicious amusements. The head turnkey, who is a very +good sort of man, advised me to recommend Germain, +for his own sake, not to keep himself at quite such a distance +from his companions, but to try and familiarise +himself with these bad men. However, it is no use trying; +he cannot bring himself to endure their company +or conversation. And I am constantly tormented with +the dread that some of these days they will do him some +harm out of spite."</p> + +<p>Then all at once interrupting herself, and drying her +tears, Rigolette resumed:</p> + +<p>"But, dear me, how selfish I am! I keep talking of +my own concerns without ever recollecting to speak to +you about the Goualeuse."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The Goualeuse!" exclaimed Rodolph, with surprise.</p> + +<p>"I met her the day before yesterday, when I went to +see Louise at St. Lazare."</p> + +<p>"The Goualeuse?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, M. Rodolph."</p> + +<p>"At St. Lazare?"</p> + +<p>"She was leaving the prison in company with an +elderly female."</p> + +<p>"It cannot be," exclaimed Rodolph, in extreme astonishment; +"you must be mistaken."</p> + +<p>"I assure you it was herself, M. Rodolph."</p> + +<p>"You really must be in error."</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, I was not mistaken; although she was +dressed as a country girl I recollected her again directly. +She looked beautiful as ever, though pale; and she had +just the same melancholy look she used to have."</p> + +<p>"How very strange that she should be in Paris without +my having heard of it! I can scarcely credit it. +And what had she been doing at St. Lazare?"</p> + +<p>"I suppose, like myself, she had been to see some one +confined there; but I had not time to ask her many +questions, for the person who was with her seemed so +very cross, and to be in such a hurry! Then it +seems you know the Goualeuse as well as myself, M. +Rodolph?"</p> + +<p>"I do, certainly."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then, that settles the matter! And it must +have been of you she spoke."</p> + +<p>"Of me?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, M. Rodolph. For, you see, I was just +mentioning to her what had happened to poor Louise +and Germain,—both so good, yet so persecuted by that +wicked Jacques Ferrand,—taking care to do as you bid +me, and not say a word of your being interested in their +welfare so then the Goualeuse told me if a generous +person she knew were once acquainted with their +hard fate, and how little they deserved it, he would be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +sure to assist them. And then I asked her the name +of the person she alluded to, and she named you, M. +Rodolph."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then, it was her, sure enough."</p> + +<p>"You can't imagine how much surprised we both were +at this discovery, either of resemblance or name; and +before we parted we agreed to let each other know +whether our M. Rodolph was one and the same. And +it seems you are the very identical Rodolph both of La +Goualeuse and myself. Are you not, neighbour?"</p> + +<p>"I believe so; and I can, at least, assure you I take +the greatest possible interest in the fate of this poor girl,—still +I am much surprised to find, by what you say, +that she is in Paris. And so great is my astonishment +that, had you not so faithfully related your interview, I +should have persisted in believing you were mistaken. +But I must say good-bye for the present,—what you +tell me respecting La Goualeuse obliges me to quit you. +Be as careful as ever in not mentioning to any one that +there are certain unknown friends watching over the +welfare both of Louise and Germain, who will come forward +at a right moment and see them safe through their +troubles; it is more essential than ever that strict secrecy +should be kept on this point. By the way, how are the +Morel family getting on?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, extremely well, M. Rodolph. The mother has +quite got about again, and the children are daily improving. +Ah, the whole family owe their life and happiness +to you! You are so good and so generous to +them."</p> + +<p>"And how is poor Morel himself? Does he get +any better?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, yes; I heard of him yesterday, he seems +from time to time to have some lucid moments, and +hopes are entertained of his madness being curable. So +be of good heart, neighbour, take care of yourself, and +good-bye for the present."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But first tell me truly, are you quite sure you want +for nothing? Are you still able to maintain yourself +with the profits of your needle?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, thank you, M. Rodolph. I work rather later +at night to make up for my lost time during the day. +But it does not matter much, for if I go to bed I don't +sleep."</p> + +<p>"Poor, dear neighbour! Why, you have grown sadly +out of spirits. I am afraid that Papa Crétu and +Ramonette don't sing much, if they wait for you to +set them the example."</p> + +<p>"You are right enough, M. Rodolph, my birds have +quite left off singing, as well as myself. Now I know +you will laugh at me, but I'll tell you what I firmly +think and believe,—the poor little creatures are aware +that I am dull and out of spirits, and instead of singing +and warbling as if their little throats would burst for +joy when they see me, they just give a little gentle +twitter, as though they would not disturb me for the +world, but would be so glad to console me if they had +the power. It is very stupid of me to fancy such things, +is it not, M. Rodolph?"</p> + +<p>"Not at all! And I am quite sure that your affectionate +friends the birds have observed your being less +happy than usual."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sure I shouldn't wonder! The poor, +dear things are so very clever," said Rigolette, innocently, +delighted to find her own opinion as to the +sagacity of her companions in solitude thus powerfully +confirmed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am quite sure about it, nothing is more intelligent +than gratitude. But once more, good-bye,—I shall +see you again soon, I hope, and by that time, I trust your +pretty eyes will have grown brighter, your cheeks regained +their usual roses, and your merry voice have +recovered all its gaiety, till Papa Crétu and Ramonette +will scarcely be able to keep up with you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Heaven grant you may prove a true prophet, M. +Rodolph!" said Rigolette, heaving a deep sigh. "But, +good-bye, neighbour, don't let me keep you."</p> + +<p>"Fare you well, for the present!"</p> + +<p>Rodolph, wholly at a loss to understand why Madame +Georges should have brought or sent Fleur-de-Marie +to Paris without giving him the least intimation +of her intention, hastened home for the purpose of despatching +a special messenger to the farm at Bouqueval.</p> + +<p>Just as he entered the Rue Plumet he observed a +travelling carriage drawn up before the entrance of his +hotel. The vehicle contained Murphy, who had that +instant returned from Normandy, whither he had gone, +as the reader is already aware, to counteract the base +schemes of the stepmother of Madame d'Harville and +her infamous confederate, Bradamanti.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER II.</h3> + +<h5>MURPHY AND POLIDORI.</h5> + + +<p>Sir Walter Murphy's features were beaming with +satisfaction. When he alighted from the carriage he gave +a brace of pistols to one of the prince's servants, took off +his long travelling coat, and, without giving himself +time to change his clothes, followed Rodolph, who +impatiently had preceded him to his apartment.</p> + +<p>"Good news, monseigneur! Good news!" exclaimed +the squire, when he was alone with Rodolph; "the +wretches are unmasked, M. d'Orbigny is saved. You +despatched me just in time; one hour later and another +crime would have been committed."</p> + +<p>"And Madame d'Harville?"</p> + +<p>"Is overjoyed at having again acquired her father's +affection; and full of happiness at having arrived, thanks +to your advice, in time to snatch him from certain +death."</p> + +<p>"So, then, Polidori—"</p> + +<p>"Was, in this instance, the worthy accomplice of +Madame d'Harville's stepmother. But what a wretch is +this stepmother! What <i>sang-froid!</i> What audacity! And +this Polidori! Ah, monseigneur, you have frequently +desired to thank me for what you call my proofs of +devotion."</p> + +<p>"I have always said proofs of friendship, my dear +Murphy."</p> + +<p>"Well, monseigneur, never—no, never—has this +friendship been exposed to a severer trial than in this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> +present case!" said the squire, with an air half serious, +half pleasant.</p> + +<p>"What mean you?"</p> + +<p>"The disguises of the coalman, the peregrinations in +the Cité, and all that sort of thing, they have been as +nothing, actually nothing, when compared with the +journey I have just made with that infernal Polidori."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean? Polidori?"</p> + +<p>"I have brought him back with me."</p> + +<p>"With you?"</p> + +<p>"With me: judge what company! During twelve +hours side by side with the man I most despise and hate +in the world,—I'd as soon travel with a serpent—any +beast of antipathy!"</p> + +<p>"And where is Polidori now?"</p> + +<p>"In the house in the Allée des Veuves, under good +and safe guard."</p> + +<p>"Then he made no resistance to following you?"</p> + +<p>"None. I offered him the choice between being apprehended +at once by the French authorities, or being +my prisoner in the Allée des Veuves,—he didn't hesitate +for an instant."</p> + +<p>"You are right; it is best to have him thus in our +grasp. You are worth your weight in gold, my dear old +Murphy. But tell me all about your journey; I am impatient +to know how this shameless woman, and her +equally shameless accomplice, were at last unmasked."</p> + +<p>"Nothing could be more simple. I had only to follow +the letter of your instructions in order to terrify and +crush these wretches. Under these circumstances, monseigneur, +you have served, as you always do, persons of +worth, and punished the wicked, noble preserver that +you are!"</p> + +<p>"Sir Walter! Sir Walter! Do you recollect the flatteries +of the Baron de Graün?" said Rodolph, smiling.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, monseigneur, I will begin,—or, perhaps, +you would prefer first reading this letter of the Marquise<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> +d'Harville's, which will inform you on every point +that occurred previous to my arrival, which so completely +confounded Polidori."</p> + +<p>"A letter! Pray let me have it immediately."</p> + +<p>Murphy gave the letter of the marquise to Rodolph, +adding:</p> + +<p>"As we had agreed, instead of accompanying Madame +d'Harville to her father's, I alighted at a small inn quite +close to the château, where I was to wait until the marquise +sent for me."</p> + +<p>Rodolph read what follows with tender and impatient +solicitude:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"> +<p class="indent">"<span class="smcap">Monseigneur</span>:—After all I owe you already, I now owe +to you my father's life. I will allow facts to speak for themselves; +they will say better than I can what fresh accumulations +of gratitude to you I have added to those already amassed in my +heart. Understanding all the importance of the advice you sent +to me by Sir Walter Murphy, who overtook me on my way to +Normandy a short distance from Paris, I travelled as speedily as +possible to the Château des Aubiers. I know not why, but the +countenances of the persons who received me appeared to me +sinister. I did not see amongst them any one of the old servitors +of our house; no one knew me. I was obliged to tell them +my name.</p> + +<p>"I learned that for several days my father had been suffering +greatly, and that my stepmother had just brought a physician +from Paris. I had no doubt but this was Doctor Polidori. Desirous +of being immediately conducted to my father, I inquired for +an old <i>valet de chambre</i> to whom he was much attached; he had +quitted the château some time previously. This I learned from +a house-steward who had shown me to my apartment, saying that +he would inform my stepmother of my arrival. Was it illusion +or suspicion? It seemed to me that my coming annoyed the +people at the château where all was gloomy and sinister. In the +bent of mind in which I was we seek to draw inferences from +the slightest circumstances. I remarked in every part traces of +disorder and neglect, as if it had been too much trouble to take +care of a house which was so soon to be abandoned. My uneasiness—my +anxiety increased at every moment.</p> + +<p>"After having established my daughter and her governess in +an apartment, I was about to proceed to my father, when my stepmother<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +entered the apartment. In spite of her artfulness, in +spite of the control which she ordinarily exercised over herself, +she appeared alarmed at my sudden arrival. 'M. d'Orbigny +does not expect your visit, madame,' she said to me, 'and he is +suffering so much that a surprise may be fatal. I think it, therefore, +best that he should not be told of your arrival, for he would +be unable to account for it, and—'</p> + +<p>"I did not allow her to finish. 'A terrible event has occurred, +madame,' I said, 'M. d'Harville is dead, in consequence of a fatal +imprudence. After so deplorable a result, I could no longer +remain in Paris in my own house, and I have, therefore, come +to my father's, in order to pass the first days of my mourning.'</p> + +<p>"'A widow! Ah, that, indeed, is unexpected happiness!' +exclaimed my stepmother, in a rage. From what you know, +monseigneur, of the unhappy marriage which this woman had +planned in order to avenge herself on me, you will comprehend +the brutality of her remark.</p> + +<p>"'It is because I fear you might be as unexpectedly happy as +myself, madame, that I came here,' was my (perhaps imprudent) +reply. 'I wish to see my father.'</p> + +<p>"'That's impossible, at this moment!' she replied, turning +very pale; 'the sight of you would cause a dangerous degree +of excitement.'</p> + +<p>"'If my father is so seriously ill,' I observed, 'why was I not +informed of it?'</p> + +<p>"'Such was M. d'Orbigny's will,' replied my stepmother.</p> + +<p>"'I do not believe you, madame! and I shall go and assure +myself of the truth,' I said, and turned towards the door of my +chamber.</p> + +<p>"'I tell you again that the unexpected sight of you may have +a most prejudicial effect on your father!' she cried, coming +before me so as to hinder my further progress; 'I will not allow +you to go into his room, until I have informed him of your +arrival with all the care and precaution which his situation +requires.'</p> + +<p>"I was in a cruel perplexity, monseigneur. A sudden surprise +might really be dangerous to my father, but this woman,—usually +so calm, so self-possessed—seemed to me so overcome +by my presence, I had so many reasons to doubt the sincerity of +her solicitude for the health of him whom she had married from +cupidity; and then, too, the presence of Doctor Polidori, the +murderer of my mother, caused me altogether such extreme +alarm that, believing my father's life menaced, I did not hesitate +between the hope of saving him and the fear of causing +him severe emotion. 'I will see my father, and that instantly!'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +I said to my stepmother. And although she tried to retain me +by the arm, I went out of the room. Completely losing her +presence of mind, this woman tried a second time, and almost +by force, to prevent me from quitting the chamber. This incredible +resistance increased my alarm, I disengaged myself from her +grasp, and, knowing my father's apartment, I ran thither with all +speed, and entered the room.</p> + +<p>"Oh, monseigneur, during my life I never can forget that scene, +and the picture presented to my eyes. My father, scarcely to be +recognised, pale and meagre, with suffering depicted in every +feature, his head reclining on a pillow, was lying extended on a +large armchair. At the corner of the fireplace, standing close +to him, was Doctor Polidori, just about to pour into a cup, which +a nurse presented to him, some drops of a liquor contained in a +small glass bottle which he held in his hand. His long red beard +gave even a more than usually sinister appearance to his physiognomy. +I entered so hastily that he gave a look of surprise +at my stepmother, who followed me with hasty steps; and +instead of handing to my father the draught he had prepared +for him, he suddenly placed the phial on the mantelpiece. +Guided by an instinct for which I am unable to account, my +first movement was to seize the phial. Remarking instantly the +surprise and alarm of my stepmother and Polidori, I congratulated +myself on my promptitude. My father, amazed, seemed +irritated at the sight of me. I expected this. Polidori darted +at me a ferocious scowl, and, in spite of the presence of my +father and the nurse, I feared the wretch, seeing his crime so +nearly disclosed, would have recourse to violence with me. I +felt the necessity of support at a moment so decisive; and +ringing the bell, one of my father's servants came in, whom I +requested to tell my <i>valet de chambre</i> (who had already been +informed) to go and seek some things I had left at the little inn. +Sir Walter Murphy was aware that, in order not to arouse my +stepmother's suspicions, in case it should be necessary to give +my orders in her presence, I should employ this means of requesting +him to come to me. Such was the surprise of my father and +stepmother, that the servant quitted the room before they could +utter a word. I felt my courage then rise, for, in a few minutes, +Sir Walter Murphy would be at my side.</p> + +<p>"'What does all this mean?' said my father to me, in a +voice feeble, but still angry and imperious. 'You here, +Clémence without my sending for you? Then, scarcely arrived, +you seize the phial containing the draught the doctor was about +to give me. Will you explain this madness?'</p> + +<p>"'Leave the room,' said my stepmother to the nurse. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +woman obeyed. 'Compose yourself, my dear!' said my stepmother, +addressing my father; 'you know how injurious the +slightest emotion is to you. Since your daughter will come +here in spite of you, and her presence is so disagreeable to you, +give me your arm. I will lead you into the small salon, and +then our good doctor will make Madame d'Harville comprehend +how imprudent her conduct has been, to say the least of it.' +And she gave her accomplice a meaning look. I at once saw +through my stepmother's design. She was desirous of leading +my father away, and leaving me alone with Polidori, who, in +this extreme case, no doubt, would have used force to obtain +from me the phial which might supply so evident a proof of +his criminal designs.</p> + +<p>"'You are right,' said my father to my stepmother. 'Since I +am thus pursued, even in my private apartments, without respect +for my wishes, I will leave the place free to intruders.' And +rising with difficulty, he took the arm that was offered to him +by my stepmother, and went towards the salon.</p> + +<p>"At this moment Polidori advanced towards me; but I went +close up to my father and said to him, 'I will explain to you why +I have arrived so suddenly, and what may appear strange in my +conduct. I became yesterday a widow; and it was yesterday, +father, that I learned your life was threatened.' He was +walking very much bent, but at these words he stopped, threw +himself erect, and looking at me with intense surprise, said:</p> + +<p>"'You are a widow? My life is threatened? What does all +this mean?'</p> + +<p>"'And who dares threaten the life of M. d'Orbigny, madame?' +asked my stepmother, most audaciously.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, who threatens it?' added Polidori.</p> + +<p>"'You, sir!—you, madame!' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'What horror!' exclaimed my stepmother, advancing a step +towards me.</p> + +<p>"'What I assert I will prove, madame!' I replied.</p> + +<p>"'Such an accusation is most frightful!' cried my father.</p> + +<p>"'I will leave the house this very moment, since I am exposed +to such shameful calumnies,' said Doctor Polidori, with the +apparent indignation of a man whose honour has been outraged. +Beginning to feel the danger of his position, no doubt, he was +desirous of effecting his escape. At the moment when he was +trying to open the door, it opened, and he found himself face to +face with Sir Walter Murphy."</p></div> + +<p>Rodolph ceased reading, held out his hand to the +squire, and said:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well done, my good old friend; your presence must +have crushed the scoundrel!"</p> + +<p>"That's precisely the word, monseigneur. He turned +livid, receded a couple of paces, looking at me aghast; +he seemed thunderstruck. To find me at the further +extremity of Normandy, in such a moment, he must +have thought he had a terrible dream. But go on, +monseigneur; you will see that this infernal Comtesse +d'Orbigny had her share of the overwhelming shame, +thanks to what you told me as to her visit to the charlatan +Bradamanti—Polidori—in the house in the Rue +du Temple; for, after all, it was you who acted in +this, I assure you, and you came in most happily and +opportunely to the rescue on this occasion."</p> + +<p>Rodolph smiled, and continued reading Madame +d'Harville's letter:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"At the sight of Sir Walter Murphy, Polidori was panic-struck; +my stepmother went on from one surprise to another; +my father, agitated at this scene, weakened by his malady, was +compelled to sit down in an armchair. Sir Walter double-locked +the door by which he had entered; and placing himself before +that which led to the next apartment, that Doctor Polidori might +not escape, he said to my poor father, with a tone of the utmost +respect, 'A thousand pardons, Monsieur le Comte, for the liberty +I take, but an imperious necessity, dictated by your interest +alone (and which you will speedily recognise), compels me to act +thus. My name is Sir Walter Murphy, as this wretch can testify, +who at the sight of me trembles in every limb. I am the private +adviser of his royal highness Monseigneur the Grand Duke +Regnant of Gerolstein.'</p> + +<p>"'Quite true!' stammered forth Doctor Polidori, overcome +with fright. 'But then, sir, what have you come here for? What +seek you?'</p> + +<p>"'Sir Walter Murphy,' I observed, addressing my father, 'is +here with me to unmask the wretches whose victim you have +so nearly been.' Then handing the phial to Sir Walter, I added, +'I was suddenly tempted to seize on this phial at the moment +when Doctor Polidori was about to pour some drops of the +liquor it contains into a draught he was about to offer to my +father.'<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'A practitioner in the neighbouring village shall analyse +before you the contents of this bottle, which I will deposit in +your hands, M. le Comte; and if it is proved to contain a slow +and sure poison,' said Sir Walter Murphy to my father, 'you cannot +have any further doubt as to the dangers you have run, and +which the tender care of your daughter will most happily have +averted.'</p> + +<p>"My poor father looked by turns at his wife, Doctor Polidori, +and Sir Walter, with an air of doubt and anxiety; his features +betrayed indescribable anguish. No doubt but he resisted with +all his might increasing and terrible suspicions, fearing to be +obliged to confess the infamy of my stepmother. At length, concealing +his head in his hands, he exclaimed, 'Oh, this is, indeed, +horrible!—impossible! Am I in a dream?'</p> + +<p>"'No, it is no dream!' cried my stepmother, audaciously; +'nothing can be more real than this atrocious calumny, concerted +beforehand to destroy an unhappy woman, whose only crime is +that of consecrating her whole existence to you. Come, come, +my dear, do not remain a moment longer here!' she continued, +addressing my father; 'I do not suppose that your daughter will +have the insolence to retain you here against your will.'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, yes, let me go!' said my father, highly excited; 'all +this is not true—cannot be true! I will not hear any more, +my brain cannot endure it. Fearful misgivings would arise in +my mind, which would embitter the few days I have still to +live, and nothing could console me for so horrible a discovery.'</p> + +<p>"My father seemed to suffer so much, to be so despairing +that, at all hazards, I resolved on putting an end to this scene, +which was so acutely trying for him. Sir Walter guessed my +desire, but desirous of full and entire justice, he replied to my +father, 'But a few words more, M. le Comte. You will, no doubt, +suffer chagrin of a most painful kind, when you detect in the +woman's conduct, whom you believe attached to you by gratitude, +a system of most atrocious ingratitude,—in herself a hypocritical +monster. But you will find your consolation in the affections +of your daughter, who has never failed you.'</p> + +<p>"'This passes all bounds!' cried my stepmother, with rage. +'And by what right, sir, and on what proofs, dare you to base +such infamous calumnies? You say the phial contains poison? +I deny it, and will deny it until you prove the contrary. And +even supposing Doctor Polidori has by mistake confounded one +medicine with another, is that a reason why you should dare to +accuse me of having sought—desired to be his accomplice? Oh, +no, no! I cannot go on! An idea so horrible is already a +crime! Once again, sir, I defy you to say upon what proofs you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +and madame here dare rely to support this shameful calumny!' +said my stepmother, with incredible audacity.</p> + +<p>"'Yes, on what proofs?' exclaimed my poor father; 'the torture +I undergo must have an end.'</p> + +<p>"'I am not here, sir, without proofs, M. le Comte,' replied Sir +Walter; 'and these proofs, the answer of this wretch shall supply +to you instantly.' Then Sir Walter spoke in German to Doctor +Polidori, who seemed to have suddenly assumed a little assurance, +but lost it as soon."</p></div> + +<p>"What did you say to him?" inquired Rodolph of +the squire, pausing from his perusal of the letter.</p> + +<p>"A few significant words, monseigneur, something +like this: 'You have escaped by flight from the sentence +passed upon you by law and justice in the Grand +Duchy; you live in the Rue du Temple, under the false +name of Bradamanti; we know the infamous calling +you pursue there. You poisoned the count's first wife. +Three days since Madame d'Orbigny went to find you, +in order to bring you here to poison her husband. His +royal highness is in Paris, and has proofs of all I now +aver. If you confess the truth in order to confound +this wretched woman, you may hope, not for pardon, +but for an amelioration of the punishment you deserve. +You will accompany me to Paris, where I will deposit +you in a safe place, until his royal highness decides on +what shall be done with you. If not, one of two things: +either his royal highness will demand and obtain your +delivery up to him, or this very moment I will send for +the nearest magistrate, this phial containing the poison +shall be handed to him, you will be apprehended on the +spot, and a search be made instantly at your domicile in +the Rue du Temple; you know how utterly that must +compromise you, and then the justice of the French +courts will take its course. Choose therefore.' These +disclosures, accusations, and threats, which he knew to +be so well founded, succeeding each other thus rapidly, +overwhelmed the scoundrel, who did not dream of my<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +being so thoroughly informed. In the hope of diminishing +his expected punishment, he did not hesitate to +sacrifice his accomplice, and replied to me, 'Interrogate +me, and I will disclose the whole truth as regards this +woman.'"</p> + +<p>"Capital! Excellent! my dear Murphy. I expected +no less of you."</p> + +<p>"During my conversation with Polidori, the features +of Madame d'Harville's stepmother became greatly agitated. +Although she did not understand German, she +saw, by the increasing dejection of her accomplice, by +his deprecating attitude, that I controlled him. In a +state of fearful anxiety, she endeavoured to catch +Polidori's glance, in order to inspire him with courage, +or implore his discretion, but he carefully avoided +looking towards her."</p> + +<p>"And the count?"</p> + +<p>"His agitation was inexpressible! With his clenched +hands he grasped convulsively the arms of his chair, the +perspiration stood on his brow, and he scarcely breathed, +whilst his burning and fixed eyes never quitted mine; +his agony was equal to his wife's. The remainder of +Madame d'Harville's letter will tell you the conclusion +of this painful scene, monseigneur."</p> + +<p>Rodolph continued the perusal of Madame d'Harville's +letter:</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"After a conversation in German, which lasted for some +minutes, between Sir Walter Murphy and Polidori, Sir Walter +said to the latter, 'Now reply. Was it not madame,' and he +looked towards my stepmother, 'who, during the illness of the +count's first wife, introduced you to him as a physician?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes, it was!' replied Polidori.</p> + +<p>"'In order that you might serve the horrid projects of madame, +were you not criminal enough to render mortal, by your deadly +prescriptions, the malady of the Countess d'Orbigny, which was +but slight in the first instance?'</p> + +<p>"'Yes!' replied Polidori. My father heaved a painful sigh, +raised both his hands to heaven, and let them fall perfectly +overcome.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + +<p>"'Lies and infamies!' cried my stepmother; 'it is all false,—a +plot got up to destroy me!'</p> + +<p>"'Silence, madame!' said Sir Walter Murphy, in an authoritative +voice. Then continuing to address Polidori, 'Is it true +that three days since madame was at your residence in the Rue +du Temple, No. 17, where you lived under the assumed name of +Bradamanti?'</p> + +<p>"'That is true.'</p> + +<p>"'Did not madame propose to you to come here to assassinate +the Comte d'Orbigny, as you had assassinated his wife?'</p> + +<p>"'Alas! I cannot deny it!' said Polidori.</p> + +<p>"At this overwhelming revelation my father rose up, then, +extending his arms to me, he exclaimed, in a broken voice, +'In the name of your unfortunate mother, pardon, pardon! +I made her suffer much, but I swear to you I was a stranger +to the crime which led her to the tomb!' and before I could +prevent it, my father fell at my knees. When Sir Walter and I +raised him he had fainted. I rang for the servants. Sir Walter +took Polidori by the arm and led him out of the room with him, +saying to my stepmother, 'Believe me, madame, it is best for you +to leave this house within an hour, otherwise I will deliver you +up to justice.' The wretched woman left the room in a state of +rage and affright, which you will easily conceive. When my +father recovered his senses, all that had occurred seemed to him +a horrid dream. I was under the sad necessity of imparting to +him my first suspicions as to my mother's premature death, suspicions +which your knowledge of Doctor Polidori's earlier crimes +had converted into certainty. I also told him how my stepmother +had persecuted me to the time of my marriage, and +what had been her object in making me marry M. d'Harville. +In proportion as my father had shown himself weak with respect +to this woman, so was he now pitiless towards her. He was +desirous of handing Madame d'Orbigny over to the tribunals. I +represented to him the horrible scandal of such a process, the +publicity of which must be so distressing to him; and I induced +him to allow her as much as was requisite for her to live upon. +I had considerable difficulty in persuading my father to these +terms, and he then wished me to dismiss her. This task was so +painful that I requested Sir Walter to perform it for me, which +he did."</p></div> + +<p>"I consented with pleasure," interrupted Murphy.</p> + +<p>"And what said this woman?"</p> + +<p>"Madame d'Harville kindly solicited a pension of a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span> +hundred louis for this woman: this appeared to me not +only kindness, but weakness; it was bad enough to allow +her to escape from justice; and the count agreeing with +me, it was arranged that we should give her in all twenty-five +louis to maintain her until she should find some +occupation. 'And to what occupation can I, the Countess +d'Orbigny, turn?' she asked me, insolently. '<i>Ma foi!</i> +that is your affair,—you may do as a nurse or housekeeper; +but take my advice and seek some humbler, +more obscure occupation, for if you have the daring to +mention your name—a name which you owe to a crime—people +will be astonished to see the Countess d'Orbigny +reduced to such a condition; they will then begin to +make inquiries, and you may judge what will be the result, +if you are so indiscreet as to say one word of the past. +Hide yourself, therefore, at a distance,—try and become +forgotten; become Madame Pierre or Madame Jacques, +and repent if you can.' 'And do you suppose, sir,' she +said, having, no doubt, resolved on a piece of stage effect, +'do you suppose that I shall not sue for the advantage +which my marriage settlement awards me?' 'Why, +madame, nothing can be more just; it will be dishonourable +of M. d'Orbigny not to execute his promises, and +forget all you have done—and particularly all you +wished to do towards him. Go to law—go to law! Try +for justice, and, no doubt, it will right you with your +husband.' A quarter of an hour after our conversation +the wretch of a woman was on the road to the neighbouring +town."</p> + +<p>"You are right, it is painful to leave such an abandoned +creature unpunished, but a law proceeding is +impossible."</p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"I easily persuaded my father to leave Aubiers the same day,"</p></div> + +<p>resumed Rodolph, continuing the perusal of Madame +d'Harville's letter,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span></p> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"as too many painful feelings were excited by his being where +he was. His weak health will be benefited by a few days' change +of air and scene, as the doctor saw, whom Polidori had succeeded, +and for whom I sent from the neighbouring town. My father +wished him to analyse the contents of the phial, without giving +him any information as to what had passed. The doctor informed +us that he must do this at home, and that in two hours +we should know the result of his scrutiny; which was that +several doses of this liquor, composed with devilish skill, would, +within a certain time, cause death, without leaving any traces +beyond those of an ordinary malady, which he mentioned. In +a few hours, monseigneur, I go with my father and daughter to +Fontainebleau, where we shall remain for some time; then my +father wishes to return to Paris, but not to my house, for I could +not reside there after the late appalling event. As I mentioned +in the beginning of my letter, monseigneur, facts prove all I shall +owe to your inexhaustible care and solicitude. Forewarned by +you, aided by your advice, strong in the assistance of your excellent +and high-couraged Sir Walter, I have been enabled to snatch +my father from certain death, and am again assured of his love. +Adieu, monseigneur, it is impossible for me to say more; my +heart is too full, and I explain but faintly all I feel."</p> + +<p class="sigs">"<span class="smcap">D'Orbigny d'Harville</span>."</p> + +<p>"I open my letter to repair something I had, I regret to say, +forgotten. According to your noble suggestion, I went to the +prison of St. Lazare, to visit the poor women prisoners, and I +found there an unhappy girl in whom you are interested. Her +angelic mildness, her pious resignation, were the admiration of +the respectable women who superintend the prisoners. To say +that she is called La Goualeuse is to urge you to obtain her +liberty instantly. The poor girl will tell you under what circumstances +she was carried off from the asylum in which you +had placed her, and was put in prison, where, at least, the candour +and sweetness of her disposition have been appreciated. +Permit me, also, to recall to you my two future protégées, the +unhappy mother and daughter despoiled by the notary Ferrand,—where +are they? I pray of you to try and discover them, so +that, on my return to Paris, I may pay the debt I have contracted +towards all unfortunate beings."</p></div> + +<p>"What! Has La Goualeuse, then, left the Bouqueval +farm?" inquired Murphy, as much astonished as Rodolph +at this fresh discovery.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Just now I was informed that she had been seen +quitting St. Lazare," replied Rodolph. "I am quite bewildered +on the subject; Madame Georges's silence surprises +and disturbs me. Poor little Fleur-de-Marie, what +fresh disasters can have befallen her? Send a man on +horseback directly to the farm, and write to Madame +Georges that I beg of her to come to Paris instantly. +Request M. de Graün to procure for me a permission +to visit St. Lazare. By what Madame d'Harville says to +me, Fleur-de-Marie must be confined there. Yet, no," +he added, "she cannot be there, for Rigolette saw her +leave the prison with an aged woman. Could it be +Madame Georges? If not, who could be the woman +that accompanied La Goualeuse?"</p> + +<p>"Patience, monseigneur; before the evening you will +know all about it. Then to-morrow you can interrogate +that vagabond Polidori, who has, he assures me, important +disclosures to make,—but to you alone."</p> + +<p>"This interview will be most odious to me!" said +Rodolph, sorrowfully; "for I have never seen this man +since the fatal day when I—"</p> + +<p>Rodolph, unable to finish, hid his face in his hands.</p> + +<p>"But, monseigneur, why accede to Polidori's request? +Threaten him with the justice of the French law, or +immediate surrender to your authority, and then he will +reveal to me what he now declares he will only reveal to +you."</p> + +<p>"You are right, my worthy friend; for the presence +of this wretch would make my terrible recollections even +still more distressing, connected as they are with incurable +griefs,—from my father's death to that of my daughter. +I know not how it is, but as I advance in life the more +I seem to miss that dear child. How I should have +adored her! How very dear and precious to me she +would have been, this offspring of my first love, of my +earliest and purest beliefs—or, rather, my young illusions! +I should have poured out on this innocent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +creature those treasures of affection of which her hateful +mother is so unworthy; and it seems to me that, as +I have dreamt, this child, by the beauty of her mind, the +charm of her qualities, would have soothed and softened +all my griefs, all these pangs of remorse, which are, alas, +attached to her fatal birth."</p> + +<p>"Monseigneur, I see with grief the increasing empire +which these regrets, as vain as they are bitter, assume +over your mind."</p> + +<p>After some moments' silence, Rodolph said to Murphy:</p> + +<p>"I will now make a confession to you, my old friend. +I love—yes, I passionately love—a woman worthy of +the noblest, the most devoted affection. Since my heart +has again expanded to all the sweetness of love, since I +am thus again affected by tender emotions, I feel more +deeply than ever the loss of my daughter. I might have +feared that an attachment of the heart would weaken the +bitterness of my regrets. It is not so; all my loving +qualities—my affections—are but the keener. I feel +myself better, more charitable; and more than ever is it +afflicting to me not to have my daughter to adore."</p> + +<p>"Nothing more easily explained, monseigneur,—forgive +me the comparison,—but, as certain men have a +joyous and benevolent intoxication, so you have good +and generous love."</p> + +<p>"Still, my hatred of the wicked has become more +intense; my aversion for Sarah increases, in proportion, +no doubt, to the grief I experience at my +daughter's death. I imagine to myself that that +wretched mother must have neglected her, and that, +when once her ambitious hopes were ruined by my +marriage, the countess, in her pitiless selfishness, +abandoned our daughter to mercenary hands, and, +perhaps, my child died from actual neglect. It is +my fault, also. I did not then think of the sacred +duties which paternity imposes. When Sarah's real +character was suddenly revealed to me, I ought instantly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +to have taken my daughter from her, and +watched over her with love and anxiety. I ought +to have foreseen that the countess would make but a +very unnatural mother. It is my fault,—yes, indeed, +my fault."</p> + +<p>"Monseigneur, grief distracts you! Could you, after +the sad event you know of, delay for a day the long +journey imposed on you, as—"</p> + +<p>"As an expiator! You are right, my friend," said +Rodolph, greatly agitated.</p> + +<p>"You have not heard anything of the Countess Sarah +since my departure, monseigneur?"</p> + +<p>"No; since those infamous plots which twice nearly +destroyed Madame d'Harville, I have heard nothing of +her. Her presence here is hateful to me,—oppresses +me; it seems as though my evil demon was near me, +and some new misfortune threatens me."</p> + +<p>"Patience, patience, monseigneur! Fortunately Germany +is forbidden ground to her, and Germany +awaits us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, we shall go very soon. At least, during my +short residence in Paris, I shall have accomplished a +sacred vow, and have made some steps in the meritorious +path which an august and merciful will has traced +for my redemption. As soon as Madame Georges's son +is restored to her tender arms, free and innocent; as +soon as Jacques Ferrand shall be convicted and punished +for his crimes; as soon as I am assured of the good +prosperity of all the honest and hard-working creatures +who, by their resignation, courage, and probity, have +deserved my interest, we will return to Germany, and +then my journey will not have been wholly unfruitful."</p> + +<p>"Particularly if you achieve the exposure of that +abominable wretch, Jacques Ferrand, monseigneur,—the +angular stone, the pivot on which turn so many +crimes."</p> + +<p>"Although the end justifies the means, and scruples<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +with such a scoundrel are absurd, yet I sometimes +regret that I have allowed Cecily to become an instrument +in working out this just and avenging reparation."</p> + +<p>"She ought to be here very shortly."</p> + +<p>"She has arrived."</p> + +<p>"Cecily?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I refused to see her. De Graün has given +her ample instructions, and she has promised to +comply with them."</p> + +<p>"Will she keep that promise?"</p> + +<p>"Why, everything conspires to make me think so. +There is the hope of ameliorating her future condition, +and the fear of being instantly sent back to Germany to +prison; for De Graün will not lose sight of her, and the +least defection on her part will cause her being handed +over to justice."</p> + +<p>"True, she comes here as an escaped criminal, and +when we know the crimes that have led to her perpetual +imprisonment, she would be at once surrendered to our +demand."</p> + +<p>"And then, even if it were not her interest to aid our +schemes, the task which is assigned to her being one +which can only be effected by stratagem, perfidy, and +the most devilish seduction, Cecily must be (and the +baron assures me she really is) overjoyed at such an +opportunity for playing off those infernal advantages +with which she is so liberally endowed."</p> + +<p>"Is she as handsome as she was, monseigneur?"</p> + +<p>"De Graün declares that she is more attractive than +ever; he told me that he was really quite dazzled at her +beauty, to which the Alsatian costume she had chosen +gave even more piquancy. The glance of this devil in +petticoats, he says, has still the same really magic +expression."</p> + +<p>"Why, monseigneur, I have never been what is +called a dissipated fellow, a man without heart or +conduct, but if at twenty years of age I had met<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +with Cecily, even knowing her then to be as dangerous, +as wicked as I do now, I assure you I would not +have answered for myself, if I had been for any time +exposed to the fire of her large, black, and brilliant eyes, +sparkling in the centre of her pale and ardent countenance. +Yes, by heaven! I dare not think of the +extremities into which so fatal an amour might have +urged me."</p> + +<p>"I am not astonished, my dear Murphy, for I know +this woman. Moreover, the baron was really frightened +at the quickness with which Cecily understood—or, +rather guessed—the part, at once inciting and platonic, +which she was to play with the notary."</p> + +<p>"But will she, think you, be introduced as easily as +you wish, monseigneur, by the intervention of Madame +Pipelet? Individuals like Jacques Ferrand are so +suspicious."</p> + +<p>"I had relied, with reason, on the sight of Cecily to +overcome and dissipate the notary's distrust."</p> + +<p>"What! Has he already seen her?"</p> + +<p>"Yesterday. And from what Madame Pipelet told +me, I have no doubt but he was fascinated by the creole, +for he instantly took her into service."</p> + +<p>"Then, monseigneur, the game is won, and ours."</p> + +<p>"I hope so. A ferocious cupidity, a brutal passion, +have impelled the injurer of Louise Morel to the most +odious crimes. It is in his passion and his cupidity that +he shall find the terrible punishment of his crimes,—a +punishment which, moreover, shall not be without fruit +for his victims, for you know the aim of all the Creole's +wiles."</p> + +<p>"Cecily! Cecily! Never did greater wickedness, never +more dangerous corruption, never blacker soul have +served for the accomplishment of a more strict morality, +a more just result! And David, monseigneur, what does +he say to this arrangement?"</p> + +<p>"Approves of everything. At the pitch of contempt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +and horror which he has reached for this creature, he +sees in her only the instrument of a just vengeance. 'If +this accursed woman ever could deserve any commiseration +after all the ill she has done me,' he said to me, 'it +would be by devoting herself to the remorseless punishment +of this scoundrel, whose exterminating demon she +may become.'"</p> + +<p>A servant having knocked at the door, Murphy went +out, but soon returned with two letters, only one of +which was for Rodolph.</p> + +<p>"A line from Madame Georges," he said, as he +hastily perused it.</p> + +<p>"Well, monseigneur, and La Goualeuse?"</p> + +<p>"There can be no further doubt," exclaimed Rodolph, +after having read, "there is some dark plot afoot. On +the evening of the day when the poor girl disappeared +from the farm, and at the instant when Madame Georges +was about to inform me of this event, a man unknown +to her, sent express and on horseback, came as from me +to tell her that I was aware of the sudden disappearance +of Fleur-de-Marie, and that in a few days I should take +her back to the farm. In spite of this, Madame Georges, +uneasy at my silence with respect to her protégée, cannot, +as she says, resist the desire to hear how her +dear daughter is, for so she calls her."</p> + +<p>"It is very strange, monseigneur."</p> + +<p>"What could be the motive for carrying off Fleur-de-Marie?"</p> + +<p>"Monseigneur!" said Murphy, suddenly, "the Countess +Sarah is no stranger to this carrying off."</p> + +<p>"Sarah! And what makes you think so?"</p> + +<p>"Compare this event with her denunciations against +Madame d'Harville."</p> + +<p>"You are right!" cried Rodolph, struck with a sudden +light, "it is evident—now I understand. Yes, constantly +the one calculation. The countess persists in +thinking that by breaking down all the affections which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span> +she supposes me to form, she will make me feel the necessity +of attaching myself to her. This is as odious as +it is absurd. Still, such unworthy persecution must be +put a stop to. It is not only myself, but all that deserve +respect, interest, and pity, that this woman assails. +Send M. de Graün instantly and officially to the countess +and let him say that I have the certain assurance that +she has been instrumental in carrying off Fleur-de-Marie, +and if she does not give me at once such information as +is necessary for me to find the poor girl, I will show no +mercy; and then M. de Graün will go to the law officers +of the crown."</p> + +<p>"According to Madame d'Harville's letter, La Goualeuse +must be in St. Lazare."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Rigolette declares that she saw her free, and +quit the prison. There is some mystery which I must +clear up."</p> + +<p>"I will instantly go and give the Baron de Graün your +orders, monseigneur. But allow me to open this letter, +which comes from my correspondent at Marseilles, to +whom I had recommended the Chourineur, as he was +to facilitate the passage of the poor devil to Algeria."</p> + +<p>"Well, has he set sail?"</p> + +<p>"Monseigneur, it is really singular!"</p> + +<p>"What is it?"</p> + +<p>"After having waited for a long time at Marseilles for +a ship to convey him to Algeria, the Chourineur, who +seemed every day more sad and serious, suddenly protested, +on the very day fixed for his embarkation, that he +should prefer returning to Paris."</p> + +<p>"What a whim!"</p> + +<p>"Although my correspondent had, as agreed, placed a +considerable sum at the disposal of the Chourineur, he +had only taken sufficient for his return to Paris, where +he must shortly arrive."</p> + +<p>"Then he will explain to us his change of resolution. +But despatch De Graün immediately to the Countess<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +Macgregor, and go yourself to St. Lazare, and inquire +about Fleur-de-Marie."</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>After the lapse of an hour, the Baron de Graün returned +from the Countess Sarah Macgregor's. In spite +of his habitual and official <i>sang-froid</i>, the diplomatist +seemed overwhelmed; the groom of the chambers had +scarcely admitted him before Rodolph observed his paleness.</p> + +<p>"Well, De Graün, what ails you? Have you seen the +countess?"</p> + +<p>"Your royal highness must prepare for very painful +intelligence—so unexpected—the Countess Macgregor—"</p> + +<p>"The countess, then, is dead?"</p> + +<p>"No, but her life is despaired of; she has been stabbed +with a stiletto."</p> + +<p>"Horrible!" exclaimed Rodolph. "Who committed +the crime?"</p> + +<p>"That is not ascertained; the murder was accompanied +with robbery; a large quantity of jewels have been +stolen."</p> + +<p>"And how is she now?"</p> + +<p>"She has not recovered her senses yet; her brother +is in despair."</p> + +<p>"Send some one daily to make inquiries, my dear +De Graün."</p> + +<p>At this moment Murphy entered, having returned from +St. Lazare.</p> + +<p>"Sad news!" said Rodolph to him; "Sarah has been +stabbed."</p> + +<p>"Ah, monseigneur, though very guilty, one must still +pity her."</p> + +<p>"Yes, such a fearful end! And La Goualeuse?"</p> + +<p>"Set at liberty by the intercession of Madame d'Harville."</p> + +<p>"That is impossible! for Madame d'Harville entreats<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +me to take the necessary steps for getting the poor, +unhappy girl out of prison."</p> + +<p>"Yet an elderly woman came to St. Lazare, bringing +an order to set Fleur-de-Marie at liberty, and they both +quitted the prison together."</p> + +<p>"As Rigolette said. But this elderly woman, who +can she be? The Countess Sarah alone can clear this +up, and she is in no state to afford us particulars."</p> + +<p>"But her brother, Tom Seyton, may throw some light +on it, he has always been in his sister's confidence."</p> + +<p>"His sister is dying, and if there is any fresh plot, +he will not say a word. But," added Rodolph, "we +must learn the name of the person who liberated Fleur-de-Marie, +and then we shall arrive at something."</p> + +<p>"True, monseigneur."</p> + +<p>"Try, then, and find out this person, my dear De +Graün; and if you do not succeed, put your M. Badinot +on the scent."</p> + +<p>"Your royal highness may rely on my zeal."</p> + +<p>"Upon my word, monseigneur," said Murphy, "it is, +perhaps, fortunate that the Chourineur returns to us, his +services may be useful."</p> + +<p>"You are right; and now I am impatient to see my +brave preserver arrive in Paris, for I never can forget +that I owe my life to him."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER III.</h3> + +<h5>THE CLERK'S OFFICE.</h5> + + +<p>Several days had elapsed since Jacques Ferrand had +taken Cecily into his service. We will conduct the +reader (who already knows the place) into the notary's +office, whilst his clerks are at breakfast. Unheard of, +extravagant, wonderful thing! Instead of the meagre +and repulsive broth brought each morning to these young +men by the late Madame Séraphin, an enormous cold +roast turkey, placed in a large box, was enthroned in the +centre of one of the office-tables, flanked by two new +loaves, a Dutch cheese, and three bottles of wine; an +ancient leaden inkstand served to hold a mixture of +pepper and salt. Each clerk, provided with a knife and +a strong appetite, awaited the arrival of the head clerk +with hungry impatience, without whom they could not, +without a breach of etiquette, begin to breakfast. A +revolution so radical in Jacques Ferrand's office bespoke +some extraordinary domestic mutation. The following +conversation may throw some light on this phenomenon:</p> + +<p>"Here is a turkey who did not expect when he was +ushered into life ever to appear on the breakfast-table of +our governor's clerks."</p> + +<p>"No more than the governor, when he was ushered +into the life of a notary, expected to give his clerks a +turkey for breakfast."</p> + +<p>"But, at least, the turkey is ours!" said the junior fag +of the office, with a greedy grin.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hop-the-Gutter, my friend, you forget yourself; this +poultry is and must be a stranger to you."</p> + +<p>"And, like a good Frenchman, you should have a +wholesome hatred of the stranger."</p> + +<p>"All that will come to your share may be his feet."</p> + +<p>"Emblem of the velocity with which you run on the +office errands."</p> + +<p>"I thought I might at least have a right to the carcass +to pick!" muttered Hop-the-Gutter.</p> + +<p>"Perchance, as an excessive favour, but not as a +right; just as with the Charter of 1814, which was but +another carcass of liberty!" said the Mirabeau of the +office.</p> + +<p>"Talking of carcasses," observed one youth, with brutal +insensibility, "may heaven receive the soul of Madame +Séraphin! For since she was drowned in her water-party +of pleasure, we are no longer condemned to eternal +'cag-mag.'"</p> + +<p>"And, for a whole week, the governor, instead of giving +us breakfast—"</p> + +<p>"Allows us each two francs a day."</p> + +<p>"It was that which made me say, 'Heaven receive the +soul of Mother Séraphin!'"</p> + +<p>"Talking of Madame Séraphin, who has seen the +servant who has come in her place?"</p> + +<p>"The Alsatian girl whom the portress of the house in +which poor Louise lived brought one evening, as the +porter told us?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"<i>Parbleu!</i> It is quite impossible to get a glimpse of +her; for the governor is more resolute than ever in +preventing us from entering into the pavilion in the +courtyard."</p> + +<p>"And besides, as it is the porter who now cleans out +the office, how can one see this damsel?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I've seen her."</p> + +<p>"You?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span></p> + +<p>"When I say I've seen her, I've seen her cap; such a +rum cap!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, pooh! What sort?"</p> + +<p>"It was cherry-coloured velvet, I think; a kind of +skull-cap like the 'buy-a-broom' girls wear."</p> + +<p>"Like the Alsaciennes? Why, that's simple enough, +as she is an Alsacienne!"</p> + +<p>"I was passing across the yard the day before yesterday, +and she was leaning with her back against one of +the windows of the ground floor."</p> + +<p>"What! The yard?"</p> + +<p>"No, donkey, no,—the servant! The panes of the +lower part are so dirty that I could not see much of the +Alsacienne; but those in the middle of the window were +not so grubby, and I saw her cherry-coloured cap and a +profusion of curling hair as black as jet, for she had her +head dressed <i>à la Titus</i>."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure the governor has not seen even as much as +that through his spectacles; for he is one who, as they +say, if he were left alone with one woman on the earth, +then the world would end."</p> + +<p>"That is not astonishing. 'He laughs best who laughs +last!' And the more so, as 'Punctuality is the politeness +of monarchs!'"</p> + +<p>"Jupiter! How stupid Chalamel is when he likes!"</p> + +<p>"Deuce take it! Tell me where you go, and I'll tell +you who you are!"</p> + +<p>"Beautiful!"</p> + +<p>"As for me, I think it is superstition which makes +our governor more and more hoggish."</p> + +<p>"And, perhaps, it is as a penitence that he gives us +forty sous a day for our breakfast."</p> + +<p>"He must, indeed, have taken leave of his senses."</p> + +<p>"Or be ill."</p> + +<p>"I have thought him very much bewildered these +many days past."</p> + +<p>"It is not that we see so much of him. He who, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +our misery, was in his study at sunrise, and always at +our backs, is now two days without even poking his nose +into the office."</p> + +<p>"That gives the head clerk so much to do."</p> + +<p>"And we are obliged to die of hunger waiting for him +this morning."</p> + +<p>"What a change in the office!"</p> + +<p>"How poor Germain would be astonished if any one +told him, 'Only think, old fellow, of the governor giving +us forty sous for our breakfast.' 'Pooh! Impossible!' +'Quite possible! And I, Chalamel, announce the fact in +my own proper person.' 'What, you want to make me +laugh?' 'Yes. Well, this is the way it came about. +For the two or three days which followed the death of +Madame Séraphin we had no breakfast at all; and, in +one respect, that was an improvement, because it was less +nasty, but, in another, our refection cost us money. Still +we were patient, saying, "The governor has no servant +or housekeeper; as soon as he gets one we shall resume +the filthy paste gruel." No, by no means, my dear Germain; +the governor has a servant, and yet our breakfast +continued buried in the wave of oblivion. Then I was +appointed as a deputation to inform the governor of the +griefs of our stomachs. He was with the chief clerk. +"I will not feed you any longer in the morning," he replied, +in his harsh tone, and as if thinking of something +else; "my servant has no time to prepare your breakfast." +"But, sir, it was agreed that you should find us in +breakfasts." "Well, send for your breakfasts from some +house, and I will pay for it. How much is sufficient,—forty +sous each?" he added; all the time evidently thinking +of something else, and saying forty sous as he would +say twenty sous or a hundred sous. "Yes, sir, forty sous +will be sufficient," cried I, catching the ball at the bound. +"Be it so; the head clerk will pay you and settle with +me." And so saying, the governor respectfully slammed +the door in my face.' You must own, messieurs, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +Germain would be most extraordinarily astonished at +the liberality of the governor."</p> + +<p>"Seriously, I think the governor is ill. For the last +ten days he has scarcely been recognisable; his cheeks +are so furrowed you could hide your fist in them."</p> + +<p>"And so absent; you should just see him. The other +day he lifted his spectacles to read a deed, and his eyes +were as red and glaring as fiery coals."</p> + +<p>"He was right. 'Short reckonings make long +friends!'"</p> + +<p>"Let me say a word. I will tell you, gentlemen, +something very strange. I handed this deed to the +governor, and it was topsy-turvy."</p> + +<p>"The governor? How strange! What could he +mean by topsy-turvying thus? Enough to choke him, +unless, as you say, his habits are so completely altered."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what a fellow you are, Chalamel! I say I gave +him the deed wrong end up'ards."</p> + +<p>"Wasn't he in a rage?"</p> + +<p>"Not the slightest. He did not even notice it, but +kept his great red eyes fixed upon it for at least ten +minutes, and then handed me back the deed, saying, +'Very good!'"</p> + +<p>"What, still topsy-turvy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"Then he couldn't have read it?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Pardieu!</i> not unless he can read upside down."</p> + +<p>"How odd!"</p> + +<p>"The governor looked so dull and cross at the moment +that I did not dare to say a word, and so I left him, just +as if nothing had occurred."</p> + +<p>"Well, four days ago I was in the head clerk's office; +there came a client, then two or three clients with whom +the governor had appointments. They got tired of waiting; +and, at their request, I went and knocked at his +study door. No answer; so in I went."</p> + +<p>"Well?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"M. Jacques Ferrand had his arms crossed on his desk, +and his bald and not overdelicate forehead leaning on +his hands. He never stirred."</p> + +<p>"Was he asleep?"</p> + +<p>"I thought so, and went towards him: 'Sir, there are +clients waiting with whom you have made appointments.' +He didn't stir. 'Sir!' No answer. Then I touched +his shoulder, and he bounced up as if the devil had +bitten him. In his start his large green spectacles fell +from his eyes on to his nose, and I saw—you'll never +believe it—"</p> + +<p>"Well, what?"</p> + +<p>"Tears."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what nonsense!"</p> + +<p>"Quite true."</p> + +<p>"What! the governor snivel? No, I won't have +that."</p> + +<p>"When that's the case why cockchafers will play the +cornet-à-piston."</p> + +<p>"And cocks and hens wear top-boots."</p> + +<p>"Ta, ta, ta, ta; all your folly will not prevent my +having seen what I did see as plain as I see you."</p> + +<p>"Weeping?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, weeping. And he was in such a precious rage +at being surprised in this lachrymose mood that he +adjusted his spectacles in great haste, and said to me, +'Get out—get out!' 'But, sir—' 'Get out!' 'Three +clients are waiting to whom you have given appointments, +and—' 'I have not time; let them go to the +devil along with you!' Then he got up in a desperate +rage to turn me out, but I didn't wait, but went and +dismissed the clients, who were not by any means +satisfied; but, for the honour of the office, I told them +that the governor had the whooping-cough."</p> + +<p>This interesting conversation was interrupted by the +head clerk, who entered apparently quite overcome. His +arrival was hailed by general acclamation, and all eyes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +were sympathetically turned towards the turkey with +impatient anxiety.</p> + +<p>"Without saying a word, seigneur, you have kept us +waiting an infernally long while," said Chalamel.</p> + +<p>"Take care! Another time our appetite will not remain +so subordinate."</p> + +<p>"Well, gents, it was no fault of mine. I have had +much to annoy me,—more than you have. On my +word and honour, the governor must be going mad."</p> + +<p>"Didn't I say so?"</p> + +<p>"But that need not prevent one eating."</p> + +<p>"On the contrary."</p> + +<p>"We can talk just as well with something in our +mouths."</p> + +<p>"We can talk better," cried Hop-the-Gutter; whilst +Chalamel, dissecting the turkey, said to the head clerk:</p> + +<p>"What makes you think that the governor is mad?"</p> + +<p>"We have a right to suppose he is perfectly beside +himself when he allows us forty sous a head for our daily +breakfast."</p> + +<p>"I confess that has surprised me as much as yourselves, +gents. But that is nothing—absolutely nothing—to +what has just now occurred."</p> + +<p>"Really?"</p> + +<p>"What! has the unhappy old gent become so decidedly +lunatic that he insists on our dining at the Cadran Bleu +every day at his expense?"</p> + +<p>"Theatre in the evening?"</p> + +<p>"Then coffee, with punch to follow?"</p> + +<p>"And then—"</p> + +<p>"Gents, laugh as much as you please; but the scene +I have just witnessed is rather alarming than pleasant."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, relate this scene to us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do. Don't mind your breakfast," observed +Chalamel; "we are all ears."</p> + +<p>"And jaws, my lads. I think I see you whilst I am +talking working away with your teeth; and the turkey<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> +would be finished before my tale. By your leave, +patience, and the story shall come in with the dessert."</p> + +<p>Whether it was the spur of appetite or curiosity which +incited the young men we will not decide, but they went +through their gastronomic operation with such celerity +that the moment for the head clerk's history came in no +time. In order that they might not be surprised by +their employer, they sent Hop-the-Gutter into the adjoining +room as a sentinel, having liberally supplied him +with the carcass and drumsticks of the bird.</p> + +<p>The head clerk then said to his colleagues, "You +must know, in the first place, the porter has been very +uneasy, for he has frequently seen M. Ferrand, in spite +of the cold and rain, pace the garden at night for a +considerable time. Once he ventured to ask his master +if he wanted anything; but he sent him about his business +in such a manner that he has not again ventured to +intrude himself."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps the governor is a sleep-walker?"</p> + +<p>"That is not probable. But, to continue; a short +time since I wanted his signature to several papers. As +I was turning the handle of his door, I thought I heard +some one speaking. I stopped, and made out two or +three repressed sounds, like stifled groans. After pausing +an instant in fear, I opened the door, and saw the +governor kneeling on the floor, his forehead buried in +his hands, and his elbows resting on the seat of one of +his old armchairs."</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's all plain enough: he has turned pious, and +was saying an extra prayer."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, it was a strong prayer enough. I heard +stifled groans, and every now and then he murmured +between his teeth '<i>Mon Dieu! mon Dieu! mon Dieu!</i>' +like a despairing man. Then,—and this is very singular,—in +a movement which he made as if to tear his +breast with his nails, his shirt came partly open, and I +saw on his hairy chest a small red pocketbook fastened<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +around his neck by a steel chain. When I saw that I +did not really know whether I ought to retreat or +advance. I remained, however, very much embarrassed, +when he rose and suddenly turned around, holding +between his teeth an old check pocket-handkerchief; +his spectacles were left on the chair. Let me say, gents, +that I never in my life saw such a figure; he looked like +one of the damned. I retreated really in alarm. Then +he—"</p> + +<p>"Seized you by the throat?"</p> + +<p>"You are quite wrong. He looked at me first with a +bewildered air; then letting fall his handkerchief, he +threw himself into my arms, exclaiming, 'Oh, I am very +unhappy!'"</p> + +<p>"What a farce!"</p> + +<p>"Well, but that did not prevent his voice—in spite +of his death's-head look—from being so distressing, I +may say so imploring—"</p> + +<p>"Imploring! Come, come, no gammon! Why, there +is no night-owl with a cold in her head which is not +music to the governor's voice."</p> + +<p>"That may be; but yet at this moment his voice was +so plaintive that I was almost affected. 'Sir,' I said to +him, believe me—' 'Let me!—let me!' replied he, +interrupting me. 'It is so consoling to be able to say +to any one that we are suffering!' He evidently mistook +me for some other person. You may suppose that +when he thus addressed me I felt sure it was a mistake, +or that he had a brain fever. I disengaged myself from +him, saying, 'Sir, compose yourself, it is I!' Then he +looked at me with a stupid air, and exclaimed, 'Who is +it? Who's there? What do you want with me?' +And he passed, at each question, his hand over his +brow, as if to dispel the cloud which obscured his +mind."</p> + +<p>"Which obscured his mind! Capital! Well spoken! +We'll get up a melodrama amongst us!<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"'Methinks a man with such a power of words,<br /></span> +<span class="i0h">Should try his hand at melodrame!'"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>"Chalamel, will you be quiet?"</p> + +<p>"What could ail the governor?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma foi!</i> How can I tell? But of this I'm sure, +that when he recovers he'll sing to another tune, for he +frowned terribly, and said to me sharply, without giving +me time to reply, 'What did you come for? Have you +been here long? Am I to be surrounded with spies? +What did I say? Reply—answer!' <i>Ma foi!</i> he looked +so savage that I replied, 'I heard nothing, sir; I only +this moment entered.' 'You are not deceiving me?' +'No, sir.' 'Well, what do you want?' 'Some signatures, +sir.' 'Give me the papers!' And then he signed +and signed—without reading—half a dozen notarial +deeds; he who never put his initials to a deed without +spelling it over word by word, and twice over from one +end to the other. I remarked that from time to time +his hand relaxed in the middle of his signature, as if he +were absorbed in some fixed idea; then he went on +signing very quick, and, as it were, convulsively. When +all were signed he told me to retire, and I heard him +descend the small staircase which leads from his room +to the courtyard."</p> + +<p>"I still ask what can be the matter with him?"</p> + +<p>"Gentlemen, it is perhaps Madame Séraphin whom he +regrets."</p> + +<p>"He? What, he regret any one?"</p> + +<p>"Now I think of it, the porter said that the curé of +Bonne Nouvelle and the vicar had called several times +to see the governor, and he was denied to them. Is not +that surprising?—they who almost lived here!"</p> + +<p>"What puzzles me is to know what the workpeople +are at."</p> + +<p>"They have been working at the pavilion three days +running."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And one evening they brought furniture covered up +with a carpet."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he feels remorse for having put Germain +into prison?"</p> + +<p>"Talking of Germain, he will have some fine recruits +in his prison, poor fellow! For I read in the <i>Gazette des +Tribunaux</i> that the band of robbers and assassins, whom +they seized in the Champs Elysées, in one of the small +underground public-houses, had been locked up in La +Force."</p> + +<p>"Poor Germain! What society for him!"</p> + +<p>"Louise Morel, too, will have her share of the recruits; +for in this gang, they say, there is a whole family of +thieves."</p> + +<p>"Then they will send the women to St. Lazare, where +Louise is?"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it was some of that gang who stabbed the +countess, one of the governor's clients. He has often +sent me to inquire after the state of this countess, and +seems much interested in her recovery."</p> + +<p>"Did they let you enter the house and see the spot +where the assassination was committed?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no! I could not go farther than the entrance; +and the porter was not at all a person inclined to talk."</p> + +<p>"Gents, gents, take your places; here's the gov'nor +coming up!" shouted Hop-the-Gutter, coming into the +office with the carcass still in his hand.</p> + +<p>The young men instantly took their seats at their +respective desks, over which they bent, handling their +pens with great dexterity; whilst Hop-the-Gutter deposited +his turkey's skeleton in a box filled with law +papers.</p> + +<p>Jacques Ferrand entered the room. His red hair, +mingled with gray, escaping from beneath an old black +silk cap, fell in disorder down each side of his temples. +Some of the veins which marbled his head appeared +injected with blood, whilst his face, his flat nose, his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +furrowed cheeks, were all of ghastly paleness. The +expression of his look, concealed by his large green +spectacles, could not be seen; but the great alteration +in the man's features announced the ravages of a consuming +passion.</p> + +<p>He crossed the office slowly, without saying a word to +one of the clerks, or without even appearing to notice +that they were there; then went into the room in which +the chief clerk was employed, traversed it as well as his +own cabinet, and again instantly descended the small +staircase which led to the courtyard.</p> + +<p>Jacques Ferrand having left all the doors open behind +him, the clerks had a right to be astonished at the +strange demeanour of their employer, who had come +up one staircase and gone down another without pausing +for a moment in any of the apartments he had +mechanically traversed.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER IV.</h3> + +<h5>AVOID TEMPTATION!</h5> + + +<p>It is night. Profound silence reigns in the pavilion +inhabited by Jacques Ferrand, interrupted only at intervals +by gusts of wind and the dashing of rain, which +falls in torrents. These melancholy sounds seemed to +render still more complete the solitude of this abode. +In a sleeping-room in the first floor, very nicely and +newly furnished, and covered with a thick carpet, a +young female is standing up before a fireplace, in +which there is a cheerful blaze. It is strange, but in +the centre of the door, carefully bolted, and which is +opposite to the bed, is a small glass door, five or six +inches square, which opens from the outside. A small +reflecting lamp casts a half shadow in this chamber, +hung with garnet-coloured paper; the curtains of the +bed and the window, as well as the cover of the large +sofa, are of silk and woollen damask of the same colour. +We are precise in the details of this demi-luxury so +recently imported into the notary's residence, because it +announces a complete revolution in the habits of Jacques +Ferrand, who, until now, was of the most sordid avarice, +and of Spartan disregard (especially as it concerned +others) to everything that respected comfortable existence. +It is on this garnet-coloured ground that was +shadowed forth the figure of Cecily, which we will now +attempt to paint.</p> + +<p>Tall and graceful, the creole was in the full flower<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +of her age. Her spreading shoulders and hips made her +waist appear so singularly small that it seemed as if it +could be easily spanned. As simple as it was coquettish, +her Alsatian costume was of singular taste, somewhat +theatrical,—but for that reason more capable of producing +the effect she desired. Her bodice, of black cassimere, +half open on her full bosom, was very long-waisted, +with tight sleeves, plain back, and slightly embroidered +with purple wool down the seams, perfected by a row of +small cut silver buttons. A short petticoat, of orange +merino, which seemed of vast fullness, descended little +lower than the knee; her stockings were of scarlet, with +blue clocks, as we see them in the drawings of the old +Flemish painters, who so complacently show us the garters +of their robust heroines.</p> + +<p>No artist ever drew more perfect legs than were those of +Cecily: symmetrical and slim beneath the swelling calf, +they terminated in a small foot, quite at ease, and yet +restrained in a small slipper of black morocco, with +silver buckles. Cecily was looking into the glass over +the mantelpiece. The slope of her bodice displayed her +elegant and dimpled neck of dazzling but not transparent +whiteness.</p> + +<p>Taking off her cap of cherry-coloured velvet to replace +it with a kerchief, she displayed her thick, magnificent +head of hair, of lustrous black, which, divided over her +brows, and naturally curling, came down only to the +necklace of Venus, which unites the neck and shoulders.</p> + +<p>It is necessary to know the inimitable taste with which +the Creoles twist around their heads their kerchiefs of +bright hues, to have an idea of the graceful head-dress +of Cecily, and the piquant contrast of this variegated +covering of purple, blue, and orange, with the black silky +tresses, which, escaping from beneath the tight fold of +the nightkerchief, surrounded her pale but round and +firm cheeks. With her two arms raised above her +head, she proceeded with the ends of her fingers, as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> +slender as spindles of ivory, to arrange a large rosette, +placed very low on the left side, almost over the ear.</p> + +<p>Cecily's features were such as once seen it is impossible +ever to forget. A bold forehead, somewhat projecting, +surmounts her face, which was a perfect oval; +her pearly white complexion, the satiny freshness of +the camelia leaf slightly touched by a sun-ray; her +eyes, of almost disproportionate size, have a singular +expression, for their irises, extremely large, black, and +brilliant, hardly allow the blue transparency of the +orbits, at the two extremities of the lids, fringed with +long lashes, to be visible; her chin is very distinctly +prominent; her nose, straight and thin, ends in two +delicate nostrils, which dilate on the least emotion; +her mouth, insolent and amorous, is of bright purple.</p> + +<p>We must imagine this colourless countenance, with +its bright black glance, its two red, pulpy, and humid +lips, which glisten like wet coral. Such was Cecily. +Her infamous instincts, at first repressed by her real +attachment for David, not being developed till she +reached Europe, civilisation and the influence of northern +climates had tempered their violence.</p> + +<p>We have already said that Cecily had scarcely reached +Germany, when, first seduced by a man of desperately +depraved habits, she, unknown to David, who loved her +with equal idolatry and blindness, exercised and turned +to account, for a considerable time, all her seductive +powers; but soon the scandal of her adventures was +raised abroad, and such exposures ensued that she was +sentenced to perpetual imprisonment.</p> + +<p>To all this let there be joined a plastic, adroit, insinuating +mind, an intelligence so wonderful that in a year +she spoke French and German with perfect ease, sometimes +even with natural eloquence; then add a corrupted +heart worthy of the courtesan queen of ancient Rome, an +audacity and courage proof against everything, instincts +of diabolical wickedness, and then we may understand<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +the new servant of Jacques Ferrand, the resolute being +who had dared to venture into the wolf's den.</p> + +<p>Yes, strange anomaly! On learning from M. de Graün +the inciting and platonic part she was to play with the +notary, and what avenging ends were to be derived from +her seductions, Cecily had promised to go through the +character with love, or, rather, terrible hatred against +Jacques Ferrand, being sincerely indignant at the recital +of the infamous violence he had exercised against Louise,—a +recital necessary to be unfolded to the creole, to +put her on her guard against the hypocritical attempts +of this monster. A few retrospective words as to this +latter are indispensable.</p> + +<p>When Cecily was presented by Madame Pipelet as an +orphan over whom she did not desire to maintain any +right, any control, the notary was, perhaps, less smitten +by the beauty of the creole than fascinated by her irresistible +look,—a look which, at the first interview, +disturbed the reason of Jacques Ferrand.</p> + +<p>We have already said, in reference to the insensate +boldness of some of his words when conversing with +Madame de Lucenay, that this man, usually so completely +master of himself, so calm, so cunning, so +subtle, forgot the cold calculations of his deep dissimulation +when the demon of desire darkened his better +sense.</p> + +<p>Besides, he had no cause to distrust the protégée of +Madame Pipelet. After her conversation with Alfred's +spouse, Madame Séraphin had proposed to Jacques Ferrand +a young girl, almost destitute, to replace Louise, +and he had eagerly accepted the offer, in the hopes of +taking advantage of the isolated and precarious position +of his new servant. Moreover, far from being predisposed +to mistrust, Jacques Ferrand found, in the march +of events, fresh motives for security.</p> + +<p>All succeeded to his utmost wishes. The death of +Madame Séraphin released him from a dangerous accomplice;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +the death of Fleur-de-Marie (he believed her +dead) delivered him from a living proof of one of his +earliest crimes. Finally, thanks to the death of the +Chouette, and the unexpected murder of the Countess +Macgregor (whose life was despaired of), he no longer +had these two women to fear, whose disclosures and +attacks might have been most disastrous to him.</p> + +<p>The disposition, habits, and former life of Jacques +Ferrand known and displayed, the exciting beauty of the +creole admitted, as we have endeavoured to paint her, +together with other facts we shall detail as we proceed, +will account, we presume, for the sudden passion, the +unbridled desire of the notary for this seductive and +dangerous creature. Then we must add, that if women +of Cecily's stamp inspire nothing but repugnance and +disgust to men endued with tender and elevated sentiments, +with delicate and pure tastes, they exercise a +sudden action, a magic omnipotence, over men of brutal +sensuality like Jacques Ferrand. Thus a just, an avenging +fatality, brought the creole into contact with the +notary, and a terrible expiation was beginning for him. +A fierce passion had urged him on to persecute, with +pitiless malice, an indigent and honest family, and to +spread amongst them misery, madness, and death. This +passion was now to be the formidable chastisement of +this great culprit.</p> + +<p>Although Jacques Ferrand was never to have his +desires realised, the creole took care not to deprive him +of all hope; but the vague and distant prospects she +held out were so coloured by caprices that they were +an additional torture, and more completely enslaved +him.</p> + +<p>If we are astonished that a man of such vigour and +audacity had not recourse to stratagem or violence to +triumph over the calculating resistance of Cecily, we +forget that Cecily was not a second Louise. Besides, +the day after her presentation to the notary, she had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +played quite another part from that by aid of which she +had been introduced to her master, for he had not been +the dupe of his servant two days.</p> + +<p>Forewarned of the fate of Louise by the Baron de +Graün, and knowing besides by what abominable means +she had become the prey of the notary, the creole, on +entering this solitary house, had taken excellent precautions +for passing her first night there in perfect security. +The evening of her arrival, being alone with Jacques +Ferrand, he, in order not to alarm her, pretended scarcely +to look at her, and rudely ordered her to bed. She told +him, <i>naïvely</i>, that she was afraid of thieves in the night, +but that she was resolute, and capable of defending herself; +at the same time drawing from her large woollen +pelisse a small but exceedingly keen stiletto, the sight +of which set the notary thinking.</p> + +<p>Believing that Cecily was afraid of robbers only, he +showed her to the late chamber of Louise; after having +examined it, Cecily said, trembling, she would sleep in +a chair, because the door had neither lock nor bolt. +Jacques Ferrand, unwilling to compromise himself by +rousing Cecily's suspicions, promised a bolt should be +fixed. The creole did not go to bed.</p> + +<p>In the morning the notary sent to her to show her +how to set about her work. He had promised himself +to preserve for the first few days a hypocritical reserve +with respect to his new servant, in order to inspire her +with confidence; but smitten by her beauty, which by +daylight was even more striking, blinded, maddened by +his desires, which already got the better of him, he +stammered out some compliments as to the figure and +beauty of Cecily. She, with keen sagacity, had judged +that, from her first interview with the notary, he was +completely caught in her spells; at the confession he +made of his flame, she thought it policy to cast aside +at once her feigned timidity, and, as we have said, to +change her mask. The creole suddenly assumed a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +bold air. Jacques Ferrand again complimented her +beauty and her graceful figure.</p> + +<p>"Look at me well!" said Cecily to him, in a bold +tone. "Although I am dressed as an Alsatian peasant, +do I look like a servant?"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?" cried Jacques Ferrand.</p> + +<p>"Look at this hand, does it appear accustomed to +hard labour?" and she presented a white, delicate hand, +with long and slender fingers, with nails as rosy and +polished as agate, but whose root, slightly browned, +betrayed the creole blood. "And this foot, is it that +of a servant?" and she protruded a beautiful small foot, +coquettishly shod, which the notary had not before +remarked, and from which he only removed his eyes +to gaze on Cecily with amazement. "I told my Aunt +Pipelet what story I chose; she knew nothing of my +former life, and believes me reduced to my present +condition through the death of my parents, and takes +me for a servant,—but you, I hope, have too much +sagacity to show her error, dear master."</p> + +<p>"Who, then, are you?" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, +more and more surprised at her language.</p> + +<p>"That is my secret. For reasons best known to +myself I was obliged to quit Germany in this attire. +I wished to remain concealed in Paris for some time, +being as secluded as possible. My aunt, supposing me +reduced to misery, proposed to me your service, telling me +of the solitary life which I must of compulsion lead in +your house, informing me that I should never have leave +to quit it. I accepted the offer unhesitatingly,—without +knowing it my aunt had anticipated my most earnest +desire. Who would think of looking for and finding me +here?"</p> + +<p>"And what have you done to compel you to seek +concealment?"</p> + +<p>"Agreeable sins, perhaps; but that is, also, my secret."</p> + +<p>"And what are your intentions, mademoiselle?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What they always have been. But for your significant +compliments as to my shape and beauty, perhaps I +should not have confessed so much to you; although, no +doubt, your clear-sightedness would, sooner or later, have +induced my confession. Now listen to me, my dear +master. I have for the moment accepted the condition—or, +rather, the character—of a servant; circumstances +compelled me. I have courage enough to +sustain the character to the end, and will risk all the +consequences. I will serve you with zeal, activity, and +respect, in order to retain my situation, that is to say, a +sure and unknown asylum. But on the least word of +gallantry, the least liberty you take with me, I will leave +you,—not from prudery, there is nothing of the prude +about me, I fancy." And she darted a look at the notary +which had full effect. "No, I am no prude!" she continued, +with a provoking smile, which displayed her teeth +of dazzling whiteness. "Indeed, no, when I love, I do +love! But be discreet, and you will see that your unworthy +servant has no desire but honestly to discharge +her duty as a servant.</p> + +<p>"Now you have my secret, or, at least, a portion of it. +But should you, by any chance, desire to act as a gentleman, +should you find me too handsome to serve you, +should you like to change parts, and become my slave, +be it so! Frankly speaking, I should prefer it, and had +rather you should feel paternally disposed towards me. +That would not prevent you from saying that you found +me charming; this will be the recompense of your +devotion and discretion."</p> + +<p>"The only one? The only one?" stammered Jacques +Ferrand.</p> + +<p>"The only one, unless solitude make me mad,—which +is impossible, for you will keep me company. Come, +make up your mind,—no ambiguity. I either serve +you, or you shall serve me; if not, I leave your house, +and beg my aunt to find me another place. All this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +may, perhaps, appear strange to you; but if you take +me for an adventuress, without any means of existence, +you are wrong. In order that my aunt should be my +accomplice without knowing it, I have made her believe +that I was so poor that I could not purchase any other +garments than those I now wear. I have, however, as +you see, a tolerably well filled purse; on this side gold, +on the other diamonds" (and Cecily displayed before +the notary's eyes a long, red silk purse, filled with gold, +and through the meshes of which he could also see +several sparkling gems). "Unfortunately all the money +in the world could not purchase for me a retreat so +secure as your house,—so isolated, from the very solitude +in which you live. Accept, then, one or other of +my offers, and you will do me a kindness. You see I +place myself almost at your discretion; for to say to +you, I conceal myself, is to say to you I am sought for. +But I am sure you will not betray me, even if you +could."</p> + +<p>This romantic confidence, this sudden change of character, +completely upset all Jacques Ferrand's ideas. +Who was this woman? Why did she conceal herself? +Was it chance alone that had brought her to him? If +she came with some secret aim, what could it be? +Amongst all the ideas which this singular adventure +gave rise to in the notary's mind, the real motive of the +creole's presence did not occur to him. He had not, or, +rather, he believed he had no other enemies than the +victims of his licentiousness and his cupidity, and all +these were in such miserable circumstances that he +could not suspect them capable of spreading any net +for him, of which Cecily should be the bait.</p> + +<p>And then, moreover, what could be the motive of any +such snare? No, the sudden transformation of Cecily +inspired Jacques Ferrand with one fear only—he believed +that this woman did not tell the truth, and was, perhaps, +an adventuress, who, thinking him rich, had introduced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +herself into his house to wheedle and get money from +him, and, perhaps, induce him to marry her. But +although his avarice at once revolted at this idea, he +perceived (and trembled) that his suspicions and reflections +were too late, for he might by one word have +calmed his distrust by sending away this woman from +his house,—but this word he could not say.</p> + +<p>These thoughts hardly occupied him a moment, so +fascinated had he become. He already loved, after his +own fashion, and the idea of being separated from this +enchanting creature seemed impossible; and he felt also +a jealousy, which made him say to himself, "So long as +she is immured in my house, she can have no other +lover." The boldness of her language, the wantonness +of her look, the freedom of her manner, all revealed +that she was not (as she had said) a prude. This conviction, +giving vague hopes to the notary, still more +assured Cecily's empire. In a word, Jacques Ferrand's +passion choking the calm voice of reason, he blindly +resigned himself to all that might result.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>It was agreed that Cecily should only be the servant +in appearance; thus there would be no scandal. +Besides, in order the more completely to render his +guest at her ease, he was not to engage any other servant, +but make up his mind to wait on her and on himself. +The meals were brought from a neighbouring +tavern, the porter swept out and attended to the office, +and he paid for his clerks' breakfast. Then the notary +would furnish at once an apartment on the first floor, as +Cecily wished. She desired to pay for it, but he refused, +and spent two thousand francs (80<i>l.</i>). This was enormous +generosity, and proved the unheard-of violence of +his passion.</p> + +<p>Then began the terrible life of this miserable wretch. +Enclosed in the impenetrable solitude of this house, +inaccessible to all, more and more under the galling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +yoke of his mad love, careless of penetrating the secret +of this singular woman; from a master he was made a +slave,—he was Cecily's valet, served her at meal-times, +and took care of her apartment. Forewarned by the +baron that Louise had been overcome by a narcotic, the +creole drank only pure water, eating only of dishes with +which it was impossible to tamper. She had selected +the apartment she was to occupy, assuring herself that +there was there no concealed entrance. Besides, Jacques +Ferrand soon discovered that Cecily was not a woman +whom he could assail with impunity; she was vigorous, +agile, and dangerously armed; thus a frenzied delirium +alone could have incited him to attempt force, and she +was quite protected from this peril.</p> + +<p>Yet, that she might not weary and utterly repulse the +notary's passion, the creole seemed sometimes touched +by his assiduities, and flattered by the control which she +exercised over him. And, perceiving that he hoped, by +dint of proofs of devotion and self-denial, he should contrive +to make her overlook his age and ugliness, she +amused herself with telling him that, if she ever could +love him, how excessive that love would be. With this +Jacques Ferrand's reason wandered, and he would frequently +walk in his garden at night absorbed in his own +reflections. Sometimes he gazed for hours into the bedroom +of the creole; for she had allowed a small window +to be made in the door, which she frequently and intentionally +left open. Absorbed, lost, wandering, indifferent +to his most important interests, or the preservation of +his reputation as an austere, serious, and pious man,—a +reputation usurped, it is true, but, at the same time, +acquired after long years of dissimulation and chicanery,—he +amazed his clerks by his aberration of mind, +offended his clients by his refusals to receive them, and +abruptly refused the visits of the priests, who, deceived +by his hypocrisy, had been until then his warmest +champions.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span></p> + +<p>We have said that Cecily was dressing her head before +her glass. At a slight noise in the corridor she turned +her head towards the door. In spite of the noise she +had heard, Cecily continued her night toilet tranquilly. +She drew from her corsage, where it was placed almost +like a busk, a stiletto five or six inches long, enclosed in +a case of black shagreen, having a small ebony handle, +with silver threads,—a plain handle, but very fit for +use; it was not a mere weapon for show. Cecily took +the dagger from its scabbard with excessive precaution, +and laid it on the marble mantelpiece. The blade, of +finest temper and Damascus steel, was triangular, with +keen edges; and the point, as sharp as a needle, would +have pierced a shilling without turning the edge. +Impregnated with a subtle and rapid poison, the slightest +puncture of this poniard was mortal. Jacques Ferrand +having one day alluded to the danger of this +weapon, the creole made in his presence an experiment, +<i>in animâ vita</i>,—that is to say, on the unfortunate house-dog, +which, slightly pricked on the nose, fell and died in +horrible convulsions. The stiletto placed on the mantelpiece, +Cecily took off her black bodice, and was then, +with her shoulders, neck, and arms denuded, like a lady +in her ball-dress. Like most of the creole women, she +wore, instead of stays, another bodice of stout linen, +which fitted her figure very closely; her orange-coloured +petticoat, remaining attached to this sort of white spencer, +with short sleeves, and cut very low, formed a +costume less precise than the other, and harmonised +wonderfully with the scarlet stocking, and the coloured +handkerchief, so coquettishly arranged around the +creole's head. Nothing could be more perfect, more +beautifully defined, than the graceful contour of her +arms and shoulders. A heavy sigh aroused Cecily's +attention. She smiled, as she twisted around her finger +one of her curling tresses, which had escaped from +beneath her head-dress.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Cecily! Cecily!" murmured a voice, which was +plaintive though coarse. And through the wicket +was visible the pale and flat face of Jacques Ferrand.</p> + +<p>Cecily, silent until then, began to hum a creole air; +the words of this melody were sweet and expressive. +Although repressed, the full contra-alto of Cecily was +heard above the noise of the torrents of the rain and +gusts of wind, which seemed to shake the old house to +its very foundation.</p> + +<p>"Cecily! Cecily!" repeated Jacques Ferrand, in a +tone of supplication.</p> + +<p>The creole paused suddenly and turned her head +around quickly, as if, for the first time, she then heard +the notary's voice; and going towards the door,—</p> + +<p>"What, dear master (she called him so in derision), +you there?" she said, with a slight foreign accent, +which gave additional charm to her full and sarcastic +voice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, how beautiful you are!" murmured the notary.</p> + +<p>"You think so?" said Cecily. "Doesn't my head-dress +become me?"</p> + +<p>"I think you handsomer every day."</p> + +<p>"Only see how white my arm is."</p> + +<p>"Monster, begone! Begone!" shouted Jacques Ferrand, +furious.</p> + +<p>Cecily burst into a loud fit of laughter.</p> + +<p>"No, no, it is too much to suffer! Oh, if I were not +afraid of death!" said the notary, gloomily. "But to +die is to renounce you altogether, and you are so +beautiful! I would rather, then, suffer—and look +at you."</p> + +<p>"Look at me? Why, that's what the wicket was +made for; and so we can thus chat, like two friends in +our solitude, which really is not irksome to me, you are +such a good master! What a dangerous confession I +make through the door!"</p> + +<p>"Will you never open this door? You see how submissive<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> +I am; this evening I might have tried to enter +into your chamber with you, but I did not do so."</p> + +<p>"You are submissive for two reasons: in the first +place, because you know that, having, from the necessity +of my wandering life, always had the precaution to carry +a stiletto, I can manage with a strong hand this inestimable +jewel, whose tooth is sharper than a viper's; and +you know, too, that, from the day in which I have to +complain of you, I will quit this roof for ever, leaving +you a thousand times more enamoured than ever,—since +you have so greatly honoured your unworthy +servant as to say that you are enamoured of her."</p> + +<p>"My servant? It is I who am your slave,—your +mocked, derided, despised slave!"</p> + +<p>"That's true enough."</p> + +<p>"And yet it does not move you?"</p> + +<p>"It amuses me; the days, and especially the nights, +are so long!"</p> + +<p>"Accursed creature!"</p> + +<p>"But, seriously, you look so perfectly wretched, your +features have so sensibly altered, that I am quite flattered +at it. It is a poor triumph, but you are the only one +here."</p> + +<p>"To hear that, and me consume in impotent rage!"</p> + +<p>"Have you really any understanding? Why, I never +said anything more tender."</p> + +<p>"Jeer at me,—jeer at me!"</p> + +<p>"I do not jeer. I never before saw a man of your +age in love after your fashion; and, I must confess, a +young and handsome man would be incapable of these +outrageous passions. An Adonis admires himself as +much as he admires us; he likes us, and we choose to +notice him,—nothing more simple. He has a claim +to our love, but is hardly grateful; but to show favour +to a man like you, my master dear, would be to take +him from earth to heaven, to fulfil his wildest dreams, +his most insensate hopes. For if some being were to say<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> +to you, 'You love Cecily to distraction, if I chose she +should be yours next minute,' you would suppose such +a being endued with supernatural power, shouldn't you, +master dear?"</p> + +<p>"Yes! Ah, yes!"</p> + +<p>"Well, if you could convince me more satisfactorily of +your passion, I might, perchance, have the whimsical +fancy to enact this supernatural part myself in your +favour. Do you comprehend?"</p> + +<p>"I comprehend that you are still fooling me,—that +you are still pitiless."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps,—for solitude creates so many singular +fancies."</p> + +<p>Until this moment Cecily's accent had been sarcastic, +but she pronounced these last words with a serious, +reflecting tone, and accompanied them with a look which +made the notary start.</p> + +<p>"Silence! Do not look at me thus,—you will drive +me mad! I would rather you denied me,—at least, I +could then hate you,—drive you from my house!" cried +Jacques Ferrand, who again gave himself up to a vain +hope. "Yes, for I should then hope nothing from you. +But, misery! Misery! I know you well enough now +to hope, in spite of myself, that one day I might, from +your very hate or proud caprice, obtain what I shall +never owe to your love. You bid me convince you of +my passion,—do you not see how unhappy I am? I +will do all I can to please you. You desire to, be +concealed from all eyes, and from all eyes I conceal you, +perchance at the risk of compromising myself most seriously; +for, indeed, I know not who you are. I respect +your secret,—I never speak to you of it. I have interrogated +you as to your past life, and you have given me +no answer."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I was very wrong. I'll give you a mark +of blind confidence, oh, master, dear! And so, listen."</p> + +<p>"Another bitter jest, no doubt."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No, a serious tale. You ought, at least, to know +the life of her to whom you afford such generous hospitality." +Then Cecily continued, in a tone of hypocritical +and lachrymose earnestness, "Daughter of a brave soldier, +brother of my Aunt Pipelet, I received an education, +beyond my condition. I was seduced, and then abandoned, +by a rich young gentleman; then, to escape the anger of +my father, whose notions of honour were most strict, I +fled my native country." Then bursting into a loud fit +of laughter, Cecily added, "Now I hope that's what you +call a very pretty and particularly probable tale, for it +has been very often told. Amuse your curiosity with +that until you get hold of some other story more +interesting."</p> + +<p>"I was certain it was some cruel jest," said the notary, +with concentrated rage; "nothing touches you,—nothing. +What must I do? Tell me. I serve you like the lowest +footboy, for you I neglect my dearest interests,—I +no longer know what I do. I am a subject of astonishment +and derision to my own clerks; my clients hesitate +any longer to entrust me with their affairs; I have severed +my connection with some religious persons whom I +knew intimately. I dare not think of what the world +will say of my change of demeanour and habits. But +you do not know,—no, you do not know the fatal consequences +my mad passion for you may entail on me. +Yet I give you ample proof of my devotion. Will you +have more? Speak! Is it gold you would have? +They think me richer than I am, but I—"</p> + +<p>"What could I do with your gold?" asked Cecily, +interrupting the notary, and shrugging her shoulders; +"living in this chamber, what is the use of gold? Your +invention is at fault."</p> + +<p>"It is no fault of mine if you are a prisoner. Is this +chamber displeasing to you? Will you have one more +splendid? Speak! Order!"</p> + +<p>"Once more, what is the use? What is the use?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span> +Oh, if I might here expect a beloved one, full of the +love he inspires and participates, I would have gold, +silks, flowers, perfumes, all the wonders of luxury; +nothing could be too sumptuous, too enchanting to +enshrine my love," said Cecily, with an impassioned +voice.</p> + +<p>"Well, these wonders of luxury, say but a word, +and—"</p> + +<p>"What's the use? What's the use? Why make a +frame for which there is no picture? And the adored +one! Where is he,—where is he, master, dear?"</p> + +<p>"True," exclaimed the notary, with bitterness, "I am +old, I am ugly, I can only inspire disgust and aversion. +She overwhelms me with contempt, jests at +me,—and yet I have not the resolution, the power to +send her away. I have only the resolution to suffer!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, silly old mourner! And what an absurd elderly +gentleman, with his sufferings!" cried Cecily, in a contemptuous +and sarcastic tone; "he only knows how to +groan, to despair,—and yet he has been for ten days +shut up alone with a young woman in a lone house."</p> + +<p>"But this woman scorns me,—this woman is +armed,—this woman is shut up!" groaned the notary, +furiously.</p> + +<p>"Well, conquer her scorn, make the dagger fall +from her hands, compel her to open the door which +separates her from yourself! But not by brute force, +that would be useless."</p> + +<p>"How, then?"</p> + +<p>"By the strength of your passion."</p> + +<p>"Passion! And can I inspire it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, you are nothing but a lawyer, affecting piety,—I +really pity you. Is it for me to teach you your +part? You are ugly,—be terrible, and one may forget +your ugliness. You are old,—be energetic, and +one may forget your age. You are repulsive,—become +menacing. Since you cannot be the noble steed that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> +neighs proudly in the midst of his harem, do not +become the stupid camel that bends the knee and +offers his back; be the tiger! The old tiger, that +roars in the midst of carnage, still excites admiration; +his tigress responds to him from the deepest recesses of +the desert."</p> + +<p>At this language, which was not deficient in a sort of +natural and hardy eloquence, Jacques Ferrand shuddered; +struck by the expression, wild and almost fierce, which +Cecily's features displayed, as, with her bosom palpitating, +her nostrils open, her mouth defying, she fastened on +him her large and brilliant black eyes. Never had she +seemed to him more fascinating, or more resplendently +beautiful than at this moment.</p> + +<p>"Speak,—speak again!" he exclaimed, with excitement. +"For now you speak in earnest. Oh, if I +could—"</p> + +<p>"One can do what one wishes," replied Cecily, sternly.</p> + +<p>"But—"</p> + +<p>"But I tell you, old as you are, if I were in your +place I would undertake to engage the affections of a +young and handsome woman, and once having achieved +this result, what had been against me would turn to my +advantage. What pride, what triumph to say to oneself, +I have made my age and ugliness forgotten! The love +that is shown me I do not owe to pity, but to my spirit, +my courage, and my skill. Yes, and now if there were +here some handsome young fellows, brilliant with grace +and attractions, the lovely woman, whom I have subdued +by proofs of a resistless and unbounded devotion, +would not deign to cast a look at them. No; for +she would know that these elegant effeminates would +fear to compromise the tie of their cravat, or a curl of +their hair, in obedience to her caprices; whilst if she +cast her handkerchief in the midst of flames, on a signal +from her her old tiger would rush into the furnace with +a roar of ecstasy."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, I would do it! Try! Try!" exclaimed +Jacques Ferrand, more and more excited.</p> + +<p>Cecily continued drawing nearer to the aperture, and +fixing on Jacques Ferrand a steadfast and penetrating +look.</p> + +<p>"For this woman would well know," continued the +creole, "that she would have some exorbitant caprice +to satisfy,—that these dandies would look at their +money, if they had any, or, if they had not, at some +other low consideration, whilst her old tiger—"</p> + +<p>"Would consider nothing,—nothing, I tell you. +Fortune,—honour,—he—he—would sacrifice all!"</p> + +<p>"Really?" said Cecily, putting her lovely fingers on +the bony fingers of Jacques Ferrand, whose clutched +hands, passed through the small glass door, were clasping +the top of the ledge. "Would not this woman be +ardently loved?" added Cecily. "If she had an enemy, +and with a gesture pointed him out to her old tiger, +and said to him, Strike—"</p> + +<p>"And he would strike!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, +attempting to press Cecily's fingers with his parched +lips.</p> + +<p>"Really, the old tiger would strike?" said the creole, +placing her hand gently on the hand of Jacques Ferrand.</p> + +<p>"To possess you," cried the wretch, "I could commit +a crime—"</p> + +<p>"Ah, master," said Cecily, suddenly, and withdrawing +her hand, "go—go,—in my turn I scarcely know you,—you +do not seem to me so ugly as you did just now. +But go—go!" and she left the aperture abruptly.</p> + +<p>The artful creature gave to her gestures and these last +words an appearance of truth so perfect, and a look of +such surprise, as if angry and disappointed with herself +for having for an instant only appeared to forget the +ugliness of Jacques Ferrand, that he, transported by +frenzied hope, cried, as he clung convulsively to the +ledge of the aperture:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Cecily, come back,—come back! Bid me do what +you will, I will be your tiger."</p> + +<p>"No, no, master!" said Cecily, still retreating. +"And in order to forget you, I will sing a song of +my country."</p> + +<p>"Cecily, return!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, in a +supplicating tone.</p> + +<p>"No, no! Later, when I can without danger. But +the light of this lamp hurts my eyes,—a soft languor +overcomes my senses!" and Cecily extinguished the +lamp, took down a guitar, and made up the fire, whose +increased blaze then lighted up the whole apartment.</p> + +<p>From the narrow window, where he stood motionless, +such was the picture that Jacques Ferrand perceived. +In the midst of the luminous circle formed by the flickering +blaze on the fire Cecily, in a position full of softness +and <i>abandonnement</i>, half reclining on a large sofa of garnet +damask, held a guitar, on which she ran over several +harmonious preludes. The fire-light threw its red tints +on the creole, who appeared thus in strong relief. To +complete the tableau, the reader must call to mind the +mysterious and singular appearance of a room in which +the fire from the grate struggles with the deep and large +black shadows, which tremble on the ceiling and the +walls. The storm without increased, and roared loudly.</p> + +<p>Whilst she preludised on her guitar, Cecily fixed her +eyes immovably on Jacques Ferrand, who, fascinated, +could not take his look from her.</p> + +<p>"Now, master mine," said the creole, "listen to a +song of my country. We do not understand how to +make verses, but have a simple recitative, without +rhyme, and between each rest we improvise, as well as +we can, a symphony appropriate to the idea of the +couplet; it is very simple and pastoral, and I am sure, +master, it will please you."</p> + +<p>And Cecily began a kind of recitative, much more +accentuated by the expression of the voice than the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span> +modulation of the music. Some soft and vibrating +chords served as accompaniment. This was Cecily's +song:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"Flowers—still flowers, everywhere.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My lover is coming—my hope of happiness unnerves me.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Let us subdue the glare of daylight, pleasure seeks the softer shade.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">My lover prefers my breath to the perfume of the sweetest flowers.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The brightness of day will not affect his eyelids, for my kisses will keep them closed.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Come—come—come—come, love! Come—come—come!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>These words, uttered with animation, as if the creole +was addressing an unseen lover, were rendered by her +the theme of a delicious melody; her charming fingers +produced from the guitar, an instrument of no great +power, vibrations full of harmony. The impassioned +look of Cecily, her half closed, humid eyes fastened +on Jacques Ferrand, were full of the expression of +expectation. Words of love, delicious music, together +conspired at the moment to bereave Jacques Ferrand of +his reason; and, half frenzied, he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Mercy, Cecily, mercy! You will drive me distracted! +Oh, be silent, or I die! Oh, that I were mad!"</p> + +<p>"Listen to the second couplet, master," said the +creole, again touching the chords; and she thus +continued her impassioned recitative:</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">"If my lover were here, and his hand touched my bare shoulder, I should tremble and die.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">If he were here, and his curly hair touched my cheek, my pale cheek would become purple—my pale cheek would be on fire.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Soul of my Soul, if thou wert here, my parched lips would not utter a word.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Life of my Life, if thou wert here, I should expiring ask thy pardon.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">'Tis sweet to die for and with those we love.<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Angel, come—come to my heart—come—come—come!"<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p>If the creole had rendered the first strophe with languid +pleasure, she put in her last words all the enthusiasm<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> +of antique love; and as if the music had been +powerless to express her intense passion, she threw her +guitar from her, and, half rising and extending her arms +towards the door, where Jacques Ferrand stood, she repeated, +in a faltering, dying tone, "Oh, come—come—come!" +It would be impossible to depict the electric +look with which she accompanied these words. Jacques +Ferrand uttered a terrible cry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, death! Death to him whom you could thus +love!" he cried, shaking the door in a burst of jealousy +and furious rage.</p> + +<p>Agile as a panther, Cecily was at the door with one +bound; and, as if she with difficulty repressed her +feigned transports, she said to Jacques Ferrand, in a +low, concentrated, palpitating voice:</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I will confess I am excited by my song. +I did not mean to approach the door again, yet here I +am, in spite of myself; for I hear still the words you +said just now, 'If you bade me strike, I would strike.' +You love me, then?"</p> + +<p>"Will you have gold,—all my gold?"</p> + +<p>"No, I have enough."</p> + +<p>"Have you an enemy? I will kill him."</p> + +<p>"I have no enemy."</p> + +<p>"Will you be my wife? I'll marry you."</p> + +<p>"I am married."</p> + +<p>"What would you, then? Oh, what would you?"</p> + +<p>"Prove to me that your passion for me is blind,—furious! +And that you would sacrifice all to it."</p> + +<p>"Ah!—yes—all. But how?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know,—but a moment since your eyes +fascinated me. If again you give me one of those +marks of intense love, which excite the imagination +of a woman to madness, I know not of what I should +not be capable. Make haste, then, for I am capricious, +and to-morrow, perhaps, all the impression will be +effaced."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But what proof can I give you at this moment?" +cried the notary.</p> + +<p>"You are but a fool, after all!" replied Cecily, retreating +from the aperture with an air of disdain. "I was +deceived,—I believed you capable of energetic devotion. +Goodnight! It's a pity!"</p> + +<p>"Cecily, do not leave me! Return! What can I +do?"</p> + +<p>"I was but too much disposed to listen to you; you +will never have such another opportunity."</p> + +<p>"But oh, tell me what you would have!" cried the +notary, half mad.</p> + +<p>"Eh! If you were as passionately in love as you say, +you would find means to persuade me. Good night!"</p> + +<p>"Cecily."</p> + +<p>"I will shut the door, instead of opening it."</p> + +<p>"Cecily,—listen! I will give you yet another proof +of my devotion."</p> + +<p>"What is this proof of your love?" said the creole, +who, having approached the mantelpiece to resume her +dagger, returned slowly towards the door, lighted by the +flame of the hearth. Then, unobserved by the notary, +she made sure of the action of an iron chain, which terminated +in two small knobs, one of which was screwed +into the door, and the other into the door-post.</p> + +<p>"Listen!" said Jacques Ferrand, in a hoarse and +broken voice, "listen! If I place my honour, my +fortune, my life, at your mercy,—now, this very instant,—will +you then believe I love you?"</p> + +<p>"Your honour, your fortune, your life! I do not +comprehend you."</p> + +<p>"If I confide to you a secret which may bring me to +the scaffold, will you then believe me?"</p> + +<p>"You a criminal? You do but jest. What, then, of +your austere life,—your piety,—your honesty?"</p> + +<p>"All—all a lie!"</p> + +<p>"You pass for a saint, and yet you boast of these<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +iniquities! No, there is no man so craftily skilful, so +fortunately bold, as thus to captivate the confidence and +respect of men; that were, indeed, a fearful defiance cast +in the teeth of society!"</p> + +<p>"I am that man,—I have cast that sarcasm, that +defiance, in the face of society!" exclaimed the monster, +in a tone of ecstatic pride.</p> + +<p>"Jacques! Jacques! Do not speak thus!" said +Cecily, with a tone of emotion. "You make me +mad!"</p> + +<p>"My head for your love,—will you have it so?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, this, indeed, is love! Here, take my poniard,—you +disarm me!"</p> + +<p>Jacques Ferrand took, through the wicket, the dangerous +weapon, with due precaution, and flung it from +him to a distance in the corridor.</p> + +<p>"Cecily, you believe me, then!" he exclaimed with +transport.</p> + +<p>"Do I believe you?" said the creole, energetically +pressing her beautiful fingers on the clasped hands of +Jacques Ferrand. "Oh, yes, I do! For now, again, +you look as you did a short time since, when my very +soul seemed fascinated by your gaze."</p> + +<p>"Cecily, you will speak the words of, truth—and +truth only—to me?"</p> + +<p>"And can you doubt it for a moment? Ah, you will +soon have ample proof of my sincerity. But what you +are about to tell me is quite true,—is it not?"</p> + +<p>"I repeat that you may believe each word I utter."</p> + +<p>"So much the better, since you are enabled to prove +your passion by the avowal of them."</p> + +<p>"And if I tell you all?"</p> + +<p>"Then will I, in return, withhold nothing from you; +for if, indeed, you have this blind, this courageous confidence +in me, Jacques, I will call no more for the ideal +lover of my song, but you,—my hero, my tiger! to +whom I will sing, 'Come—come—oh, come!'"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>As Cecily uttered these words, with an air and voice +of seductive tenderness, she drew so close to the wicket +that Jacques Ferrand could feel the hot breath of the +creole pass over his cheek, while her fresh, full lip +lightly touched his coarse, vulgar hand. "Call me +your tiger,—your slave,—what you will,—and if +after that you but divulge what I entrust to you, my +life will be the consequence. Yes, enchantress, a word +from you, and I perish on a scaffold. My honour, reputation, +nay, my very existence, are henceforward in your +hands."</p> + +<p>"Your honour?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, even so. But listen. About ten years ago I +was entrusted with the care of a child, and a sum of +money for her use, amounting to two hundred thousand +francs; well, I wronged the little creature by spreading +a false report of her death, and then appropriated the +money to my own purposes."</p> + +<p>"It was boldly and cleverly done! Who would ever +have believed you capable of such conduct?"</p> + +<p>"Again. I had a cashier whom I detested, and I +determined upon ruining him one way or other. Well, +one evening, under some great emergency, he took from +my cash-box a trifling amount of gold, which he paid +back the next day; but to wreak my malice on the +object of my dislike, I accused him of having stolen a +large sum. Of course my testimony was believed, and +the wretched man was thrown into prison. Now is +not my honour—my very safety—at your will and +pleasure? At your word both would be in peril."</p> + +<p>"Then you love me, Jacques,—oh, truly, blindly +love me! Since you thus surrender to me the most +precious secrets of your heart, how plainly does it +prove the empire I must have over you! Ah, believe +me, I will not be niggardly in repaying you. Stoop +that brow, from which have emanated so many infernal +schemes, that I may press it with my lips."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Were the scaffold erected for me," cried the excited +notary, "did death stare me in the face, I would not +now recall my words. But hearken to what I have still +to confess. The child I formerly wronged and forsook +has again crossed my path, her reappearance disquieted +me, and I have had her murdered."</p> + +<p>"Murdered! and by your orders? But how—in +what manner?"</p> + +<p>"A few days since; it occurred thus: Near the +bridge of Asnières, at the Isle du Ravageur, a man +named Martial, for a bribe, contrived to sink her in a +boat made purposely with a false bottom. Are these +particulars sufficient? Will you believe me now?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, fiend! demon! You terrify while you fascinate +me! In what consists your marvellous power and +influence?"</p> + +<p>"But listen further, for I have not yet finished my +catalogue of crimes. Previously to that a man had +entrusted me with one hundred thousand crowns. I +contrived to waylay and blow out his brains, making +it appear he had fallen by his own hand. Afterwards, +when his sister claimed the money entrusted to my +charge, I denied all knowledge of it. Now, then, I have +proclaimed myself a malefactor, guilty of every crime. +Will you not open your door, and admit a lover so +ardent, so impatient as myself?"</p> + +<p>"Jacques," exclaimed the creole, with much excitement, +"I admire,—love,—nay, adore you!"</p> + +<p>"Let a thousand deaths come!" cried the notary, in +a state of enthusiastic delight impossible to describe, "I +will brave them all! Oh, you are right! Were I ever +so young, so handsome, or so seducing, I could not hope +for joy such as now swells my heart. But delay not, +charmer of my soul,—give me the key, or yourself +undo the bolts which separate us. I can endure this +torturing suspense no longer!"</p> + +<p>The creole took from the lock, which she had carefully<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> +secured beforehand, the key so ardently prayed for, +and, handing it to the notary through the aperture, said, +in a languishing tone of utter abandonnement:</p> + +<p>"Jacques, my senses seem forsaking me,—my brain +is on fire,—I know not what I do or say."</p> + +<p>"You are mine, then, at length, my adorable beauty!" +cried he, with a wild shout of savage exultation, and +hastily turning the key in the lock. But the firmly +bolted door yielded not yet.</p> + +<p>"Come, beloved of my heart!" murmured Cecily, in +a languid voice; "bless me with your presence,—come!"</p> + +<p>"The bolt! The bolt!" gasped out Jacques Ferrand, +breathless with his exertions to force open the door.</p> + +<p>"But what if you have been deceiving me?" cried +the creole, as though a sudden thought had seized her; +"if you have only invented the secrets with which you +affect to entrust me, to mock at my credulity, to +ensnare my confidence?"</p> + +<p>The notary appeared thunderstruck with surprise at +this fresh expression of doubt, at the very moment when +he believed himself upon the point of attaining his +wishes; to find a new obstacle arise when he considered +success certain drove him almost furious. He rapidly +thrust his hand into his breast, opened his waistcoat, +impatiently snapped a steel chain, to which was suspended +a small red morocco pocketbook, took it, and +showing it to Cecily, through the aperture, cried, in a +thick, palpitating voice:</p> + +<p>"This book contains papers that would bring me to a +scaffold; only undo the bolts which deny me entrance to +your presence, and this book, with all its precious +documents, is yours."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then, let us seal the compact!" exclaimed +Cecily, as, drawing back the bolt with as much noise as +possible with one hand, with the other she seized the +pocketbook.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Jacques Ferrand permitted it not to leave his +possession till he felt the door yield to his pressure. +But though it partially gave way, it was but to leave an +opening about half a foot wide, the solid chain which +passed across it above the lock preventing any person's +entering as completely as before. At this unexpected +obstacle Jacques Ferrand precipitated himself against +the door and shook it with desperate fury, while Cecily, +with the rapidity of thought, took the pocket-book between +her teeth, opened the window, threw a large +cloak out into the yard below, and, light and agile as +bold and daring, seized a knotted cord previously secured +to the balcony, and glided from her chamber on the +first floor to the court beneath, descending with the +swiftness of an arrow shot from a bow. Then wrapping +herself hastily in the mantle, she flew to the porter's +lodge, opened the door, drew up the string, ran into the +street, and sprang into a hackney-coach, which, ever +since Cecily had been with Jacques Ferrand, came regularly +every evening, in case of need, by Baron Graün's +orders, and took up its station a short distance from the +notary's house. Directly she had entered the vehicle it +drove off at the topmost speed of the two strong, powerful +horses that drew it, and had reached the Boulevards +ere Jacques Ferrand had even discovered Cecily's flight.</p> + +<p>We will now return to the disappointed wretch. From +the situation of the door he was unable to perceive the +window by which the creole had contrived to prepare +and make good her flight; but concentrating all his +powers, by a vigorous application of his brawny +shoulders Jacques Ferrand succeeded in forcing out +the chain which kept the door from opening.</p> + +<p>With furious impatience he rushed into the chamber,—it +was empty. The knotted cord was still suspended +to the balcony of the window from which he leaned; +and then, at the other extremity of the courtyard, he +saw by means of the moon, which just then shone out<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +from behind the stormy clouds which had hitherto +obscured it, the dim outline of the outer gate swinging +to and fro as though left open by some person +having hastily passed through. Then did Jacques +Ferrand divine the whole of the scheme so successfully +laid to entrap him; but a glimmer of hope still +remained. Determined and vigorous, he threw his leg +over the balcony, let himself down in his turn by the +cord, and hastily quitted the house.</p> + +<p>The street was quite deserted,—not a creature was to +be seen; and the only sound his ear could detect was +the distant rumbling of the wheels of the vehicle that +bore away the object of his search. The notary, who +supposed it to be the carriage of some person whose business +or pleasure took them late from home, paid no +attention to this circumstance.</p> + +<p>There was then no chance of finding Cecily, whose +absence was the more disastrous, as she carried with +her the positive proof of his crimes. As this fearful +certainty came over him, he fell, struck with consternation, +on a bench placed against his door, where he long +remained, mute, motionless, and as though petrified with +horror. His eyes fixed and haggard, his teeth clenched, +and his lips covered with foam, tearing his breast, as +though unconsciously, till the blood streamed from it, +he felt his very brain dizzy with thought, till his ideas +were lost in a fathomless abyss.</p> + +<p>When he recovered from his stupor he arose and +staggered onwards with an unsteady and faltering step, +like a person just aroused from a state of complete intoxication. +He violently shut the entrance door and +returned to the courtyard. The rain had by this time +ceased, but the wind still continued strong and gusty, +and drove rapidly along the heavy gray clouds which +veiled without entirely excluding the brightness of the +moon, whose pale and sickly light shone on the house.</p> + +<p>Somewhat calmed by the clear freshness of the night<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +air, Jacques Ferrand, as though hoping to find relief +from his internal agitation by the rapidity of his movements, +plunged into the muddy paths of his garden, +walking with quick, hurried steps, and from time to +time pressing his clenched hands against his forehead. +Heedless of the direction he proceeded in, he +at length reached the termination of a walk, adjoining +to which was a dilapidated greenhouse.</p> + +<p>Suddenly he stumbled heavily against a mass of newly +disturbed earth. Mechanically he stooped down to examine +the nature of the impediment which presented +itself; the deep hole which had been dug, and morsels +of torn garments lying by, told him with awful certainty +that he stood by the grave dug by poor Louise Morel to +receive the remains of her dead infant,—her infant, +which was also the child of the heartless, hardened +wretch who now stood trembling and conscience-stricken +beside this fearful memento of his sensuality and brutal +persecution of a poor and helpless girl. And spite of his +hardihood, his long course of sin and seared conscience, +a deadly tremor shook his frame, he felt an instinctive +persuasion that the hour of deep retribution was at hand.</p> + +<p>Under other circumstances Jacques Ferrand would +have trampled the humble grave beneath his feet without +remorse or concern, but now, exhausted by the preceding +scene, he felt his usual boldness forsake him, +while fear and trembling came upon him. A cold +sweat bedewed his brow, his tottering knees refused +to support him, and he fell motionless beside the open +grave.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER V.</h3> + +<h5>LA FORCE.</h5> + + +<p>We may, perhaps, be accused, from the space accorded +to the following scenes, of injuring the unity of our +story by some episodical pictures; but it seems to us +that, at this moment particularly, when important questions +of punishment are engaging the attention of the +legislature, that the interior of a prison—that frightful +pandemonium, that gloomy thermometer of civilisation—will +be an opportune study. In a word, the various +physiognomies of prisoners of all classes, the relations of +kin or affection, which still bind them to the world from +which their gaol walls separate them, appear to us +worthy of interest and attention. We hope, therefore, +to be excused for having grouped about many prisoners +known to the readers of this history other secondary +characters, intended to put in relief certain ideas +of criticism, and to complete the initiation of a prison +life.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>Let us enter La Force. There is nothing sombre or +repulsive in the aspect of this house of incarceration in +the Rue du Roi de Sicile, in the Marais. In the centre +of one of the first courts there are some clumps of trees, +thickened with shrubs, at the roots of which there are +already, here and there, the green, precocious shoots of +primroses and snowdrops. A raised ascent, surmounted +by a porch covered with trellis-work, in which knotty +stalks of the vine entwine, leads to one of the seven or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +eight walks assigned to the prisoners. The vast buildings +which surround these courts very much resemble +those of barrack or manufactory kept with exceeding +care. There are lofty façades of white stone, pierced +with high and large windows, which admit of the free +circulation of pure air.</p> + +<p>The stones and pavement of the enclosures are kept +excessively clean. On the ground floor, the large apartments, +warmed during the winter, are kept well ventilated +during the summer, and are used during the day +as places of conversation, work, or for the meals of the +prisoners. The upper stories are used as immense dormitories, +ten or twelve feet high, with dry and shining +floors; two rows of iron beds are there arranged, and +excellent bedding it is, consisting of a palliasse, a +soft and thick mattress, a bolster, white linen sheets, +and a warm woollen blanket. At the sight of these +establishments, comprising all the requisites for comfort +and health, we are much surprised, in spite of ourselves, +being accustomed to suppose that prisons are miserable, +dirty, unwholesome, and dark. This is a mistake.</p> + +<p>It is such dogholes as that occupied by Morel the +lapidary, and in which so many poor and honest workmen +languish in exhaustion, compelled to give up their +truckle-bed to a sick wife, and to leave, with hopeless +despair, their wretched, famishing children, shuddering +with cold in their infected straw—that is miserable, +dark, dirty, and pestilent! The same contrast holds +with respect to the physiognomy of the inhabitants of +these two abodes. Incessantly occupied with the wants +of their family, which they can scarcely supply from day +to day, seeing a destructive competition lessen their +wages, the laborious artisans become dejected, dispirited; +the hour of rest does not sound for them, and a kind of +somnolent lassitude alone breaks in upon their overtasked +labour. Then, on awakening from this painful +lethargy, they find themselves face to face with the same<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +overwhelming thoughts of the present, and the same +uneasiness for the future.</p> + +<p>But the prisoner, indifferent to the past, happy with +the life he leads, certain of the future (for he can assure +it by an offence or a crime), regretting his liberty, +doubtless, but finding much compensation in the actual +enjoyment, certain of taking with him when he quits +prison a considerable sum of money, gained by easy and +moderate labour, esteemed, or rather dreaded, by his +companions, in proportion to his depravity and perversity, +the prisoner, on the contrary, will always be gay and +careless.</p> + +<p>Again, we ask, what does he want? Does he not find +in prison good shelter, good bed, good food, high wages,<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> +easy work, and, especially, society at his choice,—a +society, we repeat, which measures his consideration by +the magnitude of his crimes? A hardened convict +knows neither misery, hunger, nor cold. What is to +him the horror he inspires honest persons withal? He +does not see, does not know them. His crimes made +his glory, his influence, his strength, with the ruffians in +the midst of whom he will henceforward pass his life. +Why should he fear shame? Instead of the serious and +charitable remonstrances which might compel him to +blush for and repent the past, he hears the ferocious +applauses which encourage him to theft and murder. +Scarcely imprisoned, he plans fresh crimes. What can +be more logical? If discovered, and at once apprehended, +he will find the repose, the bodily supplies of a +prison, and his joyous and daring associates of crime +and debauchery. If his experience in crimes be less +than that of others, does he for that evince the less +remorse? It follows that he is exposed to brutal scoffing, +infernal taunts, and horrible threats. And—a thing so +rare that it has become the exception to the rule—if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span> +the prisoner leaves this fearful pandemonium with the +firm resolution to return to the paths of honesty by excessive +labour, courage, patience, and honesty, and has +been able to conceal the infamy of his past career, the +meeting with one of his old comrades in gaol is sufficient +to overturn this good intention for the restoration of his +character, so painfully struggled for.</p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> High wages, if we reflect that, with all expenses paid, a prisoner may +gain from five to ten sous a day. How many workmen are there who can +save such a sum?</p></div></div> + +<p>And in this way: A hardened, discharged convict +proposes a job to a repentant comrade; the latter, in +spite of bitter menaces, refuses this criminal association; +forthwith an anonymous information reveals the life of +the unfortunate fellow who was desirous, at every sacrifice, +of concealing and expiating a first fault by honourable +behaviour. Then, exposed to the contempt, or, at +least, the distrust, of those whose good-will he had +acquired by dint of industry and probity, this man, reduced +to distress, and urged by want, yielding at length +to incessant temptations, although nearly restored to +society, will again fall, and for ever, into the depths of +that abyss whence he had escaped with such difficulty.</p> + +<p>In the following scenes we shall endeavour to demonstrate +the monstrous and inevitable consequences of +confinement in masses. After ages of barbarous experiments +and pernicious hesitations, it seemed suddenly +understood how irrational it is to plunge into an atmosphere +of deepest vice persons whom a pure and salubrious +air could alone save. How many centuries to discover +that, in placing in dense contact diseased beings, we +redouble the intensity of their malignity, which is thus +rendered incurable! How many centuries to discover +that there is, in a word, but one remedy for this overwhelming +leprosy which threatens society,—isolation!</p> + +<p>We should esteem ourselves happy if our feeble voice +could be, if not relied upon, at least spread amongst all +those which, more imposing, more eloquent than our +own, demand with such just and impatient urgency the +entire and unqualified application of the cell system.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> + +<p>One day, perchance, society will know that wickedness +is an accidental, not an organic malady; that crimes are +almost always the results of perverted instincts, impulses, +still good in their essence, but falsified, rendered evil, +by ignorance, egotism, or the carelessness of governments; +and that the health of the soul, like that of the +body, is unquestionably kept subordinate to the laws of a +healthy and preserving system of control.</p> + +<p>God bestows on all passions that strive for predominance, +strong appetites, the desire to be at ease, and it is +for society to balance and satisfy these wants. The man +who only participates in strength, good-will, and health +has a right—a sovereign right—to have his labour +justly remunerated, in a way that shall assure to him +not the superfluities, but the necessaries of life,—the +means of continuing healthy and strong, active and +industrious, and, consequently, honest and good, because +his condition is rendered happy. The gloomy +regions of misery and ignorance are peopled with morbid +beings with withered hearts. Purify these moral sewers, +spread instruction, the inducement to labour, fair wages, +just rewards, and then these unhealthy faces, these +perishing frames, will be restored to virtue, which is the +health, the life of the soul.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>Let us now introduce the reader into the room in the +prison of La Force in which the prisoners are allowed to +see persons who visit them. It is a dark place, partitioned +in its length into two equal parts, by a narrow +grated division. One of these divisions communicates +with the interior of the prison, and is the place for the +prisoners. The other communicates with the turnkey's +lobby, and is devoted to the persons admitted to visit +the prisoners. These interviews and conversations take +place through the double iron grating of the reception +room, in presence of the turnkey, who remains in the +interior, at the extremity of the passage.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + +<p>The appearance of the prisoners, who were in this +room on the day in question, offered great contrasts. +Some were clad in wretched attire, others seemed to +belong to the working class, and some to the wealthy +citizen body. The same contrasts were remarkable +amongst the visitors to the prisoners, who were nearly +all women. The prisoners generally appear less downcast +than the visitors, for, strange and sad to say, yet +proved by experience, there is but little sorrow or shame +left after the experience of three or four days spent in +prison in society. Those who most dreaded this hideous +community habituate themselves to it quickly; the contagion +gains upon them. Surrounded by degraded beings, +hearing only the language of infamy, a kind of ferocious +rivalry excites them; and, either to emulate their companions +in the struggle for brutalism, or to make themselves +giddy by the usual drunkenness, the newcomers +almost invariably display as much depravity and recklessness +as the <i>habitués</i> of the prison.</p> + +<p>Let us return to the reception-room. Notwithstanding +the noisy hum of a great many conversations carried on +in undertones on each side of the divisions, prisoners +and visitors, after some experience, are able to converse +with each other without being for a moment disturbed +by, or attentive to, the conversation of their neighbours, +which creates a kind of secrecy in the midst of this noisy +interchange of words, each being compelled to hear the +individual who addressed him, but not to hear a word of +what was said around him.</p> + +<p>Amongst the prisoners called into the reception-room +by visitors, the one the farthest off from the turnkey +was Nicholas Martial. To the extreme depression +with which he was seized on his apprehension, had succeeded +the most brazen assurance. Already the detestable +and contagious influence of a prison in common bore +its fruits. No doubt, had he been at once conveyed to a +solitary cell, this wretch, still under the influence of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +first terror, and alone with the thought of his crimes, +fearful of impending punishment, might have experienced, +if not repentance, at least that wholesome dread +from which nothing would have distracted him.</p> + +<p>And who knows what incessant, compulsory meditation +may produce on a guilty mind, reflecting on the +crimes committed and the punishment that is to follow? +Far from this, thrown into the midst of a horde +of bandits, in whose eyes the least sign of repentance is +cowardice,—or, rather, treason,—which they make him +dearly expiate; for, in their savage obduracy, their senseless +bravado, they consider every man as a spy on them, +who, sad and disconsolate, regretting his fault, does not +join in their audacious recklessness, and trembles at +their contact. Thrown into the midst of these miscreants, +Nicholas Martial, who had for a long time, by +report, known the prison manners, overcame his weakness, +and wished to appear worthy of a name already +celebrated in the annals of robbery and murder.</p> + +<p>Several old offenders had known his father, who had +been executed, and others his brother, who was at the +galleys; he was received and instantly patronised by +these veterans in crime with savage interest. This fraternal +reception between murderer and murderer elevated +the widow's son; the praises bestowed on the +hereditary infamy of his family intoxicated him. Soon +forgetting, in this horrible mood, the future that threatened +him, he only remembered his past crimes to glory +in them, and elevate himself still higher in the eyes of +his companions. The expression of Nicholas's physiognomy +was then as insolent as that of his visitor was +disturbed and alarmed.</p> + +<p>This visitor was Daddy Micou, the receiver and +lodging-house keeper in the Passage de la Brasserie, +into whose abode Madame de Fermont and her daughter, +victims of Jacques Ferrand's cupidity, had been +compelled to retreat. Father Micou knew the penalties<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +to which he was amenable for having many a time and +oft obtained at low prices the fruits of the robberies of +Nicholas and many others of his stamp. The widow's +son being apprehended, the receiver felt he was almost +at the mercy of the ruffian, who might impeach him as +a regular buyer. Although this accusation could not be +supported by flagrant proofs, still it was not the less +dangerous, the less dreaded by Daddy Micou, and he +had thus instantly obeyed the orders which Nicholas had +transmitted to him by a discharged prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Ah, ah! how goes it, Daddy Micou?" said the +brigand.</p> + +<p>"At your service, my good fellow," replied the +receiver, eagerly. "As soon as I saw the person you +sent to me, I directly—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you are becoming ceremonious, daddy!" said +Nicholas, with impatience. "Why is this, because I'm in +trouble?"</p> + +<p>"No, no, my lad,—no, no!" replied the receiver, who +was not anxious to seem on terms of familiarity with +this ruffian.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, be as familiar as usual, or I shall think +you have forgotten our intimacy, and that would break +my heart."</p> + +<p>"Well, well," said Micou, with a groan, "I directly +went about your little commissions."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, daddy. I knew well enough that +you would not forget your friends. And my tobacco?"</p> + +<p>"I have left two pounds at the lodge, my boy."</p> + +<p>"Is it good?"</p> + +<p>"Cannot be better."</p> + +<p>"And the knuckle of ham?"</p> + +<p>"Left at the lodge, also, with a four-pound white loaf; +and I have added something that will surprise you, in +the shape of a dozen hard eggs and a Dutch cheese."</p> + +<p>"This is what I call doing the thing like a friend! +And the wine?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Six bottles of capital. But, you know, you will only +have one bottle a day."</p> + +<p>"Well, that can't be helped, and so one must make up +one's mind to it."</p> + +<p>"I hope you are satisfied with me, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"Certain, and I shall be so again, and for ever, Father +Micou; for the ham, the cheese, the eggs, and the wine +will only last just so long as it takes to swallow them; +but, as a friend of mine remarked, when they are gone +there'll be more where they came from, thanks to you, +who will always do the handsome thing so long as I do +the same."</p> + +<p>"What! You expect—"</p> + +<p>"That in two or three days you will renew my little +stock, daddy dear."</p> + +<p>"Devil burn me if I do! It's all very good for once—"</p> + +<p>"For once! What d'ye mean, man? Why, ham and +wine are always good, you know that very well."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, but I have not undertaken to feed you in +delicacies."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Daddy Micou, that's shabby—indecent. What, +refuse me ham! One who has so often brought you +'double tresse' (stolen lead)!"</p> + +<p>"Hush, hush! You mischievous fellow," cried the +alarmed receiver.</p> + +<p>"No, I'll put the question to the big-wig (the judge). +I'll say to him, only imagine now, sir, that Daddy +Micou—"</p> + +<p>"Hush, hush!" exclaimed the receiver, seeing with +equal alarm and anger that Nicholas was much disposed +to abuse the influence which their guilty companionship +gave him. "I'll agree—I will renew your provision +when it is consumed."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, and what's fair. And you mustn't +forget, too, to send some coffee to mother and Calabash, +who are at St. Lazare; they like a cup in a morning, +and they'll miss it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What more? Would you ruin me, you extortionate +fellow?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, just as you like, Daddy Micou,—don't say +another word, but I shall ask the big-wig—"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, they shall have the coffee," said the +receiver, interrupting him. "But devil take you! +Accursed be the day when I first knew you!"</p> + +<p>"Old boy, I say quite the contrary. I am delighted +to have your valuable acquaintance at this particular +moment. I revere you as a nursing father."</p> + +<p>"I hope you have nothing more to ask of me?" said +Micou, with bitterness.</p> + +<p>"Yes; say to my mother and sister that, if I was +frightened when they apprehended me, I am no longer +so, but as determined as they two are."</p> + +<p>"I'll say so. Anything more?"</p> + +<p>"Stay another moment or two. I forgot to ask you +for a couple of pairs of warm woollen stockings,—you'd +be sorry if I caught cold, shouldn't you?"</p> + +<p>"I should be glad if you were dead."</p> + +<p>"Thank ye, daddy, thank ye! But that pleasure is yet +to come, and to-day I'm alive and kicking, and inclined +to take things easy. If they serve me as they did my +father, at least I shall have enjoyed my life while it +lasted."</p> + +<p>"It's a nice life, yours is!"</p> + +<p>"Superb! Since I have been here I've enjoyed myself +like a king. If we had lamps and fireworks, they would +have lighted them up, and fired them off in my honour, +when they knew I was the son of the famous Martial who +was guillotined."</p> + +<p>"How affecting! What a glorious parentage!"</p> + +<p>"Why, d'ye see, there are many dukes and marquises. +Why, then, shouldn't we have our nobility, too?—such +as us!" said the ruffian, with bitter irony.</p> + +<p>"To be sure, and Charlot (the headsman) will give +you your letters of nobility on the Place du Palais."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You may be sure it won't be the gaol chaplain. But +in prison we should have the nobility of top-sawyers +(noted robbers) to be thought much of; if not, you are +looked upon as nobody at all. You should only see how +they behave to those who are not tip-tops and give themselves +airs. Now there's in here a chap called Germain, +a young fellow, who appears disgusted with us, and seems +to despise us all. Let him take care of his hide! He's a +sulky hound, and they say he is a 'nose' (a spy); if he is, +they'll screw his nose around, just by way of warning."</p> + +<p>"Germain? A young man called Germain?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; d'ye know him? Is he one of us? If so, in +spite of his looks, we—"</p> + +<p>"I don't know him; but if he is the Germain I have +heard speak of, his affair is settled."</p> + +<p>"How?"</p> + +<p>"Why, he has only just escaped from a plot which +Velu and the Stout-Cripple laid for him lately."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know, but they said that in the country somewhere +he had tricked one of their pals."</p> + +<p>"I was sure of it, Germain is a spy. Well, we'll spy +him! I'll go and tell our friends; that'll set them sharper +against him. By the way, how does Gros-Boiteux get +on with your lodgers?"</p> + +<p>"Thank heaven, I have got rid of him,—a blackguard! +You'll see him here to-day or to-morrow."</p> + +<p>"All right; how we shall laugh! He's a boy who +is never taken aback!"</p> + +<p>"It's because I knew that he would find this Germain +here that I said his affair was settled,—if it's the same +chap."</p> + +<p>"Why have they got hold of the Gros-Boiteux?"</p> + +<p>"For a robbery committed with a discharged convict, +who wanted to turn honest and work. Well, you see, +the Gros-Boiteux soon got him in a string; he is such a +vicious devil, the Boiteux! I am certain it was he who<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +broke open the trunk of the two women who live in the +little room on my fourth floor."</p> + +<p>"What women?—ah, yes, two women! You was +smitten by the young 'un, I remember, you old vagabond, +because you thought her so nice."</p> + +<p>"They'll not smite anybody any more, for by this +time the mother must be dead, and the daughter is +scarcely alive. I shall lose a fortnight's rent, and I +sha'n't give a sou to pay for their burial. I've had so +many losses, without talking of the little matters you +entreat me to give you and your family, that my affairs +are quite disarranged. I've had the luck of it this +year."</p> + +<p>"Pooh, pooh! You are always complaining, old gentleman; +you who are as rich as Crœsus. But don't let +me detain you."</p> + +<p>"You're polite."</p> + +<p>"You'll call and tell me how mother and Calabash are +when you bring me my other provisions?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, if I must."</p> + +<p>"Ah, I'd nearly forgot; whilst you're about it, bring +me a new cap, of plaid velvet, with an acorn at top; +mine's regularly done for."</p> + +<p>"Come, now, you're laughing at me."</p> + +<p>"No, daddy, by no means; I want a plaid velvet cap. +That's my wish."</p> + +<p>"Then you're resolved to make a beggar of me?"</p> + +<p>"Come, I say, Micou, don't get out of temper about it. +It's only yes or no,—I do not force you, but—you +understand?"</p> + +<p>The receiver, reflecting that he was at the mercy of +Nicholas, rose, fearing that if he prolonged his visit he +would be exposed to fresh demands.</p> + +<p>"You shall have your cap," he replied; "but mind, if +you ask me for anything more, I will give you nothing,—let +what will occur, you'll suffer as much as I +shall."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Make your mind easy, I'll not make you sing (force +you to give money under the threat of certain disclosures) +more than is sufficient for you not to lose your +voice; for that would be a pity, you sing so well."</p> + +<p>The receiver went away, shrugging his shoulders with +rage, and the turnkey conducted Nicholas back to the +interior of the prison.</p> + +<p>At the moment when Micou quitted the reception-room, +Rigolette entered it. The turnkey, a man about +forty years of age, an old soldier, with stern and marked +features, was dressed in a round jacket, with a blue +cap and trousers; two silver stars were embroidered on +the collar and facings of his jacket. At the sight of the +grisette the face of this man brightened up, and assumed +an expression of benevolence. He had always been +struck by the grace, gentleness, and touching kindness +with which Rigolette consoled Germain when she came +there to see him. Germain was, besides, not an ordinary +prisoner; his reserve, his peaceable demeanour, and his +melancholy inspired the persons about the prison with +deep interest,—an interest which they did not manifest, +for fear of exposing him to the ill-treatment of his +brutal companions, who, as we have said, looked upon +him with mistrusting hate. It was raining in torrents, +but, thanks to her goloshes and umbrella, Rigolette had +boldly faced the wind and rain.</p> + +<p>"What a shocking day, my poor girl!" said the turnkey, +kindly. "It requires a good deal of courage to +leave home such weather as this."</p> + +<p>"When we think as we come along of the pleasure +we shall give a poor prisoner, we don't think much about +the weather, sir."</p> + +<p>"I need not ask you whom you have come to see?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not. And how is poor Germain?"</p> + +<p>"Why, my dear, I have seen many prisoners; they +have been sad for a day,—two days, perhaps,—and +then gradually got into the same way as the others;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +and those who were most out of sorts at first often +ended by becoming the merriest of all. But M. Germain, +is not one of these, he has still that melancholy air."</p> + +<p>"How sorry I am to hear it!"</p> + +<p>"When I'm on duty in the yards, I look at him from +the corner of my eye, he is always alone. I have +already told you that you should advise him not to do +so, but to resolve on conversing with the others, or it +will end with his becoming suspected and ill-used by +them. We keep a close look-out, but a mischievous +blow is soon given."</p> + +<p>"Oh, sir, is there any danger threatens him?" cried +Rigolette.</p> + +<p>"Not precisely, but these ruffians see that he is not +one of them, and hate him because he has an honest and +proud look."</p> + +<p>"Yet I advised him to do what you told me, sir, +and make up his mind to talk to some of the least +wicked! But he cannot help it, he cannot get over his +repugnance."</p> + +<p>"He is wrong—wrong! A struggle is so soon +begun."</p> + +<p>"Can't he, then, be separated from the others?"</p> + +<p>"For the last two or three days, since I have seen +their ill-will towards him, I advised him to place himself +what we call <i>à la pistole</i>,—that is, in a room."</p> + +<p>"Well?"</p> + +<p>"I had not thought of one thing. A whole row of +cells is undergoing repair, and the others are full."</p> + +<p>"But these wretches may kill him!" said Rigolette, +her eyes filling with tears. "And if, by chance, he had +any protectors, what could they do for him, sir?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing, but enable him to obtain what these +debtors who can pay for it obtain,—a chamber, <i>à la +pistole</i>."</p> + +<p>"Alas, then, he is lost, if they hate him in prison."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be downhearted, we will look well to him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +But I repeat, my dear, do advise him to familiarise +himself a little,—the first step is half the battle."</p> + +<p>"I will advise him as strongly as I can, sir. But for +a good and honest heart it is very hard, you know, to +familiarise itself with such people."</p> + +<p>"Of two evils we must choose the least. Now I will +fetch M. Germain. But now I think of it," said the +turnkey, "there are only two visitors; wait until they +are gone, there'll not be any more to-day, for it is two +o'clock. I will then fetch M. Germain, and you can talk +at your ease. I can then, when you are alone, let him +come into the passage, so that you will be separated by +one grating instead of two. Won't that be better?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, sir, how kind you are, and how much I thank +you!"</p> + +<p>"Hush! Do not let any one hear you, or they may +be jealous. Sit down there at the end of the bench, and +when this man and woman have gone, I will tell M. +Germain."</p> + +<p>The turnkey returned to his post inside the grating, +and Rigolette sat down very melancholy at the end of +the visitors' bench.</p> + +<p>Whilst the grisette is awaiting the coming of Germain, +we will allow the reader to overhear the conversation +of the prisoners who remained there after the +departure of Nicholas Martial.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VI.</h3> + +<h5>PIQUE-VINAIGRE.</h5> + + +<p>The prisoner who was beside Barbillon was a man +about forty-five years of age, thin, mean-looking, with a +keen, intelligent, jovial, merry face. He had an enormous +mouth, almost entirely toothless; and, when he +spoke, he worked it from side to side, very much after +the style of those orators who are accustomed to harangue +from booths at fairs. His nose was flat, his head disproportionately +large and nearly bald; he wore an old gray +knit worsted waistcoat, a pair of trousers of indescribable +colour, torn and patched in a thousand places; his feet, +half wrapped up in pieces of old linen, were thrust into +wooden shoes.</p> + +<p>This man, Fortuné Gobert, called Pique-Vinaigre, +formerly a juggler, a convict freed after condemnation +for the crime of uttering false money, was charged with +having broken from gaol and committed violent burglary. +Having been confined but very few days in La +Force, Pique-Vinaigre already filled the office of story-teller, +to the general satisfaction of his fellow prisoners. +Now story-tellers have become very rare, but formerly +each ward had usually, for a slight general subscription, +its official story-teller, who, by his narrations, made +the long winter evenings appear less tedious when the +prisoners went to bed at sunset.</p> + +<p>If it be curious to note the desire for these fictions +which these outcasts display, it is yet a more singular +thing to reflect upon the hearing of these recitals. Men<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> +corrupted to the very marrow, thieves, and murderers, +prefer especially the histories in which are expressed +generous, heroic sentiments, recitals in which weakness +and goodness are avenged in fierce retribution. It is +the same thing with women of lost reputation; they are +singularly fond of simple, touching, and sentimental +details, and almost invariably refuse to read obscene +books.</p> + +<p>Pique-Vinaigre excelled in that kind of heroic tales +in which weakness, after a thousand trials, concludes by +triumphing over persecution. He possessed, besides, a +deep fund of satire, which had procured for him his +name, his repartees being very frequently ironical or +merry. He had just entered the reception-room. Opposite +to him, on the other side of the grating, was a female +of about thirty-five years of age, of pale, mild, and interesting +countenance, meanly but cleanly clad. She was +weeping bitterly, and held a handkerchief to her eyes. +Pique-Vinaigre looked at her with a mixture of impatience +and affection.</p> + +<p>"Come, Jeanne," he said, "do not play the child. +It is sixteen years since we met, and to keep your handkerchief +up to your eyes is not the way for us to know +each other again."</p> + +<p>"Brother—my poor, dear Fortuné! I am choking—I +cannot speak."</p> + +<p>"Ah, nonsense! What ails you?"</p> + +<p>His sister repressed her sobs, wiped her eyes, and, +looking at him with astonishment, replied, "What ails +me? What, when I find you again in prison, where +you have already been fifteen years!"</p> + +<p>"True. It is six months to-day since I left Melun; +and I didn't call upon you in Paris because the capital +was forbidden to me."</p> + +<p>"Why did you leave Beaugency when you were under +surveillance?"</p> + +<p>"In the first place, Jeanne, since the gratings are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span> +between us, you must fancy I have embraced you, +squeezed you in my arms, as a man ought to do who +has not seen his sister for an eternity. Now let us talk. +A prisoner at Melun, who is called the Gros-Boiteux, +told me that there was at Beaugency an old convict of +his acquaintance, who employed the freed prisoners in a +factory of white lead. Those who work at it in a month +or two catch the lead-colic. One in three of those +attacked die. It is true that others die also; but they +take their time about it and get on, sometimes as long +as a year or even eighteen months. Then the trade is +better paid than most others, and there are fellows who +hold out at it for two or three years. But they are +elders—patriarchs—of the white-leaders. They die, +it is true, but that is all."</p> + +<p>"And why did you choose a trade so dangerous that +they die at it?"</p> + +<p>"What could I do? When I went to Melun for that +well-known job of the forged coin I was a thimble-rigger. +As in gaol there was no scope for my line of business, +and I am not stronger than a good stout flea, they put +me to making children's toys. There was a tradesman +in Paris who found it very advantageous to have his +wooden trumpets and swords made by the prisoners. +Why, I must have made half the wooden swords used +by the children of Paris; and I was great in the trumpet +line. Rattles, too,—why, with two of my manufacture +I could have set on edge the teeth of a whole battalion! +Well, when my time was up I was a first-rate maker of +penny trumpets, and my only resource was making +child's playthings. Now, supposing that a whole town, +young and old, were inclined to play tur-tu-tu-tu on my +trumpets, I should still have had a good deal of trouble +to earn a livelihood; and then I could not have induced +a whole population to continue playing the trumpet from +morning to night."</p> + +<p>"You are still such a jester!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Better joke than cry. Well, then, seeing that at +forty leagues from Paris my trade of juggler was no +more useful to me than my trumpets, I requested the +surveillance at Beaugency, intending to become a white-leader. +It is a trade that gives you indigestion enough +to send you mad; but until one bursts one lives, and +that is always something, and it was better than turning +thief. I am neither brave nor strong enough to thieve, +and it was from pure accident that I did the thing I +have just mentioned to you."</p> + +<p>"And yet you had the courage to take up with a +deadly trade! Come now, Fortuné, you wish to make +yourself out worse than you are."</p> + +<p>"I thought that the malady would have so little to +take hold of in me that it would go elsewhere, and that +I should become one of the patriarchal white-leaders. +Well, when I came out of prison, I found my earnings +had considerably increased by telling stories."</p> + +<p>"So you told us. You remember how it amused poor +old mother?"</p> + +<p>"Dear soul! She never suspected that I was at +Melun?"</p> + +<p>"Never. She thought you had gone abroad."</p> + +<p>"Why, my girl, my follies were my father's fault, +who dressed me up as a clown to help in his mountebank +displays, to swallow tow and spit fire, which did +not allow me spare time to form acquaintance with the +sons of the peers of France; and so I fell into bad +company. But to return to Beaugency. When once I +had left Melun, like the rest, I thought I must see some +fun; if not, what was the use of my money? Well, I +reached Beaugency, with scarcely a sou in my pocket. +I asked for Velu, the friend of Gros-Boiteux, the head +of the manufactory. Your servant! There was no +longer any white-lead factory; it had killed eleven +persons in the year, and the old convict had shut up +shop. So here I was in the middle of this city, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span> +my talent for trumpet-making as my only means of +existence, and my discharge from prison as my only +certificate of recommendation. I did my best to procure +work, but in vain. One called me a thief, another a +beggar, a third said I had escaped from gaol; all turned +their backs upon me. So I had nothing to do but die +of hunger in a city which I was not to leave for five +years. Seeing this, I broke my ban, and came to Paris +to utilise my talents. As I had not the means to travel +in a coach and four, I came begging and tramping all +the way, avoiding the <i>gens-d'armes</i> as I would a mad +dog. I had luck, and reached Auteuil without accident. +I was very tired, hungry as a wolf, and dressed, as you +may see, not in the height of the fashion." And Pique-Vinaigre +glanced comically at his rags. "I had not a +sou, and was liable to be taken up as a vagabond. Well, +<i>ma foi!</i> an occasion presented itself; the devil tempted +me, and, in spite of my cowardice—"</p> + +<p>"Enough, brother,—enough!" said his sister, fearing +lest the turnkey might hear his dangerous confession.</p> + +<p>"Are you afraid they listen?" he said. "Be tranquil; +I have nothing to conceal. I was taken in the +act."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said Jeanne, weeping bitterly; "how calmly +you say this!"</p> + +<p>"If I spoke warmly what should I gain by it? Come, +listen to reason, Jeanne. Must I have to console you?"</p> + +<p>Jeanne wiped her eyes and sighed.</p> + +<p>"Well, to go back to my affair," continued Pique-Vinaigre. +"I had nearly reached Auteuil, in the dusk. +I could not go any farther, and I did not wish to enter +Paris but at night; so I sat down behind a hedge to rest +myself, and reflect on my plan of campaign. My +reflections sent me to sleep, and when the sound of +voices awoke me it was night. I listened. It was a +man and woman, who were talking as they went along +on the other side of the hedge. The man said to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +woman, 'Who do you think would come and rob us? +Haven't we left the house alone a hundred times?' +'Yes,' replied the woman; 'but then we hadn't a hundred +francs in the drawers.' 'Who knows that, you fool?' +says the husband. 'You are right,' replies the wife; +and on they went. <i>Ma foi!</i> the occasion seemed to me +too favourable to lose, and there was no danger. I +waited until they got a little farther on, and then came +from behind the hedge, and, looking twenty paces behind +me, I saw a small cottage, which I was sure must be the +house with the hundred francs, as it was the only +habitation in sight. Auteuil was about five hundred +yards off. I said to myself,'Courage, old boy,—there +is no one. Then it is night; if there is no watch-dog +(you know I was always afraid of dogs), why, the job is +as good as done.' Luckily there was no dog. To make +sure I knocked at the door. Nothing. This encouraged +me. The shutters were closed on the ground floor, but +I put my stick between and forced them. I got into the +window, and in the room the fire was still alight. So I +saw the drawers, but no key. With the tongs I forced +the lock, and under a heap of linen I found the prize, +wrapped in an old woollen stocking. I did not think of +taking anything else, but jumping out of the window, I +alighted on the back of the garde-champêtre, who was +returning home."</p> + +<p>"What a misfortune!"</p> + +<p>"The moon had risen. He saw me jump from the +window and seized me. He was a fellow who could +have eaten a dozen such as I was. Too great a coward +to resist, I surrendered quietly. I had the stocking still +in my hand, and he heard the money chink, took it, put +it in his game bag, and made me accompany him to +Auteuil. We reached the mayor's with a crowd of +blackguards and <i>gens-d'armes</i>. The owners of the cottage +were fetched, and they made their depositions. +There was no means of denial; so I confessed everything<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +and signed the depositions, and they put on me +handcuffs, and I was brought here."</p> + +<p>"In prison again, and for a long time, perhaps?"</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Jeanne, for I will not deceive you. I +may as well tell you at once; for it is no longer an +affair of prison."</p> + +<p>"Why not?"</p> + +<p>"Why, the relapse, the breaking in and entry into a +dwelling-house at night, the lawyer told me, is a complete +affair, and I shall have fifteen or twenty years at +the galleys, and the public exposure into the bargain."</p> + +<p>"The galleys,—and you so weak? Why, you'll +die!"</p> + +<p>"And suppose I had been with the white-lead party?"</p> + +<p>"But the galleys,—the galleys!"</p> + +<p>"It is a prison in the open air, with a red shirt +instead of a brown one; and then I have always had a +curiosity to see the sea!"</p> + +<p>"But the public exposure! To be subject to the +contempt of all the world! Oh, my poor brother!" +And the poor woman wept bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Come, come, Jeanne, be composed; it is an uncomfortable +quarter of an hour to pass. But you know I am +used to see crowds. When I played with my cups and +balls, I always had a crowd around me; so I'll fancy I +am thimble-rigging, and if it has too much effect on me +I'll close my eyes, and that will seem as if no one was +looking at me."</p> + +<p>Speaking with this derision, the unhappy man affected +this insensibility, in order to console his sister. For a +man accustomed to the manners of prisons, and in whom +all shame is utterly dead, the <i>bagne</i> (galleys) is, in fact, +only a change of shirt, as Pique-Vinaigre said, with +frightful truth. Many prisoners in the central prisons +even prefer the <i>bagne</i>, because of the riotous life they +lead, often committing attempts at murder in order to be +sent to Brest or Toulon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Twenty years at the galleys!" repeated Pique-Vinaigre's +poor sister.</p> + +<p>"Take comfort, Jeanne, they will only pay me as I +deserve. I am too weak to be put to hard labour, and if +there is no manufactory of wooden trumpets and swords +as at Melun, why, I shall be set to some easy work; they +will employ me at the infirmary. I am not a troublesome +fellow, but a good, easy chap; and I shall tell my +stories as I do here, and shall be esteemed by my +chiefs, and adored by my comrades, and I will send you +carved cocoanuts and straw boxes for my nephews and +nieces."</p> + +<p>"If you had only written to me that you were coming +to Paris, I would have tried to conceal you until you +found work."</p> + +<p>"<i>Pardieu!</i> I meant to have gone to you, but I preferred +arriving with my hands full,—for I see you do +not ride in your carriage. Well, and your children,—and +your husband?"</p> + +<p>"Has left me these three years, after having sold off +every stick, not leaving me or the children one single +thing but a straw palliasse."</p> + +<p>"Poor Jeanne! How have you managed alone with +three children?"</p> + +<p>"Why, I have suffered very much. I worked at my +business as a trimming-maker as well as I could, the +neighbours helping me a little, watching my children +when I went out. And then I, who haven't much luck, +had a bit of good fortune once in my life; but it was no +avail, because of my husband."</p> + +<p>"How was that?"</p> + +<p>"My employer had spoken of my trouble to one of +his customers, telling him how my husband had left me +with nothing, after having sold all our furniture, and +that, in spite of this, I was working as hard as I could +to bring up my children. One day when I returned +what did I find? Why, my room fitted up again, a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +good bed, furniture, and linen; it was the kind customer +of my employer."</p> + +<p>"Poor sister! Why didn't you write and tell me of +your misfortune; and then, instead of spending my +money, I would have sent you some."</p> + +<p>"What! I free to ask of you a prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"Why not? I was fed, clothed, lodged, at the cost of +government; all I gained was so much profit. But +knowing my brother-in-law was a good workman, and +you a good manager and worker, I was quite easy, and +melted my 'tin' with my eyes shut, and my mouth +open."</p> + +<p>"My husband was a good workman, that is true; but +he became dissipated. However, thanks to this unexpected +aid, I took courage again. My eldest girl began +to earn a little, and we were happy, except when we +remembered that you were at Melun. Work went well +with us, and my children were well clad, and wanted for +nothing hardly, and that gave me good heart; and I had +actually saved thirty-three francs, when suddenly my +husband returned. I had not seen him for a year; and +when he found me so well off and tidily dressed, he +stood for nothing, but took my money and lived with +us without working, getting drunk every day, and beating +me when I complained. And that is not all. He +gave up a small room adjoining ours to a woman with +whom he lived openly as his mistress; so I had that +indignity to endure for the second time. He soon began +to make away with the few poor things I had managed +to get together; so, foreseeing what would be the end of +such conduct, I went to a lawyer who lived in the same +house, and begged him to advise me how to act to +prevent my husband from taking the very bed from +me and my children."</p> + +<p>"Why, there needed no lawyer, I should think, to tell +you that the only thing you had to do was to turn your +husband out of your doors."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Ah, but I could not,—the law gave me no power to +do so. The lawyer told me that, as 'head of the family,' +my husband could take up his abode wherever I dwelt, +and was not compelled to labour unless he liked; that +it was very hard for me to have to maintain him, and +endure his ill-treatment into the bargain, but that he +recommended me to submit to it, though certainly the +circumstance of his having a mistress living under the +same roof entitled me to demand separation from 'bed +and board,' as he called it; and further, that as I would +bring witnesses to prove his having repeatedly struck +me, and otherwise ill-treated me, I could institute a suit +against him, but that it would cost me, at the very least, +from four to five hundred francs to obtain a perfect separation +from him. Only think what a sum,—as much +as I should earn in a year! And who would lend me so +much money, which would have to be repaid heaven +knows how? For four or five hundred francs is a +perfect fortune."</p> + +<p>"Yet there is one very simple means of amassing the +money," replied Pique-Vinaigre, bitterly; "that of living +upon air during the twelve months it would take you +to earn that sum, working all the same, but denying +yourself even the necessaries of life; and I am only +surprised the lawyer did not advise you to starve +yourself and your children, or any other kind-hearted +expediency."</p> + +<p>"You always make a jest of everything, brother!"</p> + +<p>"This time, however, I am not in a jesting humour. +It is scandalous that the law should be so expensive to +poor creatures such as we. Now, just look at yourself,—a +good and affectionate mother, striving by every means +in your power to bring up your children honestly and +creditably; your husband, a bad, lazy fellow, who, not +content with stripping you of all you earn, that he may +spend his time in drinking and all sorts of loose pleasures, +beats and ill-uses you into the bargain. Well, you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> +apply to the justice of your country for protection for +yourself and your children. 'Ah,' say the lawyers, +'yours is a hard case, and your husband is a worthless +vagabond, and you shall have justice. But then you +must pay five hundred francs for that same justice,—five +hundred francs, mind; precisely all your utmost +labour can obtain to nourish yourself and family for a +year. I tell you what, Jeanne, all this proves the truth +of the old saying, that 'There are but two sorts of +people,—those who are hanged, and those who deserve +to be!'"</p> + +<p>Rigolette, alone and pensively inclined, had not lost +a word of all that tale of woe breathed by the poor, suffering, +and patient wife into her brother's ear; while +her naturally kind heart deeply sympathised with all she +heard, and she fully resolved upon relating the whole +history to Rodolph the very first time she saw him, +feeling quite sure of his ready and benevolent aid in +succouring them. Deeply interested in the mournful +fate of the sister of Pique-Vinaigre, she could not take +her eyes from the poor woman's face, and was endeavouring +to draw a little closer to her; but unluckily, just at +that moment, a fresh visitant, entering the room, inquired +for a prisoner, and while the person he wished to see +was sent for, he very coolly seated himself on the bench +between Jeanne and the grisette, who, at the sight of +the individual who so unceremoniously interrupted her +making closer acquaintance with her neighbour, felt a +degree of surprise almost amounting to fear, for in him +she recognised one of the bailiffs sent by Jacques Ferrand +to arrest poor Morel, the lapidary. This circumstance, +recalling as it did to the mind of Rigolette the +implacable enemy of Germain, redoubled her sadness, +which had been in some manner diverted while listening +to the touching recital of the unfortunate sister of +Pique-Vinaigre.</p> + +<p>Retreating from the fresh arrival as far as she could,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> +the grisette leaned her back against the wall, and once +more relapsed into her mournful ruminations.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Jeanne!" cried Pique-Vinaigre, whose +mirthful, pleasure-loving countenance was suddenly overcast +by a deep gloom; "I am by nature neither very +strong nor very courageous; but, certainly, if I had +chanced to have been by when your husband so shamefully +treated you, I don't think I should have let him +slip through my fingers without leaving my mark. But +you were too good for him, and you put up with more +than you ought!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what would you have had me do? I was obliged +to endure what I could not avoid. So long as there remained +an article that would fetch money did my husband +sell it, even to the frock of my little girl, and then +repair to the alehouse with his mistress."</p> + +<p>"But why did you give him your daily earnings?—you +should have hid them from him."</p> + +<p>"So I did; but he beat me so dreadfully that I was +obliged to give them to him. I cared less for the blows +he gave me than because I dreaded his doing me some +bodily injury, such as breaking my arm and dislocating +my wrist, that would have hindered me from working; +and then, what would have become of my poor children? +Suppose I had been compelled to go to a hospital, they +must have perished with hunger. So, you see, brother, +I thought it was better to give up my earnings to my +husband than run the risk of being lamed by him."</p> + +<p>"Poor woman! People talk of martyrs, but what +martyrdom can exceed what you have endured?"</p> + +<p>"And yet I can truly say I never injured a living +creature, and my only desire was to work hard and do +my duty to my husband and children. But it is no use +thinking about it; there are fortunate and unfortunate +persons, just the same as there are good people and bad +people in the world!"</p> + +<p>"True; and it is a beautiful sight to see how happy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +and prosperous the good always are,—aren't they, +sister? And do you now believe yourself for ever +freed from your scoundrel of a husband?"</p> + +<p>"I trust so. He staid till he had sold even my bedstead +and the cradle in which my youngest child lay. +But when I think that, even more than that, he wished—"</p> + +<p>"What did he wish?"</p> + +<p>"When I say he, I ought rather to tell you that it was +rather that wicked woman who urged him on. One day +he said to me, 'I tell you what, when folks have a pretty +girl of fifteen belonging to them, they are cursed fools if +they do not turn her to good account.'"</p> + +<p>"Oh, to be sure! When he had sold the poor girl's +clothes, he was willing to sell her also."</p> + +<p>"When I heard him say those dreadful words I lost +all command over myself, and, I promise you, I did not +spare him all the reproaches he merited. And when his +vile paramour took upon herself to interfere, and say that +my husband had a right to do what he liked with his own +child, I could contain myself no longer; but I fell with +all my fury on the wretched creature. This obtained for +me a severe beating from my husband, who then left me; +and I have never seen him since."</p> + +<p>"I tell you, Jeanne, that there are men condemned to +ten years' punishment and imprisonment who have not +done so much to deserve it as your husband has done."</p> + +<p>"Still he had not a bad heart. It was his frequenting +alehouses, and the bad companions he met there who +made him the lost creature he is."</p> + +<p>"True, he would not hurt a child; but a grown-up +person he was not so very particular."</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 313px;"><a name="image126" id="image126"></a> +<img src="images/i128.jpg" width="313" height="500" alt=""Then Left Me" +Original Etching by Adrian Marcel" title=""Then Left Me"" /> +<span class="caption">"<i>Then Left Me</i>"<br /> +<span class="artist">Original Etching by Adrian Marcel</span></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Alas, it is no use repining! We must take life as +we find it. Well, when my husband had left me I +seemed to regain my courage, for I had no longer the +constant dread of being crippled by him, and so prevented +from earning bread for my children. For want +of money to buy a mattress (for one must live and pay +one's rent before thinking of other things), and poor +Catherine (my eldest girl) working with me fifteen +hours a day, we could scarcely earn twenty pence a +day both together, and my other two children were too +young to be able to earn anything; so, as I was saying, +for want of a mattress we slept upon straw we picked up +from time to time before the door of a large furniture +packer in the neighbourhood."</p> + +<p>"And to think that I have spent and squandered all +my money as I have done!"</p> + +<p>"Pray do not reproach yourself. How could you +possibly imagine I was in want or difficulties when I +never said a word to lead you to conclude so? So poor +dear Catherine and I set to work again with redoubled +courage and determination. If you only knew what a +dear, good child she is, so honest, industrious, and good, +watching me with her eyes to try and find out what I +wish her to do. Never has a murmur escaped her lips; +and yet she has seen much want and misery, though +scarcely fifteen years of age! She has consoled me in +the midst of my severest troubles. Oh, brother," added +Jeanne, drying her eyes, "such a child is enough to +repay one for the severest trials!"</p> + +<p>"You were just such another yourself at her age; +and it is but fair you should have some consolation +amidst your troubles!"</p> + +<p>"Believe me, 'tis rather on her account than mine +I grieve; for it really seems out of nature to see a young +creature like her slaving herself to death. For months +together she has never quitted her work, except once a +week, when she goes to wash the trifle of linen we possess +in the river, near the Pont-au-Charge, where they +only charge three sous an hour for the use of the boats, +beaters, etc. All the rest of her time she is working +like a galley-slave. Ah, she has known misfortune too +early! I know well that troubles must come; but then +a poor girl should be able to look back upon a happy<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> +childhood, at least! And another thing that grieves and +vexes me almost as much as that, is not being able to +render you any assistance. Still I will endeavour."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense; don't talk so! Do you suppose I would +accept of anything from you? On the contrary, I'll +tell you what I'll do to help you. From this time +forward I'll insist upon being paid for my amusing tales +and wonderful recitals; and those who object to pay from +one to two sous for hearing shall no more be treated to +the entertaining histories of Pique-Vinaigre. I shall +soon collect a pretty little sum for you, I know. But +why don't you take furnished lodgings, so that your husband +could not molest you by selling your little possessions?"</p> + +<p>"Furnished lodgings! Only consider, there are four, +and for such a number we should have to pay at least +twenty sous (ten pence) a day. What should we have to +live upon if we paid all that for rent? And now we +give but fifty francs a year for the rooms we occupy."</p> + +<p>"True, my girl," replied Pique-Vinaigre, with bitter +irony. "That's right,—work, slave, begrudge yourself +necessary rest or food, in order to refurnish your place. +And directly you have once more got things comfortably +about you, your husband will come and strip you of +everything; and when he has deprived you almost of the +garments you wear, he will take your dear Catherine +from you and sell her also."</p> + +<p>"No, no, brother; he should take my life ere I would +suffer him to injure my good, my virtuous child."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but he does not wish to do her any bodily harm; +he only wants to sell her. And then, remember, as the +lawyer said, he is master until you can find five hundred +francs to be legally separated from him. So, as that is +not the case, at present you must make up your mind to +submit to what cannot be helped. It seems that, by law, +your husband has a right to take his child from you and +send her where he pleases. And if he and his mistress<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +are bent upon the ruin of the poor girl, doubtless they +will stop at nothing to achieve it."</p> + +<p>"Merciful God!" exclaimed the almost frantic mother, +"surely such wickedness can never be tolerated in a +Christian land! Justice itself would interpose if a father +could insist upon selling his daughter's honour."</p> + +<p>"Justice!" repeated Pique-Vinaigre, with a sardonic +laugh, "justice! No, no, that meat is too dear for poor +folks like you and I. Only, do you see, if it refers to +sending a parcel of poor wretches to prison or the galleys, +then it is quite a different affair; and they have justice +without its costing them anything,—nay, it becomes a +matter of life and death. An unhappy criminal gets his +head shaved off by the guillotine for nothing; not a +single farthing are they or their friends, whether rich or +poor, tailed upon to pay for this act of impartial justice. +The object of it only gives his head! All other expenses +are defrayed by a liberal and justice-loving legislature. +But the justice that would protect a worthy and +ill-treated mother of a family from being beaten and +pillaged to support the vices of a man who seeks even to +sell the honour of his innocent child,—such justice as +that costs five hundred francs! So, my dear Jeanne, +you must do without it."</p> + +<p>"Brother, brother," exclaimed the poor woman, bursting +into tears, "you break my heart by such words as +these!"</p> + +<p>"Well, and my own heart aches even to bursting as +I think of your fate and that of your children, while I +recollect that I am powerless to help you. I seem +always gay and merry; but don't you be deceived by +appearances, Jeanne! I tell you what, I have two descriptions +of gaiety, my gay gaiety, and my sad gaiety. +I have neither the strength or the courage to indulge in +envy, hatred, or malice, like the other prisoners; I never +go beyond words, more or less droll as occasion requires. +My cowardice and bodily weakness would never have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +allowed me to be worse than I am. And nothing but +the opportunity presenting itself of robbing that poor +little lone house, where there was neither a cat nor a dog +to frighten one, would have drawn me into the scheme +that brought me here. And then, again, by chance it +was a brilliant moonlight night; for if ever there was a +poor devil afraid of being alone in the dark it is me."</p> + +<p>"Ah, dear brother, I have always told you you are +better than you yourself think! Well, I trust the judges +will be of my opinion and deal mercifully with you."</p> + +<p>"Mercy! What, for me, a liberated convict? Don't +reckon too much on that or you'll be disappointed. But, +hang it, what care I? Here or elsewhere is all the same +to me! Let my judges do as they will with me, I shall +bear them no ill-will. For you are right; I am not a +bad sort of fellow at heart; and those who are worse +than myself I hate with all the hatred of a good man, +and show my dislike by raillery of every sort. You +can imagine, can you not, that, by dint of relating +stories in which, to please my auditors, I always make +those who wantonly torment others receive the reward +of their wickedness in the end, I get into the habit of +feeling all the indignation and virtuous desire for vengeance +I relate?"</p> + +<p>"I should never have thought such persons as your +prison companions would have been interested in such +recitals!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I'm awake to how to tickle their fancies. If +I were to relate to them the story of a man who committed +no end of crimes, robbery and murder being +among the mildest, and got scragged at last, they would +get into a downright passion and not allow me to go on; +but if I make up a tale of a woman or child, or a poor, +cowardly fellow like myself, that a breath of wind would +knock over, being pursued by an atrocious persecutor,—a +sort of Blackbeard, who torments them to death, for +the pure pleasure of the thing! Oh, how they roar and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +stamp for joy when I make Mr. Blackbeard in the end +served out as he deserves. I have got a story they have +never yet heard, called 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,' +which used to delight all the folks at Melun. I have +promised to tell it to them here to-night. But, before I +begin, I shall see that they come down pretty handsome +when I send the box around collecting; and you may +depend upon being all the better for its contents. And, +besides that, I will write out the story itself to amuse +your children. Poor dears! How pleased they will be +with it! 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,'—there's a title +for you! And, bless you, it is so virtuous and moral +that an abbé might read it from his pulpit! So make +yourself quite happy in every respect."</p> + +<p>"One thing gives me great pleasure, dear brother, and +that is to see that your disposition keeps you from being +as unhappy as the rest of your companions here."</p> + +<p>"Why, I am quite sure if I were like a poor fellow who +is a prisoner in our ward, I should be tempted to lay +violent hands on myself. Poor young man! I really am +sorry for him,—he seems so very wretched; and I am +seriously afraid that before the day is over he will have +sustained some serious mischief at the hands of the other +prisoners, whom he refuses to associate with, and they +owe him a grudge for it; and I know that a plan is +arranged to serve him out this very evening."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, how shocking! But you, brother, do not +mean to take any part in it, I hope?"</p> + +<p>"No, thank you, I am not such a fool; I should be +sure to catch some of the good things intended for +another. All I know about it I picked up while going +to and fro. I heard them talking among themselves of +gagging him to hinder him from crying out, and in +order to prevent any one from seeing what is going on +they mean to form a circle around him, making believe to +be listening to one of their party, who should pretend to +be reading a newspaper or anything they liked out loud."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But why should they thus ill-treat the poor man?"</p> + +<p>"Because, as he is always alone, never speaks to any +person, and seems to hold everybody in disgust, they +have taken it into their heads he is a spy, which is immensely +stupid on their parts, because a spy would naturally +hook on with them the better to find out all they +said and did; but I believe that the principal cause of +their spite against him is that he has the air of a gentleman, +which is a thing they hold in abhorrence. It is the +captain of the dormitory, who is known by the name of +the Walking Skeleton, who is at the head of this plot; +and he is like a wild beast after this Germain, for so the +object of their dislike is called. But let them all do as +they like; it is no affair of mine. I can be of no use, +therefore let them go their own way. But then you see, +Jeanne, it is of no use being dull and mopish in prison, or +the others are sure to suspect you of something or other. +They never had to find fault with my want of sociability, +and for that reason never suspected me or owed me a +grudge. But come, my girl, you had better return home; +we have gossiped long enough. I know very well how +it takes up your time to come hither. I have nothing +to do but to idle away my days; it is very different +with you; so good night. Come and see me again +when you can; you know how happy it always makes +me."</p> + +<p>"Nay, but, brother, pray do not go yet; I wish you +to stay."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Jeanne; your children are wanting you at +home. I say—I hope you have not told the poor, dear, +little innocent things that their 'nunky' is in prison?"</p> + +<p>"No, indeed, I have not; the children believe you +are abroad, and as such I can always talk to them of +you."</p> + +<p>"That's all right. Now then, be off, and get back +to your family and your employment as fast as you +can."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But listen to me, brother,—my poor Fortuné. I +have not much to give, God knows! but still I cannot +bear to see you in so deplorable a plight as you are at +present. Your feet must be half frozen without any +stockings; and that wretched old waistcoat you have on +makes my heart ache to see it. Catherine and I together +will manage to get a few things together for you. You +know, Fortuné, that at least we do not want for good +will—to—"</p> + +<p>"To what—to give me better clothes? Lord love +you, I've got boxes full of everything you can mention, +and directly they come I shall be able to dress like a +prince! There, now; come, give me one little smile,—there's +a good girl! You won't? Well, then, you shall +make me and bring me what you like; only remember, +directly the tale of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half' has replenished +my money-box, I am to return all you expend +upon me. And now once more, dear Jeanne, fare you +well! And the next time you come to see me, may I +lose the name of Pique-Vinaigre if I don't make you +laugh! But be off now; cut your stick, there's a good +girl! I know I have kept you too long already."</p> + +<p>"No, no, dear brother, indeed you have not. Pray +hear what I have to say!"</p> + +<p>"Hallo, here! I say, my fine fellow," cried Pique-Vinaigre +to the turnkey, who was waiting in the lobby, +"I have said my say, and I want to go in again. I've +talked till I'm tired."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Fortuné," cried Jeanne, "how cruel you are to +send me thus from you!"</p> + +<p>"No, no; on the contrary, I am kinder than you give +me credit for."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye; keep up your spirits; and to-morrow +morning tell the children you have been dreaming of +their uncle who is abroad, and that he desired you to +give his kind love to them. There—good-bye—good-bye!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Good-bye, Fortuné!" replied the poor woman, bursting +into tears, as her brother entered the interior of the +prison.</p> + +<p>From the moment when the bailiff seated himself +between her and Jeanne, Rigolette had been unable to +overhear a word more of the conversation between +Pique-Vinaigre and his sister; but she continued to gaze +intently on the latter, her thoughts busied with devising +some plausible pretext for obtaining the poor woman's +address, for the purpose of recommending her as a fit +object for Rodolph's benevolence. As Jeanne rose from +her seat to quit the place, Rigolette timidly approached +her, and said, in a kind voice:</p> + +<p>"Pray excuse my addressing you, but a little while +ago I could not avoid overhearing your conversation, +and by that I found that you were a maker of fringe and +fancy trimmings."</p> + +<p>"You heard rightly," replied Jeanne, somewhat surprised, +but, at the same time, much prepossessed in +favour of the open, frank expression of Rigolette's +charming countenance, as well as won to confidence by +her kind and friendly manner.</p> + +<p>"And I," continued Rigolette, "am a dressmaker. +And just now that fringes and gimps are so much worn, +I am frequently requested by my customers to get a +particular sort for them; so it occurred to me that perhaps +you who make at home could supply me with what +I required cheaper than the shops, while, on the other +hand, you might obtain a better price from me than you +get from the warehouse you work for."</p> + +<p>"Certainly, I should make a small profit by buying +the silk myself, and then making it up to order. You +are very kind to have made me the proposal; but I own +I feel unable to account for your being so well acquainted +with my manner of gaining a living."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I will soon explain all that to you. You must +know I am waiting to see the person I came here to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span> +visit. Being quite alone, I could not help hearing all +you said to your brother,—of your many trials, also of +your dear children. So then, thinks I to myself, poor +people should always be ready to assist each other. I +hope you believe that I did not try to listen? And after +that gentleman came and placed himself between us, I +lost all that passed between your brother and yourself. +So I tried to hit upon some way of being useful to you, +and then it struck me that you being a fancy trimming-maker, +I might be able to put work in your way more +profitable than working for shops,—they pay so very +little. So, if you are agreeable, we will take each +other's address. This is where I live; now please to tell +me where to send to you directly I have any work for +you."</p> + +<p>With these words Rigolette presented one of her +businesslike cards to the sister of Pique-Vinaigre, who, +deeply touched by the words and conduct of the grisette, +exclaimed with much feeling:</p> + +<p>"Your face does not belie your kind heart; and pray +do not set it down for vanity if I say that there is something +about you that reminds me so forcibly of my eldest +daughter that when you first came in I could not help +looking at you several times. I am very much obliged +to you; and should you give me any work, you may +rely on my doing it in my best possible manner. My +name is Jeanne Duport, and I live at No. 1 Rue de la +Barillerie,—No. 1, that is not a difficult number to +recollect."</p> + +<p>"Thank you, madame."</p> + +<p>"Nay, 'tis rather for me to express thanks for having +had the goodness even to think of serving a stranger +like myself. But still I cannot help saying it does surprise +me to be taken notice of by a young person like +you, who most likely has never known what trouble +was."</p> + +<p>"But, my dear Madame Duport," cried Rigolette,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +with a winning smile, "there is really nothing so +astonishing in the affair. Since you fancy I bear +some resemblance to your daughter Catherine, why +should you be surprised at my wish to do a good +action?"</p> + +<p>"What a dear, sweet creature it is!" cried Madame +Duport, with unaffected warmth. "Well, thanks to you, +I shall return home less sad than I expected; and perhaps +we may have the pleasure of meeting here again +before long, for I believe you, like me, come to this +dreadful place to visit a prisoner?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, I do," replied Rigolette, with a sigh, +which seemed to proceed from the very bottom of her +heart.</p> + +<p>"Then farewell for the present; we shall very shortly +meet again, I hope, Mlle.—Rigolette!" said Jeanne +Duport, after having referred for the necessary information +to the card she held in her hand.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I'm sure I trust so, too. Good-bye, then, +till we meet again, Madame Duport."</p> + +<p>"Well," thought Rigolette, as she returned and +reseated herself on the bench, "at least I know this +poor woman's address; and I feel quite sure M. Rodolph +will assist her directly he knows what trouble she is in, +for he always told me whenever I heard of a case of real +distress to let him know, and I am sure this is one if +ever there was." And here Rigolette suddenly changed +the current of her ideas by wondering when it would be +her turn to ask to see Germain.</p> + +<p>A few words as to the preceding scene. Unfortunately +it must be confessed that the indignation of the +unhappy brother of Jeanne Duport was quite legitimate. +Yes, when he said that the law was too dear for the +poor he spoke the truth. To plead before the civil +tribunals incurs enormous expenses, impossible for +workpeople to meet when they can scarcely subsist on +the wages they earn.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span></p> + +<p>Ought not civil as well as criminal justice to be accessible +to all? When persons are too poor to be able to +invoke the benefits of any law which is eminently preservative +and beneficial, ought not society at its own +cost to enable them to attain it out of respect for the +honour and repose of families?</p> + +<p>But let us speak no longer of the woman who must +be, for all her life, the victim of a brutal and depraved +husband, and speak of Jeanne Duport's brother. This +freed prisoner leaves a den of corruption to reënter the +world; he had submitted to his punishment, payed his +debt by expiation. What precaution has society taken +to prevent him from falling again into crime? None! +If the freed convict has the courage to resist evil temptations, +he will give himself up to one of those homicidal +trades of which we have spoken.</p> + +<p>Then the condition of the freed convict is much more +terrible, painful, and difficult than it was before he committed +his first fault. He is surrounded by perils and +rocks,—he must have refusal, disdain, and often even +the deepest misery. And if he relapses and commits +a second crime, you are more severe towards him than +for his first fault a thousand times. This is unjust, for +it is always the necessity you impose on him that makes +him commit the second crime. Yes, for it is demonstrated +that, instead of correcting, your penitentiary +system depraves; instead of ameliorating, it renders +worse; instead of curing slight moral defects, it renders +them incurable.</p> + +<p>The severe punishment inflicted on offenders for the +second time would be just and logical if your prisons, +rendered moral, purified the prisoners, and if, at the +termination of their punishment, good conduct was, if +not easy, at least possible for them. If we are astonished +at the contradictions of the law, what is it when we +compare certain offences with certain crimes, either +from the inevitable consequences, or from the immense<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +disproportions which exist between the punishments, +awarded to each?</p> + +<p>The conversation of the prisoner who came to see +the bailiff will present one of these overwhelming +contrasts.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VII.</h3> + +<h5>MAÎTRE BOULARD.</h5> + + +<p>The prisoner who entered the reception-room at the +moment when Pique-Vinaigre left it was a man about +thirty, with reddish brown hair, a jovial countenance, +florid and full; and his short stature made his excessive +fatness still more conspicuous. This prisoner, so rosy +and plump, was attired in a long and warm dressing-gown +of gray kersey, with pantaloons of the same down +to his feet. A kind of cap of red velvet, called <i>Perinet-Leclerc</i>, +completed this personage's costume, when we +add that his feet were thrust into comfortable furred +slippers. His gold chain supported a number of handsome +seals with valuable stones, and several rings with +real stones shone on the red fingers of the <i>détenu</i>, who +was called Maître Boulard, a <i>huissier</i> (a law-officer), +and accused of breach of trust.</p> + +<p>The person who had come to see him was, as we have +said, Pierre Bourdin, one of the <i>gardes de commerce</i> +(bailiffs) employed to arrest poor Morel, the lapidary. +This bailiff was usually employed by Maître Boulard, the +<i>huissier</i> of M. Petit-Jean, the man of straw of Jacques +Ferrand.</p> + +<p>Bourdin, shorter and quite as stout as the <i>huissier</i>, +formed himself on the model of his employer, whose +magnificence he greatly admired. Very fond as he was +of jewelry, he wore on this occasion a superb topaz pin, +and a long gilt chain was visible through the buttonholes +of his waistcoat.</p> + +<p>"Good day, my faithful friend, Bourdin, I was sure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +you would not fail to come at my summons!" said +Maître Boulard, in a joyful tone, and in a small, shrill +voice, which contrasted singularly with his large carcass +and full-moon face.</p> + +<p>"Fail at your summons!" replied the bailiff; "I am +incapable of such behaviour, <i>mon général</i>."</p> + +<p>This was the appellation by which Bourdin, with a +joke at once familiar and respectful, called the <i>huissier</i>, +under whose orders he acted; this military appellation +being very frequently used amongst certain classes of +clerks and civil practitioners.</p> + +<p>"I observe with pleasure that friendship remains +faithful to misfortune!" said Maître Boulard, with gay +cordiality. "However, I was getting a little uneasy, as +three days had elapsed, and no Bourdin."</p> + +<p>"Only imagine, <i>mon général!</i>—it is really quite a +history. You remember that dashing vicomte in the +Rue de Chaillot?"</p> + +<p>"Saint-Remy?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; you know how he laughed at all our attempts +to 'nab' him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; he behaved very ill in that way."</p> + +<p>"Well, this vicomte has got another title."</p> + +<p>"What, is he a comte?"</p> + +<p>"No, but from swindler he has become thief!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, bah!"</p> + +<p>"They are after him for some diamonds he has stolen; +and, by the way, they belonged to the jeweller who used +to employ that vermin of a Morel, the lapidary we were +going to arrest in the Rue du Temple, when a tall, thin +chap, with black moustaches, paid for this half-starved +devil, and very nearly pitched me and Malicorne headlong +down-stairs."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, yes, I remember; you told me all about it, +Bourdin,—it was really very droll! But as to this +dashing vicomte?"</p> + +<p>"Why, as I tell you, Saint-Remy was charged with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span> +robbery, after having made his worthy old father believe +that he wished to blow out his brains. A police agent +of my acquaintance, knowing that I had been long on +the traces of the vicomte, asked me if I could not give +him information so that he could 'grab' the dandy. I +had learned (too late for myself) that he had 'run to +earth' in a farm at Arnouville, five leagues from Paris; +but when we got there the bird had flown!"</p> + +<p>"But next day he paid that acceptance,—thanks, as +I have heard say, to some rich woman!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, general; but still I knew the nest, and he +might have gone there again, and so I told my friend in +the police. He proposed to me to give him a friendly +cast of my office and show him the farm, and as I had +nothing to do and it was a rural trip, I agreed."</p> + +<p>"Well, and the vicomte?"</p> + +<p>"Not to be found. After having lurked about the +farm for some time, we gained admittance, and returned +as wise as we went; and this is why I could not come +to your orders sooner, general."</p> + +<p>"I was sure it was something of this sort, my good +fellow."</p> + +<p>"But, if I may be allowed to ask, how the devil did +you get here?"</p> + +<p>"Wretches, my dear fellow, a set of wretches who, for +a miserable sixty thousand francs of which they declare +I have wronged them, have charged me with a breach of +trust and compelled me to resign my office."</p> + +<p>"Really, general! Well, that's unfortunate! And +shall I then work for you no longer?"</p> + +<p>"I am on half pay now, Bourdin,—on the retired +list."</p> + +<p>"But who are these vindictive persons?"</p> + +<p>"Why, only imagine, one of the most savage of all is +a liberated convict, who employed me to recover the +amount of a bill of seven hundred miserable francs, for +which it was requisite to bring an action. Well, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span> +brought the action, and got the money and used it; and +because, in consequence of some unsuccessful speculations, +I swamped that money and several other sums, +all these blackguards have assailed me with warrants; +and so you find me here, my dear fellow, neither more +nor less than a malefactor."</p> + +<p>"And does it not alarm you, general?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; but the oddest thing of all is that this convict +wrote me word some days ago that this money being his +sole resource for bad times, and these bad times having +arrived (I don't know what he means by that), I was +responsible for the crimes he might commit in order to +escape from starvation."</p> + +<p>"Amusing, 'pon my soul!"</p> + +<p>"Very; and the fellow is capable of saying this, but +fortunately the law does not recognise any such accompliceships."</p> + +<p>"After all, you are only charged with breach of +trust?"</p> + +<p>"That is all. Do you take me for a thief, Maître +Bourdin?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear general! I meant to say there was nothing +very serious in this."</p> + +<p>"Why, I don't look very down, do I, my boy?"</p> + +<p>"By no means; never saw you looking better. Indeed, +if you are found guilty, you will only have two or +three months, imprisonment and twenty-five francs fine. +I know the law, you see!"</p> + +<p>"And these two or three months I shall contrive, I +know, to pass quietly in some infirmary. I have a +deputy at my elbow."</p> + +<p>"Oh, then, you're all right."</p> + +<p>"Yes, Bourdin; and I can scarcely help laughing to +think what little good the fools who put me here have +done themselves,—they will not recover a sou of the +money they claim. They compel me to sell my post,—what +do I care?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span></p> + +<p>"True, general; it is only so much the worse for +them."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my boy. And now for the subject on which I +was anxious to see you, Bourdin; it is a very delicate +affair,—there is a lady in the case!" said Maître +Boulard, with mysterious self-complacency.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you gay deceiver! But, be it what it may, you +may rely on me."</p> + +<p>"I am greatly interested in the welfare of a young +actress at the theatre of the Folies-Dramatiques. I pay +her rent; but, you know, the absent are always in the +wrong! Alexandrine has applied to me for money. Now +I have never been a very gay fellow, but yet I do not like +to be made a fool of; so, before I comply, I should like to +know if the lady is faithful. I know there is nothing +more absurd and uncommon than fidelity, and so you +will do me a friendly service if you could just watch her +for a few days and let me know your opinion, either by +a talk with the porter at her abode or—"</p> + +<p>"I understand, general," said Bourdin; "this is no +worse than watching a debtor. Rely on me; I will have +an eye to Mlle. Alexandrine,—although, I should say, +you are too generous and too good-looking not to be +adored!"</p> + +<p>"My good looks are no use, my friend, so long as I am +absent; and so I rely on you to discover the truth."</p> + +<p>"Rely on me."</p> + +<p>"How can I, my dear fellow, prove my gratitude?"</p> + +<p>"Don't mention it, general."</p> + +<p>"Pray understand, my dear Bourdin, that your fees +in this case will be the same as if you were after an +arrest."</p> + +<p>"I can't allow it, general. As long as I act under +your orders, have you not allowed me to shear the +debtor to his very skin,—to double, treble, the costs of +arrests? And have you not sued for those costs for me +as eagerly as if they were due to yourself?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But, my dear fellow, this is very different; and, in +my turn, I declare I will not allow it."</p> + +<p>"<i>Mon général</i>, you will really make me quite ashamed +if you do not allow me to make these inquiries as to Mlle. +Alexandrine as a poor proof of my gratitude."</p> + +<p>"Well, well; be it so. I will no longer contend with +your generosity; and your devotion will be a sweet +reward to me for considerations I have always mixed +up in our transactions."</p> + +<p>"Very good, general; and now we understand each +other. Is there anything else I can do for you? You +must be very uncomfortable here. I hope you are <i>à la +pistole</i> (in a private room)?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; I came just in time to get the only empty +room,—the others are being repaired. I have made myself +as comfortable as possible in my cell, and am not so +very miserable. I have a stove and a very nice easy chair; +I make three long meals a day, and my digestion is good; +then I walk and go to sleep. Except my uneasiness +about Alexandrine I have not so much to complain +of."</p> + +<p>"But for you who were such an epicure, general, the +prison diet is very poor."</p> + +<p>"Why, there is an excellent cookshop in my street, +and I have a running account with him, and so every two +days he sends me a very nice supply. And, by the way, +I would get you to ask his wife—a nice little woman is +Madame Michonneau—to put into the basket a bit of +pickled thunny. It is in season now, and relishes one's +wine."</p> + +<p>"Capital idea!"</p> + +<p>"And tell Madame Michonneau to send me a basket +of various wines,—burgundy, champagne, and bordeaux,—like +the last; she'll know what I mean. And tell her +to put in two bottles of old cognac of 1817, and a pound +of pure Mocha, fresh roasted and ground."</p> + +<p>"I'll put down the date of the cognac, lest I should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +forget it," said Bourdin, taking a memorandum-book +from his pocket.</p> + +<p>"As you are writing, my good fellow, be so good as +make a minute of my wish to have an eider-down quilt +from my house."</p> + +<p>"All shall be done to the letter, general; make your +mind easy. And now I shall be comfortable about +your living. But your walks; you are compelled to +take them along with those ruffians confined here?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; and it's really very lively and animated. I go +down after breakfast; sometimes I go into one yard, sometimes +another, and I mix with the mob. Really they +appear very good sort of fellows! Some of them are +very amusing. The most ferocious are collected in what +is called the Fosse aux Lions. Ah, my good fellow, +what hang-dog-looking fellows there are amongst them. +There's one they call the Skeleton,—I never saw such a +creature."</p> + +<p>"What a singular name!"</p> + +<p>"He is so thin, or rather bare of flesh, that this is the +nickname which has been given to him; he is really +frightful. He is, besides, director of his ward, and, +moreover, an infernal villain. He has just left the +galleys, and went directly to murder and assassination. +But his last murder was really horrible, as he knew +he should be condemned to death without chance of +remission; but he laughs at it."</p> + +<p>"What a scoundrel!"</p> + +<p>"All the prisoners admire and tremble before him. +I got into his good graces at once by offering him some +cigars, and so he made a friend of me at once, and +offered to teach me slang; and I have made considerable +progress."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what an idea!—my general learning slang!"</p> + +<p>"I amuse myself as much as I can, and all these +fellows adore me. I am not proud like a young fellow +they call Germain, who gives himself the airs of a lord."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But he must be delighted at meeting with such a +gentleman as you, even if he is disgusted with the +others."</p> + +<p>"Why, really, he did not seem even to notice that I +was there; but, if he had, I should have taken care how +I took any notice of him. He is the <i>bête noire</i> of the +whole prison, and some day or other they'll play him a +slippery trick; and, <i>pardieu!</i> I have no wish to come in +for my share of what may befall him."</p> + +<p>"You're right."</p> + +<p>"It would interfere with my pleasures, for my walk +with the prisoners is really a pleasure to me; only these +ruffians have no great opinion of me morally. You see, +my accusation of a simple breach of trust is contemptible +in the eyes of these out-and-outers; and they look on me +as a nobody."</p> + +<p>"Why, really, with such criminals you are—"</p> + +<p>"A mere chicken, my dear fellow. But do not forget +my commissions."</p> + +<p>"Make your mind easy, general. First, Mlle. Alexandrine; +second, the fish-pie and basket of wine; third, the +old cognac of 1817, the ground coffee, and the eider-down +quilt; you shall have it all. Is there anything +else?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I forgot. You know the address of M. Badinot?"</p> + +<p>"The agent? Yes."</p> + +<p>"Well, be so kind as to call on him, and say that I +rely on his friendship to find me a barrister such as my +case requires, and that I shall not stand for forty or fifty +pounds."</p> + +<p>"I'll see M. Badinot, depend upon it, general; and +all your commissions shall be attended to this evening, +and to-morrow you shall receive all you wish for. +So good day, and a happy meeting to us soon, <i>mon +général</i>."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, my worthy friend!" And the prisoner<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +quitted the parlour at one door, and the visitor by the +other.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>Let us now compare the crime of Pique-Vinaigre with +that of M. Boulard, the <i>huissier</i>. Compare the beginning +of the two, and the reasons, the necessities, which +impelled them to evil. Compare, too, the punishment +which awaited them respectively. The one, driven by his +hunger and need, robs. He is apprehended, judged, and +sentenced to fifteen or twenty years of hard labour and +exposure. Property is sacred, and he who, in the night, +breaks for plunder should undergo sacred punishment. +But ought not the well-informed, intelligent, rich man +who robs—not to satisfy hunger, but his caprices or +gambling in the stocks—to be punished? Yet for the +public spoliator there is two months' imprisonment; for +the relapsed convict twenty years' hard labour and exposure. +What can we add to these facts, which speak +for themselves?</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>The old turnkey kept his word; and when Boulard left +the parlour, Germain entered, and Rigolette was only +separated from him by a light wire grating.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER VIII.</h3> + +<h5>FRANÇOIS GERMAIN.</h5> + + +<p>Although the features of Germain could not be styled +regular, it was scarcely possible to see a more interesting +countenance. There was an air of ease and elegance +about him, while his slight, graceful figure, plain but +neatly arranged dress (consisting of a pair of gray trousers +and black frock coat, buttoned up to the chin), formed +a striking contrast to the slovenliness and neglect to +which the occupants of the prison generally gave themselves +up; his white hands and well-trimmed nails +evinced an attention to his personal appearance which +had still further excited the ill-will of the prisoners +against him, for bodily neglect is almost invariably the +accompaniment of moral perversion. He wore his long +and naturally curling chestnut hair parted on one side of +his forehead, according to the fashion of the day, a style +that well became his pale and melancholy countenance, +and large, clear blue eyes, beaming with truth and candour; +his smile, at once sweet and mournful, expressed +benevolence of heart, mingled with a habitual dejection, +for, though young, the unfortunate youth had already +deeply tasted affliction.</p> + +<p>Nothing could be imagined more touching than the +look of suffering impressed on his features, while the +gentle and resigned cast of his whole physiognomy was +but a fair transcript of the mind within, for a better, +purer, or more upright heart could scarcely have beaten +in human form.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + +<p>The very cause of his imprisonment (divested of the +calumnious aggravations affixed to it by Jacques Ferrand) +proved the goodness of his nature, and left him worthy +of blame only for suffering himself to be led astray by +his feelings to commit an action decidedly wrong, but +still excusable if it be remembered that the son of Madame +Georges felt perfectly sure of replacing on the following +morning the sum temporarily taken from the +notary's cash-box, for the purpose of saving Morel the +lapidary, from being dragged from his family and confined +in a prison.</p> + +<p>Germain coloured slightly as he perceived, through +the grating of the visitor's room, the bright and charming +countenance of Rigolette, who strove, as usual, to +appear gay, in hopes of encouraging and enlivening her +protégé a little; but the poor girl was too bad a dissembler +to conceal the sorrow and agitation she invariably +experienced upon entering the prison. She was seated +on a bench at the outside of the grating, holding her +straw basket on her lap.</p> + +<p>Instead of remaining in the adjoining passage, from +whence every word could be heard, the old turnkey retired +to the stove placed at the very extremity of the +visiting-room, closed his eyes, and in a very few seconds +was (as his breathing announced) fast asleep, leaving +Germain and Rigolette at perfect liberty to converse at +their ease.</p> + +<p>"Now then, M. Germain," cried the grisette, placing +her pretty face as closely as she could to the grate, the +better to examine the features of her friend, "let me see +what sort of a countenance you have got to-day, and +whether it is less sad than it was? Humph, humph—only +middling! Now, do you know that I've a great +mind to be very angry with you?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, no, you are too good for that. But how very +kind of you to come again so soon!"</p> + +<p>"So soon! Does it seem to you so soon? You mean<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +by those words to reproach me for coming so frequently. +Well—"</p> + +<p>"Have I not good cause to find fault with you for taking +so much pains and trouble for me, while I, alas! can +merely thank you for all your goodness?"</p> + +<p>"That is a little mistake of yours, my fussy friend, +because the little services in my power to render you +afford me quite as much pleasure as they do you; so +that, you see, I am as much bound to say 'Thank +you for all favours,' as you are. So, you see, I am +not to be cheated that way. And now I think of +it, the best way to punish you for such very improper +ideas will be not to give you what I have brought for +you."</p> + +<p>"What! Another proof of your thoughtful care of +me? Oh, you spoil me—you do, indeed! I shall be +fit for nothing but to be somebody's pet when (if ever, +alas!) I get out of prison. A thousand thanks! Nay, +you must pardon my using that word, although it does +displease you. But, indeed, you leave me nothing else +to say."</p> + +<p>"Ah, but don't be in such a hurry to thank me, +before you even know what I have brought!"</p> + +<p>"Why, what do I care what it is?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm sure that's very civil, M. Germain!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, I only meant to say that, be it what it may, it +must needs be dear and precious to me, since it comes +from you. Oh, Mlle. Rigolette, your unwearied kindness, +your touching sympathy, fills me with the deepest +gratitude, and—and—" But finding it impossible +to conclude the sentence, Germain cast down his eyes +and remained silent.</p> + +<p>"Well," said Rigolette, "and what else?"</p> + +<p>"And—devotion!" stammered out Germain.</p> + +<p>"Why could you not have said 'respect,' as people +write at the end of a letter?" asked Rigolette, impatiently. +"Ah, but I know very well that was not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +what you were going to say, else why did you stop all of +a sudden?"</p> + +<p>"I assure you—"</p> + +<p>"There, don't endeavour to assure me of anything; +I can see you are blushing through this grating. Now +why can't you speak out, and tell me every thought and +wish of your heart? Am I not your true and faithful +friend as well as old companion?" continued the grisette, +timidly, for she but waited the confession of Germain's +love for her to tell him frankly and sincerely how truly +she returned his affection with a passion as true and as +generous as his own.</p> + +<p>"I assure you Mlle. Rigolette," said the poor prisoner +with a sigh, "that I had nothing else to say, and +that I am concealing nothing whatever from you."</p> + +<p>"For shame for shame," cried Rigolette, stamping +her foot; "don't tell such stories. Now, look here," +continued she, drawing a large, white, woollen neck +wrapper from her basket; "do you see this beautiful +thing? Well, I brought it on purpose for you. But +now—to punish you for being so deceitful and sly—I +will not give it to you. I knitted it on purpose for you, +too; for, said I, it must be so damp and cold in those +yards in the prison. And this nice, soft, woollen handkerchief +is just the thing to keep him warm; he is so +delicate!"</p> + +<p>"And is it possible you—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, I said you were delicate—and so you are," +cried Rigolette, interrupting him. "I suppose I may +recollect, if I please, how chilly you used to be of an +evening, though all the time you tried to conceal it, that +you might hinder me from putting more wood on my +fire when you came to sit with me. I've got a good +memory, I can tell you; so don't contradict me."</p> + +<p>"And so have I," replied Germain, in a voice of deep +feeling "far too good for my present position;" and, +with these words, he passed his hand across his eyes.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Now then, I declare, I believe you are falling into +low spirits again, though I so strictly forbade it."</p> + +<p>"How is it possible for me to avoid being moved even +to tears, when I recollect all you have done for me ever +since I entered this prison? And is not your last kind +attention another proof of your amiable care for me? +And do I not know that you are obliged to work at +night to make up for the time it occupies for you to visit +me in my misfortunes, and that on my account you +impose additional labour and fatigue on yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, if that be all you have to be miserable about +I beg you will make very short work of it. Truly, I +deserve a great deal of pity for taking a nice refreshing +walk two or three times a week just to see a friend—I +who so dearly love walking—and having a good stare +at all the pretty shops as I come along."</p> + +<p>"And see, to-day, too, what weather you have ventured +out in! Such wind and rain! Oh, it is too selfish of +me to permit you thus to sacrifice your health for me!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, bless you, the wind and rain only make the +walk more amusing. You have no idea what very droll +sights one sees,—first comes a party of men holding on +their hats with both hands, to prevent the storm from +carrying them away; then you see an unfortunate individual +with his umbrella blown inside out, making the +most ludicrous grimaces, and shutting his eyes while +the wind drives him about like a peg-top. I declare, all +the way I came along this morning, it was more diverting +than going to a play. I thought I should make you +laugh by telling you of it; but there you are looking +more dull, and solid, and serious than ever!"</p> + +<p>"Pray forgive me if I cannot be as mirthful as your +kind heart would have me; you know I never have what +is styled high spirits, and just now I feel it impossible +even to affect them."</p> + +<p>Rigolette was very desirous of concealing that, spite of +her lively prattle, she was to the full as sad and heavy-hearted<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +as Germain himself could be. She therefore +hastened to change the conversation by saying:</p> + +<p>"You say it is impossible for you to conquer your low +spirits, but there are other things you choose to style +impossibilities I have begged and prayed of you to do, +because I very well know you could, if you chose."</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"I mean your obstinate avoidance of all the other +prisoners, and never speaking to one of them; the turnkey +has just been talking to me about it, and he says +that for your own sake you ought to associate with them +a little. I am sure it would not do you any harm; you +do not speak; it is always the way. I see very well +you will never be satisfied till these dreadful men have +played you some dangerous trick in revenge."</p> + +<p>"You know not the horror with which they inspire +me, any more than you can guess the personal reasons I +have for avoiding and execrating them, and all who +resemble them."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, but I do know your reasons! I read the +accounts you wrote for me, and which I went to fetch +away from your lodgings after your imprisonment; from +them I learned all the dangers you had incurred upon +your arrival in Paris, because, when you were in the +country, you refused to participate in the crimes of +the bad man who had brought you up; and that it was +in consequence of the last snare they laid to catch you +that you quitted the Rue du Temple, without telling any +one but me where you had gone to. And I read something +else, too, in those papers," said Rigolette, casting +down her eyes, while a bright blush dyed her cheeks; +"I read things that—that—"</p> + +<p>"You would never have known, I solemnly declare," +exclaimed Germain, eagerly, "had it not been for the +misfortune which befell me. But let me ask you to be +as generous as you are good; forget and pardon my past +follies, my insane hopes. 'Tis true, in times past I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +ventured to indulge such dreams, wild and unfounded +as they were."</p> + +<p>Rigolette had endeavoured a second time to draw a +confession of his love from the lips of Germain by alluding +to those tender and passionate effusions written by +him, and dedicated to the remembrance of the grisette, +for whom, as we have before stated, he had always felt +the sincerest affection; but, the better to preserve the +confiding familiarity with which he was treated by his +pretty neighbour, he concealed his regard under the +semblance of friendship.</p> + +<p>Rendered more timid and sensitive by imprisonment, +he could not for an instant believe it possible for Rigolette +to reciprocate the attachment of a poor prisoner +like himself, whose character was, moreover, tarnished +by so foul an accusation as he laboured under, while +previous to this calamity she had never manifested more +than a sisterly interest in him. The grisette, finding +herself so little understood, stifled a sigh, and awaited +with hopeful eagerness a better opportunity of opening +the eyes of Germain to the real state of her heart. She +contented herself, therefore, with merely replying:</p> + +<p>"To be sure, it is quite natural the sight of these +wicked men should fill you with horror and disgust; but +that is no reason for your exposing yourself to unnecessary +dangers."</p> + +<p>"I assure you that, in order to follow your advice, I +have endeavoured to force myself to converse with such +as seemed the least depraved among them; but you can +form no notion what dreadful men they are, or what +shocking language they talk."</p> + +<p>"I dare say they do, poor unfortunate creatures! It +must be horrid to hear them."</p> + +<p>"But there is something more terrible than that, the +getting gradually used to the disgusting conversations +which, in spite of yourself, you are compelled to hear all +day long. Yes, I am sorry to say, I now hear with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +gloomy indifference horrible remarks and speeches that +would have excited my utmost indignation when I first +came here. So, you see," continued Germain, bitterly, +"I begin to be more afraid of myself than I am of +them."</p> + +<p>"Oh, M. Germain!"</p> + +<p>"I am sure of it," pursued the unfortunate young +man. "After a residence within a prison in company +with such as are always to be found assembled there, the +mind becomes accustomed to guilty thoughts, in the same +manner as the ear gets inured to the coarse and vulgar +expressions continually in use. Oh, God, I can well +believe how possible it is to enter these walls innocent +of the crimes ascribed to one, and to leave them with +principles utterly and irretrievably perverted!"</p> + +<p>"But you never could be so changed! Oh, no, not +you!"</p> + +<p>"Ay, me, and others twenty times better than myself! +Alas, alas! those who condemn men to this fearful +association little think that they expose their fellow +creatures to breathe an air laden with the direst moral +contagion, and inevitably fatal to every right or honourable +feeling!"</p> + +<p>"Pray do not go on so! You know not how you +grieve me!"</p> + +<p>"Nay, I but wished to explain to you why I am daily +more and more melancholy. I wished not to have said +so much, but I have only one way of repaying the pity +you have evinced for me."</p> + +<p>"Pity? Pity? Indeed—"</p> + +<p>"Pardon me for interrupting you, but the only way +by which I can acquit myself towards you is to speak +with perfect candour; and, with shuddering alarm, I +confess that I am no longer the same person I was. In +vain do I fly these unfortunate wretches, their very +presence, their contact seems to take effect on me; in +spite of myself, I seem to feel a fatal influence in breathing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span> +the same atmosphere, as though the moral pestilence +entered at every pore, and rested not till it had mingled +with the heart's blood. Should I even be acquitted on +my trial, the very sight of, and association with, good +and virtuous men would cover me with shame and confusion; +for, though I have not yet been able to find +pleasure in the society of my companions, I have, at +least, learned to dread the day when I shall again mix +with persons of respectability, because now I am conscious +of my weakness and cowardice; for is not he +guilty of both who dares to make a compromise with +his duties or his honesty? And have not I done so? +When I first came here I did not deceive myself as to +the extent of my fault, however excusable the circumstances +under which it was committed might have +seemed to make it; but now it appears to me an offence +of a trifling description when compared with the crimes +of which the robbers and murderers by whom I am surrounded +make daily boast. And I sometimes surprise +myself envying their audacious indifference, and blaming +myself with my own weak regrets for so insignificant +an action."</p> + +<p>"And so it was an insignificant action, far more +generous than wrong. Why, what did you do but +borrow for a few hours a sum of money you knew you +could replace on the following morning; and that, too, +not for yourself, but to save a whole family from ruin, +perhaps death."</p> + +<p>"That matters not, it was a theft in the eyes of the +law and all honest men. Doubtless it is better to rob +with a good motive than a bad one, but it is a fearful +thing to be obliged to seek an excuse for oneself by +comparing one's own guilt with that of persons far +beneath ourselves. I can no longer venture to compare +my actions with those of upright persons, consequently, +then, I am compelled to institute a comparison between +myself and the degraded beings with whom I live; so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> +that I plainly perceive in the end the conscience becomes +hardened and is put to sleep. The next theft I commit, +probably without the prospect of replacing the money, +but from mere cupidity, I might still find an excuse for +myself by comparing my conduct with that of a man +who adds murder to theft; and yet at this moment there +is as great a difference between me and a murderer as +there is between a person of untainted character and +myself. So, because there are beings a thousand times +more degraded and debased than I am, by degrees my +own degradation would become diminished in my estimation; +instead of being able to say, as I once could, 'I +am as honest a man as any I meet with,' I shall be +obliged to content myself with saying I am the least +guilty of the vile wretches among whom I am condemned +for ever to live."</p> + +<p>"Oh, do not say for ever! Once released from this +place—"</p> + +<p>"What should I gain even then? The lost creatures +by whom I am surrounded are perfectly well acquainted +with my person, and, were I even to be set free, I am +exposed to the chance of meeting them again, and being +hailed as a prison associate; and even though the fact +of my imprisonment might be unknown, these unprincipled +beings would be for ever threatening me to divulge +it, thereby holding me completely in their power, by +bands too firm for me to hope to break; while, on the +other hand, had I been kept confined in my cell until +my trial, they would have known nothing of me, or I of +them; so that I should have escaped the fears which +may paralyse my best resolutions. And, besides, had I +been permitted to contemplate my fault in the solitude +of my cell, instead of decreasing in my eyes, its enormity +would have appeared still greater; and in the same +proportion would the expiation I proposed to make have +been augmented; and as my sin grew more and more +apparent to my unbiassed view, so also would my earnest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +determination to atone for it by every means my humble +sphere afforded have been strengthened; for well I know +it takes a hundred good deeds to efface the recollection +of one bad.</p> + +<p>"But how can I ever expect to turn my thoughts +towards expiating a crime which scarcely awakens in +me the smallest remorse? I tell you again—and I +feel what I say—that I seem acting under some irresistible +influence, against which I have long and fruitlessly +struggled. I was brought up for evil, and, alone, +friendless, and powerless to resist, I yield to my destiny. +What matters it whether that destiny be accomplished +by honest or dishonest means? Yet Heaven knows my +thoughts and intentions were ever pure and upright; +and I felt the greater satisfaction in the possession +of an unsullied reputation, from recollection of all the +attempts that had been made to lead me to a life of infamy; +and mine has been a course of infinite difficulty +while seeking to free myself from the odious wretches +who wished to degrade me, and render me as vile as +themselves.</p> + +<p>"But what avails my having been a person of unblemished +honour and unspotted reputation? What am I +now? Oh, dreadful, dreadful contrast!" exclaimed the +unhappy prisoner, in an agony of tears and sobs, which +drew a plenteous shower of sympathising drops from the +tender-hearted grisette, who, guided by her natural right-mindedness, +her woman's wit, as well as warmed by +her deep affection for Germain, clearly perceived that, +although as yet her protégé had lost none of the scrupulous +notions of honour and probity he had ever entertained, +yet that he spoke truly when he expressed his +dread that the day might come when he would behold +with guilty indifference those words and actions he now +shuddered even to think of.</p> + +<p>Drying her eyes, therefore, and addressing Germain, +who was still leaning his forehead against the grating,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +she said, in a voice and manner more touchingly serious +than Germain had ever before observed:</p> + +<p>"Listen to me, Germain! I shall not, perhaps, be +able to express myself as I could wish, for I am not a +good speaker like you, but what I do say is uttered in all +sincerity and truth; but first I must tell you you have +no right to call yourself alone and friendless."</p> + +<p>"Oh, think not I can ever forget all your generous +compassion has induced you to do to serve me!"</p> + +<p>"Just now, when you used the word pity, I did not +interrupt you; but now that you repeat the word, or at +least one quite as bad, I must tell you quite plainly that +I feel neither pity nor compassion for you, but quite a +different—Stay, I will try and explain myself as well +as I can. While we were next-door neighbours, I felt +for you all the regard due to one I esteemed as a friend +and brother. We mutually aided each other; you shared +with me all your Sunday amusements, and I did my very +best to look as well and be as gay and entertaining as I +could, in order to show how much I was gratified; so +there again we were quits."</p> + +<p>"Quits? Oh, no, no! I—"</p> + +<p>"Now, do hold your tongue, and let me speak! I'm +sure you have had all the talk to yourself this long +while. When you were obliged to quit the house we +lodged in, I felt more sorrow at your departure than I +had ever done before."</p> + +<p>"Is it possible?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed, for all the other persons who had lived +in your apartments were careless creatures, whom I did +not care a pin for; while you, from the very first of our +acquaintance, seemed just the sort of person I wanted to +be my neighbour, because you could understand that I +wished us to be good friends, and nothing more. Then +you were so ready to pass all your spare time with me, +teaching me to write, giving me good advice,—a little +serious, to be sure, but all the better for that. You were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +ever kind and good, yet never presumed upon it in any +way; and even when compelled to change your lodging, +you confided to me a secret you would not have trusted +to any one else,—the name of your new abode; and that +made me so proud and happy, to think you should have +so much reliance on the silence and friendship of a giddy +girl like myself. I used to think of you so constantly +that at last every other person seemed to be banished +from my recollection, and you alone to occupy my +memory. Pray don't turn away as if you did not +believe me. You know I always speak the truth."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, indeed, I can scarcely believe that you were +kind enough thus to remember me."</p> + +<p>"Oh, but I did, though; and I should have been very +ungrateful had I acted otherwise. Sometimes I used to +say to myself, 'M. Germain is the very nicest young +man I know, though he is rather too serious at times; +but never mind that. If I had a friend whom I wished +to be very, very happy when she was married, I certainly +should recommend her marrying M. Germain, who would +make just such a husband as a good wife deserves to +meet with.'"</p> + +<p>"You remembered me then, it seems, for the sake of +bestowing me on another," murmured poor Germain, +almost involuntarily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and I should have been delighted to have +helped you to obtain a good wife, because I felt a real +and friendly interest in your happiness. You see I speak +without any reserve; you know I never could disguise +my thoughts."</p> + +<p>"Well, I can but thank you for caring enough about +me even to wish to dispose of me in marriage to one of +your acquaintances."</p> + +<p>"This was the state of things when your troubles +came upon you, and you sent me that poor, dear letter +in which you acquainted me with what you styled your +fault, but which, to an ignorant mind like my own,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span> +seemed a noble and generous action. That letter +directed me to go and fetch away your papers, among +which I found the confession of your love for me,—a +love you had never ventured to reveal; and there, too," +continued Rigolette, unable longer to restrain her tears, +"I learned that, kindly considering my future prospects +(illness or want of employ might render so distressing), +you wished, in the event of your dying a violent death +(as your fears foretold might be the case), to secure to +me the trifle you had accumulated by industry and +care."</p> + +<p>"I did; and surely if, during my lifetime, you had +been overtaken by sickness or any other misfortune, you +would sooner have accepted assistance from me than +from any other living creature, would you not? I flattered +myself so, at least. Tell me, tell—I was right, +that to me you would have turned for succour and +support as to any true and devoted friend?"</p> + +<p>"Of course I should! Who else should I have +thought of in any hour of need or sorrow but you, M. +Germain?"</p> + +<p>"Thanks, thanks! Your words fall like healing drops +upon my heart, and console me for all I have suffered."</p> + +<p>"But how shall I attempt to describe to you what I +felt while reading that—oh, it is a dreadful word to +utter!—that will, each word of which breathed only +care and solicitude for my future welfare? And yet +these tender, touching proofs of your sincere regard +were to have been concealed from me till your death. +Surely it was not strange that conduct so generous and +delicate should at once have converted my feelings +towards you into those of an affection sincere and fervent +as your own for me. That is easily understood, is +it not, M. Germain?"</p> + +<p>The large dark eyes of Rigolette were fixed on Germain +with an expression so earnest and tender, her sweet +voice pronounced the simple confession of her love in a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +tone so touchingly true to nature, that Germain, who +had never for one instant flattered himself with having +awakened so warm an interest in the heart of the grisette, +gazed on her for an instant in utter inability to +believe the words he heard; then, as the bright beaming +look he encountered conveyed the truth to his mind, +his colour varied from deepest red to deadly pale, he +cried out in a voice quivering with emotion:</p> + +<p>"Can it be? Do I hear aright? Ah, repeat those +dear words that I may feel convinced of their reality."</p> + +<p>"Why should I hesitate to assure you again and +again that when I learned your kind consideration +for me, and remembered how miserable and wretched +you were, I no longer felt for you the calm feelings +of friendship? And certainly, M. Germain," added +Rigolette, smilingly, while a rosy blush mantled her +intelligent features, "if I had a friend now I wished +to see well married, I should be very sorry indeed to +recommend her choosing you, because, because—"</p> + +<p>"You would marry me yourself!" exclaimed the +delighted young man.</p> + +<p>"You compel me to tell you so myself, since you will +not ask it of me."</p> + +<p>"Can this be possible?"</p> + +<p>"It is not from not having put you in the direct path +more than once to make you understand. But you will +not take a hint, and so, sir, I am compelled to confess +the thing myself. It is wrong, perhaps; but, as there +is no one but yourself to reprove my boldness, I have +less fear; and then," added Rigolette, in a more serious +tone, and with tender emotion, "you just now appeared +to me so greatly overcome, so despairing, that I could +no longer repress my feelings; and I had vanity enough +to believe that this avowal, frankly made and from my +heart, would prevent you from being unhappy in future. +I said to myself, 'Until now I had been able to amuse +or comfort him—' Ah, <i>mon Dieu!</i> what is the matter?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> +exclaimed Rigolette, seeing Germain conceal his +face in his hands. "Is not this cruel?" she added; +"whatever I do, whatever I say, you are still as wretched +as ever, and that is being too unkind—too selfish; it +is as if it were you only who suffered from sorrows!"</p> + +<p>"Alas, what misery is mine!" exclaimed Germain, +with despair; "you love me when I am no longer +worthy of you."</p> + +<p>"Not worthy of me? Why, how can you talk so +absurdly? It is just as if I said that I was not formerly +worthy of your friendship because I had been in prison; +for, after all, I have been a prisoner also; but am I the +less an honest girl?"</p> + +<p>"But you were in prison because you were a poor +forsaken girl; whilst I—alas, what a difference!"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, as to prison, we shall neither of us ever +have anything to reproach each other with. It is I who +am the more ambitious of the two; for, in my position, +I have no right to think of any person but a workman +for my husband. I was a foundling, and have nothing +but my small apartment and my good spirits, and yet I +come and boldly offer myself to you as a wife."</p> + +<p>"Alas, formerly such a destiny would have been the +dream—the happiness of my life! But now I am under +the odium of an infamous accusation; and should I +take advantage of your excessive generosity, your +commiseration, which no doubt misleads you? No, no!"</p> + +<p>"But," exclaimed Rigolette, with pained impatience, +"I tell you that it is not pity I feel for you, it is love! +I think of you only; I no longer sleep or eat. Your sad +and gentle countenance follows me everywhere. Can +that be pity only? Now, when you speak to me, your +voice, your look, go to my very heart. There are a +thousand things in you now which please me, and which +I had not before marked. I like your face, I like your +eyes, your appearance, your disposition, your good heart. +Is that pity? Why, after having loved you as a friend,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +do I love you as a lover? I cannot say. Why was I +light and gay when I liked you as a friend? Why am I +quite a different being now I love you as a lover? I do +not know. Why have I been so slow in finding you at +once handsome and good,—in loving you at once with +eyes and heart? I cannot say—or rather, yes—I can; +it is because I have discovered how much you love me +without having told me of it,—how generous and devoted +you were. Then love mounted from my heart to my +eyes, as a tear does when the heart is softened."</p> + +<p>"Really, I seem to be in a dream when I hear you +speak thus!"</p> + +<p>"And I never could have believed that I could have +told you all this, but your despair has forced me to it. +Well, sir, now you know I love you as my friend, my +lover—as my husband! Will you still call it pity?"</p> + +<p>The generous scruples of Germain were overcome in +an instant before this plain and devoted confession, a +hopeful joy prevailed over his painful reflections.</p> + +<p>"You love me?" he cried; "I believe you; your +accent, your look,—everything proclaims it! I will +not ask how I have merited such happiness, but I abandon +myself to it blindly; my life, my whole life, will not +suffice to pay my debt to you! Oh, I have greatly +suffered already, but this moment effaces all!"</p> + +<p>"Then you will be comforted at last? Oh, I was +sure I should contrive to do so!" cried Rigolette, in a +transport of joy.</p> + +<p>"And it is in the midst of the horrors of a prison, +and when all conspires to overwhelm me, that such +happiness—"</p> + +<p>Germain could not conclude. This thought reminded +him of the reality of his position. His scruples, for a +moment lost sight of, returned more severe than ever, +and he said, with despair:</p> + +<p>"But I am a prisoner—I am accused of robbery; I +shall be sentenced—dishonoured, perhaps! And I cannot<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> +accept of your generous sacrifice—profit by your +noble excitement. Oh, no, no; I am not such a villain +as that!"</p> + +<p>"What do you say?"</p> + +<p>"I may be sentenced to several years' imprisonment."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Rigolette, with calmness and firmness, +"they shall see that I am an honest girl, and they will +not refuse to marry us in the prison chapel."</p> + +<p>"But I may be put in prison at a distance from Paris."</p> + +<p>"Once your wife, I will follow you and settle in the +city where you may be. I shall find work there, and +can see you every day."</p> + +<p>"But I shall be disgraced in the eyes of all."</p> + +<p>"You love me better than any one—don't you?"</p> + +<p>"Can you ask me such a question?"</p> + +<p>"Then of what consequence is it? So far from considering +you as disgraced in my eyes, I shall consider +you as the victim of your own kind heart."</p> + +<p>"But the world will accuse, condemn, calumniate +your choice."</p> + +<p>"The world! Are not you the world to me—I to +you? So let it say as it may!"</p> + +<p>"Well, quitting prison at length, my life will be precarious—miserable. +Repulsed on all sides, I may, perhaps, +find no employment, and then it is appalling to +think! But if this corruption which besets me should +seize on me in spite of myself, what a future for you!"</p> + +<p>"You will never grow corrupted. No; for now you +know that I love you, this thought will give you the +power of resisting bad examples. You will reflect that +if all repulse you when you quit your prison, your wife +will receive you with love and gratitude, assured, as she +will be, that you will still be an honest man. This language +astonishes you, does it not? It astonishes even +myself. I do not know whence I derive all I say to you; +from the bottom of my soul, assuredly—and that must +convince you! That is, if you do not reject an offer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +made you most unreservedly, if you do not desire to +reject the love of a poor girl who has only—"</p> + +<p>Germain interrupted Rigolette with impassioned voice:</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed—I do accept—I do accept! Yes, I feel +it. I am assured it is sometimes cowardly to refuse certain +sacrifices; it is to avow oneself unworthy of them. +I accept them, noble, brave girl!"</p> + +<p>"Really, really—are you really in earnest?"</p> + +<p>"I swear to you; and you have, too, said something +which greatly struck me, and gives me the courage I +want."</p> + +<p>"Delightful! And what did I say?"</p> + +<p>"That, for your sake, I should in future continue an +honest man. Yes, in this thought I shall find strength +to resist the detestable influences which surround me. I +shall brave contagion, and know how to keep worthy of +your love the heart which belongs to you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Germain, how happy I am! If I have ever +done anything for you, how you recompense me now!"</p> + +<p>"And then, observe, although you excuse my fault I +shall never forget it. My future task will be double: to +expiate the past and deserve the happiness I owe to you. +For that I will do my best, and, as poor as I may be, the +opportunity will not fail me, I am sure."</p> + +<p>"Alas! that is true; for we always find persons +more unfortunate than ourselves."</p> + +<p>"And if we have no money, why—"</p> + +<p>"We give our tears, as I did for the poor Morels."</p> + +<p>"And that is holy alms. 'Charity of the soul is quite +equal to that which bestows bread.'"</p> + +<p>"You accept, then, and will never retract?"</p> + +<p>"Never, never, my love—my wife! My courage returns +to me, and I seem as though awaking from a +dream, and no longer doubt myself. My heart would +not beat as it does if it had lost its noblest energies."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Germain, how you delight me in speaking so! +How you assure me, not for yourself but for myself. So +you will promise me, now you have my love to urge you +on, that you will no longer be afraid to speak to these +wicked men, so that you may not excite their anger +against you?"</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 319px;"><a name="image167" id="image167"></a> +<img src="images/i170.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt=""Touched with His Lips through the Grating" +Original Etching by Mercier" title=""Touched with His Lips through the Grating"" /> +<span class="caption">"<i>Touched with His Lips through the Grating</i>"<br /> +<span class="artist">Original Etching by Mercier</span></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Take courage! When they saw me sad and sorrowful, +they accused me, no doubt, of being a prey to my +remorse; but when they see me proud and joyous, +they will believe their pernicious example has gained on +me."</p> + +<p>"That's true; they will no longer suspect you, and my +mind will be easy. So mind, no rashness, no imprudence, +now you belong to me,—for I am your little +wife."</p> + +<p>At this moment the turnkey awoke.</p> + +<p>"Quick," said Rigolette, in a low voice, and with a +smile full of grace and modest tenderness, "quick, my +dear husband, and give me a loving kiss on my forehead +through the grating; that will be our betrothing." And +the young girl, blushing, bowed her forehead against the +iron trellis.</p> + +<p>Germain, deeply affected, touched with his lips through +the grating her pure and white forehead.</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>"Oh, oh! What, three o'clock already?" said the +turnkey; "and visitors ought to leave at two! Come, +my dear little girl," he added, addressing the grisette, +"it's a pity, but you must go."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thanks, thanks, sir, for having allowed us thus +to converse alone! I have given Germain courage, and +now he will look livelier, and need not fear his wicked +companions."</p> + +<p>"Make yourself easy," said Germain, with a smile; +"I shall in future be the gayest in the prison."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, and then they will no longer pay +any attention to you," said the guardian.</p> + +<p>"Here is a cravat I have brought for Germain, sir," +said Rigolette. "Must I leave it at the entrance?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Why, perhaps you should; but still it is such a very +small matter! So, to make the day complete, give him +your present yourself." And the turnkey opened the +door of the corridor.</p> + +<p>"This good man is right, and the day will be complete," +said Germain, receiving the cravat from Rigolette's +hands, which he pressed tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Adieu; and to our speedy meeting! Now I am no +longer afraid to ask you to come and see me as soon as +possible."</p> + +<p>"Nor I to promise you. Good-bye, dear Germain!"</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, my dear girl!"</p> + +<p>"Wear the cravat, for fear you should catch cold; +it is so damp!"</p> + +<p>"What a pretty cravat! And when I reflect that +you knitted it for me! Oh, I will never let it leave +me!" said Germain, pressing it to his lips.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, your spirits will revive, I hope! And +so good-bye, once more. Thank you, sir. And now I +go away, much happier and more assured. Good-bye, +Germain!"</p> + +<p>"Farewell, my dear little wife!"</p> + +<p>"Adieu!"</p> + +<p>A few minutes afterwards, Rigolette, having put on +her goloshes and taken her umbrella, left the prison +more joyfully than she had entered it. During the conversation +of Germain and the grisette, other scenes were +passing in one of the prison yards, to which we will now +conduct the reader.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER IX.</h3> + +<h5>THE LIONS' DEN.</h5> + + +<p>If the appearance of a house of confinement, constructed +with every attention to salubrity and humanity, +has nothing repulsive in its aspect, the sight of the prisoners +causes a very different feeling. At the sight of +the criminals who fill the gaols, we are at first seized +with a shudder of fear and horror. It is only after some +reflection that this is overcome, and feelings of pity +mixed with bitterness overcome us.</p> + +<p>To understand the feeling of horror and fear, our +reader must follow us to the Fosse aux Lions (the Lions' +Den), one of the yards in La Force so called. In this +are usually placed the most dangerous criminals, whose +ferocity, or the charges against whom, are most serious. +At this time they had been compelled to place there, +in consequence of the alterations making in the prison, +many other prisoners. These, although equally under +accusations and awaiting the assizes, were almost all respectable +persons in comparison with the usual occupants +of the Lions' Den. The sky, gloomy, gray, and rainy, +cast a dull light over the scene we are about to depict, +and which took place in the centre of the yard of considerable +extent, square, and enclosed by high white +walls, having here and there several grated windows.</p> + +<p>At one end of this yard was a narrow door with a +wicket; at the other end, at the entrance to the day-room, +a large apartment with a stove in the centre, surrounded +by wooden benches, on which were sitting and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +lying several prisoners conversing together. Others, preferring +exercise, were walking up and down the walks, +four or five in a row, arm in arm. It requires the +pencil of Salvator or Goya, in order to sketch the different +specimens of physical and moral ugliness, to render +in its hideous fantasy the variety of costumes worn by +these men, for the most part covered with squalid rags,—for +being only accused, <i>i. e.</i> supposed innocent, they +were not clad in the usual uniform of the central houses. +Some, however, wore it; for on their entrance into gaol, +their rags appeared so filthy and infected that, after +the usual washing and bath, they had the frock and +trousers of coarse gray cloth, as worn by the criminals, +assigned to them.</p> + +<p>A phrenologist would have observed attentively those +embrowned and weather-beaten countenances, those flat +or narrow foreheads, those cruel or crafty looks, the +wicked or stupid mouth, the enormous neck,—they +nearly all presented frightful resemblances to brutes. In +the cunning looks of one was seen the perfidious subtlety +of the fox, in another was the sanguinary rapacity of +the bird of prey, in a third, the ferocity of a tiger; +and, in all, the animal stupidity of the brute. We will +sketch one or two of the most striking physiognomies in +the Fosse aux Lions.</p> + +<p>Whilst the turnkey was watching his charge, a sort of +council was being held in the day-room. Amongst the +prisoners there assembled were Barbillon and Nicholas +Martial. The prisoner who appeared to preside and +lead in this debate was a scoundrel called the Skeleton, +whose name has been often mentioned by the Martial +family in the Isle du Ravageur. The Skeleton was +<i>prévôt</i>, or captain, of the day-room. This fellow was tall +and about forty years of age, fully justifying his sinister +nickname by a meagreness impossible to describe, +but which might almost be termed osteologic.</p> + +<p>If the countenance of the Skeleton presented more or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> +less analogy with that of the tiger, the vulture, or the +fox, the shape of his forehead, receding as it did, his +bony, flat, and lengthened jaws, supported by a neck of +disproportioned length, instantly reminded you of the +conformation of a serpent. Complete baldness increased +still more this hideous resemblance, for beneath the +corded skin of his forehead, nearly as flat as a reptile's, +might be distinguished the smallest protuberances, the +smallest sutures of his skull. His beardless face was +exactly like old parchment tightly distended over the +bones of his face, and only somewhat stretched from the +projection of the cheek-bone to the angle of the lower jaw, +the working of which was distinctly visible. His eyes, +small and lowering, were so deeply imbedded, and the +rim of his brow so prominent, that under his yellow brow, +when the light fell, were seen two orbits literally filled +with shadows; and, a little further on, the eyes seemed +to disappear in the depths of these two dark cavities, +these two black holes, which gave so sinister an aspect +to the skeleton head. His long teeth, whose alveolar +projections were to be accurately traced beneath the +tanned skin of his bony and flat jaws, were almost continually +developed by a habitual sneer.</p> + +<p>Although the stiffened muscles of this man were +almost reduced to tendons, he possessed extraordinary +strength, and the strongest resisted with difficulty the +grasp of his long arms, his long and lean fingers. He +had the formidable clutch of a skeleton of iron. He +wore a blue smock-frock, very short, and which exposed +(and he was vain of it) his knotted hands and half +his forearm, or rather two bones, the radius and the +ulna (this anatomy will be excused us), two bones enveloped +in a coarse and black skin, separated by a deep +groove, in which were some veins hard and dry as cords. +When he placed his hands on a table he seemed, as +Pique-Vinaigre justly remarked, as if he were spreading +out a game of knuckle-bones.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Skeleton, after having passed fifteen years of his +life at the galleys for an attempt at robbery and murder, +had broken his ban and been taken in the very act +of theft and murder. The last assassination had been +committed with circumstances of such ferocity that the +ruffian made up his mind, and with reason, that he should +be condemned to death. The influence which the Skeleton +exercised over the other prisoners, from his strength, +energy, and wickedness, had caused him to be chosen by +the director of the prison as <i>prévôt</i> of the dormitory,—that +is to say, the Skeleton was charged with the police +of the chamber as far as concerned its order, arrangement, +and the cleanliness of the room and the beds, a duty +which he discharged perfectly; and no prisoner dared +to fail in the cares and duties which he superintended. +The Skeleton was discoursing with several prisoners, +amongst whom were Barbillon and Nicholas Martial.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure of what you say?" inquired the +Skeleton of Martial.</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes,—a hundred times, yes! Father Micou +heard it from the Gros-Boiteux, who has already tried +to knock this hound on the head because he peached +about some one."</p> + +<p>"Then let's do for him,—brush him up!" said +Barbillon. The Skeleton was already inclined to give +that skulking Germain a turn of his hand.</p> + +<p>The <i>prévôt</i> took his pipe from his mouth for a moment, +and then said, in a tone so low and husky as +to be scarcely audible:</p> + +<p>"Germain kept aloof from us, gave himself airs, +watched us,—for the less one talks the more one +listens. We meant to get rid of him out of the Fosse +aux Lions, and if we had given him a quiet squeeze, +they'd have taken him away."</p> + +<p>"Well, then," inquired Nicholas, "what alteration +need there be now?"</p> + +<p>"This alteration," replied the Skeleton; "that if he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span> +has turned informer, as the Gros-Boiteux declares, he +mustn't get off with a quiet squeeze."</p> + +<p>"By no manner o' means!" said Barbillon.</p> + +<p>"We must make an example of him," continued the +Skeleton, warming as he went on. "It is not now +the nabs who look out for us, but the noses. Jacques +and Gauthier, who were guillotined the other day, were +informed against,—nosed; Rousillon, sent to the galleys +for life,—nosed."</p> + +<p>"And me, and my mother, and Calabash, and my +brother at Toulon," cried Nicholas; "have we not all +been nosed by Bras-Rouge? To be sure we have; +because, instead of shutting him up here with us, he +has been sent to La Roquette. They daren't put him +with us; he knew he had done us wrong, the old—"</p> + +<p>"Well," added Barbillon, "and didn't Bras-Rouge +nose upon me, too?"</p> + +<p>"And I, too," said a young prisoner, in a thin voice, +and lisping affectedly. "I was split upon by Jobert, +who had proposed to me a little affair in the Rue +St. Martin."</p> + +<p>The latter personage, with a fluty voice, pale, fat, and +effeminate face, and with a sly and treacherous glance, +was singularly attired. He wore as a head-dress a red +pocket-handkerchief, which exposed two locks of light +brown hair close to his temples; the two ends of his +handkerchief formed a projecting rosette over his forehead; +his cravat was a merino shawl, with a large pattern, +which crossed over his chest; his mulberry-coloured +waistcoat almost disappeared beneath the tight waistband +of a very large pair of trousers of plaid, with very +large and different-coloured checks.</p> + +<p>"And was not that shameful? Such a man to turn +against me!" he added, in his shrill voice. "Yet, really, +nothing in the world would have made me distrust +Jobert."</p> + +<p>"I know very well that he sold you, Javatte," replied<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span> +the Skeleton, who seemed to protect the prisoner peculiarly; +"and as a proof that they have done for thy +nose the same as they have done for Bras-Rouge, they +have not dared to leave Jobert here, but sent him to the +stone jug of the Conciergerie. Well, there must be an +end put to this! There must be an example; for traitors +are doing the work of the police, and believe themselves +safe in their skins because they are put in a different +prison from those on whom they have nosed."</p> + +<p>"That's true."</p> + +<p>"To prevent this, every prisoner should consider every +nose as his deadly enemy. Whether he informs against +Peter or James, here or there, that's nothing; fall on +him tooth and nail. When we have made cold meat of +four or five in the prisons, the others will think twice +before they turn 'snitch.'"</p> + +<p>"You're right, Skeleton," said Nicholas; "and let +Germain be number one."</p> + +<p>"And no mistake," replied the <i>prévôt</i>; "but let us +wait until the Gros-Boiteux arrives. When, for instance, +he has proved to all the world that Germain is a nose the +thing shall be settled out of hand; the calf shall bleat no +more, we'll stop his wind."</p> + +<p>"And what shall we do with the turnkeys who watch +us?" inquired the prisoner whom the Skeleton called +Javatte.</p> + +<p>"I have my plan, which Pique-Vinaigre will aid."</p> + +<p>"He! He's a coward."</p> + +<p>"And no stronger than a flea."</p> + +<p>"I'm awake. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"He had come out of the visiting-room, but went back +again to see his lawyer."</p> + +<p>"And is Germain still in the visiting-room?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, with the little wench who comes to see +him."</p> + +<p>"When he returns be on your guard. But we must +wait for Pique-Vinaigre, without him we can do nothing."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No?"</p> + +<p>"No."</p> + +<p>"And Germain shall be done for?"</p> + +<p>"I'll take care of that."</p> + +<p>"But with what? They have taken all our knives +away."</p> + +<p>"What do you think of these nippers, would you like +to have your neck in their clutch?" asked the Skeleton, +opening his long bony fingers, hard as iron.</p> + +<p>"You'll choke him?"</p> + +<p>"Decidedly."</p> + +<p>"But if they find out that it is you?"</p> + +<p>"Well, what if they do? Am I a calf with two +heads, such as they show at the fair?"</p> + +<p>"No, that's true; a man has but one throat, and +yours—"</p> + +<p>"Is sentenced; my lawyer told me so yesterday. I +was taken with my hand in the bag, and my knife in the +weasand of the stiff'un. I'm a 'return horse,' too; so +nothing can be more certain. I'll drop my head into +Charlot's (the headsman's) basket, and I shall see if it's +true that he does his customers, and puts sawdust into +his basket instead of the bran which government allows +us."</p> + +<p>"True, the guillotine has a right to its bran. Now, I +remember my father was robbed in the same way," said +Nicholas Martial, with a ferocious grin.</p> + +<p>This horrid jest created immense laughter amongst +the prisoners. This is fearful, but far from exaggeration; +we give but a faint idea of these conversations, so +common in prisons. The prisoners were all laughing +joyously.</p> + +<p>"Thousand thunders!" cried the Skeleton. "I wish +they who punish us would come and see how we bear it. +If they will come to the Barrière St. Jacques the day of +my benefit they will hear me address the audience in a +neat and appropriate speech, and say to Charlot, in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +a gentlemanly tone, 'Père Sampson, the cord if you +please.'"<a name="FNanchor_1_2" id="FNanchor_1_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_2" class="fnanchor">[1]</a></p> + +<div class="footnotes"> +<div class="footnote"><p><a name="Footnote_1_2" id="Footnote_1_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_2"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> To understand this horrid jest the English reader must know that the +doors in France are usually opened by the porter, who sits in his room and +pulls a cord to allow the person going out to have free egress; and the blade +of the guillotine glides down the grooves of the machine, after a spring has +been set in motion, by touching a cord that acts upon it.</p></div></div> + +<p>Fresh bursts of laughter hailed this jest.</p> + +<p>"And then Charlot opens the baker's (the devil's) +door," continued the Skeleton, still smoking his pipe.</p> + +<p>"Ah, bah! Is there a devil?"</p> + +<p>"You fool, I was only joking. There's a sharp blade, +and they put a head under it, and that's all. And now +that I know my road, and must stay at the abbey of +<i>Mont-à-Regret</i> (guillotine), I would rather go there +to-day than to-morrow," said the Skeleton, with savage +excitement. "I wish I was there now,—my blood +comes into my mouth when I think what a crowd there'll +be to see me; there'll be, at least, I should say, from +four to five thousand who will push and squeeze to get +good places, and they'll hire seats and windows, as if +for a grand procession. I hear 'em now crying, 'Seats +to let! Seats to let!' And then there'll be troops of +soldiers, cavalry and infantry, and all for me,—for the +Skeleton! That's enough to rouse a man if he was as +big a coward as Pique-Vinaigre, that would make you +walk like a hero. All eyes on you, and that makes a +fellow pluck up; then—'tis but a moment—a fellow +dies game, and that annoys the big-wigs and curs, and +gives the knowing ones pluck to face the chopper."</p> + +<p>"That's true, on Gospel!" added Barbillon, trying to +imitate the fearful audacity of the Skeleton; "they +think to make us funky when they set Charlot to work +to get his shop open at our expense."</p> + +<p>"Ah, bah!" said Nicholas, in his turn; "we laugh at +Charlot and his shop; it is like the prison or the galleys,—we +laugh at them, too; and so, that we may be all +friends together, let's be jolly as long as we can."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> + +<p>"The thing that would do us," said the shrill-voiced +prisoner, "would be to put us in solitary cells day and +night. They do say they mean to do so at last."</p> + +<p>"In solitary cells!" exclaimed the Skeleton, with +repressed rage; "don't talk of it! Solitary cell—alone! +Hold your tongue! I would rather have my +arms and legs cut off! Alone within four walls! +Quite alone—without having our pals to laugh with! +Oh, that will never be! I like the galleys a hundred +times better than the central prison, because at the +galleys, instead of being shut up, one is out-of-doors, +sees the world, people going and coming, and has his +jokes and fun. Well, I'd rather be done for at once +than be put in a solitary cell, if only for a year. Yes, +for at this moment I am sure to be guillotined—ain't +I? Well, if they said to me, 'Would you rather have a +year of solitary confinement?' I should hold out my +neck. A year all alone! Why, is it possible? What +do they suppose a man thinks of when he is alone?"</p> + +<p>"Suppose you were carried there by main force?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I wouldn't stay; I would make such use of +my hands and feet that I should escape," replied the +Skeleton.</p> + +<p>"But if you couldn't,—if you were unable to escape?"</p> + +<p>"Then I'd kill the first person who came near me, in +order to have my head chopped off."</p> + +<p>"But if, instead of sentencing such as us to death, +they condemned us to be in solitary confinement for +life?"</p> + +<p>The Skeleton appeared struck at this remark, and, +after a moment's silence, replied:</p> + +<p>"Why, then, I'll tell you what I should do,—I should +dash out my brains against the walls. I would starve +rather than be in a solitary cell. What, all alone! +all my life alone with myself,—and no chance of escape! +I tell you it is impossible. Well, you know, there's no +man more reckless than I am—I'd kill a man for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +dollar, and for nothing if my honour was concerned; +they believe I have only killed two persons, but if the +dead could tell tales there are five tongues could say +what I have done."</p> + +<p>The ruffian was boasting. The sanguinary declarations +are still another trait of the hardened criminals. +A governor of a prison said to us, "If the assassinations +boasted of by these scoundrels were really committed, +the population would be decimated."</p> + +<p>"And I, too," said Barbillon, desirous of bragging in +his turn; "they think I only silenced the husband of +the milk-woman in the Cité, but I did many others with +tall Robert, who suffered last year."</p> + +<p>"I was going to say," continued the Skeleton, "that +I fear neither fire nor devil. Well, if I were in a solitary +cell, and certain I could not escape,—thunder! I +believe I should be frightened!"</p> + +<p>"And so, if you had to begin your time over again as +prig and throttler, and if, instead of central houses, +galleys, and guillotine, there were only solitary cells, +you would hesitate before such a chance?"</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma foi!</i> I believe I really should!" replied the +Skeleton.</p> + +<p>And he said truly. It is impossible to describe the +vast terror which such ruffians experience at the very +idea of being in solitary confinement. And is not this +very terror an eloquent plea in favour of this punishment?</p> + +<hr style="width: 15%;" /> + +<p>An uproarious noise made by the prisoners in the +yard interrupted the Skeleton's council. Nicholas rose +hastily, and went to the door of the room to discover +the cause of this unusual tumult.</p> + +<p>"It is the Gros-Boiteux," said Nicholas, returning.</p> + +<p>"The Gros-Boiteux!" exclaimed the <i>prévôt</i>. "And +has Germain come down from the visiting-room?"</p> + +<p>"Not yet," replied Barbillon.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Then let him make haste," said the Skeleton, "and +I'll give him an order for a new coffin."</p> + +<p>The Gros-Boiteux, whose arrival was so warmly +hailed by the prisoners in the lions' den, and whose information +might be so fatal to Germain, was a man of +middle stature; but, in spite of being fat and crippled, +he was nimble and vigorous. His countenance, brutal +like that of most of his companions, was of the bulldog +character; his low forehead, his small yellow eyes, his +flaccid cheeks, his heavy jaws, the lower being very +projecting, and armed with long teeth, or, rather, broken +fangs, which in places projected beyond his lips, made +his resemblance to that animal the more striking. He +wore a felt cap, and over his clothes a blue cloak with a +fur collar.</p> + +<p>The Gros-Boiteux was accompanied into the prison +by a man about thirty years of age, whose tanned and +freckled face appeared less dissolute than that of the +other prisoners, although he affected to appear as dogged +as his companion. From time to time his features +became overcast, and he smiled bitterly. The Gros-Boiteux +soon found himself amongst his boon companions +and acquaintances, and he could scarcely reply +to the congratulations and kind words which came to +him from all sides.</p> + +<p>"What, is it you, old boy? All right! Now we +shall have some fun."</p> + +<p>"You haven't hurried yourself."</p> + +<p>"Still I have done all I could to see my friends again +as soon as possible, and it was no fault of mine if the +stone jug didn't claim me sooner."</p> + +<p>"Don't doubt you, old boy! And a man doesn't pick +out a gaol as his favourite residence; but once trapped +he does his best to be jolly."</p> + +<p>"And so we shall be, for Pique-Vinaigre is here."</p> + +<p>"Is he? What, one of the old customers of Melun? +Why, that's capital! For he'll help us to pass the time<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> +with his stories, and his customers will not fail him, for +there are more recruits coming in."</p> + +<p>"Who are they?"</p> + +<p>"Why, just now at the entrance, whilst I came in, I +saw two fresh chaps brought in; one I didn't know, but +the other, who wore a blue cotton cap and a gray blouse, +I have seen before somewhere. He is a powerful-looking +man, and I think I have met him at the Ogress's of +the White Rabbit."</p> + +<p>"I say, Gros-Boiteux, don't you remember at Melun I +bet you a wager that in less than a year you would be +nabbed again?"</p> + +<p>"To be sure I do, and you've won. But what are +you here for?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I was caught on the prigging lay—<i>à la Americaine</i>."</p> + +<p>"Ah, always in the same line."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I continue in my usual small way. The rig is +common, but there are always 'culls'; and but for the +stupidity of a pal I should not be here. However, +once caught twice warned; and when I begin again I +will be more careful,—I have my plan."</p> + +<p>"Ah, here's Cardillac!" said the Boiteux, going to a +little man wretchedly dressed, with ill-looking aspect, +full of craft and malignity, and with features partaking +of the wolf and fox. "Ah, old chap, how are you?"</p> + +<p>"Ah, old limper," replied the prisoner nicknamed +Cardillac to the Gros-Boiteux; "they said every day, +'He's coming—he's not coming!' But you are like +the pretty girls, you do as you like."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure."</p> + +<p>"Well," replied Cardillac, "is it for something spicy +that you are here now?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my dear fellow, I had done one or two good +things, but the last was a failure; it was an out-and-out-go, +and may still be done. Unfortunately, Frank and I +overshot the mark."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span></p> + +<p>And the Gros-Boiteux pointed to his companion, +towards whom all eyes now turned.</p> + +<p>"Ah, so it is—it's Frank!" said Cardillac; "I +didn't know him again because of his beard. What, +Franky! Why, I thought you'd turned honest, and was, +at least, mayor of your village."</p> + +<p>"I was an ass, and I've suffered for it," said Frank, +quickly; "but every sin has its repentance. I was good +once, and now I'm a prig for the rest of my days. Let +'em look out when I get out."</p> + +<p>"What happened to you, Frank?"</p> + +<p>"What happens to every free convict who is donkey +enough to think he can turn honest. Fate is just! +When I left Melun I'd saved nine hundred and odd francs."</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's true," said the Gros-Boiteux, "all his +misfortunes have come from his keeping his savings, +instead of spending 'em jolly when he left the 'jug.' +You see what repentance leads to!"</p> + +<p>"They sent me, <i>en surveillance</i>, to Etampes," replied +Frank; "being a locksmith by trade, I went to a master +in my line and said to him, 'I am a freed convict, I +know no one likes to employ such, but here are nine +hundred francs of my savings, give me work, my money +will be your guarantee, for I want to work and be +honest.'"</p> + +<p>"What a joke!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you'll see how it answered. I offered my savings +as a guarantee to the master locksmith that he +might give me work. 'I'm not a banker to take money +on interest,' says he to me, 'and I don't want any freed +convicts in my shop. I go to work in houses to open +doors where keys are lost, I have a confidential business, +and if it were known that I employed a freed convict +amongst my workmen I should lose my customers. +Good day, my man.'"</p> + +<p>"Wasn't that just what he deserved, Cardillac?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You simpleton!" said the Gros-Boiteux to Frank, +with a paternal air; "instead of breaking your ban at +once, and coming to Paris to melt your mopusses, so +that you might not have a sou left, but be compelled +to return to robbing. You see the end of your fine +ideas."</p> + +<p>"That's what you are always saying," said Frank, +with impatience; "it is true I was wrong not to spend +my 'tin,' for I have not even enjoyed it. Well, as there +were only four locksmiths in Etampes, he whom I had +first addressed had soon told all the others, and they said +to me as had said their fellow tradesman, 'No, thank ye.' +All sung the same song."</p> + +<p>"Only see, now, what it all comes to! You must see +that we are all marked for life."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I was on the idle of Etampes, and my +money melted and melted," continued Frank, "but no +work came. I left Etampes, in spite of my surveillance, +and came to Paris, where I found work immediately, for +my employer did not know who or what I was, and it's +no boast to say I am a first-rate workman. Well, I put +my seven hundred francs which I had remaining into an +agent's hands, who gave me a note for it; when that was +due he did not pay me, so I took my note to a <i>huissier</i>, +who brought an action against him, and recovered the +money, which I left in his hands, saying to myself there's +something for a rainy day. Well, just then I met the +Gros-Boiteux."</p> + +<p>"True. Well, Frank was a locksmith and made keys, +I had a job in which he could be of service, and I proposed +it to him. I had the prints, and he had only to +go to work, when, only imagine, he refused,—he meant +to turn honest. So, says I, I'll arrange about that, I'll +make him work, for his own interest. So I wrote a +letter, without any signature, to his master, and another +to his fellow workmen, to inform them that Frank was a +liberated convict,—so the master turned him away. He<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +went to another employer and worked there for a week,—same +game again; and if he had gone to a dozen I'd +have served him in the same way."</p> + +<p>"And if I had suspected that it was you who had +informed against me," answered Frank, "I'd have given +you a pleasant quarter of an hour to pass. Well, I was +at length driven away from my last employer as a scamp +only fit to be hanged. Work, then,—be respectable,—so +that people may say, not 'What are you doing?' but +'What have you done?' Once on the <i>pavé</i> I said, 'Fortunately +I have my savings to fall back upon.' So I went +to the <i>huissier</i>, but he had cut his stick, and spent my +'tin'; and here was I without a feather to fly with, not +even enough to pay for a week's lodging. What a +precious rage I was in! Well, at this moment comes +the Gros-Boiteux, and he took advantage of my situation. +I saw it was useless trying to be honest, and that once +on the prig there's no leaving it. But, old Gros, I owe +you a turn."</p> + +<p>"Come, Frank, no malice!" replied the Gros-Boiteux. +"Well, he did his part like a man, and we entered upon +the business, which promised royally; but, unfortunately, +at the moment when we opened our mouths to swallow +the dainty bit, the 'traps' were down upon us. Couldn't +be helped, you know, lad! If it wasn't for that, why, our +profession would be too good."</p> + +<p>"Yet if that vagabond of a <i>huissier</i> had not robbed me +I should not have been here," said Frank, with concentrated +rage.</p> + +<p>"Well, well," continued the Gros-Boiteux, "do you +mean to say that you were better off when you were +breaking your back with work?"</p> + +<p>"I was free," retorted Frank.</p> + +<p>"Yes, on Sundays and when you were out of work, +but the rest of the week you were tied up like a dog, and +never sure of employ. Why, you don't know when you +are well off."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Will you teach me?" said Frank, bitterly.</p> + +<p>"Well, you've a right to be vexed, for it was shameful +to miss such a good stroke; but it is still to be done in +a month or two. The people will become reassured, and +it is a rich, very rich house. I shall be sentenced for +breaking my ban, and so cannot resume the job, but if I +find an amateur I will hand it over to him a bargain. +My woman has the prints, and there is nothing to do but +make new keys, and with the information I can give it +must succeed. Why, there must be, at least, 400<i>l.</i> to +lay hands on, and that ought to console you, Frank."</p> + +<p>Frank shook his head, crossed his hands over his chest, +and made no reply.</p> + +<p>Cardillac took the Gros-Boiteux by the arms, led him +into a corner of the yard, and said to him, after a +moment's silence:</p> + +<p>"Is the affair you have failed in still good?"</p> + +<p>"In two months as good as new."</p> + +<p>"Can you prove it?"</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>"And what do you ask for it?"</p> + +<p>"A hundred francs as earnest; and I will give you +the word arranged with my woman, on which she will +hand you the prints, from which you can make the false +keys. And, moreover, if the thing comes off, I shall +expect a fifth share of the swag to be handed over to my +woman."</p> + +<p>"That's not unreasonable."</p> + +<p>"As I shall know to whom she has given the prints, +if I am done out of my share I shall know whom to +inform against."</p> + +<p>"And very right, too, if you were choused; but +amongst prigs and cracksmen there's honour,—we +must rely on each other, or all business would be +impossible."</p> + +<p>Another anomaly in this horrid existence. This villain +spoke the truth. It is very seldom that thieves fail<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +in their faith in such arrangements as these, but they +usually act with a kind of good faith,—or, rather, that +we may not prostitute the word, we will say that +necessity compels these ruffians to keep their words; +for if they failed, as the companion of the Gros-Boiteux +said, "All business would be impossible." A great +number of robberies are arranged, bought, and plotted +in this way in gaol,—another pernicious result of +confinement in common.</p> + +<p>"If what you say is sure," continued Cardillac, "I can +agree for the job. There are no proofs against me, I am +sure to be acquitted, and in a fortnight I shall be out; +let us add three weeks in order to turn oneself about, to +get the false keys, and lay our plans, and then in six +weeks from this—"</p> + +<p>"You'll go to the job in the very nick of time."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, it's a bargain."</p> + +<p>"But how about the earnest? I must have something +down."</p> + +<p>"Here is my last button, and when I have no more,—yet +there are others left," said Cardillac, tearing off +a button covered with cloth from his ragged blue coat, +and then tearing off the covering with his nails, he +showed the Gros-Boiteux that, instead of a button-mould, +it contained a piece of forty francs. "You +see I can pay deposit," he added, "when the affair is +arranged."</p> + +<p>"That's the ticket, old fellow!" said the Gros-Boiteux. +"And as you are soon going out, and have got rhino to +work with, I can put you up to another thing,—a real +good go,—the cheese,—a regular affair which my +woman and myself have been cooking up, and which +only wants the finishing stroke. Only imagine a lone +street in a deserted quarter, a ground floor, looking on +one side into an obscure alley, and on the other a +garden, and here two old people, who go to roost with +the cocks and hens since the riots, and, for fear of being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span> +robbed, they have concealed behind a panel, in a pot of +preserves, a quantity of gold; my woman found it out +by gossiping with the servant. But I tell you this will +be a dearer job than t'other, for it is in hard cash, and +all cooked ready to eat and drink."</p> + +<p>"We'll arrange it, be assured. But you haven't +worked over well since you left the central."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have had a pretty fair chance. I got together +some trifles which brought me nearly sixty pounds. One +of my best bites was a pull at two women who lodged +in the same house with me in the Passage de la +Brasserie."</p> + +<p>"What, at Daddy Micou's?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"And your Josephine?"</p> + +<p>"Just the same; a real ferret as ever. She cooks +with the old couple I have mentioned to you, and so +smelt out the pot with the golden honey in it."</p> + +<p>"She's nothing but a trump!"</p> + +<p>"I flatter myself she is. But, talking of trumps, you +know the Chouette?"</p> + +<p>"Yes; Nicholas has told me the Schoolmaster did for +her, and he has gone mad."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps from losing his sight through some accident. +But I say, old fellow, it's quite understood that +you will buy my two bargains, and so I shall not speak +to any one else."</p> + +<p>"Don't; and we will talk them over this evening."</p> + +<p>"Well, and how are you getting on here?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, we laugh and play the fool."</p> + +<p>"Who's <i>prévôt</i> of the chamber?"</p> + +<p>"The Skeleton."</p> + +<p>"He's not to be joked with. I have seen him at +Martial's, in the Isle du Ravageur. We had a flare-up +with Josephine and La Boulotte."</p> + +<p>"By the way, Nicholas is here."</p> + +<p>"So Micou told me when he made a lament that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span> +Nicholas was putting the screw on—an old hunks! +Why, what else were receivers made for?"</p> + +<p>"Here is the Skeleton," said Cardillac, as the <i>prévôt</i> +appeared at the door of the room.</p> + +<p>"Young 'un, come forward," said the Skeleton to the +Gros-Boiteux.</p> + +<p>"Here I am," he replied, going into the apartment, +accompanied by Frank, whose arm he held.</p> + +<p>During the conversation between the Gros-Boiteux, +Frank, and Cardillac, Barbillon had been, by order of +the <i>prévôt</i>, to select twelve or fifteen of the choicest +prisoners, who (in order to avoid the suspicions of the +turnkey) had come separately into the day-room. The +other <i>détenus</i> had remained in the yard, and some of +them, by Barbillon's advice, had appeared to be disputing, +in order to take off the attention of the turnkey +from the room in which were now assembled the Skeleton, +Barbillon, Nicholas, Frank, Cardillac, the Gros-Boiteux, +and some fifteen other prisoners, all awaiting +with impatient curiosity until the <i>prévôt</i> should open the +business.</p> + +<p>Barbillon, charged with the look-out, placed himself +near the door. The Skeleton, taking his pipe from his +mouth, said to the Gros-Boiteux:</p> + +<p>"Do you know a slim young man named Germain, +with blue eyes, brown hair, and the look of a +noodle?"</p> + +<p>"What! Is Germain here?" inquired the Gros-Boiteux, +with surprise, hate, and anger in his looks.</p> + +<p>"What, then, you know him?" said the Skeleton.</p> + +<p>"Know him?" replied the Gros-Boiteux. "Why, my +lads, I denounce him as a nose, and he must be +punished!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes!" replied the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure it was he who informed against you?" +asked Frank; "suppose it was a mistake,—we mustn't +ill-use a man who's innocent."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>This remark was displeasing to the Skeleton, who +leaned over to the Gros-Boiteux, and said in his ear:</p> + +<p>"Who is this man?"</p> + +<p>"One with whom I have worked."</p> + +<p>"Are you sure?"</p> + +<p>"Yes—but he hasn't gull enough—too much treacle +in him."</p> + +<p>"Good, I'll keep an eye on him."</p> + +<p>"Tell us how Germain turned nose," said a prisoner.</p> + +<p>"Yes, let us know all about it, Gros-Boiteux," continued +the Skeleton, who did not take his eyes off Frank.</p> + +<p>"Well, then," said Gros-Boiteux, "a man of Nantes, +named Velu, a freed convict, brought up the young +fellow, whose birth no one is acquainted with. When +he had reached the proper age they put him into a banking-house +at Nantes, thinking they had put a wolf to +watch the money-box, and make use of Germain to do a +bold and great stroke which had been meditated for a +very long time. There were to be two <i>coups</i>, a forgery +and a dip into the strong chest at the bank, something +like a hundred and fifty thousand francs. All was +arranged, and Velu relied on the young fellow as on +himself, for the chap slept in the room in which the iron +safe was. Velu told him his plans; Germain neither +says yes or no, but reveals all to his employer, and the +very same evening cuts his stick and mizzles to Paris."</p> + +<p>The prisoners burst into various murmurs of indignation +and threats.</p> + +<p>"He's a spy—nose—informer!—and we'll have +the bones out of his body!"</p> + +<p>"If it's agreeable, I'll seek a quarrel with him, and +settle his hash!"</p> + +<p>"Silence in the stone jug!" exclaimed the Skeleton, +in a tone of command.</p> + +<p>The prisoners were silent.</p> + +<p>"Go on," said the <i>prévôt</i> to Gros-Boiteux, and he went +on smoking.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Believing that Germain had consented, and relying +on his assistance, Velu and two of his friends attempted +the job that same night. The banker was on the watch; +one of Velu's friends was taken as he was entering a +window, he himself escaping with difficulty. He reached +Paris enraged at having been sold by Germain, and +foiled in a splendid affair. One fine day he met the +young fellow; it was in the open daylight, and he didn't +dare do anything, but he followed him, found out where +he lived, and one night we two, Velu and little Ledru, +fell on Germain. Unfortunately he escaped, and then +changed his residence in the Rue du Temple, where he +lived; we were unable to find him afterwards. But if he +is here, I demand—"</p> + +<p>"You have nothing to demand," said the Skeleton, in +a tone of authority.</p> + +<p>The Gros-Boiteux was instantly silent.</p> + +<p>"I take the bargain off your hands; you will concede +to me Germain's skin, and I'll flay him alive. I am +not called the Skeleton for nothing. I am dead-alive, +my grave is dug, and I run no risk in working for the +stone jug. The informers destroy us faster than the +police; they put noses of La Force into La Roquette, +and the noses of La Roquette in the Conciergerie, and +they think themselves safe. Now, mind you, when each +prison shall have killed its informer, no matter when +he may have informed, that will take away the others' +appetite. I will set the example, and let others follow +it."</p> + +<p>All the prisoners, admiring the Skeleton's resolution, +closed around him. Barbillon himself, instead of remaining +near the door, joined the group, and did not perceive +another prisoner, who had entered the room. This +individual, clothed in a gray blouse, and wearing a blue +cotton cap with a red worsted border, pulled down over +his eyes, started as he heard the name of Germain mentioned, +and then, mingling with the Skeleton's admirers,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +gave out loud tones of approbation at the deadly +determination of the <i>prévôt</i>.</p> + +<p>"What an out-and-outer the Skeleton is!" said one.</p> + +<p>"The devil himself is a fool to him!"</p> + +<p>"This here's what I call a man!"</p> + +<p>"If all were like him, wouldn't the flats be afeard?"</p> + +<p>"He'll do a real service to the stone jug, and when +they see this, the noses will look blue."</p> + +<p>"And no mistake!"</p> + +<p>"And since the Skeleton is safe to suffer, why, it'll +cost him nothing to put a nose out of joint!"</p> + +<p>"Well, I think it's too bad," said Frank, "to kill the +young chap."</p> + +<p>"Why? Why?" exclaimed the Skeleton, in a savage +tone; "no one has a right to protect a traitor."</p> + +<p>"Yes, to be sure, he is a traitor,—so much the worse +for him," said Frank, after a moment's reflection.</p> + +<p>These latter words, and Gros-Boiteux's assurance, put +the doubts which the other prisoners had entertained +against Frank to rest.</p> + +<p>The Skeleton alone continued to mistrust him.</p> + +<p>"And what are we to do with the turnkey? Tell us, +Dead-Alive, for that is your name as well as the Skeleton," +said Nicholas, with a grin.</p> + +<p>"We must draw off his attention somehow."</p> + +<p>"No; we'll hold him down by main force."</p> + +<p>"Yes!"</p> + +<p>"No!"</p> + +<p>"Silence in the stone jug!" said the Skeleton.</p> + +<p>There was complete silence.</p> + +<p>"Listen to me!" said the <i>prévôt</i>, in his hoarse voice. +"There is no means of doing the thing so long as the +turnkey remains in the day-room or the walking-yard. +I have no knife, and there must be a few groans, for the +sneak will struggle."</p> + +<p>"Well, what then?"</p> + +<p>"Why, this. Pique-Vinaigre has promised to tell us<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> +to-day after dinner his story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' +It rains, and we shall all come here, and the sneak +will come and sit down there in the corner, as he always +does. We'll give Pique-Vinaigre some sous that he may +begin his tale. It will be dinner-time in the gaol; the +turnkey will see us quietly employed in listening to the +miraculous mystery of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,' and +will, suspecting no harm, make off to the tap. As soon +as he has left the yard we shall have a quarter of an +hour to ourselves, and the nose will be cold meat before +the turnkey can return. I will undertake it,—I who +have done for stouter fellows in my day; and mind, I'll +have no assistance!"</p> + +<p>"Mind your eye!" cried Cardillac; "and what about +the <i>huissier</i> who will always come for a gossip amongst +us at dinner-time? If he comes into the room to listen +to Pique-Vinaigre, and sees Germain done for, he will +cry out for help. He's not one of us, the <i>huissier</i>,—he's +in a private cell, and we should mistrust him."</p> + +<p>"Is there a <i>huissier</i> here?" said Frank, the victim as +we know of a breach of trust, by Maître Boulard. "Is +there a <i>huissier</i> here?" he repeated, with astonishment, +"and what is his name?"</p> + +<p>"Boulard," replied Cardillac.</p> + +<p>"The very man! The identical villain!" cried Frank, +clenching his fists. "It is he who has stolen my savings!"</p> + +<p>"The <i>huissier?</i>" inquired the <i>prévôt</i>.</p> + +<p>"Yes, seven hundred francs of mine."</p> + +<p>"You know him? And has he seen you?" inquired +the Skeleton.</p> + +<p>"I have seen him, worse luck! But for him I should +not be here."</p> + +<p>These regrets sounded ill in the Skeleton's ears, and +he fixed his malignant eyes steadfastly on Frank, who +replied to several of his comrade's questions. Then +stooping towards the Gros-Boiteux, he said, in a low +voice:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is a fresh 'un who might tell the turnkey."</p> + +<p>"No, I'll answer for his not informing against any +one; yet still he has his scruples about going the whole +hog, and he might aid Germain in defending himself. +It would be best to get him out of the yard."</p> + +<p>"I'll do it," said the Skeleton; and then aloud he +said, "I say, Frank, won't you pitch into this thief of a +lawyer?"</p> + +<p>"Won't I, that's all!"</p> + +<p>"Well, he's coming, and so look out."</p> + +<p>"I'm ready, and he shall bear my marks!"</p> + +<p>"We shall have a row, and they will send the <i>huissier</i> +to his room and Frank to the black-hole," said the +Skeleton, in an undertone, to the Gros-Boiteux; "we +shall thus get rid of both."</p> + +<p>"What a lucky pitch! Why, this Skeleton is a prime +minister!" said the Boiteux, admiringly; and then he +added, in a loud tone, "I say, shall we tell Pique-Vinaigre +that we shall avail ourselves of his history to +come over the turnkey and throttle the sneak?"</p> + +<p>"By no means; Pique-Vinaigre is too soft and too +cowardly. If he was up to the thing he wouldn't tell +the story, but when the job is done and over he'll bear +his share."</p> + +<p>The dinner-bell sounded at this moment.</p> + +<p>"To your puddings, dogs!" said the Skeleton; "Pique-Vinaigre +and Germain will soon be in the yard. Now +mind your eyes, my boys! They call me Dead-Alive, +but the sneak is also dead-alive!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER X.</h3> + +<h5>THE STORY-TELLER.</h5> + + +<p>The new prisoner of whom we have spoken, and who +was dressed in a gray blouse, with a cotton cap on +his head, had attentively listened to and energetically +applauded the scheme for punishing the reserve of Germain, +even at the expense of his life. This individual, +whose form betokened strength and power of no ordinary +description, quitted the day-room with the rest of +the prisoners without being noticed, and soon mingled +with the different groups assembled in the courtyard +to receive their rations, crowding around the persons +employed in the distribution like so many hungry +cormorants.</p> + +<p>Each prisoner received a piece of the meat employed +in making the day's soup, with about half a loaf of tolerably +good bread. Such of the <i>détenus</i> as possessed +the means were allowed to purchase drink at the wineshop +belonging to the prison, and even to go thither to +regale themselves with their lush; while persons who, +like Nicholas, had received provisions from their friends, +generally made a sort of feast, to which they invited +their most intimate acquaintances. The guests selected +by the son of the executed felon upon the present occasion +were the Skeleton, Barbillon, and, at the suggestion +of the latter, Pique-Vinaigre, in order that good +eating and drinking might quicken his talent for "storytelling."</p> + +<p>The ham, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and delicate white<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span> +bread, wrung from the forced generosity of Micou the +receiver, were arranged most temptingly on a bench in +the day-room, and the Skeleton prepared himself to do +ample justice to the repast, without in the slightest +degree disturbing his appetite by the thoughts of the +cold-blooded murder that was to follow it.</p> + +<p>"Just go and see whether Pique-Vinaigre is coming, +will you, my fine fellow?" cried he, addressing an +individual who stood near him. "I tell you what it is, +while I'm waiting to choke that stuck-up young fool +they call Germain, I'm blowed if hunger and thirst +won't choke me, if I have to dawdle about much longer. +And here; don't forget to work old Frank up to do for +the bum-bailiff, so that we may kill two birds with one +stone, as the saying is."</p> + +<p>"Don't you be afraid, old Dead-Alive! If Frank don't +make a stiff'un of the bailey, it won't be our fault, that +you may take your oath of!" And, while uttering +these words, Nicholas went forth from the day-room.</p> + +<p>At this moment Maître Boulard entered the yard, +smoking a cigar, his hands buried in the pockets of +his gray duffle dressing-gown, his peaked cap pulled +down well over his ears, and a look of chuckling satisfaction +upon his fat, full-blown countenance. He quickly +espied Nicholas, who was busily occupied gazing around +in search of Frank. That person was at that precise +period of time busily occupied, in company with his +friend Gros-Boiteux, in eating his dinner, and, from the +position in which they sat on one of the benches, they +perceived not the presence of the bailiff. Acting in +implicit obedience to the directions given him by the +Skeleton, directly Nicholas, from the corner of his eye, +descried the approach of Maître Boulard, he feigned +entire ignorance of his vicinity, but made for the place +where Frank and his companions were seated.</p> + +<p>"How are you, my ticket?" inquired the bailiff of +Nicholas.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Bless me!" answered he; "I declare I didn't see +you. I suppose you're like me, come out to take a sniff +of fresh air and have your daily walk?"</p> + +<p>"Why, that's about it. But I happen to have more +reasons than one to-day; and I tell you how it is. But, +first of all, catch hold of one of these cigars; they're +deuced good ones. Come, don't be so missy and shy +about it; take as many as you like. Hang it all, when +men are shut up together in a place like this, they +oughtn't to be stingy."</p> + +<p>"You are very good, and so are your cigars. But +you were saying you had several reasons for walking +out to-day?"</p> + +<p>"Well, and so I have. First and foremost, I don't +feel as hungry as usual; so, thinks I, I'll go and look +on while those chaps eat their dinner. Who knows +but the sight of their jaws all working away together +may screw me up a bit, and give me a relish against +feeding-time?"</p> + +<p>"A famous idea!" said Nicholas. "But if you +really do want to see a couple of feeders, just draw +this way. There!" added he, pointing to the bench on +which Frank was sitting; "what do you think of a pair +of grubbers like those? I should say we were better +behind than before them, or they might even swallow +us instead of those huge lumps of bread and cheese +and onions so rapidly stowed away in their capacious +jaws."</p> + +<p>"Let's have a look at them!" said Maître Boulard.</p> + +<p>"Well, to be sure!" cried Nicholas, with feigned +surprise; "I declare one of them is Gros-Boiteux!"</p> + +<p>Gros-Boiteux and Frank both turned around at these +words. Stupefied and speechless, the bailiff continued +to gaze in utter amazement at the man he had so +wronged, while, starting up with a sudden spring, +Frank threw down the morsel he had been eating, and +darting on Maître Boulard, he seized him by the throat,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +exclaiming, "My money—my money; give me my +money!"</p> + +<p>"Hallo! Who are you? What do you mean? +Hands off, or you'll strangle me! I—"</p> + +<p>"My money, I say!"</p> + +<p>"My good man, only calm yourself and listen to +reason!"</p> + +<p>"No, not till you give me back my money. What, +aren't you satisfied with having brought me here? Can +you not restore me what you stole from me?"</p> + +<p>"But I—I—I—never—"</p> + +<p>"I tell you again, if I get sent to the galleys 'tis all +along of you; for had you not taken my little all from +me, I should not have been driven to the necessity of +robbing others; I might have lived and died an honest +man. You may be acquitted, you may escape the +punishment you deserve, but, at least, you shall carry +my marks away with you. Ha, ha! You can come it +grand, and swagger about here dressed up with your +gold chains and trinkets, bought, no doubt, with the +money of other poor devils who have been cheated by +you as I have been. Take that for your pains—and +that—that—and that! Now, have you had enough? +No! Then here's for you again!"</p> + +<p>"Help, help!" screamed the bailiff, as he rolled on +the ground at Frank's feet, while his infuriated antagonist +continued to belabour him with all his force.</p> + +<p>The rest of the prisoners took little or no interest in +this affray, but contented themselves with forming a +circle around the two combatants, or rather the assailant +and the assailed; for Maître Boulard, frightened and +out of breath, made not the slightest resistance, but +contented himself with warding off his adversary's blows +as well as he could. Fortunately, the repeated cries of +the poor maltreated bailiff reached the ears of one of the +superintending officers, by whose intervention he was +rescued from the rough hands of Frank. Pale, terrified,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> +and almost speechless with terror, Maître Boulard arose. +One eye was wholly closed by the severe beating he had +received, and without giving himself time to pick up his +cap, he wildly cried, as he rushed towards the officer:</p> + +<p>"Open the door! Let me out—let me out! I can't +and I won't stay here another minute. Help, here! +Help, help!"</p> + +<p>"As for you," exclaimed the officer, grasping Frank +by the collar, "do you come along with me before the +governor. I know you'll catch it, too, for fighting; two +days in the black-hole is the very least you'll get, I +promise you."</p> + +<p>"I've paid him off, at any rate," returned Frank; +"and I don't care for the rest."</p> + +<p>"I say," whispered Gros-Boiteux, while affecting to +be merely helping to arrange his dress, "I say, you +won't breathe a word of what's going to happen to the +sneak, of course?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be afraid; 'tis just likely, had I been by, +I might have stood up in his defence, because to kill a +man in that manner is—hard—at least—and for +such a trifle! But as for telling of it, or betraying you +all—oh, no!"</p> + +<p>"Now, then," called out the officer, "I say, are you +coming or are you not?"</p> + +<p>"That's all right!" said Nicholas. "We've got well +rid of Frank and the bailiff, now let's go to work without +further loss of time upon the sneak!"</p> + +<p>As Frank was being led from the prison yard, +Germain and Pique-Vinaigre entered it. It was scarcely +possible to recognise Germain, for his hitherto melancholy +and dejected countenance was radiant with joy +and exulting happiness. He walked proudly erect, +casting around him a look of certain and assured +content; he knew himself to be beloved, and with that +consciousness all the horrors of his prison seemed to +disappear. Pique-Vinaigre followed him with a timid,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> +confused air, and, after much hesitation, at length +plucked up sufficient courage to venture to address +Germain, whose arm he gently touched, ere the intended +victim had reached the group of prisoners, who, from +a distance, were examining him with looks of deadly +hatred. Spite of himself, Germain shuddered at thus +being brought into contact with a person of Pique-Vinaigre's +appearance, whose wretched person and +ragged attire were ill-calculated to impress any one +with a favourable opinion of him; but recollecting the +earnest advice of Rigolette, and feeling altogether too +happy himself to act with any want of benevolence, +Germain stopped, and said to Pique-Vinaigre, in a gentle +tone of voice:</p> + +<p>"What do you want with me, my friend?"</p> + +<p>"I want to thank you."</p> + +<p>"For what?"</p> + +<p>"For the kindness shown to my sister by the pretty +young woman who visited you to-day."</p> + +<p>"I really do not understand you," said Germain, +much surprised.</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I'll try and make you. Just now, when +I was in the lodge of the prison, I saw the man who was +on duty in the visitors' room a little while ago."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, a very good-hearted sort of man, too. I +recollect him well."</p> + +<p>"It is not often you can apply that term to the gaolers +of a prison, but the man I mean (Rousel is his name) is +really deserving of being styled a kind, good-hearted +man. So, all of a sudden, he whispers in my ear, 'I +say, Pique-Vinaigre, my lad,' he says, 'do you know +M. Germain?' 'Yes,' says I, 'I do,' says I; 'he's the +<i>bête noire</i> of the prison yard.'" Then suddenly interrupting +himself, Pique-Vinaigre said to Germain, "I +beg your pardon for calling you a <i>bête noire</i>. Don't, +think anything of that, but listen to the end of my +story."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm listening; go on."</p> + +<p>"'Yes,' says I, 'I know who you mean very well,' says +I. 'You mean M. Germain, the <i>bête noire</i> of the prison +yard.' 'And of you, too, I suppose?' said the officer, +in a severe and serious manner. 'Oh, bless you,' says +I, 'I am too good-natured, as well as too much of a +coward, to venture to call any one disagreeable; and +less M. Germain than any one else,' says I, 'for I don't +see any harm in him, and other folks appear to me very +cruel and unjust towards him.' 'That's all right, then,' +answers the officer; 'and I can tell you that you are +bound to side with M. Germain, for he has been very +kind to you,' he says. 'To me?' says I; 'how do you +mean?' 'Well,' he answers, 'I don't mean M. Germain +exactly, and it ain't to you altogether he's been +kind; but still, for all that,' says Rousel, 'you are +bound to show him your gratitude.'"</p> + +<p>"Try," said Germain, smilingly, "and make me +understand what it is you do mean."</p> + +<p>"That's precisely what I said to the officer. 'Speak +more clearly,' I says. So then he makes answer, 'Why, +it was not M. Germain, but the very pretty young person +that was here just now to see him, who loaded your +sister with all sorts of kindnesses. She overheard the +poor thing telling you all her troubles; and directly as +the creature went out, the charming young woman as +come visiting to M. Germain went and offered to serve +her in every way she could.'"</p> + +<p>"Dear, good Rigolette!" murmured Germain, deeply +affected by this little incident; "she said not one word +to me of all this."</p> + +<p>"'Well, to be sure!' I says to the officer; 'what a +poor stupid goose I am!' 'You are quite right—you +are!' M. Germain—leastways, his friend—has been +good to me,—that is to say to my sister Jeanne, which +is the same thing, only much more than if the favour +had been done to myself."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Poor, dear Rigolette!" said Germain; "ever the +same tender, compassionate, generous-hearted creature!"</p> + +<p>"So then the officer goes on to say how he heard all +that passed between your nice young woman and my poor +sister Jeanne. 'And now,' he says, 'Pique-Vinaigre, +that you are aware of the fact, if you don't try to +show kindness by every means in your power to M. Germain, +and more especially, if you should know of any +plot got up against him and not warn him of it, why,' +he says, 'Pique-Vinaigre, you would be a regular scamp +and a blackguard.' 'I tell you what,' I makes answer +and says, 'I'm an unfinished scamp as yet, but I'm no +blackguard, and, what's more, I never will be worse +than I am, for the sake of my poor dear Jeanne and +her children; and so because M. Germain's friend has +taken notice of my Jeanne, who is one of the best and +worthiest creatures that ever lived,—I may venture to +boast of my sister, though I am ashamed of myself, but +for that reason I will do all in my power to save or +serve M. Germain; unfortunately, I can do but little, +after all!' 'Never mind! Do your best; that is all I +ask of you. But I will give you the pleasure of being +the pleasing bearer of news to M. Germain, which, indeed, +I have only just learned myself.'"</p> + +<p>"What is it?" inquired Germain.</p> + +<p>"That to-morrow morning there will be a vacant +chamber you can have for paying for, then you will be +all to yourself. The officer desired me to tell you so."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" exclaimed Germain; "how truly glad I +am to hear it! That worthy man was right in saying +you would be the bearer of pleasant news."</p> + +<p>"Well, I do think so myself; for it is quite easy to +perceive that you do not feel comfortable among such +poor wretches as we are." Then suddenly breaking off, +Pique-Vinaigre hastily added, in a low whisper, while +feigning to stoop, as though searching for something he +had dropped, "Hark ye, M. Germain, the prisoners are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +all looking at us, wondering what we are talking about. +I must go. But be on your guard; and if any one +tries to quarrel with you, don't make any answer; they +want a pretext for all attacking you at once. Barbillon +is the one chosen to provoke you, so take especial care +of him. I will try and turn the attention of the others +from being directed towards you in a spiteful manner." +And, with these words, Pique-Vinaigre rose up from his +stooping position, with the air of one who had found the +object of his search.</p> + +<p>"Thanks, my good fellow!" said Germain, eagerly, +as he separated from his companion; "rely on my prudence!"</p> + +<p>Only that morning aware of the plot against Germain, +which, as far as he knew, consisted merely in an intention +of involving him in some affray which should compel +the governor of the prison to remove him to some +other yard in the building, Pique-Vinaigre was not only +ignorant of the murderous designs so recently projected +by the Skeleton, but equally so that the conspirators +intended to avail themselves of his recital of "Gringalet +and Cut-in-Half" to deceive the vigilance of the officer +on duty, as well as to beguile his attention from what +was going on.</p> + +<p>"Come on, old Make-believe!" said Nicholas to +Pique-Vinaigre, as he advanced to meet him. "Throw +away that lump of dog's-meat you have got in your +hand; we have got a regular feast among us, and you +are invited to it!"</p> + +<p>"A feast? La, how nice! What, out of the Panier +Fleuri, or the Petit Ramponneau?—tell us which it is! +But they are both such nice places, there isn't a pin to +choose."</p> + +<p>"Oh, you fool! Our feast is prepared in the day-room; +all laid out so temptingly on a bench. There +you'll see ham and eggs, and cheese, and—It's my +treat, mind!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, I'm one of the right sort to walk into it. But +it seems a pity to throw away this good ration I have +just received! I only wish my poor sister and her +children could have the benefit of it. Ah, poor things! +It's not often they see meat, unless, indeed, when they +find a few scraps thrown out before the butcher's door."</p> + +<p>"Oh, bother about your sister and her brats! Let's +go in, or Barbillon and the Skeleton will leave nothing +but empty trenchers for us!"</p> + +<p>Nicholas and Pique-Vinaigre entered together into the +day-room, where they found the Skeleton sitting astride +on the bench on which the savoury viands were displayed, +swearing and grumbling at the absence of the +founder of the feast.</p> + +<p>"Oh, there you are, you creeping animal!" exclaimed +the ruffian, as he caught sight of the story-teller. +"What the deuce hindered you from bringing your +blessed carcass here a little sooner?"</p> + +<p>"He was spinning a yarn with Germain when I found +him," answered Nicholas, helping himself to a large +slice of the ham.</p> + +<p>"Ho, ho!" cried the Skeleton, gazing earnestly on +Pique-Vinaigre, without, however, diminishing the ardour +with which he devoured the provisions; "so you +were gossiping with Germain, were you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I was," returned Pique-Vinaigre. "But what +a fool that Germain is! I used to think that he was a +sort of spy in the yard; but, Lord love you, he is too +much of a simpleton for that!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you think so, do you?" said the Skeleton, +exchanging a rapid and significant glance with Nicholas +and Barbillon.</p> + +<p>"I'm as sure of it as I am that I see a capital ham +before me. Besides, how the devil can he be a spy +when he is always by himself? He speaks to no one, +and nobody ever changes a word with him; and you all +know that he runs from us as if we carried the plague<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> +in our pockets. Now, how a man can tell many tales +who acts as he does, is more than I can conceive. However, +spy or not, he will not be able to do us much +more harm, as to-morrow he will obtain a room for +himself."</p> + +<p>"The deuce he will!" replied the Skeleton. Then +taking advantage of a conversation which had commenced +between Barbillon and Pique-Vinaigre, he leaned +towards Nicholas, and said, whisperingly, "You see, we +have not an instant to lose. After four o'clock to-day +all chance of serving him out is over; it is now nearly +three. You see, unfortunately, he does not sleep in my +dormitory, or I would settle him in the night; and +to-morrow he will be out of our reach."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't care!" answered Nicholas, as though +replying to some observation of his companions; "I say—and +I'll stick to it—Germain always seems to look +down upon us as though we were not as good as he."</p> + +<p>"No, no!" interposed Pique-Vinaigre; "you are +quite wrong as regards this young man—you are, +indeed. You frighten him—you do; and I know that +he considers himself not fit to hold a candle to you. +Why, if you only knew what he was saying to me just +now—"</p> + +<p>"Let's hear what it was!"</p> + +<p>"'Why,' says he, 'you are a lucky fellow, Pique-Vinaigre, +you are,' he says, 'to take the liberty of speaking +to the celebrated Skeleton (that was the very word +he used), just for all the world as if you were his equal! +But whenever I meet him,' he says, 'I feel myself overcome +with so much awe and respect that, though I would +give my eyes out of my head to know him and converse +with him, I no more dare do it than I should make bold +to accost the <i>préfet de police</i> if he were in his chair of +office, and me beholding him body and bones.'"</p> + +<p>"He said that, did he?" returned the Skeleton, feigning +to believe the well-meant fiction of Pique-Vinaigre,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +as well as to feel gratified by the deep admiration he was +reported to have excited in the breast of Germain.</p> + +<p>"As true as that you are the cleverest ruffian upon +earth, he said those very words; and, more than that, +he—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, then, if that is the case," said the Skeleton, "I +shall make it up with him. Barbillon wanted to pick +a quarrel with him, but I shall advise him to be quiet."</p> + +<p>"That's right!" exclaimed Pique-Vinaigre, fully persuaded +that he had effectually diverted from Germain +the danger that threatened him; "that would be much +the best way! For this poor chicken-hearted fellow +would never quarrel,—simply because, like me, he has +not pluck enough to fight; therefore it is no use getting +into a dispute."</p> + +<p>"Still," cried the Skeleton, "I am sorry, too, that we +shall not have our fun; we had quite reckoned upon +getting up a fight with Germain to amuse us after +dinner. I don't know now what we shall do to kill the +time."</p> + +<p>"Ah, to be sure!" chimed in Nicholas. "What the +deuce shall we do with ourselves? Can anybody tell +me?"</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I'll settle it!" said Barbillon. "Since +you seem to recommend my leaving Germain alone, I'll +agree to do so, on condition that Pique-Vinaigre tells +us one of his best stories."</p> + +<p>"Done!" exclaimed the story-teller. "But I must +make one condition as well as you, and, without both are +agreed to, I don't open my lips."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, say what your other condition is. I +dare say it is not more difficult than the former, and we +soon agreed about that."</p> + +<p>"It is that this honourable company, which is overstocked +with riches," said the Pique-Vinaigre, resuming +his old tone when addressing his audiences preparatory +to commencing his juggling tricks, "will have the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +trifling kindness to club together and present me with +the small sum of twenty sous,—a mere trifle, gents, +when you are about to listen to the celebrated Pique-Vinaigre, +who has had the honour of appearing before +the most celebrated prigs of the day—he who is now +expected at Brest or Toulon, by the special command of +his majesty's government."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, we'll stand the twenty sous after you +have finished your story."</p> + +<p>"After?—no—before!" said Pique-Vinaigre.</p> + +<p>"What! Do you suppose us capable of doing you out +of twenty sous?" asked the Skeleton, with an air of +disdain.</p> + +<p>"By no means!" replied Pique-Vinaigre. "I honour +the stone jug with my confidence, and it is in +order to economise its purse that I ask for twenty sous +in advance."</p> + +<p>"On your word and honour?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, gentlemen; for, after my story, you will be so +satisfied, that it is not twenty sous but twenty francs—a +hundred francs—you will force me to take! I know +that I should be shabby enough to accept them; and +thus, you see, it is from consideration, and you will do +wisely to give me twenty sous in advance."</p> + +<p>"You don't want for the gift of the gab!"</p> + +<p>"I have nothing but my tongue, and I must make use +of that. And then,—if it must be told,—my sister +and her children are in terrible distress, and, in a small +house, even twenty sous is a consideration."</p> + +<p>"Then why doesn't your sister prig, and her kids, too, +if they're old enough?" asked Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"Don't ask me; it distresses—dishonours me! I am +too kind—"</p> + +<p>"What do you mean, you fool? Why, you encourage +her!"</p> + +<p>"True; I encourage her in the vice of being honest, +and that is the only line in which she shines. But come,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +it is agreed that I shall tell you my famous story of +'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' But you must hand out +twenty sous, and Barbillon shall not pick a quarrel with +this simpleton of a Germain!"</p> + +<p>"Well, you shall have twenty sous, and Barbillon shall +not pick a quarrel with that simpleton of a Germain," +said the Skeleton.</p> + +<p>"Then open your ears, and you will hear what you +will hear! But it is raining, which will make the customers +tumble in, and there will be no occasion to go +out and seek them."</p> + +<p>And the rain began to fall, and the prisoners, quitting +the yard, took refuge in the day-room, the turnkey being +still in attendance.</p> + +<p>We have said that this room was large and long, with +a pavement, and lighted by three windows, which looked +out into the yard. In the centre was the stove, near +which were the Skeleton, Barbillon, Nicholas, and Pique-Vinaigre. +At a signal from the <i>prévôt</i>, the Gros-Boiteux +joined this group. Germain was one of the last to enter, +absorbed in most delightful thoughts, and he went +mechanically to seat himself on the ledge at the lowest +window in the apartment, a place he usually occupied, +and which no one disputed with him, for it was at a +distance from the stove around which the prisoners were +assembled.</p> + +<p>We have already said that some fifteen of the prisoners +had been informed in the first instance of the +treachery attributed to Germain, and the murder which +was to avenge it. But, soon whispered to one another, +the plan comprised as many adherents as there were +prisoners; these ruffians, in their blind cruelty, considering +this fearful plot as legitimate revenge, and +viewing therein a certain guarantee against the future +disclosure of spies. Germain, Pique-Vinaigre, and the +turnkey were alone ignorant of what was about to take +place. General attention was divided between the executioner,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> +the victim, and the story-teller, who was about +innocently to deprive Germain of the only succour he +could hope for; for it is nearly sure that the turnkey, +when he saw the prisoners attentive to the story of +Pique-Vinaigre, would think his surveillance useless, and +take advantage of that moment of tranquillity to go +and take his meal. And when the prisoners had entered, +the Skeleton said to the turnkey:</p> + +<p>"Old fellow, Pique-Vinaigre has a capital idea; he is +going to tell us his story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' +It is weather in which one would not put a policeman +out-of-doors, and we shall quietly wait in till it is time +to go to roost."</p> + +<p>"Why, you are always pretty quiet when he begins +his talk, and have no need for me to be at your heels."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the Skeleton; "but Pique-Vinaigre asks +a high price,—he wants twenty sous for his story."</p> + +<p>"Yes, the trifle of twenty sous,—a mere nothing!" +cried Pique-Vinaigre. "Yes, gents, nothing; for who +that had a liard would not bestow it to hear the adventures +of poor little Gringalet, Cut-in-Half, and the wicked +Gargousse? It will rend your hearts, and make your +hair stand on end! And, gents, who is there that +would not dispose of the paltry sum of four liards—or, +if you prefer counting my mites, of five centimes—to +have their hearts rent and their hair standing on +end?"</p> + +<p>"There are two sous," said the Skeleton, throwing +down the piece of money before Pique-Vinaigre. "Come, +is the stone-jug too niggardly to enjoy this pastime?" +he added, looking at his accomplices with a significant +air.</p> + +<p>Several sous fell around him, to the great joy of +Pique-Vinaigre, who thought of his sister as he collected +the money.</p> + +<p>"Eight—nine—ten—eleven—twelve—thirteen!" +he said, as he picked up the money. "Now, my rich<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> +friends, my capitalists, and others of the cash interest, +try once more. You cannot stop at thirteen, for it is an +unlucky number! Only seven sous deficient, the trifle +of seven sous! What, gents, shall it be said that the +Fosse aux Lions could not produce seven sous—seven +miserable sous? Oh, gents, gents, you would make me +believe that you have been brought here very unjustly +or that you have all had a sad run of ill luck."</p> + +<p>The shrill voice and broad jests of Pique-Vinaigre +had brought Germain from his reverie, and, as much to +follow Rigolette's advice and make himself popular with +the prisoners as to give a trifle to the poor devil who +had testified some desire to be of service to him, he +rose and threw a piece of ten sous at the tale-teller's +feet, who exclaimed, as he pointed at his generous +benefactor:</p> + +<p>"Ten sous, gents! You see, I was speaking of capitalists! +Honour to that gentleman! He behaves like +one of the monied interest, as an ambassador to be +agreeable to the company! Yes, gents; for it is to him +that you will owe the greater portion of 'Gringalet and +Cut-in-Half,' and you will thank him for it. As to the +three sous over, why, I shall earn them by imitating +the voices of the personages, instead of speaking like +you and me. That will be another obligation you +will owe to this wealthy capitalist, whom you ought +to adore."</p> + +<p>"Come, no more blarney, but begin!" said the +Skeleton.</p> + +<p>"One moment, gents!" said Pique-Vinaigre. "It is +but right that the capitalist who has given me ten sous +should be the best situated, except our <i>prévôt</i>, who has +first choice."</p> + +<p>This proposal squared so well with the Skeleton's +project that he exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"True; after me he ought to be best placed!" And +again he looked significantly at the prisoners.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, yes; let him come nearer," said the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Let him sit on the front bench."</p> + +<p>"You see, young man, your liberality is recompensed; +the honourable company sees that you have a right to the +front seat," said Pique-Vinaigre to Germain.</p> + +<p>Believing that his liberality had really better disposed +his hateful companions in his favour, and delighted thus +to follow up Rigolette's earnest desires, Germain, in +spite of considerable repugnance, left the place of his +choice, and went towards the story-teller, who, having +arranged four or five benches around the stove, by the +aid of Nicholas and Barbillon, said, with emphasis:</p> + +<p>"Here are the dress-boxes. All respect to the worthy—the +capitalist first."</p> + +<p>"Now, then, let those who have paid take their seats," +added Pique-Vinaigre, gaily, firmly believing that, thanks +to himself, Germain had nothing now to fear. "And +those who have not paid," he added, "will sit down or +stand up, which they please."</p> + +<p>Let us sum up the arrangement of his scene. Pique-Vinaigre +was standing up near the stove ready to commence; +near him was the Skeleton, also standing up, +and with his eyes intently fixed on Germain, ready to +rush upon him the moment the turnkey left the cell. +At some distance from Germain, Nicholas, Barbillon, +Cardillac, and other prisoners, amongst whom was the +man with the blue cotton nightcap and gray blouse, +occupying the remoter benches. The majority of prisoners, +grouped here and there, some sitting on the +ground, others standing and leaning against the wall, +composed the secondary figures of this picture, lighted, +à la Rembrandt, by three lateral windows, which threw +strong light and deep shadows on forms so variously +characterised and so strongly marked. The turnkey, +whose departure was to be, unknown to himself, the +signal for Germain's murder, kept close to the door, +which was ajar.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Are we all ready?" asked Pique-Vinaigre of the +Skeleton.</p> + +<p>"Silence in the stone-jug!" said the latter, turning +half around; and then addressing Pique-Vinaigre, "Now, +begin; we are all attention!"</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span></p> + +<h3>CHAPTER XI.</h3> + +<h5>GRINGALET AND CUT-IN-HALF.</h5> + + +<p>Pique-Vinaigre began his recital thus, in the midst +of the profound silence of his auditory:</p> + +<p>"It is no inconsiderable time ago that the story +occurred which I am about to relate to this honourable +company. What was called La Petite Pologne was not +then destroyed. The honourable society knows (or +does not know) what was called La Petite Pologne?"</p> + +<p>"Well enough!" said the prisoner in the blue cap; +"they were some small houses near the Rue du Rocher +and the Rue de la Pépinière?"</p> + +<p>"Exactly so, my dear sir," replied Pique-Vinaigre; +"and the Quartier of the Cité, which, at the same time, +does not consist of palaces, would be in comparison to +La Petite Pologne the Rue de la Paix or the Rue de +Rivoli. What a rookery! but, at the same time, very +convenient for gents in our line. There were no streets +but narrow alleys, no houses but ruins, no pavement but +a small carpet of mud and dungheaps, which would have +destroyed all the noise of wheels,—that is, supposing +any carriages passed by that way; but none did! From +morn till night, and, particularly, from night till morn, +there were only heard cries of 'Watch! Watch! Help! +Murder!' but the watch took no notice. The more +persons were knocked on the head in La Petite Pologne, +the fewer persons there were to apprehend. You should +have seen the respectable inhabitants who lived there! +There were very few jewellers, goldsmiths, and bankers;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span> +but then, on the other hand, there were quantities of +organ-grinders, puppet-showmen, punches, and showers +of remarkable animals. Amongst the latter was one +well known as Cut-in-Half,—he was so cruel, and +especially to children. He acquired this name because +it was reported that he had cut a small Savoyard in two +with a blow of his hatchet."</p> + +<p>At this moment the prison clock struck a quarter past +three o'clock. The prisoners being made to return to +their cells at four o'clock, the Skeleton's murderous +design must be carried into execution before that hour.</p> + +<p>"<i>Mille tonnerres!</i> The turnkey won't go!" he said, in +a low tone, to Gros-Boiteux.</p> + +<p>"Be easy! He'll go when once the story is begun."</p> + +<p>Pique-Vinaigre continued: "No one knew where +Cut-in-Half came from. Some said he was an Italian, +others a Bohemian, others a Turk, others an African; +the gossips called him a magician, although a magician +in our times would be something to look at. What made +them believe this was, that he always had with him a +large red monkey called Gargousse, and who was so +cunning and savage that he seemed as if possessed by +the devil. I shall mention this beauty again presently; +as to Cut-in-Half, I shall soon describe him. His complexion +was like the old tops of a pair of jockey-boots, +his hair as red as the hair of his monkey, his eyes green, +and (what made the women think he was a conjuror) +he had a black tongue."</p> + +<p>"A black tongue!" exclaimed Barbillon.</p> + +<p>"Black as ink!" replied Pique-Vinaigre.</p> + +<p>"And how did that happen?"</p> + +<p>"Because, no doubt, when his mother was in the +family way she had, perhaps, talked of a negro," said +Pique-Vinaigre, with modest assurance. "To these +attractions Cut-in-Half joined the profession of having +a multitude of tortoises, monkeys, guinea-pigs, white +mice, foxes, and marmosettes, corresponding to an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span> +equivalent total of Savoyards and forsaken children. +Every morning he distributed his animal to each, and +a morsel of black bread, and then despatched them to +beg for 'Only one ha'penny!' or dance the Catarina. +Those who only brought in at night fifteen sous were +beaten, soundly beaten, so that their shrieks might be +heard from one end of La Petite Pologne to the other. +I should also say that there was in La Petite Pologne a +man called Le Doyen (the Dean), because he was the +'oldest inhabitant,' and, as it were, mayor, provost, +magistrate, for it was in his room (he kept a Tom and +Jerry shop) that all went when they could not otherwise +decide their quarrels. Although rather aged, yet +Le Doyen was as strong as Hercules, and very generally +feared. They swore by him in La Petite Pologne; and +when he said 'Very good!' all the world said 'Very +good!' When he said 'That's bad!' all the world said +'That's bad!' He was a good fellow at bottom, but very +fierce, particularly when the strong misused the weak,—then +look out for squalls! As he was Cut-in-Half's +nearest neighbour, he had heard the children cry very +frequently from the blows which the shower of beasts +gave them. He had said to him, 'If I hear the children +cry, I will make you cry in your turn; and, as you have +the stronger voice, I will give you the severer beating.'"</p> + +<p>"Well done, Le Doyen! I like Le Doyen!" said the +prisoner in the blue nightcap.</p> + +<p>"So do I!" added the turnkey, as he approached the +group.</p> + +<p>The Skeleton could not repress a movement of angry +impatience.</p> + +<p>Pique-Vinaigre proceeded:</p> + +<p>"Thanks to Le Doyen, who had threatened Cut-in-Half, +the cries of the children were heard no more in +the night-time in La Petite Pologne; but the poor, +unhappy little fellows did not suffer the less, for if they +cried no longer when their master beat them, it was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +because they were afraid of being more cruelly beaten. +As to complaining to Le Doyen, they had no idea of +that. For the fifteen sous which each little fellow was +obliged to bring in, Cut-in-Half lodged, boarded, and +clothed them. In the evening a bit of black bread, as at +breakfast,—this was their food. He never gave them +clothes,—that was the way he clothed them; and he +shut them up at night with their animals, on the same +straw in a garret, to which they mounted by a ladder +and a trap,—this was the lodging. When once all had +ascended, and the tale of children and animals was +complete, he took away the ladder and locked the trap.</p> + +<p>"You may judge of the life and row which these +monkeys, guinea-pigs, foxes, mice, tortoises, marmosettes, +and children made all in the dark in this cock-loft, which +was as big as a barn. Cut-in-Half slept in a room +underneath, with his great ape, Gargousse, fastened to +the foot of his bed. When the brute growled, because +there was too much noise in the loft, the beast-shower +went up the ladder without any light, and, going into +the loft, laid about him right and left with a heavy +whip, without seeing or counting his blows. As there +were always some fifteen children, and some of the poor +dears brought him in twenty sous a day, Cut-in-Half +having defrayed all his outlay, which was by no means +excessive, had left for himself some four or five francs a +day, with which he enjoyed himself, for it must be told +that he was one of the greatest tipplers that ever lived, +and was regularly blind drunk once a day. That was +his rule; and he declared that, but for that, he should +have the headache every day. We should add, that out +of his gains he used to buy some sheeps' hearts for +Gargousse, who ate raw flesh like a cannibal. But I see +the honourable society are anxious to be introduced to +Gringalet! Here he is, gents!"</p> + +<p>"Let's have Gringalet, and I'll go and eat my soup," +said the turnkey.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Skeleton exchanged a look of savage satisfaction +with the Gros-Boiteux.</p> + +<p>"Amongst the children to whom Cut-in-Half distributed +his animals," continued Pique-Vinaigre, "was a poor +little devil named Gringalet. Without father or mother, +brother or sister, without fire, food, or shelter, he was +alone in the world,—quite alone in a world which he +had not asked to enter, and which he might leave without +attracting any one's attention. He was not called +Gringalet for any pleasure he had in the name, for he +was meagre, lean, and pallid; he did not look above +seven or eight years old, but was really thirteen. If he +did not seem more than half his name, it was not because +of his own will, but because he only fed perhaps every +other day, and then so scantily, so poorly, that it was +really an exertion to make him pass for seven years old."</p> + +<p>"Poor little brat! I think I see him!" said the prisoner +in the blue cotton nightcap; "there are so many +children like him on the streets of Paris dying of +hunger!"</p> + +<p>"They must begin to learn that way of living very +young in order to get accustomed to it," said Pique-Vinaigre, +with a bitter smile.</p> + +<p>"Come, get on!" said the Skeleton, suddenly; "the +turnkey is getting impatient—his soup is getting cold."</p> + +<p>"Oh, never mind that!" said the <i>surveillant</i>. "I wish +to know something more of Gringalet; it is very +amusing!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it is really very interesting!" added Germain, +who was very attentive to the story.</p> + +<p>"Ah, thank ye for saying that, my capitalist," said +Pique-Vinaigre; "that gives me more satisfaction than +your ten-sous' piece."</p> + +<p>"<i>Tonnerre!</i>" exclaimed the Skeleton, "will you have +done with your delays?"</p> + +<p>"Well, then," replied Pique-Vinaigre, "one day Cut-in-Half +had picked up Gringalet in the streets, dying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +with cold and hunger; perhaps it would have been best +if he had let him die. As Gringalet was weak, he was a +coward; as he was a coward, he became the jest and +sport of the other lads, who beat him and used him so +ill that he would have become wicked if he had not been +deficient in strength and courage. But no; when he had +been heartily thumped, he cried, and said, 'I have not +done any harm to anybody, and everybody is unkind to +me,—that's very cruel; oh, if I were strong and bold!' +You will, perhaps, imagine that Gringalet was about to +add, 'I would return to others the ill they do to me?' +By no means. He said,' Oh, if I were strong and bold, I +would defend the weak against the strong, for I am +weak, and the strong have made me suffer!' In the +meanwhile, as he was too small a boy to prevent the +strong from ill-using the weak, beginning with himself, +he prevented the larger brutes from eating the smaller +ones."</p> + +<p>"What a strange idea!" said the prisoner in the blue +cap.</p> + +<p>"And, what is stranger still," said the tale-teller, "it +was this idea that consoled Gringalet for being beaten; +which proves that his heart was not bad at bottom."</p> + +<p>"<i>Pardieu!</i> Quite the contrary," said the guardian. +"What an amusing devil that Pique-Vinaigre is!"</p> + + +<p>At this instant the chimes went half past three o'clock. +The Skeleton and Gros-Boiteux exchanged significant +glances. The time was drawing on, and the <i>surveillant</i> +did not go; and some of the less hardened prisoners +seemed almost to forget the sinister projects of the +Skeleton against Germain, as they listened attentively to +Pique-Vinaigre's recital.</p> + +<p>"When I say," he continued, "that Gringalet prevented +the larger brutes from eating the smaller, you +must understand that Gringalet did not mix himself up +with tigers, and lions, and wolves, or even foxes and +monkeys, in the menagerie of Cut-in-Half,—he was too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +much of a coward for that; but if he saw, for instance, +a spider hidden in his web, in wait for a poor foolish fly +flying gaily in the sunshine of the good God, without +hurting any one, why, in a moment, Gringalet smashed +the web, freed the fly, and did for the spider like a regular +Cæsar,—a real Cæsar; for he turned as white as a +sheet in touching such nasty reptiles; and then it required +resolution in him, who was afraid of a cockchafer, +and had been a long while in forming an intimacy with +the tortoise which Cut-in-Half handed to him every +morning. Thus Gringalet, overcoming the fear which +the spider caused him, in order to prevent flies from +being eaten, proved himself—"</p> + +<p>"As plucky in his way as a man who attacks a wolf +to take a lamb from his jaws," said the prisoner in the +blue cap.</p> + +<p>"Or a man who would have attacked Cut-in-Half to +take Gringalet from his clutches," added Barbillon, who +was deeply interested.</p> + +<p>"As you say," continued Pique-Vinaigre; "so that +after one of these onslaughts Gringalet did not feel himself +so unhappy. He who never laughed, smiled, looked +about him, cocked his cap on one side (when he had +one), and hummed the 'Marseillaise' with the air of a +conqueror. At this moment, there was not a spider +that dared to look him in the face. Another time it +was a grasshopper which was swimming and struggling +in a brook; in a moment, Gringalet put his two fingers +boldly in the water and rescued the grasshopper, which +he put on the grass. A first-class swimmer, who had +fished up his tenth drowning man at fifty francs a head, +could not have been prouder than Gringalet when he saw +his grasshopper bend his legs and jump away. And yet +the grasshopper gave him neither money nor medal, nor +uttered any more thanks than did the fly. But then, +Pique-Vinaigre, worthy friend, the honourable company +will say to me, what the devil pleasure could Gringalet,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span> +whom all the world thumped and buffeted, find in freeing +grasshoppers and destroying spiders? Since people were +unkind to him, why did he not take his revenge by doing +all the evil in his power? For instance, in giving spiders +flies to eat, leaving grasshoppers to drown, or even +drowning them on purpose?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, why not? Why did he not revenge himself in +that way?" asked Nicholas.</p> + +<p>"What good would that have been?" inquired another.</p> + +<p>"Why, to do ill, as ill was done to him."</p> + +<p>"No! Well, then, I understand he liked to save the +flies, poor little chap!" said the man in a blue cap. +"He said, perhaps, 'Who knows if some day they mayn't +save me in the same way?'"</p> + +<p>"My right worthy friend is right," cried Pique-Vinaigre, +"and has read in his heart what I was about +to narrate to the honourable assembly. Gringalet was +not wicked; he did not see beyond the end of his nose; +but he said,'Cut-in-Half is my spider, and perhaps some +day some one will do for me what I do for the other +poor little flies,—break his web and take me from his +clutches;' for till then nothing could have induced him +to run away from his master; he would as soon have +thought of killing himself. However, one day, when +neither he nor his tortoise had had a chance, and had +not gained between either of them more than three sous, +Cut-in-Half beat the poor child very severely, so severely +that, <i>ma foi!</i> Gringalet could not stand it any longer; +and, tired of being the butt and martyr of everybody, he +watched a moment when the trap was open, and, whilst +Cut-in-Half was feeding his animals, he slid down the +ladder."</p> + +<p>"Oh, so much the better," said a prisoner.</p> + +<p>"But why didn't he go and complain to the Doyen?" +inquired the blue cap; "he would have served Cut-in-Half +out."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he dared not; he was too much afraid, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +preferred trying to escape. Unfortunately, Cut-in-Half +had seen him, and, seizing him by the wrist, lugged him +up again into the loft. Poor Gringalet, thinking of what +must befall him, shuddered all over, although he was by +no means at the end of his troubles. Apropos of Gringalet's +troubles, I must now mention to you Gargousse, +the large and favourite ape of Cut-in-Half. This mischievous +brute was, <i>ma foi!</i> taller than Gringalet; only +imagine what a size for a monkey! I must tell you +why he was never taken into the streets to be shown, +like the other animals of the menagerie: it was because +Gargousse was so wicked and powerful that there was +not one amongst all the show-boys, except an Auvergnat +of fourteen, a determined chap, who, after many skirmishes +and contests with Gargousse, had mastered him, +and could lead him about with a chain; and even with +him Gargousse frequently got up some fights, which +ended in bloodshed produced by Gargousse's bites. +Enraged at this, the little Auvergnat said, one fine day, +'Very well, I will revenge myself on this infernal +monkey;' and so, one morning, having gone out with +the brute as usual, he, in order to appease its savageness, +bought a sheep's heart. Whilst Gargousse was eating +it, he put a rope through the end of his chain, tied it to +a tree, and, when he had got the brute quite at his +mercy, he gave it an outrageous walloping."</p> + +<p>"Well done! Bravo the Auvergnat! Go it, my lad! +Skin the beast alive!" said the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"He did whack him gloriously!" continued Pique-Vinaigre. +"And you should have seen how Gargousse +cried, ground his teeth, leaped, danced, and skipped +hither and thither; but the Auvergnat used his stick +famously! Unfortunately, monkeys, like cats, are very +tenacious of life. Gargousse was as crafty as he was +vicious; and when he saw, as they say, how the wood +was on fire, at a heavy blow he made a final bound, and +fell flat at the foot of a tree, shook for a moment, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +then shammed dead, lying as motionless as a log. The +Auvergnat believed he had done for him, and, thinking +the ape dead, he cut away, resolved never again to return +to Cut-in-Half. But the beast Gargousse watched him +out of the corner of his eye, and, bruised and wounded +as he was, as soon as he saw himself alone he rent the +cord asunder with his teeth. The Boulevard Monceaux, +where he had had this hiding, was close to La Petite +Pologne, and the monkey knew his way as easy as his +paternoster; and, making off in that direction, arrived +at his master's, who roared and foamed when he saw +how his monkey had been served. This is not all. +From this moment Gargousse entertained such a furious +revenge against all children that Cut-in-Half, who was +not the tenderest soul alive, dared not trust him to +any one for fear of an accident; for Gargousse was capable +of strangling or devouring a child, and all the little +brute-showers, knowing that, would rather be thrashed by +Cut-in-Half than go near the monkey."</p> + +<p>"I must really go and eat my soup," said the turnkey, +turning towards the door; "this devil of a Pique-Vinaigre +would wheedle a bird down from a tree to hear +him! I can't tell where the deuce he fishes up all he +tells!"</p> + +<p>"Now, then, the turnkey will go," said the Skeleton, +in a whisper to the Gros-Boiteux. "I'm in such a rage +I shake all over! Mind and form a wall all around the +informer,—I will take care of the rest!"</p> + +<p>"Mind, now, and be good boys!" said the turnkey, +turning towards the door.</p> + +<p>"As good as images!" replied the Skeleton, coming +closer to Germain, whilst the Gros-Boiteux and Nicholas, +after having agreed on a signal, made two steps in the +same direction.</p> + +<p>"Ah, worthy turnkey, you are going at the most +interesting moment!" said Pique-Vinaigre, with an air +of reproach.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span></p> + +<p>Had it not been for the Gros-Boiteux, who anticipated +his intention, and seized him suddenly by the arm, the +Skeleton would have rushed on Pique-Vinaigre.</p> + +<p>"What! The most interesting moment?" replied the +turnkey, turning towards the story-teller.</p> + +<p>"Decidedly," said Pique-Vinaigre; "you do not know +all you will lose,—the most delightful portion of the +history is now about to commence."</p> + +<p>"Don't attend to him," exclaimed the Skeleton, who +with difficulty repressed his rage; "he is not in good +trim to-day; for my part I think his story very stupid."</p> + +<p>"My story very stupid?" cried Pique-Vinaigre, wounded +in his pride as a tale-teller. "Well, turnkey, I beg of +you,—I entreat you to remain till the conclusion, which, +at most, will not be longer than a quarter of an hour, +and as by this time your soup must be cold, why, you +haven't much to lose by a little delay. I will go ahead +with my narrative, so that you may still have time to eat +your soup before we are locked up for the night."</p> + +<p>"Well, then, I'll stay, but make haste," said the +turnkey, coming closer towards him.</p> + +<p>"You are wise to stay, turnkey," continued Pique-Vinaigre; +"without bragging, you never heard anything +like it before, especially the finale, which is the +triumph of the ape, and Gringalet escorted in procession +by all the little beast-showers and inhabitants of La +Petite Pologne. On my word and honour, it is not for +the sake of boasting, but it is really superb."</p> + +<p>"Then tell it speedily, my boy," said the turnkey, +returning towards the stove.</p> + +<p>The Skeleton shook with rage. He almost despaired +of accomplishing his crime. If bedtime arrived, Germain +must escape, for he was not in the same dormitory with +his implacable enemy, and on the following day Germain +was to be in a separate cell.</p> + +<p>"So it's very stupid!" continued Pique-Vinaigre. +"Well, the honourable company shall be the judge of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> +that. There could not exist a more vicious brute +than the big ape Gargousse, who was even more savage +with children than his master. What does Cut-in-Half +do to punish Gringalet for trying to run away? You +shall know by and by. Well, in the meantime, he +seizes on the unhappy child, and locks him into the +cock-loft for the night, saying, 'To-morrow morning, +when all your companions are gone out, I will let you +see what I do with vagabonds who try to run away from +me.' You may imagine what a wretched night Gringalet +passed. He did not close an eye, but kept asking himself +what Cut-in-Half meant to do with him, and then he fell +asleep. He had a dream,—such a horrid dream,—that +is, the beginning of it was, as you shall see. He dreamed +that he was one of the very poor flies that he had so +often rescued from the spiders' webs, and that he had +fallen into a large and strong web, where he was struggling,—struggling +with all his might, without being able +to escape. He then saw coming towards him, stealthily +and treacherously, a kind of monster, which looked like +Cut-in-Half turned into a spider. Poor Gringalet began +to struggle again, as you may suppose, but the more he +struggled the more he got entangled, like the poor flies. +At last the spider came up to him, touched him, and he +felt the cold and hairy paws of the horrid beast curl +around him and enclose him, intending to devour him. +He believed he was dead, when suddenly he heard a kind +of clear, ringing, sharp sort of buzzing, and he saw a +beautiful golden fly, with a kind of brilliant dart, like +a diamond needle, which flew around the spider with a +furious air, and a voice (when I say a voice you must +imagine a fly's voice) which said, 'Poor little fly! You +have saved flies! The spider shall not—' Unfortunately +Gringalet jumped up at this moment, and did not +see the end of his dream; but yet he was at first somewhat +assured, and said to himself, 'Perhaps the golden +fly with the diamond dart would have killed the spider if<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> +I had finished the dream.' But in vain did Gringalet +endeavour to make himself easy and take comfort; in +proportion as the night ended, his fears renewed, so +strongly, that at last he forgot his dream, or, rather, +he only remembered the portion which affrighted him, +the large web in which he had been caught and enfolded +by the spider which resembled Cut-in-Half. You may +imagine what a fright he was in; only think—only +think—alone,—quite alone, and no one to defend him! +In the morning, when he saw daybreak gradually appear +through the skylight of the cock-loft, his fears redoubled, +and the moment was at hand when he would be alone +with Cut-in-Half. He then threw himself on his knees +in the middle of the garret, and, weeping bitterly, +entreated his comrades to ask Cut-in-Half to forgive +him, or else to help him to escape if possible. But some +from fear of their master, others from disregard, and +some from ill nature, refused what poor Gringalet +requested so earnestly."</p> + +<p>"Young scamps!" said the prisoner in the blue cap; +"he is to be pitied, so helpless. If he could have defended +himself, tooth and nail, it would have been very +different, <i>ma foi!</i> If you have fangs, show 'em, boy, and +defend your tail!"</p> + +<p>"To be sure!" said several prisoners.</p> + +<p>"Holloa, there!" exclaimed the Skeleton, unable to +conceal his rage, and addressing the Blue Cap; "won't +you hold your jaw? Didn't I say silence in the stone-jug? +Am I captain of the ward or not?"</p> + +<p>The Blue Cap's answer was to look the Skeleton full +in the face, and then make that low-lived gesture of the +blackguards, which consists in applying the thumb of the +right hand to the end of the nose, opening the fingers +like a fan, and putting the little finger on the thumb of +the left hand, similarly extended. He accompanied this +mute reply with so odd a look that many of the prisoners +laughed heartily, whilst others, on the contrary, were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +actually stupefied at the audacity of the new prisoner, so +greatly was the Skeleton feared. The latter shook his +fist at the new prisoner, and said to him, grinding his +teeth:</p> + +<p>"We'll settle this to-morrow!"</p> + +<p>"I'll make the calculation on your nob! I'll put +down seventeen and carry nothing!"</p> + +<p>For fear the turnkey should have fresh motive for +staying, in order to repress any row, the Skeleton +quietly replied:</p> + +<p>"That is not what I mean; I am the captain of this +room, and ought to be attended to,—ought not I, +turnkey?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly," replied the superintendent; "no interruption; +and go on, Pique-Vinaigre, and make haste, +will you, my lad?"</p> + +<p>"Then," resumed Pique-Vinaigre, "Gringalet, seeing +how all the world forsook him, resigned himself to his +miserable fate. It was broad day, and all the boys were +going out with their animals. Cut-in-Half opened the +trap, and called each to give him his morsel of bread. +They all descended the ladder, and Gringalet, more dead +than alive, squeezed up in a corner of the cock-loft with +his tortoise, did not move, but watched his companions +as they descended one after the other, and would have +given everything he had to have done as they did. At +length the last quitted the loft, and then his heart beat +quick as he thought his master might forget him. But +Cut-in-Half, who was standing at the foot of the ladder, +exclaimed in a loud voice, 'Gringalet! Gringalet!' +'Here I am, master.' 'Come down directly, or I'll fetch +you!' added Cut-in-Half; and Gringalet believed his +last hour was come. 'Oh,' said he to himself as he +trembled in all his limbs, and recollected his dream, +'you are in the web, little fly, the spider is going to eat +you!' After having put his tortoise quietly down +on the ground, he said farewell to it, for he had become<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +fond of the creature, and went to the trap, and put his +leg on the ladder to go down, when Cut-in-Half, taking +hold of his miserable little leg, as thin as a stick, +pulled him down so suddenly that Gringalet lost his +hold, and fell with his face all down the rounds of the +ladder."</p> + +<p>"What a pity it was that the Doyen of La Petite +Pologne was not there at that moment! What a dance +he could have played to Cut-in-Half!" said the blue +nightcap; "it is at such moments as these that a man +is always happy and contented to feel how useful it is +sometimes to be strong."</p> + +<p>"That's all right, my lad, but, unfortunately, the +Doyen was not there, so Cut-in-Half seized hold of the +child by the waistband of his little breeches, and carried +him to his own hole of a chamber, where the huge +monkey was kept fastened to the foot of his bed. +Directly the spiteful beast saw the boy, he began to jump +and spring about, grinding his teeth like a mad thing, +and darting towards Gringalet as near as his chain +permitted him, as though he meant to devour him."</p> + +<p>"Poor Gringalet! How ever will he be able to +escape? If that beast of a monkey once gets hold of +him he is safe to strangle him! I declare," exclaimed +the man in the blue cap, "the very thoughts of a poor +innocent child being in such a dangerous situation makes +me shiver from head to foot, and I seem as though +I couldn't hurt a worm. How do you feel, good +friends?"</p> + +<p>"The very same!" replied a burst of voices. "No +more could we!"</p> + +<p>At this moment the prison clock chimed forth the first +quarter past three, and the Skeleton, becoming momentarily +more and more apprehensive that the time would +slip away without their being able to accomplish their +design, and furious at the continued interruptions, as +well as irritated at the evident sympathy and compassion<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +awakened in the breasts of the prisoners by Pique-Vinaigre's +recital, called out in angry voice:</p> + +<p>"Silence in the stone jug, I say! We shall never get +to the end of this unlucky history if you persist in +chiming in."</p> + +<p>The buzz of voices died away at these words, and +Pique-Vinaigre thus continued:</p> + +<p>"When it is recollected how much poor little Gringalet +had had to endure before he could get used to his +tortoise, and that even the boldest of his companions +trembled and turned pale even at the mention of Gargousse's +name, it may very easily be imagined what +deadly terror he experienced when he found himself +placed by his master within the reach of the horrible +monkey. 'Oh, master, master!' he cried, as his teeth +rattled and shook in his head, as though he were under +the influence of an ague fit, 'pray—pray forgive me! +Pray have mercy on me! I will never do so any +more. Indeed, indeed, I never will! Oh, I promise +you, master; only let me off this time, and I will never +do so again!' But all these prayers and supplications +escaped almost unconsciously from the poor child, who +had indeed committed no fault that called for such +promises. Cut-in-Half, however, laughed at the boy's +terrors, and, spite of the struggles and resistance of the +unhappy child, he dragged him within the grasp of +Gargousse, who sprang upon him, and seized him with +a savage grasp."</p> + +<p>A cry of execration passed throughout the assembly, +which had been listening with the profoundest attention +to the progress of the tale.</p> + +<p>"I should have been a rare fool had I gone away," +said the officer on duty, as he drew nearer to the listening +groups.</p> + +<p>"Oh, but," said Pique-Vinaigre, "you've heard nothing +as yet,—the best is still to come. Directly poor +Gringalet felt the cold hairy paws of the ape seize him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +by the head and neck, he imagined it was with the +intention of devouring him, and driven almost mad by +his agony, he began shrieking and groaning in a manner +that would have moved a stone to pity him, while he +wildly exclaimed, 'Oh, send help! Send help from +heaven, God of goodness and of little children! Oh, +little golden fly, come and preserve me! Come, little +fly, and save me from the horrible spider I dreamed +about!' 'Will you hold your noise?' exclaimed Cut-in-Half, +as he gave him several hard kicks, for he was +fearful lest his cries should be heard; but in a minute's +time there was no further danger of that, for the poor +boy neither cried or struggled further, but pale and cold +as marble, he remained kneeling, while the devilish monkey +clawed and scratched and buffeted the trembling +victim, who, closing his eyes, resigned himself to his +fate. After Gargousse had tired himself with thus +tormenting poor Gringalet, he suddenly paused, and +looked up to his master's countenance, as though asking +what he should do next. And really it seemed as +though the ape and his master understood each other's +thoughts, for Gargousse immediately renewed the attack +by plucking out handfuls of the shuddering boy's hair, +upon which Cut-in-Half burst into fits of laughter, so +long and so loud that, had poor Gringalet tried ever +so hard, he could not have made himself heard amid +these wicked and malicious rejoicings. They had, however, +the effect of encouraging Gargousse, who proceeded +to attack the unfortunate child with redoubled fierceness."</p> + +<p>"Ah, you beggar of a monkey!" exclaimed Blue +Bonnet, "I only wish I had been near enough to catch +hold of your tail! I'd have swung you round and +round like a windmill, and finished by knocking out +your dirty brains against the hardest stone I could find! +That beastly ape was as cruel as if he had been a +man!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried a simultaneous burst of voices, "no man +ever was, or ever will be, so cruel as that, I'm sure!"</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" interrupted Pique-Vinaigre, "you forget +Cut-in-Half when you make that remark. However, +just listen to what he did next. He unfastened the +long chain of Gargousse from the leg of his bed, around +which it was generally secured, and tied it to the waist +of the poor trembling child, who by this time was more +dead than alive; so that the monkey and the boy were +thus placed at the opposite ends of the chain."</p> + +<p>"There was a devil's own invention! Ay, ay, it is +quite certain that some human creatures are more cruel +than the most savage wild beast!"</p> + +<p>"When Cut-in-Half had completed this arrangement, +he said to the monkey, who appeared to understand +every word he said,—and certainly these were such a +precious pair it would have been a thousand pities they +should have had any difficulty in the matter: 'Now, then, +Gargousse, attention! You have been exhibited with +all your clever tricks, but it is now your turn to be +showman. You shall be master, and Gringalet shall be +monkey,—yes, your monkey. So up with you, Gringalet, +or I shall set Gargousse on you, and let him tear +you to pieces!' The unhappy child, unable to utter a +word, had again fallen on his knees, holding up his +clasped hands in mute supplication, while the only sound +he could utter proceeded from the convulsive rattling of +his teeth. 'Make him stand upright, Gargousse!' said +Cut-in-Half to his ape, 'and if he is obstinate do as I am +doing;' and with these words he belaboured the child +with a switch he held in his hand. Then passing the +stick to the monkey, he added, 'Make him stand up! +Hit harder!—harder!' You all know what close imitators +all monkeys are, but Gargousse was ever remarkable +for his extreme quickness in copying the actions +of others. He was not long, therefore, in bestowing so +severe a flagellation on the shoulders of his terrified<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +victim as soon compelled him to try at least to stand +upon his feet, and once up, the unhappy child became as +nearly as possible the same height as the ape. Then +Cut-in-Half went out of the room, and descended the +staircase, calling out to Gargousse to follow him, which +he did, tugging violently at the end of the chain to +which Gringalet was fastened, and compelling him to +follow like a slave, at the same time beating him as +hard as he could with his cane; and thus they reached +the small courtyard belonging to the miserable tenement +occupied by Cut-in-Half and his live stock.</p> + +<p>"Now, then, Cut-in-Half reckoned on having good +sport, so, first securing the door that opened into the +lane, he made signs to Gargousse to play Gringalet +round and round the yard as fast as he could. The ape +loved the fun as well as his master, and coursed the +frightened boy round the yard, beating him with all +the strength the switch admitted of, while Cut-in-Half +laughed till his sides ached. Perhaps you may think +this malicious nature was now satisfied,—not a bit of +it! This was a mere beginning!</p> + +<p>"So far Gringalet had merely endured excessive fright, +been torn and scratched by the sharp teeth and claws of +Gargousse, and severely beaten with the stick. This, +however dreadful, was far from contenting Cut-in-Half's +savage nature. He therefore devised another scheme, +equally diabolical with his other proceedings. In order +to enrage the monkey still more against the unhappy +boy, who by this time was more dead than alive, he +seized Gringalet by the hair of his head, and, after feigning +to overwhelm him with blows, he pushed him +towards the monkey, saying, 'Tear him! Worry him!' +showing Gargousse at the same time a great lump of +sheep's heart, as much as to say, Do as I bid you, and +here is your reward.</p> + +<p>"And then began a fearful sight! Just imagine a huge +red ape, with a black muzzle, grinding his teeth like a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> +mad thing, and throwing himself, in a state of savage +fury, on the poor helpless object of his cruelty, who, +unable to defend himself, had no other means of preserving +his face and eyes from being torn to pieces than by +throwing himself down on the ground, flat on his face. +Seeing this, Gargousse, wrought up by his master to a +state of frenzied hatred against poor Gringalet, bestrode +him as he lay on the ground, seized him by the neck, +and bit him on the back of his head till the blood came. +'Oh, the spider! The spider I dreamed of!' cried poor +Gringalet, firmly believing now that he should be +devoured. All at once a noise was heard at the gate +that opened from the lane into the yard. Knock! +knock! knock!"</p> + +<p>"Ha, ha!" exclaimed all the prisoners at once. +"How delightful! 'Tis Le Doyen come to set the boy +free! Oh, tell us if it was not!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, my good friends, you have guessed right; it +was Le Doyen, and he cried out, 'Now then, Cut-in-Half, +will you open the door or no? Don't pretend to +be deaf; I see you through the keyhole.' The exhibitor +of beasts was obliged to answer, and went grumblingly +along to open the gate for Le Doyen, who was a regular +brick of a man, as strong and sturdy as a mountain for +all his age, and, moreover, he was one of those persons +with whose displeasure it was anything but safe to trifle. +'Well, what do you want with me?' asked Cut-in-Half, +half opening the yard door. 'I have something to say +to you,' answered Le Doyen, entering almost forcibly +into the little courtyard. Then observing the savage +conduct of the monkey, he ran towards him, seized him +by the scruff of the neck, and sought to fling him to the +other end of the yard; but perceiving that the boy and +the animal were chained together, Le Doyen cast a +stern and fearful glance on Cut-in-Half, as he called +out in a severe tone, 'Let this unfortunate child loose +directly!' Only conceive the joyful surprise experienced<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +by Gringalet, who, nearly dead with terror, found +himself so unexpectedly preserved, and by means which +seemed to him so miraculous that he could not help +turning his eyes on his preserver, with a recollection of +the golden-winged fly he had seen in his dream, though +he saw merely a stout, square-built, elderly gentleman, +looking more like a creature of earth than air."</p> + +<p>"Well, now then," said the officer on duty, "now that +Gringalet is safe, I will go and take my soup."</p> + +<p>"Safe!" exclaimed Pique-Vinaigre, "not a bit of it! +Bless you, poor little Gringalet has not got to the worst +of his troubles yet."</p> + +<p>"No?" cried several prisoners, with the deepest +interest. "No; hasn't he, though?"</p> + +<p>"But what else happened to him then?" inquired the +officer.</p> + +<p>"Wait a bit and you'll hear," answered the story-teller.</p> + +<p>"What a fellow that Pique-Vinaigre is!" cried the +officer; "he makes you do just as he pleases! Well, +I'll stay a little longer, at any rate!"</p> + +<p>The Skeleton spoke not, but he actually foamed with +rage, as Pique-Vinaigre thus continued his recital:</p> + +<p>"Cut-in-Half, who feared Le Doyen as the devil fears +holy water, had, in a grumbling manner, unfastened the +chain from Gringalet's waist, which done, Le Doyen +tossed Gargousse up in the air, and when he fell to the +ground he gave him so desperate a kick in his ribs that +he sent him rolling ten feet off. The monkey screamed +with passion, chattered, and ground his teeth with rage; +then, fearing a repetition of the rough usage he had +experienced, scampered away, and, climbing to the roof +of a small shed, manifested his hatred of Le Doyen by a +variety of threatening gestures. 'What do you mean by +ill-using my monkey?' inquired Cut-in-Half of Le Doyen. +'You ought rather to ask me why I do not beat you +instead of your spiteful beast there; for shame! Thus<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +to torture and ill-use a poor helpless boy! Is it possible +you can be drunk at this early hour of the morning?' +'I am no more drunk than you are! I was teaching +my monkey a trick I wish him to learn. I want to get +up a scene between Gringalet and my monkey. I attend +to my business, and I only wish other people would do +the same, and not trouble themselves with what does +not concern them.' 'And I tell you that I have a right +to interfere in the present case, and that it is my duty +so to do. This morning when I missed Gringalet from +among the other children who passed by my window, I +inquired of them where he was. They did not make +me any answer, but hung down their heads, and seemed +confused. I know you, therefore suspected the boy was +kept back for some bad purpose, and it seems I was not +mistaken.</p> + +<p>"'Now, just listen to me. Every day that I do not see +Gringalet pass my door with the other lads, I will come +here to know the reason, whether you like it or not; +and what's more, you shall produce him alive and well, +or—or—or—I'll—I'll knock you down!' 'I shall +do precisely as I please with the boy, without asking +your leave,' answered Cut-in-Half, excessively irritated +by this threat of keeping him under surveillance; 'you'll +just please to keep your hands to yourself; and if you +do not take yourself off, and if ever you presume to +show your face here again, I'll—I'll—' 'Take that, +then, as an earnest of the future!' cried Le Doyen, +interrupting Cut-in-Half by a couple of blows heavy +enough to knock down a rhinoceros; 'you deserve that +and more, too, for presuming to answer Le Doyen of La +Petite Pologne in so impertinent a manner.'"</p> + +<p>"O Lord! Lord!" groaned forth the man in the +blue cap, "only two blows! I wish I had had the +handling of him. He should have had a round dozen +to begin with, and afterwards I would have knocked all +his teeth down his throat!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> + +<p>"As far as strength went," continued Pique-Vinaigre, +"Le Doyen could have killed and eaten a score of such +fellows as the beast-master, so Cut-in-Half was compelled +to pocket the affront. But he was not the less +incensed at being struck in the presence of Gringalet, +and well did he promise himself to be richly avenged +for the indignity he had sustained; and an idea suddenly +suggested itself to him, which could only have originated +in the mind of a fiend of malice like himself. While he +was meditating on his diabolical scheme, Le Doyen said, +'Bear in mind that if you torment this poor boy any +more I will just make you and your menagerie turn out +and quit La Petite Pologne, or I will bring the whole +neighbourhood to pull your house about your ears. You +know very well how universally you are hated already, +and you may rest assured you will have such an escort +to conduct you hence as shall leave you marks enough +on your back to serve as a remembrancer of your parting, +let you live as long as you may, that I promise +you!'</p> + +<p>"Like a treacherous, mean-spirited wretch as he was, +Cut-in-Half, the better to effect his villainous design, +instead of quarrelling further with Le Doyen, feigned to +submit to his decision, and replied, in a false, wheedling +tone, 'You were wrong to strike me, my worthy neighbour, +or to imagine I had any intention of harming +Gringalet; on the contrary, I tell you again I was merely +teaching my monkey a new trick; he is rather awkward +when he is put out in any way, and, while trying to +manage him, the boy got a few trifling bites, which I +very much regret.' 'Humph!' said Le Doyen, casting +a scrutinising look on him; 'now is this all gospel you +are telling me? And why, if you only wished to teach +a thing to your monkey, did you fasten him to Gringalet?' +'Because the boy has to learn the trick as well +as the animal. Now this is what I want to do,—to +dress up Gargousse in a red coat and a hat with a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +feather in it, like a barber, and then Gringalet is to sit +in a little chair, with a cloth tucked under his chin, +while the monkey affects to shave him with a large +wooden razor.' The joke appeared so very droll to Le +Doyen that he could not forbear laughing. 'Isn't that +a funny idea?' inquired Cut-in-Half, in a crafty and +malicious manner. 'Why, upon my word,' answered +Le Doyen, 'it does strike me as a very amusing device, +and one which, I doubt not, your monkey would carry +into execution most admirably, that is, if he be as clever +and skilful in imitation as he is represented.' 'Oh, +bless you!' continued Cut-in-Half, 'when he has seen +me for five or six times make believe to shave Gringalet, +he will imitate me exactly with his large wooden razor; +but for that purpose it is absolutely necessary he should +become habituated to the boy, and that was my reason +for fastening them both together.' 'But why did you +select Gringalet more than any other of your boys?' +'Because he was the least among 'em, so that, you see, +when he sat down the monkey was the taller of the +two.</p> + +<p>"'To be sure I had another reason besides, M. le Doyen, +although I know a man oughtn't to own such a thing as +making a difference with his boys, but, for all that, I'll +own the truth, whatever comes of it, and that is, that I +made choice of this here little chap because I meant to +give half the profits from the performance to whoever it +was acted the scene with the animal, because I knew, in +course, it was disagreeable.' 'Well,' said Le Doyen, +completely gulled by this false and hypocritical manner +of accounting for the conduct which had first attracted +his displeasure,—'well, if such be the case, I can only +say, I'm very sorry I gave you such a very hard thump; +however, it does not matter, just consider it as "paid on +account," so that—' While Cut-in-Half was talking +with Le Doyen, poor little Gringalet durst scarcely +breathe,—he trembled like an aspen leaf, and, though<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span> +dying with eagerness to throw himself at the feet of Le +Doyen, and to supplicate of him to take him away from +his cruel master, he had not courage to make the +attempt, and in a low despairing voice he murmured to +himself, 'I shall be like the poor fly I dreamed about, +and the horrid spider will eat me up; it was folly of me +to expect that any golden fly would come to save +me!'</p> + +<p>"'Come, my lad, since your master means to let you +share his profits, you ought to try and get used to acting +with the monkey; never mind being tied to him, he +won't hurt you, I dare say, and then, you know, when +you have earned a large sum of money by doing this +trick with him, you will have nothing to complain of.' +'Complain, indeed!' exclaimed his master, giving him +at the same time a side-look that froze poor Gringalet's +blood, 'what should he know of complaining? Now +then, speak up, and tell this worthy gentleman whether +you ever have had anything to complain of.' 'Come, +let's hear all about it,—have you any cause of complaint, +you are asked?' 'No—no—master,' stammered out +the unhappy child. 'You hear what he says?' said +Cut-in-Half, turning to Le Doyen, 'he never has had +anything to complain of. No; I should rather think +not! Why, bless you, I was only thinking of his good +when I tied him to the monkey, and if he has got a bit +of a scratch from Gargousse, why, I'll take care it does +not happen again. The monkey is just a little awkward +at first, but I'll see to it for the future,—take my word +for it, it won't happen again.' 'That's all right, then, +and now everybody's satisfied, are they not?' 'Gringalet +is, most especially; are you not, my fine fellow?' +asked Cut-in-Half, casting a savage glance on the poor +child. 'Yes—yes—master,' sobbed forth the wretched +boy. 'And I'll tell you what I'll do further, to make +up for the scratches you have got from the monkey, I'll +let you share in a good breakfast I meant to order from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span> +our worthy Doyen's excellent larder; I intend having a +dish of mutton-chops and pickles, four bottles of wine, +and a pint of brandy.' 'Much obliged to you,' answered +Le Doyen; 'all shall be sent as you desire. Few men +have a better cellar or more tempting larder, and the +contents of both are at the service of all who can pay +for them.'</p> + +<p>"Le Doyen was not a bad sort of a man, but it must +be remembered that he had his living to get, and, therefore, +so that he disposed of his eatables and drinkables +at a sufficient profit, he cared but little who it was in +that case,—friend or foe were quite alike to him. The +beggar, Cut-in-Half, knew well enough where his weak +side lay, so he hit upon this method of getting rid of +him, in high good humour at having by his visit not +only ascertained the safety of Gringalet, but also +obtained a good order. And now was the unfortunate +child thrown into the hands of his master, past all hopes +of safety; for no sooner had Le Doyen turned his back +than Cut-in-Half, pointing to the staircase with a dreadful +frown, bade the trembling lad betake himself to his +garret without loss of time; and the frightened child, +glad at any rate to be freed from the monkey and his +master, did not require a second bidding, but made off +as fast as his strength permitted him. When Gringalet +reached his own wretched chamber, he threw +himself on the dirty straw allotted him for a bed beside +his tortoise, and wept as though his heart were breaking. +'He will surely kill me!' cried the miserable boy, as he +reflected on the cruelty of his master and his own +inability to escape from him. 'What shall I do? Oh, +how I wish I were dead and in my grave!' Thus he +remained sobbing and lamenting for more than an hour, +when he was roused by hearing the coarse voice of Cut-in-Half +calling upon him to descend. And the terror +of the boy was still further increased by discovering a +considerable alteration in the rough tones of his master.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +'Now, then!' roared out the brutal man, with a torrent +of oaths, 'are you coming down, or must I fetch you?' +The unhappy child almost slid down the ladder in his +haste to descend, but scarcely had he reached the bottom +than Cut-in-Half seized hold of him, and dragged +him to his own room, stumbling at every step he took; +for the fellow had been drinking so hard that he could +scarcely stand on his legs, while his body swung to and +fro like the sails of a windmill.</p> + +<p>"Almost bereft by extreme intoxication of the power of +speech, he continued to gaze on the shrinking child with +eyes full of dreadful meaning, though his tongue was +unable to declare the murderous designs he meditated. +Never had the poor boy endured such horror at the +sight of his master. Gargousse was chained as usual +to the foot of the bed, and in the middle of the room +stood a chair, from the back of which hung a strong +cord. 'S—s—sit down—there!' cried the tyrant, +as he pointed to the seat. Gringalet obeyed in silence, +and Cut-in-Half, without another word, twisted the rope +around him, and finally secured him in the chair so +firmly that, even if poor Gringalet had dared to struggle, +it would have been impossible for him to have extricated +himself. 'Great and good God!' murmured the +wretched child, 'this time no one will come to deliver +me from my danger!' And the poor little fellow was +right, for, indeed, it was utterly impossible, and for this +reason, that no sooner had Le Doyen gone away with +the idea of all being comfortably arranged between the +boy and his master than Cut-in-Half hastened to double-lock +and bolt the entrance to his premises, so that no +person could gain admission without his knowledge."</p> + +<p>"Oh, poor little Gringalet!" exclaimed all the prisoners, +deeply excited by the recital, "it's all up with +him, that's quite sure."</p> + +<p>"I'd give my last franc-piece to get him out of the +hands of that blackguard—that I would!" cried a multitude<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span> +of voices, as though one unanimous sympathy +actuated each breast.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what that beggar of a Cut-in-Half is going +to do with the poor little chap!" added they, in almost +breathless interest; "come, push on, and let's hear."</p> + +<p>Pique-Vinaigre continued:</p> + +<p>"When Gringalet was well secured in the chair, his +master said to him" (and here the narrator imitated +most naturally the thick speech and stammering tones +of a drunken man): 'Ah—you scoundrel!—you—you +are the—cause of—my being thrashed by Le +Doyen!—you shall—die—for it—you shall—you—young—devil!' Then he took from his pocket a +freshly sharpened razor, opened it, and seized Gringalet +by the hair of his head. At the sight of the razor the +child began to weep. 'Pardon, master! Pardon! Do +not kill me!' 'Cry away, you infernal brat! You +shall not cry long!' replied Cut-in-Half. 'Golden fly, +golden fly, come to my help!' exclaimed poor Gringalet, +almost mad, and remembering the dream that +had had such an effect upon him, 'for the spider is +going to kill me!' 'What!—you call—call—me +a spider—do you?' said Cut-in-Half; 'for this—and—other—many +other things—you shall die—die, I +tell you—but not by my hand—because that wouldn't +do—and besides—they'd "scrag" me—and so I'll say +and prove that it was the ape. I have managed it all—and +so—never mind—for that's all about it!' he +added, preserving his equilibrium with the greatest +difficulty. Then calling the monkey, which, at the end +of his chain, was grinning and looking at his master +and the boy, 'Here, Gargousse,' he said, pointing to +the razor, and then to Gringalet, whom he had seized by +the hair of his head, 'do so to him;' and then drawing +the back of the razor several times over Gringalet's +throat, he feigned to cut his throat. The devil of a +monkey was such a close imitator—so wicked and so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> +sly—that he understood what his master desired, and +as if to prove to him that he did so, he took his chin in +his left paw, put his head back, and, with his right paw, +pretended to cut his throat. 'That's it, Gargousse—that's +it!' said Cut-in-Half, stammering, with his eyes +half closed, and staggering so much that he almost fell +with Gringalet and the chair. 'Yes, that's it! I'll +unfas—unfasten you, and you'll slice his weasand—won't +you, Gargousse?' The ape shrieked as he ground +his teeth, as much as to say yes, and put out his paw as +if to take the razor that Cut-in-Half handed to him. +'Golden fly, come to my rescue!' murmured Gringalet, +in a faint voice, and assured that his last hour was come. +Alas! he called the golden fly without any hopes of its +coming to his rescue; he did so as a drowning man +exclaims, '<i>Mon Dieu! mon Dieu!</i>' Yet at this very +moment Gringalet saw enter into the room one of those +small gold and green flies, which look like a spangle of +gold flying and flitting around and about; and at the +very moment when Cut-in-Half was going to give the +razor to Gargousse, the gold fly went plump into the +eye of this horrible ruffian. A fly in the eye is no great +thing, but at the moment it hurts like the prick of +a pin, and thus Cut-in-Half, who could scarcely support +himself, raised his hand to his eye so suddenly that he +staggered and fell at full length, rolling on the ground +like a log to the foot of the bed, to which Gargousse +was fastened. 'Golden fly, many thanks! You have +saved me!' cried Gringalet, who, seated and fastened to +the chair, had observed all."</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma foi!</i> It really was true, then, and the golden +fly prevented his having his throat cut," exclaimed the +prisoners, overjoyed.</p> + +<p>"The golden fly for ever!" cried the Blue Cap.</p> + +<p>"Listen now," continued the story-teller, "for this is the +most beautiful and terrible of the history I had promised +you. Cut-in-Half had fallen like a lump of lead, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> +was so drunk that he could move no more than a log,—he +was dead drunk and perfectly senseless; but in his +fall he very nearly crushed Gargousse, and almost broke +his hind paw. You know how savage and revengeful +this infernal brute was, and he still held in his paw the +razor which his master had given him to cut Gringalet's +throat. What do you suppose the animal did when he +saw his master on his back and within his reach? Why, +he jumped upon him, squatted on his breast, and whilst +with one paw he pushed up his chin to expose his neck, +with the other he cut his throat as clean as a whistle, +just as Cut-in-Half had taught him to do with poor +Gringalet a few minutes before."</p> + +<p>"Bravo, bravo! Well done!"</p> + +<p>"Gargousse for ever!"</p> + +<p>"The little golden fly for ever!"</p> + +<p>"Gringalet for ever! Gargousse for ever!"</p> + +<p>"Well, my friends, I assure you, as you shout now, so +did the whole population of La Petite Pologne shout an +hour afterwards," said Pique-Vinaigre, delighted at the +success of his story and the enthusiasm of his hearers.</p> + +<p>"In what way?"</p> + +<p>"I told you that, in order to complete his wicked purpose +at his ease, the vagabond Cut-in-Half had closed the +door inside. Towards the evening, the boys came in one +after the other with their animals. The first rapped, but +no answer; then, when they had all arrived, they knocked +at the door, but no reply; so one went to find Le Doyen +to tell him how they had knocked in vain, and that their +master did not open to them. 'The fellow must be +as drunk as an Englishman,' said he; 'I sent him some +wine just now. We must break open the door, for the +children cannot pass the night out-of-doors.' So they +burst in the door, and then they went up the stairs, +and what should they see but Gargousse chained and +crouching on his master's body, playing with the razor! +Poor Gringalet was fortunately out of Gargousse's reach<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span> +and still on the chair, not daring to look on Cut-in-Half's +body, but gazing at,—guess what, the little golden fly, +which, after having flitted round and round the child as +if to congratulate him, had, at last, come and settled on +his poor little hand.</p> + +<p>"Gringalet related all to Le Doyen and the crowd that +came in, and, as it really appeared like the interposition +of Providence, Le Doyen cried, 'A triumph for Gringalet! +A triumph to Gargousse who killed the infamous Cut-in-Half! +He cut others, it was his turn to be cut himself.' +'Yes, yes,' cried the assembled mob, for the beast-shower +was universally detested, 'a triumph to Gargousse! A +triumph for Gringalet!' It was night, and they lighted +straw torches, fastened Gargousse to a bench, which four +chaps carried on their shoulders; and the blackguard of +an ape seemed as if he felt his consequence, and gave +himself the airs of a conquering hero, by showing his +teeth to the multitude. After the ape came Le Doyen, +carrying Gringalet in his arms; then all the little fellows, +each carrying his beast, followed him, one with +his fox, another his marmotte, another his guinea-pig; +and those who played on the hurdy-gurdy played now; +then there were the charcoal-sellers who had their bells, +and there was such an uproar, such joy, such a fête as can +be scarcely imagined. Behind the musicians and animal-showers +came all the dwellers in La Petite Pologne, men, +women, and children, all holding straw torches, and halloaing +like mad, 'Vive Gringalet! Vive Gargousse!' +The procession advanced in this way around the place in +which Cut-in-Half dwelt. It was a very singular sight +to see the old buildings lighted up by the red light +of the straw torches, which flared and flared. As to +Gringalet, the first thing he did when he was at liberty +was to put the little golden fly in a paper bag, and he +exclaimed during his triumph, 'Little flies, I did very +right in preventing the spiders from eating you, +for—'"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span></p> + +<p>Pique-Vinaigre was interrupted by a voice from +without, exclaiming:</p> + +<p>"Père Roussel, come to your soup; it only wants ten +minutes to four!"</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma foi!</i> The story is nearly finished, and I must +go. Many thanks, my lad, you have amused me very +much, and that you may tell everybody," said the superintendent +to Pique-Vinaigre, going to the door; then +pausing, "Mind and be quiet," he said, turning towards +the prisoners.</p> + +<p>"We shall hear the end of the story," said the Skeleton, +breathless with suppressed rage; then, adding in a +whisper to Gros-Boiteux, "Follow him to the door, and, +when you see him leave the yard, cry Gargousse, and the +informer is a dead man."</p> + +<p>"All right," said Le Gros-Boiteux, who accompanied +the guardian, and remained at the door watching his +steps as he went away.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, then," resumed Pique-Vinaigre, "that +Gringalet, during the whole time of his triumph, said, +'Little flies, I have—'"</p> + +<p>"Gargousse!" cried Gros-Boiteux, as the turnkey +quitted the yard.</p> + +<p>"I'm here, Gringalet, and I will be your spider!" +cried the Skeleton, instantly, and darting so suddenly on +Germain that he could not make a struggle or utter a +cry. His voice expired under the tremendous gripe of +the Skeleton's iron fingers.</p> + +<p>"If you are the spider, I'm the golden fly, Skeleton +of evil," cried a voice, at the moment when Germain, +surprised at the violent and sudden attack of his implacable +enemy, had fallen back on the bench entirely +at the mercy of the ruffian, who, with his knee on his +breast, held him by the neck. "Yes, I will be the fly, +and a fly of the right sort!" repeated the man in the +blue cap, of whom we have already spoken, and then, +with a fierce spring, he dashed upon the Skeleton, and +assailed him on the skull and between his eyes with a +shower of blows from his fist, so tremendous that it +sounded like the noise of a smith's hammer ringing on +an anvil.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 319px;"><a name="image243" id="image243"></a> +<img src="images/i248.jpg" width="319" height="500" alt=""The Skeleton Staggered at First" +Original Etching by Marcel" title=""The Skeleton Staggered at First"" /> +<span class="caption">"<i>The Skeleton Staggered at First</i>"<br /> +<span class="artist">Original Etching by Marcel</span></span> +</div> +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p> + +<p>The man in the blue cap, who was no other than the +Chourineur, added, as he redoubled the quickness of his +hammering on the Skeleton's head:</p> + +<p>"It is the shower of blows which M. Rodolph drummed +on my sconce, and I have recollected them."</p> + +<p>At this unexpected assault the prisoners were all +struck with surprise, and did not take part either for or +against the Chourineur. Several of them, still under +the influence of the salutary impression made on them +by Pique-Vinaigre's story, were even glad of an event +which saved Germain. The Skeleton staggered at first, +and, reeling like an ox under the butcher's poleaxe, +mechanically extended his hands to try and ward off his +adversary's blows, and Germain, thus freed from the +deadly clutch of the Skeleton, half raised himself.</p> + +<p>"What does this mean? Who is this scoundrel?" +exclaimed Le Gros-Boiteux, and, rushing at the Chourineur, +he endeavoured to seize his arms from behind, +whilst the latter was making violent efforts to keep +the Skeleton down on the bench. Germain's defender +replied to Le Gros-Boiteux's attack by a kind of kick, +so violent that it sent the cripple rolling on the ground +to the farther end of the circle formed by the prisoners.</p> + +<p>Germain, whose face was livid and purple, half suffocated, +and on his knees by the bench, seemed unconscious +of all that was passing around him. The +strangulation had been so violent that he could scarcely +breathe.</p> + +<p>After his first surprise was over, the Skeleton, by a +desperate effort, contrived to keep the Chourineur off +and regain his feet. Breathless, drunk with rage and +hatred, he was fearful to look upon. His cadaverous +face streamed with blood, his upper lip curled like that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> +of a furious wolf, exposed his teeth clenched against +each other. At last he exclaimed, in a voice palpitating +with anger and exertion, for his struggle had been very +violent:</p> + +<p>"Stab him,—the ruffian!—you cowards, who let +me be traitorously attacked, or the informer will +escape!"</p> + +<p>During this momentary truce, the Chourineur, raising +Germain half fainting, had managed very cleverly to put +him in an angle of the wall, and, availing himself of +this advantageous position of defence, he was able, +without fear of surprise from behind, to resist any attack +of the prisoners, on whom the skill and herculean powers +he had displayed had imposed considerable respect.</p> + +<p>Pique-Vinaigre, greatly alarmed, had disappeared +without his absence being remarked.</p> + +<p>Seeing hesitation amongst the majority of prisoners, +the Skeleton exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"Aid me now, let us do for both, the big 'un as well +as the little 'un!"</p> + +<p>"Look out for squalls, then," replied the Chourineur, +preparing for a struggle, with his two hands squared, +and standing well-balanced on his loins; "and mind +your eye, Skeleton! If you mean to play the Cut-in-Half, +I'll serve you as Gargousse did, and slit your +weasand."</p> + +<p>"Fall on him!" said Le Gros-Boiteux, getting up.</p> + +<p>"Why does this vagabond defend spies? Death to +the informer, and to him, too! If he defends Germain +he is a traitor!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes, death to the spy! Death!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, and death to the traitor who defends him!"</p> + +<p>Such were the cries uttered by the fiercest of the +<i>détenus</i>. Another party, more merciful, exclaimed:</p> + +<p>"No, let's hear him first!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, let him explain; we mustn't kill a man +without a hearing!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And without means of defence, too! Must we be +Cut-in-Halfs?"</p> + +<p>"So much the better!" replied the Skeleton's partisans.</p> + +<p>"Nothing's too bad for a spy!"</p> + +<p>"Let's fall on him! Let us support the Skeleton!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, let's at the Blue Cap!"</p> + +<p>"No, let's support the Blue Cap, and let's at the +Skeleton!" retorted the Chourineur's party.</p> + +<p>"No, down with the Blue Cap!"</p> + +<p>"Down with the Skeleton!"</p> + +<p>"Well done, my boys!" cried the Chourineur, addressing +the prisoners who sided with him. "You're good +fellows, and would not massacre a half dead man; none +but cowards would do that. The Skeleton does not care +what evil he does; he is sentenced beforehand, and that +is why he urges you on; but if you help to kill Germain, +you will be severely punished for it. Besides, I have +something to propose. The Skeleton is desirous of +doing for this young man; well, let him come and take +him if he thinks he has the pluck to do it; let us two +settle it; leave us to ourselves, and see what turns up. +But he's afraid; he's like Cut-in-Half, only strong with +the weak."</p> + +<p>The vigour, energy, and rough manner of the Chourineur +had powerful effect on the prisoners, and a considerable +number of them had ranged themselves on his +side, and surrounded Germain, whilst the Skeleton's +party drew around that ruffian. A bloody fray would +have ensued, when there was heard in the yard the +sonorous and measured tread of a piquet of infantry, +always on guard in the prison. Pique-Vinaigre, profiting +by the general stir and noise, had gained the yard, +and, having knocked at the wicket of the entrance, had +told the turnkeys what was passing in the day-room. +The arrival of the soldiers put an end to this scene. +Germain, the Skeleton, and the Chourineur were taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +before the governor of La Force; the first to make his +complaint, the two others to answer for creating a +disturbance inside the gaol.</p> + +<p>The fright and suffering of Germain had been so +great, his weakness so extreme, that he was obliged to +lean on two of the turnkeys, in order to reach a chamber +next to the governor's room. There he was very ill. +His neck, excoriated as it was, bore the livid and bleeding +imprint of the Skeleton's iron grasp; a few minutes +more, and Rigolette's betrothed would have been +strangled. The turnkey, who had taken an interest in +Germain, gave him first assistance. When he had recovered, +his first thought was of his deliverer.</p> + +<p>"Thanks for your kind cares, sir," he said to the +turnkey. "But for that brave man, I must have been +killed. Where is he?"</p> + +<p>"In the governor's room, telling him how the disturbance +arose. It appears that but for him—"</p> + +<p>"I must have been killed. Oh, tell me his name! +Who is he?"</p> + +<p>"His name I do not know, but they call him the +Chourineur; he is an old offender."</p> + +<p>"And is his crime now very serious?"</p> + +<p>"Very; burglary in the night in an inhabited house," +replied the turnkey. "He will probably have a similar +dose to Pique-Vinaigre, fifteen or twenty years of hard +labour."</p> + +<p>Germain shuddered; he would have preferred being +bound by gratitude to a man less criminal.</p> + +<p>"How dreadful!" he said. "And yet this man +without knowing me defended me; such courage, such +generosity!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, these men have sometimes a touch of good! +The main point is that you are saved. To-morrow you +will have your private cell, and to-night you will sleep +in the infirmary. So, courage, sir. The bad time is +over; and when your pretty little visitor comes to see<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +you, you can comfort her, for once in a cell you have +nothing to fear; only you will do wisely, I think, not to +tell her of this affair."</p> + +<p>"Certainly not; but I should like to thank my defender."</p> + +<p>"I have just been leaving the governor, who will now +interrogate the Skeleton, and I shall take them both, the +Skeleton to his dungeon directly, and the Chourineur to +the Fosse aux Lions; he will be, besides, somewhat +rewarded for what he has done for you; as he is a +determined and stout fellow, he will probably replace +the Skeleton as captain of the ward."</p> + +<p>The Chourineur, having crossed a small passage from +the governor's apartment, entered the room in which +Germain was.</p> + +<p>"Wait for me here," said the turnkey to the Chourineur. +"I will go and ask the governor what he +decides upon as to the Skeleton, and I will return and +let you know. Our young man has quite recovered, +and wishes to thank you, and so he should, for otherwise +it would have been all over with him." And the +turnkey went out.</p> + +<p>The Chourineur's countenance was very joyous, and he +advanced towards Germain, saying, with a cheerful air:</p> + +<p>"Thunder! How glad I am! How glad I saved +you!" and he extended his hand to Germain, who, by a +feeling of involuntary repulsion, withdrew somewhat, instead +of taking the hand which the Chourineur offered +to him; then, remembering that he owed his life to this +man, he was desirous of repairing this display of repugnance. +But the Chourineur perceived it; his features +became overcast, and, retreating in his turn, he said, with +bitter sorrow, "Oh, it is right; your pardon, sir!"</p> + +<p>"No, it is I who ought to ask your pardon; am I not +a prisoner like yourself? Ought I not to think of the +service you have rendered me? You have saved my life. +Your hand, sir, I beg—I entreat—your hand!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Thanks; but it is useless now. The first feeling is +everything. If you had directly given me a grasp of +the hand, it would have afforded me pleasure, but, when +I reflect, I would not desire it. Not because I am a +prisoner like you," he added, with a sombre and hesitating +air, "because, before I came here, I have been—"</p> + +<p>"The turnkey told me all," said Germain, interrupting +him; "but yet you saved my life."</p> + +<p>"I have done no more than my duty and pleasure, for +I know who you are—Monsieur Germain."</p> + +<p>"You know me!"</p> + +<p>"A little, my lad," said the Chourineur, resuming his +usual tone of habitual carelessness; "and, <i>pardieu!</i> +you would have been very wrong to have attributed my +arrival at La Force to chance. If I had not known you, +I should not have been in prison."</p> + +<p>Germain looked at the Chourineur with amazement.</p> + +<p>"What! It was because you knew me?"</p> + +<p>"That I am here a prisoner in La Force."</p> + +<p>"I, who owe you—"</p> + +<p>"A candle to the Virgin, for having procured me the +advantage of being in La Force."</p> + +<p>"Really," said Germain, passing his hand over his +brow. "I do not know whether the terrible shock I +have just undergone has weakened my senses, but it is +impossible for me to understand you. The turnkey told +me you were here under a charge of—of—" said +Germain, with hesitation.</p> + +<p>"Robbery, <i>pardieu!</i> And robbery with forcible entry, +and moreover at night; nothing could be more complete!" +cried the Chourineur, with a hearty laugh.</p> + +<p>Germain, painfully excited at the bold hardihood of +the Chourineur, could not forbear saying to him:</p> + +<p>"What, you, so brave, so generous, and speak in this +way! Are you not aware of the terrible punishment to +which you are exposed?"</p> + +<p>"Twenty years at the galleys; I know that. I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +an out-and-out scoundrel, I know that, for taking it so +easy. But what's the use when one has been and done +it? And then, for me to say that it was you, M. Germain," +added the Chourineur, heaving a tremendous +sigh, and with an air of assumed contrition, "who are +the cause of my misfortune."</p> + +<p>"When you explain yourself more clearly, I shall +understand you. Just as much as you please, but my +gratitude for the service you have rendered me will +never cease or diminish," added Germain, sorrowfully.</p> + +<p>"Oh, pardon me, M. Germain!" replied the Chourineur, +becoming serious. "You do not like to see me +laugh at this; do not let us add another word. I must +let all out with you, and so, perhaps, force you to shake +my hand."</p> + +<p>"I have no doubt of that; for, in spite of the crime of +which you are accused, and of which you accuse yourself, +all in you bespeaks so much courage and frankness that +I am convinced you are charged unjustly; strong suspicions +may exist, but I am sure that is all."</p> + +<p>"Oh, as to that you are mistaken, M. Germain!" said +the Chourineur, hastily; "on my word as a man, and as +true as I have a protector,"—the Chourineur took off his +cap,—"who is more than all the world to me, I robbed +at night by forcing the shutter, and was caught in the +fact and deprived of all I was endeavouring to carry off."</p> + +<p>"But want—hunger—pushed you to such an extremity?"</p> + +<p>"Hunger! I had one hundred and twenty francs +when they apprehended me, the remains of a note of one +thousand francs, without including the protector I have +mentioned to you, who, by the way, does not know that +I am here, but will not let me want for anything. +Since, however, I have mentioned him to you, you must +suppose I am in earnest, for you must know that he is a +man to go on your knees before. So I must tell you, +too, that the shower of blows which I drummed on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +Skeleton's sconce was a sketch after his style, copied +from nature. The idea of the robbery was on his +account; and, in fact, if you were not strangled by the +Skeleton, it is through him."</p> + +<p>"But this protector?"</p> + +<p>"Is yours also."</p> + +<p>"Mine!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, M. Rodolph protects you. When I say monsieur, +I should say monseigneur, for he is at least a +prince; but I have a habit of calling him M. Rodolph, +which he permits me to do."</p> + +<p>"You are under some mistake," said Germain, more +and more surprised; "I do not know the prince."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but he knows you. You don't believe it? +Well, that's possible, for that's his way. He knows that +there is some worthy fellow in trouble, and then, in an +instant, the good fellow is comforted, and, without being +seen or known, he is at work, and kindness falls from +the skies, like a tile from a house on your head. So patience, +and one day or other you will have your tile."</p> + +<p>"Really, what you say amazes me!"</p> + +<p>"Ah, you'll have a great deal more to amaze you yet! +To return to my protector: Some time ago, after a service +which he persisted I had done him, he procured me +a splendid position, I need not say where, or any more +about it, for it would be a long tale to tell. Well, he +sends me to Marseilles to embark and go to a capital +appointment in Algeria. I left Paris as happy as a +child; but, all of a sudden, a change comes over me."</p> + +<p>"That was singular!"</p> + +<p>"Why, you must know that once separated from M. +Rodolph I was uneasy, disturbed, as fidgety as a dog +who has lost his master. It was very stupid; but so +are dogs, sometimes, but that does not prevent them +from being at least attached, and as well mindful of the +nice bits given them as of the thumps and kicks they +have had, and M. Rodolph had given me many nice bits,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +and, in truth, M. Rodolph is everything to me. From +being a riotous, dare-devil, good-for-nothing blackguard, +he made an honest man of me by only saying two words, +just for all the world like magic."</p> + +<p>"What were the words he said?"</p> + +<p>"He said I had still heart and honour, although I +have been at the galleys, not for having stolen, it is true,—ah, +never that,—but what perhaps is worse, for having +killed,—yes," said the Chourineur, in a gloomy +tone, "killed in a moment of passion, because formerly +growing up like a brute beast, or, rather, as a vagabond, +without father or mother, and left abandoned in the +streets of Paris, I knew neither God nor devil—neither +good nor evil. Sometimes the blood mounted to my +eyes, and I saw red, and if I had a knife in my hands I +slashed and hacked,—I was a real savage—a beast, and +only lived amongst thieves and scoundrels. I was in +the mud, and in the mud I lived as well as I could. But +when M. Rodolph said to me that since, in spite of the +contempt of all the world and my misery, instead of +plundering like others I had preferred working as long +as I could, and for what I could, that showed I had still +heart and honour—thunder!—you see these two words +had the same effect on me as if I had been seized by the +hair of my head and lifted a thousand feet into the air +above the vermin with whom I dwelt, and showed me +the filth in which my life was spent. So I said, +'Thank ye, I've had enough of this!' Then my heart +beat with something else besides anger, and I took an +oath to myself always to preserve that honour which M. +Rodolph spoke of. You see, M. Germain, that when +M. Rodolph told me so kindly that I was not so bad as +I believed myself to be, that encouraged me, and, thanks +to him, I became better than I had been."</p> + +<p>When he heard this language, Germain comprehended +less and less how the Chourineur had committed the +robbery of which he accused himself.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span></p> + +<p>"No," he said to himself, "it is impossible; the man +who was so exalted at the two words honour and heart +cannot have committed the robbery of which he talks +with so much self-complacency."</p> + +<p>The Chourineur continued, without remarking the +astonishment of Germain:</p> + +<p>"To say the truth, what made me be like a dog to his +master to M. Rodolph was that he raised me in my own +opinion. Before I knew him I never felt but on my +skin, but he moved me inwardly, and to the bottom of +my heart. Once away from him and the place he inhabited, +I felt like a body without a soul. In proportion +as I proceeded farther I said to myself, 'He leads such a +strange life,—mixes with such scamps (I can answer +for that), that he risks his body twenty times a day, +and, under some such circumstances, I may be his dog +and defend my master, for I am strong in the jaws;' but +then he had said to me,'My good fellow, you must become +useful to others, therefore go where you can be +serviceable.' I was very nearly replying, 'I have no one +to serve but you, M. Rodolph,' but I daredn't. He said +to me, 'Go,' and I went, and have gone as far as I +could; but, thunder! when I ought to have gone on +board the ship, left France, and put the sea between M. +Rodolph and myself, I had not the courage. He had +desired his correspondent to give me a great lump of +money when I sailed, so I went to the gentleman, and +said to him, 'Sir, I can't do it—I'd rather do anything, +so please to give me enough to pay my journey on foot; +I have good legs, and I will return to Paris, for I cannot +leave France. M. Rodolph will be angry, and, perhaps, +refuse to see me,—that's possible; but I shall see him, +know where he is, and if he goes on as usual, sooner or +later I may, perhaps, arrive in time to come between +him and a stab with a knife; and then I really cannot +go so far away from him! Something I cannot account +for attracts me to his side.' Well, they gave me sufficient<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span> +to pay my way, and I reached Paris. Then I +really was frightened. What could I say to M. Rodolph +to excuse myself? But, after all, he would not eat me +up; so I went to find his friend, a tall, bald-headed man, +but a right sort of fellow as ever broke bread. When I +saw M. Murphy, I said,'Now my fate will be decided;' +and my throat was dry, and my heart beat such a pace! +I expected to catch it pretty handsomely, but, what d'ye +think? Why, the worthy gentleman received me just +as if we had only parted the previous evening, and told +me that M. Rodolph, instead of being angry, wished to +see me as soon as possible. Well, so I went at once to +my protector,—him with such a stout fist and good +heart,—and when I was face to face with him he who +is as terrible as a lion and as gentle as a child—he +who is a prince, and yet puts on a blouse like me—and +once on a time (I bless the day, or night, rather) laid on +me such a shower of blows that I saw nothing but fire, +why, M. Germain, when I reflected on all the agreeable +qualities he is master of, I felt completely overcome, +and I snivelled like a woman. Well, instead of laughing +at me, for I must be a rum-looking lot when I pipe my +eye, M. Rodolph said to me, seriously, 'Here you are +back again, my good fellow, eh?' 'Yes, M. Rodolph, +and pray excuse me if I have done wrong, but I could +not help it. Give me some corner in your courtyard, +give me a crust and a glass, or let me earn it here,—that's +all I ask, and pray don't be angry with me for +coming back.' 'So far from it, my man, you have come +back just in time to do me a service.' 'I, M. Rodolph? +Is that possible? Well, there must have been something +above, for if not, how could I explain how it was +I must come back here at the very moment when you +wanted me? What can I do for you, M. Rodolph?' +'An honest, worthy young man, in whom I take the +interest I should do in a son, has been unjustly accused +of robbery, and is a prisoner in La Force. His name is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span> +Germain; he is of a gentle, quiet disposition. The +wretches with whom he is confined have conceived a +great aversion for him, and he is in great danger. You +unfortunately have known what a prison life is, and a +great many prisoners; could not you, in case there may +be any of your old companions in La Force (we will find +that out), go and see them, and, by promises of money, +which shall be duly performed, induce them to protect +this unfortunate young man?'"</p> + +<p>"But who can this generous and unknown man be, +who takes so much interest in my fate?" asked Germain, +more and more surprised.</p> + +<p>"You will learn, perhaps, hereafter,—as for me, I do +not know. To return to my conversation with M. +Rodolph. Whilst he was speaking to me there came +an idea into my head, so curious, so whimsical, that I +could not forbear laughing outright before him. 'What +is it, my lad?' said he. 'Why, M. Rodolph, I laugh +because I am so happy, and I am happy because I have +the means of putting your M. Germain quite safe from +any ill-will on the part of the prisoners, of giving him a +protector who will defend him boldly, for when once the +young fellow is under the care of the man I mean, not +one will dare look at him impertinently.' 'Very good—one +of your old comrades, no doubt?' 'Exactly so, +M. Rodolph; he has been in La Force some days, that +I know. But I must have some money.' 'How much +shall you require,—a note for a thousand francs? +Here it is.' 'Thank ye, M. Rodolph; in two days you +will have some news.'"</p> + +<p>"I begin to understand, or, rather, I'm afraid to +understand," exclaimed Germain. "To come and protect +me in this prison you have, perhaps, committed +a robbery? Oh, what remorse will beset all my +life!"</p> + +<p>"Hold hard! M. Rodolph had said I had heart and +honour,—-these words are my law, you must know;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> +and he may still say it to me, for if I am no better than +I was before, at least I am no worse."</p> + +<p>"But this robbery, if you have not committed it, why +are you here?"</p> + +<p>"Listen! There is a capital joke with my thousand +francs, I bought myself a black wig, shaved my +whiskers, put on blue spectacles, bent my head on one +side, and made up my back as if it were humped, and +then went in search of two apartments to let, on the +ground floor, in a bustling part of the city. I found +what I looked for in the Rue de Provence, and paid +a month in advance, under the name of M. Grégoire. +Next day I went to the Temple to buy furniture for my +two rooms, with my black wig, my hump, and blue +glasses, so that I might be easily recognised. Well, +I sent the goods to the Rue de Provence, and, moreover, +six silver spoons, which I bought in the Boulevard St. +Denis, still disguised with my hump. I returned then +to arrange all my affairs in my residence. I told the +porter I should not sleep there until the following night, +and took away my key. The windows of the two rooms +were closed with strong shutters. Before I went away +I had purposely left one with the bolt undrawn. The +night came, and I put off my wig, my spectacles, my +hump, and the clothes in which I had made my purchases +and hired my apartments, putting this suit in +a portmanteau, which I forwarded to M. Murphy, M. +Rodolph's friend, begging him to take care of it for +me. I then bought this blouse, and the blue cotton cap, +and a bar of iron two feet long; and at one o'clock in +the morning I went into the Rue de Provence, where I +lurked about before my lodging, awaiting the moment +when the patrol would pass and prevent my robbing +myself,—committing a burglary on my own premises, +in order to be caught and apprehended."</p> + +<p>And the Chourineur burst into a fit of hearty laughter.</p> + +<p>"I begin to understand," cried Germain.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But I was nearly getting in a 'fix,' for no patrol +passed. I might have robbed myself twenty times with +the greatest ease and safety. At last, about two o'clock +in the morning, I heard the tread of the soldier boys, +and then I pushed open the window, jumped into the +room, pocketed the silver spoons and some other trifles. +Fortunately the lively patrol had heard the smash of +the windows, and just as I leaped out of the window +they laid hands upon me. They knocked at the door, +which the porter opened, they sent for the sergeant of +police, who came. The porter told him that the two +rooms had been hired that morning by a humpbacked +gentleman, with black hair and blue spectacles, whose +name was Grégoire. I had the thick head of hair which +you now see, and my eyes were as wide open as a hare's +on the watch, was as upright as a Russian sentinel, and +could not be taken for a humpbacked gentleman, with +blue glasses and black hair. I confessed all, and was +conducted to the station, and from the station to this +prison, where I arrived in the nick of time to snatch +from the clutch of the Skeleton the young man of whom +M. Rodolph had said to me, 'I am interested in him as +much as if he were my own son.'"</p> + +<p>"What do I not owe you for such devotion?"</p> + +<p>"Not to me,—you owe it to M. Rodolph."</p> + +<p>"But whence arises his interest in me?"</p> + +<p>"That is for him to tell you, or, perhaps, he will not +tell you, for he very often chooses to do good, and if you +ask him why, he will not let you know."</p> + +<p>"M. Rodolph, then, knows you are here?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not such a fool as to tell him my plans; +perhaps he would not have consented to my whim, +and, really, I must say it was capital."</p> + +<p>"But what risks you have run,—indeed, still +run."</p> + +<p>"Oh, what risk? I might not have been brought to +La Force,—that was the worst risk,—but I relied on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> +M. Rodolph's interest to have my prison changed, so +that I might have got to you."</p> + +<p>"But at your trial?"</p> + +<p>"Well, I shall beg M. Murphy to send me the portmanteau. +Before the judge I shall appear in my black +wig, blue spectacles, and hump, and shall be again M. +Grégoire for the porter who let me the chambers and +the tradespeople who sold me the goods. So much for +the robbery. If they wish to see the thief again, I'll +put off my suit, and then it will be as clear as daylight +that the robber and the robbed together only +make a total of the Chourineur and no more. And +what the devil would you expect when it is proved that +I robbed myself?"</p> + +<p>"Why, indeed," said Germain, more assured; "but +since you take so much interest in me, why did you not +speak to me when you came first into the prison?"</p> + +<p>"I knew instantly of the scheme against you by the +prisoners, and I might have denounced them before +Pique-Vinaigre began or ended his story; but to denounce +such ruffians did not suit my ideas,—I preferred +trusting only to my fist in order to snatch you from the +clutch of the Skeleton; and when I saw that scoundrel +I said to myself, 'This is a fine opportunity for putting +in practice that shower of blows to which I owe the +honour of M. Rodolph's acquaintance.'"</p> + +<p>"But if all the prisoners had taken part against you, +alone, what could you have done?"</p> + +<p>"Why, then, I should have shrieked like an eagle and +called lustily for help. But I preferred having my little +affair all to myself, that I might be able to say to M. +Rodolph, 'I was all alone in the matter. I have defended +and will defend your friend,—be easy on that +subject.'"</p> + +<p>At this moment the turnkey suddenly returned to the +apartment.</p> + +<p>"Monsieur Germain, go to the governor; he wishes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> +to speak to you immediately. And you, Chourineur, go +down into the Fosse-aux-Lions; you are to be <i>prévôt</i>, +if you like, for you have all the qualifications for that +duty, and the prisoners will not joke with a man of your +sort."</p> + +<p>"It is all the same to me, I'd as soon be captain as +private."</p> + +<p>"Will you refuse my hand now?" said Germain, +cordially.</p> + +<p>"<i>Ma foi!</i> no, M. Germain! I'll shake hands with +all my heart."</p> + +<p>"We shall see one another again, for I am now under +your protection. I shall have nothing more to fear, +and shall, therefore, come down every day from my cell +into the yard."</p> + +<p>"Make yourself quite easy on that score. But now I +think of it, write a line to M. Rodolph, who will then +no longer be uneasy about you, and will also learn that +I am here for a good reason, for if he were to hear +that I had committed a robbery, and did not know all +the real facts,—thunder! That would not do by any +means."</p> + +<p>"Make your mind easy. I will write this very +evening to my unknown protector. Once more, +good-bye, and thanks most heartily, my worthy +friend."</p> + +<p>"Good-bye, M. Germain. I must return to those +scoundrels, and I'll make them go right; if not, let them +look out for squalls!"</p> + +<p>"When I reflect that it is on my account that you +must remain some time longer with these wretches—"</p> + +<p>"What consequence is that? There is no fear of +their turning on me;" and the Chourineur followed the +turnkey.</p> + +<p>Germain went to the governor. What was his +surprise to find Rigolette there! pale, agitated, and +her eyes bathed in tears; and yet smiling through<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> +her tears, her countenance expressing unutterable +happiness.</p> + +<p>"I have good news for you, sir," said the governor to +Germain; "justice has declared that no prosecution can +be instituted against you; and in consequence of the +withdrawing of this, and explanations that have taken +place, I have received an order to set you at liberty +immediately."</p> + +<p>"Sir! What do you say? Can it be possible?"</p> + +<p>Rigolette tried to speak, but her extreme emotion +prevented her, and she could only make an affirmative +sign to Germain with her head, and clasp her hands.</p> + +<p>"Mademoiselle arrived a few minutes after I had received +the order to set you at liberty," added the governor. +"A very powerful letter of recommendation which +she brought to me informed me of the touching devotion +she had shown to you in prison; and it is with extreme +pleasure that I sent for you, certain that you will be +very happy to offer your arm to mademoiselle, and lead +her hence."</p> + +<p>"A dream! It must be a dream!" said Germain. +"Ah, sir, how can I thank you? Excuse my astonishment,—joy +prevents me from thanking you as I +ought."</p> + +<p>"And I, too, M. Germain,—I cannot find a word to +say," said Rigolette; "only imagine my delight when I +left you on finding the friend of M. Rodolph, who was +waiting for me."</p> + +<p>"Again M. Rodolph!" exclaimed Germain, astonished.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and M. Murphy said to me, 'Germain is free—here +is a letter for the governor of the prison; when +you arrive there he will have received the order for +Germain's release, and you may take him away with +you.' I could not believe what I heard, and yet it +was true. Well, as quick as possible, I took a hackney-coach, +and came here; it is waiting for us at the +gate."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span></p> + +<p>We will not attempt to paint the delight of the two +lovers when they quitted La Force, and the evening they +passed together in Rigolette's small apartment, which +Germain quitted at eleven o'clock to go to a humble +furnished room.</p> + + +<p class="ending">END OF VOLUME V.</p> + +<div class="tr"> +<h4>Transcriber's Notes:</h4> + +<p>This e-text was prepared from numbered edition 505 of the 1000 printed.</p> + +<p>In the original text the title "The Mysteries of Paris" and the "Edition +de Luxe" are printed in Bold Gothic Font.</p> + +<p>Minor punctuation and capitalization corrections have been made +without comment.</p> + +<p>Minor typographical errors of single words, otherwise spelled +correctly throughout the text have been made without comment.</p> + +<p>Word Variations appearing in the original text which have been +retained:</p> + +<div class="tns"> +<p>"pocket-book" (1) and "pocketbook" (3)<br /> +"protégé" (2) and "protégée" (3)</p> +</div> + +<p>Throughout the text, illustrations and their captions were placed on +facing pages. For the purpose of this e-text these pages have been +combined into one entry.</p> + +<p>Footnotes, originally at the bottom of a printed page, have been placed +directly below the paragraph in which their anchor symbol appears.</p> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6, by +Eugène Sue + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS, V.5 *** + +***** This file should be named 33804-h.htm or 33804-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/8/0/33804/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Christine Aldridge and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6 + +Author: Eugene Sue + +Illustrators: G. Mercier + Bicknell + Leon Poiteau + Adrian Marcel + +Release Date: September 22, 2010 [EBook #33804] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS, V.5 *** + + + + +Produced by David Edwards, Christine Aldridge and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) + + + + + +Transcriber's Notes: + +1. Passages in italics are surrounded by _underscores_. + +2. Passages in Gothic Bold are surrounded by +plus+ signs. + +3. Other transcription notes appear at the end of this e-text. + + + + +[Illustration: "_'Cecily! Cecily!' Murmured a Voice_" +Original Etching by Adrian Marcel] + + + + ++The Mysteries of Paris.+ + + _ILLUSTRATED WITH ETCHINGS + BY MERCIER, BICKNELL, POITEAU, + AND ADRIAN MARCEL._ + + _BY EUGENE SUE_ + + + _IN SIX VOLUMES + VOLUME V._ + + + _PRINTED FOR + FRANCIS A. NICCOLLS & CO. + BOSTON_ + + + +Edition de Luxe+ + +_This edition is limited to one thousand copies, +of which this is_ + + No.______ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAP. PAGE + I. THE PRESENTATION 11 + II. MURPHY AND POLIDORI 35 + III. THE CLERK'S OFFICE 57 + IV. AVOID TEMPTATION 69 + V. LA FORCE 99 + VI. PIQUE-VINAIGRE 114 + VII. MAITRE BOULARD 139 + VIII. FRANCOIS GERMAIN 148 + IX. THE LIONS' DEN 169 + X. THE STORY-TELLER 193 + XI. GRINGALET AND CUT-IN-HALF 211 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + PAGE + "'CECILY! CECILY!' MURMURED A VOICE" _Frontispiece_ + "SLOWLY DANCING AND WHIRLING AROUND ME" 26 + "THEN LEFT ME" 126 + "TOUCHED WITH HIS LIPS THROUGH THE GRATING" 167 + "THE SKELETON STAGGERED AT FIRST" 243 + + + + +THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS. + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE PRESENTATION. + + +A few days after the murder of Madame Seraphin, the death of the +Chouette, and the arrest of the gang of desperadoes taken by surprise at +Bras-Rouge's house, Rodolph paid another visit to the house in the Rue +du Temple. + +We have already observed that, with the view of practising artifice for +artifice with Jacques Ferrand, discovering his hidden crimes, obliging +him to repair them, and inflicting condign punishment should the guilty +wretch, either by skill or hypocrisy, continue to evade the just +punishment of the laws, Rodolph had sent to fetch from one of the +prisons in Germany a young and beautiful creole, the unworthy wife of +the negro David. This female, lovely in person as depraved in mind, as +fascinating as dangerous, had reached Paris the preceding evening, and +had received the most minute instructions from Baron de Grauen. + +The reader will recollect that in the last interview between Rodolph and +Madame Pipelet, the latter having very cleverly managed to propose +Cecily to Madame Seraphin, as a servant to the notary in place of Louise +Morel, her proposition had been so well received that the _femme de +charge_ had promised to speak to Jacques Ferrand on the subject; and +this she had done, in terms most flattering to Cecily, the very morning +of the day on which she (Madame Seraphin) had been drowned at the Isle +du Ravageur. + +The motive for Rodolph's visit was, therefore, to inquire the result of +Cecily's introduction. To his great astonishment, he found, on entering +the lodge, that although eleven o'clock in the morning had struck by all +the neighbouring dials, Pipelet had not yet risen, while Anastasie was +standing beside his bed, offering him some sort of drink. + +As Alfred, whose forehead and eyes were entirely concealed beneath his +huge cotton nightcap, did not reply to his wife's inquiries, she +concluded he slept, and therefore closed the curtains of his bed. +Turning around, she perceived Rodolph, and, as usual, gave him a +military salute, by lifting the back of her left hand up to her wig. + +"Ah, my king of lodgers! Service to you! How are you? As for me, I'm +upset--bewildered--stupefied. Pretty doings have there been in the house +since you was here. And my poor Alfred,--obliged to keep his bed ever +since yesterday!" + +"Why, what has happened?" + +"Positively, don't you guess? Still going on in the old way with that +monster of a painter, who is more bitter than ever against Alfred. He +has quite muddled his brains, till I declare I don't know what to do +with him." + +"Cabrion again?" + +"Oh, _he'll_ never leave off." + +"He must be the very devil!" + +"Really, M. Rodolph, I shall very soon think so; for he always knows the +very instant I quit the house. Scarcely is my back turned, than there he +is, in the twinkling of an eye, worrying and tormenting my poor old dear +of a husband, who is as helpless and frightened as a babby. Only last +night, when I had just stepped out as far as M. Ferrand's the +notary's--Ah, there's pretty work there, too!" + +"But Cecily?" said Rodolph, with some little impatience. "I called to +know--" + +"Hold hard, my king of lodgers! Don't be in such a hurry, or you'll put +me out. And I've such a deal to tell you, I don't know when I shall have +done; and if once I'm interrupted in a story, I never know when to begin +again." + +"There now, go on as fast as you can; I'm listening." + +"Well, then, first and foremost, what do you think has happened in the +house? Ah, you'll never guess, so I'll tell you. Only imagine, old +Mother Burette's being taken up!" + +"What, the female pawnbroker?" + +"Oh, Lord, she seems to have had a curious mixture of trades: for +besides being a money-lender, she was a receiver of stolen goods, a +melter of gold and silver, a fortune-teller, a cheat, a dealer in +second-hand clothes, and any sort of contraband articles. The worst of +the story is that M. Bras-Rouge, her old sweetheart and our principal +lodger, is also arrested. I tell you the house is thoroughly upset with +these strange doings." + +"Arrested! Bras-Rouge arrested?" + +"That he was, I can promise you. Why, even his mischievous little imp of +a son--the lame boy we call Tortillard--has also been locked up. They +say that lots of murders have been planned and managed at his house, +which was the well-known resort of a gang of ruffians; that the +Chouette, one of Mother Burette's most particular friends, has been +strangled; and that, if assistance had not arrived in time, Mother +Mathieu, the dealer in precious stones for whom Morel worked, would also +have been murdered. Come, I think there's a pretty penn'orth of news for +you,--and cheap, too, at the price!" + +"Bras-Rouge arrested and the Chouette dead!" murmured Rodolph to +himself, in deep astonishment at the tidings. "Well, the vile old hag +deserved her fate, and poor Fleur-de-Marie is at least avenged!" + +"So that is the state of things here," continued Anastasie. "As for M. +Cabrion and his devil's tricks, I'll tell you all about it. Oh, you +never knew such a bold howdacious willin as he is! But you shall +hear,--I'll go straight on with my story. But there never,--no, there +never was his feller for inperence! So when Mother Burette was took up, +and we heard how that M. Bras-Rouge, our principal lodger, was quodded +also, I says to my old boy, 'Alfred, darling,' says I, 'you must toddle +off to the landlord and let him know as M. Bras-Rouge is in the stone +jug.' Well, Alfred goes; but in about two hours' time back he comes--in +such a state!--such a state! White as a sheet and puffing like an ox!" + +"Why, what was the matter?" + +"I'm a-going to tell you. I suppose, M. Rodolph, you recollect the high +wall about ten steps from here? Well, my poor, dear, darling husband was +going along thinking of nothing, when, quite by chance, he just looked +upon this wall. And what do you think he saw written in great staring +letters with a piece of charcoal?--why, 'Pipelet and Cabrion!'--the two +names joined together by a sort of true-lover's knot. (Ah, it is that +true-lover's knot which sticks so tight in the gizzard of my poor old +chick!) That sight rather upset him; but still he tried to act like a +man and not mind it. So on he went. But hardly had he proceeded ten +steps farther when, on the principal entrance to the Temple, there again +were the same hateful words, 'Pipelet and Cabrion,' united as before! +Still he walked on; but at every turn he saw the same detestable writing +on the walls, doors, and even shutters of houses! Everywhere Pipelet +and Cabrion danced before his eyes, for ever bound in the same tender +tie of love or friendship! My poor dear Alfred's head began to turn +around, and his eyes to grow dizzy; all sorts of horrid objects seemed +to meet him and laugh him to scorn. He fancied the very people in the +streets were laughing at him. So, quite confused and ashamed, he pulled +his hat over his face, and took the road towards the Boulevards, +believing that the scamp Cabrion would have confined his abominations to +the Rue du Temple. But no--not he! All along the Boulevards, wherever a +blank spot remained or a place could be found to hold the words, had he +written 'Pipelet and Cabrion!'--sometimes adding, 'till death!' At last +my poor dear man arrived at the house of the landlord, but so bewildered +and stupefied that, after hammering and stammering and bodgering about +without being able to utter a clear sentence, the landlord, having tried +for nearly half an hour to bring him sufficiently to his senses to say +what had made him come to his house, got quite in a passion, and called +him a stupid old fool, and told him to go home and send his wife or +somebody who could speak common sense. Well, poor dear Alfred left as he +was ordered, thinking, at any rate, he would return by a different road, +so as to escape those dreadful words that had so overcome him going. Do +you believe he could get rid of them, though? No; there they were, large +as life, scrawled upon every place, and united by the lover's band as +before." + +"What, Pipelet and Cabrion still written along the walls?" + +"Precisely so, my king of lodgers. The end of it was that my poor +darling came home to me regularly brain-struck, talked in the wildest +and most desperate way of leaving France, exiling himself for ever, and +no one knows what. Well, I persuaded him to tell me all that had +happened; then I did my best to quiet him, and persuade him not to +worry himself about such a beggar as that Cabrion; and when I found he +had grown a little calmer, I left him, and went to take Cecily to the +notary's, before I proceeded on to the landlord to finish poor Alfred's +message. Now, perhaps, you think I've done? But I haven't, though. No; I +had hardly quitted the place, than that abominable Cabrion, who must +have watched me out, sent a couple of impudent great creatures, who +pursued Alfred with the most determined villainy. Oh, bless you, it +makes my very hair stand on end when I think of it! I'll tell you all +about their proceedings another time; let me first finish about the +notary. Well, off I started with Cecily in a hackney-coach,--as you told +me to do, you know. She was dressed in her pretty costume of a German +peasant; for having only just arrived, she had not had time to procure +any other, which I was to explain to M. Ferrand, and beg of him to +excuse. You may believe me or not, just as you please, my king of +lodgers, but though I have seen some pretty girls in my time,--myself, +for instance,--yet I never saw one (not even myself) comparable to +Cecily. And then she has such a way of using those wicked black eyes of +hers! She throws into them a look--a look--that seems--to mean--I know +not what--only they seem to pierce you through, and make you feel so +strange; I never saw such eyes in my life! Why, there's my poor, dear, +darling Alfred, whose virtue has never been suspected; well, the first +time that she fixed her looks on him, the dear fellow turned as red as a +carrot, and nothing in the world could have induced him to gaze in her +face a second time. I'm sure for more than an hour afterwards he kept +fidgeting about in his chair, as though he were sitting upon nettles. He +told me afterwards he could not account for it, but that somehow the +look Cecily bestowed on him seemed to bring to his thoughts all the +dreadful stories that shameless Bradamanti used to tell about the female +savages, and which used to make my poor dear simpleton of an Alfred +blush to his very fingers' ends." + +"But I want to hear what passed at the notary's. Never mind Alfred's +modesty just now, but tell me." + +"I was just going, M. Rodolph. It was just seven o'clock in the evening +when we arrived at M. Ferrand's, and I told the porter to let his master +know that Madame Pipelet was there with the young woman she had spoke to +Madame Seraphin about, and by whose orders she had brought her. Upon +which the porter heaved a deep sigh, and asked me if I knew what had +happened to Madame Seraphin? I told him, 'No; I hadn't heard of anything +being the matter with her.' Ah, M. Rodolph, prepare for another strange +event,--a most astounding circumstance!" + +"What can it be?" + +"Why, Madame Seraphin was drowned while on a party of pleasure to which +she had gone with her relations." + +"Drowned, and on a party of pleasure in the winter?" exclaimed Rodolph, +much surprised. + +"Yes, drowned, M. Rodolph. For my part I must say that I was more +astonished than distressed at the news; for since that affair of poor +Louise, who was taken to prison entirely through her information, I +downright hated Madame Seraphin. So when I heard what had befallen her, +all I did was to say to myself, 'Oh, she's drowned, is she,--drowned? +Well, I don't mean to make myself ill with crying, that's very sure. I +sha'n't die of grief,--that's my disposition.'" + +"And M. Ferrand?" + +"The porter said at first he did not think I could see his master, and +begged me to wait in his lodge while he went to see. But he almost +directly came back to fetch me. We crossed the courtyard, and entered an +apartment on the ground floor, where a single miserable candle was +twinkling its best to light it, but without success. The notary was +sitting beside the fireplace, and on the hearth a few smouldering ashes +still sent out a small degree of warmth. But such a wretched hole I +never saw! It was my first view of M. Ferrand. Oh, my stars, what a +downright ugly fellow he is! Such a man as he might have offered to make +me Queen of Arabia before I would have played Alfred false." + +"And tell me, did the notary appear much struck with Cecily when she +entered?" + +"Why, how can any one tell what he thinks while he keeps those great +green spectacles on? Besides, a godly saint such as he passes for has no +business to know whether a woman is handsome or ugly. However, when we +both walked into the room and stood before him, he gave quite a spring +up from his seat. Most likely, he was astonished at Cecily's dress, for +she looked for all the world (only a hundred thousand times better) like +one of those 'buy-a-broom' girls with her short petticoats and her +handsome legs set off by her blue stockings with red clocks. My +conscience, what a leg she has! Such a slender ankle!--and then, oh, +such a calf! With a foot as small and delicate as an opera dancer's. I +can tell you that the notary seemed almost speechless with surprise, +after he had looked at her through his green specs from head to toe." + +"Doubtless, as you say, he was struck by the whimsicality of Cecily's +costume." + +"Well, maybe so; however, I felt that the critical moment had arrived, +and began to feel rather queer; fortunately, just as my courage began to +fail me, M. Rodolph, I recollected a maxim I learned from you, and that +got me safe through my difficulty." + +"What maxim do you mean,--I don't remember teaching you any?" + +"Don't you know?--'It is always enough for one to wish, for the other to +refuse; or, for one to desire, for the other to be unwilling.' 'So,' +said I to myself, 'here goes to rid my king of lodgers of his German +niece, and to burthen the hard-hearted master of poor Louise with her. +Now, then, for a good piece of shamming;' and, without giving the notary +breathing time, I began by saying, in a polite and insinuating tone, 'I +hope, sir, you'll excuse my niece being dressed as she is, but she has +only just arrived, and has brought nothing with her but the costume of +her country; and I am sure it don't lay in my power to provide her with +others; and, besides, it would not be worth while, since we have merely +called to thank you for having allowed Madame Seraphin to say you would +see Cecily, in consequence of the favourable character I had given her. +Still, sir, I don't think, after all, she would suit you.'" + +"Capital, Madame Pipelet; go on." + +"'And why so?' inquired the notary, who had established himself by the +warmest corner of the fire, and seemed to be looking very attentively at +us from over his green spectacles, 'why should you suppose your niece +not likely to suit me?' 'Because, sir, Cecily is already quite homesick; +she has only been here three days and yet she wants to go back; and so, +she says, she will, too, if she is obliged to beg her way, or sing songs +and sell little brooms, like the rest of her countrywomen.' 'But bless +me!' answered M. Ferrand, 'do you, who are her principal relation, mean +to allow of that?' 'I don't see how I am to hinder her, sir,' said I. +'Certainly, I am the nearest relation she has, for the poor thing is an +orphan, as I told good Madame Seraphin; but then she is twenty years of +age, and, of course, mistress of her own actions.' 'Stuff and nonsense!' +interrupted he, quite impatiently; 'don't tell me about being her own +mistress; at her time of life she is bound to obey her relations, and +take their advice in all things.' Upon which Cecily began to cry and to +creep up to me, all of a tremble, as if she was quite afraid of the +notary." + +"And what said Jacques Ferrand further?" + +"Oh, he kept muttering in a grumbling tone, 'A young creature at that +age left to her own guidance! Why, it would be the ruin of her! And, as +for begging her way back to Germany--a pretty idea! And you mean to call +yourself her aunt, and say that you would sanction such conduct?' 'All +right,' says I to myself; 'you are falling into the trap as neat as +ninepence, you miserly old hunks, and if I do not saddle you with +Cecily, my name is not what it is!' 'Yes,' cried I, in a discontented +voice, 'I'm her aunt, sure enough, and worse luck to me for having such +an encumbrance; I have difficulty enough to earn my bread, without +having a great overgrown girl like that, to take it out of my mouth; and +I would much rather she went back to her own country than stop here to +be a burthen to me. The deuce take people who can't manage to maintain +their own children, but just send them for others to work for and keep +without even so much as paying their travelling expenses!' And then, as +if Cecily were up to my schemes, and desirous of playing into my hands, +she burst out into such a fit of crying and sobbing as quite touched the +notary, who began in a sniffling, whining tone, as though preaching a +sermon, 'Let me tell you that you are accountable before Providence for +the charge he has entrusted to your care and keeping, and you are +answerable for any false step this poor girl may take. Now I am willing +to join you in a charitable action; and if your niece will promise me to +be honest, industrious, virtuous, pious, and, above all, never upon any +occasion to desire to leave the house, I will take pity on her, and +receive her into my service.' 'No, no!' said Cecily, crying more +violently than ever, 'I don't want to stop here with this gentleman; I +wish to go back to my home; and I will, too!'" + +"Ah, ah," thought Rodolph, "her dangerous falsehood has not deserted +her,--the depraved creature has, evidently, fully comprehended the +instructions she received from Baron de Grauen." Then, speaking aloud, +the prince continued, "Did Cecily's resistance appear to displease M. +Jacques Ferrand?" + +"Yes, M. Rodolph, it seemed to make him as savage as could be, and he +muttered something between his teeth I could not make out. Then he said, +abruptly, 'It is not what you would prefer, young woman, but what is +most suitable and creditable that is to be considered. Providence will +never forsake you, so long as you conduct yourself respectably and +virtuously, and carefully attend to your religious duties. You will be +here in a family as pious as it is strict in all such matters; and if +your aunt has any real regard for your welfare, she will take advantage +of my offer. Your wages will be trifling at first, but hereafter I may +be induced to increase them should your good behaviour render you +deserving of encouragement.' 'Bravo!' thinks I to myself, 'I've +regularly hooked the miser, and fixed him with Cecily as right as a +trivet. Why, you old curmudgeon! You old skinflint! You miserable, +hard-hearted old hypocrite! You know very well that Seraphin was your +slave for years, and yet you seem to have forgotten her death, and the +dreadful manner of it, as much as though nothing had happened.' Then I +said out loud, 'No doubt, sir, yours is a very good place, and one as +many would be thankful to have, but if this girl is so homesick, what am +I to do?' 'Oh, take no notice of it,' replied the notary, 'and it will +soon wear away. But make up your minds,--just say one way or the other; +if you decide upon your niece entering my service, bring her here +to-morrow evening at the same hour you came to-night; and my porter will +show her about the premises, and also explain her work to her. As for +her wages, I shall begin with twenty francs a month and her food.' 'Oh, +sir, I hope you will make it twenty-five francs,--twenty is really too +little!' 'No, no, not at present; by and by perhaps I may, if I am +satisfied. One thing, however, I must impress upon you, and that is, +that your niece will never go beyond these walls, neither will she be +allowed to receive any visitors.' 'Bless your heart, sir! Who could come +to see her? Why, she does not know a single soul in Paris, except +myself, and I am obliged to stay at home to mind my lodge. I have been +terribly put about to come out this evening, so you will see nothing of +me; and as for my niece, she will be as great a stranger to me as though +she was in her own country; and the best way to prevent her going out +will be to make her wear the costume of her country,--she could not +venture in the streets dressed in that manner.' 'You are quite right,' +replied the notary; 'it is, besides, always respectable to wear the +dress of our own country; your niece shall, therefore, continue to dress +as she now is.' 'Come, my girl,' said I to Cecily, who, with her head +hanging down, and her finger in the corner of her mouth, was keeping up +a continual weeping, 'come, make up your mind. A good place with a +worthy master is not to be found every day; so, if you choose to refuse +it, do, but don't look to me for any further support; I'll have nothing +to do with you, I can tell you!' Upon which Cecily, swelling as though +her heart would burst, replied, sobbing, 'Very well, then, if aunt was +so particular, she should stay, but only on condition that, if she did +not find herself comfortable, she might come away at the end of a +fortnight.' 'Don't be alarmed,' answered the notary, 'I shall not force +you to stop against your will. I can promise you there are too many +young persons would be thankful to have my situation; but I pity your +position as an orphan, and, therefore, give you the preference. There, +take your earnest money; and let your aunt bring you here about this +time to-morrow evening.' Cecily was too busy crying to take the two +francs' piece the old starvemouse offered, so I took it for her. We made +our courtesies and came away." + +"You have managed admirably, Madame Pipelet; and I do not forget my +promise; here is what I promised you, if you managed to get this girl +taken off my hands." + +"Wait till to-morrow before you give it me, my king of lodgers!" cried +Madame Pipelet, putting back the money Rodolph offered her; "perhaps, +when I go to take Cecily this evening, M. Ferrand may have changed his +mind." + +"Not he, depend upon it! But where is she?" + +"In the small room adjoining the apartments of the commandant; she will +not stir out after the orders you gave. She seems mild and gentle as a +lamb; but then, her eyes! Oh, dear! It is difficult to fancy her either +one or the other, when one looks at those--Talking of the commandant, +what a plotting, mysterious person he is! Would you believe it? When he +came here to superintend the packing up of his furniture, he told me +that if any letters came addressed to 'Madame Vincent,' they were for +him, and that I was to send them to the Rue Mondine, No. 5. The idea of +the pretty creature having his letters addressed as if for a female! +What a conceited jackanapes he is! But the best of it was, he asked me +what had become of his wood! 'Your wood?' said I, 'why don't you ask +after your forest when you are about it?' Oh, I said it so flat and +plain! A mean, grasping hound, to trouble himself to ask after two +pitiful loads of wood,--his wood, indeed! 'What has become of your +wood?' repeated I, still working him on, till he got quite white with +passion, 'why, I burnt it to keep your things from the damp, which would +otherwise have made mushrooms grow upon your fine embroidered cap, and +the mildew from rotting your smart, glittering _robe de chambre_, which +you must love so dearly, because you have put it on so many times when +you were fool enough to wait for those who never meant to come, but were +only laughing at you,--like the lady who made believe she was going to +pay you a visit, and then passed your door, though you had set it wide +open to show yourself decked in all your finery. Your wood, indeed! I +like that! You poor squeeze-penny of a commandant,--enough to disgust +one with men altogether.'" + +A deep, plaintive groan, something between a grunt and a sigh, from the +bed on which Alfred reposed, here interrupted Madame Pipelet. + +"Ah, there's the old duck beginning to stir; he will not be long before +he wakes now. Will you excuse me, my king of lodgers?" + +"Certainly; but I have yet some particulars to inquire of you." + +"Oh, very well," answered Madame Pipelet. Then going up to her husband, +she drew back the curtains, saying, "How are you by this time, my old +chick? Look! there's M. Rodolph, who has heard all about this fresh +villainy of Cabrion's, and is as sorry about it as can be." + +"Ah, M. Rodolph," murmured Alfred, languidly turning his head towards +the announced visitor, "this time the monster has struck at my heart; I +shall quit this bed no more. I am now the object of all the placards of +this vast city; my name is blazoned upon every wall in Paris, linked +with that of a wretch unworthy of mention. Yes, _mossieur_, there you +may see 'Pipelet and Cabrion,' bound together by an enormous band of +union. Yes, I--I--the injured Pipelet--united in bonds of seeming amity +and intimacy with that fellow Cabrion! Oh, _mossieur_, pity me! My name +joined with his in the eyes of all the dwellers of this great +capital,--the leading city of Europe!" + +"Ah, M. Rodolph knows all about that; but he has yet to be told of your +yesterday's adventures with those two singular women, or whatever they +were." + +"Alas, monsieur," sighed Alfred, in a mournful voice, "he reserved his +master-stroke of wickedness and fiendish malice till the last. This, +however, passes all bounds, and human patience can bear no more!" + +"Come, my dear M. Pipelet, calm yourself, and endeavour to relate this +fresh annoyance to me." + +"All that he has hitherto done to vex and insult me is as nothing +compared to his last malignant scheme to break my heart and ruin my +peace. But now the shameless monster has gone the full extent of +fiendish provocation. I know not whether I have the power of describing +to you the scene of last night; when I attempt to speak, shame, +confusion, and outraged modesty seem to deprive me of voice and breath." + +M. Pipelet, having managed with some difficulty to raise himself in his +bed, modestly buttoned his flannel waistcoat up to his throat, and began +in the following terms: + +"My wife had just gone out, absorbed in the bitter reflections arising +from the sight of my name so disgracefully prostituted on every wall in +Paris; I sought to while away my solitary hours by attending to the new +soling of a boot twenty times commenced and as often abandoned,--thanks +to the unceasing persecutions of my pitiless persecutor. Well, sir, I +was sitting at a table with the boot on my arm, though my thoughts were +far otherwise engaged, when I saw the lodge door open and a female +enter. The person who had just come in was wrapped in a large hooded +cloak, and, without thinking any harm, I civilly rose from my seat, and +put my hand to my hat. Then I observed another female, also attired in a +similar cloak, with a large hood, enter the lodge and shut the door +after her. Although somewhat astonished at the familiarity of such a +proceeding, and the silence maintained by both the women, I rose a +second time from my chair, and a second time I lifted my hand to my hat. +And then, sir,--but no, no, I can never finish the recital; my wounded +modesty chokes my utterance." + +"Come, come, old pet," said Madame Pipelet, encouragingly, "get on with +your story; we are all men here." + +"Well, then," stammered forth Alfred, his face becoming scarlet as the +fullest blown peony, "then their mantles fell to the ground. And what do +you think I saw? Why, a couple of sirens, or nymphs, or witches of one +kind or the other, with no sort of clothing except a petticoat made of +leaves, while a wreath of similar descriptions decorated their heads. +And then the two advanced towards me with outstretched arms, as though +inviting me to throw myself into them." + +"Oh, the impudent sluts!" exclaimed Anastasie. + +"Their impure advances disgusted me," continued Alfred, animated with a +chaste indignation; "and, in conformity with a habit which has ever +attended the most critical moments of my life, I remained still and +motionless on my chair. Then, profiting by my surprise and stupor, the +two sirens came gently forward to a sort of low music, turning and +twisting and extending their arms and legs in all directions. I became +petrified, as though changed to stone; I waited their approach in silent +agony. They came nearer and nearer, till at last they wrapped me tight +in their arms." + +"Did they, though?" cried Anastasie. "Oh, the hussies! I only wish I had +been there with my broomstick; I'd have taught them how to come hopping +and skipping, and holding out their arms for an innocent, virtuous, +married man to tumble into,--I would, the bold-faced beggars!" + +[Illustration: "_Slowly Dancing and Whirling around Me_" +Original Etching by Porteau] + +"When I felt myself in a manner half stifled between them, I gave myself +up for lost. My blood retreated from my heart,--I felt as if struck with +death; when one of the sirens--a great, fair girl, and the boldest of +the two--leaned upon my shoulder, took off my hat, and, still slowly +dancing and whirling around me, left me bald-headed and defenceless. +Then the other one, accompanying the action with all sorts of attitudes +and singular dances, and waving of the arms, draws out a pair of +scissors she must have hid somewhere,--for I'm quite sure she had no +pockets,--came close behind me, and grasping with one hand all my +remaining hair, snipped it all off with one cut of her huge scissors; +yes, all,--every lock,--every hair I had to cover my poor old head; +dancing, and wheeling, and balancing, first on one foot, then on the +other, swaying out legs and arms in all sorts of stage-struck ways; then +joining voices, the pair of audacious spirits began singing, ''Tis for +Cabrion,--for Cabrion; we take your locks for Cabrion,--your dear friend +Cabrion!' Whilst the second voice repeated in a louder strain, 'Your +head is shorn for Cabrion,--for Cabrion, your friend!'" + +After a pause, interrupted by repeated sighs and groans, Alfred resumed: + +"During this impudent spoliation I once ventured to raise my eyes, and +then I saw flat against the windows of the lodge the detestable +countenance of Cabrion, with his large beard and pointed-crowned hat. He +was laughing, too,--laughing with all his might. Oh, how I shuddered at +the horrible vision! To escape from so harrowing a sight I closed my +eyes. When I opened them again all had disappeared, and I found myself +seated on my chair, bald-headed and completely disfigured for life. You +see, monsieur, that, by dint of obstinacy, impudence, and cunning, +Cabrion has at length effected his fell design. But by what fearful, +what diabolical means, has he succeeded! He wishes the world to believe +he is my accepted friend; began by sticking up a notice here in my +immediate neighbourhood to the effect that he and I had entered into a +treaty of friendship! Then, not content with so infamous an assertion, +he has caused my name, in conjunction with his own, to be displayed on +every wall in Paris, binding them together with an enormous band of +union, so that at this moment the whole of this vast capital is +impressed with the most perfect belief of my close intimacy with this +scoundrel. Then he desired locks of my hair, and he has every hair off +my head,--no doubt with the view, the guilty view, of exhibiting them as +proofs of our sworn friendship. Thanks to the merciless exaction of his +bold-faced dancing women, my last lock is stolen. So now, monsieur, you +see plainly there is nothing left for me but to quit France,--my lovely +and beloved France,--in whose dear bosom I had hoped to live and die!" + +And with these pathetic words Alfred clasped his hands, closed his eyes, +and threw himself back upon his bed. + +"Oh, nonsense, you old duck!" cried Anastasie. "On the contrary, now the +villain has gained his point and stolen your hair, he will let you alone +for the future. He has no further cause to disturb and torment you." + +"Let me alone?" exclaimed M. Pipelet, with a convulsive spring upwards. +"Oh, you know him not; he is insatiable. True, he has got the hair he so +much desired to obtain; but who can say what he may further require of +me?" + +The appearance of Rigolette at the entrance to the lodge put a stop to +the lamentations of M. Pipelet. + +"Stay where you are, mademoiselle!" cried he, faithful to his habitual +chaste delicacy. "Pray don't think of coming in, for I am undressed and +in bed!" So saying, he covered himself up almost to his eyes, while +Rigolette, surprised and bewildered, remained at the threshold of the +door. + +"Oh, my pretty neighbour," said Rodolph, pitying her confusion, "I was +just coming up to speak with you. Can you wait for me one minute?" Then +addressing Anastasie, he said, "Pray let nothing prevent your taking +Cecily to Jacques Ferrand's this evening." + +"Make yourself perfectly easy, my king of lodgers; at seven o'clock +precisely she shall be duly placed there. Now that Morel's wife is able +to get about, I will ask her to mind the lodge for me while I am away; +for, bless you, Alfred would not stay by himself,--not for a 'varsal +crown!" + +The bright freshness of Rigolette's complexion was daily fading away, +while her once round, dimpled cheek had sunk and given place to a pale, +careworn countenance, the usually gay, mirthful expression of which had +changed into a grave, thoughtful cast, more serious and mournful still +since her meeting with Fleur-de-Marie at the gate of St. Lazare. + +"I am so glad to see you," said Rigolette to Rodolph, when they were at +a convenient distance from the lodge of Madame Pipelet. "I have so much +to say to you; I have, indeed." + +"Well, then, first of all, tell me of yourself and your health. Let me +look at this pretty face, and see whether it is as gay and blooming as +usual. No, indeed. I declare you have grown quite pale and thin; I am +sure you work too hard." + +"Oh, no, indeed, M. Rodolph, it is not that. On the contrary, my work +does me good; it hinders me from thinking too much, for I am obliged to +attend to what I am about. But it is grief, M. Rodolph, and nothing +else, that has altered me so much. And how can I help it? Every time I +see that poor Germain, I grieve more and more." + +"He is still as desponding as ever, then?" + +"Oh, worse than ever, M. Rodolph. And what is the most distressing is, +that, whatever I try to do to cheer him up, takes quite the contrary +effect; it seems as though a spell hung over me!" And here the large, +dark eyes of Rigolette were filled with tears. + +"How do you know, my dear neighbour?" + +"Why, only yesterday I went to see him, and to take him a book he was +desirous of having; it was a romance we read together when we lived +happily as near neighbours and dear friends. Well, directly he saw the +book, he burst into tears; but that did not astonish me,--it seemed +natural enough. Poor fellow! I dare say it brought back to his +recollection those happy evenings when he used to sit beside the fire in +my nice, pretty little room; while now he was in a horrid prison, the +companion of vile and wicked men, who only jeered at his melancholy. +Poor, dear Germain! It is very, very hard!" + +"Take courage, my dear friend," said Rodolph. "When Germain quits his +prison, and his innocence is proved, he will find his mother and many +dear friends, in whose society, as well as in yours, he will soon forget +his present sufferings, as well as the hard trials he has undergone." + +"That's all very pleasant when it arrives, but that won't stop his +tormenting himself till it does. But that is not all, neither." + +"What other uneasiness has he?" + +"Why, he being the only innocent man among all the bad people there, +they are always annoying and behaving ill to him, because he will not +join in their idle and vicious amusements. The head turnkey, who is a +very good sort of man, advised me to recommend Germain, for his own +sake, not to keep himself at quite such a distance from his companions, +but to try and familiarise himself with these bad men. However, it is no +use trying; he cannot bring himself to endure their company or +conversation. And I am constantly tormented with the dread that some of +these days they will do him some harm out of spite." + +Then all at once interrupting herself, and drying her tears, Rigolette +resumed: + +"But, dear me, how selfish I am! I keep talking of my own concerns +without ever recollecting to speak to you about the Goualeuse." + +"The Goualeuse!" exclaimed Rodolph, with surprise. + +"I met her the day before yesterday, when I went to see Louise at St. +Lazare." + +"The Goualeuse?" + +"Yes, indeed, M. Rodolph." + +"At St. Lazare?" + +"She was leaving the prison in company with an elderly female." + +"It cannot be," exclaimed Rodolph, in extreme astonishment; "you must be +mistaken." + +"I assure you it was herself, M. Rodolph." + +"You really must be in error." + +"Oh, no, I was not mistaken; although she was dressed as a country girl +I recollected her again directly. She looked beautiful as ever, though +pale; and she had just the same melancholy look she used to have." + +"How very strange that she should be in Paris without my having heard of +it! I can scarcely credit it. And what had she been doing at St. +Lazare?" + +"I suppose, like myself, she had been to see some one confined there; +but I had not time to ask her many questions, for the person who was +with her seemed so very cross, and to be in such a hurry! Then it seems +you know the Goualeuse as well as myself, M. Rodolph?" + +"I do, certainly." + +"Oh, then, that settles the matter! And it must have been of you she +spoke." + +"Of me?" + +"Yes, indeed, M. Rodolph. For, you see, I was just mentioning to her +what had happened to poor Louise and Germain,--both so good, yet so +persecuted by that wicked Jacques Ferrand,--taking care to do as you bid +me, and not say a word of your being interested in their welfare so then +the Goualeuse told me if a generous person she knew were once acquainted +with their hard fate, and how little they deserved it, he would be sure +to assist them. And then I asked her the name of the person she alluded +to, and she named you, M. Rodolph." + +"Oh, then, it was her, sure enough." + +"You can't imagine how much surprised we both were at this discovery, +either of resemblance or name; and before we parted we agreed to let +each other know whether our M. Rodolph was one and the same. And it +seems you are the very identical Rodolph both of La Goualeuse and +myself. Are you not, neighbour?" + +"I believe so; and I can, at least, assure you I take the greatest +possible interest in the fate of this poor girl,--still I am much +surprised to find, by what you say, that she is in Paris. And so great +is my astonishment that, had you not so faithfully related your +interview, I should have persisted in believing you were mistaken. But I +must say good-bye for the present,--what you tell me respecting La +Goualeuse obliges me to quit you. Be as careful as ever in not +mentioning to any one that there are certain unknown friends watching +over the welfare both of Louise and Germain, who will come forward at a +right moment and see them safe through their troubles; it is more +essential than ever that strict secrecy should be kept on this point. By +the way, how are the Morel family getting on?" + +"Oh, extremely well, M. Rodolph. The mother has quite got about again, +and the children are daily improving. Ah, the whole family owe their +life and happiness to you! You are so good and so generous to them." + +"And how is poor Morel himself? Does he get any better?" + +"Oh, dear, yes; I heard of him yesterday, he seems from time to time to +have some lucid moments, and hopes are entertained of his madness being +curable. So be of good heart, neighbour, take care of yourself, and +good-bye for the present." + +"But first tell me truly, are you quite sure you want for nothing? Are +you still able to maintain yourself with the profits of your needle?" + +"Oh, yes, thank you, M. Rodolph. I work rather later at night to make up +for my lost time during the day. But it does not matter much, for if I +go to bed I don't sleep." + +"Poor, dear neighbour! Why, you have grown sadly out of spirits. I am +afraid that Papa Cretu and Ramonette don't sing much, if they wait for +you to set them the example." + +"You are right enough, M. Rodolph, my birds have quite left off singing, +as well as myself. Now I know you will laugh at me, but I'll tell you +what I firmly think and believe,--the poor little creatures are aware +that I am dull and out of spirits, and instead of singing and warbling +as if their little throats would burst for joy when they see me, they +just give a little gentle twitter, as though they would not disturb me +for the world, but would be so glad to console me if they had the power. +It is very stupid of me to fancy such things, is it not, M. Rodolph?" + +"Not at all! And I am quite sure that your affectionate friends the +birds have observed your being less happy than usual." + +"Well, I'm sure I shouldn't wonder! The poor, dear things are so very +clever," said Rigolette, innocently, delighted to find her own opinion +as to the sagacity of her companions in solitude thus powerfully +confirmed. + +"Oh, I am quite sure about it, nothing is more intelligent than +gratitude. But once more, good-bye,--I shall see you again soon, I hope, +and by that time, I trust your pretty eyes will have grown brighter, +your cheeks regained their usual roses, and your merry voice have +recovered all its gaiety, till Papa Cretu and Ramonette will scarcely be +able to keep up with you." + +"Heaven grant you may prove a true prophet, M. Rodolph!" said Rigolette, +heaving a deep sigh. "But, good-bye, neighbour, don't let me keep you." + +"Fare you well, for the present!" + +Rodolph, wholly at a loss to understand why Madame Georges should have +brought or sent Fleur-de-Marie to Paris without giving him the least +intimation of her intention, hastened home for the purpose of +despatching a special messenger to the farm at Bouqueval. + +Just as he entered the Rue Plumet he observed a travelling carriage +drawn up before the entrance of his hotel. The vehicle contained Murphy, +who had that instant returned from Normandy, whither he had gone, as the +reader is already aware, to counteract the base schemes of the stepmother +of Madame d'Harville and her infamous confederate, Bradamanti. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +MURPHY AND POLIDORI. + + +Sir Walter Murphy's features were beaming with satisfaction. When he +alighted from the carriage he gave a brace of pistols to one of the +prince's servants, took off his long travelling coat, and, without +giving himself time to change his clothes, followed Rodolph, who +impatiently had preceded him to his apartment. + +"Good news, monseigneur! Good news!" exclaimed the squire, when he was +alone with Rodolph; "the wretches are unmasked, M. d'Orbigny is saved. +You despatched me just in time; one hour later and another crime would +have been committed." + +"And Madame d'Harville?" + +"Is overjoyed at having again acquired her father's affection; and full +of happiness at having arrived, thanks to your advice, in time to snatch +him from certain death." + +"So, then, Polidori--" + +"Was, in this instance, the worthy accomplice of Madame d'Harville's +stepmother. But what a wretch is this stepmother! What _sang-froid_! +What audacity! And this Polidori! Ah, monseigneur, you have frequently +desired to thank me for what you call my proofs of devotion." + +"I have always said proofs of friendship, my dear Murphy." + +"Well, monseigneur, never--no, never--has this friendship been exposed +to a severer trial than in this present case!" said the squire, with an +air half serious, half pleasant. + +"What mean you?" + +"The disguises of the coalman, the peregrinations in the Cite, and all +that sort of thing, they have been as nothing, actually nothing, when +compared with the journey I have just made with that infernal Polidori." + +"What do you mean? Polidori?" + +"I have brought him back with me." + +"With you?" + +"With me: judge what company! During twelve hours side by side with the +man I most despise and hate in the world,--I'd as soon travel with a +serpent--any beast of antipathy!" + +"And where is Polidori now?" + +"In the house in the Allee des Veuves, under good and safe guard." + +"Then he made no resistance to following you?" + +"None. I offered him the choice between being apprehended at once by the +French authorities, or being my prisoner in the Allee des Veuves,--he +didn't hesitate for an instant." + +"You are right; it is best to have him thus in our grasp. You are worth +your weight in gold, my dear old Murphy. But tell me all about your +journey; I am impatient to know how this shameless woman, and her +equally shameless accomplice, were at last unmasked." + +"Nothing could be more simple. I had only to follow the letter of your +instructions in order to terrify and crush these wretches. Under these +circumstances, monseigneur, you have served, as you always do, persons +of worth, and punished the wicked, noble preserver that you are!" + +"Sir Walter! Sir Walter! Do you recollect the flatteries of the Baron de +Grauen?" said Rodolph, smiling. + +"Well, then, monseigneur, I will begin,--or, perhaps, you would prefer +first reading this letter of the Marquise d'Harville's, which will +inform you on every point that occurred previous to my arrival, which so +completely confounded Polidori." + +"A letter! Pray let me have it immediately." + +Murphy gave the letter of the marquise to Rodolph, adding: + +"As we had agreed, instead of accompanying Madame d'Harville to her +father's, I alighted at a small inn quite close to the chateau, where I +was to wait until the marquise sent for me." + +Rodolph read what follows with tender and impatient solicitude: + + "MONSEIGNEUR:--After all I owe you already, I now owe to you my + father's life. I will allow facts to speak for themselves; they + will say better than I can what fresh accumulations of gratitude + to you I have added to those already amassed in my heart. + Understanding all the importance of the advice you sent to me by + Sir Walter Murphy, who overtook me on my way to Normandy a short + distance from Paris, I travelled as speedily as possible to the + Chateau des Aubiers. I know not why, but the countenances of the + persons who received me appeared to me sinister. I did not see + amongst them any one of the old servitors of our house; no one + knew me. I was obliged to tell them my name. + + "I learned that for several days my father had been suffering + greatly, and that my stepmother had just brought a physician + from Paris. I had no doubt but this was Doctor Polidori. + Desirous of being immediately conducted to my father, I inquired + for an old _valet de chambre_ to whom he was much attached; he + had quitted the chateau some time previously. This I learned + from a house-steward who had shown me to my apartment, saying + that he would inform my stepmother of my arrival. Was it + illusion or suspicion? It seemed to me that my coming annoyed + the people at the chateau where all was gloomy and sinister. In + the bent of mind in which I was we seek to draw inferences from + the slightest circumstances. I remarked in every part traces of + disorder and neglect, as if it had been too much trouble to take + care of a house which was so soon to be abandoned. My + uneasiness--my anxiety increased at every moment. + + "After having established my daughter and her governess in an + apartment, I was about to proceed to my father, when my + stepmother entered the apartment. In spite of her artfulness, + in spite of the control which she ordinarily exercised over + herself, she appeared alarmed at my sudden arrival. 'M. + d'Orbigny does not expect your visit, madame,' she said to me, + 'and he is suffering so much that a surprise may be fatal. I + think it, therefore, best that he should not be told of your + arrival, for he would be unable to account for it, and--' + + "I did not allow her to finish. 'A terrible event has occurred, + madame,' I said, 'M. d'Harville is dead, in consequence of a + fatal imprudence. After so deplorable a result, I could no + longer remain in Paris in my own house, and I have, therefore, + come to my father's, in order to pass the first days of my + mourning.' + + "'A widow! Ah, that, indeed, is unexpected happiness!' exclaimed + my stepmother, in a rage. From what you know, monseigneur, of + the unhappy marriage which this woman had planned in order to + avenge herself on me, you will comprehend the brutality of her + remark. + + "'It is because I fear you might be as unexpectedly happy as + myself, madame, that I came here,' was my (perhaps imprudent) + reply. 'I wish to see my father.' + + "'That's impossible, at this moment!' she replied, turning very + pale; 'the sight of you would cause a dangerous degree of + excitement.' + + "'If my father is so seriously ill,' I observed, 'why was I not + informed of it?' + + "'Such was M. d'Orbigny's will,' replied my stepmother. + + "'I do not believe you, madame! and I shall go and assure myself + of the truth,' I said, and turned towards the door of my + chamber. + + "'I tell you again that the unexpected sight of you may have a + most prejudicial effect on your father!' she cried, coming + before me so as to hinder my further progress; 'I will not allow + you to go into his room, until I have informed him of your + arrival with all the care and precaution which his situation + requires.' + + "I was in a cruel perplexity, monseigneur. A sudden surprise + might really be dangerous to my father, but this woman,--usually + so calm, so self-possessed--seemed to me so overcome by my + presence, I had so many reasons to doubt the sincerity of her + solicitude for the health of him whom she had married from + cupidity; and then, too, the presence of Doctor Polidori, the + murderer of my mother, caused me altogether such extreme alarm + that, believing my father's life menaced, I did not hesitate + between the hope of saving him and the fear of causing him + severe emotion. 'I will see my father, and that instantly!' I + said to my stepmother. And although she tried to retain me by + the arm, I went out of the room. Completely losing her presence + of mind, this woman tried a second time, and almost by force, to + prevent me from quitting the chamber. This incredible resistance + increased my alarm, I disengaged myself from her grasp, and, + knowing my father's apartment, I ran thither with all speed, and + entered the room. + + "Oh, monseigneur, during my life I never can forget that scene, + and the picture presented to my eyes. My father, scarcely to be + recognised, pale and meagre, with suffering depicted in every + feature, his head reclining on a pillow, was lying extended on a + large armchair. At the corner of the fireplace, standing close + to him, was Doctor Polidori, just about to pour into a cup, + which a nurse presented to him, some drops of a liquor contained + in a small glass bottle which he held in his hand. His long red + beard gave even a more than usually sinister appearance to his + physiognomy. I entered so hastily that he gave a look of + surprise at my stepmother, who followed me with hasty steps; and + instead of handing to my father the draught he had prepared for + him, he suddenly placed the phial on the mantelpiece. Guided by + an instinct for which I am unable to account, my first movement + was to seize the phial. Remarking instantly the surprise and + alarm of my stepmother and Polidori, I congratulated myself on + my promptitude. My father, amazed, seemed irritated at the sight + of me. I expected this. Polidori darted at me a ferocious scowl, + and, in spite of the presence of my father and the nurse, I + feared the wretch, seeing his crime so nearly disclosed, would + have recourse to violence with me. I felt the necessity of + support at a moment so decisive; and ringing the bell, one of my + father's servants came in, whom I requested to tell my _valet de + chambre_ (who had already been informed) to go and seek some + things I had left at the little inn. Sir Walter Murphy was aware + that, in order not to arouse my stepmother's suspicions, in case + it should be necessary to give my orders in her presence, I + should employ this means of requesting him to come to me. Such + was the surprise of my father and stepmother, that the servant + quitted the room before they could utter a word. I felt my + courage then rise, for, in a few minutes, Sir Walter Murphy + would be at my side. + + "'What does all this mean?' said my father to me, in a voice + feeble, but still angry and imperious. 'You here, Clemence + without my sending for you? Then, scarcely arrived, you seize + the phial containing the draught the doctor was about to give + me. Will you explain this madness?' + + "'Leave the room,' said my stepmother to the nurse. The woman + obeyed. 'Compose yourself, my dear!' said my stepmother, + addressing my father; 'you know how injurious the slightest + emotion is to you. Since your daughter will come here in spite + of you, and her presence is so disagreeable to you, give me your + arm. I will lead you into the small salon, and then our good + doctor will make Madame d'Harville comprehend how imprudent her + conduct has been, to say the least of it.' And she gave her + accomplice a meaning look. I at once saw through my stepmother's + design. She was desirous of leading my father away, and leaving + me alone with Polidori, who, in this extreme case, no doubt, + would have used force to obtain from me the phial which might + supply so evident a proof of his criminal designs. + + "'You are right,' said my father to my stepmother. 'Since I am + thus pursued, even in my private apartments, without respect for + my wishes, I will leave the place free to intruders.' And rising + with difficulty, he took the arm that was offered to him by my + stepmother, and went towards the salon. + + "At this moment Polidori advanced towards me; but I went close + up to my father and said to him, 'I will explain to you why I + have arrived so suddenly, and what may appear strange in my + conduct. I became yesterday a widow; and it was yesterday, + father, that I learned your life was threatened.' He was walking + very much bent, but at these words he stopped, threw himself + erect, and looking at me with intense surprise, said: + + "'You are a widow? My life is threatened? What does all this + mean?' + + "'And who dares threaten the life of M. d'Orbigny, madame?' + asked my stepmother, most audaciously. + + "'Yes, who threatens it?' added Polidori. + + "'You, sir!--you, madame!' I replied. + + "'What horror!' exclaimed my stepmother, advancing a step + towards me. + + "'What I assert I will prove, madame!' I replied. + + "'Such an accusation is most frightful!' cried my father. + + "'I will leave the house this very moment, since I am exposed to + such shameful calumnies,' said Doctor Polidori, with the + apparent indignation of a man whose honour has been outraged. + Beginning to feel the danger of his position, no doubt, he was + desirous of effecting his escape. At the moment when he was + trying to open the door, it opened, and he found himself face to + face with Sir Walter Murphy." + +Rodolph ceased reading, held out his hand to the squire, and said: + +"Well done, my good old friend; your presence must have crushed the +scoundrel!" + +"That's precisely the word, monseigneur. He turned livid, receded a +couple of paces, looking at me aghast; he seemed thunderstruck. To find +me at the further extremity of Normandy, in such a moment, he must have +thought he had a terrible dream. But go on, monseigneur; you will see +that this infernal Comtesse d'Orbigny had her share of the overwhelming +shame, thanks to what you told me as to her visit to the charlatan +Bradamanti--Polidori--in the house in the Rue du Temple; for, after all, +it was you who acted in this, I assure you, and you came in most happily +and opportunely to the rescue on this occasion." + +Rodolph smiled, and continued reading Madame d'Harville's letter: + + "At the sight of Sir Walter Murphy, Polidori was panic-struck; + my stepmother went on from one surprise to another; my father, + agitated at this scene, weakened by his malady, was compelled to + sit down in an armchair. Sir Walter double-locked the door by + which he had entered; and placing himself before that which led + to the next apartment, that Doctor Polidori might not escape, he + said to my poor father, with a tone of the utmost respect, 'A + thousand pardons, Monsieur le Comte, for the liberty I take, but + an imperious necessity, dictated by your interest alone (and + which you will speedily recognise), compels me to act thus. My + name is Sir Walter Murphy, as this wretch can testify, who at + the sight of me trembles in every limb. I am the private adviser + of his royal highness Monseigneur the Grand Duke Regnant of + Gerolstein.' + + "'Quite true!' stammered forth Doctor Polidori, overcome with + fright. 'But then, sir, what have you come here for? What seek + you?' + + "'Sir Walter Murphy,' I observed, addressing my father, 'is here + with me to unmask the wretches whose victim you have so nearly + been.' Then handing the phial to Sir Walter, I added, 'I was + suddenly tempted to seize on this phial at the moment when + Doctor Polidori was about to pour some drops of the liquor it + contains into a draught he was about to offer to my father.' + + "'A practitioner in the neighbouring village shall analyse + before you the contents of this bottle, which I will deposit in + your hands, M. le Comte; and if it is proved to contain a slow + and sure poison,' said Sir Walter Murphy to my father, 'you + cannot have any further doubt as to the dangers you have run, + and which the tender care of your daughter will most happily + have averted.' + + "My poor father looked by turns at his wife, Doctor Polidori, + and Sir Walter, with an air of doubt and anxiety; his features + betrayed indescribable anguish. No doubt but he resisted with + all his might increasing and terrible suspicions, fearing to be + obliged to confess the infamy of my stepmother. At length, + concealing his head in his hands, he exclaimed, 'Oh, this is, + indeed, horrible!--impossible! Am I in a dream?' + + "'No, it is no dream!' cried my stepmother, audaciously; + 'nothing can be more real than this atrocious calumny, concerted + beforehand to destroy an unhappy woman, whose only crime is that + of consecrating her whole existence to you. Come, come, my dear, + do not remain a moment longer here!' she continued, addressing + my father; 'I do not suppose that your daughter will have the + insolence to retain you here against your will.' + + "'Yes, yes, let me go!' said my father, highly excited; 'all + this is not true--cannot be true! I will not hear any more, my + brain cannot endure it. Fearful misgivings would arise in my + mind, which would embitter the few days I have still to live, + and nothing could console me for so horrible a discovery.' + + "My father seemed to suffer so much, to be so despairing that, + at all hazards, I resolved on putting an end to this scene, + which was so acutely trying for him. Sir Walter guessed my + desire, but desirous of full and entire justice, he replied to + my father, 'But a few words more, M. le Comte. You will, no + doubt, suffer chagrin of a most painful kind, when you detect in + the woman's conduct, whom you believe attached to you by + gratitude, a system of most atrocious ingratitude,--in herself a + hypocritical monster. But you will find your consolation in the + affections of your daughter, who has never failed you.' + + "'This passes all bounds!' cried my stepmother, with rage. 'And + by what right, sir, and on what proofs, dare you to base such + infamous calumnies? You say the phial contains poison? I deny + it, and will deny it until you prove the contrary. And even + supposing Doctor Polidori has by mistake confounded one medicine + with another, is that a reason why you should dare to accuse me + of having sought--desired to be his accomplice? Oh, no, no! I + cannot go on! An idea so horrible is already a crime! Once + again, sir, I defy you to say upon what proofs you and madame + here dare rely to support this shameful calumny!' said my + stepmother, with incredible audacity. + + "'Yes, on what proofs?' exclaimed my poor father; 'the torture I + undergo must have an end.' + + "'I am not here, sir, without proofs, M. le Comte,' replied Sir + Walter; 'and these proofs, the answer of this wretch shall + supply to you instantly.' Then Sir Walter spoke in German to + Doctor Polidori, who seemed to have suddenly assumed a little + assurance, but lost it as soon." + +"What did you say to him?" inquired Rodolph of the squire, pausing from +his perusal of the letter. + +"A few significant words, monseigneur, something like this: 'You have +escaped by flight from the sentence passed upon you by law and justice +in the Grand Duchy; you live in the Rue du Temple, under the false name +of Bradamanti; we know the infamous calling you pursue there. You +poisoned the count's first wife. Three days since Madame d'Orbigny went +to find you, in order to bring you here to poison her husband. His royal +highness is in Paris, and has proofs of all I now aver. If you confess +the truth in order to confound this wretched woman, you may hope, not +for pardon, but for an amelioration of the punishment you deserve. You +will accompany me to Paris, where I will deposit you in a safe place, +until his royal highness decides on what shall be done with you. If not, +one of two things: either his royal highness will demand and obtain your +delivery up to him, or this very moment I will send for the nearest +magistrate, this phial containing the poison shall be handed to him, you +will be apprehended on the spot, and a search be made instantly at your +domicile in the Rue du Temple; you know how utterly that must compromise +you, and then the justice of the French courts will take its course. +Choose therefore.' These disclosures, accusations, and threats, which he +knew to be so well founded, succeeding each other thus rapidly, +overwhelmed the scoundrel, who did not dream of my being so thoroughly +informed. In the hope of diminishing his expected punishment, he did not +hesitate to sacrifice his accomplice, and replied to me, 'Interrogate +me, and I will disclose the whole truth as regards this woman.'" + +"Capital! Excellent! my dear Murphy. I expected no less of you." + +"During my conversation with Polidori, the features of Madame +d'Harville's stepmother became greatly agitated. Although she did not +understand German, she saw, by the increasing dejection of her +accomplice, by his deprecating attitude, that I controlled him. In a +state of fearful anxiety, she endeavoured to catch Polidori's glance, in +order to inspire him with courage, or implore his discretion, but he +carefully avoided looking towards her." + +"And the count?" + +"His agitation was inexpressible! With his clenched hands he grasped +convulsively the arms of his chair, the perspiration stood on his brow, +and he scarcely breathed, whilst his burning and fixed eyes never +quitted mine; his agony was equal to his wife's. The remainder of Madame +d'Harville's letter will tell you the conclusion of this painful scene, +monseigneur." + +Rodolph continued the perusal of Madame d'Harville's letter: + + "After a conversation in German, which lasted for some minutes, + between Sir Walter Murphy and Polidori, Sir Walter said to the + latter, 'Now reply. Was it not madame,' and he looked towards my + stepmother, 'who, during the illness of the count's first wife, + introduced you to him as a physician?' + + "'Yes, it was!' replied Polidori. + + "'In order that you might serve the horrid projects of madame, + were you not criminal enough to render mortal, by your deadly + prescriptions, the malady of the Countess d'Orbigny, which was + but slight in the first instance?' + + "'Yes!' replied Polidori. My father heaved a painful sigh, + raised both his hands to heaven, and let them fall perfectly + overcome. + + "'Lies and infamies!' cried my stepmother; 'it is all false,--a + plot got up to destroy me!' + + "'Silence, madame!' said Sir Walter Murphy, in an authoritative + voice. Then continuing to address Polidori, 'Is it true that + three days since madame was at your residence in the Rue du + Temple, No. 17, where you lived under the assumed name of + Bradamanti?' + + "'That is true.' + + "'Did not madame propose to you to come here to assassinate the + Comte d'Orbigny, as you had assassinated his wife?' + + "'Alas! I cannot deny it!' said Polidori. + + "At this overwhelming revelation my father rose up, then, + extending his arms to me, he exclaimed, in a broken voice, 'In + the name of your unfortunate mother, pardon, pardon! I made her + suffer much, but I swear to you I was a stranger to the crime + which led her to the tomb!' and before I could prevent it, my + father fell at my knees. When Sir Walter and I raised him he had + fainted. I rang for the servants. Sir Walter took Polidori by + the arm and led him out of the room with him, saying to my + stepmother, 'Believe me, madame, it is best for you to leave + this house within an hour, otherwise I will deliver you up to + justice.' The wretched woman left the room in a state of rage + and affright, which you will easily conceive. When my father + recovered his senses, all that had occurred seemed to him a + horrid dream. I was under the sad necessity of imparting to him + my first suspicions as to my mother's premature death, + suspicions which your knowledge of Doctor Polidori's earlier + crimes had converted into certainty. I also told him how my + stepmother had persecuted me to the time of my marriage, and + what had been her object in making me marry M. d'Harville. In + proportion as my father had shown himself weak with respect to + this woman, so was he now pitiless towards her. He was desirous + of handing Madame d'Orbigny over to the tribunals. I represented + to him the horrible scandal of such a process, the publicity of + which must be so distressing to him; and I induced him to allow + her as much as was requisite for her to live upon. I had + considerable difficulty in persuading my father to these terms, + and he then wished me to dismiss her. This task was so painful + that I requested Sir Walter to perform it for me, which he did." + +"I consented with pleasure," interrupted Murphy. + +"And what said this woman?" + +"Madame d'Harville kindly solicited a pension of a hundred louis for +this woman: this appeared to me not only kindness, but weakness; it was +bad enough to allow her to escape from justice; and the count agreeing +with me, it was arranged that we should give her in all twenty-five +louis to maintain her until she should find some occupation. 'And to +what occupation can I, the Countess d'Orbigny, turn?' she asked me, +insolently. '_Ma foi!_ that is your affair,--you may do as a nurse or +housekeeper; but take my advice and seek some humbler, more obscure +occupation, for if you have the daring to mention your name--a name +which you owe to a crime--people will be astonished to see the Countess +d'Orbigny reduced to such a condition; they will then begin to make +inquiries, and you may judge what will be the result, if you are so +indiscreet as to say one word of the past. Hide yourself, therefore, at +a distance,--try and become forgotten; become Madame Pierre or Madame +Jacques, and repent if you can.' 'And do you suppose, sir,' she said, +having, no doubt, resolved on a piece of stage effect, 'do you suppose +that I shall not sue for the advantage which my marriage settlement +awards me?' 'Why, madame, nothing can be more just; it will be +dishonourable of M. d'Orbigny not to execute his promises, and forget +all you have done--and particularly all you wished to do towards him. Go +to law--go to law! Try for justice, and, no doubt, it will right you +with your husband.' A quarter of an hour after our conversation the +wretch of a woman was on the road to the neighbouring town." + +"You are right, it is painful to leave such an abandoned creature +unpunished, but a law proceeding is impossible." + + "I easily persuaded my father to leave Aubiers the same day," + +resumed Rodolph, continuing the perusal of Madame d'Harville's letter, + + "as too many painful feelings were excited by his being where he + was. His weak health will be benefited by a few days' change of + air and scene, as the doctor saw, whom Polidori had succeeded, + and for whom I sent from the neighbouring town. My father wished + him to analyse the contents of the phial, without giving him any + information as to what had passed. The doctor informed us that + he must do this at home, and that in two hours we should know + the result of his scrutiny; which was that several doses of this + liquor, composed with devilish skill, would, within a certain + time, cause death, without leaving any traces beyond those of an + ordinary malady, which he mentioned. In a few hours, + monseigneur, I go with my father and daughter to Fontainebleau, + where we shall remain for some time; then my father wishes to + return to Paris, but not to my house, for I could not reside + there after the late appalling event. As I mentioned in the + beginning of my letter, monseigneur, facts prove all I shall owe + to your inexhaustible care and solicitude. Forewarned by you, + aided by your advice, strong in the assistance of your excellent + and high-couraged Sir Walter, I have been enabled to snatch my + father from certain death, and am again assured of his love. + Adieu, monseigneur, it is impossible for me to say more; my + heart is too full, and I explain but faintly all I feel." + + "D'ORBIGNY D'HARVILLE." + + "I open my letter to repair something I had, I regret to say, + forgotten. According to your noble suggestion, I went to the + prison of St. Lazare, to visit the poor women prisoners, and I + found there an unhappy girl in whom you are interested. Her + angelic mildness, her pious resignation, were the admiration of + the respectable women who superintend the prisoners. To say that + she is called La Goualeuse is to urge you to obtain her liberty + instantly. The poor girl will tell you under what circumstances + she was carried off from the asylum in which you had placed her, + and was put in prison, where, at least, the candour and + sweetness of her disposition have been appreciated. Permit me, + also, to recall to you my two future protegees, the unhappy + mother and daughter despoiled by the notary Ferrand,--where are + they? I pray of you to try and discover them, so that, on my + return to Paris, I may pay the debt I have contracted towards + all unfortunate beings." + +"What! Has La Goualeuse, then, left the Bouqueval farm?" inquired +Murphy, as much astonished as Rodolph at this fresh discovery. + +"Just now I was informed that she had been seen quitting St. Lazare," +replied Rodolph. "I am quite bewildered on the subject; Madame Georges's +silence surprises and disturbs me. Poor little Fleur-de-Marie, what +fresh disasters can have befallen her? Send a man on horseback directly +to the farm, and write to Madame Georges that I beg of her to come to +Paris instantly. Request M. de Grauen to procure for me a permission to +visit St. Lazare. By what Madame d'Harville says to me, Fleur-de-Marie +must be confined there. Yet, no," he added, "she cannot be there, for +Rigolette saw her leave the prison with an aged woman. Could it be +Madame Georges? If not, who could be the woman that accompanied La +Goualeuse?" + +"Patience, monseigneur; before the evening you will know all about it. +Then to-morrow you can interrogate that vagabond Polidori, who has, he +assures me, important disclosures to make,--but to you alone." + +"This interview will be most odious to me!" said Rodolph, sorrowfully; +"for I have never seen this man since the fatal day when I--" + +Rodolph, unable to finish, hid his face in his hands. + +"But, monseigneur, why accede to Polidori's request? Threaten him with +the justice of the French law, or immediate surrender to your authority, +and then he will reveal to me what he now declares he will only reveal +to you." + +"You are right, my worthy friend; for the presence of this wretch would +make my terrible recollections even still more distressing, connected as +they are with incurable griefs,--from my father's death to that of my +daughter. I know not how it is, but as I advance in life the more I seem +to miss that dear child. How I should have adored her! How very dear and +precious to me she would have been, this offspring of my first love, of +my earliest and purest beliefs--or, rather, my young illusions! I should +have poured out on this innocent creature those treasures of affection +of which her hateful mother is so unworthy; and it seems to me that, as +I have dreamt, this child, by the beauty of her mind, the charm of her +qualities, would have soothed and softened all my griefs, all these +pangs of remorse, which are, alas, attached to her fatal birth." + +"Monseigneur, I see with grief the increasing empire which these +regrets, as vain as they are bitter, assume over your mind." + +After some moments' silence, Rodolph said to Murphy: + +"I will now make a confession to you, my old friend. I love--yes, I +passionately love--a woman worthy of the noblest, the most devoted +affection. Since my heart has again expanded to all the sweetness of +love, since I am thus again affected by tender emotions, I feel more +deeply than ever the loss of my daughter. I might have feared that an +attachment of the heart would weaken the bitterness of my regrets. It is +not so; all my loving qualities--my affections--are but the keener. I +feel myself better, more charitable; and more than ever is it afflicting +to me not to have my daughter to adore." + +"Nothing more easily explained, monseigneur,--forgive me the +comparison,--but, as certain men have a joyous and benevolent +intoxication, so you have good and generous love." + +"Still, my hatred of the wicked has become more intense; my aversion for +Sarah increases, in proportion, no doubt, to the grief I experience at +my daughter's death. I imagine to myself that that wretched mother must +have neglected her, and that, when once her ambitious hopes were ruined +by my marriage, the countess, in her pitiless selfishness, abandoned our +daughter to mercenary hands, and, perhaps, my child died from actual +neglect. It is my fault, also. I did not then think of the sacred duties +which paternity imposes. When Sarah's real character was suddenly +revealed to me, I ought instantly to have taken my daughter from her, +and watched over her with love and anxiety. I ought to have foreseen +that the countess would make but a very unnatural mother. It is my +fault,--yes, indeed, my fault." + +"Monseigneur, grief distracts you! Could you, after the sad event you +know of, delay for a day the long journey imposed on you, as--" + +"As an expiator! You are right, my friend," said Rodolph, greatly +agitated. + +"You have not heard anything of the Countess Sarah since my departure, +monseigneur?" + +"No; since those infamous plots which twice nearly destroyed Madame +d'Harville, I have heard nothing of her. Her presence here is hateful to +me,--oppresses me; it seems as though my evil demon was near me, and +some new misfortune threatens me." + +"Patience, patience, monseigneur! Fortunately Germany is forbidden +ground to her, and Germany awaits us." + +"Yes, we shall go very soon. At least, during my short residence in +Paris, I shall have accomplished a sacred vow, and have made some steps +in the meritorious path which an august and merciful will has traced for +my redemption. As soon as Madame Georges's son is restored to her tender +arms, free and innocent; as soon as Jacques Ferrand shall be convicted +and punished for his crimes; as soon as I am assured of the good +prosperity of all the honest and hard-working creatures who, by their +resignation, courage, and probity, have deserved my interest, we will +return to Germany, and then my journey will not have been wholly +unfruitful." + +"Particularly if you achieve the exposure of that abominable wretch, +Jacques Ferrand, monseigneur,--the angular stone, the pivot on which +turn so many crimes." + +"Although the end justifies the means, and scruples with such a +scoundrel are absurd, yet I sometimes regret that I have allowed Cecily +to become an instrument in working out this just and avenging +reparation." + +"She ought to be here very shortly." + +"She has arrived." + +"Cecily?" + +"Yes; I refused to see her. De Grauen has given her ample instructions, +and she has promised to comply with them." + +"Will she keep that promise?" + +"Why, everything conspires to make me think so. There is the hope of +ameliorating her future condition, and the fear of being instantly sent +back to Germany to prison; for De Grauen will not lose sight of her, and +the least defection on her part will cause her being handed over to +justice." + +"True, she comes here as an escaped criminal, and when we know the +crimes that have led to her perpetual imprisonment, she would be at once +surrendered to our demand." + +"And then, even if it were not her interest to aid our schemes, the task +which is assigned to her being one which can only be effected by +stratagem, perfidy, and the most devilish seduction, Cecily must be (and +the baron assures me she really is) overjoyed at such an opportunity for +playing off those infernal advantages with which she is so liberally +endowed." + +"Is she as handsome as she was, monseigneur?" + +"De Grauen declares that she is more attractive than ever; he told me +that he was really quite dazzled at her beauty, to which the Alsatian +costume she had chosen gave even more piquancy. The glance of this devil +in petticoats, he says, has still the same really magic expression." + +"Why, monseigneur, I have never been what is called a dissipated fellow, +a man without heart or conduct, but if at twenty years of age I had met +with Cecily, even knowing her then to be as dangerous, as wicked as I do +now, I assure you I would not have answered for myself, if I had been +for any time exposed to the fire of her large, black, and brilliant +eyes, sparkling in the centre of her pale and ardent countenance. Yes, +by heaven! I dare not think of the extremities into which so fatal an +amour might have urged me." + +"I am not astonished, my dear Murphy, for I know this woman. Moreover, +the baron was really frightened at the quickness with which Cecily +understood--or, rather guessed--the part, at once inciting and platonic, +which she was to play with the notary." + +"But will she, think you, be introduced as easily as you wish, +monseigneur, by the intervention of Madame Pipelet? Individuals like +Jacques Ferrand are so suspicious." + +"I had relied, with reason, on the sight of Cecily to overcome and +dissipate the notary's distrust." + +"What! Has he already seen her?" + +"Yesterday. And from what Madame Pipelet told me, I have no doubt but he +was fascinated by the creole, for he instantly took her into service." + +"Then, monseigneur, the game is won, and ours." + +"I hope so. A ferocious cupidity, a brutal passion, have impelled the +injurer of Louise Morel to the most odious crimes. It is in his passion +and his cupidity that he shall find the terrible punishment of his +crimes,--a punishment which, moreover, shall not be without fruit for +his victims, for you know the aim of all the Creole's wiles." + +"Cecily! Cecily! Never did greater wickedness, never more dangerous +corruption, never blacker soul have served for the accomplishment of a +more strict morality, a more just result! And David, monseigneur, what +does he say to this arrangement?" + +"Approves of everything. At the pitch of contempt and horror which he +has reached for this creature, he sees in her only the instrument of a +just vengeance. 'If this accursed woman ever could deserve any +commiseration after all the ill she has done me,' he said to me, 'it +would be by devoting herself to the remorseless punishment of this +scoundrel, whose exterminating demon she may become.'" + +A servant having knocked at the door, Murphy went out, but soon returned +with two letters, only one of which was for Rodolph. + +"A line from Madame Georges," he said, as he hastily perused it. + +"Well, monseigneur, and La Goualeuse?" + +"There can be no further doubt," exclaimed Rodolph, after having read, +"there is some dark plot afoot. On the evening of the day when the poor +girl disappeared from the farm, and at the instant when Madame Georges +was about to inform me of this event, a man unknown to her, sent express +and on horseback, came as from me to tell her that I was aware of the +sudden disappearance of Fleur-de-Marie, and that in a few days I should +take her back to the farm. In spite of this, Madame Georges, uneasy at +my silence with respect to her protegee, cannot, as she says, resist the +desire to hear how her dear daughter is, for so she calls her." + +"It is very strange, monseigneur." + +"What could be the motive for carrying off Fleur-de-Marie?" + +"Monseigneur!" said Murphy, suddenly, "the Countess Sarah is no stranger +to this carrying off." + +"Sarah! And what makes you think so?" + +"Compare this event with her denunciations against Madame d'Harville." + +"You are right!" cried Rodolph, struck with a sudden light, "it is +evident--now I understand. Yes, constantly the one calculation. The +countess persists in thinking that by breaking down all the affections +which she supposes me to form, she will make me feel the necessity of +attaching myself to her. This is as odious as it is absurd. Still, such +unworthy persecution must be put a stop to. It is not only myself, but +all that deserve respect, interest, and pity, that this woman assails. +Send M. de Grauen instantly and officially to the countess and let him +say that I have the certain assurance that she has been instrumental in +carrying off Fleur-de-Marie, and if she does not give me at once such +information as is necessary for me to find the poor girl, I will show no +mercy; and then M. de Grauen will go to the law officers of the crown." + +"According to Madame d'Harville's letter, La Goualeuse must be in St. +Lazare." + +"Yes, but Rigolette declares that she saw her free, and quit the prison. +There is some mystery which I must clear up." + +"I will instantly go and give the Baron de Grauen your orders, +monseigneur. But allow me to open this letter, which comes from my +correspondent at Marseilles, to whom I had recommended the Chourineur, +as he was to facilitate the passage of the poor devil to Algeria." + +"Well, has he set sail?" + +"Monseigneur, it is really singular!" + +"What is it?" + +"After having waited for a long time at Marseilles for a ship to convey +him to Algeria, the Chourineur, who seemed every day more sad and +serious, suddenly protested, on the very day fixed for his embarkation, +that he should prefer returning to Paris." + +"What a whim!" + +"Although my correspondent had, as agreed, placed a considerable sum at +the disposal of the Chourineur, he had only taken sufficient for his +return to Paris, where he must shortly arrive." + +"Then he will explain to us his change of resolution. But despatch De +Grauen immediately to the Countess Macgregor, and go yourself to St. +Lazare, and inquire about Fleur-de-Marie." + + * * * * * + +After the lapse of an hour, the Baron de Grauen returned from the +Countess Sarah Macgregor's. In spite of his habitual and official +_sang-froid_, the diplomatist seemed overwhelmed; the groom of the +chambers had scarcely admitted him before Rodolph observed his paleness. + +"Well, De Grauen, what ails you? Have you seen the countess?" + +"Your royal highness must prepare for very painful intelligence--so +unexpected--the Countess Macgregor--" + +"The countess, then, is dead?" + +"No, but her life is despaired of; she has been stabbed with a +stiletto." + +"Horrible!" exclaimed Rodolph. "Who committed the crime?" + +"That is not ascertained; the murder was accompanied with robbery; a +large quantity of jewels have been stolen." + +"And how is she now?" + +"She has not recovered her senses yet; her brother is in despair." + +"Send some one daily to make inquiries, my dear De Grauen." + +At this moment Murphy entered, having returned from St. Lazare. + +"Sad news!" said Rodolph to him; "Sarah has been stabbed." + +"Ah, monseigneur, though very guilty, one must still pity her." + +"Yes, such a fearful end! And La Goualeuse?" + +"Set at liberty by the intercession of Madame d'Harville." + +"That is impossible! for Madame d'Harville entreats me to take the +necessary steps for getting the poor, unhappy girl out of prison." + +"Yet an elderly woman came to St. Lazare, bringing an order to set +Fleur-de-Marie at liberty, and they both quitted the prison together." + +"As Rigolette said. But this elderly woman, who can she be? The Countess +Sarah alone can clear this up, and she is in no state to afford us +particulars." + +"But her brother, Tom Seyton, may throw some light on it, he has always +been in his sister's confidence." + +"His sister is dying, and if there is any fresh plot, he will not say a +word. But," added Rodolph, "we must learn the name of the person who +liberated Fleur-de-Marie, and then we shall arrive at something." + +"True, monseigneur." + +"Try, then, and find out this person, my dear De Grauen; and if you do +not succeed, put your M. Badinot on the scent." + +"Your royal highness may rely on my zeal." + +"Upon my word, monseigneur," said Murphy, "it is, perhaps, fortunate +that the Chourineur returns to us, his services may be useful." + +"You are right; and now I am impatient to see my brave preserver arrive +in Paris, for I never can forget that I owe my life to him." + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE CLERK'S OFFICE. + + +Several days had elapsed since Jacques Ferrand had taken Cecily into his +service. We will conduct the reader (who already knows the place) into +the notary's office, whilst his clerks are at breakfast. Unheard of, +extravagant, wonderful thing! Instead of the meagre and repulsive broth +brought each morning to these young men by the late Madame Seraphin, an +enormous cold roast turkey, placed in a large box, was enthroned in the +centre of one of the office-tables, flanked by two new loaves, a Dutch +cheese, and three bottles of wine; an ancient leaden inkstand served to +hold a mixture of pepper and salt. Each clerk, provided with a knife and +a strong appetite, awaited the arrival of the head clerk with hungry +impatience, without whom they could not, without a breach of etiquette, +begin to breakfast. A revolution so radical in Jacques Ferrand's office +bespoke some extraordinary domestic mutation. The following conversation +may throw some light on this phenomenon: + +"Here is a turkey who did not expect when he was ushered into life ever +to appear on the breakfast-table of our governor's clerks." + +"No more than the governor, when he was ushered into the life of a +notary, expected to give his clerks a turkey for breakfast." + +"But, at least, the turkey is ours!" said the junior fag of the office, +with a greedy grin. + +"Hop-the-Gutter, my friend, you forget yourself; this poultry is and +must be a stranger to you." + +"And, like a good Frenchman, you should have a wholesome hatred of the +stranger." + +"All that will come to your share may be his feet." + +"Emblem of the velocity with which you run on the office errands." + +"I thought I might at least have a right to the carcass to pick!" +muttered Hop-the-Gutter. + +"Perchance, as an excessive favour, but not as a right; just as with the +Charter of 1814, which was but another carcass of liberty!" said the +Mirabeau of the office. + +"Talking of carcasses," observed one youth, with brutal insensibility, +"may heaven receive the soul of Madame Seraphin! For since she was +drowned in her water-party of pleasure, we are no longer condemned to +eternal 'cag-mag.'" + +"And, for a whole week, the governor, instead of giving us breakfast--" + +"Allows us each two francs a day." + +"It was that which made me say, 'Heaven receive the soul of Mother +Seraphin!'" + +"Talking of Madame Seraphin, who has seen the servant who has come in +her place?" + +"The Alsatian girl whom the portress of the house in which poor Louise +lived brought one evening, as the porter told us?" + +"Yes." + +"_Parbleu!_ It is quite impossible to get a glimpse of her; for the +governor is more resolute than ever in preventing us from entering into +the pavilion in the courtyard." + +"And besides, as it is the porter who now cleans out the office, how can +one see this damsel?" + +"Well, I've seen her." + +"You?" + +"When I say I've seen her, I've seen her cap; such a rum cap!" + +"Oh, pooh! What sort?" + +"It was cherry-coloured velvet, I think; a kind of skull-cap like the +'buy-a-broom' girls wear." + +"Like the Alsaciennes? Why, that's simple enough, as she is an +Alsacienne!" + +"I was passing across the yard the day before yesterday, and she was +leaning with her back against one of the windows of the ground floor." + +"What! The yard?" + +"No, donkey, no,--the servant! The panes of the lower part are so dirty +that I could not see much of the Alsacienne; but those in the middle of +the window were not so grubby, and I saw her cherry-coloured cap and a +profusion of curling hair as black as jet, for she had her head dressed +_a la Titus_." + +"I'm sure the governor has not seen even as much as that through his +spectacles; for he is one who, as they say, if he were left alone with +one woman on the earth, then the world would end." + +"That is not astonishing. 'He laughs best who laughs last!' And the more +so, as 'Punctuality is the politeness of monarchs!'" + +"Jupiter! How stupid Chalamel is when he likes!" + +"Deuce take it! Tell me where you go, and I'll tell you who you are!" + +"Beautiful!" + +"As for me, I think it is superstition which makes our governor more and +more hoggish." + +"And, perhaps, it is as a penitence that he gives us forty sous a day +for our breakfast." + +"He must, indeed, have taken leave of his senses." + +"Or be ill." + +"I have thought him very much bewildered these many days past." + +"It is not that we see so much of him. He who, for our misery, was in +his study at sunrise, and always at our backs, is now two days without +even poking his nose into the office." + +"That gives the head clerk so much to do." + +"And we are obliged to die of hunger waiting for him this morning." + +"What a change in the office!" + +"How poor Germain would be astonished if any one told him, 'Only think, +old fellow, of the governor giving us forty sous for our breakfast.' +'Pooh! Impossible!' 'Quite possible! And I, Chalamel, announce the fact +in my own proper person.' 'What, you want to make me laugh?' 'Yes. Well, +this is the way it came about. For the two or three days which followed +the death of Madame Seraphin we had no breakfast at all; and, in one +respect, that was an improvement, because it was less nasty, but, in +another, our refection cost us money. Still we were patient, saying, +"The governor has no servant or housekeeper; as soon as he gets one we +shall resume the filthy paste gruel." No, by no means, my dear Germain; +the governor has a servant, and yet our breakfast continued buried in +the wave of oblivion. Then I was appointed as a deputation to inform the +governor of the griefs of our stomachs. He was with the chief clerk. "I +will not feed you any longer in the morning," he replied, in his harsh +tone, and as if thinking of something else; "my servant has no time to +prepare your breakfast." "But, sir, it was agreed that you should find +us in breakfasts." "Well, send for your breakfasts from some house, and +I will pay for it. How much is sufficient,--forty sous each?" he added; +all the time evidently thinking of something else, and saying forty sous +as he would say twenty sous or a hundred sous. "Yes, sir, forty sous +will be sufficient," cried I, catching the ball at the bound. "Be it so; +the head clerk will pay you and settle with me." And so saying, the +governor respectfully slammed the door in my face.' You must own, +messieurs, that Germain would be most extraordinarily astonished at the +liberality of the governor." + +"Seriously, I think the governor is ill. For the last ten days he has +scarcely been recognisable; his cheeks are so furrowed you could hide +your fist in them." + +"And so absent; you should just see him. The other day he lifted his +spectacles to read a deed, and his eyes were as red and glaring as fiery +coals." + +"He was right. 'Short reckonings make long friends!'" + +"Let me say a word. I will tell you, gentlemen, something very strange. +I handed this deed to the governor, and it was topsy-turvy." + +"The governor? How strange! What could he mean by topsy-turvying thus? +Enough to choke him, unless, as you say, his habits are so completely +altered." + +"Oh, what a fellow you are, Chalamel! I say I gave him the deed wrong +end up'ards." + +"Wasn't he in a rage?" + +"Not the slightest. He did not even notice it, but kept his great red +eyes fixed upon it for at least ten minutes, and then handed me back the +deed, saying, 'Very good!'" + +"What, still topsy-turvy?" + +"Yes." + +"Then he couldn't have read it?" + +"_Pardieu!_ not unless he can read upside down." + +"How odd!" + +"The governor looked so dull and cross at the moment that I did not dare +to say a word, and so I left him, just as if nothing had occurred." + +"Well, four days ago I was in the head clerk's office; there came a +client, then two or three clients with whom the governor had +appointments. They got tired of waiting; and, at their request, I went +and knocked at his study door. No answer; so in I went." + +"Well?" + +"M. Jacques Ferrand had his arms crossed on his desk, and his bald and +not overdelicate forehead leaning on his hands. He never stirred." + +"Was he asleep?" + +"I thought so, and went towards him: 'Sir, there are clients waiting +with whom you have made appointments.' He didn't stir. 'Sir!' No answer. +Then I touched his shoulder, and he bounced up as if the devil had +bitten him. In his start his large green spectacles fell from his eyes +on to his nose, and I saw--you'll never believe it--" + +"Well, what?" + +"Tears." + +"Oh, what nonsense!" + +"Quite true." + +"What! the governor snivel? No, I won't have that." + +"When that's the case why cockchafers will play the cornet-a-piston." + +"And cocks and hens wear top-boots." + +"Ta, ta, ta, ta; all your folly will not prevent my having seen what I +did see as plain as I see you." + +"Weeping?" + +"Yes, weeping. And he was in such a precious rage at being surprised in +this lachrymose mood that he adjusted his spectacles in great haste, and +said to me, 'Get out--get out!' 'But, sir--' 'Get out!' 'Three clients +are waiting to whom you have given appointments, and--' 'I have not +time; let them go to the devil along with you!' Then he got up in a +desperate rage to turn me out, but I didn't wait, but went and dismissed +the clients, who were not by any means satisfied; but, for the honour of +the office, I told them that the governor had the whooping-cough." + +This interesting conversation was interrupted by the head clerk, who +entered apparently quite overcome. His arrival was hailed by general +acclamation, and all eyes were sympathetically turned towards the +turkey with impatient anxiety. + +"Without saying a word, seigneur, you have kept us waiting an infernally +long while," said Chalamel. + +"Take care! Another time our appetite will not remain so subordinate." + +"Well, gents, it was no fault of mine. I have had much to annoy +me,--more than you have. On my word and honour, the governor must be +going mad." + +"Didn't I say so?" + +"But that need not prevent one eating." + +"On the contrary." + +"We can talk just as well with something in our mouths." + +"We can talk better," cried Hop-the-Gutter; whilst Chalamel, dissecting +the turkey, said to the head clerk: + +"What makes you think that the governor is mad?" + +"We have a right to suppose he is perfectly beside himself when he +allows us forty sous a head for our daily breakfast." + +"I confess that has surprised me as much as yourselves, gents. But that +is nothing--absolutely nothing--to what has just now occurred." + +"Really?" + +"What! has the unhappy old gent become so decidedly lunatic that he +insists on our dining at the Cadran Bleu every day at his expense?" + +"Theatre in the evening?" + +"Then coffee, with punch to follow?" + +"And then--" + +"Gents, laugh as much as you please; but the scene I have just witnessed +is rather alarming than pleasant." + +"Well, then, relate this scene to us." + +"Yes, do. Don't mind your breakfast," observed Chalamel; "we are all +ears." + +"And jaws, my lads. I think I see you whilst I am talking working away +with your teeth; and the turkey would be finished before my tale. By +your leave, patience, and the story shall come in with the dessert." + +Whether it was the spur of appetite or curiosity which incited the young +men we will not decide, but they went through their gastronomic +operation with such celerity that the moment for the head clerk's +history came in no time. In order that they might not be surprised by +their employer, they sent Hop-the-Gutter into the adjoining room as a +sentinel, having liberally supplied him with the carcass and drumsticks +of the bird. + +The head clerk then said to his colleagues, "You must know, in the first +place, the porter has been very uneasy, for he has frequently seen M. +Ferrand, in spite of the cold and rain, pace the garden at night for a +considerable time. Once he ventured to ask his master if he wanted +anything; but he sent him about his business in such a manner that he +has not again ventured to intrude himself." + +"Perhaps the governor is a sleep-walker?" + +"That is not probable. But, to continue; a short time since I wanted his +signature to several papers. As I was turning the handle of his door, I +thought I heard some one speaking. I stopped, and made out two or three +repressed sounds, like stifled groans. After pausing an instant in fear, +I opened the door, and saw the governor kneeling on the floor, his +forehead buried in his hands, and his elbows resting on the seat of one +of his old armchairs." + +"Oh, it's all plain enough: he has turned pious, and was saying an extra +prayer." + +"Well, then, it was a strong prayer enough. I heard stifled groans, and +every now and then he murmured between his teeth '_Mon Dieu! mon Dieu! +mon Dieu!_' like a despairing man. Then,--and this is very singular,--in +a movement which he made as if to tear his breast with his nails, his +shirt came partly open, and I saw on his hairy chest a small red +pocketbook fastened around his neck by a steel chain. When I saw that I +did not really know whether I ought to retreat or advance. I remained, +however, very much embarrassed, when he rose and suddenly turned around, +holding between his teeth an old check pocket-handkerchief; his +spectacles were left on the chair. Let me say, gents, that I never in my +life saw such a figure; he looked like one of the damned. I retreated +really in alarm. Then he--" + +"Seized you by the throat?" + +"You are quite wrong. He looked at me first with a bewildered air; then +letting fall his handkerchief, he threw himself into my arms, +exclaiming, 'Oh, I am very unhappy!'" + +"What a farce!" + +"Well, but that did not prevent his voice--in spite of his death's-head +look--from being so distressing, I may say so imploring--" + +"Imploring! Come, come, no gammon! Why, there is no night-owl with a +cold in her head which is not music to the governor's voice." + +"That may be; but yet at this moment his voice was so plaintive that I +was almost affected. 'Sir,' I said to him, believe me--' 'Let me!--let +me!' replied he, interrupting me. 'It is so consoling to be able to say +to any one that we are suffering!' He evidently mistook me for some +other person. You may suppose that when he thus addressed me I felt sure +it was a mistake, or that he had a brain fever. I disengaged myself from +him, saying, 'Sir, compose yourself, it is I!' Then he looked at me with +a stupid air, and exclaimed, 'Who is it? Who's there? What do you want +with me?' And he passed, at each question, his hand over his brow, as if +to dispel the cloud which obscured his mind." + +"Which obscured his mind! Capital! Well spoken! We'll get up a melodrama +amongst us! + + "'Methinks a man with such a power of words, + Should try his hand at melodrame!'" + +"Chalamel, will you be quiet?" + +"What could ail the governor?" + +"_Ma foi!_ How can I tell? But of this I'm sure, that when he recovers +he'll sing to another tune, for he frowned terribly, and said to me +sharply, without giving me time to reply, 'What did you come for? Have +you been here long? Am I to be surrounded with spies? What did I say? +Reply--answer!' _Ma foi!_ he looked so savage that I replied, 'I heard +nothing, sir; I only this moment entered.' 'You are not deceiving me?' +'No, sir.' 'Well, what do you want?' 'Some signatures, sir.' 'Give me +the papers!' And then he signed and signed--without reading--half a +dozen notarial deeds; he who never put his initials to a deed without +spelling it over word by word, and twice over from one end to the other. +I remarked that from time to time his hand relaxed in the middle of his +signature, as if he were absorbed in some fixed idea; then he went on +signing very quick, and, as it were, convulsively. When all were signed +he told me to retire, and I heard him descend the small staircase which +leads from his room to the courtyard." + +"I still ask what can be the matter with him?" + +"Gentlemen, it is perhaps Madame Seraphin whom he regrets." + +"He? What, he regret any one?" + +"Now I think of it, the porter said that the cure of Bonne Nouvelle and +the vicar had called several times to see the governor, and he was +denied to them. Is not that surprising?--they who almost lived here!" + +"What puzzles me is to know what the workpeople are at." + +"They have been working at the pavilion three days running." + +"And one evening they brought furniture covered up with a carpet." + +"Perhaps he feels remorse for having put Germain into prison?" + +"Talking of Germain, he will have some fine recruits in his prison, poor +fellow! For I read in the _Gazette des Tribunaux_ that the band of +robbers and assassins, whom they seized in the Champs Elysees, in one of +the small underground public-houses, had been locked up in La Force." + +"Poor Germain! What society for him!" + +"Louise Morel, too, will have her share of the recruits; for in this +gang, they say, there is a whole family of thieves." + +"Then they will send the women to St. Lazare, where Louise is?" + +"Perhaps it was some of that gang who stabbed the countess, one of the +governor's clients. He has often sent me to inquire after the state of +this countess, and seems much interested in her recovery." + +"Did they let you enter the house and see the spot where the +assassination was committed?" + +"Oh, no! I could not go farther than the entrance; and the porter was +not at all a person inclined to talk." + +"Gents, gents, take your places; here's the gov'nor coming up!" shouted +Hop-the-Gutter, coming into the office with the carcass still in his +hand. + +The young men instantly took their seats at their respective desks, over +which they bent, handling their pens with great dexterity; whilst +Hop-the-Gutter deposited his turkey's skeleton in a box filled with law +papers. + +Jacques Ferrand entered the room. His red hair, mingled with gray, +escaping from beneath an old black silk cap, fell in disorder down each +side of his temples. Some of the veins which marbled his head appeared +injected with blood, whilst his face, his flat nose, his furrowed +cheeks, were all of ghastly paleness. The expression of his look, +concealed by his large green spectacles, could not be seen; but the +great alteration in the man's features announced the ravages of a +consuming passion. + +He crossed the office slowly, without saying a word to one of the +clerks, or without even appearing to notice that they were there; then +went into the room in which the chief clerk was employed, traversed it +as well as his own cabinet, and again instantly descended the small +staircase which led to the courtyard. + +Jacques Ferrand having left all the doors open behind him, the clerks +had a right to be astonished at the strange demeanour of their employer, +who had come up one staircase and gone down another without pausing for +a moment in any of the apartments he had mechanically traversed. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +AVOID TEMPTATION! + + +It is night. Profound silence reigns in the pavilion inhabited by +Jacques Ferrand, interrupted only at intervals by gusts of wind and the +dashing of rain, which falls in torrents. These melancholy sounds seemed +to render still more complete the solitude of this abode. In a +sleeping-room in the first floor, very nicely and newly furnished, and +covered with a thick carpet, a young female is standing up before a +fireplace, in which there is a cheerful blaze. It is strange, but in the +centre of the door, carefully bolted, and which is opposite to the bed, +is a small glass door, five or six inches square, which opens from the +outside. A small reflecting lamp casts a half shadow in this chamber, +hung with garnet-coloured paper; the curtains of the bed and the window, +as well as the cover of the large sofa, are of silk and woollen damask +of the same colour. We are precise in the details of this demi-luxury so +recently imported into the notary's residence, because it announces a +complete revolution in the habits of Jacques Ferrand, who, until now, +was of the most sordid avarice, and of Spartan disregard (especially as +it concerned others) to everything that respected comfortable existence. +It is on this garnet-coloured ground that was shadowed forth the figure +of Cecily, which we will now attempt to paint. + +Tall and graceful, the creole was in the full flower of her age. Her +spreading shoulders and hips made her waist appear so singularly small +that it seemed as if it could be easily spanned. As simple as it was +coquettish, her Alsatian costume was of singular taste, somewhat +theatrical,--but for that reason more capable of producing the effect +she desired. Her bodice, of black cassimere, half open on her full +bosom, was very long-waisted, with tight sleeves, plain back, and +slightly embroidered with purple wool down the seams, perfected by a row +of small cut silver buttons. A short petticoat, of orange merino, which +seemed of vast fullness, descended little lower than the knee; her +stockings were of scarlet, with blue clocks, as we see them in the +drawings of the old Flemish painters, who so complacently show us the +garters of their robust heroines. + +No artist ever drew more perfect legs than were those of Cecily: +symmetrical and slim beneath the swelling calf, they terminated in a +small foot, quite at ease, and yet restrained in a small slipper of +black morocco, with silver buckles. Cecily was looking into the glass +over the mantelpiece. The slope of her bodice displayed her elegant and +dimpled neck of dazzling but not transparent whiteness. + +Taking off her cap of cherry-coloured velvet to replace it with a +kerchief, she displayed her thick, magnificent head of hair, of lustrous +black, which, divided over her brows, and naturally curling, came down +only to the necklace of Venus, which unites the neck and shoulders. + +It is necessary to know the inimitable taste with which the Creoles +twist around their heads their kerchiefs of bright hues, to have an idea +of the graceful head-dress of Cecily, and the piquant contrast of this +variegated covering of purple, blue, and orange, with the black silky +tresses, which, escaping from beneath the tight fold of the +nightkerchief, surrounded her pale but round and firm cheeks. With her +two arms raised above her head, she proceeded with the ends of her +fingers, as slender as spindles of ivory, to arrange a large rosette, +placed very low on the left side, almost over the ear. + +Cecily's features were such as once seen it is impossible ever to +forget. A bold forehead, somewhat projecting, surmounts her face, which +was a perfect oval; her pearly white complexion, the satiny freshness of +the camelia leaf slightly touched by a sun-ray; her eyes, of almost +disproportionate size, have a singular expression, for their irises, +extremely large, black, and brilliant, hardly allow the blue +transparency of the orbits, at the two extremities of the lids, fringed +with long lashes, to be visible; her chin is very distinctly prominent; +her nose, straight and thin, ends in two delicate nostrils, which dilate +on the least emotion; her mouth, insolent and amorous, is of bright +purple. + +We must imagine this colourless countenance, with its bright black +glance, its two red, pulpy, and humid lips, which glisten like wet +coral. Such was Cecily. Her infamous instincts, at first repressed by +her real attachment for David, not being developed till she reached +Europe, civilisation and the influence of northern climates had tempered +their violence. + +We have already said that Cecily had scarcely reached Germany, when, +first seduced by a man of desperately depraved habits, she, unknown to +David, who loved her with equal idolatry and blindness, exercised and +turned to account, for a considerable time, all her seductive powers; +but soon the scandal of her adventures was raised abroad, and such +exposures ensued that she was sentenced to perpetual imprisonment. + +To all this let there be joined a plastic, adroit, insinuating mind, an +intelligence so wonderful that in a year she spoke French and German +with perfect ease, sometimes even with natural eloquence; then add a +corrupted heart worthy of the courtesan queen of ancient Rome, an +audacity and courage proof against everything, instincts of diabolical +wickedness, and then we may understand the new servant of Jacques +Ferrand, the resolute being who had dared to venture into the wolf's +den. + +Yes, strange anomaly! On learning from M. de Grauen the inciting and +platonic part she was to play with the notary, and what avenging ends +were to be derived from her seductions, Cecily had promised to go +through the character with love, or, rather, terrible hatred against +Jacques Ferrand, being sincerely indignant at the recital of the +infamous violence he had exercised against Louise,--a recital necessary +to be unfolded to the creole, to put her on her guard against the +hypocritical attempts of this monster. A few retrospective words as to +this latter are indispensable. + +When Cecily was presented by Madame Pipelet as an orphan over whom she +did not desire to maintain any right, any control, the notary was, +perhaps, less smitten by the beauty of the creole than fascinated by her +irresistible look,--a look which, at the first interview, disturbed the +reason of Jacques Ferrand. + +We have already said, in reference to the insensate boldness of some of +his words when conversing with Madame de Lucenay, that this man, usually +so completely master of himself, so calm, so cunning, so subtle, forgot +the cold calculations of his deep dissimulation when the demon of desire +darkened his better sense. + +Besides, he had no cause to distrust the protegee of Madame Pipelet. +After her conversation with Alfred's spouse, Madame Seraphin had +proposed to Jacques Ferrand a young girl, almost destitute, to replace +Louise, and he had eagerly accepted the offer, in the hopes of taking +advantage of the isolated and precarious position of his new servant. +Moreover, far from being predisposed to mistrust, Jacques Ferrand found, +in the march of events, fresh motives for security. + +All succeeded to his utmost wishes. The death of Madame Seraphin +released him from a dangerous accomplice; the death of Fleur-de-Marie +(he believed her dead) delivered him from a living proof of one of his +earliest crimes. Finally, thanks to the death of the Chouette, and the +unexpected murder of the Countess Macgregor (whose life was despaired +of), he no longer had these two women to fear, whose disclosures and +attacks might have been most disastrous to him. + +The disposition, habits, and former life of Jacques Ferrand known and +displayed, the exciting beauty of the creole admitted, as we have +endeavoured to paint her, together with other facts we shall detail as +we proceed, will account, we presume, for the sudden passion, the +unbridled desire of the notary for this seductive and dangerous +creature. Then we must add, that if women of Cecily's stamp inspire +nothing but repugnance and disgust to men endued with tender and +elevated sentiments, with delicate and pure tastes, they exercise a +sudden action, a magic omnipotence, over men of brutal sensuality like +Jacques Ferrand. Thus a just, an avenging fatality, brought the creole +into contact with the notary, and a terrible expiation was beginning for +him. A fierce passion had urged him on to persecute, with pitiless +malice, an indigent and honest family, and to spread amongst them +misery, madness, and death. This passion was now to be the formidable +chastisement of this great culprit. + +Although Jacques Ferrand was never to have his desires realised, the +creole took care not to deprive him of all hope; but the vague and +distant prospects she held out were so coloured by caprices that they +were an additional torture, and more completely enslaved him. + +If we are astonished that a man of such vigour and audacity had not +recourse to stratagem or violence to triumph over the calculating +resistance of Cecily, we forget that Cecily was not a second Louise. +Besides, the day after her presentation to the notary, she had played +quite another part from that by aid of which she had been introduced to +her master, for he had not been the dupe of his servant two days. + +Forewarned of the fate of Louise by the Baron de Grauen, and knowing +besides by what abominable means she had become the prey of the notary, +the creole, on entering this solitary house, had taken excellent +precautions for passing her first night there in perfect security. The +evening of her arrival, being alone with Jacques Ferrand, he, in order +not to alarm her, pretended scarcely to look at her, and rudely ordered +her to bed. She told him, _naively_, that she was afraid of thieves in +the night, but that she was resolute, and capable of defending herself; +at the same time drawing from her large woollen pelisse a small but +exceedingly keen stiletto, the sight of which set the notary thinking. + +Believing that Cecily was afraid of robbers only, he showed her to the +late chamber of Louise; after having examined it, Cecily said, +trembling, she would sleep in a chair, because the door had neither lock +nor bolt. Jacques Ferrand, unwilling to compromise himself by rousing +Cecily's suspicions, promised a bolt should be fixed. The creole did not +go to bed. + +In the morning the notary sent to her to show her how to set about her +work. He had promised himself to preserve for the first few days a +hypocritical reserve with respect to his new servant, in order to +inspire her with confidence; but smitten by her beauty, which by +daylight was even more striking, blinded, maddened by his desires, which +already got the better of him, he stammered out some compliments as to +the figure and beauty of Cecily. She, with keen sagacity, had judged +that, from her first interview with the notary, he was completely caught +in her spells; at the confession he made of his flame, she thought it +policy to cast aside at once her feigned timidity, and, as we have said, +to change her mask. The creole suddenly assumed a bold air. Jacques +Ferrand again complimented her beauty and her graceful figure. + +"Look at me well!" said Cecily to him, in a bold tone. "Although I am +dressed as an Alsatian peasant, do I look like a servant?" + +"What do you mean?" cried Jacques Ferrand. + +"Look at this hand, does it appear accustomed to hard labour?" and she +presented a white, delicate hand, with long and slender fingers, with +nails as rosy and polished as agate, but whose root, slightly browned, +betrayed the creole blood. "And this foot, is it that of a servant?" and +she protruded a beautiful small foot, coquettishly shod, which the +notary had not before remarked, and from which he only removed his eyes +to gaze on Cecily with amazement. "I told my Aunt Pipelet what story I +chose; she knew nothing of my former life, and believes me reduced to my +present condition through the death of my parents, and takes me for a +servant,--but you, I hope, have too much sagacity to show her error, +dear master." + +"Who, then, are you?" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, more and more surprised +at her language. + +"That is my secret. For reasons best known to myself I was obliged to +quit Germany in this attire. I wished to remain concealed in Paris for +some time, being as secluded as possible. My aunt, supposing me reduced +to misery, proposed to me your service, telling me of the solitary life +which I must of compulsion lead in your house, informing me that I +should never have leave to quit it. I accepted the offer +unhesitatingly,--without knowing it my aunt had anticipated my most +earnest desire. Who would think of looking for and finding me here?" + +"And what have you done to compel you to seek concealment?" + +"Agreeable sins, perhaps; but that is, also, my secret." + +"And what are your intentions, mademoiselle?" + +"What they always have been. But for your significant compliments as to +my shape and beauty, perhaps I should not have confessed so much to you; +although, no doubt, your clear-sightedness would, sooner or later, have +induced my confession. Now listen to me, my dear master. I have for the +moment accepted the condition--or, rather, the character--of a servant; +circumstances compelled me. I have courage enough to sustain the +character to the end, and will risk all the consequences. I will serve +you with zeal, activity, and respect, in order to retain my situation, +that is to say, a sure and unknown asylum. But on the least word of +gallantry, the least liberty you take with me, I will leave you,--not +from prudery, there is nothing of the prude about me, I fancy." And she +darted a look at the notary which had full effect. "No, I am no prude!" +she continued, with a provoking smile, which displayed her teeth of +dazzling whiteness. "Indeed, no, when I love, I do love! But be +discreet, and you will see that your unworthy servant has no desire but +honestly to discharge her duty as a servant. + +"Now you have my secret, or, at least, a portion of it. But should you, +by any chance, desire to act as a gentleman, should you find me too +handsome to serve you, should you like to change parts, and become my +slave, be it so! Frankly speaking, I should prefer it, and had rather +you should feel paternally disposed towards me. That would not prevent +you from saying that you found me charming; this will be the recompense +of your devotion and discretion." + +"The only one? The only one?" stammered Jacques Ferrand. + +"The only one, unless solitude make me mad,--which is impossible, for +you will keep me company. Come, make up your mind,--no ambiguity. I +either serve you, or you shall serve me; if not, I leave your house, and +beg my aunt to find me another place. All this may, perhaps, appear +strange to you; but if you take me for an adventuress, without any means +of existence, you are wrong. In order that my aunt should be my +accomplice without knowing it, I have made her believe that I was so +poor that I could not purchase any other garments than those I now wear. +I have, however, as you see, a tolerably well filled purse; on this side +gold, on the other diamonds" (and Cecily displayed before the notary's +eyes a long, red silk purse, filled with gold, and through the meshes of +which he could also see several sparkling gems). "Unfortunately all the +money in the world could not purchase for me a retreat so secure as your +house,--so isolated, from the very solitude in which you live. Accept, +then, one or other of my offers, and you will do me a kindness. You see +I place myself almost at your discretion; for to say to you, I conceal +myself, is to say to you I am sought for. But I am sure you will not +betray me, even if you could." + +This romantic confidence, this sudden change of character, completely +upset all Jacques Ferrand's ideas. Who was this woman? Why did she +conceal herself? Was it chance alone that had brought her to him? If she +came with some secret aim, what could it be? Amongst all the ideas which +this singular adventure gave rise to in the notary's mind, the real +motive of the creole's presence did not occur to him. He had not, or, +rather, he believed he had no other enemies than the victims of his +licentiousness and his cupidity, and all these were in such miserable +circumstances that he could not suspect them capable of spreading any +net for him, of which Cecily should be the bait. + +And then, moreover, what could be the motive of any such snare? No, the +sudden transformation of Cecily inspired Jacques Ferrand with one fear +only--he believed that this woman did not tell the truth, and was, +perhaps, an adventuress, who, thinking him rich, had introduced herself +into his house to wheedle and get money from him, and, perhaps, induce +him to marry her. But although his avarice at once revolted at this +idea, he perceived (and trembled) that his suspicions and reflections +were too late, for he might by one word have calmed his distrust by +sending away this woman from his house,--but this word he could not say. + +These thoughts hardly occupied him a moment, so fascinated had he +become. He already loved, after his own fashion, and the idea of being +separated from this enchanting creature seemed impossible; and he felt +also a jealousy, which made him say to himself, "So long as she is +immured in my house, she can have no other lover." The boldness of her +language, the wantonness of her look, the freedom of her manner, all +revealed that she was not (as she had said) a prude. This conviction, +giving vague hopes to the notary, still more assured Cecily's empire. In +a word, Jacques Ferrand's passion choking the calm voice of reason, he +blindly resigned himself to all that might result. + + * * * * * + +It was agreed that Cecily should only be the servant in appearance; thus +there would be no scandal. Besides, in order the more completely to +render his guest at her ease, he was not to engage any other servant, +but make up his mind to wait on her and on himself. The meals were +brought from a neighbouring tavern, the porter swept out and attended to +the office, and he paid for his clerks' breakfast. Then the notary would +furnish at once an apartment on the first floor, as Cecily wished. She +desired to pay for it, but he refused, and spent two thousand francs +(80_l._). This was enormous generosity, and proved the unheard-of +violence of his passion. + +Then began the terrible life of this miserable wretch. Enclosed in the +impenetrable solitude of this house, inaccessible to all, more and more +under the galling yoke of his mad love, careless of penetrating the +secret of this singular woman; from a master he was made a slave,--he +was Cecily's valet, served her at meal-times, and took care of her +apartment. Forewarned by the baron that Louise had been overcome by a +narcotic, the creole drank only pure water, eating only of dishes with +which it was impossible to tamper. She had selected the apartment she +was to occupy, assuring herself that there was there no concealed +entrance. Besides, Jacques Ferrand soon discovered that Cecily was not a +woman whom he could assail with impunity; she was vigorous, agile, and +dangerously armed; thus a frenzied delirium alone could have incited him +to attempt force, and she was quite protected from this peril. + +Yet, that she might not weary and utterly repulse the notary's passion, +the creole seemed sometimes touched by his assiduities, and flattered by +the control which she exercised over him. And, perceiving that he hoped, +by dint of proofs of devotion and self-denial, he should contrive to +make her overlook his age and ugliness, she amused herself with telling +him that, if she ever could love him, how excessive that love would be. +With this Jacques Ferrand's reason wandered, and he would frequently +walk in his garden at night absorbed in his own reflections. Sometimes +he gazed for hours into the bedroom of the creole; for she had allowed a +small window to be made in the door, which she frequently and +intentionally left open. Absorbed, lost, wandering, indifferent to his +most important interests, or the preservation of his reputation as an +austere, serious, and pious man,--a reputation usurped, it is true, but, +at the same time, acquired after long years of dissimulation and +chicanery,--he amazed his clerks by his aberration of mind, offended his +clients by his refusals to receive them, and abruptly refused the visits +of the priests, who, deceived by his hypocrisy, had been until then his +warmest champions. + +We have said that Cecily was dressing her head before her glass. At a +slight noise in the corridor she turned her head towards the door. In +spite of the noise she had heard, Cecily continued her night toilet +tranquilly. She drew from her corsage, where it was placed almost like a +busk, a stiletto five or six inches long, enclosed in a case of black +shagreen, having a small ebony handle, with silver threads,--a plain +handle, but very fit for use; it was not a mere weapon for show. Cecily +took the dagger from its scabbard with excessive precaution, and laid it +on the marble mantelpiece. The blade, of finest temper and Damascus +steel, was triangular, with keen edges; and the point, as sharp as a +needle, would have pierced a shilling without turning the edge. +Impregnated with a subtle and rapid poison, the slightest puncture of +this poniard was mortal. Jacques Ferrand having one day alluded to the +danger of this weapon, the creole made in his presence an experiment, +_in anima vita_,--that is to say, on the unfortunate house-dog, which, +slightly pricked on the nose, fell and died in horrible convulsions. The +stiletto placed on the mantelpiece, Cecily took off her black bodice, +and was then, with her shoulders, neck, and arms denuded, like a lady in +her ball-dress. Like most of the creole women, she wore, instead of +stays, another bodice of stout linen, which fitted her figure very +closely; her orange-coloured petticoat, remaining attached to this sort +of white spencer, with short sleeves, and cut very low, formed a costume +less precise than the other, and harmonised wonderfully with the scarlet +stocking, and the coloured handkerchief, so coquettishly arranged around +the creole's head. Nothing could be more perfect, more beautifully +defined, than the graceful contour of her arms and shoulders. A heavy +sigh aroused Cecily's attention. She smiled, as she twisted around her +finger one of her curling tresses, which had escaped from beneath her +head-dress. + +"Cecily! Cecily!" murmured a voice, which was plaintive though coarse. +And through the wicket was visible the pale and flat face of Jacques +Ferrand. + +Cecily, silent until then, began to hum a creole air; the words of this +melody were sweet and expressive. Although repressed, the full +contra-alto of Cecily was heard above the noise of the torrents of the +rain and gusts of wind, which seemed to shake the old house to its very +foundation. + +"Cecily! Cecily!" repeated Jacques Ferrand, in a tone of supplication. + +The creole paused suddenly and turned her head around quickly, as if, +for the first time, she then heard the notary's voice; and going towards +the door,-- + +"What, dear master (she called him so in derision), you there?" she +said, with a slight foreign accent, which gave additional charm to her +full and sarcastic voice. + +"Oh, how beautiful you are!" murmured the notary. + +"You think so?" said Cecily. "Doesn't my head-dress become me?" + +"I think you handsomer every day." + +"Only see how white my arm is." + +"Monster, begone! Begone!" shouted Jacques Ferrand, furious. + +Cecily burst into a loud fit of laughter. + +"No, no, it is too much to suffer! Oh, if I were not afraid of death!" +said the notary, gloomily. "But to die is to renounce you altogether, +and you are so beautiful! I would rather, then, suffer--and look at +you." + +"Look at me? Why, that's what the wicket was made for; and so we can +thus chat, like two friends in our solitude, which really is not irksome +to me, you are such a good master! What a dangerous confession I make +through the door!" + +"Will you never open this door? You see how submissive I am; this +evening I might have tried to enter into your chamber with you, but I +did not do so." + +"You are submissive for two reasons: in the first place, because you +know that, having, from the necessity of my wandering life, always had +the precaution to carry a stiletto, I can manage with a strong hand this +inestimable jewel, whose tooth is sharper than a viper's; and you know, +too, that, from the day in which I have to complain of you, I will quit +this roof for ever, leaving you a thousand times more enamoured than +ever,--since you have so greatly honoured your unworthy servant as to +say that you are enamoured of her." + +"My servant? It is I who am your slave,--your mocked, derided, despised +slave!" + +"That's true enough." + +"And yet it does not move you?" + +"It amuses me; the days, and especially the nights, are so long!" + +"Accursed creature!" + +"But, seriously, you look so perfectly wretched, your features have so +sensibly altered, that I am quite flattered at it. It is a poor triumph, +but you are the only one here." + +"To hear that, and me consume in impotent rage!" + +"Have you really any understanding? Why, I never said anything more +tender." + +"Jeer at me,--jeer at me!" + +"I do not jeer. I never before saw a man of your age in love after your +fashion; and, I must confess, a young and handsome man would be +incapable of these outrageous passions. An Adonis admires himself as +much as he admires us; he likes us, and we choose to notice +him,--nothing more simple. He has a claim to our love, but is hardly +grateful; but to show favour to a man like you, my master dear, would be +to take him from earth to heaven, to fulfil his wildest dreams, his most +insensate hopes. For if some being were to say to you, 'You love Cecily +to distraction, if I chose she should be yours next minute,' you would +suppose such a being endued with supernatural power, shouldn't you, +master dear?" + +"Yes! Ah, yes!" + +"Well, if you could convince me more satisfactorily of your passion, I +might, perchance, have the whimsical fancy to enact this supernatural +part myself in your favour. Do you comprehend?" + +"I comprehend that you are still fooling me,--that you are still +pitiless." + +"Perhaps,--for solitude creates so many singular fancies." + +Until this moment Cecily's accent had been sarcastic, but she pronounced +these last words with a serious, reflecting tone, and accompanied them +with a look which made the notary start. + +"Silence! Do not look at me thus,--you will drive me mad! I would rather +you denied me,--at least, I could then hate you,--drive you from my +house!" cried Jacques Ferrand, who again gave himself up to a vain hope. +"Yes, for I should then hope nothing from you. But, misery! Misery! I +know you well enough now to hope, in spite of myself, that one day I +might, from your very hate or proud caprice, obtain what I shall never +owe to your love. You bid me convince you of my passion,--do you not see +how unhappy I am? I will do all I can to please you. You desire to, be +concealed from all eyes, and from all eyes I conceal you, perchance at +the risk of compromising myself most seriously; for, indeed, I know not +who you are. I respect your secret,--I never speak to you of it. I have +interrogated you as to your past life, and you have given me no answer." + +"Well, then, I was very wrong. I'll give you a mark of blind confidence, +oh, master, dear! And so, listen." + +"Another bitter jest, no doubt." + +"No, a serious tale. You ought, at least, to know the life of her to +whom you afford such generous hospitality." Then Cecily continued, in a +tone of hypocritical and lachrymose earnestness, "Daughter of a brave +soldier, brother of my Aunt Pipelet, I received an education, beyond my +condition. I was seduced, and then abandoned, by a rich young gentleman; +then, to escape the anger of my father, whose notions of honour were +most strict, I fled my native country." Then bursting into a loud fit of +laughter, Cecily added, "Now I hope that's what you call a very pretty +and particularly probable tale, for it has been very often told. Amuse +your curiosity with that until you get hold of some other story more +interesting." + +"I was certain it was some cruel jest," said the notary, with +concentrated rage; "nothing touches you,--nothing. What must I do? Tell +me. I serve you like the lowest footboy, for you I neglect my dearest +interests,--I no longer know what I do. I am a subject of astonishment +and derision to my own clerks; my clients hesitate any longer to entrust +me with their affairs; I have severed my connection with some religious +persons whom I knew intimately. I dare not think of what the world will +say of my change of demeanour and habits. But you do not know,--no, you +do not know the fatal consequences my mad passion for you may entail on +me. Yet I give you ample proof of my devotion. Will you have more? +Speak! Is it gold you would have? They think me richer than I am, but +I--" + +"What could I do with your gold?" asked Cecily, interrupting the notary, +and shrugging her shoulders; "living in this chamber, what is the use of +gold? Your invention is at fault." + +"It is no fault of mine if you are a prisoner. Is this chamber +displeasing to you? Will you have one more splendid? Speak! Order!" + +"Once more, what is the use? What is the use? Oh, if I might here +expect a beloved one, full of the love he inspires and participates, I +would have gold, silks, flowers, perfumes, all the wonders of luxury; +nothing could be too sumptuous, too enchanting to enshrine my love," +said Cecily, with an impassioned voice. + +"Well, these wonders of luxury, say but a word, and--" + +"What's the use? What's the use? Why make a frame for which there is no +picture? And the adored one! Where is he,--where is he, master, dear?" + +"True," exclaimed the notary, with bitterness, "I am old, I am ugly, I +can only inspire disgust and aversion. She overwhelms me with contempt, +jests at me,--and yet I have not the resolution, the power to send her +away. I have only the resolution to suffer!" + +"Oh, silly old mourner! And what an absurd elderly gentleman, with his +sufferings!" cried Cecily, in a contemptuous and sarcastic tone; "he +only knows how to groan, to despair,--and yet he has been for ten days +shut up alone with a young woman in a lone house." + +"But this woman scorns me,--this woman is armed,--this woman is shut +up!" groaned the notary, furiously. + +"Well, conquer her scorn, make the dagger fall from her hands, compel +her to open the door which separates her from yourself! But not by brute +force, that would be useless." + +"How, then?" + +"By the strength of your passion." + +"Passion! And can I inspire it?" + +"Why, you are nothing but a lawyer, affecting piety,--I really pity you. +Is it for me to teach you your part? You are ugly,--be terrible, and one +may forget your ugliness. You are old,--be energetic, and one may forget +your age. You are repulsive,--become menacing. Since you cannot be the +noble steed that neighs proudly in the midst of his harem, do not +become the stupid camel that bends the knee and offers his back; be the +tiger! The old tiger, that roars in the midst of carnage, still excites +admiration; his tigress responds to him from the deepest recesses of the +desert." + +At this language, which was not deficient in a sort of natural and hardy +eloquence, Jacques Ferrand shuddered; struck by the expression, wild and +almost fierce, which Cecily's features displayed, as, with her bosom +palpitating, her nostrils open, her mouth defying, she fastened on him +her large and brilliant black eyes. Never had she seemed to him more +fascinating, or more resplendently beautiful than at this moment. + +"Speak,--speak again!" he exclaimed, with excitement. "For now you speak +in earnest. Oh, if I could--" + +"One can do what one wishes," replied Cecily, sternly. + +"But--" + +"But I tell you, old as you are, if I were in your place I would +undertake to engage the affections of a young and handsome woman, and +once having achieved this result, what had been against me would turn to +my advantage. What pride, what triumph to say to oneself, I have made my +age and ugliness forgotten! The love that is shown me I do not owe to +pity, but to my spirit, my courage, and my skill. Yes, and now if there +were here some handsome young fellows, brilliant with grace and +attractions, the lovely woman, whom I have subdued by proofs of a +resistless and unbounded devotion, would not deign to cast a look at +them. No; for she would know that these elegant effeminates would fear +to compromise the tie of their cravat, or a curl of their hair, in +obedience to her caprices; whilst if she cast her handkerchief in the +midst of flames, on a signal from her her old tiger would rush into the +furnace with a roar of ecstasy." + +"Yes, I would do it! Try! Try!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, more and more +excited. + +Cecily continued drawing nearer to the aperture, and fixing on Jacques +Ferrand a steadfast and penetrating look. + +"For this woman would well know," continued the creole, "that she would +have some exorbitant caprice to satisfy,--that these dandies would look +at their money, if they had any, or, if they had not, at some other low +consideration, whilst her old tiger--" + +"Would consider nothing,--nothing, I tell you. +Fortune,--honour,--he--he--would sacrifice all!" + +"Really?" said Cecily, putting her lovely fingers on the bony fingers of +Jacques Ferrand, whose clutched hands, passed through the small glass +door, were clasping the top of the ledge. "Would not this woman be +ardently loved?" added Cecily. "If she had an enemy, and with a gesture +pointed him out to her old tiger, and said to him, Strike--" + +"And he would strike!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, attempting to press +Cecily's fingers with his parched lips. + +"Really, the old tiger would strike?" said the creole, placing her hand +gently on the hand of Jacques Ferrand. + +"To possess you," cried the wretch, "I could commit a crime--" + +"Ah, master," said Cecily, suddenly, and withdrawing her hand, +"go--go,--in my turn I scarcely know you,--you do not seem to me so ugly +as you did just now. But go--go!" and she left the aperture abruptly. + +The artful creature gave to her gestures and these last words an +appearance of truth so perfect, and a look of such surprise, as if angry +and disappointed with herself for having for an instant only appeared to +forget the ugliness of Jacques Ferrand, that he, transported by frenzied +hope, cried, as he clung convulsively to the ledge of the aperture: + +"Cecily, come back,--come back! Bid me do what you will, I will be your +tiger." + +"No, no, master!" said Cecily, still retreating. "And in order to forget +you, I will sing a song of my country." + +"Cecily, return!" exclaimed Jacques Ferrand, in a supplicating tone. + +"No, no! Later, when I can without danger. But the light of this lamp +hurts my eyes,--a soft languor overcomes my senses!" and Cecily +extinguished the lamp, took down a guitar, and made up the fire, whose +increased blaze then lighted up the whole apartment. + +From the narrow window, where he stood motionless, such was the picture +that Jacques Ferrand perceived. In the midst of the luminous circle +formed by the flickering blaze on the fire Cecily, in a position full of +softness and _abandonnement_, half reclining on a large sofa of garnet +damask, held a guitar, on which she ran over several harmonious +preludes. The fire-light threw its red tints on the creole, who appeared +thus in strong relief. To complete the tableau, the reader must call to +mind the mysterious and singular appearance of a room in which the fire +from the grate struggles with the deep and large black shadows, which +tremble on the ceiling and the walls. The storm without increased, and +roared loudly. + +Whilst she preludised on her guitar, Cecily fixed her eyes immovably on +Jacques Ferrand, who, fascinated, could not take his look from her. + +"Now, master mine," said the creole, "listen to a song of my country. We +do not understand how to make verses, but have a simple recitative, +without rhyme, and between each rest we improvise, as well as we can, a +symphony appropriate to the idea of the couplet; it is very simple and +pastoral, and I am sure, master, it will please you." + +And Cecily began a kind of recitative, much more accentuated by the +expression of the voice than the modulation of the music. Some soft and +vibrating chords served as accompaniment. This was Cecily's song: + + "Flowers--still flowers, everywhere. + My lover is coming--my hope of happiness unnerves me. + Let us subdue the glare of daylight, pleasure seeks the softer + shade. + My lover prefers my breath to the perfume of the sweetest + flowers. + The brightness of day will not affect his eyelids, for my kisses + will keep them closed. + Come--come--come--come, love! Come--come--come!" + +These words, uttered with animation, as if the creole was addressing an +unseen lover, were rendered by her the theme of a delicious melody; her +charming fingers produced from the guitar, an instrument of no great +power, vibrations full of harmony. The impassioned look of Cecily, her +half closed, humid eyes fastened on Jacques Ferrand, were full of the +expression of expectation. Words of love, delicious music, together +conspired at the moment to bereave Jacques Ferrand of his reason; and, +half frenzied, he exclaimed: + +"Mercy, Cecily, mercy! You will drive me distracted! Oh, be silent, or I +die! Oh, that I were mad!" + +"Listen to the second couplet, master," said the creole, again touching +the chords; and she thus continued her impassioned recitative: + + "If my lover were here, and his hand touched my bare shoulder, I + should tremble and die. + If he were here, and his curly hair touched my cheek, my pale + cheek would become purple--my pale cheek would be on fire. + Soul of my Soul, if thou wert here, my parched lips would not + utter a word. + Life of my Life, if thou wert here, I should expiring ask thy + pardon. + 'Tis sweet to die for and with those we love. + Angel, come--come to my heart--come--come--come!" + +If the creole had rendered the first strophe with languid pleasure, she +put in her last words all the enthusiasm of antique love; and as if the +music had been powerless to express her intense passion, she threw her +guitar from her, and, half rising and extending her arms towards the +door, where Jacques Ferrand stood, she repeated, in a faltering, dying +tone, "Oh, come--come--come!" It would be impossible to depict the +electric look with which she accompanied these words. Jacques Ferrand +uttered a terrible cry. + +"Oh, death! Death to him whom you could thus love!" he cried, shaking +the door in a burst of jealousy and furious rage. + +Agile as a panther, Cecily was at the door with one bound; and, as if +she with difficulty repressed her feigned transports, she said to +Jacques Ferrand, in a low, concentrated, palpitating voice: + +"Well, then, I will confess I am excited by my song. I did not mean to +approach the door again, yet here I am, in spite of myself; for I hear +still the words you said just now, 'If you bade me strike, I would +strike.' You love me, then?" + +"Will you have gold,--all my gold?" + +"No, I have enough." + +"Have you an enemy? I will kill him." + +"I have no enemy." + +"Will you be my wife? I'll marry you." + +"I am married." + +"What would you, then? Oh, what would you?" + +"Prove to me that your passion for me is blind,--furious! And that you +would sacrifice all to it." + +"Ah!--yes--all. But how?" + +"I do not know,--but a moment since your eyes fascinated me. If again +you give me one of those marks of intense love, which excite the +imagination of a woman to madness, I know not of what I should not be +capable. Make haste, then, for I am capricious, and to-morrow, perhaps, +all the impression will be effaced." + +"But what proof can I give you at this moment?" cried the notary. + +"You are but a fool, after all!" replied Cecily, retreating from the +aperture with an air of disdain. "I was deceived,--I believed you +capable of energetic devotion. Goodnight! It's a pity!" + +"Cecily, do not leave me! Return! What can I do?" + +"I was but too much disposed to listen to you; you will never have such +another opportunity." + +"But oh, tell me what you would have!" cried the notary, half mad. + +"Eh! If you were as passionately in love as you say, you would find +means to persuade me. Good night!" + +"Cecily." + +"I will shut the door, instead of opening it." + +"Cecily,--listen! I will give you yet another proof of my devotion." + +"What is this proof of your love?" said the creole, who, having +approached the mantelpiece to resume her dagger, returned slowly towards +the door, lighted by the flame of the hearth. Then, unobserved by the +notary, she made sure of the action of an iron chain, which terminated +in two small knobs, one of which was screwed into the door, and the +other into the door-post. + +"Listen!" said Jacques Ferrand, in a hoarse and broken voice, "listen! +If I place my honour, my fortune, my life, at your mercy,--now, this +very instant,--will you then believe I love you?" + +"Your honour, your fortune, your life! I do not comprehend you." + +"If I confide to you a secret which may bring me to the scaffold, will +you then believe me?" + +"You a criminal? You do but jest. What, then, of your austere +life,--your piety,--your honesty?" + +"All--all a lie!" + +"You pass for a saint, and yet you boast of these iniquities! No, there +is no man so craftily skilful, so fortunately bold, as thus to captivate +the confidence and respect of men; that were, indeed, a fearful defiance +cast in the teeth of society!" + +"I am that man,--I have cast that sarcasm, that defiance, in the face of +society!" exclaimed the monster, in a tone of ecstatic pride. + +"Jacques! Jacques! Do not speak thus!" said Cecily, with a tone of +emotion. "You make me mad!" + +"My head for your love,--will you have it so?" + +"Ah, this, indeed, is love! Here, take my poniard,--you disarm me!" + +Jacques Ferrand took, through the wicket, the dangerous weapon, with due +precaution, and flung it from him to a distance in the corridor. + +"Cecily, you believe me, then!" he exclaimed with transport. + +"Do I believe you?" said the creole, energetically pressing her +beautiful fingers on the clasped hands of Jacques Ferrand. "Oh, yes, I +do! For now, again, you look as you did a short time since, when my very +soul seemed fascinated by your gaze." + +"Cecily, you will speak the words of, truth--and truth only--to me?" + +"And can you doubt it for a moment? Ah, you will soon have ample proof +of my sincerity. But what you are about to tell me is quite true,--is it +not?" + +"I repeat that you may believe each word I utter." + +"So much the better, since you are enabled to prove your passion by the +avowal of them." + +"And if I tell you all?" + +"Then will I, in return, withhold nothing from you; for if, indeed, you +have this blind, this courageous confidence in me, Jacques, I will call +no more for the ideal lover of my song, but you,--my hero, my tiger! to +whom I will sing, 'Come--come--oh, come!'" + +As Cecily uttered these words, with an air and voice of seductive +tenderness, she drew so close to the wicket that Jacques Ferrand could +feel the hot breath of the creole pass over his cheek, while her fresh, +full lip lightly touched his coarse, vulgar hand. "Call me your +tiger,--your slave,--what you will,--and if after that you but divulge +what I entrust to you, my life will be the consequence. Yes, +enchantress, a word from you, and I perish on a scaffold. My honour, +reputation, nay, my very existence, are henceforward in your hands." + +"Your honour?" + +"Yes, even so. But listen. About ten years ago I was entrusted with the +care of a child, and a sum of money for her use, amounting to two +hundred thousand francs; well, I wronged the little creature by +spreading a false report of her death, and then appropriated the money +to my own purposes." + +"It was boldly and cleverly done! Who would ever have believed you +capable of such conduct?" + +"Again. I had a cashier whom I detested, and I determined upon ruining +him one way or other. Well, one evening, under some great emergency, he +took from my cash-box a trifling amount of gold, which he paid back the +next day; but to wreak my malice on the object of my dislike, I accused +him of having stolen a large sum. Of course my testimony was believed, +and the wretched man was thrown into prison. Now is not my honour--my +very safety--at your will and pleasure? At your word both would be in +peril." + +"Then you love me, Jacques,--oh, truly, blindly love me! Since you thus +surrender to me the most precious secrets of your heart, how plainly +does it prove the empire I must have over you! Ah, believe me, I will +not be niggardly in repaying you. Stoop that brow, from which have +emanated so many infernal schemes, that I may press it with my lips." + +"Were the scaffold erected for me," cried the excited notary, "did death +stare me in the face, I would not now recall my words. But hearken to +what I have still to confess. The child I formerly wronged and forsook +has again crossed my path, her reappearance disquieted me, and I have +had her murdered." + +"Murdered! and by your orders? But how--in what manner?" + +"A few days since; it occurred thus: Near the bridge of Asnieres, at the +Isle du Ravageur, a man named Martial, for a bribe, contrived to sink +her in a boat made purposely with a false bottom. Are these particulars +sufficient? Will you believe me now?" + +"Oh, fiend! demon! You terrify while you fascinate me! In what consists +your marvellous power and influence?" + +"But listen further, for I have not yet finished my catalogue of crimes. +Previously to that a man had entrusted me with one hundred thousand +crowns. I contrived to waylay and blow out his brains, making it appear +he had fallen by his own hand. Afterwards, when his sister claimed the +money entrusted to my charge, I denied all knowledge of it. Now, then, I +have proclaimed myself a malefactor, guilty of every crime. Will you not +open your door, and admit a lover so ardent, so impatient as myself?" + +"Jacques," exclaimed the creole, with much excitement, "I +admire,--love,--nay, adore you!" + +"Let a thousand deaths come!" cried the notary, in a state of +enthusiastic delight impossible to describe, "I will brave them all! Oh, +you are right! Were I ever so young, so handsome, or so seducing, I +could not hope for joy such as now swells my heart. But delay not, +charmer of my soul,--give me the key, or yourself undo the bolts which +separate us. I can endure this torturing suspense no longer!" + +The creole took from the lock, which she had carefully secured +beforehand, the key so ardently prayed for, and, handing it to the +notary through the aperture, said, in a languishing tone of utter +abandonnement: + +"Jacques, my senses seem forsaking me,--my brain is on fire,--I know not +what I do or say." + +"You are mine, then, at length, my adorable beauty!" cried he, with a +wild shout of savage exultation, and hastily turning the key in the +lock. But the firmly bolted door yielded not yet. + +"Come, beloved of my heart!" murmured Cecily, in a languid voice; "bless +me with your presence,--come!" + +"The bolt! The bolt!" gasped out Jacques Ferrand, breathless with his +exertions to force open the door. + +"But what if you have been deceiving me?" cried the creole, as though a +sudden thought had seized her; "if you have only invented the secrets +with which you affect to entrust me, to mock at my credulity, to ensnare +my confidence?" + +The notary appeared thunderstruck with surprise at this fresh expression +of doubt, at the very moment when he believed himself upon the point of +attaining his wishes; to find a new obstacle arise when he considered +success certain drove him almost furious. He rapidly thrust his hand +into his breast, opened his waistcoat, impatiently snapped a steel +chain, to which was suspended a small red morocco pocketbook, took it, +and showing it to Cecily, through the aperture, cried, in a thick, +palpitating voice: + +"This book contains papers that would bring me to a scaffold; only undo +the bolts which deny me entrance to your presence, and this book, with +all its precious documents, is yours." + +"Oh, then, let us seal the compact!" exclaimed Cecily, as, drawing back +the bolt with as much noise as possible with one hand, with the other +she seized the pocketbook. + +But Jacques Ferrand permitted it not to leave his possession till he +felt the door yield to his pressure. But though it partially gave way, +it was but to leave an opening about half a foot wide, the solid chain +which passed across it above the lock preventing any person's entering +as completely as before. At this unexpected obstacle Jacques Ferrand +precipitated himself against the door and shook it with desperate fury, +while Cecily, with the rapidity of thought, took the pocket-book between +her teeth, opened the window, threw a large cloak out into the yard +below, and, light and agile as bold and daring, seized a knotted cord +previously secured to the balcony, and glided from her chamber on the +first floor to the court beneath, descending with the swiftness of an +arrow shot from a bow. Then wrapping herself hastily in the mantle, she +flew to the porter's lodge, opened the door, drew up the string, ran +into the street, and sprang into a hackney-coach, which, ever since +Cecily had been with Jacques Ferrand, came regularly every evening, in +case of need, by Baron Grauen's orders, and took up its station a short +distance from the notary's house. Directly she had entered the vehicle +it drove off at the topmost speed of the two strong, powerful horses +that drew it, and had reached the Boulevards ere Jacques Ferrand had +even discovered Cecily's flight. + +We will now return to the disappointed wretch. From the situation of the +door he was unable to perceive the window by which the creole had +contrived to prepare and make good her flight; but concentrating all his +powers, by a vigorous application of his brawny shoulders Jacques +Ferrand succeeded in forcing out the chain which kept the door from +opening. + +With furious impatience he rushed into the chamber,--it was empty. The +knotted cord was still suspended to the balcony of the window from which +he leaned; and then, at the other extremity of the courtyard, he saw by +means of the moon, which just then shone out from behind the stormy +clouds which had hitherto obscured it, the dim outline of the outer gate +swinging to and fro as though left open by some person having hastily +passed through. Then did Jacques Ferrand divine the whole of the scheme +so successfully laid to entrap him; but a glimmer of hope still +remained. Determined and vigorous, he threw his leg over the balcony, +let himself down in his turn by the cord, and hastily quitted the house. + +The street was quite deserted,--not a creature was to be seen; and the +only sound his ear could detect was the distant rumbling of the wheels +of the vehicle that bore away the object of his search. The notary, who +supposed it to be the carriage of some person whose business or pleasure +took them late from home, paid no attention to this circumstance. + +There was then no chance of finding Cecily, whose absence was the more +disastrous, as she carried with her the positive proof of his crimes. As +this fearful certainty came over him, he fell, struck with +consternation, on a bench placed against his door, where he long +remained, mute, motionless, and as though petrified with horror. His +eyes fixed and haggard, his teeth clenched, and his lips covered with +foam, tearing his breast, as though unconsciously, till the blood +streamed from it, he felt his very brain dizzy with thought, till his +ideas were lost in a fathomless abyss. + +When he recovered from his stupor he arose and staggered onwards with an +unsteady and faltering step, like a person just aroused from a state of +complete intoxication. He violently shut the entrance door and returned +to the courtyard. The rain had by this time ceased, but the wind still +continued strong and gusty, and drove rapidly along the heavy gray +clouds which veiled without entirely excluding the brightness of the +moon, whose pale and sickly light shone on the house. + +Somewhat calmed by the clear freshness of the night air, Jacques +Ferrand, as though hoping to find relief from his internal agitation by +the rapidity of his movements, plunged into the muddy paths of his +garden, walking with quick, hurried steps, and from time to time +pressing his clenched hands against his forehead. Heedless of the +direction he proceeded in, he at length reached the termination of a +walk, adjoining to which was a dilapidated greenhouse. + +Suddenly he stumbled heavily against a mass of newly disturbed earth. +Mechanically he stooped down to examine the nature of the impediment +which presented itself; the deep hole which had been dug, and morsels of +torn garments lying by, told him with awful certainty that he stood by +the grave dug by poor Louise Morel to receive the remains of her dead +infant,--her infant, which was also the child of the heartless, hardened +wretch who now stood trembling and conscience-stricken beside this +fearful memento of his sensuality and brutal persecution of a poor and +helpless girl. And spite of his hardihood, his long course of sin and +seared conscience, a deadly tremor shook his frame, he felt an +instinctive persuasion that the hour of deep retribution was at hand. + +Under other circumstances Jacques Ferrand would have trampled the humble +grave beneath his feet without remorse or concern, but now, exhausted by +the preceding scene, he felt his usual boldness forsake him, while fear +and trembling came upon him. A cold sweat bedewed his brow, his +tottering knees refused to support him, and he fell motionless beside +the open grave. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +LA FORCE. + + +We may, perhaps, be accused, from the space accorded to the following +scenes, of injuring the unity of our story by some episodical pictures; +but it seems to us that, at this moment particularly, when important +questions of punishment are engaging the attention of the legislature, +that the interior of a prison--that frightful pandemonium, that gloomy +thermometer of civilisation--will be an opportune study. In a word, the +various physiognomies of prisoners of all classes, the relations of kin +or affection, which still bind them to the world from which their gaol +walls separate them, appear to us worthy of interest and attention. We +hope, therefore, to be excused for having grouped about many prisoners +known to the readers of this history other secondary characters, +intended to put in relief certain ideas of criticism, and to complete +the initiation of a prison life. + + * * * * * + +Let us enter La Force. There is nothing sombre or repulsive in the +aspect of this house of incarceration in the Rue du Roi de Sicile, in +the Marais. In the centre of one of the first courts there are some +clumps of trees, thickened with shrubs, at the roots of which there are +already, here and there, the green, precocious shoots of primroses and +snowdrops. A raised ascent, surmounted by a porch covered with +trellis-work, in which knotty stalks of the vine entwine, leads to one +of the seven or eight walks assigned to the prisoners. The vast +buildings which surround these courts very much resemble those of +barrack or manufactory kept with exceeding care. There are lofty facades +of white stone, pierced with high and large windows, which admit of the +free circulation of pure air. + +The stones and pavement of the enclosures are kept excessively clean. On +the ground floor, the large apartments, warmed during the winter, are +kept well ventilated during the summer, and are used during the day as +places of conversation, work, or for the meals of the prisoners. The +upper stories are used as immense dormitories, ten or twelve feet high, +with dry and shining floors; two rows of iron beds are there arranged, +and excellent bedding it is, consisting of a palliasse, a soft and thick +mattress, a bolster, white linen sheets, and a warm woollen blanket. At +the sight of these establishments, comprising all the requisites for +comfort and health, we are much surprised, in spite of ourselves, being +accustomed to suppose that prisons are miserable, dirty, unwholesome, +and dark. This is a mistake. + +It is such dogholes as that occupied by Morel the lapidary, and in which +so many poor and honest workmen languish in exhaustion, compelled to +give up their truckle-bed to a sick wife, and to leave, with hopeless +despair, their wretched, famishing children, shuddering with cold in +their infected straw--that is miserable, dark, dirty, and pestilent! The +same contrast holds with respect to the physiognomy of the inhabitants +of these two abodes. Incessantly occupied with the wants of their +family, which they can scarcely supply from day to day, seeing a +destructive competition lessen their wages, the laborious artisans +become dejected, dispirited; the hour of rest does not sound for them, +and a kind of somnolent lassitude alone breaks in upon their overtasked +labour. Then, on awakening from this painful lethargy, they find +themselves face to face with the same overwhelming thoughts of the +present, and the same uneasiness for the future. + +But the prisoner, indifferent to the past, happy with the life he leads, +certain of the future (for he can assure it by an offence or a crime), +regretting his liberty, doubtless, but finding much compensation in the +actual enjoyment, certain of taking with him when he quits prison a +considerable sum of money, gained by easy and moderate labour, esteemed, +or rather dreaded, by his companions, in proportion to his depravity and +perversity, the prisoner, on the contrary, will always be gay and +careless. + +Again, we ask, what does he want? Does he not find in prison good +shelter, good bed, good food, high wages,[1] easy work, and, especially, +society at his choice,--a society, we repeat, which measures his +consideration by the magnitude of his crimes? A hardened convict knows +neither misery, hunger, nor cold. What is to him the horror he inspires +honest persons withal? He does not see, does not know them. His crimes +made his glory, his influence, his strength, with the ruffians in the +midst of whom he will henceforward pass his life. Why should he fear +shame? Instead of the serious and charitable remonstrances which might +compel him to blush for and repent the past, he hears the ferocious +applauses which encourage him to theft and murder. Scarcely imprisoned, +he plans fresh crimes. What can be more logical? If discovered, and at +once apprehended, he will find the repose, the bodily supplies of a +prison, and his joyous and daring associates of crime and debauchery. If +his experience in crimes be less than that of others, does he for that +evince the less remorse? It follows that he is exposed to brutal +scoffing, infernal taunts, and horrible threats. And--a thing so rare +that it has become the exception to the rule--if the prisoner leaves +this fearful pandemonium with the firm resolution to return to the paths +of honesty by excessive labour, courage, patience, and honesty, and has +been able to conceal the infamy of his past career, the meeting with one +of his old comrades in gaol is sufficient to overturn this good +intention for the restoration of his character, so painfully struggled +for. + + [1] High wages, if we reflect that, with all expenses paid, a + prisoner may gain from five to ten sous a day. How many workmen + are there who can save such a sum? + +And in this way: A hardened, discharged convict proposes a job to a +repentant comrade; the latter, in spite of bitter menaces, refuses this +criminal association; forthwith an anonymous information reveals the +life of the unfortunate fellow who was desirous, at every sacrifice, of +concealing and expiating a first fault by honourable behaviour. Then, +exposed to the contempt, or, at least, the distrust, of those whose +good-will he had acquired by dint of industry and probity, this man, +reduced to distress, and urged by want, yielding at length to incessant +temptations, although nearly restored to society, will again fall, and +for ever, into the depths of that abyss whence he had escaped with such +difficulty. + +In the following scenes we shall endeavour to demonstrate the monstrous +and inevitable consequences of confinement in masses. After ages of +barbarous experiments and pernicious hesitations, it seemed suddenly +understood how irrational it is to plunge into an atmosphere of deepest +vice persons whom a pure and salubrious air could alone save. How many +centuries to discover that, in placing in dense contact diseased beings, +we redouble the intensity of their malignity, which is thus rendered +incurable! How many centuries to discover that there is, in a word, but +one remedy for this overwhelming leprosy which threatens +society,--isolation! + +We should esteem ourselves happy if our feeble voice could be, if not +relied upon, at least spread amongst all those which, more imposing, +more eloquent than our own, demand with such just and impatient urgency +the entire and unqualified application of the cell system. + +One day, perchance, society will know that wickedness is an accidental, +not an organic malady; that crimes are almost always the results of +perverted instincts, impulses, still good in their essence, but +falsified, rendered evil, by ignorance, egotism, or the carelessness of +governments; and that the health of the soul, like that of the body, is +unquestionably kept subordinate to the laws of a healthy and preserving +system of control. + +God bestows on all passions that strive for predominance, strong +appetites, the desire to be at ease, and it is for society to balance +and satisfy these wants. The man who only participates in strength, +good-will, and health has a right--a sovereign right--to have his labour +justly remunerated, in a way that shall assure to him not the +superfluities, but the necessaries of life,--the means of continuing +healthy and strong, active and industrious, and, consequently, honest +and good, because his condition is rendered happy. The gloomy regions of +misery and ignorance are peopled with morbid beings with withered +hearts. Purify these moral sewers, spread instruction, the inducement to +labour, fair wages, just rewards, and then these unhealthy faces, these +perishing frames, will be restored to virtue, which is the health, the +life of the soul. + + * * * * * + +Let us now introduce the reader into the room in the prison of La Force +in which the prisoners are allowed to see persons who visit them. It is +a dark place, partitioned in its length into two equal parts, by a +narrow grated division. One of these divisions communicates with the +interior of the prison, and is the place for the prisoners. The other +communicates with the turnkey's lobby, and is devoted to the persons +admitted to visit the prisoners. These interviews and conversations take +place through the double iron grating of the reception room, in presence +of the turnkey, who remains in the interior, at the extremity of the +passage. + +The appearance of the prisoners, who were in this room on the day in +question, offered great contrasts. Some were clad in wretched attire, +others seemed to belong to the working class, and some to the wealthy +citizen body. The same contrasts were remarkable amongst the visitors to +the prisoners, who were nearly all women. The prisoners generally appear +less downcast than the visitors, for, strange and sad to say, yet proved +by experience, there is but little sorrow or shame left after the +experience of three or four days spent in prison in society. Those who +most dreaded this hideous community habituate themselves to it quickly; +the contagion gains upon them. Surrounded by degraded beings, hearing +only the language of infamy, a kind of ferocious rivalry excites them; +and, either to emulate their companions in the struggle for brutalism, +or to make themselves giddy by the usual drunkenness, the newcomers +almost invariably display as much depravity and recklessness as the +_habitues_ of the prison. + +Let us return to the reception-room. Notwithstanding the noisy hum of a +great many conversations carried on in undertones on each side of the +divisions, prisoners and visitors, after some experience, are able to +converse with each other without being for a moment disturbed by, or +attentive to, the conversation of their neighbours, which creates a kind +of secrecy in the midst of this noisy interchange of words, each being +compelled to hear the individual who addressed him, but not to hear a +word of what was said around him. + +Amongst the prisoners called into the reception-room by visitors, the +one the farthest off from the turnkey was Nicholas Martial. To the +extreme depression with which he was seized on his apprehension, had +succeeded the most brazen assurance. Already the detestable and +contagious influence of a prison in common bore its fruits. No doubt, +had he been at once conveyed to a solitary cell, this wretch, still +under the influence of his first terror, and alone with the thought of +his crimes, fearful of impending punishment, might have experienced, if +not repentance, at least that wholesome dread from which nothing would +have distracted him. + +And who knows what incessant, compulsory meditation may produce on a +guilty mind, reflecting on the crimes committed and the punishment that +is to follow? Far from this, thrown into the midst of a horde of +bandits, in whose eyes the least sign of repentance is cowardice,--or, +rather, treason,--which they make him dearly expiate; for, in their +savage obduracy, their senseless bravado, they consider every man as a +spy on them, who, sad and disconsolate, regretting his fault, does not +join in their audacious recklessness, and trembles at their contact. +Thrown into the midst of these miscreants, Nicholas Martial, who had for +a long time, by report, known the prison manners, overcame his weakness, +and wished to appear worthy of a name already celebrated in the annals +of robbery and murder. + +Several old offenders had known his father, who had been executed, and +others his brother, who was at the galleys; he was received and +instantly patronised by these veterans in crime with savage interest. +This fraternal reception between murderer and murderer elevated the +widow's son; the praises bestowed on the hereditary infamy of his family +intoxicated him. Soon forgetting, in this horrible mood, the future that +threatened him, he only remembered his past crimes to glory in them, and +elevate himself still higher in the eyes of his companions. The +expression of Nicholas's physiognomy was then as insolent as that of his +visitor was disturbed and alarmed. + +This visitor was Daddy Micou, the receiver and lodging-house keeper in +the Passage de la Brasserie, into whose abode Madame de Fermont and her +daughter, victims of Jacques Ferrand's cupidity, had been compelled to +retreat. Father Micou knew the penalties to which he was amenable for +having many a time and oft obtained at low prices the fruits of the +robberies of Nicholas and many others of his stamp. The widow's son +being apprehended, the receiver felt he was almost at the mercy of the +ruffian, who might impeach him as a regular buyer. Although this +accusation could not be supported by flagrant proofs, still it was not +the less dangerous, the less dreaded by Daddy Micou, and he had thus +instantly obeyed the orders which Nicholas had transmitted to him by a +discharged prisoner. + +"Ah, ah! how goes it, Daddy Micou?" said the brigand. + +"At your service, my good fellow," replied the receiver, eagerly. "As +soon as I saw the person you sent to me, I directly--" + +"Oh, you are becoming ceremonious, daddy!" said Nicholas, with +impatience. "Why is this, because I'm in trouble?" + +"No, no, my lad,--no, no!" replied the receiver, who was not anxious to +seem on terms of familiarity with this ruffian. + +"Come, come, be as familiar as usual, or I shall think you have +forgotten our intimacy, and that would break my heart." + +"Well, well," said Micou, with a groan, "I directly went about your +little commissions." + +"That's all right, daddy. I knew well enough that you would not forget +your friends. And my tobacco?" + +"I have left two pounds at the lodge, my boy." + +"Is it good?" + +"Cannot be better." + +"And the knuckle of ham?" + +"Left at the lodge, also, with a four-pound white loaf; and I have added +something that will surprise you, in the shape of a dozen hard eggs and +a Dutch cheese." + +"This is what I call doing the thing like a friend! And the wine?" + +"Six bottles of capital. But, you know, you will only have one bottle a +day." + +"Well, that can't be helped, and so one must make up one's mind to it." + +"I hope you are satisfied with me, my boy?" + +"Certain, and I shall be so again, and for ever, Father Micou; for the +ham, the cheese, the eggs, and the wine will only last just so long as +it takes to swallow them; but, as a friend of mine remarked, when they +are gone there'll be more where they came from, thanks to you, who will +always do the handsome thing so long as I do the same." + +"What! You expect--" + +"That in two or three days you will renew my little stock, daddy dear." + +"Devil burn me if I do! It's all very good for once--" + +"For once! What d'ye mean, man? Why, ham and wine are always good, you +know that very well." + +"Certainly, but I have not undertaken to feed you in delicacies." + +"Oh, Daddy Micou, that's shabby--indecent. What, refuse me ham! One who +has so often brought you 'double tresse' (stolen lead)!" + +"Hush, hush! You mischievous fellow," cried the alarmed receiver. + +"No, I'll put the question to the big-wig (the judge). I'll say to him, +only imagine now, sir, that Daddy Micou--" + +"Hush, hush!" exclaimed the receiver, seeing with equal alarm and anger +that Nicholas was much disposed to abuse the influence which their +guilty companionship gave him. "I'll agree--I will renew your provision +when it is consumed." + +"That's all right, and what's fair. And you mustn't forget, too, to send +some coffee to mother and Calabash, who are at St. Lazare; they like a +cup in a morning, and they'll miss it." + +"What more? Would you ruin me, you extortionate fellow?" + +"Oh, just as you like, Daddy Micou,--don't say another word, but I shall +ask the big-wig--" + +"Well, then, they shall have the coffee," said the receiver, +interrupting him. "But devil take you! Accursed be the day when I first +knew you!" + +"Old boy, I say quite the contrary. I am delighted to have your valuable +acquaintance at this particular moment. I revere you as a nursing +father." + +"I hope you have nothing more to ask of me?" said Micou, with +bitterness. + +"Yes; say to my mother and sister that, if I was frightened when they +apprehended me, I am no longer so, but as determined as they two are." + +"I'll say so. Anything more?" + +"Stay another moment or two. I forgot to ask you for a couple of pairs +of warm woollen stockings,--you'd be sorry if I caught cold, shouldn't +you?" + +"I should be glad if you were dead." + +"Thank ye, daddy, thank ye! But that pleasure is yet to come, and to-day +I'm alive and kicking, and inclined to take things easy. If they serve +me as they did my father, at least I shall have enjoyed my life while it +lasted." + +"It's a nice life, yours is!" + +"Superb! Since I have been here I've enjoyed myself like a king. If we +had lamps and fireworks, they would have lighted them up, and fired them +off in my honour, when they knew I was the son of the famous Martial who +was guillotined." + +"How affecting! What a glorious parentage!" + +"Why, d'ye see, there are many dukes and marquises. Why, then, shouldn't +we have our nobility, too?--such as us!" said the ruffian, with bitter +irony. + +"To be sure, and Charlot (the headsman) will give you your letters of +nobility on the Place du Palais." + +"You may be sure it won't be the gaol chaplain. But in prison we should +have the nobility of top-sawyers (noted robbers) to be thought much of; +if not, you are looked upon as nobody at all. You should only see how +they behave to those who are not tip-tops and give themselves airs. Now +there's in here a chap called Germain, a young fellow, who appears +disgusted with us, and seems to despise us all. Let him take care of his +hide! He's a sulky hound, and they say he is a 'nose' (a spy); if he is, +they'll screw his nose around, just by way of warning." + +"Germain? A young man called Germain?" + +"Yes; d'ye know him? Is he one of us? If so, in spite of his looks, +we--" + +"I don't know him; but if he is the Germain I have heard speak of, his +affair is settled." + +"How?" + +"Why, he has only just escaped from a plot which Velu and the +Stout-Cripple laid for him lately." + +"Why?" + +"I don't know, but they said that in the country somewhere he had +tricked one of their pals." + +"I was sure of it, Germain is a spy. Well, we'll spy him! I'll go and +tell our friends; that'll set them sharper against him. By the way, how +does Gros-Boiteux get on with your lodgers?" + +"Thank heaven, I have got rid of him,--a blackguard! You'll see him here +to-day or to-morrow." + +"All right; how we shall laugh! He's a boy who is never taken aback!" + +"It's because I knew that he would find this Germain here that I said +his affair was settled,--if it's the same chap." + +"Why have they got hold of the Gros-Boiteux?" + +"For a robbery committed with a discharged convict, who wanted to turn +honest and work. Well, you see, the Gros-Boiteux soon got him in a +string; he is such a vicious devil, the Boiteux! I am certain it was he +who broke open the trunk of the two women who live in the little room +on my fourth floor." + +"What women?--ah, yes, two women! You was smitten by the young 'un, I +remember, you old vagabond, because you thought her so nice." + +"They'll not smite anybody any more, for by this time the mother must be +dead, and the daughter is scarcely alive. I shall lose a fortnight's +rent, and I sha'n't give a sou to pay for their burial. I've had so many +losses, without talking of the little matters you entreat me to give you +and your family, that my affairs are quite disarranged. I've had the +luck of it this year." + +"Pooh, pooh! You are always complaining, old gentleman; you who are as +rich as Croesus. But don't let me detain you." + +"You're polite." + +"You'll call and tell me how mother and Calabash are when you bring me +my other provisions?" + +"Yes, if I must." + +"Ah, I'd nearly forgot; whilst you're about it, bring me a new cap, of +plaid velvet, with an acorn at top; mine's regularly done for." + +"Come, now, you're laughing at me." + +"No, daddy, by no means; I want a plaid velvet cap. That's my wish." + +"Then you're resolved to make a beggar of me?" + +"Come, I say, Micou, don't get out of temper about it. It's only yes or +no,--I do not force you, but--you understand?" + +The receiver, reflecting that he was at the mercy of Nicholas, rose, +fearing that if he prolonged his visit he would be exposed to fresh +demands. + +"You shall have your cap," he replied; "but mind, if you ask me for +anything more, I will give you nothing,--let what will occur, you'll +suffer as much as I shall." + +"Make your mind easy, I'll not make you sing (force you to give money +under the threat of certain disclosures) more than is sufficient for you +not to lose your voice; for that would be a pity, you sing so well." + +The receiver went away, shrugging his shoulders with rage, and the +turnkey conducted Nicholas back to the interior of the prison. + +At the moment when Micou quitted the reception-room, Rigolette entered +it. The turnkey, a man about forty years of age, an old soldier, with +stern and marked features, was dressed in a round jacket, with a blue +cap and trousers; two silver stars were embroidered on the collar and +facings of his jacket. At the sight of the grisette the face of this man +brightened up, and assumed an expression of benevolence. He had always +been struck by the grace, gentleness, and touching kindness with which +Rigolette consoled Germain when she came there to see him. Germain was, +besides, not an ordinary prisoner; his reserve, his peaceable demeanour, +and his melancholy inspired the persons about the prison with deep +interest,--an interest which they did not manifest, for fear of exposing +him to the ill-treatment of his brutal companions, who, as we have said, +looked upon him with mistrusting hate. It was raining in torrents, but, +thanks to her goloshes and umbrella, Rigolette had boldly faced the wind +and rain. + +"What a shocking day, my poor girl!" said the turnkey, kindly. "It +requires a good deal of courage to leave home such weather as this." + +"When we think as we come along of the pleasure we shall give a poor +prisoner, we don't think much about the weather, sir." + +"I need not ask you whom you have come to see?" + +"Certainly not. And how is poor Germain?" + +"Why, my dear, I have seen many prisoners; they have been sad for a +day,--two days, perhaps,--and then gradually got into the same way as +the others; and those who were most out of sorts at first often ended +by becoming the merriest of all. But M. Germain, is not one of these, he +has still that melancholy air." + +"How sorry I am to hear it!" + +"When I'm on duty in the yards, I look at him from the corner of my eye, +he is always alone. I have already told you that you should advise him +not to do so, but to resolve on conversing with the others, or it will +end with his becoming suspected and ill-used by them. We keep a close +look-out, but a mischievous blow is soon given." + +"Oh, sir, is there any danger threatens him?" cried Rigolette. + +"Not precisely, but these ruffians see that he is not one of them, and +hate him because he has an honest and proud look." + +"Yet I advised him to do what you told me, sir, and make up his mind to +talk to some of the least wicked! But he cannot help it, he cannot get +over his repugnance." + +"He is wrong--wrong! A struggle is so soon begun." + +"Can't he, then, be separated from the others?" + +"For the last two or three days, since I have seen their ill-will +towards him, I advised him to place himself what we call _a la +pistole_,--that is, in a room." + +"Well?" + +"I had not thought of one thing. A whole row of cells is undergoing +repair, and the others are full." + +"But these wretches may kill him!" said Rigolette, her eyes filling with +tears. "And if, by chance, he had any protectors, what could they do for +him, sir?" + +"Nothing, but enable him to obtain what these debtors who can pay for it +obtain,--a chamber, _a la pistole_." + +"Alas, then, he is lost, if they hate him in prison." + +"Oh, don't be downhearted, we will look well to him. But I repeat, my +dear, do advise him to familiarise himself a little,--the first step is +half the battle." + +"I will advise him as strongly as I can, sir. But for a good and honest +heart it is very hard, you know, to familiarise itself with such +people." + +"Of two evils we must choose the least. Now I will fetch M. Germain. But +now I think of it," said the turnkey, "there are only two visitors; wait +until they are gone, there'll not be any more to-day, for it is two +o'clock. I will then fetch M. Germain, and you can talk at your ease. I +can then, when you are alone, let him come into the passage, so that you +will be separated by one grating instead of two. Won't that be better?" + +"Ah, sir, how kind you are, and how much I thank you!" + +"Hush! Do not let any one hear you, or they may be jealous. Sit down +there at the end of the bench, and when this man and woman have gone, I +will tell M. Germain." + +The turnkey returned to his post inside the grating, and Rigolette sat +down very melancholy at the end of the visitors' bench. + +Whilst the grisette is awaiting the coming of Germain, we will allow the +reader to overhear the conversation of the prisoners who remained there +after the departure of Nicholas Martial. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +PIQUE-VINAIGRE. + + +The prisoner who was beside Barbillon was a man about forty-five years +of age, thin, mean-looking, with a keen, intelligent, jovial, merry +face. He had an enormous mouth, almost entirely toothless; and, when he +spoke, he worked it from side to side, very much after the style of +those orators who are accustomed to harangue from booths at fairs. His +nose was flat, his head disproportionately large and nearly bald; he +wore an old gray knit worsted waistcoat, a pair of trousers of +indescribable colour, torn and patched in a thousand places; his feet, +half wrapped up in pieces of old linen, were thrust into wooden shoes. + +This man, Fortune Gobert, called Pique-Vinaigre, formerly a juggler, a +convict freed after condemnation for the crime of uttering false money, +was charged with having broken from gaol and committed violent burglary. +Having been confined but very few days in La Force, Pique-Vinaigre +already filled the office of story-teller, to the general satisfaction +of his fellow prisoners. Now story-tellers have become very rare, but +formerly each ward had usually, for a slight general subscription, its +official story-teller, who, by his narrations, made the long winter +evenings appear less tedious when the prisoners went to bed at sunset. + +If it be curious to note the desire for these fictions which these +outcasts display, it is yet a more singular thing to reflect upon the +hearing of these recitals. Men corrupted to the very marrow, thieves, +and murderers, prefer especially the histories in which are expressed +generous, heroic sentiments, recitals in which weakness and goodness are +avenged in fierce retribution. It is the same thing with women of lost +reputation; they are singularly fond of simple, touching, and +sentimental details, and almost invariably refuse to read obscene books. + +Pique-Vinaigre excelled in that kind of heroic tales in which weakness, +after a thousand trials, concludes by triumphing over persecution. He +possessed, besides, a deep fund of satire, which had procured for him +his name, his repartees being very frequently ironical or merry. He had +just entered the reception-room. Opposite to him, on the other side of +the grating, was a female of about thirty-five years of age, of pale, +mild, and interesting countenance, meanly but cleanly clad. She was +weeping bitterly, and held a handkerchief to her eyes. Pique-Vinaigre +looked at her with a mixture of impatience and affection. + +"Come, Jeanne," he said, "do not play the child. It is sixteen years +since we met, and to keep your handkerchief up to your eyes is not the +way for us to know each other again." + +"Brother--my poor, dear Fortune! I am choking--I cannot speak." + +"Ah, nonsense! What ails you?" + +His sister repressed her sobs, wiped her eyes, and, looking at him with +astonishment, replied, "What ails me? What, when I find you again in +prison, where you have already been fifteen years!" + +"True. It is six months to-day since I left Melun; and I didn't call +upon you in Paris because the capital was forbidden to me." + +"Why did you leave Beaugency when you were under surveillance?" + +"In the first place, Jeanne, since the gratings are between us, you +must fancy I have embraced you, squeezed you in my arms, as a man ought +to do who has not seen his sister for an eternity. Now let us talk. A +prisoner at Melun, who is called the Gros-Boiteux, told me that there +was at Beaugency an old convict of his acquaintance, who employed the +freed prisoners in a factory of white lead. Those who work at it in a +month or two catch the lead-colic. One in three of those attacked die. +It is true that others die also; but they take their time about it and +get on, sometimes as long as a year or even eighteen months. Then the +trade is better paid than most others, and there are fellows who hold +out at it for two or three years. But they are elders--patriarchs--of +the white-leaders. They die, it is true, but that is all." + +"And why did you choose a trade so dangerous that they die at it?" + +"What could I do? When I went to Melun for that well-known job of the +forged coin I was a thimble-rigger. As in gaol there was no scope for my +line of business, and I am not stronger than a good stout flea, they put +me to making children's toys. There was a tradesman in Paris who found +it very advantageous to have his wooden trumpets and swords made by the +prisoners. Why, I must have made half the wooden swords used by the +children of Paris; and I was great in the trumpet line. Rattles, +too,--why, with two of my manufacture I could have set on edge the teeth +of a whole battalion! Well, when my time was up I was a first-rate maker +of penny trumpets, and my only resource was making child's playthings. +Now, supposing that a whole town, young and old, were inclined to play +tur-tu-tu-tu on my trumpets, I should still have had a good deal of +trouble to earn a livelihood; and then I could not have induced a whole +population to continue playing the trumpet from morning to night." + +"You are still such a jester!" + +"Better joke than cry. Well, then, seeing that at forty leagues from +Paris my trade of juggler was no more useful to me than my trumpets, I +requested the surveillance at Beaugency, intending to become a +white-leader. It is a trade that gives you indigestion enough to send +you mad; but until one bursts one lives, and that is always something, +and it was better than turning thief. I am neither brave nor strong +enough to thieve, and it was from pure accident that I did the thing I +have just mentioned to you." + +"And yet you had the courage to take up with a deadly trade! Come now, +Fortune, you wish to make yourself out worse than you are." + +"I thought that the malady would have so little to take hold of in me +that it would go elsewhere, and that I should become one of the +patriarchal white-leaders. Well, when I came out of prison, I found my +earnings had considerably increased by telling stories." + +"So you told us. You remember how it amused poor old mother?" + +"Dear soul! She never suspected that I was at Melun?" + +"Never. She thought you had gone abroad." + +"Why, my girl, my follies were my father's fault, who dressed me up as a +clown to help in his mountebank displays, to swallow tow and spit fire, +which did not allow me spare time to form acquaintance with the sons of +the peers of France; and so I fell into bad company. But to return to +Beaugency. When once I had left Melun, like the rest, I thought I must +see some fun; if not, what was the use of my money? Well, I reached +Beaugency, with scarcely a sou in my pocket. I asked for Velu, the +friend of Gros-Boiteux, the head of the manufactory. Your servant! There +was no longer any white-lead factory; it had killed eleven persons in +the year, and the old convict had shut up shop. So here I was in the +middle of this city, with my talent for trumpet-making as my only means +of existence, and my discharge from prison as my only certificate of +recommendation. I did my best to procure work, but in vain. One called +me a thief, another a beggar, a third said I had escaped from gaol; all +turned their backs upon me. So I had nothing to do but die of hunger in +a city which I was not to leave for five years. Seeing this, I broke my +ban, and came to Paris to utilise my talents. As I had not the means to +travel in a coach and four, I came begging and tramping all the way, +avoiding the _gens-d'armes_ as I would a mad dog. I had luck, and +reached Auteuil without accident. I was very tired, hungry as a wolf, +and dressed, as you may see, not in the height of the fashion." And +Pique-Vinaigre glanced comically at his rags. "I had not a sou, and was +liable to be taken up as a vagabond. Well, _ma foi!_ an occasion +presented itself; the devil tempted me, and, in spite of my cowardice--" + +"Enough, brother,--enough!" said his sister, fearing lest the turnkey +might hear his dangerous confession. + +"Are you afraid they listen?" he said. "Be tranquil; I have nothing to +conceal. I was taken in the act." + +"Alas!" said Jeanne, weeping bitterly; "how calmly you say this!" + +"If I spoke warmly what should I gain by it? Come, listen to reason, +Jeanne. Must I have to console you?" + +Jeanne wiped her eyes and sighed. + +"Well, to go back to my affair," continued Pique-Vinaigre. "I had nearly +reached Auteuil, in the dusk. I could not go any farther, and I did not +wish to enter Paris but at night; so I sat down behind a hedge to rest +myself, and reflect on my plan of campaign. My reflections sent me to +sleep, and when the sound of voices awoke me it was night. I listened. +It was a man and woman, who were talking as they went along on the other +side of the hedge. The man said to the woman, 'Who do you think would +come and rob us? Haven't we left the house alone a hundred times?' +'Yes,' replied the woman; 'but then we hadn't a hundred francs in the +drawers.' 'Who knows that, you fool?' says the husband. 'You are right,' +replies the wife; and on they went. _Ma foi!_ the occasion seemed to me +too favourable to lose, and there was no danger. I waited until they got +a little farther on, and then came from behind the hedge, and, looking +twenty paces behind me, I saw a small cottage, which I was sure must be +the house with the hundred francs, as it was the only habitation in +sight. Auteuil was about five hundred yards off. I said to +myself,'Courage, old boy,--there is no one. Then it is night; if there +is no watch-dog (you know I was always afraid of dogs), why, the job is +as good as done.' Luckily there was no dog. To make sure I knocked at +the door. Nothing. This encouraged me. The shutters were closed on the +ground floor, but I put my stick between and forced them. I got into the +window, and in the room the fire was still alight. So I saw the drawers, +but no key. With the tongs I forced the lock, and under a heap of linen +I found the prize, wrapped in an old woollen stocking. I did not think +of taking anything else, but jumping out of the window, I alighted on +the back of the garde-champetre, who was returning home." + +"What a misfortune!" + +"The moon had risen. He saw me jump from the window and seized me. He +was a fellow who could have eaten a dozen such as I was. Too great a +coward to resist, I surrendered quietly. I had the stocking still in my +hand, and he heard the money chink, took it, put it in his game bag, and +made me accompany him to Auteuil. We reached the mayor's with a crowd of +blackguards and _gens-d'armes_. The owners of the cottage were fetched, +and they made their depositions. There was no means of denial; so I +confessed everything and signed the depositions, and they put on me +handcuffs, and I was brought here." + +"In prison again, and for a long time, perhaps?" + +"Listen to me, Jeanne, for I will not deceive you. I may as well tell +you at once; for it is no longer an affair of prison." + +"Why not?" + +"Why, the relapse, the breaking in and entry into a dwelling-house at +night, the lawyer told me, is a complete affair, and I shall have +fifteen or twenty years at the galleys, and the public exposure into the +bargain." + +"The galleys,--and you so weak? Why, you'll die!" + +"And suppose I had been with the white-lead party?" + +"But the galleys,--the galleys!" + +"It is a prison in the open air, with a red shirt instead of a brown +one; and then I have always had a curiosity to see the sea!" + +"But the public exposure! To be subject to the contempt of all the +world! Oh, my poor brother!" And the poor woman wept bitterly. + +"Come, come, Jeanne, be composed; it is an uncomfortable quarter of an +hour to pass. But you know I am used to see crowds. When I played with +my cups and balls, I always had a crowd around me; so I'll fancy I am +thimble-rigging, and if it has too much effect on me I'll close my eyes, +and that will seem as if no one was looking at me." + +Speaking with this derision, the unhappy man affected this +insensibility, in order to console his sister. For a man accustomed to +the manners of prisons, and in whom all shame is utterly dead, the +_bagne_ (galleys) is, in fact, only a change of shirt, as Pique-Vinaigre +said, with frightful truth. Many prisoners in the central prisons even +prefer the _bagne_, because of the riotous life they lead, often +committing attempts at murder in order to be sent to Brest or Toulon. + +"Twenty years at the galleys!" repeated Pique-Vinaigre's poor sister. + +"Take comfort, Jeanne, they will only pay me as I deserve. I am too weak +to be put to hard labour, and if there is no manufactory of wooden +trumpets and swords as at Melun, why, I shall be set to some easy work; +they will employ me at the infirmary. I am not a troublesome fellow, but +a good, easy chap; and I shall tell my stories as I do here, and shall +be esteemed by my chiefs, and adored by my comrades, and I will send you +carved cocoanuts and straw boxes for my nephews and nieces." + +"If you had only written to me that you were coming to Paris, I would +have tried to conceal you until you found work." + +"_Pardieu!_ I meant to have gone to you, but I preferred arriving with +my hands full,--for I see you do not ride in your carriage. Well, and +your children,--and your husband?" + +"Has left me these three years, after having sold off every stick, not +leaving me or the children one single thing but a straw palliasse." + +"Poor Jeanne! How have you managed alone with three children?" + +"Why, I have suffered very much. I worked at my business as a +trimming-maker as well as I could, the neighbours helping me a little, +watching my children when I went out. And then I, who haven't much luck, +had a bit of good fortune once in my life; but it was no avail, because +of my husband." + +"How was that?" + +"My employer had spoken of my trouble to one of his customers, telling +him how my husband had left me with nothing, after having sold all our +furniture, and that, in spite of this, I was working as hard as I could +to bring up my children. One day when I returned what did I find? Why, +my room fitted up again, a good bed, furniture, and linen; it was the +kind customer of my employer." + +"Poor sister! Why didn't you write and tell me of your misfortune; and +then, instead of spending my money, I would have sent you some." + +"What! I free to ask of you a prisoner?" + +"Why not? I was fed, clothed, lodged, at the cost of government; all I +gained was so much profit. But knowing my brother-in-law was a good +workman, and you a good manager and worker, I was quite easy, and melted +my 'tin' with my eyes shut, and my mouth open." + +"My husband was a good workman, that is true; but he became dissipated. +However, thanks to this unexpected aid, I took courage again. My eldest +girl began to earn a little, and we were happy, except when we +remembered that you were at Melun. Work went well with us, and my +children were well clad, and wanted for nothing hardly, and that gave me +good heart; and I had actually saved thirty-three francs, when suddenly +my husband returned. I had not seen him for a year; and when he found me +so well off and tidily dressed, he stood for nothing, but took my money +and lived with us without working, getting drunk every day, and beating +me when I complained. And that is not all. He gave up a small room +adjoining ours to a woman with whom he lived openly as his mistress; so +I had that indignity to endure for the second time. He soon began to +make away with the few poor things I had managed to get together; so, +foreseeing what would be the end of such conduct, I went to a lawyer who +lived in the same house, and begged him to advise me how to act to +prevent my husband from taking the very bed from me and my children." + +"Why, there needed no lawyer, I should think, to tell you that the only +thing you had to do was to turn your husband out of your doors." + +"Ah, but I could not,--the law gave me no power to do so. The lawyer +told me that, as 'head of the family,' my husband could take up his +abode wherever I dwelt, and was not compelled to labour unless he liked; +that it was very hard for me to have to maintain him, and endure his +ill-treatment into the bargain, but that he recommended me to submit to +it, though certainly the circumstance of his having a mistress living +under the same roof entitled me to demand separation from 'bed and +board,' as he called it; and further, that as I would bring witnesses to +prove his having repeatedly struck me, and otherwise ill-treated me, I +could institute a suit against him, but that it would cost me, at the +very least, from four to five hundred francs to obtain a perfect +separation from him. Only think what a sum,--as much as I should earn in +a year! And who would lend me so much money, which would have to be +repaid heaven knows how? For four or five hundred francs is a perfect +fortune." + +"Yet there is one very simple means of amassing the money," replied +Pique-Vinaigre, bitterly; "that of living upon air during the twelve +months it would take you to earn that sum, working all the same, but +denying yourself even the necessaries of life; and I am only surprised +the lawyer did not advise you to starve yourself and your children, or +any other kind-hearted expediency." + +"You always make a jest of everything, brother!" + +"This time, however, I am not in a jesting humour. It is scandalous that +the law should be so expensive to poor creatures such as we. Now, just +look at yourself,--a good and affectionate mother, striving by every +means in your power to bring up your children honestly and creditably; +your husband, a bad, lazy fellow, who, not content with stripping you of +all you earn, that he may spend his time in drinking and all sorts of +loose pleasures, beats and ill-uses you into the bargain. Well, you +apply to the justice of your country for protection for yourself and +your children. 'Ah,' say the lawyers, 'yours is a hard case, and your +husband is a worthless vagabond, and you shall have justice. But then +you must pay five hundred francs for that same justice,--five hundred +francs, mind; precisely all your utmost labour can obtain to nourish +yourself and family for a year. I tell you what, Jeanne, all this proves +the truth of the old saying, that 'There are but two sorts of +people,--those who are hanged, and those who deserve to be!'" + +Rigolette, alone and pensively inclined, had not lost a word of all that +tale of woe breathed by the poor, suffering, and patient wife into her +brother's ear; while her naturally kind heart deeply sympathised with +all she heard, and she fully resolved upon relating the whole history to +Rodolph the very first time she saw him, feeling quite sure of his ready +and benevolent aid in succouring them. Deeply interested in the mournful +fate of the sister of Pique-Vinaigre, she could not take her eyes from +the poor woman's face, and was endeavouring to draw a little closer to +her; but unluckily, just at that moment, a fresh visitant, entering the +room, inquired for a prisoner, and while the person he wished to see was +sent for, he very coolly seated himself on the bench between Jeanne and +the grisette, who, at the sight of the individual who so unceremoniously +interrupted her making closer acquaintance with her neighbour, felt a +degree of surprise almost amounting to fear, for in him she recognised +one of the bailiffs sent by Jacques Ferrand to arrest poor Morel, the +lapidary. This circumstance, recalling as it did to the mind of +Rigolette the implacable enemy of Germain, redoubled her sadness, which +had been in some manner diverted while listening to the touching recital +of the unfortunate sister of Pique-Vinaigre. + +Retreating from the fresh arrival as far as she could, the grisette +leaned her back against the wall, and once more relapsed into her +mournful ruminations. + +"Look here, Jeanne!" cried Pique-Vinaigre, whose mirthful, +pleasure-loving countenance was suddenly overcast by a deep gloom; "I am +by nature neither very strong nor very courageous; but, certainly, if I +had chanced to have been by when your husband so shamefully treated you, +I don't think I should have let him slip through my fingers without +leaving my mark. But you were too good for him, and you put up with more +than you ought!" + +"Why, what would you have had me do? I was obliged to endure what I +could not avoid. So long as there remained an article that would fetch +money did my husband sell it, even to the frock of my little girl, and +then repair to the alehouse with his mistress." + +"But why did you give him your daily earnings?--you should have hid them +from him." + +"So I did; but he beat me so dreadfully that I was obliged to give them +to him. I cared less for the blows he gave me than because I dreaded his +doing me some bodily injury, such as breaking my arm and dislocating my +wrist, that would have hindered me from working; and then, what would +have become of my poor children? Suppose I had been compelled to go to a +hospital, they must have perished with hunger. So, you see, brother, I +thought it was better to give up my earnings to my husband than run the +risk of being lamed by him." + +"Poor woman! People talk of martyrs, but what martyrdom can exceed what +you have endured?" + +"And yet I can truly say I never injured a living creature, and my only +desire was to work hard and do my duty to my husband and children. But +it is no use thinking about it; there are fortunate and unfortunate +persons, just the same as there are good people and bad people in the +world!" + +"True; and it is a beautiful sight to see how happy and prosperous the +good always are,--aren't they, sister? And do you now believe yourself +for ever freed from your scoundrel of a husband?" + +"I trust so. He staid till he had sold even my bedstead and the cradle +in which my youngest child lay. But when I think that, even more than +that, he wished--" + +"What did he wish?" + +"When I say he, I ought rather to tell you that it was rather that +wicked woman who urged him on. One day he said to me, 'I tell you what, +when folks have a pretty girl of fifteen belonging to them, they are +cursed fools if they do not turn her to good account.'" + +"Oh, to be sure! When he had sold the poor girl's clothes, he was +willing to sell her also." + +"When I heard him say those dreadful words I lost all command over +myself, and, I promise you, I did not spare him all the reproaches he +merited. And when his vile paramour took upon herself to interfere, and +say that my husband had a right to do what he liked with his own child, +I could contain myself no longer; but I fell with all my fury on the +wretched creature. This obtained for me a severe beating from my +husband, who then left me; and I have never seen him since." + +"I tell you, Jeanne, that there are men condemned to ten years' +punishment and imprisonment who have not done so much to deserve it as +your husband has done." + +"Still he had not a bad heart. It was his frequenting alehouses, and the +bad companions he met there who made him the lost creature he is." + +"True, he would not hurt a child; but a grown-up person he was not so +very particular." + +[Illustration: "_Then Left Me_" +Original Etching by Adrian Marcel] + +"Alas, it is no use repining! We must take life as we find it. Well, +when my husband had left me I seemed to regain my courage, for I had no +longer the constant dread of being crippled by him, and so prevented +from earning bread for my children. For want of money to buy a mattress +(for one must live and pay one's rent before thinking of other things), +and poor Catherine (my eldest girl) working with me fifteen hours a day, +we could scarcely earn twenty pence a day both together, and my other +two children were too young to be able to earn anything; so, as I was +saying, for want of a mattress we slept upon straw we picked up from +time to time before the door of a large furniture packer in the +neighbourhood." + +"And to think that I have spent and squandered all my money as I have +done!" + +"Pray do not reproach yourself. How could you possibly imagine I was in +want or difficulties when I never said a word to lead you to conclude +so? So poor dear Catherine and I set to work again with redoubled +courage and determination. If you only knew what a dear, good child she +is, so honest, industrious, and good, watching me with her eyes to try +and find out what I wish her to do. Never has a murmur escaped her lips; +and yet she has seen much want and misery, though scarcely fifteen years +of age! She has consoled me in the midst of my severest troubles. Oh, +brother," added Jeanne, drying her eyes, "such a child is enough to +repay one for the severest trials!" + +"You were just such another yourself at her age; and it is but fair you +should have some consolation amidst your troubles!" + +"Believe me, 'tis rather on her account than mine I grieve; for it +really seems out of nature to see a young creature like her slaving +herself to death. For months together she has never quitted her work, +except once a week, when she goes to wash the trifle of linen we possess +in the river, near the Pont-au-Charge, where they only charge three sous +an hour for the use of the boats, beaters, etc. All the rest of her time +she is working like a galley-slave. Ah, she has known misfortune too +early! I know well that troubles must come; but then a poor girl should +be able to look back upon a happy childhood, at least! And another +thing that grieves and vexes me almost as much as that, is not being +able to render you any assistance. Still I will endeavour." + +"Nonsense; don't talk so! Do you suppose I would accept of anything from +you? On the contrary, I'll tell you what I'll do to help you. From this +time forward I'll insist upon being paid for my amusing tales and +wonderful recitals; and those who object to pay from one to two sous for +hearing shall no more be treated to the entertaining histories of +Pique-Vinaigre. I shall soon collect a pretty little sum for you, I +know. But why don't you take furnished lodgings, so that your husband +could not molest you by selling your little possessions?" + +"Furnished lodgings! Only consider, there are four, and for such a +number we should have to pay at least twenty sous (ten pence) a day. +What should we have to live upon if we paid all that for rent? And now +we give but fifty francs a year for the rooms we occupy." + +"True, my girl," replied Pique-Vinaigre, with bitter irony. "That's +right,--work, slave, begrudge yourself necessary rest or food, in order +to refurnish your place. And directly you have once more got things +comfortably about you, your husband will come and strip you of +everything; and when he has deprived you almost of the garments you +wear, he will take your dear Catherine from you and sell her also." + +"No, no, brother; he should take my life ere I would suffer him to +injure my good, my virtuous child." + +"Oh, but he does not wish to do her any bodily harm; he only wants to +sell her. And then, remember, as the lawyer said, he is master until you +can find five hundred francs to be legally separated from him. So, as +that is not the case, at present you must make up your mind to submit to +what cannot be helped. It seems that, by law, your husband has a right +to take his child from you and send her where he pleases. And if he and +his mistress are bent upon the ruin of the poor girl, doubtless they +will stop at nothing to achieve it." + +"Merciful God!" exclaimed the almost frantic mother, "surely such +wickedness can never be tolerated in a Christian land! Justice itself +would interpose if a father could insist upon selling his daughter's +honour." + +"Justice!" repeated Pique-Vinaigre, with a sardonic laugh, "justice! No, +no, that meat is too dear for poor folks like you and I. Only, do you +see, if it refers to sending a parcel of poor wretches to prison or the +galleys, then it is quite a different affair; and they have justice +without its costing them anything,--nay, it becomes a matter of life and +death. An unhappy criminal gets his head shaved off by the guillotine +for nothing; not a single farthing are they or their friends, whether +rich or poor, tailed upon to pay for this act of impartial justice. The +object of it only gives his head! All other expenses are defrayed by a +liberal and justice-loving legislature. But the justice that would +protect a worthy and ill-treated mother of a family from being beaten +and pillaged to support the vices of a man who seeks even to sell the +honour of his innocent child,--such justice as that costs five hundred +francs! So, my dear Jeanne, you must do without it." + +"Brother, brother," exclaimed the poor woman, bursting into tears, "you +break my heart by such words as these!" + +"Well, and my own heart aches even to bursting as I think of your fate +and that of your children, while I recollect that I am powerless to help +you. I seem always gay and merry; but don't you be deceived by +appearances, Jeanne! I tell you what, I have two descriptions of gaiety, +my gay gaiety, and my sad gaiety. I have neither the strength or the +courage to indulge in envy, hatred, or malice, like the other prisoners; +I never go beyond words, more or less droll as occasion requires. My +cowardice and bodily weakness would never have allowed me to be worse +than I am. And nothing but the opportunity presenting itself of robbing +that poor little lone house, where there was neither a cat nor a dog to +frighten one, would have drawn me into the scheme that brought me here. +And then, again, by chance it was a brilliant moonlight night; for if +ever there was a poor devil afraid of being alone in the dark it is me." + +"Ah, dear brother, I have always told you you are better than you +yourself think! Well, I trust the judges will be of my opinion and deal +mercifully with you." + +"Mercy! What, for me, a liberated convict? Don't reckon too much on that +or you'll be disappointed. But, hang it, what care I? Here or elsewhere +is all the same to me! Let my judges do as they will with me, I shall +bear them no ill-will. For you are right; I am not a bad sort of fellow +at heart; and those who are worse than myself I hate with all the hatred +of a good man, and show my dislike by raillery of every sort. You can +imagine, can you not, that, by dint of relating stories in which, to +please my auditors, I always make those who wantonly torment others +receive the reward of their wickedness in the end, I get into the habit +of feeling all the indignation and virtuous desire for vengeance I +relate?" + +"I should never have thought such persons as your prison companions +would have been interested in such recitals!" + +"Oh, but I'm awake to how to tickle their fancies. If I were to relate +to them the story of a man who committed no end of crimes, robbery and +murder being among the mildest, and got scragged at last, they would get +into a downright passion and not allow me to go on; but if I make up a +tale of a woman or child, or a poor, cowardly fellow like myself, that a +breath of wind would knock over, being pursued by an atrocious +persecutor,--a sort of Blackbeard, who torments them to death, for the +pure pleasure of the thing! Oh, how they roar and stamp for joy when I +make Mr. Blackbeard in the end served out as he deserves. I have got a +story they have never yet heard, called 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,' +which used to delight all the folks at Melun. I have promised to tell it +to them here to-night. But, before I begin, I shall see that they come +down pretty handsome when I send the box around collecting; and you may +depend upon being all the better for its contents. And, besides that, I +will write out the story itself to amuse your children. Poor dears! How +pleased they will be with it! 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,'--there's a +title for you! And, bless you, it is so virtuous and moral that an abbe +might read it from his pulpit! So make yourself quite happy in every +respect." + +"One thing gives me great pleasure, dear brother, and that is to see +that your disposition keeps you from being as unhappy as the rest of +your companions here." + +"Why, I am quite sure if I were like a poor fellow who is a prisoner in +our ward, I should be tempted to lay violent hands on myself. Poor young +man! I really am sorry for him,--he seems so very wretched; and I am +seriously afraid that before the day is over he will have sustained some +serious mischief at the hands of the other prisoners, whom he refuses to +associate with, and they owe him a grudge for it; and I know that a plan +is arranged to serve him out this very evening." + +"Dear me, how shocking! But you, brother, do not mean to take any part +in it, I hope?" + +"No, thank you, I am not such a fool; I should be sure to catch some of +the good things intended for another. All I know about it I picked up +while going to and fro. I heard them talking among themselves of gagging +him to hinder him from crying out, and in order to prevent any one from +seeing what is going on they mean to form a circle around him, making +believe to be listening to one of their party, who should pretend to be +reading a newspaper or anything they liked out loud." + +"But why should they thus ill-treat the poor man?" + +"Because, as he is always alone, never speaks to any person, and seems +to hold everybody in disgust, they have taken it into their heads he is +a spy, which is immensely stupid on their parts, because a spy would +naturally hook on with them the better to find out all they said and +did; but I believe that the principal cause of their spite against him +is that he has the air of a gentleman, which is a thing they hold in +abhorrence. It is the captain of the dormitory, who is known by the name +of the Walking Skeleton, who is at the head of this plot; and he is like +a wild beast after this Germain, for so the object of their dislike is +called. But let them all do as they like; it is no affair of mine. I can +be of no use, therefore let them go their own way. But then you see, +Jeanne, it is of no use being dull and mopish in prison, or the others +are sure to suspect you of something or other. They never had to find +fault with my want of sociability, and for that reason never suspected +me or owed me a grudge. But come, my girl, you had better return home; +we have gossiped long enough. I know very well how it takes up your time +to come hither. I have nothing to do but to idle away my days; it is +very different with you; so good night. Come and see me again when you +can; you know how happy it always makes me." + +"Nay, but, brother, pray do not go yet; I wish you to stay." + +"Nonsense, Jeanne; your children are wanting you at home. I say--I hope +you have not told the poor, dear, little innocent things that their +'nunky' is in prison?" + +"No, indeed, I have not; the children believe you are abroad, and as +such I can always talk to them of you." + +"That's all right. Now then, be off, and get back to your family and +your employment as fast as you can." + +"But listen to me, brother,--my poor Fortune. I have not much to give, +God knows! but still I cannot bear to see you in so deplorable a plight +as you are at present. Your feet must be half frozen without any +stockings; and that wretched old waistcoat you have on makes my heart +ache to see it. Catherine and I together will manage to get a few things +together for you. You know, Fortune, that at least we do not want for +good will--to--" + +"To what--to give me better clothes? Lord love you, I've got boxes full +of everything you can mention, and directly they come I shall be able to +dress like a prince! There, now; come, give me one little +smile,--there's a good girl! You won't? Well, then, you shall make me +and bring me what you like; only remember, directly the tale of +'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half' has replenished my money-box, I am to return +all you expend upon me. And now once more, dear Jeanne, fare you well! +And the next time you come to see me, may I lose the name of +Pique-Vinaigre if I don't make you laugh! But be off now; cut your +stick, there's a good girl! I know I have kept you too long already." + +"No, no, dear brother, indeed you have not. Pray hear what I have to +say!" + +"Hallo, here! I say, my fine fellow," cried Pique-Vinaigre to the +turnkey, who was waiting in the lobby, "I have said my say, and I want +to go in again. I've talked till I'm tired." + +"Oh, Fortune," cried Jeanne, "how cruel you are to send me thus from +you!" + +"No, no; on the contrary, I am kinder than you give me credit for." + +"Good-bye; keep up your spirits; and to-morrow morning tell the children +you have been dreaming of their uncle who is abroad, and that he desired +you to give his kind love to them. There--good-bye--good-bye!" + +"Good-bye, Fortune!" replied the poor woman, bursting into tears, as her +brother entered the interior of the prison. + +From the moment when the bailiff seated himself between her and Jeanne, +Rigolette had been unable to overhear a word more of the conversation +between Pique-Vinaigre and his sister; but she continued to gaze +intently on the latter, her thoughts busied with devising some plausible +pretext for obtaining the poor woman's address, for the purpose of +recommending her as a fit object for Rodolph's benevolence. As Jeanne +rose from her seat to quit the place, Rigolette timidly approached her, +and said, in a kind voice: + +"Pray excuse my addressing you, but a little while ago I could not avoid +overhearing your conversation, and by that I found that you were a maker +of fringe and fancy trimmings." + +"You heard rightly," replied Jeanne, somewhat surprised, but, at the +same time, much prepossessed in favour of the open, frank expression of +Rigolette's charming countenance, as well as won to confidence by her +kind and friendly manner. + +"And I," continued Rigolette, "am a dressmaker. And just now that +fringes and gimps are so much worn, I am frequently requested by my +customers to get a particular sort for them; so it occurred to me that +perhaps you who make at home could supply me with what I required +cheaper than the shops, while, on the other hand, you might obtain a +better price from me than you get from the warehouse you work for." + +"Certainly, I should make a small profit by buying the silk myself, and +then making it up to order. You are very kind to have made me the +proposal; but I own I feel unable to account for your being so well +acquainted with my manner of gaining a living." + +"Oh, I will soon explain all that to you. You must know I am waiting to +see the person I came here to visit. Being quite alone, I could not +help hearing all you said to your brother,--of your many trials, also of +your dear children. So then, thinks I to myself, poor people should +always be ready to assist each other. I hope you believe that I did not +try to listen? And after that gentleman came and placed himself between +us, I lost all that passed between your brother and yourself. So I tried +to hit upon some way of being useful to you, and then it struck me that +you being a fancy trimming-maker, I might be able to put work in your +way more profitable than working for shops,--they pay so very little. +So, if you are agreeable, we will take each other's address. This is +where I live; now please to tell me where to send to you directly I have +any work for you." + +With these words Rigolette presented one of her businesslike cards to +the sister of Pique-Vinaigre, who, deeply touched by the words and +conduct of the grisette, exclaimed with much feeling: + +"Your face does not belie your kind heart; and pray do not set it down +for vanity if I say that there is something about you that reminds me so +forcibly of my eldest daughter that when you first came in I could not +help looking at you several times. I am very much obliged to you; and +should you give me any work, you may rely on my doing it in my best +possible manner. My name is Jeanne Duport, and I live at No. 1 Rue de la +Barillerie,--No. 1, that is not a difficult number to recollect." + +"Thank you, madame." + +"Nay, 'tis rather for me to express thanks for having had the goodness +even to think of serving a stranger like myself. But still I cannot help +saying it does surprise me to be taken notice of by a young person like +you, who most likely has never known what trouble was." + +"But, my dear Madame Duport," cried Rigolette, with a winning smile, +"there is really nothing so astonishing in the affair. Since you fancy I +bear some resemblance to your daughter Catherine, why should you be +surprised at my wish to do a good action?" + +"What a dear, sweet creature it is!" cried Madame Duport, with +unaffected warmth. "Well, thanks to you, I shall return home less sad +than I expected; and perhaps we may have the pleasure of meeting here +again before long, for I believe you, like me, come to this dreadful +place to visit a prisoner?" + +"Yes, indeed, I do," replied Rigolette, with a sigh, which seemed to +proceed from the very bottom of her heart. + +"Then farewell for the present; we shall very shortly meet again, I +hope, Mlle.--Rigolette!" said Jeanne Duport, after having referred for +the necessary information to the card she held in her hand. + +"Oh, yes, I'm sure I trust so, too. Good-bye, then, till we meet again, +Madame Duport." + +"Well," thought Rigolette, as she returned and reseated herself on the +bench, "at least I know this poor woman's address; and I feel quite sure +M. Rodolph will assist her directly he knows what trouble she is in, for +he always told me whenever I heard of a case of real distress to let him +know, and I am sure this is one if ever there was." And here Rigolette +suddenly changed the current of her ideas by wondering when it would be +her turn to ask to see Germain. + +A few words as to the preceding scene. Unfortunately it must be +confessed that the indignation of the unhappy brother of Jeanne Duport +was quite legitimate. Yes, when he said that the law was too dear for +the poor he spoke the truth. To plead before the civil tribunals incurs +enormous expenses, impossible for workpeople to meet when they can +scarcely subsist on the wages they earn. + +Ought not civil as well as criminal justice to be accessible to all? +When persons are too poor to be able to invoke the benefits of any law +which is eminently preservative and beneficial, ought not society at its +own cost to enable them to attain it out of respect for the honour and +repose of families? + +But let us speak no longer of the woman who must be, for all her life, +the victim of a brutal and depraved husband, and speak of Jeanne +Duport's brother. This freed prisoner leaves a den of corruption to +re-enter the world; he had submitted to his punishment, payed his debt by +expiation. What precaution has society taken to prevent him from falling +again into crime? None! If the freed convict has the courage to resist +evil temptations, he will give himself up to one of those homicidal +trades of which we have spoken. + +Then the condition of the freed convict is much more terrible, painful, +and difficult than it was before he committed his first fault. He is +surrounded by perils and rocks,--he must have refusal, disdain, and +often even the deepest misery. And if he relapses and commits a second +crime, you are more severe towards him than for his first fault a +thousand times. This is unjust, for it is always the necessity you +impose on him that makes him commit the second crime. Yes, for it is +demonstrated that, instead of correcting, your penitentiary system +depraves; instead of ameliorating, it renders worse; instead of curing +slight moral defects, it renders them incurable. + +The severe punishment inflicted on offenders for the second time would +be just and logical if your prisons, rendered moral, purified the +prisoners, and if, at the termination of their punishment, good conduct +was, if not easy, at least possible for them. If we are astonished at +the contradictions of the law, what is it when we compare certain +offences with certain crimes, either from the inevitable consequences, +or from the immense disproportions which exist between the punishments, +awarded to each? + +The conversation of the prisoner who came to see the bailiff will +present one of these overwhelming contrasts. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +MAITRE BOULARD. + + +The prisoner who entered the reception-room at the moment when +Pique-Vinaigre left it was a man about thirty, with reddish brown hair, +a jovial countenance, florid and full; and his short stature made his +excessive fatness still more conspicuous. This prisoner, so rosy and +plump, was attired in a long and warm dressing-gown of gray kersey, with +pantaloons of the same down to his feet. A kind of cap of red velvet, +called _Perinet-Leclerc_, completed this personage's costume, when we +add that his feet were thrust into comfortable furred slippers. His gold +chain supported a number of handsome seals with valuable stones, and +several rings with real stones shone on the red fingers of the _detenu_, +who was called Maitre Boulard, a _huissier_ (a law-officer), and accused +of breach of trust. + +The person who had come to see him was, as we have said, Pierre Bourdin, +one of the _gardes de commerce_ (bailiffs) employed to arrest poor +Morel, the lapidary. This bailiff was usually employed by Maitre +Boulard, the _huissier_ of M. Petit-Jean, the man of straw of Jacques +Ferrand. + +Bourdin, shorter and quite as stout as the _huissier_, formed himself on +the model of his employer, whose magnificence he greatly admired. Very +fond as he was of jewelry, he wore on this occasion a superb topaz pin, +and a long gilt chain was visible through the buttonholes of his +waistcoat. + +"Good day, my faithful friend, Bourdin, I was sure you would not fail +to come at my summons!" said Maitre Boulard, in a joyful tone, and in a +small, shrill voice, which contrasted singularly with his large carcass +and full-moon face. + +"Fail at your summons!" replied the bailiff; "I am incapable of such +behaviour, _mon general_." + +This was the appellation by which Bourdin, with a joke at once familiar +and respectful, called the _huissier_, under whose orders he acted; this +military appellation being very frequently used amongst certain classes +of clerks and civil practitioners. + +"I observe with pleasure that friendship remains faithful to +misfortune!" said Maitre Boulard, with gay cordiality. "However, I was +getting a little uneasy, as three days had elapsed, and no Bourdin." + +"Only imagine, _mon general_!--it is really quite a history. You +remember that dashing vicomte in the Rue de Chaillot?" + +"Saint-Remy?" + +"Yes; you know how he laughed at all our attempts to 'nab' him?" + +"Yes; he behaved very ill in that way." + +"Well, this vicomte has got another title." + +"What, is he a comte?" + +"No, but from swindler he has become thief!" + +"Ah, bah!" + +"They are after him for some diamonds he has stolen; and, by the way, +they belonged to the jeweller who used to employ that vermin of a Morel, +the lapidary we were going to arrest in the Rue du Temple, when a tall, +thin chap, with black moustaches, paid for this half-starved devil, and +very nearly pitched me and Malicorne headlong down-stairs." + +"Ah, yes, yes, I remember; you told me all about it, Bourdin,--it was +really very droll! But as to this dashing vicomte?" + +"Why, as I tell you, Saint-Remy was charged with robbery, after having +made his worthy old father believe that he wished to blow out his +brains. A police agent of my acquaintance, knowing that I had been long +on the traces of the vicomte, asked me if I could not give him +information so that he could 'grab' the dandy. I had learned (too late +for myself) that he had 'run to earth' in a farm at Arnouville, five +leagues from Paris; but when we got there the bird had flown!" + +"But next day he paid that acceptance,--thanks, as I have heard say, to +some rich woman!" + +"Yes, general; but still I knew the nest, and he might have gone there +again, and so I told my friend in the police. He proposed to me to give +him a friendly cast of my office and show him the farm, and as I had +nothing to do and it was a rural trip, I agreed." + +"Well, and the vicomte?" + +"Not to be found. After having lurked about the farm for some time, we +gained admittance, and returned as wise as we went; and this is why I +could not come to your orders sooner, general." + +"I was sure it was something of this sort, my good fellow." + +"But, if I may be allowed to ask, how the devil did you get here?" + +"Wretches, my dear fellow, a set of wretches who, for a miserable sixty +thousand francs of which they declare I have wronged them, have charged +me with a breach of trust and compelled me to resign my office." + +"Really, general! Well, that's unfortunate! And shall I then work for +you no longer?" + +"I am on half pay now, Bourdin,--on the retired list." + +"But who are these vindictive persons?" + +"Why, only imagine, one of the most savage of all is a liberated +convict, who employed me to recover the amount of a bill of seven +hundred miserable francs, for which it was requisite to bring an action. +Well, I brought the action, and got the money and used it; and because, +in consequence of some unsuccessful speculations, I swamped that money +and several other sums, all these blackguards have assailed me with +warrants; and so you find me here, my dear fellow, neither more nor less +than a malefactor." + +"And does it not alarm you, general?" + +"Yes; but the oddest thing of all is that this convict wrote me word +some days ago that this money being his sole resource for bad times, and +these bad times having arrived (I don't know what he means by that), I +was responsible for the crimes he might commit in order to escape from +starvation." + +"Amusing, 'pon my soul!" + +"Very; and the fellow is capable of saying this, but fortunately the law +does not recognise any such accompliceships." + +"After all, you are only charged with breach of trust?" + +"That is all. Do you take me for a thief, Maitre Bourdin?" + +"Oh, dear general! I meant to say there was nothing very serious in +this." + +"Why, I don't look very down, do I, my boy?" + +"By no means; never saw you looking better. Indeed, if you are found +guilty, you will only have two or three months, imprisonment and +twenty-five francs fine. I know the law, you see!" + +"And these two or three months I shall contrive, I know, to pass quietly +in some infirmary. I have a deputy at my elbow." + +"Oh, then, you're all right." + +"Yes, Bourdin; and I can scarcely help laughing to think what little +good the fools who put me here have done themselves,--they will not +recover a sou of the money they claim. They compel me to sell my +post,--what do I care?" + +"True, general; it is only so much the worse for them." + +"Yes, my boy. And now for the subject on which I was anxious to see you, +Bourdin; it is a very delicate affair,--there is a lady in the case!" +said Maitre Boulard, with mysterious self-complacency. + +"Oh, you gay deceiver! But, be it what it may, you may rely on me." + +"I am greatly interested in the welfare of a young actress at the +theatre of the Folies-Dramatiques. I pay her rent; but, you know, the +absent are always in the wrong! Alexandrine has applied to me for money. +Now I have never been a very gay fellow, but yet I do not like to be +made a fool of; so, before I comply, I should like to know if the lady +is faithful. I know there is nothing more absurd and uncommon than +fidelity, and so you will do me a friendly service if you could just +watch her for a few days and let me know your opinion, either by a talk +with the porter at her abode or--" + +"I understand, general," said Bourdin; "this is no worse than watching a +debtor. Rely on me; I will have an eye to Mlle. Alexandrine,--although, +I should say, you are too generous and too good-looking not to be +adored!" + +"My good looks are no use, my friend, so long as I am absent; and so I +rely on you to discover the truth." + +"Rely on me." + +"How can I, my dear fellow, prove my gratitude?" + +"Don't mention it, general." + +"Pray understand, my dear Bourdin, that your fees in this case will be +the same as if you were after an arrest." + +"I can't allow it, general. As long as I act under your orders, have you +not allowed me to shear the debtor to his very skin,--to double, treble, +the costs of arrests? And have you not sued for those costs for me as +eagerly as if they were due to yourself?" + +"But, my dear fellow, this is very different; and, in my turn, I declare +I will not allow it." + +"_Mon general_, you will really make me quite ashamed if you do not +allow me to make these inquiries as to Mlle. Alexandrine as a poor proof +of my gratitude." + +"Well, well; be it so. I will no longer contend with your generosity; +and your devotion will be a sweet reward to me for considerations I have +always mixed up in our transactions." + +"Very good, general; and now we understand each other. Is there anything +else I can do for you? You must be very uncomfortable here. I hope you +are _a la pistole_ (in a private room)?" + +"Yes; I came just in time to get the only empty room,--the others are +being repaired. I have made myself as comfortable as possible in my +cell, and am not so very miserable. I have a stove and a very nice easy +chair; I make three long meals a day, and my digestion is good; then I +walk and go to sleep. Except my uneasiness about Alexandrine I have not +so much to complain of." + +"But for you who were such an epicure, general, the prison diet is very +poor." + +"Why, there is an excellent cookshop in my street, and I have a running +account with him, and so every two days he sends me a very nice supply. +And, by the way, I would get you to ask his wife--a nice little woman is +Madame Michonneau--to put into the basket a bit of pickled thunny. It is +in season now, and relishes one's wine." + +"Capital idea!" + +"And tell Madame Michonneau to send me a basket of various +wines,--burgundy, champagne, and bordeaux,--like the last; she'll know +what I mean. And tell her to put in two bottles of old cognac of 1817, +and a pound of pure Mocha, fresh roasted and ground." + +"I'll put down the date of the cognac, lest I should forget it," said +Bourdin, taking a memorandum-book from his pocket. + +"As you are writing, my good fellow, be so good as make a minute of my +wish to have an eider-down quilt from my house." + +"All shall be done to the letter, general; make your mind easy. And now +I shall be comfortable about your living. But your walks; you are +compelled to take them along with those ruffians confined here?" + +"Yes; and it's really very lively and animated. I go down after +breakfast; sometimes I go into one yard, sometimes another, and I mix +with the mob. Really they appear very good sort of fellows! Some of them +are very amusing. The most ferocious are collected in what is called the +Fosse aux Lions. Ah, my good fellow, what hang-dog-looking fellows there +are amongst them. There's one they call the Skeleton,--I never saw such +a creature." + +"What a singular name!" + +"He is so thin, or rather bare of flesh, that this is the nickname which +has been given to him; he is really frightful. He is, besides, director +of his ward, and, moreover, an infernal villain. He has just left the +galleys, and went directly to murder and assassination. But his last +murder was really horrible, as he knew he should be condemned to death +without chance of remission; but he laughs at it." + +"What a scoundrel!" + +"All the prisoners admire and tremble before him. I got into his good +graces at once by offering him some cigars, and so he made a friend of +me at once, and offered to teach me slang; and I have made considerable +progress." + +"Oh, what an idea!--my general learning slang!" + +"I amuse myself as much as I can, and all these fellows adore me. I am +not proud like a young fellow they call Germain, who gives himself the +airs of a lord." + +"But he must be delighted at meeting with such a gentleman as you, even +if he is disgusted with the others." + +"Why, really, he did not seem even to notice that I was there; but, if +he had, I should have taken care how I took any notice of him. He is the +_bete noire_ of the whole prison, and some day or other they'll play him +a slippery trick; and, _pardieu!_ I have no wish to come in for my share +of what may befall him." + +"You're right." + +"It would interfere with my pleasures, for my walk with the prisoners is +really a pleasure to me; only these ruffians have no great opinion of me +morally. You see, my accusation of a simple breach of trust is +contemptible in the eyes of these out-and-outers; and they look on me as +a nobody." + +"Why, really, with such criminals you are--" + +"A mere chicken, my dear fellow. But do not forget my commissions." + +"Make your mind easy, general. First, Mlle. Alexandrine; second, the +fish-pie and basket of wine; third, the old cognac of 1817, the ground +coffee, and the eider-down quilt; you shall have it all. Is there +anything else?" + +"Yes, I forgot. You know the address of M. Badinot?" + +"The agent? Yes." + +"Well, be so kind as to call on him, and say that I rely on his +friendship to find me a barrister such as my case requires, and that I +shall not stand for forty or fifty pounds." + +"I'll see M. Badinot, depend upon it, general; and all your commissions +shall be attended to this evening, and to-morrow you shall receive all +you wish for. So good day, and a happy meeting to us soon, _mon +general_." + +"Good-bye, my worthy friend!" And the prisoner quitted the parlour at +one door, and the visitor by the other. + + * * * * * + +Let us now compare the crime of Pique-Vinaigre with that of M. Boulard, +the _huissier_. Compare the beginning of the two, and the reasons, the +necessities, which impelled them to evil. Compare, too, the punishment +which awaited them respectively. The one, driven by his hunger and need, +robs. He is apprehended, judged, and sentenced to fifteen or twenty +years of hard labour and exposure. Property is sacred, and he who, in +the night, breaks for plunder should undergo sacred punishment. But +ought not the well-informed, intelligent, rich man who robs--not to +satisfy hunger, but his caprices or gambling in the stocks--to be +punished? Yet for the public spoliator there is two months' +imprisonment; for the relapsed convict twenty years' hard labour and +exposure. What can we add to these facts, which speak for themselves? + + * * * * * + +The old turnkey kept his word; and when Boulard left the parlour, +Germain entered, and Rigolette was only separated from him by a light +wire grating. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +FRANCOIS GERMAIN. + + +Although the features of Germain could not be styled regular, it was +scarcely possible to see a more interesting countenance. There was an +air of ease and elegance about him, while his slight, graceful figure, +plain but neatly arranged dress (consisting of a pair of gray trousers +and black frock coat, buttoned up to the chin), formed a striking +contrast to the slovenliness and neglect to which the occupants of the +prison generally gave themselves up; his white hands and well-trimmed +nails evinced an attention to his personal appearance which had still +further excited the ill-will of the prisoners against him, for bodily +neglect is almost invariably the accompaniment of moral perversion. He +wore his long and naturally curling chestnut hair parted on one side of +his forehead, according to the fashion of the day, a style that well +became his pale and melancholy countenance, and large, clear blue eyes, +beaming with truth and candour; his smile, at once sweet and mournful, +expressed benevolence of heart, mingled with a habitual dejection, for, +though young, the unfortunate youth had already deeply tasted +affliction. + +Nothing could be imagined more touching than the look of suffering +impressed on his features, while the gentle and resigned cast of his +whole physiognomy was but a fair transcript of the mind within, for a +better, purer, or more upright heart could scarcely have beaten in human +form. + +The very cause of his imprisonment (divested of the calumnious +aggravations affixed to it by Jacques Ferrand) proved the goodness of +his nature, and left him worthy of blame only for suffering himself to +be led astray by his feelings to commit an action decidedly wrong, but +still excusable if it be remembered that the son of Madame Georges felt +perfectly sure of replacing on the following morning the sum temporarily +taken from the notary's cash-box, for the purpose of saving Morel the +lapidary, from being dragged from his family and confined in a prison. + +Germain coloured slightly as he perceived, through the grating of the +visitor's room, the bright and charming countenance of Rigolette, who +strove, as usual, to appear gay, in hopes of encouraging and enlivening +her protege a little; but the poor girl was too bad a dissembler to +conceal the sorrow and agitation she invariably experienced upon +entering the prison. She was seated on a bench at the outside of the +grating, holding her straw basket on her lap. + +Instead of remaining in the adjoining passage, from whence every word +could be heard, the old turnkey retired to the stove placed at the very +extremity of the visiting-room, closed his eyes, and in a very few +seconds was (as his breathing announced) fast asleep, leaving Germain +and Rigolette at perfect liberty to converse at their ease. + +"Now then, M. Germain," cried the grisette, placing her pretty face as +closely as she could to the grate, the better to examine the features of +her friend, "let me see what sort of a countenance you have got to-day, +and whether it is less sad than it was? Humph, humph--only middling! +Now, do you know that I've a great mind to be very angry with you?" + +"Oh, no, you are too good for that. But how very kind of you to come +again so soon!" + +"So soon! Does it seem to you so soon? You mean by those words to +reproach me for coming so frequently. Well--" + +"Have I not good cause to find fault with you for taking so much pains +and trouble for me, while I, alas! can merely thank you for all your +goodness?" + +"That is a little mistake of yours, my fussy friend, because the little +services in my power to render you afford me quite as much pleasure as +they do you; so that, you see, I am as much bound to say 'Thank you for +all favours,' as you are. So, you see, I am not to be cheated that way. +And now I think of it, the best way to punish you for such very improper +ideas will be not to give you what I have brought for you." + +"What! Another proof of your thoughtful care of me? Oh, you spoil +me--you do, indeed! I shall be fit for nothing but to be somebody's pet +when (if ever, alas!) I get out of prison. A thousand thanks! Nay, you +must pardon my using that word, although it does displease you. But, +indeed, you leave me nothing else to say." + +"Ah, but don't be in such a hurry to thank me, before you even know what +I have brought!" + +"Why, what do I care what it is?" + +"Well, I'm sure that's very civil, M. Germain!" + +"Nay, I only meant to say that, be it what it may, it must needs be dear +and precious to me, since it comes from you. Oh, Mlle. Rigolette, your +unwearied kindness, your touching sympathy, fills me with the deepest +gratitude, and--and--" But finding it impossible to conclude the +sentence, Germain cast down his eyes and remained silent. + +"Well," said Rigolette, "and what else?" + +"And--devotion!" stammered out Germain. + +"Why could you not have said 'respect,' as people write at the end of a +letter?" asked Rigolette, impatiently. "Ah, but I know very well that +was not what you were going to say, else why did you stop all of a +sudden?" + +"I assure you--" + +"There, don't endeavour to assure me of anything; I can see you are +blushing through this grating. Now why can't you speak out, and tell me +every thought and wish of your heart? Am I not your true and faithful +friend as well as old companion?" continued the grisette, timidly, for +she but waited the confession of Germain's love for her to tell him +frankly and sincerely how truly she returned his affection with a +passion as true and as generous as his own. + +"I assure you Mlle. Rigolette," said the poor prisoner with a sigh, +"that I had nothing else to say, and that I am concealing nothing +whatever from you." + +"For shame for shame," cried Rigolette, stamping her foot; "don't tell +such stories. Now, look here," continued she, drawing a large, white, +woollen neck wrapper from her basket; "do you see this beautiful thing? +Well, I brought it on purpose for you. But now--to punish you for being +so deceitful and sly--I will not give it to you. I knitted it on purpose +for you, too; for, said I, it must be so damp and cold in those yards in +the prison. And this nice, soft, woollen handkerchief is just the thing +to keep him warm; he is so delicate!" + +"And is it possible you--" + +"Yes, sir, I said you were delicate--and so you are," cried Rigolette, +interrupting him. "I suppose I may recollect, if I please, how chilly +you used to be of an evening, though all the time you tried to conceal +it, that you might hinder me from putting more wood on my fire when you +came to sit with me. I've got a good memory, I can tell you; so don't +contradict me." + +"And so have I," replied Germain, in a voice of deep feeling "far too +good for my present position;" and, with these words, he passed his hand +across his eyes. + +"Now then, I declare, I believe you are falling into low spirits again, +though I so strictly forbade it." + +"How is it possible for me to avoid being moved even to tears, when I +recollect all you have done for me ever since I entered this prison? And +is not your last kind attention another proof of your amiable care for +me? And do I not know that you are obliged to work at night to make up +for the time it occupies for you to visit me in my misfortunes, and that +on my account you impose additional labour and fatigue on yourself?" + +"Oh, if that be all you have to be miserable about I beg you will make +very short work of it. Truly, I deserve a great deal of pity for taking +a nice refreshing walk two or three times a week just to see a friend--I +who so dearly love walking--and having a good stare at all the pretty +shops as I come along." + +"And see, to-day, too, what weather you have ventured out in! Such wind +and rain! Oh, it is too selfish of me to permit you thus to sacrifice +your health for me!" + +"Oh, bless you, the wind and rain only make the walk more amusing. You +have no idea what very droll sights one sees,--first comes a party of +men holding on their hats with both hands, to prevent the storm from +carrying them away; then you see an unfortunate individual with his +umbrella blown inside out, making the most ludicrous grimaces, and +shutting his eyes while the wind drives him about like a peg-top. I +declare, all the way I came along this morning, it was more diverting +than going to a play. I thought I should make you laugh by telling you +of it; but there you are looking more dull, and solid, and serious than +ever!" + +"Pray forgive me if I cannot be as mirthful as your kind heart would +have me; you know I never have what is styled high spirits, and just now +I feel it impossible even to affect them." + +Rigolette was very desirous of concealing that, spite of her lively +prattle, she was to the full as sad and heavy-hearted as Germain +himself could be. She therefore hastened to change the conversation by +saying: + +"You say it is impossible for you to conquer your low spirits, but there +are other things you choose to style impossibilities I have begged and +prayed of you to do, because I very well know you could, if you chose." + +"What do you mean?" + +"I mean your obstinate avoidance of all the other prisoners, and never +speaking to one of them; the turnkey has just been talking to me about +it, and he says that for your own sake you ought to associate with them +a little. I am sure it would not do you any harm; you do not speak; it +is always the way. I see very well you will never be satisfied till +these dreadful men have played you some dangerous trick in revenge." + +"You know not the horror with which they inspire me, any more than you +can guess the personal reasons I have for avoiding and execrating them, +and all who resemble them." + +"Indeed, but I do know your reasons! I read the accounts you wrote for +me, and which I went to fetch away from your lodgings after your +imprisonment; from them I learned all the dangers you had incurred upon +your arrival in Paris, because, when you were in the country, you +refused to participate in the crimes of the bad man who had brought you +up; and that it was in consequence of the last snare they laid to catch +you that you quitted the Rue du Temple, without telling any one but me +where you had gone to. And I read something else, too, in those papers," +said Rigolette, casting down her eyes, while a bright blush dyed her +cheeks; "I read things that--that--" + +"You would never have known, I solemnly declare," exclaimed Germain, +eagerly, "had it not been for the misfortune which befell me. But let me +ask you to be as generous as you are good; forget and pardon my past +follies, my insane hopes. 'Tis true, in times past I ventured to +indulge such dreams, wild and unfounded as they were." + +Rigolette had endeavoured a second time to draw a confession of his love +from the lips of Germain by alluding to those tender and passionate +effusions written by him, and dedicated to the remembrance of the +grisette, for whom, as we have before stated, he had always felt the +sincerest affection; but, the better to preserve the confiding +familiarity with which he was treated by his pretty neighbour, he +concealed his regard under the semblance of friendship. + +Rendered more timid and sensitive by imprisonment, he could not for an +instant believe it possible for Rigolette to reciprocate the attachment +of a poor prisoner like himself, whose character was, moreover, +tarnished by so foul an accusation as he laboured under, while previous +to this calamity she had never manifested more than a sisterly interest +in him. The grisette, finding herself so little understood, stifled a +sigh, and awaited with hopeful eagerness a better opportunity of opening +the eyes of Germain to the real state of her heart. She contented +herself, therefore, with merely replying: + +"To be sure, it is quite natural the sight of these wicked men should +fill you with horror and disgust; but that is no reason for your +exposing yourself to unnecessary dangers." + +"I assure you that, in order to follow your advice, I have endeavoured +to force myself to converse with such as seemed the least depraved among +them; but you can form no notion what dreadful men they are, or what +shocking language they talk." + +"I dare say they do, poor unfortunate creatures! It must be horrid to +hear them." + +"But there is something more terrible than that, the getting gradually +used to the disgusting conversations which, in spite of yourself, you +are compelled to hear all day long. Yes, I am sorry to say, I now hear +with gloomy indifference horrible remarks and speeches that would have +excited my utmost indignation when I first came here. So, you see," +continued Germain, bitterly, "I begin to be more afraid of myself than I +am of them." + +"Oh, M. Germain!" + +"I am sure of it," pursued the unfortunate young man. "After a residence +within a prison in company with such as are always to be found assembled +there, the mind becomes accustomed to guilty thoughts, in the same +manner as the ear gets inured to the coarse and vulgar expressions +continually in use. Oh, God, I can well believe how possible it is to +enter these walls innocent of the crimes ascribed to one, and to leave +them with principles utterly and irretrievably perverted!" + +"But you never could be so changed! Oh, no, not you!" + +"Ay, me, and others twenty times better than myself! Alas, alas! those +who condemn men to this fearful association little think that they +expose their fellow creatures to breathe an air laden with the direst +moral contagion, and inevitably fatal to every right or honourable +feeling!" + +"Pray do not go on so! You know not how you grieve me!" + +"Nay, I but wished to explain to you why I am daily more and more +melancholy. I wished not to have said so much, but I have only one way +of repaying the pity you have evinced for me." + +"Pity? Pity? Indeed--" + +"Pardon me for interrupting you, but the only way by which I can acquit +myself towards you is to speak with perfect candour; and, with +shuddering alarm, I confess that I am no longer the same person I was. +In vain do I fly these unfortunate wretches, their very presence, their +contact seems to take effect on me; in spite of myself, I seem to feel a +fatal influence in breathing the same atmosphere, as though the moral +pestilence entered at every pore, and rested not till it had mingled +with the heart's blood. Should I even be acquitted on my trial, the very +sight of, and association with, good and virtuous men would cover me +with shame and confusion; for, though I have not yet been able to find +pleasure in the society of my companions, I have, at least, learned to +dread the day when I shall again mix with persons of respectability, +because now I am conscious of my weakness and cowardice; for is not he +guilty of both who dares to make a compromise with his duties or his +honesty? And have not I done so? When I first came here I did not +deceive myself as to the extent of my fault, however excusable the +circumstances under which it was committed might have seemed to make it; +but now it appears to me an offence of a trifling description when +compared with the crimes of which the robbers and murderers by whom I am +surrounded make daily boast. And I sometimes surprise myself envying +their audacious indifference, and blaming myself with my own weak +regrets for so insignificant an action." + +"And so it was an insignificant action, far more generous than wrong. +Why, what did you do but borrow for a few hours a sum of money you knew +you could replace on the following morning; and that, too, not for +yourself, but to save a whole family from ruin, perhaps death." + +"That matters not, it was a theft in the eyes of the law and all honest +men. Doubtless it is better to rob with a good motive than a bad one, +but it is a fearful thing to be obliged to seek an excuse for oneself by +comparing one's own guilt with that of persons far beneath ourselves. I +can no longer venture to compare my actions with those of upright +persons, consequently, then, I am compelled to institute a comparison +between myself and the degraded beings with whom I live; so that I +plainly perceive in the end the conscience becomes hardened and is put +to sleep. The next theft I commit, probably without the prospect of +replacing the money, but from mere cupidity, I might still find an +excuse for myself by comparing my conduct with that of a man who adds +murder to theft; and yet at this moment there is as great a difference +between me and a murderer as there is between a person of untainted +character and myself. So, because there are beings a thousand times more +degraded and debased than I am, by degrees my own degradation would +become diminished in my estimation; instead of being able to say, as I +once could, 'I am as honest a man as any I meet with,' I shall be +obliged to content myself with saying I am the least guilty of the vile +wretches among whom I am condemned for ever to live." + +"Oh, do not say for ever! Once released from this place--" + +"What should I gain even then? The lost creatures by whom I am +surrounded are perfectly well acquainted with my person, and, were I +even to be set free, I am exposed to the chance of meeting them again, +and being hailed as a prison associate; and even though the fact of my +imprisonment might be unknown, these unprincipled beings would be for +ever threatening me to divulge it, thereby holding me completely in +their power, by bands too firm for me to hope to break; while, on the +other hand, had I been kept confined in my cell until my trial, they +would have known nothing of me, or I of them; so that I should have +escaped the fears which may paralyse my best resolutions. And, besides, +had I been permitted to contemplate my fault in the solitude of my cell, +instead of decreasing in my eyes, its enormity would have appeared still +greater; and in the same proportion would the expiation I proposed to +make have been augmented; and as my sin grew more and more apparent to +my unbiassed view, so also would my earnest determination to atone for +it by every means my humble sphere afforded have been strengthened; for +well I know it takes a hundred good deeds to efface the recollection of +one bad. + +"But how can I ever expect to turn my thoughts towards expiating a crime +which scarcely awakens in me the smallest remorse? I tell you again--and +I feel what I say--that I seem acting under some irresistible influence, +against which I have long and fruitlessly struggled. I was brought up +for evil, and, alone, friendless, and powerless to resist, I yield to my +destiny. What matters it whether that destiny be accomplished by honest +or dishonest means? Yet Heaven knows my thoughts and intentions were +ever pure and upright; and I felt the greater satisfaction in the +possession of an unsullied reputation, from recollection of all the +attempts that had been made to lead me to a life of infamy; and mine has +been a course of infinite difficulty while seeking to free myself from +the odious wretches who wished to degrade me, and render me as vile as +themselves. + +"But what avails my having been a person of unblemished honour and +unspotted reputation? What am I now? Oh, dreadful, dreadful contrast!" +exclaimed the unhappy prisoner, in an agony of tears and sobs, which +drew a plenteous shower of sympathising drops from the tender-hearted +grisette, who, guided by her natural right-mindedness, her woman's wit, +as well as warmed by her deep affection for Germain, clearly perceived +that, although as yet her protege had lost none of the scrupulous +notions of honour and probity he had ever entertained, yet that he spoke +truly when he expressed his dread that the day might come when he would +behold with guilty indifference those words and actions he now shuddered +even to think of. + +Drying her eyes, therefore, and addressing Germain, who was still +leaning his forehead against the grating, she said, in a voice and +manner more touchingly serious than Germain had ever before observed: + +"Listen to me, Germain! I shall not, perhaps, be able to express myself +as I could wish, for I am not a good speaker like you, but what I do say +is uttered in all sincerity and truth; but first I must tell you you +have no right to call yourself alone and friendless." + +"Oh, think not I can ever forget all your generous compassion has +induced you to do to serve me!" + +"Just now, when you used the word pity, I did not interrupt you; but now +that you repeat the word, or at least one quite as bad, I must tell you +quite plainly that I feel neither pity nor compassion for you, but quite +a different--Stay, I will try and explain myself as well as I can. While +we were next-door neighbours, I felt for you all the regard due to one I +esteemed as a friend and brother. We mutually aided each other; you +shared with me all your Sunday amusements, and I did my very best to +look as well and be as gay and entertaining as I could, in order to show +how much I was gratified; so there again we were quits." + +"Quits? Oh, no, no! I--" + +"Now, do hold your tongue, and let me speak! I'm sure you have had all +the talk to yourself this long while. When you were obliged to quit the +house we lodged in, I felt more sorrow at your departure than I had ever +done before." + +"Is it possible?" + +"Yes, indeed, for all the other persons who had lived in your apartments +were careless creatures, whom I did not care a pin for; while you, from +the very first of our acquaintance, seemed just the sort of person I +wanted to be my neighbour, because you could understand that I wished us +to be good friends, and nothing more. Then you were so ready to pass all +your spare time with me, teaching me to write, giving me good advice,--a +little serious, to be sure, but all the better for that. You were ever +kind and good, yet never presumed upon it in any way; and even when +compelled to change your lodging, you confided to me a secret you would +not have trusted to any one else,--the name of your new abode; and that +made me so proud and happy, to think you should have so much reliance on +the silence and friendship of a giddy girl like myself. I used to think +of you so constantly that at last every other person seemed to be +banished from my recollection, and you alone to occupy my memory. Pray +don't turn away as if you did not believe me. You know I always speak +the truth." + +"Indeed, indeed, I can scarcely believe that you were kind enough thus +to remember me." + +"Oh, but I did, though; and I should have been very ungrateful had I +acted otherwise. Sometimes I used to say to myself, 'M. Germain is the +very nicest young man I know, though he is rather too serious at times; +but never mind that. If I had a friend whom I wished to be very, very +happy when she was married, I certainly should recommend her marrying M. +Germain, who would make just such a husband as a good wife deserves to +meet with.'" + +"You remembered me then, it seems, for the sake of bestowing me on +another," murmured poor Germain, almost involuntarily. + +"Yes, and I should have been delighted to have helped you to obtain a +good wife, because I felt a real and friendly interest in your +happiness. You see I speak without any reserve; you know I never could +disguise my thoughts." + +"Well, I can but thank you for caring enough about me even to wish to +dispose of me in marriage to one of your acquaintances." + +"This was the state of things when your troubles came upon you, and you +sent me that poor, dear letter in which you acquainted me with what you +styled your fault, but which, to an ignorant mind like my own, seemed a +noble and generous action. That letter directed me to go and fetch away +your papers, among which I found the confession of your love for me,--a +love you had never ventured to reveal; and there, too," continued +Rigolette, unable longer to restrain her tears, "I learned that, kindly +considering my future prospects (illness or want of employ might render +so distressing), you wished, in the event of your dying a violent death +(as your fears foretold might be the case), to secure to me the trifle +you had accumulated by industry and care." + +"I did; and surely if, during my lifetime, you had been overtaken by +sickness or any other misfortune, you would sooner have accepted +assistance from me than from any other living creature, would you not? I +flattered myself so, at least. Tell me, tell--I was right, that to me +you would have turned for succour and support as to any true and devoted +friend?" + +"Of course I should! Who else should I have thought of in any hour of +need or sorrow but you, M. Germain?" + +"Thanks, thanks! Your words fall like healing drops upon my heart, and +console me for all I have suffered." + +"But how shall I attempt to describe to you what I felt while reading +that--oh, it is a dreadful word to utter!--that will, each word of which +breathed only care and solicitude for my future welfare? And yet these +tender, touching proofs of your sincere regard were to have been +concealed from me till your death. Surely it was not strange that +conduct so generous and delicate should at once have converted my +feelings towards you into those of an affection sincere and fervent as +your own for me. That is easily understood, is it not, M. Germain?" + +The large dark eyes of Rigolette were fixed on Germain with an +expression so earnest and tender, her sweet voice pronounced the simple +confession of her love in a tone so touchingly true to nature, that +Germain, who had never for one instant flattered himself with having +awakened so warm an interest in the heart of the grisette, gazed on her +for an instant in utter inability to believe the words he heard; then, +as the bright beaming look he encountered conveyed the truth to his +mind, his colour varied from deepest red to deadly pale, he cried out in +a voice quivering with emotion: + +"Can it be? Do I hear aright? Ah, repeat those dear words that I may +feel convinced of their reality." + +"Why should I hesitate to assure you again and again that when I learned +your kind consideration for me, and remembered how miserable and +wretched you were, I no longer felt for you the calm feelings of +friendship? And certainly, M. Germain," added Rigolette, smilingly, +while a rosy blush mantled her intelligent features, "if I had a friend +now I wished to see well married, I should be very sorry indeed to +recommend her choosing you, because, because--" + +"You would marry me yourself!" exclaimed the delighted young man. + +"You compel me to tell you so myself, since you will not ask it of me." + +"Can this be possible?" + +"It is not from not having put you in the direct path more than once to +make you understand. But you will not take a hint, and so, sir, I am +compelled to confess the thing myself. It is wrong, perhaps; but, as +there is no one but yourself to reprove my boldness, I have less fear; +and then," added Rigolette, in a more serious tone, and with tender +emotion, "you just now appeared to me so greatly overcome, so +despairing, that I could no longer repress my feelings; and I had vanity +enough to believe that this avowal, frankly made and from my heart, +would prevent you from being unhappy in future. I said to myself, 'Until +now I had been able to amuse or comfort him--' Ah, _mon Dieu!_ what is +the matter?" exclaimed Rigolette, seeing Germain conceal his face in +his hands. "Is not this cruel?" she added; "whatever I do, whatever I +say, you are still as wretched as ever, and that is being too +unkind--too selfish; it is as if it were you only who suffered from +sorrows!" + +"Alas, what misery is mine!" exclaimed Germain, with despair; "you love +me when I am no longer worthy of you." + +"Not worthy of me? Why, how can you talk so absurdly? It is just as if I +said that I was not formerly worthy of your friendship because I had +been in prison; for, after all, I have been a prisoner also; but am I +the less an honest girl?" + +"But you were in prison because you were a poor forsaken girl; whilst +I--alas, what a difference!" + +"Well, then, as to prison, we shall neither of us ever have anything to +reproach each other with. It is I who am the more ambitious of the two; +for, in my position, I have no right to think of any person but a +workman for my husband. I was a foundling, and have nothing but my small +apartment and my good spirits, and yet I come and boldly offer myself to +you as a wife." + +"Alas, formerly such a destiny would have been the dream--the happiness +of my life! But now I am under the odium of an infamous accusation; and +should I take advantage of your excessive generosity, your +commiseration, which no doubt misleads you? No, no!" + +"But," exclaimed Rigolette, with pained impatience, "I tell you that it +is not pity I feel for you, it is love! I think of you only; I no longer +sleep or eat. Your sad and gentle countenance follows me everywhere. Can +that be pity only? Now, when you speak to me, your voice, your look, go +to my very heart. There are a thousand things in you now which please +me, and which I had not before marked. I like your face, I like your +eyes, your appearance, your disposition, your good heart. Is that pity? +Why, after having loved you as a friend, do I love you as a lover? I +cannot say. Why was I light and gay when I liked you as a friend? Why am +I quite a different being now I love you as a lover? I do not know. Why +have I been so slow in finding you at once handsome and good,--in loving +you at once with eyes and heart? I cannot say--or rather, yes--I can; it +is because I have discovered how much you love me without having told me +of it,--how generous and devoted you were. Then love mounted from my +heart to my eyes, as a tear does when the heart is softened." + +"Really, I seem to be in a dream when I hear you speak thus!" + +"And I never could have believed that I could have told you all this, +but your despair has forced me to it. Well, sir, now you know I love you +as my friend, my lover--as my husband! Will you still call it pity?" + +The generous scruples of Germain were overcome in an instant before this +plain and devoted confession, a hopeful joy prevailed over his painful +reflections. + +"You love me?" he cried; "I believe you; your accent, your +look,--everything proclaims it! I will not ask how I have merited such +happiness, but I abandon myself to it blindly; my life, my whole life, +will not suffice to pay my debt to you! Oh, I have greatly suffered +already, but this moment effaces all!" + +"Then you will be comforted at last? Oh, I was sure I should contrive to +do so!" cried Rigolette, in a transport of joy. + +"And it is in the midst of the horrors of a prison, and when all +conspires to overwhelm me, that such happiness--" + +Germain could not conclude. This thought reminded him of the reality of +his position. His scruples, for a moment lost sight of, returned more +severe than ever, and he said, with despair: + +"But I am a prisoner--I am accused of robbery; I shall be +sentenced--dishonoured, perhaps! And I cannot accept of your generous +sacrifice--profit by your noble excitement. Oh, no, no; I am not such a +villain as that!" + +"What do you say?" + +"I may be sentenced to several years' imprisonment." + +"Well," replied Rigolette, with calmness and firmness, "they shall see +that I am an honest girl, and they will not refuse to marry us in the +prison chapel." + +"But I may be put in prison at a distance from Paris." + +"Once your wife, I will follow you and settle in the city where you may +be. I shall find work there, and can see you every day." + +"But I shall be disgraced in the eyes of all." + +"You love me better than any one--don't you?" + +"Can you ask me such a question?" + +"Then of what consequence is it? So far from considering you as +disgraced in my eyes, I shall consider you as the victim of your own +kind heart." + +"But the world will accuse, condemn, calumniate your choice." + +"The world! Are not you the world to me--I to you? So let it say as it +may!" + +"Well, quitting prison at length, my life will be precarious--miserable. +Repulsed on all sides, I may, perhaps, find no employment, and then it +is appalling to think! But if this corruption which besets me should +seize on me in spite of myself, what a future for you!" + +"You will never grow corrupted. No; for now you know that I love you, +this thought will give you the power of resisting bad examples. You will +reflect that if all repulse you when you quit your prison, your wife +will receive you with love and gratitude, assured, as she will be, that +you will still be an honest man. This language astonishes you, does it +not? It astonishes even myself. I do not know whence I derive all I say +to you; from the bottom of my soul, assuredly--and that must convince +you! That is, if you do not reject an offer made you most unreservedly, +if you do not desire to reject the love of a poor girl who has only--" + +Germain interrupted Rigolette with impassioned voice: + +"Yes, indeed--I do accept--I do accept! Yes, I feel it. I am assured it +is sometimes cowardly to refuse certain sacrifices; it is to avow +oneself unworthy of them. I accept them, noble, brave girl!" + +"Really, really--are you really in earnest?" + +"I swear to you; and you have, too, said something which greatly struck +me, and gives me the courage I want." + +"Delightful! And what did I say?" + +"That, for your sake, I should in future continue an honest man. Yes, in +this thought I shall find strength to resist the detestable influences +which surround me. I shall brave contagion, and know how to keep worthy +of your love the heart which belongs to you." + +"Oh, Germain, how happy I am! If I have ever done anything for you, how +you recompense me now!" + +"And then, observe, although you excuse my fault I shall never forget +it. My future task will be double: to expiate the past and deserve the +happiness I owe to you. For that I will do my best, and, as poor as I +may be, the opportunity will not fail me, I am sure." + +"Alas! that is true; for we always find persons more unfortunate than +ourselves." + +"And if we have no money, why--" + +"We give our tears, as I did for the poor Morels." + +"And that is holy alms. 'Charity of the soul is quite equal to that +which bestows bread.'" + +"You accept, then, and will never retract?" + +"Never, never, my love--my wife! My courage returns to me, and I seem as +though awaking from a dream, and no longer doubt myself. My heart would +not beat as it does if it had lost its noblest energies." + +"Oh, Germain, how you delight me in speaking so! How you assure me, not +for yourself but for myself. So you will promise me, now you have my +love to urge you on, that you will no longer be afraid to speak to these +wicked men, so that you may not excite their anger against you?" + +[Illustration: "_Touched with His Lips through the Grating_" +Original Etching by Mercier] + +"Take courage! When they saw me sad and sorrowful, they accused me, no +doubt, of being a prey to my remorse; but when they see me proud and +joyous, they will believe their pernicious example has gained on me." + +"That's true; they will no longer suspect you, and my mind will be easy. +So mind, no rashness, no imprudence, now you belong to me,--for I am +your little wife." + +At this moment the turnkey awoke. + +"Quick," said Rigolette, in a low voice, and with a smile full of grace +and modest tenderness, "quick, my dear husband, and give me a loving +kiss on my forehead through the grating; that will be our betrothing." +And the young girl, blushing, bowed her forehead against the iron +trellis. + +Germain, deeply affected, touched with his lips through the grating her +pure and white forehead. + + * * * * * + +"Oh, oh! What, three o'clock already?" said the turnkey; "and visitors +ought to leave at two! Come, my dear little girl," he added, addressing +the grisette, "it's a pity, but you must go." + +"Oh, thanks, thanks, sir, for having allowed us thus to converse alone! +I have given Germain courage, and now he will look livelier, and need +not fear his wicked companions." + +"Make yourself easy," said Germain, with a smile; "I shall in future be +the gayest in the prison." + +"That's all right, and then they will no longer pay any attention to +you," said the guardian. + +"Here is a cravat I have brought for Germain, sir," said Rigolette. +"Must I leave it at the entrance?" + +"Why, perhaps you should; but still it is such a very small matter! So, +to make the day complete, give him your present yourself." And the +turnkey opened the door of the corridor. + +"This good man is right, and the day will be complete," said Germain, +receiving the cravat from Rigolette's hands, which he pressed tenderly. + +"Adieu; and to our speedy meeting! Now I am no longer afraid to ask you +to come and see me as soon as possible." + +"Nor I to promise you. Good-bye, dear Germain!" + +"Good-bye, my dear girl!" + +"Wear the cravat, for fear you should catch cold; it is so damp!" + +"What a pretty cravat! And when I reflect that you knitted it for me! +Oh, I will never let it leave me!" said Germain, pressing it to his +lips. + +"Now, then, your spirits will revive, I hope! And so good-bye, once +more. Thank you, sir. And now I go away, much happier and more assured. +Good-bye, Germain!" + +"Farewell, my dear little wife!" + +"Adieu!" + +A few minutes afterwards, Rigolette, having put on her goloshes and +taken her umbrella, left the prison more joyfully than she had entered +it. During the conversation of Germain and the grisette, other scenes +were passing in one of the prison yards, to which we will now conduct +the reader. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE LIONS' DEN. + + +If the appearance of a house of confinement, constructed with every +attention to salubrity and humanity, has nothing repulsive in its +aspect, the sight of the prisoners causes a very different feeling. At +the sight of the criminals who fill the gaols, we are at first seized +with a shudder of fear and horror. It is only after some reflection that +this is overcome, and feelings of pity mixed with bitterness overcome +us. + +To understand the feeling of horror and fear, our reader must follow us +to the Fosse aux Lions (the Lions' Den), one of the yards in La Force so +called. In this are usually placed the most dangerous criminals, whose +ferocity, or the charges against whom, are most serious. At this time +they had been compelled to place there, in consequence of the +alterations making in the prison, many other prisoners. These, although +equally under accusations and awaiting the assizes, were almost all +respectable persons in comparison with the usual occupants of the Lions' +Den. The sky, gloomy, gray, and rainy, cast a dull light over the scene +we are about to depict, and which took place in the centre of the yard +of considerable extent, square, and enclosed by high white walls, having +here and there several grated windows. + +At one end of this yard was a narrow door with a wicket; at the other +end, at the entrance to the day-room, a large apartment with a stove in +the centre, surrounded by wooden benches, on which were sitting and +lying several prisoners conversing together. Others, preferring +exercise, were walking up and down the walks, four or five in a row, arm +in arm. It requires the pencil of Salvator or Goya, in order to sketch +the different specimens of physical and moral ugliness, to render in its +hideous fantasy the variety of costumes worn by these men, for the most +part covered with squalid rags,--for being only accused, _i. e._ +supposed innocent, they were not clad in the usual uniform of the +central houses. Some, however, wore it; for on their entrance into gaol, +their rags appeared so filthy and infected that, after the usual washing +and bath, they had the frock and trousers of coarse gray cloth, as worn +by the criminals, assigned to them. + +A phrenologist would have observed attentively those embrowned and +weather-beaten countenances, those flat or narrow foreheads, those cruel +or crafty looks, the wicked or stupid mouth, the enormous neck,--they +nearly all presented frightful resemblances to brutes. In the cunning +looks of one was seen the perfidious subtlety of the fox, in another was +the sanguinary rapacity of the bird of prey, in a third, the ferocity of +a tiger; and, in all, the animal stupidity of the brute. We will sketch +one or two of the most striking physiognomies in the Fosse aux Lions. + +Whilst the turnkey was watching his charge, a sort of council was being +held in the day-room. Amongst the prisoners there assembled were +Barbillon and Nicholas Martial. The prisoner who appeared to preside and +lead in this debate was a scoundrel called the Skeleton, whose name has +been often mentioned by the Martial family in the Isle du Ravageur. The +Skeleton was _prevot_, or captain, of the day-room. This fellow was tall +and about forty years of age, fully justifying his sinister nickname by +a meagreness impossible to describe, but which might almost be termed +osteologic. + +If the countenance of the Skeleton presented more or less analogy with +that of the tiger, the vulture, or the fox, the shape of his forehead, +receding as it did, his bony, flat, and lengthened jaws, supported by a +neck of disproportioned length, instantly reminded you of the +conformation of a serpent. Complete baldness increased still more this +hideous resemblance, for beneath the corded skin of his forehead, nearly +as flat as a reptile's, might be distinguished the smallest +protuberances, the smallest sutures of his skull. His beardless face was +exactly like old parchment tightly distended over the bones of his face, +and only somewhat stretched from the projection of the cheek-bone to the +angle of the lower jaw, the working of which was distinctly visible. His +eyes, small and lowering, were so deeply imbedded, and the rim of his +brow so prominent, that under his yellow brow, when the light fell, were +seen two orbits literally filled with shadows; and, a little further on, +the eyes seemed to disappear in the depths of these two dark cavities, +these two black holes, which gave so sinister an aspect to the skeleton +head. His long teeth, whose alveolar projections were to be accurately +traced beneath the tanned skin of his bony and flat jaws, were almost +continually developed by a habitual sneer. + +Although the stiffened muscles of this man were almost reduced to +tendons, he possessed extraordinary strength, and the strongest resisted +with difficulty the grasp of his long arms, his long and lean fingers. +He had the formidable clutch of a skeleton of iron. He wore a blue +smock-frock, very short, and which exposed (and he was vain of it) his +knotted hands and half his forearm, or rather two bones, the radius and +the ulna (this anatomy will be excused us), two bones enveloped in a +coarse and black skin, separated by a deep groove, in which were some +veins hard and dry as cords. When he placed his hands on a table he +seemed, as Pique-Vinaigre justly remarked, as if he were spreading out a +game of knuckle-bones. + +The Skeleton, after having passed fifteen years of his life at the +galleys for an attempt at robbery and murder, had broken his ban and +been taken in the very act of theft and murder. The last assassination +had been committed with circumstances of such ferocity that the ruffian +made up his mind, and with reason, that he should be condemned to death. +The influence which the Skeleton exercised over the other prisoners, +from his strength, energy, and wickedness, had caused him to be chosen +by the director of the prison as _prevot_ of the dormitory,--that is to +say, the Skeleton was charged with the police of the chamber as far as +concerned its order, arrangement, and the cleanliness of the room and +the beds, a duty which he discharged perfectly; and no prisoner dared to +fail in the cares and duties which he superintended. The Skeleton was +discoursing with several prisoners, amongst whom were Barbillon and +Nicholas Martial. + +"Are you sure of what you say?" inquired the Skeleton of Martial. + +"Yes, yes,--a hundred times, yes! Father Micou heard it from the +Gros-Boiteux, who has already tried to knock this hound on the head +because he peached about some one." + +"Then let's do for him,--brush him up!" said Barbillon. The Skeleton was +already inclined to give that skulking Germain a turn of his hand. + +The _prevot_ took his pipe from his mouth for a moment, and then said, +in a tone so low and husky as to be scarcely audible: + +"Germain kept aloof from us, gave himself airs, watched us,--for the +less one talks the more one listens. We meant to get rid of him out of +the Fosse aux Lions, and if we had given him a quiet squeeze, they'd +have taken him away." + +"Well, then," inquired Nicholas, "what alteration need there be now?" + +"This alteration," replied the Skeleton; "that if he has turned +informer, as the Gros-Boiteux declares, he mustn't get off with a quiet +squeeze." + +"By no manner o' means!" said Barbillon. + +"We must make an example of him," continued the Skeleton, warming as he +went on. "It is not now the nabs who look out for us, but the noses. +Jacques and Gauthier, who were guillotined the other day, were informed +against,--nosed; Rousillon, sent to the galleys for life,--nosed." + +"And me, and my mother, and Calabash, and my brother at Toulon," cried +Nicholas; "have we not all been nosed by Bras-Rouge? To be sure we have; +because, instead of shutting him up here with us, he has been sent to La +Roquette. They daren't put him with us; he knew he had done us wrong, +the old--" + +"Well," added Barbillon, "and didn't Bras-Rouge nose upon me, too?" + +"And I, too," said a young prisoner, in a thin voice, and lisping +affectedly. "I was split upon by Jobert, who had proposed to me a little +affair in the Rue St. Martin." + +The latter personage, with a fluty voice, pale, fat, and effeminate +face, and with a sly and treacherous glance, was singularly attired. He +wore as a head-dress a red pocket-handkerchief, which exposed two locks +of light brown hair close to his temples; the two ends of his +handkerchief formed a projecting rosette over his forehead; his cravat +was a merino shawl, with a large pattern, which crossed over his chest; +his mulberry-coloured waistcoat almost disappeared beneath the tight +waistband of a very large pair of trousers of plaid, with very large and +different-coloured checks. + +"And was not that shameful? Such a man to turn against me!" he added, in +his shrill voice. "Yet, really, nothing in the world would have made me +distrust Jobert." + +"I know very well that he sold you, Javatte," replied the Skeleton, who +seemed to protect the prisoner peculiarly; "and as a proof that they +have done for thy nose the same as they have done for Bras-Rouge, they +have not dared to leave Jobert here, but sent him to the stone jug of +the Conciergerie. Well, there must be an end put to this! There must be +an example; for traitors are doing the work of the police, and believe +themselves safe in their skins because they are put in a different +prison from those on whom they have nosed." + +"That's true." + +"To prevent this, every prisoner should consider every nose as his +deadly enemy. Whether he informs against Peter or James, here or there, +that's nothing; fall on him tooth and nail. When we have made cold meat +of four or five in the prisons, the others will think twice before they +turn 'snitch.'" + +"You're right, Skeleton," said Nicholas; "and let Germain be number +one." + +"And no mistake," replied the _prevot_; "but let us wait until the +Gros-Boiteux arrives. When, for instance, he has proved to all the world +that Germain is a nose the thing shall be settled out of hand; the calf +shall bleat no more, we'll stop his wind." + +"And what shall we do with the turnkeys who watch us?" inquired the +prisoner whom the Skeleton called Javatte. + +"I have my plan, which Pique-Vinaigre will aid." + +"He! He's a coward." + +"And no stronger than a flea." + +"I'm awake. Where is he?" + +"He had come out of the visiting-room, but went back again to see his +lawyer." + +"And is Germain still in the visiting-room?" + +"Yes, with the little wench who comes to see him." + +"When he returns be on your guard. But we must wait for Pique-Vinaigre, +without him we can do nothing." + +"No?" + +"No." + +"And Germain shall be done for?" + +"I'll take care of that." + +"But with what? They have taken all our knives away." + +"What do you think of these nippers, would you like to have your neck in +their clutch?" asked the Skeleton, opening his long bony fingers, hard +as iron. + +"You'll choke him?" + +"Decidedly." + +"But if they find out that it is you?" + +"Well, what if they do? Am I a calf with two heads, such as they show at +the fair?" + +"No, that's true; a man has but one throat, and yours--" + +"Is sentenced; my lawyer told me so yesterday. I was taken with my hand +in the bag, and my knife in the weasand of the stiff'un. I'm a 'return +horse,' too; so nothing can be more certain. I'll drop my head into +Charlot's (the headsman's) basket, and I shall see if it's true that he +does his customers, and puts sawdust into his basket instead of the bran +which government allows us." + +"True, the guillotine has a right to its bran. Now, I remember my father +was robbed in the same way," said Nicholas Martial, with a ferocious +grin. + +This horrid jest created immense laughter amongst the prisoners. This is +fearful, but far from exaggeration; we give but a faint idea of these +conversations, so common in prisons. The prisoners were all laughing +joyously. + +"Thousand thunders!" cried the Skeleton. "I wish they who punish us +would come and see how we bear it. If they will come to the Barriere St. +Jacques the day of my benefit they will hear me address the audience in +a neat and appropriate speech, and say to Charlot, in a gentlemanly +tone, 'Pere Sampson, the cord if you please.'"[1] + + [1] To understand this horrid jest the English reader must know + that the doors in France are usually opened by the porter, who + sits in his room and pulls a cord to allow the person going out + to have free egress; and the blade of the guillotine glides + down the grooves of the machine, after a spring has been set in + motion, by touching a cord that acts upon it. + +Fresh bursts of laughter hailed this jest. + +"And then Charlot opens the baker's (the devil's) door," continued the +Skeleton, still smoking his pipe. + +"Ah, bah! Is there a devil?" + +"You fool, I was only joking. There's a sharp blade, and they put a head +under it, and that's all. And now that I know my road, and must stay at +the abbey of _Mont-a-Regret_ (guillotine), I would rather go there +to-day than to-morrow," said the Skeleton, with savage excitement. "I +wish I was there now,--my blood comes into my mouth when I think what a +crowd there'll be to see me; there'll be, at least, I should say, from +four to five thousand who will push and squeeze to get good places, and +they'll hire seats and windows, as if for a grand procession. I hear 'em +now crying, 'Seats to let! Seats to let!' And then there'll be troops of +soldiers, cavalry and infantry, and all for me,--for the Skeleton! +That's enough to rouse a man if he was as big a coward as +Pique-Vinaigre, that would make you walk like a hero. All eyes on you, +and that makes a fellow pluck up; then--'tis but a moment--a fellow dies +game, and that annoys the big-wigs and curs, and gives the knowing ones +pluck to face the chopper." + +"That's true, on Gospel!" added Barbillon, trying to imitate the fearful +audacity of the Skeleton; "they think to make us funky when they set +Charlot to work to get his shop open at our expense." + +"Ah, bah!" said Nicholas, in his turn; "we laugh at Charlot and his +shop; it is like the prison or the galleys,--we laugh at them, too; and +so, that we may be all friends together, let's be jolly as long as we +can." + +"The thing that would do us," said the shrill-voiced prisoner, "would be +to put us in solitary cells day and night. They do say they mean to do +so at last." + +"In solitary cells!" exclaimed the Skeleton, with repressed rage; "don't +talk of it! Solitary cell--alone! Hold your tongue! I would rather have +my arms and legs cut off! Alone within four walls! Quite alone--without +having our pals to laugh with! Oh, that will never be! I like the +galleys a hundred times better than the central prison, because at the +galleys, instead of being shut up, one is out-of-doors, sees the world, +people going and coming, and has his jokes and fun. Well, I'd rather be +done for at once than be put in a solitary cell, if only for a year. +Yes, for at this moment I am sure to be guillotined--ain't I? Well, if +they said to me, 'Would you rather have a year of solitary confinement?' +I should hold out my neck. A year all alone! Why, is it possible? What +do they suppose a man thinks of when he is alone?" + +"Suppose you were carried there by main force?" + +"Well, I wouldn't stay; I would make such use of my hands and feet that +I should escape," replied the Skeleton. + +"But if you couldn't,--if you were unable to escape?" + +"Then I'd kill the first person who came near me, in order to have my +head chopped off." + +"But if, instead of sentencing such as us to death, they condemned us to +be in solitary confinement for life?" + +The Skeleton appeared struck at this remark, and, after a moment's +silence, replied: + +"Why, then, I'll tell you what I should do,--I should dash out my brains +against the walls. I would starve rather than be in a solitary cell. +What, all alone! all my life alone with myself,--and no chance of +escape! I tell you it is impossible. Well, you know, there's no man more +reckless than I am--I'd kill a man for a dollar, and for nothing if my +honour was concerned; they believe I have only killed two persons, but +if the dead could tell tales there are five tongues could say what I +have done." + +The ruffian was boasting. The sanguinary declarations are still another +trait of the hardened criminals. A governor of a prison said to us, "If +the assassinations boasted of by these scoundrels were really committed, +the population would be decimated." + +"And I, too," said Barbillon, desirous of bragging in his turn; "they +think I only silenced the husband of the milk-woman in the Cite, but I +did many others with tall Robert, who suffered last year." + +"I was going to say," continued the Skeleton, "that I fear neither fire +nor devil. Well, if I were in a solitary cell, and certain I could not +escape,--thunder! I believe I should be frightened!" + +"And so, if you had to begin your time over again as prig and throttler, +and if, instead of central houses, galleys, and guillotine, there were +only solitary cells, you would hesitate before such a chance?" + +"_Ma foi!_ I believe I really should!" replied the Skeleton. + +And he said truly. It is impossible to describe the vast terror which +such ruffians experience at the very idea of being in solitary +confinement. And is not this very terror an eloquent plea in favour of +this punishment? + + * * * * * + +An uproarious noise made by the prisoners in the yard interrupted the +Skeleton's council. Nicholas rose hastily, and went to the door of the +room to discover the cause of this unusual tumult. + +"It is the Gros-Boiteux," said Nicholas, returning. + +"The Gros-Boiteux!" exclaimed the _prevot_. "And has Germain come down +from the visiting-room?" + +"Not yet," replied Barbillon. + +"Then let him make haste," said the Skeleton, "and I'll give him an +order for a new coffin." + +The Gros-Boiteux, whose arrival was so warmly hailed by the prisoners in +the lions' den, and whose information might be so fatal to Germain, was +a man of middle stature; but, in spite of being fat and crippled, he was +nimble and vigorous. His countenance, brutal like that of most of his +companions, was of the bulldog character; his low forehead, his small +yellow eyes, his flaccid cheeks, his heavy jaws, the lower being very +projecting, and armed with long teeth, or, rather, broken fangs, which +in places projected beyond his lips, made his resemblance to that animal +the more striking. He wore a felt cap, and over his clothes a blue cloak +with a fur collar. + +The Gros-Boiteux was accompanied into the prison by a man about thirty +years of age, whose tanned and freckled face appeared less dissolute +than that of the other prisoners, although he affected to appear as +dogged as his companion. From time to time his features became overcast, +and he smiled bitterly. The Gros-Boiteux soon found himself amongst his +boon companions and acquaintances, and he could scarcely reply to the +congratulations and kind words which came to him from all sides. + +"What, is it you, old boy? All right! Now we shall have some fun." + +"You haven't hurried yourself." + +"Still I have done all I could to see my friends again as soon as +possible, and it was no fault of mine if the stone jug didn't claim me +sooner." + +"Don't doubt you, old boy! And a man doesn't pick out a gaol as his +favourite residence; but once trapped he does his best to be jolly." + +"And so we shall be, for Pique-Vinaigre is here." + +"Is he? What, one of the old customers of Melun? Why, that's capital! +For he'll help us to pass the time with his stories, and his customers +will not fail him, for there are more recruits coming in." + +"Who are they?" + +"Why, just now at the entrance, whilst I came in, I saw two fresh chaps +brought in; one I didn't know, but the other, who wore a blue cotton cap +and a gray blouse, I have seen before somewhere. He is a +powerful-looking man, and I think I have met him at the Ogress's of the +White Rabbit." + +"I say, Gros-Boiteux, don't you remember at Melun I bet you a wager that +in less than a year you would be nabbed again?" + +"To be sure I do, and you've won. But what are you here for?" + +"Oh, I was caught on the prigging lay--_a la Americaine_." + +"Ah, always in the same line." + +"Yes, I continue in my usual small way. The rig is common, but there are +always 'culls'; and but for the stupidity of a pal I should not be here. +However, once caught twice warned; and when I begin again I will be more +careful,--I have my plan." + +"Ah, here's Cardillac!" said the Boiteux, going to a little man +wretchedly dressed, with ill-looking aspect, full of craft and +malignity, and with features partaking of the wolf and fox. "Ah, old +chap, how are you?" + +"Ah, old limper," replied the prisoner nicknamed Cardillac to the +Gros-Boiteux; "they said every day, 'He's coming--he's not coming!' But +you are like the pretty girls, you do as you like." + +"Yes, to be sure." + +"Well," replied Cardillac, "is it for something spicy that you are here +now?" + +"Yes, my dear fellow, I had done one or two good things, but the last +was a failure; it was an out-and-out-go, and may still be done. +Unfortunately, Frank and I overshot the mark." + +And the Gros-Boiteux pointed to his companion, towards whom all eyes now +turned. + +"Ah, so it is--it's Frank!" said Cardillac; "I didn't know him again +because of his beard. What, Franky! Why, I thought you'd turned honest, +and was, at least, mayor of your village." + +"I was an ass, and I've suffered for it," said Frank, quickly; "but +every sin has its repentance. I was good once, and now I'm a prig for +the rest of my days. Let 'em look out when I get out." + +"What happened to you, Frank?" + +"What happens to every free convict who is donkey enough to think he can +turn honest. Fate is just! When I left Melun I'd saved nine hundred and +odd francs." + +"Yes, that's true," said the Gros-Boiteux, "all his misfortunes have +come from his keeping his savings, instead of spending 'em jolly when he +left the 'jug.' You see what repentance leads to!" + +"They sent me, _en surveillance_, to Etampes," replied Frank; "being a +locksmith by trade, I went to a master in my line and said to him, 'I am +a freed convict, I know no one likes to employ such, but here are nine +hundred francs of my savings, give me work, my money will be your +guarantee, for I want to work and be honest.'" + +"What a joke!" + +"Well, you'll see how it answered. I offered my savings as a guarantee +to the master locksmith that he might give me work. 'I'm not a banker to +take money on interest,' says he to me, 'and I don't want any freed +convicts in my shop. I go to work in houses to open doors where keys are +lost, I have a confidential business, and if it were known that I +employed a freed convict amongst my workmen I should lose my customers. +Good day, my man.'" + +"Wasn't that just what he deserved, Cardillac?" + +"Exactly." + +"You simpleton!" said the Gros-Boiteux to Frank, with a paternal air; +"instead of breaking your ban at once, and coming to Paris to melt your +mopusses, so that you might not have a sou left, but be compelled to +return to robbing. You see the end of your fine ideas." + +"That's what you are always saying," said Frank, with impatience; "it is +true I was wrong not to spend my 'tin,' for I have not even enjoyed it. +Well, as there were only four locksmiths in Etampes, he whom I had first +addressed had soon told all the others, and they said to me as had said +their fellow tradesman, 'No, thank ye.' All sung the same song." + +"Only see, now, what it all comes to! You must see that we are all +marked for life." + +"Well, then, I was on the idle of Etampes, and my money melted and +melted," continued Frank, "but no work came. I left Etampes, in spite of +my surveillance, and came to Paris, where I found work immediately, for +my employer did not know who or what I was, and it's no boast to say I +am a first-rate workman. Well, I put my seven hundred francs which I had +remaining into an agent's hands, who gave me a note for it; when that +was due he did not pay me, so I took my note to a _huissier_, who +brought an action against him, and recovered the money, which I left in +his hands, saying to myself there's something for a rainy day. Well, +just then I met the Gros-Boiteux." + +"True. Well, Frank was a locksmith and made keys, I had a job in which +he could be of service, and I proposed it to him. I had the prints, and +he had only to go to work, when, only imagine, he refused,--he meant to +turn honest. So, says I, I'll arrange about that, I'll make him work, +for his own interest. So I wrote a letter, without any signature, to his +master, and another to his fellow workmen, to inform them that Frank was +a liberated convict,--so the master turned him away. He went to another +employer and worked there for a week,--same game again; and if he had +gone to a dozen I'd have served him in the same way." + +"And if I had suspected that it was you who had informed against me," +answered Frank, "I'd have given you a pleasant quarter of an hour to +pass. Well, I was at length driven away from my last employer as a scamp +only fit to be hanged. Work, then,--be respectable,--so that people may +say, not 'What are you doing?' but 'What have you done?' Once on the +_pave_ I said, 'Fortunately I have my savings to fall back upon.' So I +went to the _huissier_, but he had cut his stick, and spent my 'tin'; +and here was I without a feather to fly with, not even enough to pay for +a week's lodging. What a precious rage I was in! Well, at this moment +comes the Gros-Boiteux, and he took advantage of my situation. I saw it +was useless trying to be honest, and that once on the prig there's no +leaving it. But, old Gros, I owe you a turn." + +"Come, Frank, no malice!" replied the Gros-Boiteux. "Well, he did his +part like a man, and we entered upon the business, which promised +royally; but, unfortunately, at the moment when we opened our mouths to +swallow the dainty bit, the 'traps' were down upon us. Couldn't be +helped, you know, lad! If it wasn't for that, why, our profession would +be too good." + +"Yet if that vagabond of a _huissier_ had not robbed me I should not +have been here," said Frank, with concentrated rage. + +"Well, well," continued the Gros-Boiteux, "do you mean to say that you +were better off when you were breaking your back with work?" + +"I was free," retorted Frank. + +"Yes, on Sundays and when you were out of work, but the rest of the week +you were tied up like a dog, and never sure of employ. Why, you don't +know when you are well off." + +"Will you teach me?" said Frank, bitterly. + +"Well, you've a right to be vexed, for it was shameful to miss such a +good stroke; but it is still to be done in a month or two. The people +will become reassured, and it is a rich, very rich house. I shall be +sentenced for breaking my ban, and so cannot resume the job, but if I +find an amateur I will hand it over to him a bargain. My woman has the +prints, and there is nothing to do but make new keys, and with the +information I can give it must succeed. Why, there must be, at least, +400_l._ to lay hands on, and that ought to console you, Frank." + +Frank shook his head, crossed his hands over his chest, and made no +reply. + +Cardillac took the Gros-Boiteux by the arms, led him into a corner of +the yard, and said to him, after a moment's silence: + +"Is the affair you have failed in still good?" + +"In two months as good as new." + +"Can you prove it?" + +"Of course." + +"And what do you ask for it?" + +"A hundred francs as earnest; and I will give you the word arranged with +my woman, on which she will hand you the prints, from which you can make +the false keys. And, moreover, if the thing comes off, I shall expect a +fifth share of the swag to be handed over to my woman." + +"That's not unreasonable." + +"As I shall know to whom she has given the prints, if I am done out of +my share I shall know whom to inform against." + +"And very right, too, if you were choused; but amongst prigs and +cracksmen there's honour,--we must rely on each other, or all business +would be impossible." + +Another anomaly in this horrid existence. This villain spoke the truth. +It is very seldom that thieves fail in their faith in such arrangements +as these, but they usually act with a kind of good faith,--or, rather, +that we may not prostitute the word, we will say that necessity compels +these ruffians to keep their words; for if they failed, as the companion +of the Gros-Boiteux said, "All business would be impossible." A great +number of robberies are arranged, bought, and plotted in this way in +gaol,--another pernicious result of confinement in common. + +"If what you say is sure," continued Cardillac, "I can agree for the +job. There are no proofs against me, I am sure to be acquitted, and in a +fortnight I shall be out; let us add three weeks in order to turn +oneself about, to get the false keys, and lay our plans, and then in six +weeks from this--" + +"You'll go to the job in the very nick of time." + +"Well, then, it's a bargain." + +"But how about the earnest? I must have something down." + +"Here is my last button, and when I have no more,--yet there are others +left," said Cardillac, tearing off a button covered with cloth from his +ragged blue coat, and then tearing off the covering with his nails, he +showed the Gros-Boiteux that, instead of a button-mould, it contained a +piece of forty francs. "You see I can pay deposit," he added, "when the +affair is arranged." + +"That's the ticket, old fellow!" said the Gros-Boiteux. "And as you are +soon going out, and have got rhino to work with, I can put you up to +another thing,--a real good go,--the cheese,--a regular affair which my +woman and myself have been cooking up, and which only wants the +finishing stroke. Only imagine a lone street in a deserted quarter, a +ground floor, looking on one side into an obscure alley, and on the +other a garden, and here two old people, who go to roost with the cocks +and hens since the riots, and, for fear of being robbed, they have +concealed behind a panel, in a pot of preserves, a quantity of gold; my +woman found it out by gossiping with the servant. But I tell you this +will be a dearer job than t'other, for it is in hard cash, and all +cooked ready to eat and drink." + +"We'll arrange it, be assured. But you haven't worked over well since +you left the central." + +"Yes, I have had a pretty fair chance. I got together some trifles which +brought me nearly sixty pounds. One of my best bites was a pull at two +women who lodged in the same house with me in the Passage de la +Brasserie." + +"What, at Daddy Micou's?" + +"Yes." + +"And your Josephine?" + +"Just the same; a real ferret as ever. She cooks with the old couple I +have mentioned to you, and so smelt out the pot with the golden honey in +it." + +"She's nothing but a trump!" + +"I flatter myself she is. But, talking of trumps, you know the +Chouette?" + +"Yes; Nicholas has told me the Schoolmaster did for her, and he has gone +mad." + +"Perhaps from losing his sight through some accident. But I say, old +fellow, it's quite understood that you will buy my two bargains, and so +I shall not speak to any one else." + +"Don't; and we will talk them over this evening." + +"Well, and how are you getting on here?" + +"Oh, we laugh and play the fool." + +"Who's _prevot_ of the chamber?" + +"The Skeleton." + +"He's not to be joked with. I have seen him at Martial's, in the Isle du +Ravageur. We had a flare-up with Josephine and La Boulotte." + +"By the way, Nicholas is here." + +"So Micou told me when he made a lament that Nicholas was putting the +screw on--an old hunks! Why, what else were receivers made for?" + +"Here is the Skeleton," said Cardillac, as the _prevot_ appeared at the +door of the room. + +"Young 'un, come forward," said the Skeleton to the Gros-Boiteux. + +"Here I am," he replied, going into the apartment, accompanied by Frank, +whose arm he held. + +During the conversation between the Gros-Boiteux, Frank, and Cardillac, +Barbillon had been, by order of the _prevot_, to select twelve or +fifteen of the choicest prisoners, who (in order to avoid the suspicions +of the turnkey) had come separately into the day-room. The other +_detenus_ had remained in the yard, and some of them, by Barbillon's +advice, had appeared to be disputing, in order to take off the attention +of the turnkey from the room in which were now assembled the Skeleton, +Barbillon, Nicholas, Frank, Cardillac, the Gros-Boiteux, and some +fifteen other prisoners, all awaiting with impatient curiosity until the +_prevot_ should open the business. + +Barbillon, charged with the look-out, placed himself near the door. The +Skeleton, taking his pipe from his mouth, said to the Gros-Boiteux: + +"Do you know a slim young man named Germain, with blue eyes, brown hair, +and the look of a noodle?" + +"What! Is Germain here?" inquired the Gros-Boiteux, with surprise, hate, +and anger in his looks. + +"What, then, you know him?" said the Skeleton. + +"Know him?" replied the Gros-Boiteux. "Why, my lads, I denounce him as a +nose, and he must be punished!" + +"Yes, yes!" replied the prisoners. + +"Are you sure it was he who informed against you?" asked Frank; "suppose +it was a mistake,--we mustn't ill-use a man who's innocent." + +This remark was displeasing to the Skeleton, who leaned over to the +Gros-Boiteux, and said in his ear: + +"Who is this man?" + +"One with whom I have worked." + +"Are you sure?" + +"Yes--but he hasn't gull enough--too much treacle in him." + +"Good, I'll keep an eye on him." + +"Tell us how Germain turned nose," said a prisoner. + +"Yes, let us know all about it, Gros-Boiteux," continued the Skeleton, +who did not take his eyes off Frank. + +"Well, then," said Gros-Boiteux, "a man of Nantes, named Velu, a freed +convict, brought up the young fellow, whose birth no one is acquainted +with. When he had reached the proper age they put him into a +banking-house at Nantes, thinking they had put a wolf to watch the +money-box, and make use of Germain to do a bold and great stroke which +had been meditated for a very long time. There were to be two _coups_, a +forgery and a dip into the strong chest at the bank, something like a +hundred and fifty thousand francs. All was arranged, and Velu relied on +the young fellow as on himself, for the chap slept in the room in which +the iron safe was. Velu told him his plans; Germain neither says yes or +no, but reveals all to his employer, and the very same evening cuts his +stick and mizzles to Paris." + +The prisoners burst into various murmurs of indignation and threats. + +"He's a spy--nose--informer!--and we'll have the bones out of his body!" + +"If it's agreeable, I'll seek a quarrel with him, and settle his hash!" + +"Silence in the stone jug!" exclaimed the Skeleton, in a tone of +command. + +The prisoners were silent. + +"Go on," said the _prevot_ to Gros-Boiteux, and he went on smoking. + +"Believing that Germain had consented, and relying on his assistance, +Velu and two of his friends attempted the job that same night. The +banker was on the watch; one of Velu's friends was taken as he was +entering a window, he himself escaping with difficulty. He reached Paris +enraged at having been sold by Germain, and foiled in a splendid affair. +One fine day he met the young fellow; it was in the open daylight, and +he didn't dare do anything, but he followed him, found out where he +lived, and one night we two, Velu and little Ledru, fell on Germain. +Unfortunately he escaped, and then changed his residence in the Rue du +Temple, where he lived; we were unable to find him afterwards. But if he +is here, I demand--" + +"You have nothing to demand," said the Skeleton, in a tone of authority. + +The Gros-Boiteux was instantly silent. + +"I take the bargain off your hands; you will concede to me Germain's +skin, and I'll flay him alive. I am not called the Skeleton for nothing. +I am dead-alive, my grave is dug, and I run no risk in working for the +stone jug. The informers destroy us faster than the police; they put +noses of La Force into La Roquette, and the noses of La Roquette in the +Conciergerie, and they think themselves safe. Now, mind you, when each +prison shall have killed its informer, no matter when he may have +informed, that will take away the others' appetite. I will set the +example, and let others follow it." + +All the prisoners, admiring the Skeleton's resolution, closed around +him. Barbillon himself, instead of remaining near the door, joined the +group, and did not perceive another prisoner, who had entered the room. +This individual, clothed in a gray blouse, and wearing a blue cotton cap +with a red worsted border, pulled down over his eyes, started as he +heard the name of Germain mentioned, and then, mingling with the +Skeleton's admirers, gave out loud tones of approbation at the deadly +determination of the _prevot_. + +"What an out-and-outer the Skeleton is!" said one. + +"The devil himself is a fool to him!" + +"This here's what I call a man!" + +"If all were like him, wouldn't the flats be afeard?" + +"He'll do a real service to the stone jug, and when they see this, the +noses will look blue." + +"And no mistake!" + +"And since the Skeleton is safe to suffer, why, it'll cost him nothing +to put a nose out of joint!" + +"Well, I think it's too bad," said Frank, "to kill the young chap." + +"Why? Why?" exclaimed the Skeleton, in a savage tone; "no one has a +right to protect a traitor." + +"Yes, to be sure, he is a traitor,--so much the worse for him," said +Frank, after a moment's reflection. + +These latter words, and Gros-Boiteux's assurance, put the doubts which +the other prisoners had entertained against Frank to rest. + +The Skeleton alone continued to mistrust him. + +"And what are we to do with the turnkey? Tell us, Dead-Alive, for that +is your name as well as the Skeleton," said Nicholas, with a grin. + +"We must draw off his attention somehow." + +"No; we'll hold him down by main force." + +"Yes!" + +"No!" + +"Silence in the stone jug!" said the Skeleton. + +There was complete silence. + +"Listen to me!" said the _prevot_, in his hoarse voice. "There is no +means of doing the thing so long as the turnkey remains in the day-room +or the walking-yard. I have no knife, and there must be a few groans, +for the sneak will struggle." + +"Well, what then?" + +"Why, this. Pique-Vinaigre has promised to tell us to-day after dinner +his story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' It rains, and we shall all +come here, and the sneak will come and sit down there in the corner, as +he always does. We'll give Pique-Vinaigre some sous that he may begin +his tale. It will be dinner-time in the gaol; the turnkey will see us +quietly employed in listening to the miraculous mystery of 'Gringalet +and Cut-in-Half,' and will, suspecting no harm, make off to the tap. As +soon as he has left the yard we shall have a quarter of an hour to +ourselves, and the nose will be cold meat before the turnkey can return. +I will undertake it,--I who have done for stouter fellows in my day; and +mind, I'll have no assistance!" + +"Mind your eye!" cried Cardillac; "and what about the _huissier_ who +will always come for a gossip amongst us at dinner-time? If he comes +into the room to listen to Pique-Vinaigre, and sees Germain done for, he +will cry out for help. He's not one of us, the _huissier_,--he's in a +private cell, and we should mistrust him." + +"Is there a _huissier_ here?" said Frank, the victim as we know of a +breach of trust, by Maitre Boulard. "Is there a _huissier_ here?" he +repeated, with astonishment, "and what is his name?" + +"Boulard," replied Cardillac. + +"The very man! The identical villain!" cried Frank, clenching his fists. +"It is he who has stolen my savings!" + +"The _huissier_?" inquired the _prevot_. + +"Yes, seven hundred francs of mine." + +"You know him? And has he seen you?" inquired the Skeleton. + +"I have seen him, worse luck! But for him I should not be here." + +These regrets sounded ill in the Skeleton's ears, and he fixed his +malignant eyes steadfastly on Frank, who replied to several of his +comrade's questions. Then stooping towards the Gros-Boiteux, he said, in +a low voice: + +"This is a fresh 'un who might tell the turnkey." + +"No, I'll answer for his not informing against any one; yet still he has +his scruples about going the whole hog, and he might aid Germain in +defending himself. It would be best to get him out of the yard." + +"I'll do it," said the Skeleton; and then aloud he said, "I say, Frank, +won't you pitch into this thief of a lawyer?" + +"Won't I, that's all!" + +"Well, he's coming, and so look out." + +"I'm ready, and he shall bear my marks!" + +"We shall have a row, and they will send the _huissier_ to his room and +Frank to the black-hole," said the Skeleton, in an undertone, to the +Gros-Boiteux; "we shall thus get rid of both." + +"What a lucky pitch! Why, this Skeleton is a prime minister!" said the +Boiteux, admiringly; and then he added, in a loud tone, "I say, shall we +tell Pique-Vinaigre that we shall avail ourselves of his history to come +over the turnkey and throttle the sneak?" + +"By no means; Pique-Vinaigre is too soft and too cowardly. If he was up +to the thing he wouldn't tell the story, but when the job is done and +over he'll bear his share." + +The dinner-bell sounded at this moment. + +"To your puddings, dogs!" said the Skeleton; "Pique-Vinaigre and Germain +will soon be in the yard. Now mind your eyes, my boys! They call me +Dead-Alive, but the sneak is also dead-alive!" + + + + +CHAPTER X. + +THE STORY-TELLER. + + +The new prisoner of whom we have spoken, and who was dressed in a gray +blouse, with a cotton cap on his head, had attentively listened to and +energetically applauded the scheme for punishing the reserve of Germain, +even at the expense of his life. This individual, whose form betokened +strength and power of no ordinary description, quitted the day-room with +the rest of the prisoners without being noticed, and soon mingled with +the different groups assembled in the courtyard to receive their +rations, crowding around the persons employed in the distribution like +so many hungry cormorants. + +Each prisoner received a piece of the meat employed in making the day's +soup, with about half a loaf of tolerably good bread. Such of the +_detenus_ as possessed the means were allowed to purchase drink at the +wineshop belonging to the prison, and even to go thither to regale +themselves with their lush; while persons who, like Nicholas, had +received provisions from their friends, generally made a sort of feast, +to which they invited their most intimate acquaintances. The guests +selected by the son of the executed felon upon the present occasion were +the Skeleton, Barbillon, and, at the suggestion of the latter, +Pique-Vinaigre, in order that good eating and drinking might quicken his +talent for "storytelling." + +The ham, hard boiled eggs, cheese, and delicate white bread, wrung from +the forced generosity of Micou the receiver, were arranged most +temptingly on a bench in the day-room, and the Skeleton prepared himself +to do ample justice to the repast, without in the slightest degree +disturbing his appetite by the thoughts of the cold-blooded murder that +was to follow it. + +"Just go and see whether Pique-Vinaigre is coming, will you, my fine +fellow?" cried he, addressing an individual who stood near him. "I tell +you what it is, while I'm waiting to choke that stuck-up young fool they +call Germain, I'm blowed if hunger and thirst won't choke me, if I have +to dawdle about much longer. And here; don't forget to work old Frank up +to do for the bum-bailiff, so that we may kill two birds with one stone, +as the saying is." + +"Don't you be afraid, old Dead-Alive! If Frank don't make a stiff'un of +the bailey, it won't be our fault, that you may take your oath of!" And, +while uttering these words, Nicholas went forth from the day-room. + +At this moment Maitre Boulard entered the yard, smoking a cigar, his +hands buried in the pockets of his gray duffle dressing-gown, his peaked +cap pulled down well over his ears, and a look of chuckling satisfaction +upon his fat, full-blown countenance. He quickly espied Nicholas, who +was busily occupied gazing around in search of Frank. That person was at +that precise period of time busily occupied, in company with his friend +Gros-Boiteux, in eating his dinner, and, from the position in which they +sat on one of the benches, they perceived not the presence of the +bailiff. Acting in implicit obedience to the directions given him by the +Skeleton, directly Nicholas, from the corner of his eye, descried the +approach of Maitre Boulard, he feigned entire ignorance of his vicinity, +but made for the place where Frank and his companions were seated. + +"How are you, my ticket?" inquired the bailiff of Nicholas. + +"Bless me!" answered he; "I declare I didn't see you. I suppose you're +like me, come out to take a sniff of fresh air and have your daily +walk?" + +"Why, that's about it. But I happen to have more reasons than one +to-day; and I tell you how it is. But, first of all, catch hold of one +of these cigars; they're deuced good ones. Come, don't be so missy and +shy about it; take as many as you like. Hang it all, when men are shut +up together in a place like this, they oughtn't to be stingy." + +"You are very good, and so are your cigars. But you were saying you had +several reasons for walking out to-day?" + +"Well, and so I have. First and foremost, I don't feel as hungry as +usual; so, thinks I, I'll go and look on while those chaps eat their +dinner. Who knows but the sight of their jaws all working away together +may screw me up a bit, and give me a relish against feeding-time?" + +"A famous idea!" said Nicholas. "But if you really do want to see a +couple of feeders, just draw this way. There!" added he, pointing to the +bench on which Frank was sitting; "what do you think of a pair of +grubbers like those? I should say we were better behind than before +them, or they might even swallow us instead of those huge lumps of bread +and cheese and onions so rapidly stowed away in their capacious jaws." + +"Let's have a look at them!" said Maitre Boulard. + +"Well, to be sure!" cried Nicholas, with feigned surprise; "I declare +one of them is Gros-Boiteux!" + +Gros-Boiteux and Frank both turned around at these words. Stupefied and +speechless, the bailiff continued to gaze in utter amazement at the man +he had so wronged, while, starting up with a sudden spring, Frank threw +down the morsel he had been eating, and darting on Maitre Boulard, he +seized him by the throat, exclaiming, "My money--my money; give me my +money!" + +"Hallo! Who are you? What do you mean? Hands off, or you'll strangle me! +I--" + +"My money, I say!" + +"My good man, only calm yourself and listen to reason!" + +"No, not till you give me back my money. What, aren't you satisfied with +having brought me here? Can you not restore me what you stole from me?" + +"But I--I--I--never--" + +"I tell you again, if I get sent to the galleys 'tis all along of you; +for had you not taken my little all from me, I should not have been +driven to the necessity of robbing others; I might have lived and died +an honest man. You may be acquitted, you may escape the punishment you +deserve, but, at least, you shall carry my marks away with you. Ha, ha! +You can come it grand, and swagger about here dressed up with your gold +chains and trinkets, bought, no doubt, with the money of other poor +devils who have been cheated by you as I have been. Take that for your +pains--and that--that--and that! Now, have you had enough? No! Then +here's for you again!" + +"Help, help!" screamed the bailiff, as he rolled on the ground at +Frank's feet, while his infuriated antagonist continued to belabour him +with all his force. + +The rest of the prisoners took little or no interest in this affray, but +contented themselves with forming a circle around the two combatants, or +rather the assailant and the assailed; for Maitre Boulard, frightened +and out of breath, made not the slightest resistance, but contented +himself with warding off his adversary's blows as well as he could. +Fortunately, the repeated cries of the poor maltreated bailiff reached +the ears of one of the superintending officers, by whose intervention he +was rescued from the rough hands of Frank. Pale, terrified, and almost +speechless with terror, Maitre Boulard arose. One eye was wholly closed +by the severe beating he had received, and without giving himself time +to pick up his cap, he wildly cried, as he rushed towards the officer: + +"Open the door! Let me out--let me out! I can't and I won't stay here +another minute. Help, here! Help, help!" + +"As for you," exclaimed the officer, grasping Frank by the collar, "do +you come along with me before the governor. I know you'll catch it, too, +for fighting; two days in the black-hole is the very least you'll get, I +promise you." + +"I've paid him off, at any rate," returned Frank; "and I don't care for +the rest." + +"I say," whispered Gros-Boiteux, while affecting to be merely helping to +arrange his dress, "I say, you won't breathe a word of what's going to +happen to the sneak, of course?" + +"Oh, don't be afraid; 'tis just likely, had I been by, I might have +stood up in his defence, because to kill a man in that manner +is--hard--at least--and for such a trifle! But as for telling of it, or +betraying you all--oh, no!" + +"Now, then," called out the officer, "I say, are you coming or are you +not?" + +"That's all right!" said Nicholas. "We've got well rid of Frank and the +bailiff, now let's go to work without further loss of time upon the +sneak!" + +As Frank was being led from the prison yard, Germain and Pique-Vinaigre +entered it. It was scarcely possible to recognise Germain, for his +hitherto melancholy and dejected countenance was radiant with joy and +exulting happiness. He walked proudly erect, casting around him a look +of certain and assured content; he knew himself to be beloved, and with +that consciousness all the horrors of his prison seemed to disappear. +Pique-Vinaigre followed him with a timid, confused air, and, after much +hesitation, at length plucked up sufficient courage to venture to +address Germain, whose arm he gently touched, ere the intended victim +had reached the group of prisoners, who, from a distance, were examining +him with looks of deadly hatred. Spite of himself, Germain shuddered at +thus being brought into contact with a person of Pique-Vinaigre's +appearance, whose wretched person and ragged attire were ill-calculated +to impress any one with a favourable opinion of him; but recollecting +the earnest advice of Rigolette, and feeling altogether too happy +himself to act with any want of benevolence, Germain stopped, and said +to Pique-Vinaigre, in a gentle tone of voice: + +"What do you want with me, my friend?" + +"I want to thank you." + +"For what?" + +"For the kindness shown to my sister by the pretty young woman who +visited you to-day." + +"I really do not understand you," said Germain, much surprised. + +"Well, then, I'll try and make you. Just now, when I was in the lodge of +the prison, I saw the man who was on duty in the visitors' room a little +while ago." + +"Ah, yes, a very good-hearted sort of man, too. I recollect him well." + +"It is not often you can apply that term to the gaolers of a prison, but +the man I mean (Rousel is his name) is really deserving of being styled +a kind, good-hearted man. So, all of a sudden, he whispers in my ear, 'I +say, Pique-Vinaigre, my lad,' he says, 'do you know M. Germain?' 'Yes,' +says I, 'I do,' says I; 'he's the _bete noire_ of the prison yard.'" +Then suddenly interrupting himself, Pique-Vinaigre said to Germain, "I +beg your pardon for calling you a _bete noire_. Don't, think anything of +that, but listen to the end of my story." + +"Oh, I'm listening; go on." + +"'Yes,' says I, 'I know who you mean very well,' says I. 'You mean M. +Germain, the _bete noire_ of the prison yard.' 'And of you, too, I +suppose?' said the officer, in a severe and serious manner. 'Oh, bless +you,' says I, 'I am too good-natured, as well as too much of a coward, +to venture to call any one disagreeable; and less M. Germain than any +one else,' says I, 'for I don't see any harm in him, and other folks +appear to me very cruel and unjust towards him.' 'That's all right, +then,' answers the officer; 'and I can tell you that you are bound to +side with M. Germain, for he has been very kind to you,' he says. 'To +me?' says I; 'how do you mean?' 'Well,' he answers, 'I don't mean M. +Germain exactly, and it ain't to you altogether he's been kind; but +still, for all that,' says Rousel, 'you are bound to show him your +gratitude.'" + +"Try," said Germain, smilingly, "and make me understand what it is you +do mean." + +"That's precisely what I said to the officer. 'Speak more clearly,' I +says. So then he makes answer, 'Why, it was not M. Germain, but the very +pretty young person that was here just now to see him, who loaded your +sister with all sorts of kindnesses. She overheard the poor thing +telling you all her troubles; and directly as the creature went out, the +charming young woman as come visiting to M. Germain went and offered to +serve her in every way she could.'" + +"Dear, good Rigolette!" murmured Germain, deeply affected by this little +incident; "she said not one word to me of all this." + +"'Well, to be sure!' I says to the officer; 'what a poor stupid goose I +am!' 'You are quite right--you are!' M. Germain--leastways, his +friend--has been good to me,--that is to say to my sister Jeanne, which +is the same thing, only much more than if the favour had been done to +myself." + +"Poor, dear Rigolette!" said Germain; "ever the same tender, +compassionate, generous-hearted creature!" + +"So then the officer goes on to say how he heard all that passed between +your nice young woman and my poor sister Jeanne. 'And now,' he says, +'Pique-Vinaigre, that you are aware of the fact, if you don't try to +show kindness by every means in your power to M. Germain, and more +especially, if you should know of any plot got up against him and not +warn him of it, why,' he says, 'Pique-Vinaigre, you would be a regular +scamp and a blackguard.' 'I tell you what,' I makes answer and says, +'I'm an unfinished scamp as yet, but I'm no blackguard, and, what's +more, I never will be worse than I am, for the sake of my poor dear +Jeanne and her children; and so because M. Germain's friend has taken +notice of my Jeanne, who is one of the best and worthiest creatures that +ever lived,--I may venture to boast of my sister, though I am ashamed of +myself, but for that reason I will do all in my power to save or serve +M. Germain; unfortunately, I can do but little, after all!' 'Never mind! +Do your best; that is all I ask of you. But I will give you the pleasure +of being the pleasing bearer of news to M. Germain, which, indeed, I +have only just learned myself.'" + +"What is it?" inquired Germain. + +"That to-morrow morning there will be a vacant chamber you can have for +paying for, then you will be all to yourself. The officer desired me to +tell you so." + +"Indeed!" exclaimed Germain; "how truly glad I am to hear it! That +worthy man was right in saying you would be the bearer of pleasant +news." + +"Well, I do think so myself; for it is quite easy to perceive that you +do not feel comfortable among such poor wretches as we are." Then +suddenly breaking off, Pique-Vinaigre hastily added, in a low whisper, +while feigning to stoop, as though searching for something he had +dropped, "Hark ye, M. Germain, the prisoners are all looking at us, +wondering what we are talking about. I must go. But be on your guard; +and if any one tries to quarrel with you, don't make any answer; they +want a pretext for all attacking you at once. Barbillon is the one +chosen to provoke you, so take especial care of him. I will try and turn +the attention of the others from being directed towards you in a +spiteful manner." And, with these words, Pique-Vinaigre rose up from his +stooping position, with the air of one who had found the object of his +search. + +"Thanks, my good fellow!" said Germain, eagerly, as he separated from +his companion; "rely on my prudence!" + +Only that morning aware of the plot against Germain, which, as far as he +knew, consisted merely in an intention of involving him in some affray +which should compel the governor of the prison to remove him to some +other yard in the building, Pique-Vinaigre was not only ignorant of the +murderous designs so recently projected by the Skeleton, but equally so +that the conspirators intended to avail themselves of his recital of +"Gringalet and Cut-in-Half" to deceive the vigilance of the officer on +duty, as well as to beguile his attention from what was going on. + +"Come on, old Make-believe!" said Nicholas to Pique-Vinaigre, as he +advanced to meet him. "Throw away that lump of dog's-meat you have got +in your hand; we have got a regular feast among us, and you are invited +to it!" + +"A feast? La, how nice! What, out of the Panier Fleuri, or the Petit +Ramponneau?--tell us which it is! But they are both such nice places, +there isn't a pin to choose." + +"Oh, you fool! Our feast is prepared in the day-room; all laid out so +temptingly on a bench. There you'll see ham and eggs, and cheese, +and--It's my treat, mind!" + +"Well, I'm one of the right sort to walk into it. But it seems a pity to +throw away this good ration I have just received! I only wish my poor +sister and her children could have the benefit of it. Ah, poor things! +It's not often they see meat, unless, indeed, when they find a few +scraps thrown out before the butcher's door." + +"Oh, bother about your sister and her brats! Let's go in, or Barbillon +and the Skeleton will leave nothing but empty trenchers for us!" + +Nicholas and Pique-Vinaigre entered together into the day-room, where +they found the Skeleton sitting astride on the bench on which the +savoury viands were displayed, swearing and grumbling at the absence of +the founder of the feast. + +"Oh, there you are, you creeping animal!" exclaimed the ruffian, as he +caught sight of the story-teller. "What the deuce hindered you from +bringing your blessed carcass here a little sooner?" + +"He was spinning a yarn with Germain when I found him," answered +Nicholas, helping himself to a large slice of the ham. + +"Ho, ho!" cried the Skeleton, gazing earnestly on Pique-Vinaigre, +without, however, diminishing the ardour with which he devoured the +provisions; "so you were gossiping with Germain, were you?" + +"Yes, I was," returned Pique-Vinaigre. "But what a fool that Germain is! +I used to think that he was a sort of spy in the yard; but, Lord love +you, he is too much of a simpleton for that!" + +"Oh, you think so, do you?" said the Skeleton, exchanging a rapid and +significant glance with Nicholas and Barbillon. + +"I'm as sure of it as I am that I see a capital ham before me. Besides, +how the devil can he be a spy when he is always by himself? He speaks to +no one, and nobody ever changes a word with him; and you all know that +he runs from us as if we carried the plague in our pockets. Now, how a +man can tell many tales who acts as he does, is more than I can +conceive. However, spy or not, he will not be able to do us much more +harm, as to-morrow he will obtain a room for himself." + +"The deuce he will!" replied the Skeleton. Then taking advantage of a +conversation which had commenced between Barbillon and Pique-Vinaigre, +he leaned towards Nicholas, and said, whisperingly, "You see, we have +not an instant to lose. After four o'clock to-day all chance of serving +him out is over; it is now nearly three. You see, unfortunately, he does +not sleep in my dormitory, or I would settle him in the night; and +to-morrow he will be out of our reach." + +"Well, I don't care!" answered Nicholas, as though replying to some +observation of his companions; "I say--and I'll stick to it--Germain +always seems to look down upon us as though we were not as good as he." + +"No, no!" interposed Pique-Vinaigre; "you are quite wrong as regards +this young man--you are, indeed. You frighten him--you do; and I know +that he considers himself not fit to hold a candle to you. Why, if you +only knew what he was saying to me just now--" + +"Let's hear what it was!" + +"'Why,' says he, 'you are a lucky fellow, Pique-Vinaigre, you are,' he +says, 'to take the liberty of speaking to the celebrated Skeleton (that +was the very word he used), just for all the world as if you were his +equal! But whenever I meet him,' he says, 'I feel myself overcome with +so much awe and respect that, though I would give my eyes out of my head +to know him and converse with him, I no more dare do it than I should +make bold to accost the _prefet de police_ if he were in his chair of +office, and me beholding him body and bones.'" + +"He said that, did he?" returned the Skeleton, feigning to believe the +well-meant fiction of Pique-Vinaigre, as well as to feel gratified by +the deep admiration he was reported to have excited in the breast of +Germain. + +"As true as that you are the cleverest ruffian upon earth, he said those +very words; and, more than that, he--" + +"Oh, then, if that is the case," said the Skeleton, "I shall make it up +with him. Barbillon wanted to pick a quarrel with him, but I shall +advise him to be quiet." + +"That's right!" exclaimed Pique-Vinaigre, fully persuaded that he had +effectually diverted from Germain the danger that threatened him; "that +would be much the best way! For this poor chicken-hearted fellow would +never quarrel,--simply because, like me, he has not pluck enough to +fight; therefore it is no use getting into a dispute." + +"Still," cried the Skeleton, "I am sorry, too, that we shall not have +our fun; we had quite reckoned upon getting up a fight with Germain to +amuse us after dinner. I don't know now what we shall do to kill the +time." + +"Ah, to be sure!" chimed in Nicholas. "What the deuce shall we do with +ourselves? Can anybody tell me?" + +"Well, then, I'll settle it!" said Barbillon. "Since you seem to +recommend my leaving Germain alone, I'll agree to do so, on condition +that Pique-Vinaigre tells us one of his best stories." + +"Done!" exclaimed the story-teller. "But I must make one condition as +well as you, and, without both are agreed to, I don't open my lips." + +"Well, then, say what your other condition is. I dare say it is not more +difficult than the former, and we soon agreed about that." + +"It is that this honourable company, which is overstocked with riches," +said the Pique-Vinaigre, resuming his old tone when addressing his +audiences preparatory to commencing his juggling tricks, "will have the +trifling kindness to club together and present me with the small sum of +twenty sous,--a mere trifle, gents, when you are about to listen to the +celebrated Pique-Vinaigre, who has had the honour of appearing before +the most celebrated prigs of the day--he who is now expected at Brest or +Toulon, by the special command of his majesty's government." + +"Well, then, we'll stand the twenty sous after you have finished your +story." + +"After?--no--before!" said Pique-Vinaigre. + +"What! Do you suppose us capable of doing you out of twenty sous?" asked +the Skeleton, with an air of disdain. + +"By no means!" replied Pique-Vinaigre. "I honour the stone jug with my +confidence, and it is in order to economise its purse that I ask for +twenty sous in advance." + +"On your word and honour?" + +"Yes, gentlemen; for, after my story, you will be so satisfied, that it +is not twenty sous but twenty francs--a hundred francs--you will force +me to take! I know that I should be shabby enough to accept them; and +thus, you see, it is from consideration, and you will do wisely to give +me twenty sous in advance." + +"You don't want for the gift of the gab!" + +"I have nothing but my tongue, and I must make use of that. And +then,--if it must be told,--my sister and her children are in terrible +distress, and, in a small house, even twenty sous is a consideration." + +"Then why doesn't your sister prig, and her kids, too, if they're old +enough?" asked Nicholas. + +"Don't ask me; it distresses--dishonours me! I am too kind--" + +"What do you mean, you fool? Why, you encourage her!" + +"True; I encourage her in the vice of being honest, and that is the only +line in which she shines. But come, it is agreed that I shall tell you +my famous story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' But you must hand out +twenty sous, and Barbillon shall not pick a quarrel with this simpleton +of a Germain!" + +"Well, you shall have twenty sous, and Barbillon shall not pick a +quarrel with that simpleton of a Germain," said the Skeleton. + +"Then open your ears, and you will hear what you will hear! But it is +raining, which will make the customers tumble in, and there will be no +occasion to go out and seek them." + +And the rain began to fall, and the prisoners, quitting the yard, took +refuge in the day-room, the turnkey being still in attendance. + +We have said that this room was large and long, with a pavement, and +lighted by three windows, which looked out into the yard. In the centre +was the stove, near which were the Skeleton, Barbillon, Nicholas, and +Pique-Vinaigre. At a signal from the _prevot_, the Gros-Boiteux joined +this group. Germain was one of the last to enter, absorbed in most +delightful thoughts, and he went mechanically to seat himself on the +ledge at the lowest window in the apartment, a place he usually +occupied, and which no one disputed with him, for it was at a distance +from the stove around which the prisoners were assembled. + +We have already said that some fifteen of the prisoners had been +informed in the first instance of the treachery attributed to Germain, +and the murder which was to avenge it. But, soon whispered to one +another, the plan comprised as many adherents as there were prisoners; +these ruffians, in their blind cruelty, considering this fearful plot as +legitimate revenge, and viewing therein a certain guarantee against the +future disclosure of spies. Germain, Pique-Vinaigre, and the turnkey +were alone ignorant of what was about to take place. General attention +was divided between the executioner, the victim, and the story-teller, +who was about innocently to deprive Germain of the only succour he could +hope for; for it is nearly sure that the turnkey, when he saw the +prisoners attentive to the story of Pique-Vinaigre, would think his +surveillance useless, and take advantage of that moment of tranquillity +to go and take his meal. And when the prisoners had entered, the +Skeleton said to the turnkey: + +"Old fellow, Pique-Vinaigre has a capital idea; he is going to tell us +his story of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half.' It is weather in which one +would not put a policeman out-of-doors, and we shall quietly wait in +till it is time to go to roost." + +"Why, you are always pretty quiet when he begins his talk, and have no +need for me to be at your heels." + +"Yes," said the Skeleton; "but Pique-Vinaigre asks a high price,--he +wants twenty sous for his story." + +"Yes, the trifle of twenty sous,--a mere nothing!" cried Pique-Vinaigre. +"Yes, gents, nothing; for who that had a liard would not bestow it to +hear the adventures of poor little Gringalet, Cut-in-Half, and the +wicked Gargousse? It will rend your hearts, and make your hair stand on +end! And, gents, who is there that would not dispose of the paltry sum +of four liards--or, if you prefer counting my mites, of five +centimes--to have their hearts rent and their hair standing on end?" + +"There are two sous," said the Skeleton, throwing down the piece of +money before Pique-Vinaigre. "Come, is the stone-jug too niggardly to +enjoy this pastime?" he added, looking at his accomplices with a +significant air. + +Several sous fell around him, to the great joy of Pique-Vinaigre, who +thought of his sister as he collected the money. + +"Eight--nine--ten--eleven--twelve--thirteen!" he said, as he picked up +the money. "Now, my rich friends, my capitalists, and others of the +cash interest, try once more. You cannot stop at thirteen, for it is an +unlucky number! Only seven sous deficient, the trifle of seven sous! +What, gents, shall it be said that the Fosse aux Lions could not produce +seven sous--seven miserable sous? Oh, gents, gents, you would make me +believe that you have been brought here very unjustly or that you have +all had a sad run of ill luck." + +The shrill voice and broad jests of Pique-Vinaigre had brought Germain +from his reverie, and, as much to follow Rigolette's advice and make +himself popular with the prisoners as to give a trifle to the poor devil +who had testified some desire to be of service to him, he rose and threw +a piece of ten sous at the tale-teller's feet, who exclaimed, as he +pointed at his generous benefactor: + +"Ten sous, gents! You see, I was speaking of capitalists! Honour to that +gentleman! He behaves like one of the monied interest, as an ambassador +to be agreeable to the company! Yes, gents; for it is to him that you +will owe the greater portion of 'Gringalet and Cut-in-Half,' and you +will thank him for it. As to the three sous over, why, I shall earn them +by imitating the voices of the personages, instead of speaking like you +and me. That will be another obligation you will owe to this wealthy +capitalist, whom you ought to adore." + +"Come, no more blarney, but begin!" said the Skeleton. + +"One moment, gents!" said Pique-Vinaigre. "It is but right that the +capitalist who has given me ten sous should be the best situated, except +our _prevot_, who has first choice." + +This proposal squared so well with the Skeleton's project that he +exclaimed: + +"True; after me he ought to be best placed!" And again he looked +significantly at the prisoners. + +"Yes, yes; let him come nearer," said the prisoners. + +"Let him sit on the front bench." + +"You see, young man, your liberality is recompensed; the honourable +company sees that you have a right to the front seat," said +Pique-Vinaigre to Germain. + +Believing that his liberality had really better disposed his hateful +companions in his favour, and delighted thus to follow up Rigolette's +earnest desires, Germain, in spite of considerable repugnance, left the +place of his choice, and went towards the story-teller, who, having +arranged four or five benches around the stove, by the aid of Nicholas +and Barbillon, said, with emphasis: + +"Here are the dress-boxes. All respect to the worthy--the capitalist +first." + +"Now, then, let those who have paid take their seats," added +Pique-Vinaigre, gaily, firmly believing that, thanks to himself, Germain +had nothing now to fear. "And those who have not paid," he added, "will +sit down or stand up, which they please." + +Let us sum up the arrangement of his scene. Pique-Vinaigre was standing +up near the stove ready to commence; near him was the Skeleton, also +standing up, and with his eyes intently fixed on Germain, ready to rush +upon him the moment the turnkey left the cell. At some distance from +Germain, Nicholas, Barbillon, Cardillac, and other prisoners, amongst +whom was the man with the blue cotton nightcap and gray blouse, +occupying the remoter benches. The majority of prisoners, grouped here +and there, some sitting on the ground, others standing and leaning +against the wall, composed the secondary figures of this picture, +lighted, a la Rembrandt, by three lateral windows, which threw strong +light and deep shadows on forms so variously characterised and so +strongly marked. The turnkey, whose departure was to be, unknown to +himself, the signal for Germain's murder, kept close to the door, which +was ajar. + +"Are we all ready?" asked Pique-Vinaigre of the Skeleton. + +"Silence in the stone-jug!" said the latter, turning half around; and +then addressing Pique-Vinaigre, "Now, begin; we are all attention!" + + + + +CHAPTER XI. + +GRINGALET AND CUT-IN-HALF. + + +Pique-Vinaigre began his recital thus, in the midst of the profound +silence of his auditory: + +"It is no inconsiderable time ago that the story occurred which I am +about to relate to this honourable company. What was called La Petite +Pologne was not then destroyed. The honourable society knows (or does +not know) what was called La Petite Pologne?" + +"Well enough!" said the prisoner in the blue cap; "they were some small +houses near the Rue du Rocher and the Rue de la Pepiniere?" + +"Exactly so, my dear sir," replied Pique-Vinaigre; "and the Quartier of +the Cite, which, at the same time, does not consist of palaces, would be +in comparison to La Petite Pologne the Rue de la Paix or the Rue de +Rivoli. What a rookery! but, at the same time, very convenient for gents +in our line. There were no streets but narrow alleys, no houses but +ruins, no pavement but a small carpet of mud and dungheaps, which would +have destroyed all the noise of wheels,--that is, supposing any +carriages passed by that way; but none did! From morn till night, and, +particularly, from night till morn, there were only heard cries of +'Watch! Watch! Help! Murder!' but the watch took no notice. The more +persons were knocked on the head in La Petite Pologne, the fewer persons +there were to apprehend. You should have seen the respectable +inhabitants who lived there! There were very few jewellers, goldsmiths, +and bankers; but then, on the other hand, there were quantities of +organ-grinders, puppet-showmen, punches, and showers of remarkable +animals. Amongst the latter was one well known as Cut-in-Half,--he was +so cruel, and especially to children. He acquired this name because it +was reported that he had cut a small Savoyard in two with a blow of his +hatchet." + +At this moment the prison clock struck a quarter past three o'clock. The +prisoners being made to return to their cells at four o'clock, the +Skeleton's murderous design must be carried into execution before that +hour. + +"_Mille tonnerres!_ The turnkey won't go!" he said, in a low tone, to +Gros-Boiteux. + +"Be easy! He'll go when once the story is begun." + +Pique-Vinaigre continued: "No one knew where Cut-in-Half came from. Some +said he was an Italian, others a Bohemian, others a Turk, others an +African; the gossips called him a magician, although a magician in our +times would be something to look at. What made them believe this was, +that he always had with him a large red monkey called Gargousse, and who +was so cunning and savage that he seemed as if possessed by the devil. I +shall mention this beauty again presently; as to Cut-in-Half, I shall +soon describe him. His complexion was like the old tops of a pair of +jockey-boots, his hair as red as the hair of his monkey, his eyes green, +and (what made the women think he was a conjuror) he had a black +tongue." + +"A black tongue!" exclaimed Barbillon. + +"Black as ink!" replied Pique-Vinaigre. + +"And how did that happen?" + +"Because, no doubt, when his mother was in the family way she had, +perhaps, talked of a negro," said Pique-Vinaigre, with modest assurance. +"To these attractions Cut-in-Half joined the profession of having a +multitude of tortoises, monkeys, guinea-pigs, white mice, foxes, and +marmosettes, corresponding to an equivalent total of Savoyards and +forsaken children. Every morning he distributed his animal to each, and +a morsel of black bread, and then despatched them to beg for 'Only one +ha'penny!' or dance the Catarina. Those who only brought in at night +fifteen sous were beaten, soundly beaten, so that their shrieks might be +heard from one end of La Petite Pologne to the other. I should also say +that there was in La Petite Pologne a man called Le Doyen (the Dean), +because he was the 'oldest inhabitant,' and, as it were, mayor, provost, +magistrate, for it was in his room (he kept a Tom and Jerry shop) that +all went when they could not otherwise decide their quarrels. Although +rather aged, yet Le Doyen was as strong as Hercules, and very generally +feared. They swore by him in La Petite Pologne; and when he said 'Very +good!' all the world said 'Very good!' When he said 'That's bad!' all +the world said 'That's bad!' He was a good fellow at bottom, but very +fierce, particularly when the strong misused the weak,--then look out +for squalls! As he was Cut-in-Half's nearest neighbour, he had heard the +children cry very frequently from the blows which the shower of beasts +gave them. He had said to him, 'If I hear the children cry, I will make +you cry in your turn; and, as you have the stronger voice, I will give +you the severer beating.'" + +"Well done, Le Doyen! I like Le Doyen!" said the prisoner in the blue +nightcap. + +"So do I!" added the turnkey, as he approached the group. + +The Skeleton could not repress a movement of angry impatience. + +Pique-Vinaigre proceeded: + +"Thanks to Le Doyen, who had threatened Cut-in-Half, the cries of the +children were heard no more in the night-time in La Petite Pologne; but +the poor, unhappy little fellows did not suffer the less, for if they +cried no longer when their master beat them, it was because they were +afraid of being more cruelly beaten. As to complaining to Le Doyen, they +had no idea of that. For the fifteen sous which each little fellow was +obliged to bring in, Cut-in-Half lodged, boarded, and clothed them. In +the evening a bit of black bread, as at breakfast,--this was their food. +He never gave them clothes,--that was the way he clothed them; and he +shut them up at night with their animals, on the same straw in a garret, +to which they mounted by a ladder and a trap,--this was the lodging. +When once all had ascended, and the tale of children and animals was +complete, he took away the ladder and locked the trap. + +"You may judge of the life and row which these monkeys, guinea-pigs, +foxes, mice, tortoises, marmosettes, and children made all in the dark +in this cock-loft, which was as big as a barn. Cut-in-Half slept in a +room underneath, with his great ape, Gargousse, fastened to the foot of +his bed. When the brute growled, because there was too much noise in the +loft, the beast-shower went up the ladder without any light, and, going +into the loft, laid about him right and left with a heavy whip, without +seeing or counting his blows. As there were always some fifteen +children, and some of the poor dears brought him in twenty sous a day, +Cut-in-Half having defrayed all his outlay, which was by no means +excessive, had left for himself some four or five francs a day, with +which he enjoyed himself, for it must be told that he was one of the +greatest tipplers that ever lived, and was regularly blind drunk once a +day. That was his rule; and he declared that, but for that, he should +have the headache every day. We should add, that out of his gains he +used to buy some sheeps' hearts for Gargousse, who ate raw flesh like a +cannibal. But I see the honourable society are anxious to be introduced +to Gringalet! Here he is, gents!" + +"Let's have Gringalet, and I'll go and eat my soup," said the turnkey. + +The Skeleton exchanged a look of savage satisfaction with the +Gros-Boiteux. + +"Amongst the children to whom Cut-in-Half distributed his animals," +continued Pique-Vinaigre, "was a poor little devil named Gringalet. +Without father or mother, brother or sister, without fire, food, or +shelter, he was alone in the world,--quite alone in a world which he had +not asked to enter, and which he might leave without attracting any +one's attention. He was not called Gringalet for any pleasure he had in +the name, for he was meagre, lean, and pallid; he did not look above +seven or eight years old, but was really thirteen. If he did not seem +more than half his name, it was not because of his own will, but because +he only fed perhaps every other day, and then so scantily, so poorly, +that it was really an exertion to make him pass for seven years old." + +"Poor little brat! I think I see him!" said the prisoner in the blue +cotton nightcap; "there are so many children like him on the streets of +Paris dying of hunger!" + +"They must begin to learn that way of living very young in order to get +accustomed to it," said Pique-Vinaigre, with a bitter smile. + +"Come, get on!" said the Skeleton, suddenly; "the turnkey is getting +impatient--his soup is getting cold." + +"Oh, never mind that!" said the _surveillant_. "I wish to know something +more of Gringalet; it is very amusing!" + +"Yes, it is really very interesting!" added Germain, who was very +attentive to the story. + +"Ah, thank ye for saying that, my capitalist," said Pique-Vinaigre; +"that gives me more satisfaction than your ten-sous' piece." + +"_Tonnerre!_" exclaimed the Skeleton, "will you have done with your +delays?" + +"Well, then," replied Pique-Vinaigre, "one day Cut-in-Half had picked up +Gringalet in the streets, dying with cold and hunger; perhaps it would +have been best if he had let him die. As Gringalet was weak, he was a +coward; as he was a coward, he became the jest and sport of the other +lads, who beat him and used him so ill that he would have become wicked +if he had not been deficient in strength and courage. But no; when he +had been heartily thumped, he cried, and said, 'I have not done any harm +to anybody, and everybody is unkind to me,--that's very cruel; oh, if I +were strong and bold!' You will, perhaps, imagine that Gringalet was +about to add, 'I would return to others the ill they do to me?' By no +means. He said,' Oh, if I were strong and bold, I would defend the weak +against the strong, for I am weak, and the strong have made me suffer!' +In the meanwhile, as he was too small a boy to prevent the strong from +ill-using the weak, beginning with himself, he prevented the larger +brutes from eating the smaller ones." + +"What a strange idea!" said the prisoner in the blue cap. + +"And, what is stranger still," said the tale-teller, "it was this idea +that consoled Gringalet for being beaten; which proves that his heart +was not bad at bottom." + +"_Pardieu!_ Quite the contrary," said the guardian. "What an amusing +devil that Pique-Vinaigre is!" + +At this instant the chimes went half past three o'clock. The Skeleton +and Gros-Boiteux exchanged significant glances. The time was drawing on, +and the _surveillant_ did not go; and some of the less hardened +prisoners seemed almost to forget the sinister projects of the Skeleton +against Germain, as they listened attentively to Pique-Vinaigre's +recital. + +"When I say," he continued, "that Gringalet prevented the larger brutes +from eating the smaller, you must understand that Gringalet did not mix +himself up with tigers, and lions, and wolves, or even foxes and +monkeys, in the menagerie of Cut-in-Half,--he was too much of a coward +for that; but if he saw, for instance, a spider hidden in his web, in +wait for a poor foolish fly flying gaily in the sunshine of the good +God, without hurting any one, why, in a moment, Gringalet smashed the +web, freed the fly, and did for the spider like a regular Caesar,--a real +Caesar; for he turned as white as a sheet in touching such nasty +reptiles; and then it required resolution in him, who was afraid of a +cockchafer, and had been a long while in forming an intimacy with the +tortoise which Cut-in-Half handed to him every morning. Thus Gringalet, +overcoming the fear which the spider caused him, in order to prevent +flies from being eaten, proved himself--" + +"As plucky in his way as a man who attacks a wolf to take a lamb from +his jaws," said the prisoner in the blue cap. + +"Or a man who would have attacked Cut-in-Half to take Gringalet from his +clutches," added Barbillon, who was deeply interested. + +"As you say," continued Pique-Vinaigre; "so that after one of these +onslaughts Gringalet did not feel himself so unhappy. He who never +laughed, smiled, looked about him, cocked his cap on one side (when he +had one), and hummed the 'Marseillaise' with the air of a conqueror. At +this moment, there was not a spider that dared to look him in the face. +Another time it was a grasshopper which was swimming and struggling in a +brook; in a moment, Gringalet put his two fingers boldly in the water +and rescued the grasshopper, which he put on the grass. A first-class +swimmer, who had fished up his tenth drowning man at fifty francs a +head, could not have been prouder than Gringalet when he saw his +grasshopper bend his legs and jump away. And yet the grasshopper gave +him neither money nor medal, nor uttered any more thanks than did the +fly. But then, Pique-Vinaigre, worthy friend, the honourable company +will say to me, what the devil pleasure could Gringalet, whom all the +world thumped and buffeted, find in freeing grasshoppers and destroying +spiders? Since people were unkind to him, why did he not take his +revenge by doing all the evil in his power? For instance, in giving +spiders flies to eat, leaving grasshoppers to drown, or even drowning +them on purpose?" + +"Yes, why not? Why did he not revenge himself in that way?" asked +Nicholas. + +"What good would that have been?" inquired another. + +"Why, to do ill, as ill was done to him." + +"No! Well, then, I understand he liked to save the flies, poor little +chap!" said the man in a blue cap. "He said, perhaps, 'Who knows if some +day they mayn't save me in the same way?'" + +"My right worthy friend is right," cried Pique-Vinaigre, "and has read +in his heart what I was about to narrate to the honourable assembly. +Gringalet was not wicked; he did not see beyond the end of his nose; but +he said,'Cut-in-Half is my spider, and perhaps some day some one will do +for me what I do for the other poor little flies,--break his web and +take me from his clutches;' for till then nothing could have induced him +to run away from his master; he would as soon have thought of killing +himself. However, one day, when neither he nor his tortoise had had a +chance, and had not gained between either of them more than three sous, +Cut-in-Half beat the poor child very severely, so severely that, _ma +foi!_ Gringalet could not stand it any longer; and, tired of being the +butt and martyr of everybody, he watched a moment when the trap was +open, and, whilst Cut-in-Half was feeding his animals, he slid down the +ladder." + +"Oh, so much the better," said a prisoner. + +"But why didn't he go and complain to the Doyen?" inquired the blue cap; +"he would have served Cut-in-Half out." + +"Yes, but he dared not; he was too much afraid, and preferred trying to +escape. Unfortunately, Cut-in-Half had seen him, and, seizing him by the +wrist, lugged him up again into the loft. Poor Gringalet, thinking of +what must befall him, shuddered all over, although he was by no means at +the end of his troubles. Apropos of Gringalet's troubles, I must now +mention to you Gargousse, the large and favourite ape of Cut-in-Half. +This mischievous brute was, _ma foi!_ taller than Gringalet; only +imagine what a size for a monkey! I must tell you why he was never taken +into the streets to be shown, like the other animals of the menagerie: +it was because Gargousse was so wicked and powerful that there was not +one amongst all the show-boys, except an Auvergnat of fourteen, a +determined chap, who, after many skirmishes and contests with Gargousse, +had mastered him, and could lead him about with a chain; and even with +him Gargousse frequently got up some fights, which ended in bloodshed +produced by Gargousse's bites. Enraged at this, the little Auvergnat +said, one fine day, 'Very well, I will revenge myself on this infernal +monkey;' and so, one morning, having gone out with the brute as usual, +he, in order to appease its savageness, bought a sheep's heart. Whilst +Gargousse was eating it, he put a rope through the end of his chain, +tied it to a tree, and, when he had got the brute quite at his mercy, he +gave it an outrageous walloping." + +"Well done! Bravo the Auvergnat! Go it, my lad! Skin the beast alive!" +said the prisoners. + +"He did whack him gloriously!" continued Pique-Vinaigre. "And you should +have seen how Gargousse cried, ground his teeth, leaped, danced, and +skipped hither and thither; but the Auvergnat used his stick famously! +Unfortunately, monkeys, like cats, are very tenacious of life. Gargousse +was as crafty as he was vicious; and when he saw, as they say, how the +wood was on fire, at a heavy blow he made a final bound, and fell flat +at the foot of a tree, shook for a moment, and then shammed dead, lying +as motionless as a log. The Auvergnat believed he had done for him, and, +thinking the ape dead, he cut away, resolved never again to return to +Cut-in-Half. But the beast Gargousse watched him out of the corner of +his eye, and, bruised and wounded as he was, as soon as he saw himself +alone he rent the cord asunder with his teeth. The Boulevard Monceaux, +where he had had this hiding, was close to La Petite Pologne, and the +monkey knew his way as easy as his paternoster; and, making off in that +direction, arrived at his master's, who roared and foamed when he saw +how his monkey had been served. This is not all. From this moment +Gargousse entertained such a furious revenge against all children that +Cut-in-Half, who was not the tenderest soul alive, dared not trust him +to any one for fear of an accident; for Gargousse was capable of +strangling or devouring a child, and all the little brute-showers, +knowing that, would rather be thrashed by Cut-in-Half than go near the +monkey." + +"I must really go and eat my soup," said the turnkey, turning towards +the door; "this devil of a Pique-Vinaigre would wheedle a bird down from +a tree to hear him! I can't tell where the deuce he fishes up all he +tells!" + +"Now, then, the turnkey will go," said the Skeleton, in a whisper to the +Gros-Boiteux. "I'm in such a rage I shake all over! Mind and form a wall +all around the informer,--I will take care of the rest!" + +"Mind, now, and be good boys!" said the turnkey, turning towards the +door. + +"As good as images!" replied the Skeleton, coming closer to Germain, +whilst the Gros-Boiteux and Nicholas, after having agreed on a signal, +made two steps in the same direction. + +"Ah, worthy turnkey, you are going at the most interesting moment!" said +Pique-Vinaigre, with an air of reproach. + +Had it not been for the Gros-Boiteux, who anticipated his intention, and +seized him suddenly by the arm, the Skeleton would have rushed on +Pique-Vinaigre. + +"What! The most interesting moment?" replied the turnkey, turning +towards the story-teller. + +"Decidedly," said Pique-Vinaigre; "you do not know all you will +lose,--the most delightful portion of the history is now about to +commence." + +"Don't attend to him," exclaimed the Skeleton, who with difficulty +repressed his rage; "he is not in good trim to-day; for my part I think +his story very stupid." + +"My story very stupid?" cried Pique-Vinaigre, wounded in his pride as a +tale-teller. "Well, turnkey, I beg of you,--I entreat you to remain till +the conclusion, which, at most, will not be longer than a quarter of an +hour, and as by this time your soup must be cold, why, you haven't much +to lose by a little delay. I will go ahead with my narrative, so that +you may still have time to eat your soup before we are locked up for the +night." + +"Well, then, I'll stay, but make haste," said the turnkey, coming closer +towards him. + +"You are wise to stay, turnkey," continued Pique-Vinaigre; "without +bragging, you never heard anything like it before, especially the +finale, which is the triumph of the ape, and Gringalet escorted in +procession by all the little beast-showers and inhabitants of La Petite +Pologne. On my word and honour, it is not for the sake of boasting, but +it is really superb." + +"Then tell it speedily, my boy," said the turnkey, returning towards the +stove. + +The Skeleton shook with rage. He almost despaired of accomplishing his +crime. If bedtime arrived, Germain must escape, for he was not in the +same dormitory with his implacable enemy, and on the following day +Germain was to be in a separate cell. + +"So it's very stupid!" continued Pique-Vinaigre. "Well, the honourable +company shall be the judge of that. There could not exist a more +vicious brute than the big ape Gargousse, who was even more savage with +children than his master. What does Cut-in-Half do to punish Gringalet +for trying to run away? You shall know by and by. Well, in the meantime, +he seizes on the unhappy child, and locks him into the cock-loft for the +night, saying, 'To-morrow morning, when all your companions are gone +out, I will let you see what I do with vagabonds who try to run away +from me.' You may imagine what a wretched night Gringalet passed. He did +not close an eye, but kept asking himself what Cut-in-Half meant to do +with him, and then he fell asleep. He had a dream,--such a horrid +dream,--that is, the beginning of it was, as you shall see. He dreamed +that he was one of the very poor flies that he had so often rescued from +the spiders' webs, and that he had fallen into a large and strong web, +where he was struggling,--struggling with all his might, without being +able to escape. He then saw coming towards him, stealthily and +treacherously, a kind of monster, which looked like Cut-in-Half turned +into a spider. Poor Gringalet began to struggle again, as you may +suppose, but the more he struggled the more he got entangled, like the +poor flies. At last the spider came up to him, touched him, and he felt +the cold and hairy paws of the horrid beast curl around him and enclose +him, intending to devour him. He believed he was dead, when suddenly he +heard a kind of clear, ringing, sharp sort of buzzing, and he saw a +beautiful golden fly, with a kind of brilliant dart, like a diamond +needle, which flew around the spider with a furious air, and a voice +(when I say a voice you must imagine a fly's voice) which said, 'Poor +little fly! You have saved flies! The spider shall not--' Unfortunately +Gringalet jumped up at this moment, and did not see the end of his +dream; but yet he was at first somewhat assured, and said to himself, +'Perhaps the golden fly with the diamond dart would have killed the +spider if I had finished the dream.' But in vain did Gringalet +endeavour to make himself easy and take comfort; in proportion as the +night ended, his fears renewed, so strongly, that at last he forgot his +dream, or, rather, he only remembered the portion which affrighted him, +the large web in which he had been caught and enfolded by the spider +which resembled Cut-in-Half. You may imagine what a fright he was in; +only think--only think--alone,--quite alone, and no one to defend him! +In the morning, when he saw daybreak gradually appear through the +skylight of the cock-loft, his fears redoubled, and the moment was at +hand when he would be alone with Cut-in-Half. He then threw himself on +his knees in the middle of the garret, and, weeping bitterly, entreated +his comrades to ask Cut-in-Half to forgive him, or else to help him to +escape if possible. But some from fear of their master, others from +disregard, and some from ill nature, refused what poor Gringalet +requested so earnestly." + +"Young scamps!" said the prisoner in the blue cap; "he is to be pitied, +so helpless. If he could have defended himself, tooth and nail, it would +have been very different, _ma foi!_ If you have fangs, show 'em, boy, +and defend your tail!" + +"To be sure!" said several prisoners. + +"Holloa, there!" exclaimed the Skeleton, unable to conceal his rage, and +addressing the Blue Cap; "won't you hold your jaw? Didn't I say silence +in the stone-jug? Am I captain of the ward or not?" + +The Blue Cap's answer was to look the Skeleton full in the face, and +then make that low-lived gesture of the blackguards, which consists in +applying the thumb of the right hand to the end of the nose, opening the +fingers like a fan, and putting the little finger on the thumb of the +left hand, similarly extended. He accompanied this mute reply with so +odd a look that many of the prisoners laughed heartily, whilst others, +on the contrary, were actually stupefied at the audacity of the new +prisoner, so greatly was the Skeleton feared. The latter shook his fist +at the new prisoner, and said to him, grinding his teeth: + +"We'll settle this to-morrow!" + +"I'll make the calculation on your nob! I'll put down seventeen and +carry nothing!" + +For fear the turnkey should have fresh motive for staying, in order to +repress any row, the Skeleton quietly replied: + +"That is not what I mean; I am the captain of this room, and ought to be +attended to,--ought not I, turnkey?" + +"Certainly," replied the superintendent; "no interruption; and go on, +Pique-Vinaigre, and make haste, will you, my lad?" + +"Then," resumed Pique-Vinaigre, "Gringalet, seeing how all the world +forsook him, resigned himself to his miserable fate. It was broad day, +and all the boys were going out with their animals. Cut-in-Half opened +the trap, and called each to give him his morsel of bread. They all +descended the ladder, and Gringalet, more dead than alive, squeezed up +in a corner of the cock-loft with his tortoise, did not move, but +watched his companions as they descended one after the other, and would +have given everything he had to have done as they did. At length the +last quitted the loft, and then his heart beat quick as he thought his +master might forget him. But Cut-in-Half, who was standing at the foot +of the ladder, exclaimed in a loud voice, 'Gringalet! Gringalet!' 'Here +I am, master.' 'Come down directly, or I'll fetch you!' added +Cut-in-Half; and Gringalet believed his last hour was come. 'Oh,' said +he to himself as he trembled in all his limbs, and recollected his +dream, 'you are in the web, little fly, the spider is going to eat you!' +After having put his tortoise quietly down on the ground, he said +farewell to it, for he had become fond of the creature, and went to the +trap, and put his leg on the ladder to go down, when Cut-in-Half, taking +hold of his miserable little leg, as thin as a stick, pulled him down so +suddenly that Gringalet lost his hold, and fell with his face all down +the rounds of the ladder." + +"What a pity it was that the Doyen of La Petite Pologne was not there at +that moment! What a dance he could have played to Cut-in-Half!" said the +blue nightcap; "it is at such moments as these that a man is always +happy and contented to feel how useful it is sometimes to be strong." + +"That's all right, my lad, but, unfortunately, the Doyen was not there, +so Cut-in-Half seized hold of the child by the waistband of his little +breeches, and carried him to his own hole of a chamber, where the huge +monkey was kept fastened to the foot of his bed. Directly the spiteful +beast saw the boy, he began to jump and spring about, grinding his teeth +like a mad thing, and darting towards Gringalet as near as his chain +permitted him, as though he meant to devour him." + +"Poor Gringalet! How ever will he be able to escape? If that beast of a +monkey once gets hold of him he is safe to strangle him! I declare," +exclaimed the man in the blue cap, "the very thoughts of a poor innocent +child being in such a dangerous situation makes me shiver from head to +foot, and I seem as though I couldn't hurt a worm. How do you feel, good +friends?" + +"The very same!" replied a burst of voices. "No more could we!" + +At this moment the prison clock chimed forth the first quarter past +three, and the Skeleton, becoming momentarily more and more apprehensive +that the time would slip away without their being able to accomplish +their design, and furious at the continued interruptions, as well as +irritated at the evident sympathy and compassion awakened in the +breasts of the prisoners by Pique-Vinaigre's recital, called out in +angry voice: + +"Silence in the stone jug, I say! We shall never get to the end of this +unlucky history if you persist in chiming in." + +The buzz of voices died away at these words, and Pique-Vinaigre thus +continued: + +"When it is recollected how much poor little Gringalet had had to endure +before he could get used to his tortoise, and that even the boldest of +his companions trembled and turned pale even at the mention of +Gargousse's name, it may very easily be imagined what deadly terror he +experienced when he found himself placed by his master within the reach +of the horrible monkey. 'Oh, master, master!' he cried, as his teeth +rattled and shook in his head, as though he were under the influence of +an ague fit, 'pray--pray forgive me! Pray have mercy on me! I will never +do so any more. Indeed, indeed, I never will! Oh, I promise you, master; +only let me off this time, and I will never do so again!' But all these +prayers and supplications escaped almost unconsciously from the poor +child, who had indeed committed no fault that called for such promises. +Cut-in-Half, however, laughed at the boy's terrors, and, spite of the +struggles and resistance of the unhappy child, he dragged him within the +grasp of Gargousse, who sprang upon him, and seized him with a savage +grasp." + +A cry of execration passed throughout the assembly, which had been +listening with the profoundest attention to the progress of the tale. + +"I should have been a rare fool had I gone away," said the officer on +duty, as he drew nearer to the listening groups. + +"Oh, but," said Pique-Vinaigre, "you've heard nothing as yet,--the best +is still to come. Directly poor Gringalet felt the cold hairy paws of +the ape seize him by the head and neck, he imagined it was with the +intention of devouring him, and driven almost mad by his agony, he began +shrieking and groaning in a manner that would have moved a stone to pity +him, while he wildly exclaimed, 'Oh, send help! Send help from heaven, +God of goodness and of little children! Oh, little golden fly, come and +preserve me! Come, little fly, and save me from the horrible spider I +dreamed about!' 'Will you hold your noise?' exclaimed Cut-in-Half, as he +gave him several hard kicks, for he was fearful lest his cries should be +heard; but in a minute's time there was no further danger of that, for +the poor boy neither cried or struggled further, but pale and cold as +marble, he remained kneeling, while the devilish monkey clawed and +scratched and buffeted the trembling victim, who, closing his eyes, +resigned himself to his fate. After Gargousse had tired himself with +thus tormenting poor Gringalet, he suddenly paused, and looked up to his +master's countenance, as though asking what he should do next. And +really it seemed as though the ape and his master understood each +other's thoughts, for Gargousse immediately renewed the attack by +plucking out handfuls of the shuddering boy's hair, upon which +Cut-in-Half burst into fits of laughter, so long and so loud that, had +poor Gringalet tried ever so hard, he could not have made himself heard +amid these wicked and malicious rejoicings. They had, however, the +effect of encouraging Gargousse, who proceeded to attack the unfortunate +child with redoubled fierceness." + +"Ah, you beggar of a monkey!" exclaimed Blue Bonnet, "I only wish I had +been near enough to catch hold of your tail! I'd have swung you round +and round like a windmill, and finished by knocking out your dirty +brains against the hardest stone I could find! That beastly ape was as +cruel as if he had been a man!" + +"Oh!" cried a simultaneous burst of voices, "no man ever was, or ever +will be, so cruel as that, I'm sure!" + +"Hallo!" interrupted Pique-Vinaigre, "you forget Cut-in-Half when you +make that remark. However, just listen to what he did next. He +unfastened the long chain of Gargousse from the leg of his bed, around +which it was generally secured, and tied it to the waist of the poor +trembling child, who by this time was more dead than alive; so that the +monkey and the boy were thus placed at the opposite ends of the chain." + +"There was a devil's own invention! Ay, ay, it is quite certain that +some human creatures are more cruel than the most savage wild beast!" + +"When Cut-in-Half had completed this arrangement, he said to the monkey, +who appeared to understand every word he said,--and certainly these were +such a precious pair it would have been a thousand pities they should +have had any difficulty in the matter: 'Now, then, Gargousse, attention! +You have been exhibited with all your clever tricks, but it is now your +turn to be showman. You shall be master, and Gringalet shall be +monkey,--yes, your monkey. So up with you, Gringalet, or I shall set +Gargousse on you, and let him tear you to pieces!' The unhappy child, +unable to utter a word, had again fallen on his knees, holding up his +clasped hands in mute supplication, while the only sound he could utter +proceeded from the convulsive rattling of his teeth. 'Make him stand +upright, Gargousse!' said Cut-in-Half to his ape, 'and if he is +obstinate do as I am doing;' and with these words he belaboured the +child with a switch he held in his hand. Then passing the stick to the +monkey, he added, 'Make him stand up! Hit harder!--harder!' You all know +what close imitators all monkeys are, but Gargousse was ever remarkable +for his extreme quickness in copying the actions of others. He was not +long, therefore, in bestowing so severe a flagellation on the shoulders +of his terrified victim as soon compelled him to try at least to stand +upon his feet, and once up, the unhappy child became as nearly as +possible the same height as the ape. Then Cut-in-Half went out of the +room, and descended the staircase, calling out to Gargousse to follow +him, which he did, tugging violently at the end of the chain to which +Gringalet was fastened, and compelling him to follow like a slave, at +the same time beating him as hard as he could with his cane; and thus +they reached the small courtyard belonging to the miserable tenement +occupied by Cut-in-Half and his live stock. + +"Now, then, Cut-in-Half reckoned on having good sport, so, first +securing the door that opened into the lane, he made signs to Gargousse +to play Gringalet round and round the yard as fast as he could. The ape +loved the fun as well as his master, and coursed the frightened boy +round the yard, beating him with all the strength the switch admitted +of, while Cut-in-Half laughed till his sides ached. Perhaps you may +think this malicious nature was now satisfied,--not a bit of it! This +was a mere beginning! + +"So far Gringalet had merely endured excessive fright, been torn and +scratched by the sharp teeth and claws of Gargousse, and severely beaten +with the stick. This, however dreadful, was far from contenting +Cut-in-Half's savage nature. He therefore devised another scheme, +equally diabolical with his other proceedings. In order to enrage the +monkey still more against the unhappy boy, who by this time was more +dead than alive, he seized Gringalet by the hair of his head, and, after +feigning to overwhelm him with blows, he pushed him towards the monkey, +saying, 'Tear him! Worry him!' showing Gargousse at the same time a +great lump of sheep's heart, as much as to say, Do as I bid you, and +here is your reward. + +"And then began a fearful sight! Just imagine a huge red ape, with a +black muzzle, grinding his teeth like a mad thing, and throwing +himself, in a state of savage fury, on the poor helpless object of his +cruelty, who, unable to defend himself, had no other means of preserving +his face and eyes from being torn to pieces than by throwing himself +down on the ground, flat on his face. Seeing this, Gargousse, wrought up +by his master to a state of frenzied hatred against poor Gringalet, +bestrode him as he lay on the ground, seized him by the neck, and bit +him on the back of his head till the blood came. 'Oh, the spider! The +spider I dreamed of!' cried poor Gringalet, firmly believing now that he +should be devoured. All at once a noise was heard at the gate that +opened from the lane into the yard. Knock! knock! knock!" + +"Ha, ha!" exclaimed all the prisoners at once. "How delightful! 'Tis Le +Doyen come to set the boy free! Oh, tell us if it was not!" + +"Yes, my good friends, you have guessed right; it was Le Doyen, and he +cried out, 'Now then, Cut-in-Half, will you open the door or no? Don't +pretend to be deaf; I see you through the keyhole.' The exhibitor of +beasts was obliged to answer, and went grumblingly along to open the +gate for Le Doyen, who was a regular brick of a man, as strong and +sturdy as a mountain for all his age, and, moreover, he was one of those +persons with whose displeasure it was anything but safe to trifle. +'Well, what do you want with me?' asked Cut-in-Half, half opening the +yard door. 'I have something to say to you,' answered Le Doyen, entering +almost forcibly into the little courtyard. Then observing the savage +conduct of the monkey, he ran towards him, seized him by the scruff of +the neck, and sought to fling him to the other end of the yard; but +perceiving that the boy and the animal were chained together, Le Doyen +cast a stern and fearful glance on Cut-in-Half, as he called out in a +severe tone, 'Let this unfortunate child loose directly!' Only conceive +the joyful surprise experienced by Gringalet, who, nearly dead with +terror, found himself so unexpectedly preserved, and by means which +seemed to him so miraculous that he could not help turning his eyes on +his preserver, with a recollection of the golden-winged fly he had seen +in his dream, though he saw merely a stout, square-built, elderly +gentleman, looking more like a creature of earth than air." + +"Well, now then," said the officer on duty, "now that Gringalet is safe, +I will go and take my soup." + +"Safe!" exclaimed Pique-Vinaigre, "not a bit of it! Bless you, poor +little Gringalet has not got to the worst of his troubles yet." + +"No?" cried several prisoners, with the deepest interest. "No; hasn't +he, though?" + +"But what else happened to him then?" inquired the officer. + +"Wait a bit and you'll hear," answered the story-teller. + +"What a fellow that Pique-Vinaigre is!" cried the officer; "he makes you +do just as he pleases! Well, I'll stay a little longer, at any rate!" + +The Skeleton spoke not, but he actually foamed with rage, as +Pique-Vinaigre thus continued his recital: + +"Cut-in-Half, who feared Le Doyen as the devil fears holy water, had, in +a grumbling manner, unfastened the chain from Gringalet's waist, which +done, Le Doyen tossed Gargousse up in the air, and when he fell to the +ground he gave him so desperate a kick in his ribs that he sent him +rolling ten feet off. The monkey screamed with passion, chattered, and +ground his teeth with rage; then, fearing a repetition of the rough +usage he had experienced, scampered away, and, climbing to the roof of a +small shed, manifested his hatred of Le Doyen by a variety of +threatening gestures. 'What do you mean by ill-using my monkey?' +inquired Cut-in-Half of Le Doyen. 'You ought rather to ask me why I do +not beat you instead of your spiteful beast there; for shame! Thus to +torture and ill-use a poor helpless boy! Is it possible you can be drunk +at this early hour of the morning?' 'I am no more drunk than you are! I +was teaching my monkey a trick I wish him to learn. I want to get up a +scene between Gringalet and my monkey. I attend to my business, and I +only wish other people would do the same, and not trouble themselves +with what does not concern them.' 'And I tell you that I have a right to +interfere in the present case, and that it is my duty so to do. This +morning when I missed Gringalet from among the other children who passed +by my window, I inquired of them where he was. They did not make me any +answer, but hung down their heads, and seemed confused. I know you, +therefore suspected the boy was kept back for some bad purpose, and it +seems I was not mistaken. + +"'Now, just listen to me. Every day that I do not see Gringalet pass my +door with the other lads, I will come here to know the reason, whether +you like it or not; and what's more, you shall produce him alive and +well, or--or--or--I'll--I'll knock you down!' 'I shall do precisely as I +please with the boy, without asking your leave,' answered Cut-in-Half, +excessively irritated by this threat of keeping him under surveillance; +'you'll just please to keep your hands to yourself; and if you do not +take yourself off, and if ever you presume to show your face here again, +I'll--I'll--' 'Take that, then, as an earnest of the future!' cried Le +Doyen, interrupting Cut-in-Half by a couple of blows heavy enough to +knock down a rhinoceros; 'you deserve that and more, too, for presuming +to answer Le Doyen of La Petite Pologne in so impertinent a manner.'" + +"O Lord! Lord!" groaned forth the man in the blue cap, "only two blows! +I wish I had had the handling of him. He should have had a round dozen +to begin with, and afterwards I would have knocked all his teeth down +his throat!" + +"As far as strength went," continued Pique-Vinaigre, "Le Doyen could +have killed and eaten a score of such fellows as the beast-master, so +Cut-in-Half was compelled to pocket the affront. But he was not the less +incensed at being struck in the presence of Gringalet, and well did he +promise himself to be richly avenged for the indignity he had sustained; +and an idea suddenly suggested itself to him, which could only have +originated in the mind of a fiend of malice like himself. While he was +meditating on his diabolical scheme, Le Doyen said, 'Bear in mind that +if you torment this poor boy any more I will just make you and your +menagerie turn out and quit La Petite Pologne, or I will bring the whole +neighbourhood to pull your house about your ears. You know very well how +universally you are hated already, and you may rest assured you will +have such an escort to conduct you hence as shall leave you marks enough +on your back to serve as a remembrancer of your parting, let you live as +long as you may, that I promise you!' + +"Like a treacherous, mean-spirited wretch as he was, Cut-in-Half, the +better to effect his villainous design, instead of quarrelling further +with Le Doyen, feigned to submit to his decision, and replied, in a +false, wheedling tone, 'You were wrong to strike me, my worthy +neighbour, or to imagine I had any intention of harming Gringalet; on +the contrary, I tell you again I was merely teaching my monkey a new +trick; he is rather awkward when he is put out in any way, and, while +trying to manage him, the boy got a few trifling bites, which I very +much regret.' 'Humph!' said Le Doyen, casting a scrutinising look on +him; 'now is this all gospel you are telling me? And why, if you only +wished to teach a thing to your monkey, did you fasten him to +Gringalet?' 'Because the boy has to learn the trick as well as the +animal. Now this is what I want to do,--to dress up Gargousse in a red +coat and a hat with a feather in it, like a barber, and then Gringalet +is to sit in a little chair, with a cloth tucked under his chin, while +the monkey affects to shave him with a large wooden razor.' The joke +appeared so very droll to Le Doyen that he could not forbear laughing. +'Isn't that a funny idea?' inquired Cut-in-Half, in a crafty and +malicious manner. 'Why, upon my word,' answered Le Doyen, 'it does +strike me as a very amusing device, and one which, I doubt not, your +monkey would carry into execution most admirably, that is, if he be as +clever and skilful in imitation as he is represented.' 'Oh, bless you!' +continued Cut-in-Half, 'when he has seen me for five or six times make +believe to shave Gringalet, he will imitate me exactly with his large +wooden razor; but for that purpose it is absolutely necessary he should +become habituated to the boy, and that was my reason for fastening them +both together.' 'But why did you select Gringalet more than any other of +your boys?' 'Because he was the least among 'em, so that, you see, when +he sat down the monkey was the taller of the two. + +"'To be sure I had another reason besides, M. le Doyen, although I know +a man oughtn't to own such a thing as making a difference with his boys, +but, for all that, I'll own the truth, whatever comes of it, and that +is, that I made choice of this here little chap because I meant to give +half the profits from the performance to whoever it was acted the scene +with the animal, because I knew, in course, it was disagreeable.' +'Well,' said Le Doyen, completely gulled by this false and hypocritical +manner of accounting for the conduct which had first attracted his +displeasure,--'well, if such be the case, I can only say, I'm very sorry +I gave you such a very hard thump; however, it does not matter, just +consider it as "paid on account," so that--' While Cut-in-Half was +talking with Le Doyen, poor little Gringalet durst scarcely breathe,--he +trembled like an aspen leaf, and, though dying with eagerness to throw +himself at the feet of Le Doyen, and to supplicate of him to take him +away from his cruel master, he had not courage to make the attempt, and +in a low despairing voice he murmured to himself, 'I shall be like the +poor fly I dreamed about, and the horrid spider will eat me up; it was +folly of me to expect that any golden fly would come to save me!' + +"'Come, my lad, since your master means to let you share his profits, +you ought to try and get used to acting with the monkey; never mind +being tied to him, he won't hurt you, I dare say, and then, you know, +when you have earned a large sum of money by doing this trick with him, +you will have nothing to complain of.' 'Complain, indeed!' exclaimed his +master, giving him at the same time a side-look that froze poor +Gringalet's blood, 'what should he know of complaining? Now then, speak +up, and tell this worthy gentleman whether you ever have had anything to +complain of.' 'Come, let's hear all about it,--have you any cause of +complaint, you are asked?' 'No--no--master,' stammered out the unhappy +child. 'You hear what he says?' said Cut-in-Half, turning to Le Doyen, +'he never has had anything to complain of. No; I should rather think +not! Why, bless you, I was only thinking of his good when I tied him to +the monkey, and if he has got a bit of a scratch from Gargousse, why, +I'll take care it does not happen again. The monkey is just a little +awkward at first, but I'll see to it for the future,--take my word for +it, it won't happen again.' 'That's all right, then, and now everybody's +satisfied, are they not?' 'Gringalet is, most especially; are you not, +my fine fellow?' asked Cut-in-Half, casting a savage glance on the poor +child. 'Yes--yes--master,' sobbed forth the wretched boy. 'And I'll tell +you what I'll do further, to make up for the scratches you have got from +the monkey, I'll let you share in a good breakfast I meant to order +from our worthy Doyen's excellent larder; I intend having a dish of +mutton-chops and pickles, four bottles of wine, and a pint of brandy.' +'Much obliged to you,' answered Le Doyen; 'all shall be sent as you +desire. Few men have a better cellar or more tempting larder, and the +contents of both are at the service of all who can pay for them.' + +"Le Doyen was not a bad sort of a man, but it must be remembered that he +had his living to get, and, therefore, so that he disposed of his +eatables and drinkables at a sufficient profit, he cared but little who +it was in that case,--friend or foe were quite alike to him. The beggar, +Cut-in-Half, knew well enough where his weak side lay, so he hit upon +this method of getting rid of him, in high good humour at having by his +visit not only ascertained the safety of Gringalet, but also obtained a +good order. And now was the unfortunate child thrown into the hands of +his master, past all hopes of safety; for no sooner had Le Doyen turned +his back than Cut-in-Half, pointing to the staircase with a dreadful +frown, bade the trembling lad betake himself to his garret without loss +of time; and the frightened child, glad at any rate to be freed from the +monkey and his master, did not require a second bidding, but made off as +fast as his strength permitted him. When Gringalet reached his own +wretched chamber, he threw himself on the dirty straw allotted him for a +bed beside his tortoise, and wept as though his heart were breaking. 'He +will surely kill me!' cried the miserable boy, as he reflected on the +cruelty of his master and his own inability to escape from him. 'What +shall I do? Oh, how I wish I were dead and in my grave!' Thus he +remained sobbing and lamenting for more than an hour, when he was roused +by hearing the coarse voice of Cut-in-Half calling upon him to descend. +And the terror of the boy was still further increased by discovering a +considerable alteration in the rough tones of his master. 'Now, then!' +roared out the brutal man, with a torrent of oaths, 'are you coming +down, or must I fetch you?' The unhappy child almost slid down the +ladder in his haste to descend, but scarcely had he reached the bottom +than Cut-in-Half seized hold of him, and dragged him to his own room, +stumbling at every step he took; for the fellow had been drinking so +hard that he could scarcely stand on his legs, while his body swung to +and fro like the sails of a windmill. + +"Almost bereft by extreme intoxication of the power of speech, he +continued to gaze on the shrinking child with eyes full of dreadful +meaning, though his tongue was unable to declare the murderous designs +he meditated. Never had the poor boy endured such horror at the sight of +his master. Gargousse was chained as usual to the foot of the bed, and +in the middle of the room stood a chair, from the back of which hung a +strong cord. 'S--s--sit down--there!' cried the tyrant, as he pointed to +the seat. Gringalet obeyed in silence, and Cut-in-Half, without another +word, twisted the rope around him, and finally secured him in the chair +so firmly that, even if poor Gringalet had dared to struggle, it would +have been impossible for him to have extricated himself. 'Great and good +God!' murmured the wretched child, 'this time no one will come to +deliver me from my danger!' And the poor little fellow was right, for, +indeed, it was utterly impossible, and for this reason, that no sooner +had Le Doyen gone away with the idea of all being comfortably arranged +between the boy and his master than Cut-in-Half hastened to double-lock +and bolt the entrance to his premises, so that no person could gain +admission without his knowledge." + +"Oh, poor little Gringalet!" exclaimed all the prisoners, deeply excited +by the recital, "it's all up with him, that's quite sure." + +"I'd give my last franc-piece to get him out of the hands of that +blackguard--that I would!" cried a multitude of voices, as though one +unanimous sympathy actuated each breast. + +"I wonder what that beggar of a Cut-in-Half is going to do with the poor +little chap!" added they, in almost breathless interest; "come, push on, +and let's hear." + +Pique-Vinaigre continued: + +"When Gringalet was well secured in the chair, his master said to him" +(and here the narrator imitated most naturally the thick speech and +stammering tones of a drunken man): 'Ah--you scoundrel!--you--you are +the--cause of--my being thrashed by Le Doyen!--you shall--die--for +it--you shall--you--young--devil!' Then he took from his pocket a +freshly sharpened razor, opened it, and seized Gringalet by the hair of +his head. At the sight of the razor the child began to weep. 'Pardon, +master! Pardon! Do not kill me!' 'Cry away, you infernal brat! You shall +not cry long!' replied Cut-in-Half. 'Golden fly, golden fly, come to my +help!' exclaimed poor Gringalet, almost mad, and remembering the dream +that had had such an effect upon him, 'for the spider is going to kill +me!' 'What!--you call--call--me a spider--do you?' said Cut-in-Half; +'for this--and--other--many other things--you shall die--die, I tell +you--but not by my hand--because that wouldn't do--and besides--they'd +"scrag" me--and so I'll say and prove that it was the ape. I have +managed it all--and so--never mind--for that's all about it!' he added, +preserving his equilibrium with the greatest difficulty. Then calling +the monkey, which, at the end of his chain, was grinning and looking at +his master and the boy, 'Here, Gargousse,' he said, pointing to the +razor, and then to Gringalet, whom he had seized by the hair of his +head, 'do so to him;' and then drawing the back of the razor several +times over Gringalet's throat, he feigned to cut his throat. The devil +of a monkey was such a close imitator--so wicked and so sly--that he +understood what his master desired, and as if to prove to him that he +did so, he took his chin in his left paw, put his head back, and, with +his right paw, pretended to cut his throat. 'That's it, +Gargousse--that's it!' said Cut-in-Half, stammering, with his eyes half +closed, and staggering so much that he almost fell with Gringalet and +the chair. 'Yes, that's it! I'll unfas--unfasten you, and you'll slice +his weasand--won't you, Gargousse?' The ape shrieked as he ground his +teeth, as much as to say yes, and put out his paw as if to take the +razor that Cut-in-Half handed to him. 'Golden fly, come to my rescue!' +murmured Gringalet, in a faint voice, and assured that his last hour was +come. Alas! he called the golden fly without any hopes of its coming to +his rescue; he did so as a drowning man exclaims, '_Mon Dieu! mon +Dieu!_' Yet at this very moment Gringalet saw enter into the room one of +those small gold and green flies, which look like a spangle of gold +flying and flitting around and about; and at the very moment when +Cut-in-Half was going to give the razor to Gargousse, the gold fly went +plump into the eye of this horrible ruffian. A fly in the eye is no +great thing, but at the moment it hurts like the prick of a pin, and +thus Cut-in-Half, who could scarcely support himself, raised his hand to +his eye so suddenly that he staggered and fell at full length, rolling +on the ground like a log to the foot of the bed, to which Gargousse was +fastened. 'Golden fly, many thanks! You have saved me!' cried Gringalet, +who, seated and fastened to the chair, had observed all." + +"_Ma foi!_ It really was true, then, and the golden fly prevented his +having his throat cut," exclaimed the prisoners, overjoyed. + +"The golden fly for ever!" cried the Blue Cap. + +"Listen now," continued the story-teller, "for this is the most +beautiful and terrible of the history I had promised you. Cut-in-Half +had fallen like a lump of lead, and was so drunk that he could move no +more than a log,--he was dead drunk and perfectly senseless; but in his +fall he very nearly crushed Gargousse, and almost broke his hind paw. +You know how savage and revengeful this infernal brute was, and he still +held in his paw the razor which his master had given him to cut +Gringalet's throat. What do you suppose the animal did when he saw his +master on his back and within his reach? Why, he jumped upon him, +squatted on his breast, and whilst with one paw he pushed up his chin to +expose his neck, with the other he cut his throat as clean as a whistle, +just as Cut-in-Half had taught him to do with poor Gringalet a few +minutes before." + +"Bravo, bravo! Well done!" + +"Gargousse for ever!" + +"The little golden fly for ever!" + +"Gringalet for ever! Gargousse for ever!" + +"Well, my friends, I assure you, as you shout now, so did the whole +population of La Petite Pologne shout an hour afterwards," said +Pique-Vinaigre, delighted at the success of his story and the enthusiasm +of his hearers. + +"In what way?" + +"I told you that, in order to complete his wicked purpose at his ease, +the vagabond Cut-in-Half had closed the door inside. Towards the +evening, the boys came in one after the other with their animals. The +first rapped, but no answer; then, when they had all arrived, they +knocked at the door, but no reply; so one went to find Le Doyen to tell +him how they had knocked in vain, and that their master did not open to +them. 'The fellow must be as drunk as an Englishman,' said he; 'I sent +him some wine just now. We must break open the door, for the children +cannot pass the night out-of-doors.' So they burst in the door, and then +they went up the stairs, and what should they see but Gargousse chained +and crouching on his master's body, playing with the razor! Poor +Gringalet was fortunately out of Gargousse's reach and still on the +chair, not daring to look on Cut-in-Half's body, but gazing at,--guess +what, the little golden fly, which, after having flitted round and round +the child as if to congratulate him, had, at last, come and settled on +his poor little hand. + +"Gringalet related all to Le Doyen and the crowd that came in, and, as +it really appeared like the interposition of Providence, Le Doyen cried, +'A triumph for Gringalet! A triumph to Gargousse who killed the infamous +Cut-in-Half! He cut others, it was his turn to be cut himself.' 'Yes, +yes,' cried the assembled mob, for the beast-shower was universally +detested, 'a triumph to Gargousse! A triumph for Gringalet!' It was +night, and they lighted straw torches, fastened Gargousse to a bench, +which four chaps carried on their shoulders; and the blackguard of an +ape seemed as if he felt his consequence, and gave himself the airs of a +conquering hero, by showing his teeth to the multitude. After the ape +came Le Doyen, carrying Gringalet in his arms; then all the little +fellows, each carrying his beast, followed him, one with his fox, +another his marmotte, another his guinea-pig; and those who played on +the hurdy-gurdy played now; then there were the charcoal-sellers who had +their bells, and there was such an uproar, such joy, such a fete as can +be scarcely imagined. Behind the musicians and animal-showers came all +the dwellers in La Petite Pologne, men, women, and children, all holding +straw torches, and halloaing like mad, 'Vive Gringalet! Vive Gargousse!' +The procession advanced in this way around the place in which +Cut-in-Half dwelt. It was a very singular sight to see the old buildings +lighted up by the red light of the straw torches, which flared and +flared. As to Gringalet, the first thing he did when he was at liberty +was to put the little golden fly in a paper bag, and he exclaimed during +his triumph, 'Little flies, I did very right in preventing the spiders +from eating you, for--'" + +Pique-Vinaigre was interrupted by a voice from without, exclaiming: + +"Pere Roussel, come to your soup; it only wants ten minutes to four!" + +"_Ma foi!_ The story is nearly finished, and I must go. Many thanks, my +lad, you have amused me very much, and that you may tell everybody," +said the superintendent to Pique-Vinaigre, going to the door; then +pausing, "Mind and be quiet," he said, turning towards the prisoners. + +"We shall hear the end of the story," said the Skeleton, breathless with +suppressed rage; then, adding in a whisper to Gros-Boiteux, "Follow him +to the door, and, when you see him leave the yard, cry Gargousse, and +the informer is a dead man." + +"All right," said Le Gros-Boiteux, who accompanied the guardian, and +remained at the door watching his steps as he went away. + +"I tell you, then," resumed Pique-Vinaigre, "that Gringalet, during the +whole time of his triumph, said, 'Little flies, I have--'" + +"Gargousse!" cried Gros-Boiteux, as the turnkey quitted the yard. + +"I'm here, Gringalet, and I will be your spider!" cried the Skeleton, +instantly, and darting so suddenly on Germain that he could not make a +struggle or utter a cry. His voice expired under the tremendous gripe of +the Skeleton's iron fingers. + +"If you are the spider, I'm the golden fly, Skeleton of evil," cried a +voice, at the moment when Germain, surprised at the violent and sudden +attack of his implacable enemy, had fallen back on the bench entirely at +the mercy of the ruffian, who, with his knee on his breast, held him by +the neck. "Yes, I will be the fly, and a fly of the right sort!" +repeated the man in the blue cap, of whom we have already spoken, and +then, with a fierce spring, he dashed upon the Skeleton, and assailed +him on the skull and between his eyes with a shower of blows from his +fist, so tremendous that it sounded like the noise of a smith's hammer +ringing on an anvil. + +[Illustration: "_The Skeleton Staggered at First_" +Original Etching by Marcel] + +The man in the blue cap, who was no other than the Chourineur, added, as +he redoubled the quickness of his hammering on the Skeleton's head: + +"It is the shower of blows which M. Rodolph drummed on my sconce, and I +have recollected them." + +At this unexpected assault the prisoners were all struck with surprise, +and did not take part either for or against the Chourineur. Several of +them, still under the influence of the salutary impression made on them +by Pique-Vinaigre's story, were even glad of an event which saved +Germain. The Skeleton staggered at first, and, reeling like an ox under +the butcher's poleaxe, mechanically extended his hands to try and ward +off his adversary's blows, and Germain, thus freed from the deadly +clutch of the Skeleton, half raised himself. + +"What does this mean? Who is this scoundrel?" exclaimed Le Gros-Boiteux, +and, rushing at the Chourineur, he endeavoured to seize his arms from +behind, whilst the latter was making violent efforts to keep the +Skeleton down on the bench. Germain's defender replied to Le +Gros-Boiteux's attack by a kind of kick, so violent that it sent the +cripple rolling on the ground to the farther end of the circle formed by +the prisoners. + +Germain, whose face was livid and purple, half suffocated, and on his +knees by the bench, seemed unconscious of all that was passing around +him. The strangulation had been so violent that he could scarcely +breathe. + +After his first surprise was over, the Skeleton, by a desperate effort, +contrived to keep the Chourineur off and regain his feet. Breathless, +drunk with rage and hatred, he was fearful to look upon. His cadaverous +face streamed with blood, his upper lip curled like that of a furious +wolf, exposed his teeth clenched against each other. At last he +exclaimed, in a voice palpitating with anger and exertion, for his +struggle had been very violent: + +"Stab him,--the ruffian!--you cowards, who let me be traitorously +attacked, or the informer will escape!" + +During this momentary truce, the Chourineur, raising Germain half +fainting, had managed very cleverly to put him in an angle of the wall, +and, availing himself of this advantageous position of defence, he was +able, without fear of surprise from behind, to resist any attack of the +prisoners, on whom the skill and herculean powers he had displayed had +imposed considerable respect. + +Pique-Vinaigre, greatly alarmed, had disappeared without his absence +being remarked. + +Seeing hesitation amongst the majority of prisoners, the Skeleton +exclaimed: + +"Aid me now, let us do for both, the big 'un as well as the little 'un!" + +"Look out for squalls, then," replied the Chourineur, preparing for a +struggle, with his two hands squared, and standing well-balanced on his +loins; "and mind your eye, Skeleton! If you mean to play the +Cut-in-Half, I'll serve you as Gargousse did, and slit your weasand." + +"Fall on him!" said Le Gros-Boiteux, getting up. + +"Why does this vagabond defend spies? Death to the informer, and to him, +too! If he defends Germain he is a traitor!" + +"Yes, yes, death to the spy! Death!" + +"Yes, and death to the traitor who defends him!" + +Such were the cries uttered by the fiercest of the _detenus_. Another +party, more merciful, exclaimed: + +"No, let's hear him first!" + +"Yes, let him explain; we mustn't kill a man without a hearing!" + +"And without means of defence, too! Must we be Cut-in-Halfs?" + +"So much the better!" replied the Skeleton's partisans. + +"Nothing's too bad for a spy!" + +"Let's fall on him! Let us support the Skeleton!" + +"Yes, let's at the Blue Cap!" + +"No, let's support the Blue Cap, and let's at the Skeleton!" retorted +the Chourineur's party. + +"No, down with the Blue Cap!" + +"Down with the Skeleton!" + +"Well done, my boys!" cried the Chourineur, addressing the prisoners who +sided with him. "You're good fellows, and would not massacre a half dead +man; none but cowards would do that. The Skeleton does not care what +evil he does; he is sentenced beforehand, and that is why he urges you +on; but if you help to kill Germain, you will be severely punished for +it. Besides, I have something to propose. The Skeleton is desirous of +doing for this young man; well, let him come and take him if he thinks +he has the pluck to do it; let us two settle it; leave us to ourselves, +and see what turns up. But he's afraid; he's like Cut-in-Half, only +strong with the weak." + +The vigour, energy, and rough manner of the Chourineur had powerful +effect on the prisoners, and a considerable number of them had ranged +themselves on his side, and surrounded Germain, whilst the Skeleton's +party drew around that ruffian. A bloody fray would have ensued, when +there was heard in the yard the sonorous and measured tread of a piquet +of infantry, always on guard in the prison. Pique-Vinaigre, profiting by +the general stir and noise, had gained the yard, and, having knocked at +the wicket of the entrance, had told the turnkeys what was passing in +the day-room. The arrival of the soldiers put an end to this scene. +Germain, the Skeleton, and the Chourineur were taken before the +governor of La Force; the first to make his complaint, the two others to +answer for creating a disturbance inside the gaol. + +The fright and suffering of Germain had been so great, his weakness so +extreme, that he was obliged to lean on two of the turnkeys, in order to +reach a chamber next to the governor's room. There he was very ill. His +neck, excoriated as it was, bore the livid and bleeding imprint of the +Skeleton's iron grasp; a few minutes more, and Rigolette's betrothed +would have been strangled. The turnkey, who had taken an interest in +Germain, gave him first assistance. When he had recovered, his first +thought was of his deliverer. + +"Thanks for your kind cares, sir," he said to the turnkey. "But for that +brave man, I must have been killed. Where is he?" + +"In the governor's room, telling him how the disturbance arose. It +appears that but for him--" + +"I must have been killed. Oh, tell me his name! Who is he?" + +"His name I do not know, but they call him the Chourineur; he is an old +offender." + +"And is his crime now very serious?" + +"Very; burglary in the night in an inhabited house," replied the +turnkey. "He will probably have a similar dose to Pique-Vinaigre, +fifteen or twenty years of hard labour." + +Germain shuddered; he would have preferred being bound by gratitude to a +man less criminal. + +"How dreadful!" he said. "And yet this man without knowing me defended +me; such courage, such generosity!" + +"Ah, these men have sometimes a touch of good! The main point is that +you are saved. To-morrow you will have your private cell, and to-night +you will sleep in the infirmary. So, courage, sir. The bad time is over; +and when your pretty little visitor comes to see you, you can comfort +her, for once in a cell you have nothing to fear; only you will do +wisely, I think, not to tell her of this affair." + +"Certainly not; but I should like to thank my defender." + +"I have just been leaving the governor, who will now interrogate the +Skeleton, and I shall take them both, the Skeleton to his dungeon +directly, and the Chourineur to the Fosse aux Lions; he will be, +besides, somewhat rewarded for what he has done for you; as he is a +determined and stout fellow, he will probably replace the Skeleton as +captain of the ward." + +The Chourineur, having crossed a small passage from the governor's +apartment, entered the room in which Germain was. + +"Wait for me here," said the turnkey to the Chourineur. "I will go and +ask the governor what he decides upon as to the Skeleton, and I will +return and let you know. Our young man has quite recovered, and wishes +to thank you, and so he should, for otherwise it would have been all +over with him." And the turnkey went out. + +The Chourineur's countenance was very joyous, and he advanced towards +Germain, saying, with a cheerful air: + +"Thunder! How glad I am! How glad I saved you!" and he extended his hand +to Germain, who, by a feeling of involuntary repulsion, withdrew +somewhat, instead of taking the hand which the Chourineur offered to +him; then, remembering that he owed his life to this man, he was +desirous of repairing this display of repugnance. But the Chourineur +perceived it; his features became overcast, and, retreating in his turn, +he said, with bitter sorrow, "Oh, it is right; your pardon, sir!" + +"No, it is I who ought to ask your pardon; am I not a prisoner like +yourself? Ought I not to think of the service you have rendered me? You +have saved my life. Your hand, sir, I beg--I entreat--your hand!" + +"Thanks; but it is useless now. The first feeling is everything. If you +had directly given me a grasp of the hand, it would have afforded me +pleasure, but, when I reflect, I would not desire it. Not because I am a +prisoner like you," he added, with a sombre and hesitating air, +"because, before I came here, I have been--" + +"The turnkey told me all," said Germain, interrupting him; "but yet you +saved my life." + +"I have done no more than my duty and pleasure, for I know who you +are--Monsieur Germain." + +"You know me!" + +"A little, my lad," said the Chourineur, resuming his usual tone of +habitual carelessness; "and, _pardieu!_ you would have been very wrong +to have attributed my arrival at La Force to chance. If I had not known +you, I should not have been in prison." + +Germain looked at the Chourineur with amazement. + +"What! It was because you knew me?" + +"That I am here a prisoner in La Force." + +"I, who owe you--" + +"A candle to the Virgin, for having procured me the advantage of being +in La Force." + +"Really," said Germain, passing his hand over his brow. "I do not know +whether the terrible shock I have just undergone has weakened my senses, +but it is impossible for me to understand you. The turnkey told me you +were here under a charge of--of--" said Germain, with hesitation. + +"Robbery, _pardieu_! And robbery with forcible entry, and moreover at +night; nothing could be more complete!" cried the Chourineur, with a +hearty laugh. + +Germain, painfully excited at the bold hardihood of the Chourineur, +could not forbear saying to him: + +"What, you, so brave, so generous, and speak in this way! Are you not +aware of the terrible punishment to which you are exposed?" + +"Twenty years at the galleys; I know that. I am an out-and-out +scoundrel, I know that, for taking it so easy. But what's the use when +one has been and done it? And then, for me to say that it was you, M. +Germain," added the Chourineur, heaving a tremendous sigh, and with an +air of assumed contrition, "who are the cause of my misfortune." + +"When you explain yourself more clearly, I shall understand you. Just as +much as you please, but my gratitude for the service you have rendered +me will never cease or diminish," added Germain, sorrowfully. + +"Oh, pardon me, M. Germain!" replied the Chourineur, becoming serious. +"You do not like to see me laugh at this; do not let us add another +word. I must let all out with you, and so, perhaps, force you to shake +my hand." + +"I have no doubt of that; for, in spite of the crime of which you are +accused, and of which you accuse yourself, all in you bespeaks so much +courage and frankness that I am convinced you are charged unjustly; +strong suspicions may exist, but I am sure that is all." + +"Oh, as to that you are mistaken, M. Germain!" said the Chourineur, +hastily; "on my word as a man, and as true as I have a protector,"--the +Chourineur took off his cap,--"who is more than all the world to me, I +robbed at night by forcing the shutter, and was caught in the fact and +deprived of all I was endeavouring to carry off." + +"But want--hunger--pushed you to such an extremity?" + +"Hunger! I had one hundred and twenty francs when they apprehended me, +the remains of a note of one thousand francs, without including the +protector I have mentioned to you, who, by the way, does not know that I +am here, but will not let me want for anything. Since, however, I have +mentioned him to you, you must suppose I am in earnest, for you must +know that he is a man to go on your knees before. So I must tell you, +too, that the shower of blows which I drummed on the Skeleton's sconce +was a sketch after his style, copied from nature. The idea of the +robbery was on his account; and, in fact, if you were not strangled by +the Skeleton, it is through him." + +"But this protector?" + +"Is yours also." + +"Mine!" + +"Yes, M. Rodolph protects you. When I say monsieur, I should say +monseigneur, for he is at least a prince; but I have a habit of calling +him M. Rodolph, which he permits me to do." + +"You are under some mistake," said Germain, more and more surprised; "I +do not know the prince." + +"Yes, but he knows you. You don't believe it? Well, that's possible, for +that's his way. He knows that there is some worthy fellow in trouble, +and then, in an instant, the good fellow is comforted, and, without +being seen or known, he is at work, and kindness falls from the skies, +like a tile from a house on your head. So patience, and one day or other +you will have your tile." + +"Really, what you say amazes me!" + +"Ah, you'll have a great deal more to amaze you yet! To return to my +protector: Some time ago, after a service which he persisted I had done +him, he procured me a splendid position, I need not say where, or any +more about it, for it would be a long tale to tell. Well, he sends me to +Marseilles to embark and go to a capital appointment in Algeria. I left +Paris as happy as a child; but, all of a sudden, a change comes over +me." + +"That was singular!" + +"Why, you must know that once separated from M. Rodolph I was uneasy, +disturbed, as fidgety as a dog who has lost his master. It was very +stupid; but so are dogs, sometimes, but that does not prevent them from +being at least attached, and as well mindful of the nice bits given them +as of the thumps and kicks they have had, and M. Rodolph had given me +many nice bits, and, in truth, M. Rodolph is everything to me. From +being a riotous, dare-devil, good-for-nothing blackguard, he made an +honest man of me by only saying two words, just for all the world like +magic." + +"What were the words he said?" + +"He said I had still heart and honour, although I have been at the +galleys, not for having stolen, it is true,--ah, never that,--but what +perhaps is worse, for having killed,--yes," said the Chourineur, in a +gloomy tone, "killed in a moment of passion, because formerly growing up +like a brute beast, or, rather, as a vagabond, without father or mother, +and left abandoned in the streets of Paris, I knew neither God nor +devil--neither good nor evil. Sometimes the blood mounted to my eyes, +and I saw red, and if I had a knife in my hands I slashed and hacked,--I +was a real savage--a beast, and only lived amongst thieves and +scoundrels. I was in the mud, and in the mud I lived as well as I could. +But when M. Rodolph said to me that since, in spite of the contempt of +all the world and my misery, instead of plundering like others I had +preferred working as long as I could, and for what I could, that showed +I had still heart and honour--thunder!--you see these two words had the +same effect on me as if I had been seized by the hair of my head and +lifted a thousand feet into the air above the vermin with whom I dwelt, +and showed me the filth in which my life was spent. So I said, 'Thank +ye, I've had enough of this!' Then my heart beat with something else +besides anger, and I took an oath to myself always to preserve that +honour which M. Rodolph spoke of. You see, M. Germain, that when M. +Rodolph told me so kindly that I was not so bad as I believed myself to +be, that encouraged me, and, thanks to him, I became better than I had +been." + +When he heard this language, Germain comprehended less and less how the +Chourineur had committed the robbery of which he accused himself. + +"No," he said to himself, "it is impossible; the man who was so exalted +at the two words honour and heart cannot have committed the robbery of +which he talks with so much self-complacency." + +The Chourineur continued, without remarking the astonishment of Germain: + +"To say the truth, what made me be like a dog to his master to M. +Rodolph was that he raised me in my own opinion. Before I knew him I +never felt but on my skin, but he moved me inwardly, and to the bottom +of my heart. Once away from him and the place he inhabited, I felt like +a body without a soul. In proportion as I proceeded farther I said to +myself, 'He leads such a strange life,--mixes with such scamps (I can +answer for that), that he risks his body twenty times a day, and, under +some such circumstances, I may be his dog and defend my master, for I am +strong in the jaws;' but then he had said to me,'My good fellow, you +must become useful to others, therefore go where you can be +serviceable.' I was very nearly replying, 'I have no one to serve but +you, M. Rodolph,' but I daredn't. He said to me, 'Go,' and I went, and +have gone as far as I could; but, thunder! when I ought to have gone on +board the ship, left France, and put the sea between M. Rodolph and +myself, I had not the courage. He had desired his correspondent to give +me a great lump of money when I sailed, so I went to the gentleman, and +said to him, 'Sir, I can't do it--I'd rather do anything, so please to +give me enough to pay my journey on foot; I have good legs, and I will +return to Paris, for I cannot leave France. M. Rodolph will be angry, +and, perhaps, refuse to see me,--that's possible; but I shall see him, +know where he is, and if he goes on as usual, sooner or later I may, +perhaps, arrive in time to come between him and a stab with a knife; and +then I really cannot go so far away from him! Something I cannot account +for attracts me to his side.' Well, they gave me sufficient to pay my +way, and I reached Paris. Then I really was frightened. What could I say +to M. Rodolph to excuse myself? But, after all, he would not eat me up; +so I went to find his friend, a tall, bald-headed man, but a right sort +of fellow as ever broke bread. When I saw M. Murphy, I said,'Now my fate +will be decided;' and my throat was dry, and my heart beat such a pace! +I expected to catch it pretty handsomely, but, what d'ye think? Why, the +worthy gentleman received me just as if we had only parted the previous +evening, and told me that M. Rodolph, instead of being angry, wished to +see me as soon as possible. Well, so I went at once to my +protector,--him with such a stout fist and good heart,--and when I was +face to face with him he who is as terrible as a lion and as gentle as a +child--he who is a prince, and yet puts on a blouse like me--and once on +a time (I bless the day, or night, rather) laid on me such a shower of +blows that I saw nothing but fire, why, M. Germain, when I reflected on +all the agreeable qualities he is master of, I felt completely overcome, +and I snivelled like a woman. Well, instead of laughing at me, for I +must be a rum-looking lot when I pipe my eye, M. Rodolph said to me, +seriously, 'Here you are back again, my good fellow, eh?' 'Yes, M. +Rodolph, and pray excuse me if I have done wrong, but I could not help +it. Give me some corner in your courtyard, give me a crust and a glass, +or let me earn it here,--that's all I ask, and pray don't be angry with +me for coming back.' 'So far from it, my man, you have come back just in +time to do me a service.' 'I, M. Rodolph? Is that possible? Well, there +must have been something above, for if not, how could I explain how it +was I must come back here at the very moment when you wanted me? What +can I do for you, M. Rodolph?' 'An honest, worthy young man, in whom I +take the interest I should do in a son, has been unjustly accused of +robbery, and is a prisoner in La Force. His name is Germain; he is of a +gentle, quiet disposition. The wretches with whom he is confined have +conceived a great aversion for him, and he is in great danger. You +unfortunately have known what a prison life is, and a great many +prisoners; could not you, in case there may be any of your old +companions in La Force (we will find that out), go and see them, and, by +promises of money, which shall be duly performed, induce them to protect +this unfortunate young man?'" + +"But who can this generous and unknown man be, who takes so much +interest in my fate?" asked Germain, more and more surprised. + +"You will learn, perhaps, hereafter,--as for me, I do not know. To +return to my conversation with M. Rodolph. Whilst he was speaking to me +there came an idea into my head, so curious, so whimsical, that I could +not forbear laughing outright before him. 'What is it, my lad?' said he. +'Why, M. Rodolph, I laugh because I am so happy, and I am happy because +I have the means of putting your M. Germain quite safe from any ill-will +on the part of the prisoners, of giving him a protector who will defend +him boldly, for when once the young fellow is under the care of the man +I mean, not one will dare look at him impertinently.' 'Very good--one of +your old comrades, no doubt?' 'Exactly so, M. Rodolph; he has been in La +Force some days, that I know. But I must have some money.' 'How much +shall you require,--a note for a thousand francs? Here it is.' 'Thank +ye, M. Rodolph; in two days you will have some news.'" + +"I begin to understand, or, rather, I'm afraid to understand," exclaimed +Germain. "To come and protect me in this prison you have, perhaps, +committed a robbery? Oh, what remorse will beset all my life!" + +"Hold hard! M. Rodolph had said I had heart and honour,---these words +are my law, you must know; and he may still say it to me, for if I am +no better than I was before, at least I am no worse." + +"But this robbery, if you have not committed it, why are you here?" + +"Listen! There is a capital joke with my thousand francs, I bought +myself a black wig, shaved my whiskers, put on blue spectacles, bent my +head on one side, and made up my back as if it were humped, and then +went in search of two apartments to let, on the ground floor, in a +bustling part of the city. I found what I looked for in the Rue de +Provence, and paid a month in advance, under the name of M. Gregoire. +Next day I went to the Temple to buy furniture for my two rooms, with my +black wig, my hump, and blue glasses, so that I might be easily +recognised. Well, I sent the goods to the Rue de Provence, and, +moreover, six silver spoons, which I bought in the Boulevard St. Denis, +still disguised with my hump. I returned then to arrange all my affairs +in my residence. I told the porter I should not sleep there until the +following night, and took away my key. The windows of the two rooms were +closed with strong shutters. Before I went away I had purposely left one +with the bolt undrawn. The night came, and I put off my wig, my +spectacles, my hump, and the clothes in which I had made my purchases +and hired my apartments, putting this suit in a portmanteau, which I +forwarded to M. Murphy, M. Rodolph's friend, begging him to take care of +it for me. I then bought this blouse, and the blue cotton cap, and a bar +of iron two feet long; and at one o'clock in the morning I went into the +Rue de Provence, where I lurked about before my lodging, awaiting the +moment when the patrol would pass and prevent my robbing +myself,--committing a burglary on my own premises, in order to be caught +and apprehended." + +And the Chourineur burst into a fit of hearty laughter. + +"I begin to understand," cried Germain. + +"But I was nearly getting in a 'fix,' for no patrol passed. I might have +robbed myself twenty times with the greatest ease and safety. At last, +about two o'clock in the morning, I heard the tread of the soldier boys, +and then I pushed open the window, jumped into the room, pocketed the +silver spoons and some other trifles. Fortunately the lively patrol had +heard the smash of the windows, and just as I leaped out of the window +they laid hands upon me. They knocked at the door, which the porter +opened, they sent for the sergeant of police, who came. The porter told +him that the two rooms had been hired that morning by a humpbacked +gentleman, with black hair and blue spectacles, whose name was Gregoire. +I had the thick head of hair which you now see, and my eyes were as wide +open as a hare's on the watch, was as upright as a Russian sentinel, and +could not be taken for a humpbacked gentleman, with blue glasses and +black hair. I confessed all, and was conducted to the station, and from +the station to this prison, where I arrived in the nick of time to +snatch from the clutch of the Skeleton the young man of whom M. Rodolph +had said to me, 'I am interested in him as much as if he were my own +son.'" + +"What do I not owe you for such devotion?" + +"Not to me,--you owe it to M. Rodolph." + +"But whence arises his interest in me?" + +"That is for him to tell you, or, perhaps, he will not tell you, for he +very often chooses to do good, and if you ask him why, he will not let +you know." + +"M. Rodolph, then, knows you are here?" + +"I'm not such a fool as to tell him my plans; perhaps he would not have +consented to my whim, and, really, I must say it was capital." + +"But what risks you have run,--indeed, still run." + +"Oh, what risk? I might not have been brought to La Force,--that was the +worst risk,--but I relied on M. Rodolph's interest to have my prison +changed, so that I might have got to you." + +"But at your trial?" + +"Well, I shall beg M. Murphy to send me the portmanteau. Before the +judge I shall appear in my black wig, blue spectacles, and hump, and +shall be again M. Gregoire for the porter who let me the chambers and +the tradespeople who sold me the goods. So much for the robbery. If they +wish to see the thief again, I'll put off my suit, and then it will be +as clear as daylight that the robber and the robbed together only make a +total of the Chourineur and no more. And what the devil would you expect +when it is proved that I robbed myself?" + +"Why, indeed," said Germain, more assured; "but since you take so much +interest in me, why did you not speak to me when you came first into the +prison?" + +"I knew instantly of the scheme against you by the prisoners, and I +might have denounced them before Pique-Vinaigre began or ended his +story; but to denounce such ruffians did not suit my ideas,--I preferred +trusting only to my fist in order to snatch you from the clutch of the +Skeleton; and when I saw that scoundrel I said to myself, 'This is a +fine opportunity for putting in practice that shower of blows to which I +owe the honour of M. Rodolph's acquaintance.'" + +"But if all the prisoners had taken part against you, alone, what could +you have done?" + +"Why, then, I should have shrieked like an eagle and called lustily for +help. But I preferred having my little affair all to myself, that I +might be able to say to M. Rodolph, 'I was all alone in the matter. I +have defended and will defend your friend,--be easy on that subject.'" + +At this moment the turnkey suddenly returned to the apartment. + +"Monsieur Germain, go to the governor; he wishes to speak to you +immediately. And you, Chourineur, go down into the Fosse-aux-Lions; you +are to be _prevot_, if you like, for you have all the qualifications for +that duty, and the prisoners will not joke with a man of your sort." + +"It is all the same to me, I'd as soon be captain as private." + +"Will you refuse my hand now?" said Germain, cordially. + +"_Ma foi!_ no, M. Germain! I'll shake hands with all my heart." + +"We shall see one another again, for I am now under your protection. I +shall have nothing more to fear, and shall, therefore, come down every +day from my cell into the yard." + +"Make yourself quite easy on that score. But now I think of it, write a +line to M. Rodolph, who will then no longer be uneasy about you, and +will also learn that I am here for a good reason, for if he were to hear +that I had committed a robbery, and did not know all the real +facts,--thunder! That would not do by any means." + +"Make your mind easy. I will write this very evening to my unknown +protector. Once more, good-bye, and thanks most heartily, my worthy +friend." + +"Good-bye, M. Germain. I must return to those scoundrels, and I'll make +them go right; if not, let them look out for squalls!" + +"When I reflect that it is on my account that you must remain some time +longer with these wretches--" + +"What consequence is that? There is no fear of their turning on me;" and +the Chourineur followed the turnkey. + +Germain went to the governor. What was his surprise to find Rigolette +there! pale, agitated, and her eyes bathed in tears; and yet smiling +through her tears, her countenance expressing unutterable happiness. + +"I have good news for you, sir," said the governor to Germain; "justice +has declared that no prosecution can be instituted against you; and in +consequence of the withdrawing of this, and explanations that have taken +place, I have received an order to set you at liberty immediately." + +"Sir! What do you say? Can it be possible?" + +Rigolette tried to speak, but her extreme emotion prevented her, and she +could only make an affirmative sign to Germain with her head, and clasp +her hands. + +"Mademoiselle arrived a few minutes after I had received the order to +set you at liberty," added the governor. "A very powerful letter of +recommendation which she brought to me informed me of the touching +devotion she had shown to you in prison; and it is with extreme pleasure +that I sent for you, certain that you will be very happy to offer your +arm to mademoiselle, and lead her hence." + +"A dream! It must be a dream!" said Germain. "Ah, sir, how can I thank +you? Excuse my astonishment,--joy prevents me from thanking you as I +ought." + +"And I, too, M. Germain,--I cannot find a word to say," said Rigolette; +"only imagine my delight when I left you on finding the friend of M. +Rodolph, who was waiting for me." + +"Again M. Rodolph!" exclaimed Germain, astonished. + +"Yes, and M. Murphy said to me, 'Germain is free--here is a letter for +the governor of the prison; when you arrive there he will have received +the order for Germain's release, and you may take him away with you.' I +could not believe what I heard, and yet it was true. Well, as quick as +possible, I took a hackney-coach, and came here; it is waiting for us at +the gate." + +We will not attempt to paint the delight of the two lovers when they +quitted La Force, and the evening they passed together in Rigolette's +small apartment, which Germain quitted at eleven o'clock to go to a +humble furnished room. + + +END OF VOLUME V. + + + * * * * * +Transcriber's Notes: + + +This e-text was prepared from numbered edition 505 of the 1000 printed. + +Minor punctuation and capitalization corrections have been made without +comment. + +Minor typographical errors of single words, otherwise spelled correctly +throughout the text have been made without comment. + +Word Variations appearing in the original text which have been retained: + +"pocket-book" (1) and "pocketbook" (3) +"protege" (2) and "protegee" (3) + +Words using the [oe] ligature, which have been herein represented as +"oe": "Croesus." + +Throughout the text, illustrations and their captions were placed on +facing pages. For the purpose of this e-text these pages have been +combined into one entry. + +Footnotes, originally at the bottom of a printed page, have been placed +directly below the paragraph in which their anchor symbol appears. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Mysteries of Paris, Volume 5 of 6, by +Eugene Sue + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE MYSTERIES OF PARIS, V.5 *** + +***** This file should be named 33804.txt or 33804.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/8/0/33804/ + +Produced by David Edwards, Christine Aldridge and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net +(Stanford University, SUL Books in the Public Domain) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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